CH 43

The Territory of Desinia.

The selection of the mayors and other officials needs to be carried out in Wissas.

In addition, Xia Zuoyi has already determined the detailed registration and examination time, the venue, and so on. Those who want to participate only need to arrive in Wissas before the stipulated date.

For this reason, he specially planned and set up an examination room in Wissas.

After that, they began counting the number of applicants, divided the exam rooms according to the number and made specific arrangements…

Udit sorted out the list and said, “My lord, in 15 cities including Wissas, more than 300 people signed up.” 

“More than half of them want to run for mayor, while the rest choose other official positions.”

Xia Zuoyi nodded. Remembering something, he said, “What about Nate?”

Udit, “I told Young Master Nate your suggestion and he accepted it.”

“Later, he did study according to what you said. When he signed up, he filled in the position of the diplomat.”

Xia Zuoyi after asking a few more questions about Nate’s situation, he turned around and said, “How about Grove and the others’ test papers?”

“The latter part is still short of completion.”

Xia Zuoyi, “Tell them to hurry up, Udit. They must print the papers before the exam starts… In addition, they are not allowed to go anywhere during these days. Contact with outsiders is forbidden to avoid divulging the test questions.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Wiener Lauren is the young master of a desolate Viscount family.

The Lauren family now has only one manor left, relying on the meager profits from farming to maintain their lives.

Wiener’s father, Viscount Lauren, hopes that he can become a knight.

But Wiener’s body is thin and weak. He can’t afford the high-intensity training of the knights at all. Moreover, he prefers to read quietly in the house rather than become a knight.

In order not to disappoint his father.

Wiener tried to participate in knights’ training but the results weren’t satisfactory.

In the end, Viscount Lauren gave up the idea of ​​making Wiener a knight. After all, he only had such a son and couldn’t let him die.

After the news of mayors’ selection spread, Wiener suddenly found him and said that he wanted to take the exam, “Father, I’m going to Wissas to sign up.”

Viscount Lauren was surprised, “Wiener, my son, are you sure?”

Wiener nodded, “Yes, I’m sure, father. “

Viscount Lauren pondered for a moment and said, “Now that you’ve made up your mind, do it.” 

“However, there are also registration places in our city. There is no need for you to go to Wissas…”

Wiener said, “Father, I want to stay in Wissas after registering… I’ll come back after the exam is over. You, would you agree?”

Viscount Lauren was stunned. Because there’s no one to turn to for advice1, he said after a while, “Do you want me to accompany you?”

Anyway, he doesn’t need to worry too much about the things in the manor.

Wiener, “…No, you don’t have to bother, father.”

Viscount Lauren finally agreed.

Wiener took two servants with him to Wissas. After signing up, he chose a place to live in the city.

Before the exam.

Weiner wanted to go out for a walk and happened to meet his next-door neighbor outside.

Wiener saw him walking towards the house with a blank expression and unfocused eyes. He couldn’t help shouting, “Nate, stop walking. There’s a wall in front of you…”

But he didn’t say it too soon, just right on time.

When Nate subconsciously raised his head, he banged against the wall beside the door. He then squatted down and covered his head with a grinning expression, “It hurts to death.”

Wiener hurriedly walked over, “Are you okay? What were you thinking about just now?”

Nate frowned and sighed, “I’m thinking about the exam.”

“I haven’t had a good sleep for two nights. Even in my dreams, I’m reciting questions. What should I do if I can’t pass the exam…huh?”

Wiener couldn’t help covering his mouth with a hand and said with a headache, “Don’t think too much.” 

The two are neighbors, and after getting acquainted, they became friends.

Seeing him still frowning.

Wiener thought for a while, and squatted down beside Nate in the same posture, “I’m afraid too.”

“What are you afraid of?” Nate wondered.

Wiener, “I’m afraid that what I’ve memorized can’t be used, and I won’t know all the things in the exam.”

“…”

Heartbreaking words!

Wiener, “It’s better to think like this—you have to do well in the exam, or you’ll be sorry to lose so much hair every day.”

“…”

Wiener wants to say more.

Nate couldn’t bear it anymore and suddenly put his hand on his chest to stop him, “That’s enough. Please shut up.”

Your comfort is both heartbreaking and like a knife stabbing!

