“You don’t seem surprised.”

Rachel frowned and looked at Todd, who remained calm.

The latter gazed into the former's eyes, a rare tenderness on his face: "I haven't seen you for a long time. Have you been busy with this lately?"

Rachel put away the map and nodded, saying, "To find out about the 'Tyrant,' I've contacted quite a few old friends... well, maybe they can't really be considered my friends. Anyway, we must find the 'Tyrant' as soon as possible; the mutation rate of the inheritors will only increase..."

Why do this?

When Rachel heard Todd's question, she was momentarily stunned: "What do you mean by 'why'?"

Todd rolled up his sleeves again, looking at the horrific consequences of the mutation: "I can imagine how much effort you put in to obtain this information."

Rachel fell silent.

"Actually, you have many choices. I believe only you and I know about King Muxi's impending transformation. I have no children and no legal heir. If we can make good use of this opportunity, the alien faction might be able to control the entire country, and you will become the supreme queen..."

"Shut up!" Rachel's face was filled with an unprecedented anger and sorrow. "Is this how you see me?!"

Todd sat down in a chair, looked at the furious woman, and said softly, "Interracial races are above all else..."

Upon hearing this, Rachel was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale. She knelt beside Todd, pressing her hands tightly against her mutated wounds, her voice trembling, "No... I can't..."

Feeling the warmth of her hand against his skin, Todd reached out his other hand and stroked the woman's head, smiling as he said, "Ratchet, thank you."

"Your Majesty, if you wish, we shall depart now. All we need are a few fast horses!"

Todd said in a low voice, "I need you to tell me honestly what the chances are of successfully going to the 'Shadow Kingdom' and finding the 'Tyrant'?"

Rachel looked up: “I’ve found a reliable guide who can lead us into the Shadowlands. But the biggest problem is time. Theodore spent three whole years searching for the Tyrant…”

"What about me? How much time do I have left?"

"At this rate of mutation, it will take at most three months..."

Todd sighed and said to Rachel with a wry smile, "From here, we'll head west, cross the Moonbrook Plains, then north through Watchtower, Falling Star Mountains, Kosel Canyon, and Floating Bone Swamp, then over the many kingdoms of the barbarians before finally reaching our destination. Even riding the fastest horses, traveling day and night, it will take more than a month, not to mention we'll have to evade the armies of the barbarians and the church."

Rachel gripped Todd's arm tightly, hissing through suppressed emotion, "So what?! So you're just going to give up hope of survival?!"

“I plan to use this last bit of time to accomplish something more meaningful.” Todd looked up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh. “Do you remember? This land beneath our feet was just a desolate beach three years ago. Countless people put in unimaginable effort to transform it into what it is today.”

Having already guessed Todd's thoughts, Rachel's voice choked with emotion: "Why can't you be any more selfish?!"

Todd closed his eyes: "It's precisely because I can't bear to part with it that I can't be selfish."

Todd ran his fingers through Rachel's hair: "I have never considered the kingdom to be my personal property. This belief has only grown stronger since the mutation of the heirs began. So, whether to spend the last moments of my precious life on a hopeless attempt at self-preservation or on the future of the kingdom, my heart has already made its final choice."

As Rachel looked at Todd, tears welled up in her eyes: "Whether it's decentralizing power to the people or holding official examinations, is this your final 'will' for the Kingdom of Muxi?"

Todd smiled and nodded: "That's right."

Rachel knelt on the king's lap, sobbing uncontrollably.

Todd leaned back in his chair and murmured to himself, "Today is destined to be a special day. Two people who have never shed a tear are crying in front of me for the first time..."

——————————————

Three days later, between the kings.

Todd picked up the newly completed test paper and carefully read it from beginning to end: "I must say, your efficiency is really high. To be able to assemble the test paper team in such a short time and complete such an excellent test paper."

Terence and Emerson exchanged a glance, and the former spoke up: "Your Majesty, now that the exam papers are finished, when shall we begin the examination for the 'Kingdom's Chief Legal Counsel'?"

"Next Monday, I guess." Todd wrote the schedule on the calendar: "Oh, and we also need to start preparing for the selection exams for officials in the kingdom's livelihood, taxation, diplomacy, industry, and security."

Emerson glanced at the king in surprise and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, isn't this a bit too hasty?"

"The kingdom already has a sufficient reserve of talent, and with the effectiveness of the examination and selection process, it is not too hasty to build a functional structure for the Muxi Kingdom now."

After hearing Todd's words, Terence asked hesitantly, "Your Majesty, when do you plan to complete the selection of officials for these departments?"

"Within three months."

Upon hearing this, the two elderly people were shocked and objected in unison, "Absolutely not!"

Emerson spoke up first: "The Kingdom's chief market advisor has only been in office for a few days, and it's still unclear whether the selected officials are qualified. Conducting large-scale examinations and selections at this time might bring endless troubles to the Kingdom."

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