Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

"My true identity is Cohen Corleone!"

The moment Cohen finished speaking, the disguise maintained by the "devil mask" on his face receded like the tide.

A young, handsome, and angular face was revealed.

Those deep eyes were now gleaming with undisguised ambition and confidence.

A deathly silence fell over the room.

Cohen Corleone—this name, along with the young and sharp face before me, revealed after the disguise was removed.

This was certainly no stranger to the well-informed Lao Mo.
It is not just a name, but a synonym for a series of legendary events that resounded throughout the primary plane and even shook the edges of the lower realms.

It was a force that even the high-ranking dukes of the Nine Hells had to take notice of.

Old Mo's usually calm face finally revealed a hint of surprise, and his seemingly ordinary eyes widened slightly as countless pieces of information collided rapidly in his mind.

King of Eifyin! Lord of Shadows! Lord of War! Son of Prophecy!

One after another, weighty titles and honors exploded in his mind like thunderclaps.

Each one represents an experience worthy of being written into an epic.

He was Cohen Corleone!
The information circulating privately among the Afonas high-ranking officials was simply seen by many as a lucky human gigolo who "climbed the social ladder" by relying on Princess Grace's favor.

His true identity hides such a terrifying background and power!

The stark contrast and the overwhelming amount of information meant that even someone as knowledgeable as Lao Mo had to take a moment to digest and reassess everything before him.

His gaze was fixed on Cohen's young face, as if trying to pierce through the skin and see the secrets hidden deep within his soul.

At that moment, Lao Mo realized that he was no longer dealing with a trading partner who could be measured by ordinary standards.

Rather, he is a walking, living legend, a variable capable of shaking up the power structure of multiple parties!
The suffocating silence in the room lasted for nearly half a minute, during which various subtle expressions constantly changed on Old Mo's ordinary face.

His expression finally settled into a mixture of amazement and understanding. He slowly exhaled and spoke in a low voice:
"So you are the chosen one of prophecy by the God of Prophecy. No wonder you were able to find me."

In that instant, he found the most reasonable explanation for many illogical things.

Those favored by the god of prophecy truly possess abilities and insights that are unimaginable to ordinary people.

Cohen calmly met his gaze and asked:

"So, is the information I'm providing worth the two intelligence reports you have?"

Old Mo nodded almost without hesitation, a rare smile of appreciation even appearing on his face:

"Indeed, being able to meet the renowned Prophet and learn this secret is worth the price."

As he spoke, he lightly tapped his finger in the air, and a miniature magic sandbox shimmering with dark red light appeared between the two of them.

The terrain surrounding Afonas is clearly marked on the sand table.

Old Mo pointed to a canyon area marked in dark purple on the sand table and said slowly:

"The guard of five hundred berserkers was stationed in the 'Skullcrushing Valley' near a tributary of the River Styx."

That place was originally the territory of a legendary 'Mind Flayer', which also commanded a complete tribe of swamp bearmen as servants, making it a powerful force.

For a long time, few forces dared to set their sights on this place.

However, six months ago, for reasons unknown, this mind flayer secretly left its territory.

And it also took all its servants with it.

It seems that only the Berserker Demon Tribe knows about this news.

After receiving this news, the Berserker Tribe secretly dispatched a guard of 500 men to establish a medium-sized arms supply depot.

The strongest member of the guard was a ninth-tier berserker lord; the rest were generally below the gold tier.

Then his fingertips moved to the other side of the sand table, to an area marked as constantly moving and shrouded in pink mist:
"As for that seductive demon, it has a low-level legendary rank. Here is a detailed map of its movements over the past few days."

As he spoke, the pink misty area began to clearly show a winding path and several rest points.

The information was accompanied by notes on the time and possible objectives, making it incredibly detailed.

After giving a detailed account of all the intelligence, Old Mo paused for a moment, looking intently at Cohen.

He spoke slowly, in a tone that carried an inquisitive undertone:
"His Majesty Corleone has so readily revealed his identity to me today; surely it's not just about obtaining these two pieces of battlefield intelligence?"

A mysterious smile crept across Cohen's lips:

"Of course, I came here to ask you if you are interested in the second-tier Dis!"

……

Meanwhile, in the strategic command hall of the distant Bronze Fortress, on a huge magical projection screen...

The prominent red dot representing Cohen finally moved again, slowly leaving the area where "Rotten Paradise" was located.

