Chapter 43

Desinia Territory.

The selection of mayors and other officials had to take place in Visas.

Moreover, Xia Zuoyi had already set the detailed registration and examination dates, examination venues, and so on. Anyone who wished to participate only needed to arrive in Visas before the designated date.

To that end, he had specially planned and arranged an examination hall in Visas.

Afterward, they began tallying the number of applicants, assigning examination rooms according to the number of people, and making specific arrangements...

Judith sorted through the list and said, "My lord, more than three hundred people from fifteen cities, including Visas, have registered for the examination."

"More than half of them want to run for mayor, while the rest have chosen other official positions."

Xia Zuoyi nodded, then remembered something. "What about Nat?"

Judith said, "I conveyed your suggestion to Young Master Nat, and he accepted it."

"Afterward, he did indeed study as you instructed. When registering, he selected the position of diplomat."

Xia Zuoyi hummed in acknowledgment. After asking a few more questions about Nat, he changed the subject. "How are the examination papers Grove and the others are preparing?"

"Only a small portion remains before they can be completed."

Xia Zuoyi said, "Judith, tell them to hurry. The papers must be printed before the examination begins... Also, they are not allowed to go anywhere during this period or contact outsiders, lest the questions be leaked."

"Yes, my lord."

Vina Lauren was the young master of a viscount's family that had already fallen into decline.

The Lauren Family was now so poor that only one manor remained, and they relied on the meager profits from farming to sustain themselves.

Vina's father, Viscount Lauren, had hoped that he could become a knight.

However, Vina was rather frail and simply could not endure the intense training required of a knight. Compared to becoming a knight, he preferred sitting quietly indoors and reading.

In order not to disappoint his father.

Vina had tried participating in knight training, but the results had been far from ideal.

In the end, Viscount Lauren gave up on making Vina a knight. After all, he only had this one son and could not train him to death.

After news of the mayoral selection spread, Vina suddenly approached him and said that he wanted to take the examination. "Father, I want to go to Visas to register."

Viscount Lauren was surprised. "Vina, my son, are you sure?"

Vina nodded. "Yes, I'm sure, Father."

Viscount Lauren pondered for a moment. "Since you have already made up your mind, then go ahead and do it."

"However, there is also a registration location in our city. There is no need for you to go to Visas..."

Vina carefully chose his words. "Father, after registering in Visas, I want to stay there directly... and return only after the examination ends. Do you... do you agree?"

Viscount Lauren froze for a moment, then somehow grasped the idea on his own. "Do you want me to accompany you for the examination?"

In any case, the affairs of the manor did not require too much of his attention.

Vina said, "...No, there's no need to trouble you, Father."

Viscount Lauren ultimately agreed.

Vina took two servants with him to Visas. After registering, he chose a place in the city and settled down.

Shortly before the examination.

Vina wanted to go out and clear his mind when he happened to run into his neighbor next door.

Seeing Nat walking home with an absent expression and vacant eyes, Vina could not help calling out, "Nat, stop walking. There's a wall right in front of you..."

However, his warning was neither too early nor too late. It came at exactly the right moment.

The instant Nat subconsciously raised his head, he slammed into the wall beside the door with a bang. He immediately clutched his head and crouched down with a grimace. "That hurt like hell."

Vina hurried over. "Are you all right? What were you thinking about just now?"

Nat looked miserable and sighed. "I was thinking about the examination."

"I haven't slept well for two nights already. Even in my dreams, I'm memorizing questions. What if I fail? What if I... mm?"

Vina could not help reaching out to cover his mouth. With a headache, he said, "Don't overthink it."

The two were neighbors, and after becoming acquainted, they had become friends.

Seeing that Nat was still frowning.

Vina thought for a moment, then crouched beside Nat in the same posture. "I'm scared too."

"What are you scared of?" Nat asked in confusion.

Vina said, "I'm scared that none of the things I memorized will be tested, and everything that is tested will be something I don't know."

"..."

That hit right in the heart!

Vina said, "Why not think of it this way—you have to do well, or you'll be letting down all the hair you lose every day."

"..."

Vina was about to say more.

Nat could no longer bear it. He clutched his chest and stopped him. "Enough. Please, just shut up."

Your comfort was both heartbreaking and a knife in the chest!

