In the Name of Empress-Chapter 633 - 364: You’re Not Allowed to Go! (2)

Even if I can only learn the basics, mastering line maintenance and volley firing would make handling the local natives quite easy.

Unfortunately, his handwritten letter sank into the sea, and there was never a reply.

"It seems they're going the cold route. These idiots have no idea what they're missing out on."

Roland even greeted the famous commander Carl Prudon, asking him to prepare an instructor team to educate these sea folks, yet those fools didn't respond.

Can't blame me for that.

Roland silently shook his head and dispelled his worries about the allies.

Just as he was about to leave the room for the study, the new butler hurriedly came in and reported in a low voice.

"Sir, an envoy from the deep sea requests an audience."

Roland's eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth slightly curved upwards.

These guys, pragmatism beat out their pride after all.

That's more like it, can pride fill your belly? The excellent seamen lost over the years are all elite warriors of Peon, and once lost, they're hard to replace.

He opened his mouth, but the words turned into "Make him wait a bit, I'll come to meet him after finishing these documents."

I enthusiastically invited you, but you didn't come. Now that my enthusiasm's gone, naturally, I won't be all smiles.

Roland was, of course, not being petulant; it was a stance.

The basis of cooperation is mutual trust. If ocean allies think they can quickly learn land warfare, then don't come.

If you want to come but feel embarrassed, what does that say?

Let them sit, let them sit until the seafood turns into dried squid.

Roland waved his hand to signal the butler to leave.

This new butler seemed to have learned from his predecessor's mistakes, at least for now. He was very measured in his actions, never overstepping.

Although sometimes his mind wasn't very flexible, it was enough.

Roland didn't like those scheming servants who guessed at his intentions, as they often became the next Barov once they grew in power.

Barov even dared to fleece Sofia; there's nothing he wouldn't do.

A butler should be honest.

Roland strolled to the study, pulled out a manual on ocean ingredient cooking, and flipped through it idly.

As he was enjoying the pleasure of reading, steady footsteps emerged from the corridor.

The new butler, Vatutin, rarely disturbed him while he was reading. Could something be up?

He put down the book in his hand and looked toward the door.

Yet the butler's footsteps halted abruptly outside the door.

Standing at the door without knocking, what does that mean?

Roland suspiciously pushed open the door, inquiring with his eyes.

Vatutin's tone was somewhat slow but very clear.

"Sir, the envoy from the deep sea said it's an urgent matter and wishes to see you as soon as possible. But since you said not to disturb you, I had to..."

...stand at the door.

The effect of footsteps equates to knocking, but without the urgency of knocking.

Roland mused internally, not realizing that this new butler, Vatutin, looked seemingly honest on the outside yet had such subtlety within.

"Have him wait in the reception room; I'll be there shortly."

Given the urgency, Roland didn't put on airs.

Three minutes later, he reached the reception room. From the corner of his eye, he saw the envoy sitting steadily though his facial expression was three parts anxious and seven parts pained.

Did something happen?

Roland's heart sank a bit, stowing away the jokes he prepared to tease the envoy, and asked seriously:

"Mister Envoy, what's the matter?"

Hearing Roland's voice, the envoy sprang forward in a stride, and just as Roland silently prepared a shield against potential assassination, the envoy collapsed to his knees with tears and cries.

"Master Roland, please save the boss lady! Only you can save her!"

"Hold on, speak slowly. Who's the boss lady, what happened to her, and why am I the only one who can save her? I'm not skilled in medicine, and my healing skills are rudimentary at best, not suitable for rescue."

Although the envoy was a bit out of line due to worry, his thinking was still clear. He quickly recounted Catherine's ordeal.

Half a month ago, Catherine, invited by Roland, dispatched a team of young officers to Rodinia, and then this fleet lost contact.

Hearing this, Roland's heart tightened, sensing something amiss.