One of the councilors spoke up:
"They've come out, but in such a short time, they can't do much. They'll probably just go in and look around to broaden their horizons."

A look of "I knew it" appeared on the horned demon Knatu's狰狞 face. He spoke in an almost reassuring tone, as if addressing someone who wasn't present:

"At least they didn't perish inside. Your Highness can rest assured now."

Inside the hall, a low murmur of discussion arose again as Cohen moved.

The councilors whispered among themselves, each with their own thoughts.

However, the seemingly relaxed horned demon Knatu secretly contacted his mole in the Rotten Paradise through a secret soul link.

They eagerly inquired about Cohen's exact whereabouts inside.

When he received a report confirming that Cohen had only stayed in a remote, run-down tavern for a short while before leaving, and had not gone to any of the famous large intelligence trading points in the park, nor had he contacted any sensitive individuals, he was satisfied.

Knatu finally let go of his last remaining doubt.

He refocused his attention on the moving red dot on the magic screen, a barely perceptible smirk playing on his lips, as he continued to observe Cohen's next move.

Like the other members of parliament, he was eager to know how this human would put on his "performance" in this brutal battlefield.

……

Cohen was completely unaware of the various discussions and speculations surrounding him within the Bronze Fortress command hall.

Even if he knew, he would only respond with a faint, cold laugh.

After completing a secret deal with "The Forgotten One" Old Mo, which contained a wealth of information, Cohen left the hidden stronghold without hesitation.

His figure re-entered the bizarre and fantastical streets of the Rotten Paradise.

He soon returned to the relatively secluded weathered rock formation where Ice Demon Garr and Lavas had temporarily stationed their hundred elite demon soldiers.

Seeing Cohen return safely, a barely perceptible look of relief seemed to flash in the eyes of Gar and Lavas, but they did not ask any questions and simply greeted him in silence.

Cohen's gaze fell directly on the Ice Demon Gal, and he asked bluntly:

"Do you know of a place nearby called 'Skullcrushing Canyon'?"

After a brief recollection, Garr said slowly:

"Yes, sir, Skullcrushing Canyon is about five hours away from our current encampment."

Cohen nodded slowly, his eyes sharpening, and gave the order in a deep voice:
"Alright, everyone line up and get ready to go."

His gaze swept over Gar and Lavas, and the soldiers behind them who had already begun to move swiftly, then he added:
"According to reliable intelligence I have just obtained, there is currently a guard force of five hundred berserkers stationed inside the Skullcrusher Canyon."

They established a medium-sized arms supply depot there, responsible for transiting weapons and supplies to a demon legion at the front.

They are our targets!

Upon hearing this detailed information, a subtle, almost imperceptible, change of expression flashed across the face of the Ice Demon Garr, who was standing to the side.

However, as a well-trained and experienced devilish officer, Gar did not utter a single question.

Without hesitation, he turned to the troops behind him and repeated and reinforced Cohen's order in a cold, forceful voice:

"All units line up, check equipment! Prepare for a forced march! Destination—Skullcrusher Canyon!"

Under the scorching, blood-red sky of Afonas, the group began their silent march toward Skullcrusher Canyon.

The only sounds were footsteps and the faint clash of weapons against armor.

Cohen walked at the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over the taciturn Ice Demon Commander Gar beside him.

It seemed that they had sensed a hint of doubt hidden beneath the latter's icy exterior.

Suddenly speaking, his voice betrayed no emotion, he asked:

"Are you worried about the veracity of my intelligence?"

The muscles on the face of the Ice Demon Garr, sculpted from eternal ice, tensed slightly. After a moment's hesitation, his eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he finally spoke:
"My lord, I have heard of the Skull Shattering Canyon. The natural environment there is extremely harsh."

Filled with turbulent elemental currents and deadly gas rifts, it is not suitable for large-scale military deployments for extended periods.

Moreover, according to the intelligence we had previously gathered, Skullcrushing Canyon has always been the territory of a legendary 'Mind Flayer'.

It also has a tribe of 'Zedi Bearmen' with a population of over a hundred as servants.

Under these circumstances, it's highly unlikely that the Berserker Horde will be able to establish a stable base there.

