in the name of the queen.

Roland and Menette's secret meeting lasted for a long time.

Two foxes, one old and one young, were chatting and laughing, inadvertently testing each other and exchanging interests.

Menette was not originally qualified to discuss business on an equal footing with Roland and the three major countries behind him, but he had new bargaining chips.

As a "loyal dog" developed by Queen Sissi, his defection is of great significance.

As a close aide to Queen Sissi, he has a very deep understanding of Queen Sissi herself, and also has a deep understanding of succubi and other dark races.

Although Roland was skeptical about the old man's sincerity in turning against him, he still accepted the cooperation.

The appearance of four prophetic poems made him feel the crisis.

The first appearance of war machines made humans, except Roland, finally realize the backwardness of technology.

A few common soldiers can destroy a human fortress. What should we do if elite and leader-level war machines appear?

War machines using fossil energy are forever dormant, while machines using electric power are waking up one after another. What if the Alemanni Empire controls higher-level technology?
For example, a war machine with a miniature nuclear reactor.

Others may not know the future technology tree, but Roland knows the general direction.

Can the flesh and blood of humans in the Seventh Era stop these war monsters?
The emergence of the Darkspawn challenges the uniqueness of the extraordinary.

According to old man Menette, the Dark Ethnics are just a general term, and the ethnic divisions within them are very complex. There are branches that follow the path of extraordinary stars, as well as strong people who are good at magic and martial arts.

The technology of the Darkin is very backward, but their individual combat capabilities surpass those of humans.

Roland was skeptical about this.

Humans are a super race that defeated dragons and gave birth to gods.

There is a huge gap between the upper and lower limits of human beings, with weak military force and strong force coexisting, and the upper limit is extremely high.

The Darkin brag so much, but how many of them can become gods?

The dark side where the darkin are located relies on the material plane and is part of the Theia plane.

If they were really that awesome, why would they become subordinates? Instead of the material plane relying on the dark side to exist?
Roland did not ask these questions, but he believed that the old fox knew them.

Otherwise, Menette would not have come to him for cooperation, but would have followed the Dark Lord to the end.

To see a person’s true attitude, don’t look at what he says, but look at what he does.

Roland was unable to discern the old man's true intentions for a moment, so he tried to find a way to calm him down.

His reason was simple: the matter was of great importance and must be discussed with Sophia and others.

Menette agreed with Roland's reasoning, but he set a deadline.

Three days.

It's normal for him to be so anxious, betraying the Darkin is no small matter.

If he really wanted to restore order, Roland had to keep him safe.

If he was a puppet controlled by the Darkin, Roland could just play with him without making any noise.

Roland didn't have to wait too long, and Sylph and the others came back the next day.

Inviting Menette to come for discussion again, Sylph almost vomited after just staring at him for a few seconds.

After impatiently finding an excuse to hastily end the meeting, Sif suppressed her nausea and took a few deep breaths before calming herself down.

"This is a genuine scumbag. The good qualities of human beings are nowhere to be found in him, but the despicable nature of human beings is fully displayed in him."

"He is greedy by nature, acts despicable, licentious and has no bottom line."

Sif paused suddenly and said softly, "Compared to him, you are as perfect as a saint."

"But he is unwilling to be a lackey of the Darkin, there is no doubt about that."

Roland let out a long sigh. Feeling that Sif's gaze stayed on him for a little too long, he simply told her everything about himself and Alina.

"Honey, I met Alina."

"It's okay. I totally agree. After all, she is the emperor. I will hold the wedding with her."

Sif breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile.

She was having a fierce struggle in her heart over whether or not to use Insight.

She really didn't want to use her insight on Roland. Some things were better left unseen.

Roland's frankness made the slight displeasure in her heart disappear.

Before the Battle of White Mountain, she promised to accept Alina and Lisa, but only after the Battle of White Mountain was over.

Roland kept her promise, and the time of the Sixth Era belonged entirely to her.

This is enough.

Once you embark on the path to stardom, you will have less and less time left for your family. However, the stardom path that Roland has chosen does not allow him to practice in seclusion, and he must walk in the mundane world.

When she reopens the Elf Secret Realm, she will stay there for a long time, and the time she spends with Roland will gradually decrease.