Wiener didn’t know why but he stopped talking.

Finally, it’s the day when the exam begins.

A lot of people flooded into Wissas.

However, the people who have nothing to do with the test aren’t allowed to enter the area around the test room. The test site is guarded by soldiers so the atmosphere instantly becomes solemn and tense.

Even the people living in Wissas couldn’t help but come and watch the excitement.

“The lord really attaches great importance to this exam. Everyone has to be searched one by one even when they enter. I heard that they’re not allowed to take anything with them. The paper and pens used in the exam are distributed…”

“After all, it’s about selecting the managers of a city. It seems that there are still nobles inside. If I can read and write, I’ll definitely take part in it. Maybe I can…”

Before he finished talking, he’s interrupted by other people’s teasing.

“Even if you’re literate, there are more than 300 people taking the test, but only a few dozen people can be selected. The gap is too big, there’s no hope.”

“And in the end, you have to withstand the test of the lord. Oh no, it’s an interview. You should practice your courage first.”

…

No matter how the people talked outside, Nate and Wiener couldn’t hear it.

However, they’re able to see a person in the front row who’s found a lot of things by the soldiers. After checking, they found that these things were really tools for cheating.

The man was immediately grabbed by the arms of the other two soldiers and dragged out even before he asked for mercy.

Grove was appointed by Xia Zuoyi as the Chief Examiner.

He said to the examiners2 behind who were silent because of this incident, “Once you’re found cheating, you’ll be disqualified from the examination. If it is serious, you’ll never be employed3.”

“Now take all the illegal things out of you, and you can go to the exam. Or those who think they can’t pass the exam can leave immediately before entering the room.”

Nate looked around.

He found that quite a few people really withdrew from the queue, while some people took out their belongings and threw them away… 

After entering the examination room, the test-takers were assigned to different rooms.

The tables where everyone sits are almost one meter apart. Soldiers often come to patrol outside the door, and there are two guards in the room… And the test papers are sealed in advance.

Before taking the test, three hourglasses were placed on the front desk…

Nate involuntarily swallowed. He’s scared by this battle. It’s too strict.

Not only that.

There was a little problem halfway through the exam.

Someone actually copied some of the contents of the book into his clothes and looked at it secretly while doing the questions. However, the invigilator found it right in time, and he’s immediately dragged out by the soldiers while covering his mouth.

After leaving the examination room, Nate relaxed.

The examination lasted for three days.

After all the exams were over, Wiener found him and said, “It’s time for me to leave, too.”

All examiners left their respective cities and detailed addresses on the test papers. The results will come out after half a month, and at that time, soldiers will naturally notify those who have passed the written test.

Wiener had been away from home for too long and had to go back and wait for news.

Nate nodded and said goodbye.

All the papers were sent to the castle.

Xia Zuoyi asked the priests to grade them in the same room.

He set a standard for passing the exam. The priests would then sort the test papers according to their grades and arrange them before submitting them to him for review.

Five days passed.

The number of people reaching the passing line is counted.

—More than 300 people took the exam but less than a hundred people passed the written exam.

This ratio isn’t enough for the total number of officials needed in 15 cities.

But it’s also normal.

The cultural level of this era is originally backward, limited by the environment and various conditions. Paper, printing, and book dissemination are one of them.

Most importantly, in the Western Continent, culture is not a necessity.

The nobles are greedy for enjoyment but the commoners and slaves have little chance to learn any knowledge. After all, culture cannot help them fill their stomachs.

Xia Zuoyi thought, not only in Wissas and Fort Comoy but after the mayors of various cities are elected, he must also implement construction and formulate some new regulations in an all-round way.

For example, school arrangements, health and sanitation in the city, etc.

…

After determining the candidates who passed the written exam, Xia Zuoyi sent the soldiers to inform them.

Xia Zuoyi took the time to summon Fernandi to ask him what’s the situation in Gaynor?

After the death of the old king and the first prince, the royal city of Gaynor is in a mess. Bruno Green will surely take this opportunity to plan something.

This is the best time for them to fish in troubled waters4, sabotage Bruno’s plan, and create trouble to hinder his attempts.

Fernandi is familiar with Gaynor. He has been responsible for the rest of the matter.

Xia Zuoyi, “Is there a successor to the throne?”