After listening to Garr's reasoned and well-founded analysis, Cohen's face did not show any displeasure; instead, a smile with a hint of approval appeared on his face.
"Excellent. Knowing that there was a desperate situation ahead, you still chose to carry out my orders and were able to make reasonable judgments and raise questions based on the available intelligence. This loyalty and professionalism deserve commendation."

But don't worry, I won't lead you to your deaths.

The legendary Mind Flayer you mentioned left Skullshattering Canyon in secret six months ago, along with its swamp bear-man servants.

This information had been deliberately concealed by the berserk demon tribe, and they had taken advantage of this gap to establish a supply depot there.

Upon hearing this explanation, a hint of undisguised astonishment flashed across Ice Demon Garr's icy blue eyes.

This intelligence was clearly far beyond the reach of an officer of his rank, and if Cohen's statement was true, then it was undoubtedly an extremely valuable strategic opportunity.

Just as Cohen was silently leading his elite Ice Demon Guard toward the direction of Skullcrushing Canyon, deep within the Bronze Fortress, in the strategic command hall...

However, the cluster of light spots on the magic projection screen that steadily moved toward a specific area caused quite a stir.

A Chain Demon councilor, who had been intently watching the screen, suddenly sat up straight, pointing to the crystal-clear route on the screen, his voice filled with disbelief and astonishment:

"Are they heading towards Skullcrusher Canyon?"

There's a legendary-level Mind Flayer there! What are they doing there with so few people?

"Isn't this just blatant suicide?"

A voice filled with sharp doubt echoed through the hall.

Immediately, a suppressed murmur arose throughout the command hall, with councilors whispering among themselves, their expressions varied.

There was shock, there was doubt, and there was also a hint of barely concealed schadenfreude.

Even the usually composed and serene Duke Zariel, who had been sitting in the main seat, couldn't help but show a subtle hint of seriousness on his face when he saw the direction Cohen had chosen to travel.

In stark contrast to Grand Duke Zariel's solemn demeanor were the sirens Aranie and the horned demon Knatu, seated to his left and right.

At that moment, both councilors simultaneously revealed a relieved and relaxed expression.

It was as if they were watching a great show about to begin.

Five hours of forced march passed in the oppressive atmosphere of the battlefield.

When Cohen's Ice Demon Guard finally arrived at the treacherous and desolate entrance to Skullcrushing Canyon, all the councilors in the Bronze Fortress command hall focused their attention on the magic projection screen.

Everyone's face was filled with deep confusion.

Just as the team was about to step into the canyon, Cohen suddenly raised his hand and made a crisp gesture.

The entire marching guard, like a precise machine, came to an instant halt.

Then, under the silent command of Gar and Lavas, they quickly and orderly dispersed, perfectly concealing themselves with the help of the jagged rocks and shadows.

After confirming that the troops were completely concealed, Cohen turned around and gave a simple hand gesture to the Ice Demon Gar and Lavas who were following closely behind him, indicating that they should stay where they were and wait for orders.

Then, under the astonished gazes of the two ice demons and all the councilors in the command hall, Cohen actually started walking alone.

He resolutely headed straight into the depths of that ominous canyon, ruled by the legendary Mind Flayer.

After stepping into the dark entrance of Skullcrusher Canyon, Cohen's figure silently disappeared into the shadows.

Like a ghost, it roams freely through the canyon.

He soon discovered a berserker sentinel, who was cautiously looking around, behind a very well-hidden crevice in the rocks.

This sentinel possesses the strength of a peak sixth-tier demon, making him an elite among the berserkers.

But before Cohen could even issue a warning, he was subdued by Cohen in one blow.

The entire process was clean and efficient, without causing the slightest energy fluctuation or making any noticeable noise.

Then, carrying the berserker sentinel, he merged back into the shadows and returned along the same path.

From the moment he entered the canyon to the moment he returned with the prisoners, the entire process took less than two minutes.

When Cohen reappeared in front of the hidden troops, both Ice Demon Gar and Lavas couldn't help but show expressions of surprise and uncertainty.

Their gazes first fell on Cohen, then shifted to the unconscious Berserker Sentinel on his shoulder.

Given Cohen's current strength as an eighth-tier superhuman, dealing with a sixth-tier peak berserker sentinel is indeed not a difficult task.

The problem is that he was able to do this in such a short time without alerting any other guards in the canyon.

The fact that such a skilled sentry could be captured so cleanly and efficiently, demonstrating such stealth and assassination skills as well as a keen sense of timing, is quite astonishing.