It's always a good thing to have more women to take care of Roland.

Sif looked at Roland with a smile and said softly, "Although I am one year younger than Alina, I knew you first, so I am considered to be the first one to enter our family. I will prepare a generous gift for Alina."

"No need for gifts. She refused to marry me."

Thinking of Alina's reasons, Roland still felt regretful.

It was indeed a bit disappointing not to see the bride Alina in her traditional golden kite dress.

Sif was stunned for a moment, and her face suddenly turned red.

Alina is so ungrateful.

I finally figured it out and was willing to share it with other women, but this guy still got pretentious?

Sif snorted angrily, "Why, do you want me to go discuss this with her?"

"You misunderstood. She just doesn't want to be bound by marriage."

Roland helped Alina make up a romantic excuse, "You know, Golden Kite women like romance, and so does Alina. She doesn't want to be bound by marriage."

"So she chose to be your lover?"

Sif was stunned for a few seconds and vaguely understood Alina's thoughts.

It's not that she doesn't want to be bound by marriage, she just doesn't want to be second.

There are also political considerations.

Sif smiled and shook her head. "Roland, you don't understand women. She is your lover in name only, but in reality she is still your wife. She can be willful, but I cannot be disrespectful."

Roland never understood women, and this time was no exception.

He wisely did not continue the topic.

Sif is no longer the simple and irritable noble girl she used to be. She knows how to act in moderation.

Roland quickly brought out Menette as a shield.

"My dear, I want to sneak into Tyrol and investigate the darkspawn."

"I'll go with you!" Sif said without hesitation.

"We disappeared together for quite some time, and everyone knows there's something wrong." Roland shook his head and refused.

Although Roland rejected her, Sif was not angry. She knew that Roland was right.

They disappeared for quite a long time, and coupled with the mysterious death of Queen Sissi's entire family, the forces behind her would inevitably become alert.

Not many people can go, and not even her.

Sif was a little worried. After thinking it over, she said in a deep voice, "Let Christine go with you. She has the power of the goddess and her strength is not inferior to yours. In addition, the light can restrain the darkness, so her fighting power can be fully exerted, and she is even less likely to compromise with the darkborn."

"If you don't accept it, then don't go." This is Sif's bottom line.

Roland saluted Sif in an exaggerated manner, "Yes, sir!"

"You go find Christine. I won't go." Christine has a close relationship with Roland, but has average relationships with others. Sif naturally wouldn't go and cause trouble for herself.

Not long after Roland left his residence, Sif also left the mansion, crossed Friendship Street, and walked towards a mansion in the east district of the city.

The person she was looking for was Sophia.

When the maid informed Sophia, she was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted.

She thought for a moment and chose to meet Sif in the small study in the backyard.

The front yard of the noble mansion was open to the public, where they would receive friends and handle official business. Most of the servants also lived in the front yard.

The backyard is usually where the nobleman and his family live.

The slaves who were able to serve in the backyard were often loyal servants who had followed the family for several generations.

When receiving guests in the front yard, no matter how good the relationship is, they are still outsiders.

When we host guests in the backyard, no matter how bad our relationship is, we are still family.

Considering how Roland had been working diligently these days, Sophia really couldn't leave Sif in the front yard.

But it felt a little awkward to meet in the small restaurant in the backyard, after all, they were enemies just a few months ago.

So she chose the small study.

The front door of this study leads to the front yard, and the back door leads to the back yard. It can be considered as the front yard or the backyard where the family lives.

She received an aristocratic elite education since childhood and is very familiar with social etiquette and interpersonal relationships.

Although she cared less and less about these things after becoming the strongest person in the world, some things were engraved in her bones and could not be forgotten.

Sif could naturally understand Sophia's choice.

She was a little surprised.

I wasn’t surprised by Sophia’s choice, but I was surprised that Sophia actually considered the details carefully.

Whether it was the indifferent choice of the front yard or the nonchalant placement in the backyard, it was consistent with Sophia's domineering style, except that it was a bit strange to seriously consider the reception etiquette.

Sif calmly sat down at the desk in the small study.

Her eyes fell on the books on the table.

On Light.

"Is this the last work of the Goddess of Light before she left?" Sif asked tentatively. "Yes, it was written by Tia."