After the old king of Gaynor died, the princes were the first in line.

However, all his sons, from the eldest to the third prince also died. The heirs who were able to ascend the throne continued to the second in line, that is, the grandchildren of the old king, including Bruno Green.

Fernandi said, “It was supposed to be the eldest son of the eldest prince who’ll inherit the throne, but Bruno Green has won many people in the royal city. And the coming-out…”

“What’s going on?” Xia Zuoyi wondered.

Fernandi: “In the royal city of Gaynor…the eldest son of the first prince likes men.”

“This is a serious crime in the Holy See. It needs to be punished for bad morals.”

Xia Zuoyi was stunned for a moment.

He almost forgets that on the Western Continent, men and men will be spurned by the world.

Homosexual love isn’t only a disrespect to the God of Creation, but it is also a felony. Once discovered, they will be cruelly punished.

For example, the fate of the original owner in the book—he was eventually convicted by sodomy5 and died by hanging.

Of course, it depends on each class’ situation. It’s one thing to be discovered, and another to not be discovered.

The eldest son of the first prince of Gaynor… Regardless of whether he likes men or not.

As one of the successors to the throne, once he has this stain, he will always be opposed by some people.

After all, he’s not the only grandson of the old king.

What’s more, if Bruno Green does it properly.

He only needs to attract the priests of the Holy See to investigate the first prince’s eldest son, and then secretly bribe them… Then, it is difficult for the eldest son to succeed to the throne.

Xia Zuoyi nodded, “No wonder there hasn’t been on Gaynor’s throne until now.”

A rumor that he likes men, and no one knows whether it’s true or not, can be a hurdle for the eldest son…

It seems that he’d better concentrate on his career in the future.

But since there are rumors, presumably the eldest son and the other man should also be “very close”, otherwise Bruno Green wouldn’t make this kind of issue.

Xia Zuoyi secretly reminded himself that he must be a well-behaved “straight man” in the future, and try to avoid the line of fate.

Career is important!

Fernandi also talked about some other information about Gaynor, “There’s a group of people who assassinated the eldest son when he’s outside. Our people secretly helped him… This son must have sensed who was trying to kill him.”

Xia Zuoyi: “Let our people stay in Gaynor. We can’t let Bruno Green’s plan succeed.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“In addition, I…”

When Xia Zuoyi was about to say something, there’s a sudden movement in the system interface. A cute and lovable stick figure suddenly popped out from the universe mailbox and shook his hand to say hello.

【Host host, 098 is back. I brought you a gift.】

Xia Zuoyi is surprised.

He controlled his facial expression and asked in his mind, “You came back so fast this time.  What gift is it?”

098:【It’s a costin egg.】

Xia Zuoyi, “Costin?”

In his last life, he worked as a documentary and video director for survival in the wild. He happened to record a documentary about eagles. For this reason, he also visited many places and asked about local eagles.

The documentary covers and incorporates many kinds of eagles.

The most profound thing in his memory is costin—known as the “God of Ten Thousand Eagles6“.

According to legend, only one “costin” was born out of 100,000 eagles.

There are many legends in history, but they are extremely rare in modern times.

Xia Zuoyi asked, “Did you go to modern times?”

098 shook his head:【In this trip, 098 went to the world where the Secondary Two system is located. That world is more mysterious and dangerous.】

【This Costin has a little eagle pedigree. He understands human language, has a long life span, and has a huge body.】

【But don’t worry, host. It only has the ability of an ordinary eagle, but it can fly faster and has better claws.】

Xia Zuoyi: “…The gifts you gave me are not simple. Thank you, 098.”

【No need for thanks, just showing my love to the host.】 

When Fernandi saw that Xia Zuoyi was starting to daze, he couldn’t help asking, “My lord, what do you want to say?”

Xia Zuoyi raised his head, “I don’t know how the castle next to Lake Pal is going. I want to go there and see, Fernandi.”

Fernandi’s expression became soft, “I’ll make arrangements right away. I’ll take you there tomorrow?”

“Well, good.” Xia Zuoyi nodded with big caramel eyes.

Translator’s Notes:

Not me silently updating two chapters instead of one XD. See you tomorrow for Lei Feng System, everyone, I’ll update three chapters there~~