Vina gave an unclear "Oh," then stopped talking.

At last, the day of the examination arrived.

A large crowd poured into Visas.

However, those unrelated to the examination were not permitted near the examination grounds. Soldiers had also sealed off and guarded the examination site, and the atmosphere instantly became solemn and tense.

Even the people living in Visas could not help coming over to watch the excitement.

"The lord really takes this examination seriously. They search everyone one by one before letting them in. I heard they aren't allowed to bring anything with them. Even the paper and pens for the examination are handed out..."

"After all, they're choosing administrators for an entire city. It seems that nobles are participating too. If I could read, I would definitely take the examination as well. Maybe I could..."

Before he could finish, others interrupted him with laughter.

"Even if you could read, more than three hundred people are taking the examination, and only a few dozen will be selected. The gap is too great. You have no hope."

"Besides, you still have to withstand the lord's test afterward. Oh, no, it's called an interview. You should work on your courage first."

No matter what the people outside discussed, Nat and Vina could not hear them.

However, they could see that a soldier had found quite a few things on the person ahead of them. After checking them, they discovered that the items were indeed tools for cheating.

The man was immediately seized by the arms by two other soldiers and dragged away despite his pleas for mercy.

Grove had been appointed by Xia Zuoyi as the chief invigilator.

He addressed the examinees behind them, who had fallen silent because of the incident. "Once you are discovered cheating, your examination qualifications will be revoked. In serious cases, you will never be employed again."

"If you take out all prohibited items on your person now, you may still enter the examination hall. Or, if you think you will not pass, you may leave immediately before entering."

Nat turned his head and looked around.

He discovered that quite a few people really did withdraw from the queue, while others took out the things on them and threw them away...

After entering the examination hall, the examinees were assigned to different rooms.

The desks where each person sat were more than a meter apart. Soldiers frequently came outside to patrol, and two people guarded the room as well... Furthermore, the examination papers had been sealed in advance.

Before the examination began, three hourglasses were placed on the desk at the very front...

Nat involuntarily swallowed. The sight had frightened him a little. This was way too strict.

Not only that.

A small problem occurred midway through the examination.

Someone had actually copied parts of a book onto the lining of his clothes and secretly looked at them while answering questions. However, the invigilators caught him red-handed, and soldiers immediately covered his mouth and dragged him away.

Only after leaving the examination hall did Nat finally relax.

The examination for selecting mayors and other officials lasted three days in total.

After all the examinations ended, Vina found him and said, "I should leave too."

Every examinee had left their city and detailed address on their papers. The results would not be released until half a month later, and soldiers would naturally go notify those who had passed the written examination.

Vina had been away from home for too long and had to return to wait for news.

Nat nodded and bid him farewell.

All the examination papers were sent to the castle.

Xia Zuoyi had the priests mark and grade the papers in the same room.

He set a passing standard. The priests would sort the papers according to their scores, organize them, and then hand them over for his review.

Five days passed.

The number of people who had reached the passing mark was tallied.

—More than three hundred people had taken the examination, but fewer than one hundred passed the written test.

That proportion was far too small when compared to the total population of fifteen cities.

However, it was also normal.

The level of education in this era was inherently backward. It was limited by the environment and various conditions, including paper, printing, and the spread of books.

Most importantly, on the Western Continent, education was not a necessity.

Nobles pursued pleasure, while commoners and slaves had almost no opportunity to learn any knowledge. After all, education could not help fill their stomachs.

Xia Zuoyi thought that not only Visas and Komoy Fort, but also every city would need comprehensive development and new regulations after mayors were selected.

For example, the establishment of schools and issues concerning sanitation in the cities.

After confirming the candidates who had passed the written examination, Xia Zuoyi sent soldiers to notify them.

Xia Zuoyi then made time to summon Ferdinand and ask about the current situation in Gaina.

After the old king and eldest prince died, Gaina's royal capital had fallen into chaos. Bruno Green would certainly seize the chance to scheme.

This was the best time for them to fish in troubled waters, ruin Bruno's plans, and create trouble to obstruct his ambitions.

Ferdinand was familiar with Gaina, so he had been responsible for the matter ever since.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Has Gaina's heir to the throne been selected?"

After Gaina's old king died, the princes had been first in line for succession.