Sophia sat down with a smile and was about to call the servants, but suddenly she remembered that there was no need to let the servants get close to such a confidential conversation, so she took out a bottle of wine from the table and put it down casually.

"If you want to drink, pour it yourself." Her expression returned to its cold and calm state, but her brows were less weathered.

Sif was not going to be polite with her. She lightly removed the cork, poured a glass of wine, shook the glass, and carefully admired the movement of shaking the wine.

Unsophisticated people drink wine by gulping it down in one gulp, whereas refined people pay attention to the details of pouring, sobering up and tasting the wine.

Sif was once the last queen of the elves and the most beautiful woman in the world, and her demeanor was naturally extremely elegant.

It was just a polite remark, but Sophia didn't expect Sif to slowly taste the wine. She couldn't help but frown slightly.

But she didn't interrupt.

This is not a battlefield, and the rules of the battlefield can only be slightly relaxed.

Sophia thought seriously about the royal etiquette in her mind and said softly:
"Should I call you Ms. Sylph or Mrs. Roland?"

Sif corrected her seriously: "The correct address is Lady York, but of course you can call her whatever you want."

"Okay, Mrs. York, I know your time is very valuable, and so is mine. You can just tell me what you want to say. But I have to make it clear that Roland can work for everyone in Val City for half a year every year, and he must come to my place for the other half of the year. This is my biggest concession."

Sophia stared at Sif warily.

According to the agreement, Roland originally only had half a month's vacation each year, but now it's almost half a year. She has made a huge concession.

Sif smiled and said, "Thank you for your tolerance, Miss Sophia. Don't worry, I'm not an idiot who pushes the envelope."

"What I want to say is that the leader of the Darkin has turned against us."

She recounted in detail the story of Menette's betrayal.

Sophia's face was slightly stern. She probably knew what Sif wanted to say.

She hesitated slightly.

Now is the critical moment for her to re-plan her star path. She does not intend to act rashly, but Sif has already spoken, and it would be unreasonable to flatly refuse.

Sophia picked up the empty wine glass in front of her. In a trance, the glass touched her lips, and a cold feeling came from the empty glass.

She was slightly startled and caught a glimpse of the empty cup out of the corner of her eye.

Silence, the air seemed to be frozen.

Sif didn't dare to breathe. She wasn't sure what Sophia was thinking, but she knew that Sophia's mental state was not right.

At this time, anything you say would be wrong and might anger this moody and icy woman.

Although she no longer walks the path of winter, the coldness of her personality has not changed.

Sophia stared at the empty cup, and countless past events came to her mind.

Perhaps because she had lost most of her strength, her personality had become somewhat weak recently.

A bit like her when she was still in the Kingdom of Pruden.

Simple and likes to dream, weak and unable to control destiny.

Just as Sif was wondering whether to say something, Sophia finally figured it out in a flash.

Now that you have made your choice, don't hesitate.

Destruction is the end of life and also the beginning of life.

Without destruction, how can there be new life?
She clenched the cup in her hand and smashed it hard, breaking it into a pile of slag on the ground.

If you can’t even put down a cup, what else can you put down?
Sophia threw the cup and gained enlightenment, and no longer had any doubts about the future.

She felt comfortable after the fall, but Sif was shocked.

Sif subconsciously clenched the smoke bomb in her hand and almost ran away.

But after assessing the power gap between the two sides, she ultimately gave up on using force.

There were footsteps outside the corridor.

But Sif did not panic, because she knew from the footsteps that they were from a maid, not an axeman.

She didn't even sense Sophia's murderous intent.

On the contrary, Sophia was in a good mood and particularly happy.

Sif laughed and teased, "Sophia, how many swordsmen are there outside?"

Sophia did not respond to her mockery, but said calmly: "Roland and I will go together to remove the tentacles of the Light and Dark Inheritance."

Sif felt a headache.

This is indeed an answer in line with Sophia's style. If something can be solved with force, try not to waste time talking.

But what is needed at this time is not force.

She quickly shook her head and said, "With a traitor leading the way, Roland will definitely be able to see something. Your invincible force is the ultimate trump card, not a charging pawn."

Although Sif refused, she spoke in a nice way and Sophia reluctantly accepted.

