Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen felt a chill run down his spine. He had left the Lost Lands to Bayonetta to handle things during this time.

It's obvious they must be extremely busy.

Instinctively, I wanted to go over and offer Bei some comforting and affectionate gestures, just like when we were alone in private in the past.

However, upon catching a glimpse of Grace standing silently to the side, he silently lowered his toes, which he had just raised, and simply nodded solemnly to Belmody:

"Don't worry, Sister Bei, leave everything to me."

At this moment, Grace, who had been quietly listening, slowly spoke, her voice returning to its usual cool and rational tone, as if the subtle emotional turmoil that had just occurred had never happened.

She turned to Belmody and said in a calm tone:
“Lord of the Sequence, my identity is sensitive, and it is not appropriate for me to travel with Cohen publicly, so as not to attract attention and alert him.”

To the outside world, I declared that I was representing Pirate King Yann Hughes, and had come to the 'Mysterious Continent' to discuss a long-term trade cooperation regarding marine potion materials.

This will serve as cover, making it easier for me to operate here and allowing me to secretly assist you.

This was arranged with Cohen before we came.

Using his official position as a cover, he cleverly found a reasonable excuse for Grace's appearance in this place, avoiding the extra attention that might be drawn from her public appearances with Cohen.

It would also be natural for him to represent Cohen in public.

Vermoti nodded slightly, his tone softening somewhat:
“If Your Highness doesn’t mind, you can call me ‘sister’ like Cohen does. There’s no need to be so polite. As for accommodations…”

Her gaze fell on the passageway connecting the palace to the other side:

"On the top floor of the Wizard Tower, besides my main bedroom, the adjacent suite is where Melantha and Mavis usually stay when they come here."

There are plenty of vacant rooms; Your Highness may choose any that pleases you. Everything is provided; if you need anything, simply instruct the stone statues in the tower to prepare it.

When Cohen saw Grace turn to leave, he couldn't tell if she was really sulking and wanted to leave.

It's wise to leave yourself and Vermouth some alone time.

He spoke cautiously:
“Your Highness, actually, Sister Bei’s palace is quite spacious enough, so it’s fine for you to stay here…”

Before he could finish speaking, Grace interrupted him with a soft snort:
"Alright, I don't mind sleeping under the same blanket."

But the dignified Lord of the Sequence of the 'Mysterious Continent,' the Cursed Witch whose fame shakes the Lost Lands, probably wouldn't want to sleep with her lover in front of others!

Even with Vermouth's composure and shrewdness, she was somewhat embarrassed by the princess's sharp words.

Her stunning face flushed slightly, and a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashed in her eyes.

Seeing that her words had an effect, Grace didn't linger any longer. She gave Cohen one last deep look before leaving the palace.

Only when Grace's footsteps had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did the tense atmosphere in the bedroom seem to suddenly relax.

Vermoti whirled around, her pent-up embarrassment and anger erupting like a burst dam. She kicked Cohen, who was grinning and about to step forward to explain, hard.
"You bastard! Did you do this on purpose?"
This time you sent a princess, next time do you want to send an elf or a mermaid?

What do you take my palace for? Your harem teleportation hub?

Cohen reacted extremely quickly, and just as the kick was about to land, he nimbly reached out and precisely grabbed Belmody's slender ankle that hadn't had time to retract.

Beneath the silky fabric, the skin felt warm and smooth like jade. He gently grasped that restless, delicate foot in his hand, a flattering smile spreading across his face as he explained:
"A mistake! A complete mistake!"

Sister Bei, I swear to God, I would never have such thoughts! I'll change it right away, I'll change the teleportation coordinates immediately!
I promise this kind of blunder will absolutely, positively never happen again!

Belmody struggled to free her legs, but couldn't break free. He held her tightly, which only fueled her anger. Her beautiful eyes widened as she glared at Cohen.

"What are you waiting for? Now! Immediately! Go and change it right now!"

However, Cohen did not immediately let go to modify those damn coordinates.

Instead, while holding her ankle, he took a step forward and quickly wrapped his other hand around Belmody's waist, pulling her towards him.

Amidst Belmody's surprised gasp, he lowered his head and kissed her slightly parted red lips without hesitation, silencing all her unfinished rebukes.

"Well……!"

Belmody initially struggled symbolically for a moment, but quickly softened under Cohen's domineering and lingering kiss.

After a long while, Cohen stepped back slightly, his forehead pressed against hers, his breathing slightly rapid, his eyes swirling with long-suppressed longing and passion, his voice low and hoarse:
"Changing the coordinates is the important thing... but now, there are more important things to do first."

