In the Name of Empress-Chapter 493 - 323: Perfect Footsteps

Entering the administrative hall, Roland saw several senior officials reporting work to Ados, who’d been temporarily transferred here from Hansa to oversee operations.

Their speech was rapid, language crisp and efficient, devoid of the long, convoluted sentences typical of Sussex’s local bureaucracy that conveyed no real information.

This was also Sif’s requirement.

No bureaucratic jargon or empty words, speak if necessary, otherwise don’t bother.

Too much blather results in wage deductions at best, performance penalties at worst.

The performance evaluation system Roland implemented firmly grasped those officials eager for progress, making Performance Points their lifeline.

They feared nothing except having their Performance Points tampered with.

The entire administrative hall was bustling; even old Wald was perusing documents, occasionally jotting down a few lines.

Only one person was an exception.

Sif, with her dedicated office, lay quietly on the sofa, back to the door, facing the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the Rodinia River, completely at ease, even more leisurely than Roland. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Perceiving Roland approaching, she didn’t turn around, just greeted him softly.

Roland smiled and teased, "Everyone is so busy, yet you seem relaxed."

He sat casually on the other chair beside Sif.

No need for formalities in front of his own wife.

Sif glanced at him from the corner of her eye, murmuring softly, "Seeing me so relaxed, does it make you less anxious?"

Roland nodded silently.

He certainly understood Sif’s point; leave professional duties to professionals, as a leader, not causing chaos is the biggest help.

In professional matters, Sif certainly couldn’t match the professionals selected layer by layer.

Thus, maintaining a relaxed demeanor, providing reassurance to these officials was better than micromanaging.

Being involved in everything only leads to exhaustion.

Roland needed to focus on the military; Sif only had to prepare for the ultimate confrontation.

She and Sofia had an unspoken understanding, no meetings before the final battle.

But she and Sofia would ultimately face off, deciding victory and life or death.

This was the fate she couldn’t escape.

Over the past three years, she’d countless times wanted to run away, countless times felt dejected, countless times abandoned hope, yet now she no longer feared, even anticipated.

The appearance of the Soul Blood Link filled her with confidence.

Alina and Lisa were the link’s providers, Roland the catalyst and core, while she stood at its pinnacle.

She not only grew stronger every day, but could also share insights with Roland.

And Roland could share the cultivation results from Alina and Lisa.

Simply put, Roland absorbed energy from Alina and Lisa solo, while she could exchange with Roland.

Perhaps gleaning from her experience, his initial hostility towards Alina had vanished.

If they all survived to the end, a few setbacks were just scenery in their long life journey.

The Soul Blood Link had changed not just her, but them as well.

Their destinies were already intertwined, only by all breaking through to Tier Three could they sever the bond.

But if they reached the Third Return Day hand in hand, would there be any need to sever it?

At least Sif found it unnecessary.

"How’s the front line?" Seeing Roland remain silent, Sif casually asked.

"No new intelligence." Roland shrugged, shaking his head.

Without Roland saying, Sif knew the answer.

Military intelligence was copied to her concurrently as it was reported to Roland; she didn’t receive it slower than him.

"Looks like our Saintess War God is running into trouble too."

Sif shrugged, her demeanor relaxed as she spoke.

As the Soul Blood Link formed, she gradually recognized the format of the Sixth Return Day’s showdown.

Army versus army, strong against strong.

Sofia and other powerhouses wouldn’t strike armies of ordinary people, but the strong could perform decapitation strikes.

Sif closed her eyes, seemingly seeing a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with the Elf Flower Sea appearing incongruous in such an environment.

She also saw the Elf Princess brandishing a Long Spear in the Flower Sea, severing all.

As she reopened her eyes, she glimpsed the unintended fatigue in Roland’s eye corner.

"Tired? Then rest for a while."

Sif stood up, casually shutting the room door, sealing the clamor outside.

She pointed at the soft bed nearby, indicating for Roland to lie down.

Though it was daytime, Roland didn’t refuse; he was indeed tired, weary of mind.

Though he ate and drank well every day, he constantly monitored the changing battle situation, endlessly simulating battlefield dynamics.

This kind of waiting consumed mental resources easily.

Since it was his wife, no need to act reserved like a friend.

Roland removed his outer garment and boots, pulled back the velvet blanket, laid down with his clothes on, and within seconds entered deep sleep.

In his dreams, he re-entered the dreamlike flowers.

He approached slowly, seeing Elf Sylph lying in the blooms, quietly speaking.

Roland sat beside her, gazing at her profile, somewhat lost.

Perhaps it was an illusion, he always felt Elf Sylph’s pointed ears were gradually shortening, more human-like rather than traditional elf.

Not only that, her appearance increasingly resembled Sif.

Although they were already similar, it was more in form than essence. Now as she lay quietly, she was nine-tenths like Sif.

The doubts in Roland’s heart grew denser.

He always felt there was an unspeakable bond between Elf Sylph and Sif.

Initially, he suspected Sif was Elf Sylph’s reincarnation, but since Elf Sylph hadn’t entered the cycle, this guess was quickly dismissed.