Seeing Sophia frowning slightly, Sif was afraid that she would have some strange ideas again, so she quickly put forward her own ideas.

"Let Roland do the dirty work. You just need to watch from a distance and provide protection."

Sophia's brows furrowed even more.

She didn't like this sneaky approach, but as Sif said, she didn't need to be responsible for the specific matters, so she had no reason to object.

"it is good."

Sophia's voice gradually became colder. Sif knew that she was trying to drive her away, so she quickly stood up and said goodbye.

If she didn't need a favor, she wouldn't want to come to this damn place at all.

Sif silently complained in her heart, has Sophia really said goodbye to the winter star? Why is the room still so cold?

Idiots who don’t want to light the fireplace in the spring will suffer from arthritis when they get old!

Just as Sif and Sophia were discussing, Roland found Christine.

The priest at the door enthusiastically invited Roland into the Cathedral of Light and pointed him to Christine's prayer room.

"The Pope always prays there. She said you don't need to be notified when you come."

The pastor watched Roland leave, his eyes full of envy.

He had a clear understanding of Roland's identity, and although he was envious, he was not jealous.

Roland is a Knight of Light and the most trusted person by His Holiness the Pope. In terms of power, he should be above the second-in-command of the Court of Light.

He is the Pope's confidant.

In the prayer room, Christine was kneeling on the mat, with her hands crossed over her chest, praying devoutly.

When Roland came in, she did not stop praying, but signaled with her eyes that Roland should pray beside her.

Christine was performing her weekly hymn blessing. This pious ritual could not be interrupted. It was a great honor to accompany the Pope at this time and open his heart to the Goddess.

If it were any other believer, they would surely be so excited that they would prostrate themselves on the ground, but Roland couldn't do that.

It's not impossible for him to kneel down to the Goddess of Light, but he just feels a little annoyed inside.

Thinking of what Christine had once said, asking him to pray more often, Roland felt a little embarrassed.

Although he agreed verbally, it was his first time here.

Now that we are here, let’s pray.

Roland bent his knees slightly and was about to imitate Christine when he suddenly had an idea and turned his body towards Christine.

It is certainly possible to pray directly to the goddess, but humble believers have another option, which is to pray to a higher-level clergyman and have them convey the prayer on their behalf.

As the status gap between high-ranking clergy and ordinary believers has grown, the second way of praying has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Roland turned to Christine tactfully and touched the ground with one knee.

This posture is more like a vassal expressing his loyalty to his lord.

He is also a senior clergyman of the Court of Light and has a territory in the Holy City, so he can be considered a vassal of Christine.

Likewise, Christine also has a duchy in Sussex.

Roland is the vice emperor of the empire and Christine's lord.

To Christine, he is a knight of light equivalent to a cardinal and owns a diocese.

Legally, they are each other's vassals and monarchs.

It's not impolite to kneel down on one knee in front of her.

The corners of his lips curled up slightly. Roland was in a good mood. Unconsciously, even his voice became louder while he sang along with the hymns.

It would have been fine if he didn't say anything, but once he opened his mouth, Christine, who was originally looking unhappy, couldn't hold it back any longer.

She turned around and signaled Roland to shut up with her eyes.

The two of them knelt face to face, looking into each other's eyes, with one knee touching the ground, their bodies stiff.

The posture is standard, expressing the mutual loyalty between the monarch and his subjects.

But Roland vaguely felt that this posture was awkward.

Fortunately, the prayer ceremony was coming to an end, and the awkward mood soon ended with Christine's voice becoming increasingly loud and clear.

Christine slowly stood up and cast a gentle gaze on Roland.

"Roland, you must come here more often in the future. After you came, the strength of the Holy Blessing has increased significantly. It can be seen that the great Lord of Light is very satisfied with you."

Roland almost choked and rolled his eyes. He was very sure that the reason for the enhancement of the Holy Blessing was not him, but he knew better than to expose it.

"By the way, what's the matter with you coming to see me?" Seeing that Roland didn't want to answer, Christine didn't insist.

"Of course, I need your help, I..."

"it is good."

Christine interrupted Roland decisively.

Her eyes were like those of a baby who had not been stained by the dirt of the world, clear and pure. (End of this chapter)