Sister Bei, these days... I've been thinking about you the whole time..."

His words were like the most intense flame, instantly igniting the air.

Vermoti's face was still flushed with anger, but a thin layer of red appeared on it. She glared at him, but in the end, she only let out a soft snort from her nose, without saying anything more.

The atmosphere inside the palace gradually heated up.

……

It was already the second day since Cohen arrived in the Lost Land.

Upon hearing the news that Cohen had returned to the Lost Land, Mavis felt an overwhelming longing and desire for reunion, but the burdens of reality bound her firmly to the political vortex of Shanghai.

As the time for the Demon Lord Sal's uprising draws ever closer, she, a peak ninth-tier powerhouse, is entrusted with a crucial responsibility due to her extraordinary strength and trustworthy loyalty.

He was responsible for handling various emergencies within Shanghai, allocating strategic resources, and monitoring the subtle movements of various forces, keeping him so busy that he barely had time to breathe.

At such a tense and critical time, she couldn't find a reason that wouldn't arouse suspicion and would make it reasonable for her to leave the heart of the city and go to the mysterious continent to meet Cohen.

After a brief moment of intimacy with Bay, Cohen quickly composed himself and refocused his attention on the pressing matter at hand.

The person responsible for contacting Stevens and coordinating his contact with Victor was none other than Ryder Gallo, the head of the Military Intelligence Bureau in the Lost Lands and one of the earliest members of the "Investment Six" to swear allegiance to Cohen.

This veteran intelligence officer from the Lost Lands is meticulous, shrewd, and most importantly, possesses a profound understanding of the local situation.

He is Cohen's most capable intelligence officer in the Lost Lands, second only to Mavis.

The Endless Alliance was based in a secret stronghold in the Lost Lands, in a sealed room shielded from all possible magical detection.

Ryder Gallo bowed to Cohen and then began to report on the latest developments:

“Your Majesty, three days ago, Stevens, as planned, once again tried to send a meeting invitation to Victor through an intermediary.”

However, the other party still did not give a direct response, only sending a vague message through their subordinates that "the time is not right," maintaining a passive and perfunctory attitude.

After listening to the report, Cohen looked up at Ryder:
"Ryder, based on your experience, is Victor's hesitation a sign that he's starting to doubt Stevens's identity, or is there some other reason?"

Ryder Gallo pondered for a moment before cautiously answering:
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is unlikely that Victor would suspect Stevens' identity."

If he truly harbored fundamental doubts about Stevens's identity as the 'Ceylon envoy,' given the demons' and their henchmen's habitually suspicious and cautious nature, he would have discovered something amiss during their first contact.

All contact should be decisively severed to avoid unnecessary risks.

However, in reality, they did not completely lose contact. Stevens made several tentative contacts, and although the other party was cold, they did not refuse to receive messages.

This suggests that the communication channels themselves still hold some value in their view, or at least are worth keeping an eye on.

He paused, then continued his in-depth analysis:
"Based on the scattered intelligence gathered by our informants planted around Victor's forces, and the certain negligence and disdain they showed in handling this matter, I tend to believe that..."

Viktor, or rather the Demon Lord Sal's forces behind him, are not concerned with Stevens's authenticity, but rather with his value.

They likely concluded that Gaius, having lost his kingdom, army, and most of his power, was of negligible value as an exiled monarch and not worth their time and effort.

In particular, the Demon Lord Thrall is currently focused on the crucial stage of preparing for his 'big event'.

Meeting someone means investing time and taking on potential risks, and in their view, meeting an exile who is of little value or may even cause trouble is not worth the effort.

Therefore, they adopted a delaying and indifferent approach, neither giving up hope nor responding actively, but simply observing the situation.

Cohen slowly nodded, acknowledging Ryder's analysis, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"In other words, in Sal and Viktor's eyes, the current 'Gaius Envoy' Stevens does not have enough leverage to make them put aside their important matters and come to negotiate this deal in person."

Ryder affirmed:
"That is indeed the case, Your Majesty."

We need to give Stevens some weight that the other side can't ignore.

Cohen's brow furrowed in thought, and he nodded slowly, deeply agreeing with Ryder's analysis.

Viktor's attitude was more like indifference and disdain based on a weighing of interests than vigilance based on recognizing his identity.

To pry open this stubborn rock, what's needed is a lure he can't refuse.

He quickly turned to Ryder, his tone decisive:

“Where is Stevens now? Bring him to me immediately.”

Soon, a soft footstep sounded outside the secret room door, and then the door was silently pushed open.

Stevens, a former royal aide-de-camp and now a double agent, walked in slowly.