During talks with him, Catherine did not hide her identity as part of the Celestial Eye Clan, even mentioning that her backing was Haiyan Marshal Plaiden.

With the Sea Emperor dormant in slumber, the actual power in the Undersea World was indeed Haiyan Marshal Plaiden.

With such substantial backing, how could anything have gone wrong at sea?

Roland vaguely sensed the presence of a conspiracy behind the scenes.

The envoy continued, saying that after the officer party's unexpected disappearance, Catherine, being very important, personally went to Haiyan Marshal's territory to accuse him.

However, she vanished upon this journey.

The Pirate Group's adjutant felt something was amiss and urgently contacted Haiyan Marshal's herald, only to receive the conclusion that Catherine had never been seen.

In short, a red-haired female pirate traversing the seas disappeared without a trace.

Roland wanted to say this story was poorly concocted, but he vaguely felt it might be true.

After all, such an outlandish story normal people wouldn't dare cook up.

After further inquiries on the details, Roland had the butler escort the envoy to rest and began pondering how to rescue Catherine.

Rescue must be done; Roland had many allies. Selling out an ally would impact his overall strategy.

Regardless of whether he could succeed in rescuing her, he had to try his best.

After a moment of contemplation, Roland took out the Endless Letter, writing down the query on the front.

"Check Catherine's ranking on the list of women's allure."

The front of the Endless Letter connected to Sif, while the back could communicate with Sofia.

In an age without 5G networks or wired telephones, only a Divine Artifact allowed communication over thousands of miles.

It didn't take long for a response from Sif's side.

"Cannot find Catherine's ranking, but her record hasn't been voided. I suspect she's missing."

"Your assumption is astute."

Roland shared the envoy's report with Sif, then wrote the same content on the back for Sofia's notification.

Sofia's response was, as always, cold and indifferent.

It took an extended period before a single sentence came back.

"You decide."

Truly a response with a Sofia-like character.

Roland wasn't expecting anything useful from the laid-back manager, but major issues had to be shared with her.

The leader may not make a statement, but you must let them know.

Turning the letter over, Roland happened to see Sif's response.

"What do you plan to do, to rescue her?"

"I'll do everything I can within my ability. If the enemy's insurmountable, there's nothing I can do."

Roland's response was airtight. Compared to Catherine, his own safety was far more critical, after all, he wasn't alone; he had several women behind him.

Sif was silent for a long time before slowly asking, "How are you going to gather the intel?"

"I intend to go to the Undersea City to meet your young stepmother. Matters of the sea must be solved in the sea."

"In the deep sea, the awakening Giant Demon is eager to move." Sif didn't outright reject him but quoted Christine's prophetic verse.

Her intention was clear: the current sea was immensely dangerous.

Perhaps to dissuade Roland entirely, she volunteered, writing: "I'm coincidentally free recently; I wish to see my father."

Sif's father was savoring life with the Sea Witch post-wedding; Sif's meaning was clear, she intended to go see Adina in his stead.

"After all, she's my stepmother, and with my father present, at least she wouldn't harm me."

"No way, absolutely no way!" Roland wrote with force enough to gouge wood, but left no trace on the Endless Letter.

"Why?" Back at the distant Hansa Palace, Sif, writing single-handedly while propping her chin with the other, smilingly asked in return.

She knew Roland was concerned for her and knew the reason, but still, she had to ask.

Acts of concern never get tiring no matter how often they're expressed.

"Nonsense, your child is still hanging from the tree. If you die, your father can rightfully return to reclaim the throne. Even if he harbors familial condolences, with Adina's ability, conjuring an accident at sea would be simple. Let alone the mysterious Giant Demon."

Roland wrote vehemently, then burst out laughing immediately.

Of course, Sif never intended to go herself but rather reminded him in this way to avoid personal risk.

"We should both avoid going, let's have Raikkonen..."

Roland, recalling Raikkonen being an only child, added another line.

"Have Raikkonen delegate reliable personnel to go."