Todd eventually recruited 55 monks to the monastery, the vast majority of whom were young men from impoverished backgrounds. Unlike the older monks, they longed for life outside and firmly believed in Todd's "deeds of the Holy Son."
After selecting 50 books from the monastery library on grammar, arithmetic, and the basics of geometry, Todd led 55 monks back to Twilight Town. Before even entering the town, they could see a long line of carriages waiting at the entrance.
Harkins, who was in charge of maintaining order, saw Todd's entourage and hurried over from a distance. Seeing that the latter had focused his attention on the caravan, he explained directly, "Commander, the second season of 'Gospel Flower' from the farmers of Muxi Town has already started to go on sale. The people sitting in these carriages are merchants from other towns who have come to purchase it."
Todd nodded, then turned to look southeast, where the mixed-race refugees Rachel had brought were settled. After roughly counting the people working there, he frowned and asked Huggins, "Have you noticed that there seem to be more people over there than before?"
Huggins, seeing that no one was around, leaned closer to Todd and whispered, "Sir, while you were away at the monastery, some more strange creatures were brought there..."
Todd rubbed his nose vigorously, shook his head, and led the monks into the town of Twilight. After instructing Huggins to protect all the books and arranging food and lodging for the people, he went directly to old Aiden's workshop.
This brick and stone workshop had been designated a restricted area by Todd. Four of Huggins' subordinates guarded a corner of the workshop, preventing anyone from approaching.
Stepping into the sweltering, stuffy workshop, a tremendous crashing sound accompanied by a wave of heat hit us.
Leslie's blazing hands spewed crimson flames, making the templates in the type block slots glaringly hot. Rachel stretched her hands forward, her forehead covered in sweat, using her 'telekinesis' ability to raise the heat-softened type block molds into the air, aligning them with the printing press's support platform, carefully changing their shape and size.
Wearing gloves, Aiden Colm compared the card slot and the mold while placing the copper ruler next to the high-temperature mold, saying, "Shorten the top by five millimeters, and pay attention to the straight line of the ruler."
Rachel slowly inserted the slot into the support platform. The craftsmen repeatedly checked the proportions and gaps between the parts, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, giving Leslie and Rachel a success sign.
The nun lowered her arms, slumped to the ground, panting heavily, her chest and back covered in sweat.
At this point, everyone in the room finally spotted Todd at the door.
"Sir." Aiden hastily wiped his sweat with a rough cloth and walked up to the priest.
Todd looked at the printing press in the workshop, which was already mostly assembled, and exclaimed in admiration, "This is the third one already."
Aiden nodded: "That's right. The first one took a bit longer and went down a detour, but the next two were much easier."
"That's you guys! I'm so tired I could collapse!" Leslie said, shaking her burning hands and sticking out her tongue. "I want to eat, I want to sleep!"
Todd patted him on the shoulder and reassured him, "Don't worry, you can rest now. These three printing presses are enough for the needs of Twilight Town."
After saying this, Todd glanced at Rachel, whose gaze met his. The woman didn't say anything, but the smile on her face sent a shiver down Todd's spine.
Aiden and the other two craftsmen looked at the printing press, which had just been fitted with type molds, and clicked their tongues in admiration. They looked at the boy and the nun with envious eyes: "The abilities of the aliens are so convenient. If all the craftsmen had these abilities, what would be the point of having drills and hammers?"
Leslie took a sip of water: "You only see the advantages of superpowers, but you don't realize that I am awakened several times every night by the pain of being burned by flames, and I need to rest for a long time every time I use my powers."
Upon hearing this, Todd immediately recalled the toxic effects of Hudgens' "Weakening" ability and the nerve atrophy caused by Edgar's "Speed" ability. It seemed that without the help of the Sutherland bacteria, all types of mutants would be negatively affected by their abilities.
Thinking of this, Todd suddenly remembered Rachel. The woman, contrary to her usual self, had been sitting on the ground with her arms crossed, saying nothing.
Todd walked up to Rachel, knelt down, and lifted her sleeve. Veins, bulging like lightning, covered the woman's arms.
He gently touched the other person's skin, and Rachel recoiled in pain as if she had been electrocuted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Todd lowered his voice and said to the woman. Rachel was pale and couldn't say a word, only shaking her head to indicate that she was alright.
Todd pulled her sleeve back up, then calmly helped her up, leaving the others behind, and the two of them walked out of the workshop.
“To be honest, Rachel, I don’t quite understand you.” Todd braced himself against the woman’s elbow, leaned his upper body outward, and looked at the distant scenery.
The powerless Rachel slipped one hand through Todd's arm and grabbed his upper arm with the other, looking like a woman in love, nestled against her lover.
"Me too."
Hearing Rachel's words, Todd turned his head and looked at her in surprise.
The woman raised her head and looked directly at the other person.
The two of them suddenly burst into laughter at the same time.
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