Todd stared at the portrait and murmured, "Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

Rachel shook her head and said, "I don't think so. This clan chief is the only mortal recorded in the documents to have achieved time travel, and you happen to have traveled through time. There must be some connection between the two of you."

Todd looked puzzled: "Maybe we just look alike, or maybe the person who painted this portrait had a sudden inspiration... I don't know. The idea that I'm connected to him is too crazy. I don't think any of this is true."

Rachel rested her chin on her hand and said to Todd, "If I may be so inclined, this may not be your first visit to this world. You have appeared in the history of this world before."

Todd was increasingly confused: "You mean I've been to this world before?"

Rachel continued, "If we say that Todd in this world and you in the previous world are a pair of connected beings, then let's go a step further and suppose that sometimes, you are born into a world, and after meeting certain conditions, you will leave that world and enter another; of course, the reverse is also true."

Todd asked, "Why do you think that?"

"I have a feeling that your coming into this world is no coincidence," Rachel said.

Todd shook his head: "There's no evidence for that feeling."

"Do you remember the beacon tower in the Valkyrie village?" Rachel said.

"Of course, I remember."

"Many people have reached that beacon tower, wanting to unlock its secrets. But as soon as they touch the beacon tower, they are repelled by its power and rejected. However, the first time you touch the beacon tower, it accepts you and pulls you into the world inside."

"At the second beacon tower, the one at the bottom of the Shadow Kingdom, your body was already badly damaged. Logically speaking, it would have been impossible for you to make it to the beacon tower at the bottom of the sea. But you not only reached the bottom of the sea, but you also saw Crystal Mansion again."

Don't you think these experiences are not coincidences?

As Todd pondered, he said, "I always thought that being a candidate in the God's Chosen War was a privilege bestowed upon me by Crystal Nest."

“Not every candidate has your luck,” Rachel’s voice lowered. “Sometimes, I feel that Crystal is paying more attention to you.”

Todd chuckled helplessly, "If he really favors me, why doesn't he just make me a god?"

Rachel said with a laugh, "It's not that simple."

Todd finished his last sip of beer: "Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm going back. I'll try to communicate with Eliard and see if he can help us enter the Elder Council's Stone Tablet Sanctuary. As for Eleanor, maybe I can try to exchange her body for something other than the Tyrant and the Crusaders. Maybe she'll agree."

Rachel nodded and said, "It would be best to find an opportunity to enter the stele and steal that body while Eleanor is away from the council of elders. However, I don't recommend that you make contact with Eleanor."

Todd asked, "Have you arrived at Lone Rock yet?"

Rachel stood up: "I'm currently at the temporary port of Lone Rock City. Karin will be there soon."

Upon hearing that familiar name, Todd couldn't help but ask, "How is Karin?"

Rachel frowned and said, "She's suffered a lot, but at least she's still alive."

Todd said, "I can send a contingent of Crusaders to Lone Rock to escort you back."

Rachel shook her head: "According to Karin, she had a bodyguard following her the whole way."

"bodyguard?"

“A bodyguard completely wrapped in black cloth.” Rachel looked a little uncertain: “This person doesn’t speak to anyone except Karin, and he used a variety of superpowers along the way.”

"The successor?"

Faced with Todd's question, Rachel hesitated for a while before finally saying, "He doesn't seem like an heir. There are aliens in the association with X-ray vision and detection abilities. They examined this bodyguard before, and the results were very strange."

"strangeness?"

"Yes, this person has no vital signs, and we can't sense any special abilities in him. Any clairvoyance ability will only show a dark void, and we can't get any useful information."

Todd said with a headache, "Won't it be dangerous for someone like that to be with Karin?"

Rachel sighed. "Karin trusts him a lot, and I hope that trust is worthwhile."

Todd thought for a moment and said to Rachel, "Try to find out the bodyguard's identity, but don't get too close to him before things are clear, to prevent any accidents."

Rachel nodded and said, "I know, and what about you?"

"Me? What's wrong?"

“As I just said, I think you should leave the Council of Elders as soon as possible, especially away from Eleanor.”

"Why? The origins of the undead are still unclear."

Rachel said, "The undead army is already approaching Holy Guard City. I don't know how long the garrison there can hold out. Queen Mary wanted to go back, but I persuaded her not to. Even so, the people of Twilight City are in a state of panic after receiving the news. I think if you were in the city, people would feel safer."

Todd shook his head and said, "What can I do if I go back? Give a speech for my people? Or lead the charge on the front lines? It's more important to stay in the council of elders and try to uncover the secrets of the undead."

Rachel said, "I understand what you mean, but I'm still worried about Eleanor."

"Are you worried she'll harm me?"

Rachel said in a deep voice, "I'm worried she might bewitch you."

Todd paused for a moment, then laughed: "I'm not the kind of idiot who can be fooled by a few words."

Rachel's speech quickened: "You don't understand her abilities, her grasp of people's hearts, and her influence on will—she's reached the level of a master. This is partly due to her hidden supernatural powers, and partly due to her truly awe-inspiring wisdom."

Todd said, "Her words are like the cawing of a crow to me; as long as I ignore them, I won't be deceived by her."

Rachel bit her lip hard: "Eleanor's powers come from her womb. She can copy and acquire the abilities of others by mating with other species. No one in the Elder Council knows how many other species she's mates with, let alone how many different powers she possesses… Todd, you have the power of a tyrant within you, Eleanor will definitely… you know…"

Todd paused, suddenly remembering Eleanor's seduction in the Mother Nest.

After a moment's thought, Todd said to Rachel, "I will not let Eleanor's scheme succeed. If necessary, I will cooperate with Elijah and take what we need by force."