Since they insist, they must have a reason.
After much contemplation, Roland decided to be straightforward. He summoned the foreign ministers of the two countries and demanded they provide a legitimate reason, not to waste ti.
"We're all civilized people here, no need for any childish tantrums. Take on as much as you can handle. If an agreent can't be reached in three days, I'll return ho imdiately and have Her Majesty Sofia negotiate with you."
Roland's ultimatum was full of threat.
Will Sofia negotiate?
She won't.
Her negotiation tactic is to put a sword to the opponent's neck and ask them whether they agree.
But her success rate is the highest because negotiations at sword-point are always the most efficient.
Roland's ssage was simple; he's tired of this. If the Prudon Kingdom and Tirol Kingdom can't co up with a reasonable explanation, prepare for a beating.
His ultimatum was quickly t with a response.
"Tomorrow at noon, all nations' heads and representatives are invited to visit their latest archaeological results at the old city ruins thirty kiloters east of Francis."
This response made the representatives of all nations realize that these two entities had unearthed treasures, hence their boldness.
The representatives didn't care much.
In this era where technology relies on archaeology, who hasn't dug up so treasures? They just didn't want to reveal their trump cards so early.
Representatives were curious about why the two countries believed that excavation results could change the balance of power among nations.
At the Franks' defense battle, linked explosions set by Tom unintentionally triggered an underground ammunition depot, causing a nuclear bomb level explosion, sending a hundred thousand troops sky-high.
Such level of archaeological excavation is already at its limit, but the explosion that killed ten thousand people was due to a host of favorable circumstances, not replicable.
Even if the two countries unearthed a similarly sized ammunition depot, it would only slightly benefit them, not change much.
Representatives analyzed the outcos of the Odin ruins, so with worry, so with curiosity.
First, ruling out country destruction level war machines.
Even at its peak, the Odin Empire didn't possess such power, and it is even less likely they buried their trump card underground.
After a round of guessing and reasoning, most believed the excavation results to be imnsely city-destroying level, likely super-gigantic machinery inherited by the Odin Empire from the Alamanni Empire.
The Odin Empire had organized nationwide excavations in those days and obtained significant industrial scientific heritage from the Alamanni Empire, once causing bloodbaths across the continent.
It's not unusual to unearth several super machines.
So even speculate about what kind of war machines these could be.
In a mix of curiosity and anxiety, night fell.
The representatives and diplomats of various countries were slightly anxious, even sleepless, but Roland didn't care, already changed into silk pajamas, embracing his beloved wife, enjoying the night's tranquility.
Though separated from Sif for less than a month, longing had already tornted the young couple.
Previously pretending, both had to stay in their respective hotels.
Now that the negotiations were nearing the end, there was no need to pretend.
Sif closed her eyes slightly, lifting her head, her luscious lips as fresh as ripe strawberries.
Roland could barely restrain himself, kissing without hesitation.
Just as passion threatened to engulf him, he suddenly rembered Sif was pregnant, quickly loosening his grip.
"Sorry, I'm almost overwheld."
"Why hold back? I'm your wife." Sif opened her eyes, her gaze dreamy.
Roland shook his head slowly, his fingertips pointing to her still flat belly.
Though it was flat, their child was there, a fragile little life maturing healthily.
Seeing Roland's painful restraint, Sif bit her lip, pulled his neck closer, letting his ear rest against her belly.
"Listen yourself."
Roland chuckled silently; the little one wasn't even two months yet, not developed enough to have a heartbeat.
Still, this did not trouble him.
A Transcendent sensibilities are sharp; even through the skin, they can detect life within.
Roland's expression changed instantly.
He sensed no presence of life, the tranquil palace void of occupancy.
He wanted to get to the bottom of it but knew losing a child impacts a mother more deeply, quickly embracing Sif and comforting softly.
He finally understood why Sif was so anxious.
She wanted another child.
No ti to mourn the lost child, Roland adjusted his emotions and resud his advance.
...
The couple continued till the wee hours, only stopping when Sif couldn't endure any longer and begged for rcy.
Noticing Roland's grim efforts to bear his sorrow, Sif couldn't hold her laughter anymore.
Roland: "..."
Even though elves' family sentint isn't as deep as humans', there was no need to laugh at such a ti.
He couldn't bring himself to criticize Sif, but neither could he join in her laughter.
Just as his complexion turned slightly blue, Sif leaned close to his ear and murmured softly:
"Fool, the little one is on the Hidden Moon Ginkgo Tree."
Roland was stunned for several seconds before finally realizing.
Sif used the once popular Elf Race thod of delegated pregnancy.
Elf Race won generally cherish beauty, and the duration elf babies spend within their mothers far exceeds humans, leading to imnse damage to the elf won.
Those seamlessly beautiful won until their death usually hadn't given birth.
Once childbearing, body shape might change dramatically, or they miss the pri window for cultivation progress, lagging behind within their peers.
This is the true reason for the low birthrate among the Elf Race.
Otherwise, with the Elf Race's long lifespan and excellent physique, even a couple bearing a child every twenty years would see their population continuously growing.
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