Not only does the Cabinet fail to understand Roland's operations, the whole world fails to understand.

When everything Roland did was compiled into intelligence and presented to Sofia by Sahalin, she was silent for a long time without speaking.

Though he dared not speak loudly in front of the Empress, the resentment in Sahalin's heart could not be hidden.

Seeing his expression of wanting to speak but holding back, Sofia softly asked:

"Sahalin, you've been in Val City for one and a half months, what is your impression of Roland?"

Despite feeling very displeased, he still gave a fair assessment, "This is a despicable and cunning guy."

"His hard power is far inferior to mine, at most on par with Camille, yet he made both Camille and me suffer."

"According to my intelligence, he has never suffered a loss. Once is luck, twice is fortune, many times is skill."

Listening to Sahalin's judgment, Sofia nodded and softly said, "Sahalin, your view is very accurate."

While speaking, she sighed rather wistfully, and softly said, "Sahalin, do you think holding the position at the Shadow Sanctuary undervalues your talents?"

"I do not! It is my honor to serve Her Majesty, what I do is not important, being able to serve Her Majesty is what matters!"

Sahalin was so frightened that he was drenched in sweat.

Although his strength was only one step away from Tier Seven, even breaking through to Tier Seven would not make him a match for Sofia.

He had witnessed the Empress effortlessly slay opponents of the same level with his own eyes.

The Empress's questioning almost made him kneel in fear.

But he knew the Empress did not like cowards, so he could only stand straight.

Sofia smiled and said, "Sahalin, there's no need for this. Ambition is a good thing. The Shadow Sanctuary is just a special organization, high in rank but without real power, the stage is too small."

"I will give you a stage to perform. The military operation against the Boli Khanate will be your full responsibility. I'll give you one hundred and thirty thousand troops and half a year, is that enough?"

Sahalin's heart was trembling.

Her Majesty the Empress intends to let him handle things independently!

Though the Shadow Sanctuary is trusted by the Empress, it is merely a stepping stone.

He had been the head for over five years, and felt some resentment in his heart.

It seems his loyalty has satisfied the Empress, and only then would she give him a chance.

He hurriedly knelt on one knee, raised his head, and solemnly stated, "Your Majesty, the cost needed for one hundred and thirty thousand troops is too great. Five thousand troops are enough for me!"

"The Boli Khanate has fewer than twenty to thirty thousand troops nationwide, even if there is a full national mobilization, they could at most scramble together tens of thousands of undisciplined new soldiers, five thousand elite troops can conquer them in just three months!"

"Sahalin, it is a war to annihilate a country, under the threat of annihilation, the Boli Khanate will surely put up the fiercest resistance. They have a martial tradition and cannot be underestimated."

Sofia calmly said, "Even when a brown bear hunts a moose, it must give its all. Deploying one hundred and thirty thousand troops is extremely costly, but we cannot afford the consequences of failure."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to stake my life, five thousand men are sufficient!"

Sahalin said confidently, "This winter is very warm, pests hidden under the snow can easily survive, and when spring comes, they will ravage the plains full of holes. Climate factors are very disadvantageous to the Boli Khanate."

"Not only that, the current Boli Khan is a dull and incompetent fellow, who does nothing but drink and consort with women, none of the tribes within the Khanate respect him."

"As long as we launch an attack when the horses are thinnest in spring, they will surely lose!"

"I will never underestimate the enemy, I will use bribery and estrangement to divide and disintegrate them, then launch an attack when they are weakest."

Seeing Sahalin's confident expression, Sofia nodded with satisfaction and softly said:

"You have always been reliable in your work, I'll leave this matter to you. When you return triumphant, the territory and title of the Count of Lower Gross will be yours."

Sahalin trembled with excitement.

Her Majesty the Empress remains so generous.

His eyes reddened, and only after making repeated assurances did he then slowly leave.

Watching Sahalin's departing figure, Sofia sighed softly, somewhat helplessly.

She, of course, knew that deploying one hundred and thirty thousand troops was extremely costly, and sending five thousand would offer higher cost efficiency, but the Boli Khanate was not a pushover.

They would not surrender directly like Val City State.

They would use the vast steppes to keep maneuvering, prolonging until the Empire's army was exhausted, protecting their country.

This battle would not be easy, which is why she recalled Sahalin.

The Shadow Sanctuary cannot do without Sahalin, but now she needs a battle-hardened general even more.

Thinking of the useless generals and incompetent nobility under her command, she felt a headache.

This group of pests is her greatest obstacle to becoming the Great Emperor.

If the Vladimir Empire could also be brimming with talents like other countries, that would be great.

Actually, the Empire is not short of talent, it's just lacking channels for their upward mobility.

Sofia's eyes flashed with a cold light, before embarking on a full-scale war, she must clear out these parasites.

Let their heads remain a while longer.

Her cool voice echoed in the palace, "Have Angelina come over."

The situation in Val City has stabilized, there's no need for Sahalin to continue wasting time there.

To merely maintain stability, let Angelina go there for training.

The Holy Hall's one and a half brains, half rest with Angelina.

Although her thinking often skips around, when she's calm, her brain is still usable.

Moreover, she has made rapid progress recently, much stronger than before.

Though she has many faults, she's worth cultivating.

This is Sofia's evaluation of Angelina.

In others' eyes, Angelina is her shadow.

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