As the new year arrived, Roland returned to Atrelin to report for duty.
During this time, he had stayed in Sinvira as a visiting representative and taken part in the resistance against the devils. His attendants and guards, Interplanar Communication, and other expenses had all been paid from public funds, so naturally, he owed the committee an account.
As it turned out, Atrelin's interests lay precisely in Sinvira being defeated without being destroyed. The grand retreat the devils had worked so hard to bring about had instead aligned perfectly with the committee's intentions.
Roland, who had taken part in it, was also regarded as a major contributor.
He had successfully preserved Sinvira, allowing it to remain a Planar Battlefield and serve as a defensive line against the Abyss beyond their own borders.
This was unquestionably a great achievement.
But given Roland's current status and standing, such an achievement alone was no longer enough to earn him a promotion or any other overt benefit.
He was already at the pinnacle.
All the benefits would come through lasting, long-term influence.
Nor was he cultivating goodwill with any one individual, but with an entire group, a nation, and a civilization.
"Sinvira's overseas study industry is thriving now. We've signed an agreement with them, and in the future, we'll also be able to recruit plenty of students from Shividor.
"Various industrial transfers and joint research projects will also shift to arrangements led by us."
Antonia received Roland and smiled as he told him news that was unequivocally favorable to Atrelin.
"Oh, is that because they've only just relocated, and many of their industries and research operations are still difficult to rebuild?"
Roland sounded thoughtful.
"That's right. Although Sinvira still has its top-level specialists, many laboratories, facilities, instruments, and so on need calibration and maintenance