Dressed in casual dark clothing that allowed for easy movement, his face bore the faint traces of fatigue from a long journey and mental strain, but his eyes were unusually clear, even sharper than when he was at the Ceylon court. He bowed respectfully to Cohen, and when he looked at the other man, an uncontrollable fear flickered in his eyes.

Cohen didn't waste any time on pleasantries. He waved for him to dispense with formalities, his gaze sharp as he asked directly:

"Stevens, you've had the most dealings with Victor, so you must know him best."

Based on your understanding of him, what do you think is his most pressing need right now?
Or, to put it another way, does he have any particular hobbies or weaknesses that could be exploited?

Stevens fell into deep thought, his brow furrowed.

As a secret liaison who once navigated between Gaius and the forces of evil, he possessed an understanding of Viktor's style and situation as Thrall's top "white glove" that was unparalleled by outsiders.

After a moment, he raised his eyes and said with certainty:

"Your Majesty, if we were to ask what Victor himself needs most right now, it would probably be the large-scale operation that the Demon Lord Thrall is about to launch."

To support such a large-scale mobilization and war, they need massive amounts of military supplies—weapons, armor, magical materials, and siege equipment.

And more importantly, the food needed to sustain a large army and the population that depended on it.

He paused, organizing his thoughts, and lowered his voice even further:
"Your Majesty is also familiar with the environment of the Lost Lands."

Most areas are barren and desolate, heavily polluted by magical energy, with very little land suitable for large-scale cultivation.

In the past, a significant portion of the food supply for the Chaotic Demon Continent and its controlled territories relied on imports from the main continent, particularly from several principalities that relied on agriculture and trade.

Alternatively, you can purchase from independent city-states located in relatively fertile areas, such as the 'Farmers' City-State'.

But ever since... ever since your Endless Alliance explicitly issued a ban, strictly limiting and even cutting off the Cultivator City-States' food trade with the Chaotic Demon Continent.

The food problem has become an increasingly tight noose around the neck of Viktor and even the Demon Lord Thrall.

The frontline legions may still be able to rely on plunder and reserves, but the rear territories, especially the dependent tribes and cities, are already showing signs of famine.

As the person in charge of procuring supplies for Sal, the pressure Viktor is under at this moment can be imagined.

Therefore, I believe that if a stable, large-scale, and relatively safe channel for grain imports could be established, the allure for Viktor would likely far exceed that of ordinary magical equipment or gold and silver treasures.

A glint flashed in Cohen's eyes. Stevens' analysis coincided with his judgment and even provided more specific details of the predicament—food, especially a stable supply of bulk food.

On the eve of the impending war, the food problem had become the Achilles' heel of the Saar Group and the biggest headache for Viktor, who was in charge of the matter.

This is an excellent entry point.

Cohen had made his decision and said in a deep voice:
"Very good, your judgment is very valuable."

Listen, Stevens, tomorrow morning, send another message to Victor through the same emergency contact channels.

There's no need to hide it anymore. Just tell him directly that you've bribed the ministers in charge of foreign trade in the Duchy of Burgundy and the Duchy of Zankat through special channels and at a huge cost.

Tell him that if he is willing to meet with you for a frank and constructive discussion, you are willing to act as an intermediary to facilitate the establishment of a secret but stable major grain trade route between the two principalities and the chaotic Demon Continent.

The scale should be large enough for him to feel that it can alleviate or even solve his current urgent problem.

The tone should be confident, but also leave room for maneuver, implying that King Gaius still wields considerable influence and wealth.

Stevens' pupils contracted slightly upon hearing this.

Burgundy and Zankat are both well-known granaries and trading powers on the continent. If this route could be established, the temptation for the Thrall forces would be immense.

This lie is extremely risky, but the rewards are equally astonishing.

Cohen's gaze lingered briefly on two areas on the map adjacent to the border of the Lost Lands, marked with the insignia of Burgundy and Zankat, before he continued:

"Burgundil and Zankat, these two duchies border the Lost Lands and have a long border."

For decades, even centuries, they have been major trading partners supplying basic necessities such as food, cloth, and ironware to various factions in the Lost Lands, especially the Chaotic Demon Continent.

This passage has a long history and intricate network of connections, which Viktor must know very well, and he must have a continuous reliance on it.

Using this as bait is perfect.

Stevens' expression grew even more serious. He stepped forward, his voice lowered, tinged with worry:
"Your Majesty is wise; these two duchies are indeed excellent choices."

However... precisely because of this, Viktor's infiltration into these two countries must be extremely deep.