However, at this moment, Gar and Lavas had no time to delve into the mystery.

Because the living, breathing, berserk demon prisoner before them is the most compelling evidence.

It irrefutably confirms the authenticity of the intelligence Cohen had previously provided!
There are indeed berserkers active in Skullcrusher Canyon!

Without the slightest delay, Garr immediately stepped forward and placed his palm on the forehead of the unconscious sentry.

A chilling surge of soul energy seeped in, beginning a simple yet highly effective interrogation.

Under the Ice Demon's unique and cruel methods, capable of directly freezing and tearing apart souls.

The berserker sentinel soon awoke in pain and fear, and intermittently revealed the true situation inside the canyon.

His confession—including the size of the garrison, the location of the supply depots, and information about the commanders—was almost identical to the intelligence Cohen had previously provided!
However, beyond this intelligence, the sentry also revealed a crucial detail:

Every thirty minutes, a patrol team would come to check the situation at each outpost.

This news instantly made Gar and Lavas's expressions extremely solemn.

They must act quickly before the next patrol discovers the sentry is missing.

Otherwise, if we alert them, the berserk demon guards in the canyon will be on guard.

Then their carefully planned raid would be in vain, and they might even be in danger of being surrounded by the enemy!
Time suddenly became incredibly tight.

However, Garr quickly raised a more crucial and practical question:
"My lord, a medium-sized arms supply depot is an extremely important strategic asset for a small to medium-sized demon tribe like the Berserker Demons."

There must be many hidden sentries in this area that we haven't discovered yet, and there may even be trigger-activated warning arrays set up.

Before we know the exact location and perimeter of these hidden stakeouts, rushing in would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Lavas, standing to the side, nodded and added:

"Leaving aside the fact that the opponent's strength is twice that of us, they have an absolute geographical advantage just from the terrain inside the canyon."

They likely also deployed heavy defensive equipment in strategic locations, such as Hellfire Cannons or Abyss Catapults.

Should we first cast a powerful soul-sealing spell on this prisoner, and then release him as an inside agent?

Now that their base has been confirmed to be here, they are unlikely to relocate anytime soon.

We can certainly take a longer-term view and formulate a more comprehensive plan.

Upon hearing this, Garr nodded in deep agreement, then looked at Cohen and explained in a persuasive tone:
"It's not that we're afraid of fighting, it's just that the enemy has an absolute advantage in both troop strength and terrain."

In this situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak, the best strategy is to meticulously plan a perfect surprise attack.

We must make full use of intelligence and timing to maximize our chances of winning.

He paused slightly, as if considering his words, and then said in a tone that carried a hint of reminder:
"My lord, you may not be familiar with the normal state of the Bloodbath Zone."

Even for a highly experienced devilish commander, from the moment he stepped onto this battlefield to the moment he finally succeeded in obtaining a 'Blood Battle Badge'.

The time required during this process is often measured in 'years'.

Although His Excellency has given you only ten days to test yourself, only a few hours have passed so far.

We still have ample time to conduct more detailed reconnaissance, formulate more comprehensive tactics, and find the best opportunity to strike.

The advice from these two Ice Demon commanders was undoubtedly prudent, professional, and in line with conventional military logic.

They tried to use their experience to guide the seemingly "overly hasty" commander toward a more prudent path.

However, they had no idea what Cohen's plans and trump cards were.

Faced with the cautious suggestions from the two experienced Ice Demon commanders, Gar and Lavas, Cohen merely glanced at them and replied in a calm, almost indifferent tone:
"I have more important things to do next. It's just a Bloodbath Badge, not worth wasting so much time on."

Don't worry, I'll take you in.

After saying that, he gave the two ice demons no further chance to try to dissuade him.

Turning to face the hundred elite demon soldiers standing solemnly behind him, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he coldly shouted:

"Everyone, listen up!"

No matter what happens later, do not act rashly, and do not resist in any way.

I will send you into the canyon without you even noticing.

Once you arrive, don't hesitate, just charge out!

Standing behind him, Gar and Lavas looked even more bewildered upon hearing this nonsensical order.

They simply couldn't understand how Cohen planned to bring such a large group of over a hundred people into the heavily guarded canyon without alerting any of the guards.

But at this moment, military orders were paramount, and they could only suppress their doubts and anxieties, choosing to trust the commander before them. (End of Chapter)