However, all of his sons, from the eldest prince to the third prince, had died as well. The right to ascend the throne thus passed to the second line of succession: the old king's grandsons, including Bruno Green.

Ferdinand said, "Originally, the eldest prince's eldest son should have inherited the throne, but Bruno Green has won over quite a few people in the royal capital. In addition, rumors have spread..."

"What rumors?" Xia Zuoyi asked in confusion.

Ferdinand said, "Rumors have spread through Gaina's royal capital... that the eldest prince's eldest son likes men."

"In the Holy See, that is a grave sin. His conduct is improper, and he must be punished."

Xia Zuoyi was stunned for a moment upon hearing that.

He had nearly forgotten that on the Western Continent, men being together with men would be scorned by the world.

Same-sex love was disrespectful toward the Creator God and was also a serious crime. Once discovered, it would be met with cruel punishment.

For example, the original owner's fate in the book—he was ultimately convicted of sodomy and painfully died by hanging.

Of course, it depended on the circumstances of each class. Being discovered was one thing; remaining undiscovered was another.

The eldest prince of Gaina's eldest son... setting aside whether he truly liked men or not.

As one of the heirs to the throne, once such a stain was attached to him, he would inevitably face opposition from some people.

After all, the old king had more than one grandson.

What was more, if Bruno Green handled things properly.

He only needed to bring in clergy from the Holy See to investigate the eldest prince's eldest son, then secretly bribe them... In that case, it would become difficult for that eldest son to inherit the throne.

Xia Zuoyi nodded. "No wonder no one in Gaina has ascended the throne yet."

Even an unconfirmed rumor that he liked men could become an obstacle that this eldest son could not overcome...

It seemed he should focus on his career in the future.

But since such rumors could emerge, that eldest son must have had a rather "close" relationship with other men. Otherwise, Bruno Green would not have made an issue of it.

Xia Zuoyi silently reminded himself that he had to be a well-behaved "straight man" in the future and work hard to avoid the path of fate.

Career came first!

Ferdinand went on to describe Gaina's other circumstances. "Previously, a group of people attempted to assassinate the eldest prince's eldest son while he was out. Our people secretly helped him... That eldest son has probably already realized who wants him dead."

Xia Zuoyi said, "Have our people remain in Gaina. We cannot let Bruno Green's plan succeed."

"Yes, my lord."

"Also, I..."

Just as Xia Zuoyi was about to say something, activity suddenly appeared on the system interface. A cute little matchstick figure abruptly poked its head out from the cosmic mailbox and waved in greeting.

[Host, host, 098 is back! I brought you a present.]

Xia Zuoyi was pleasantly surprised.

He kept his expression under control and asked inwardly, "You came back so quickly this time. What kind of present is it?"

098: [It's a Gyrfalcon egg.]

Xia Zuoyi asked, "A Gyrfalcon?"

In his previous life, he had worked as a director recording wilderness survival documentary videos. By coincidence, he had filmed a documentary about eagles, visiting many places and specifically consulting local eagle keepers.

The documentary had covered and included many species of eagles.

The one that had left the deepest impression on him was the Gyrfalcon—praised as the "God of Ten Thousand Eagles."

Legend had it that only one Gyrfalcon would emerge among a hundred thousand divine eagles.

There had been many legends about them throughout history, but they had become exceedingly rare in modern times.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Did you go to the modern era?"

098 shook its little matchstick head. [This time, 098 traveled to the world where the Chuunibyou System is. That world is rather fantastical and dangerous.]

[This Gyrfalcon has a tiny bit of divine eagle bloodline. It can understand human speech, has a long lifespan, and will grow very large.]

[But don't worry, Host. It only has the abilities of an ordinary eagle, except that it flies faster and has sharper claws.]

Xia Zuoyi said, "...The gifts you give me are never simple. Thank you, 098."

[You're welcome! Sending hearts to Host.]

Seeing Xia Zuoyi begin to space out, Ferdinand could not help asking, "My lord, what did you want to say?"

Xia Zuoyi looked up. "I wonder how the castle by Par Lake is coming along. I want to go take a look, Ferdinand."

Ferdinand's expression softened. "I'll make the arrangements right away. Shall I take you there tomorrow?"

"Mm, all right." Xia Zuoyi nodded, his caramel-colored eyes curving into crescents.