He had been operating on the human continent for many years, with deep-rooted connections, especially in the border countries that had close ties with the Lost Lands. He had many informants and a complex network of relationships.

Based on my understanding of him, this man is extremely suspicious. If he merely makes empty claims, saying that he has bribed the other party's important officials, but cannot produce any substantial evidence, it will be difficult to gain his trust.

He will certainly use all means to verify this, and may even directly test the two 'bribed' chief ministers through his own channels.

"If any mistakes occur..."

Upon hearing this, Cohen gently raised his hand, interrupting Stevens' worries:

"Who told you that we were just talking nonsense?"

Before he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist and tossed Stevens a completely black magic communication stone.

Stevens instinctively caught it; it was slightly cool to the touch, and the surface of the stone was engraved with extremely complex magical patterns, emitting stable energy fluctuations.

More importantly, at the core of the communication stone, two unique communication marks are clearly imprinted—one is a wheat ear-shaped mark, and the other is a balance scale-shaped mark.

It was an encrypted communication mark exclusively for the highest trade officials of the two countries, bound by their souls!

Cohen's voice was calm and even, yet every word resonated like thunder in Stevens' ears:

"From this moment forward, Lawrence, the Minister of Finance and Trade of the Duchy of Burgundy, and Horatio, the Governor of Commerce of the Duchy of Zankat, will be your direct subordinates."

I've already spoken to them; they will follow your orders completely and cooperate with you in this operation against Victor.

When you communicate with them, simply activate the corresponding mark, and they will recognize your identity and cooperate to the fullest extent possible.

Stevens clutched the cold communication stone, feeling as if struck by lightning. His face instantly went blank, his pupils contracted sharply, as if he couldn't comprehend the words he had just heard.

Deep within my heart, a surge of emotions welled up, a mixture of shock, bewilderment, and bone-chilling cold.

Lawrence, the "Silver Scales" of Burgundy, and Horatio, the "Iron Abacus" of Zankat, were both powerful and influential figures in their respective duchies, truly capable of influencing the economic lifeline of their nations.

How could His Majesty Corleone so casually manage to make these two high-ranking ministers follow his lead, this "remnant envoy of the former dynasty," in such a crucial and dangerous operation?
The implications behind this are self-evident.

The extent to which Effie has infiltrated and controlled the entire continent is astonishing!
This is not something that can be accomplished overnight, nor can it be achieved solely through military coercion.

This requires an incredibly sophisticated plan, a vast network of resources, and a precise grasp of people's hearts and the current situation!

Stevens suddenly realized that his previous understanding of this young emperor was too superficial and ridiculous.

He had thought he had glimpsed only the tip of the iceberg of Cohen Corleone's power, but now he was horrified to discover that the part beneath the surface was far more vast and unfathomable than he had ever imagined.

He could effortlessly mobilize the key ministers of two crucial neighboring countries as if they were his own limbs; the depth of his schemes and the grandeur of his plans were simply breathtaking.

No wonder... no wonder the once mighty Kingdom of Ceylon fell so quickly and so completely at the hands of the enemy.

King Gaius, despite his great talent and ambition, was destined to perish from the very beginning for an opponent who seemed to treat the power of the continent as a game of chess, capable of stirring up storms with a casual move.

This realization dispelled the last trace of unease and hope that Stevens had felt due to the change of allegiance, leaving only deep awe and an indescribable fear.

The hand holding the communication stone trembled slightly.

……

The continent of machines, the city-state of laws.

This magnificent capital city, standing at the heart of the Gear Plain, is the undisputed heart and brain of the Machine Continent.

The city itself is a huge, intricately operating mechanical life form.

The towering tower is not made of bricks and stones, but is constructed of countless brass pipes of varying thicknesses, meshing and rotating giant gears, and crystal conduits flowing with a bright blue energy liquid.

The streets are not covered with dirt, but with smooth metal plates, and cleaning robots move around like worker ants.

The low hum of various machines and the hissing of steam depressurization intertwine to form a never-ending background sound.

In the heart of the city, a colossal building, shaped like the internal structure of a fine clock, stands out prominently.

The decor exudes a cold, mechanical precision, with walls made of polished alloy plates engraved with intricate energy circuit diagrams.

The dome is made of transparent alchemical glass, through which the silhouette of a giant gear slowly turning can be seen.

Even the seats are ergonomically designed, cleverly combining metal and leather, and can be subtly adjusted to suit different body types.

Meanwhile, inside this building, a symbol of supreme power in the Mechanical Continent, a secret meeting concerning the future格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or格局) of the continent is taking place. (End of Chapter)