After several days of sailing, Todd enjoyed a rare and peaceful vacation.
Every day, fishing, reading, chatting with people, and managing his soul space became the only things he could do during the day.
At night, holding the sleeping Rachel in his arms, listening to the gentle sound of waves outside the boat, and feeling the ups and downs of the boat's hull, Todd always had the illusion that this journey would never end.
The world will continue in such ease and peace forever.
However, when the port of Twilight City appeared in Todd's sight, he immediately understood that sooner or later he would have to face reality.
Due to previous special instructions, the king's return was completely kept secret.
Among the team that came to greet Todd, except for the guards in disguise, Huggins was the only one waiting on the plank road at the port, and the cabinet members did not know.
Seeing the ketch slowly docking at the port, Huggins, who was lame on one leg, waved excitedly while jumping awkwardly on the spot.
Looking at the umbrella flag fluttering in the wind over the port, Rachel sighed slightly: "We are here."
Todd had a lonely look on his face and said, "Yeah, we're here."
"After getting off the ship, I must go back to the Alien Species Association first." Rachel straightened her clothes and hair: "I want to find the aliens who are proficient in ancient Tyrian language and translate all the transcribed notes. In addition,
I also need to arrange the internal affairs of the alien species."
Todd nodded: "I also want to go back to the palace first to understand the situation in the country and see if there have been any changes in the kingdom during my absence."
After the cargo ship docked, Todd watched Rachel leave the deck first, and then he put on a large cloak, walked down the transom, and came to the shore.
Stepping on the solid stone bricks, Todd looked at the bustling scene in the port and couldn't help but secretly marvel.
Hundreds of ships of various sizes and under various flags are anchored in the port.
Businessmen, captains, sailors, tourists and workers with different skin colors, clothing and languages have blocked the huge Muxi Port.
The huge pulley crane is running non-stop, boxes after boxes of goods are coming and going, and people's shouts, laughter, and quarrels are endless, making the entire port look full of vitality and vitality.
Huggins trotted all the way to Todd's side, his voice a little out of shape due to excessive excitement: "Your Majesty... you are back!"
Todd lifted his hood, looked at him with a smile, and said softly: "We'll talk about it back to the palace if there's anything else."
Under the guidance of Huggins, Todd came to the parking lot outside the port area, got on an inconspicuous carriage, and headed to the palace on the top of the mountain.
Along the way, Todd opened the curtains of the carriage and looked at everything along the way. The more he looked, the more surprised he became, and the more he looked, the more relieved he became.
Compared to when he just left, Duixi City now looks completely different. Houses and decorations have sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, and flower beds and tree canopies make the whole city beautiful.
Todd nodded and said with satisfaction: "The city looks much neater than before."
Huggins turned back and said: "In the past, the city center had the most people, so it was naturally noisy and crowded. Now, the population in the city center has been greatly reduced, so it naturally looks much neater."
Todd asked curiously: "Where are the people?"
"Land prices, rents and living costs in the city center are too high. People without money have moved to the lower city or outside the city, and the only ones left behind are the rich."
Hearing Huggins' words, Todd frowned slightly, but in the end he didn't say anything.
The carriage drove towards the palace, and when passing through the main square, a group of students from Muxi University stood on a wooden platform and shouted something to the passers-by.
Todd said to Huggins: "Stop the carriage over there, I want to hear what they say."
The latter, in accordance with the king's order, stopped the carriage not far from the podium.
"The whole world is sleeping in ignorance and narrow-mindedness! Only Mu Xicheng has mastered the truth! We are charged with the great mission of saving all living beings and awakening the world!"
A tall student with pigtails shouted to the people in the audience: "Look at those kingdoms in the parish! They still believe in the lies about God's salvation and place all their hopes on a clay doll.
On their bodies, let the church suck their flesh and blood!"
Another short, fat student with freckles raised his arms and shouted: "Science has dispelled superstition and ignorance. There have never been gods or prophets in this world! Human beings are the masters of the world! We are the helmsmen of destiny!"
We must save this world that has been deceived and deceived by the Church! We must liberate the poor people who live in the parishes! We want war!”
Todd, who was sitting in the carriage, heard this and asked Huggins in surprise: "War?"
Huggins explained softly: "There are currently two factions in Muxi City, one is the old cabinet led by Lord Emerson, and the other is the reform faction formed by the Chamber of Commerce Alliance."
"Lord Emerson advocates using diplomatic and religious methods to divide the major forces of the Father's Church in order to isolate the Papal State. The Chamber of Commerce Alliance requires the use of war to separate the forces of the Father's Church in other kingdoms.
Completely deported.”
Todd thought for a moment and suddenly grasped the point of the matter: "Isn't the Chamber of Commerce Alliance not just trying to expel the church forces?"
Huggins nodded and said: "You guessed it right... With the rapid development of business in Muxi City, the related factories, plantations, workshops, farms and other related facilities, even if they are operating at full speed and supplying goods, there is no way to meet the demand.
trade and consumption in the city. Therefore, the Business Alliance has proposed to the cabinet more than once, requesting to solve the two problems of insufficient land supply and difficulty in recruiting personnel."
"So, when it was discovered that the cabinet was unable to solve these problems, the Chamber of Commerce Alliance mobilized multiple branches and contacted the student groups of Muxi University to launch a slogan declaring war on God. Although the slogan was to drive away ignorance and respect human nature, it
In fact, they want to start a war to seize land and population."
Todd then asked: "How is the public opinion within the kingdom?"
"Emerson asked the cabinet members to explain to the people that the war will bring a series of harms, which will do more harm than good to Duixi City, but the effect is very little. After all, the citizens of Duixi City, whether they are businessmen, students, aliens, or more
Most of them have an irresolvable enmity with the Church of Heavenly Father, and the slogan "Declaring War on God" just satisfies their hopes."
Before Todd could react, Huggins added, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. I wonder if you still remember it?"
"What happened?"
"When you first formed the cabinet, there was such a rule. The prime minister of the cabinet is replaced every three years by election. When the new prime minister takes over the executive power from the king, he can reorganize or dissolve the original cabinet as needed."
Todd was stunned for a moment and then said: "Yes, it is indeed the case."
Huggins sighed: "Next month will be the day of the democratic election of the Cabinet Prime Minister. Lord Emerson and the Business Alliance candidate Rutledge will compete for the position of Prime Minister of the Kingdom."