Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Prince Heinz's seemingly casual mention of the teleportation array at this moment clearly reveals his intentions.

He was using this opportunity to put pressure on Cohen, hoping to secure more favorable terms for the Central Empire, or more precisely, for himself and the Imperial military behind him, in future negotiations regarding the teleportation array technology deal.

Because the price Cohen is currently asking for is indeed outrageous.

The demands, whether for a massive amount of rare magical materials, the sharing of specific ancient knowledge, or additional terms involving future trade and military cooperation, are all too demanding.

Even if the conditions proposed by Cohen are merely to establish a basic strategic teleportation network between the major administrative districts and military strongholds of the Central Empire, it would still be acceptable.

The resources required will be an astronomical figure that would make the head of the Imperial Treasury turn black.

Most importantly, Cohen was unwilling to sell the technology; he only offered to help with the construction.

Prince Heinz, and the Imperial high command, naturally had a deeper expectation that Cohen could directly provide or transfer core technologies, rather than simply acting as a contractor to help build a few isolated magic arrays.

That would mean the empire's lifeline would always be at the mercy of others, and at a much higher cost.

As Prince Heinz took the lead in "launching an attack," the other senior officials present also echoed his sentiments, either openly or implicitly.

For a moment, the focus in the council hall seemed to shift from the "emergency crisis" mentioned by Cohen to the power struggle over teleportation array technology.

Cohen instantly discerned the true intentions of Prince Heinz and his ministers.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he sneered.

These high-ranking officials of the empire are indeed scheming against me at all times.

Even when faced with warnings that could threaten the very survival of the mainland, their first thought was still to seize the opportunity to gain tangible benefits for their respective factions.

However, he had planned to use the power of the Central Empire to eliminate the Demon Pillars, so appropriate exchanges and compromises were to be expected.

Faced with the expectant and pressuring gazes of the crowd, Cohen neither directly refused nor immediately agreed, but instead gave an ambiguous answer:

"My lords, in public affairs, you are all pillars supporting the magnificent palace of the Central Empire, the backbone of the nation."

Personally, most of you here are my elders.

Now that we've come this far, I won't hold back anymore and will tell you the whole truth.

He cleared his throat and continued:

"Indeed, Effie did discover some ancient rune fragments about a long-distance teleportation array deep within an ancient arcane ruin."

My Queen, Adele Angrayn, with her exceptional talent and knowledge in the field of magic circles, spent several years piecing together a roughly feasible theoretical framework and basic structure for magic circles from these fragmented clues and pieces.

However, I must emphasize that all of this is still in the preliminary experimental and verification stage.

Each activation of the prototype magic arrays we built was accompanied by enormous risks and instability.

Energy overload, spatial coordinate drift, phase conflict, and even local spatial collapse...

Unexpected dangers and flaws kept emerging, and Adele and her team are still struggling to solve these problems.

My lords, my relationship with His Majesty Klein and with the Central Empire is so close.

It's not that I'm stingy, but I'm reluctant to fully share the secrets of this magic array with everyone.

It is precisely because the relationship is too close and the responsibility too heavy.

I'm genuinely afraid that once people receive these immature technical documents and drawings, which are fraught with hidden dangers, they'll rush into practical construction.

In the event that during construction or operation, a fatal flaw that we have not yet discovered, or a misunderstanding of certain ancient runes, leads to unpredictable and catastrophic consequences.

For example, a teleportation channel collapse could trigger a spatial storm that engulfs a city, or an energy backflow could cause a massive magical explosion... Such losses and responsibilities are something that neither I nor Effie could bear.

"At that time, how will I face His Majesty, how will I face all those present, and how will I face the hundreds of millions of people whose lives the empire may suffer as a result?"

For a moment, Prince Heinz and the others were speechless at Cohen's heartfelt words of distress, and their expressions became much more serious.

They couldn't determine how much of Cohen's claim that teleportation array technology was immature and high-risk was true, and how much was a strategic pretext used to raise their own bargaining power and lower the other party's expectations.

However, based on the most basic logic, a cutting-edge spatial teleportation technology originating from an ancient arcane empire and lost for over ten thousand years must have lost countless crucial details over the long course of time.

It is quite normal for errors, omissions, misunderstandings, and even unknown fatal flaws to occur when reconstructing the text based on fragments and incomplete notes.

Especially this technology, which involves the most complex and dangerous spatial laws and is used to transport living people.

As Cohen just said, if there is even the slightest error in any of the links of energy guidance, coordinate anchoring, phase stabilization, or protective barrier, the consequences will be unimaginable.

They will either be torn to pieces by unstable spatial forces, or thrown into unknown and terrifying dimensions, or worse, directly swept into the raging spacetime turbulence...

Faced with such immense power, let alone ordinary soldiers and low-level superhumans, even powerful beings who have stepped into the realm of legend or even saint would find it difficult to escape unscathed once trapped within it, with their chances of survival being extremely slim.

This risk certainly needs to be carefully considered.

However, upon further reflection, they realized just how formidable Queen Angrian of Cohen truly was.

They were able to reconstruct long-distance teleportation arrays that had been lost for countless years from some surviving fragments.

Such talent and brilliance are truly admirable; it seems the gods are particularly fond of this Effie.

Perhaps it was precisely because of Cohen's brilliance that the radiance of Adel, the most beautiful woman on the continent and the youngest legend on the continent, was overshadowed.

Cohen keenly noticed the changes in the expressions of several key officials, knowing that his words had had an effect, and continued:
"Therefore, we are now adopting a gradual approach. Every time we deduce and design a new variant or improvement of the magic circle, we invest a huge amount of resources to build a prototype magic circle first."

Then, hundreds and thousands of rigorous tests are conducted, from teleporting inanimate objects to low-level monsters, and then to enhanced constructs, before finally ensuring that everything is foolproof.

Conduct very small-scale personnel testing. Each step must be repeatedly verified to confirm that there are no uncontrollable safety hazards before considering practical application.

But without a doubt, this is a massive project that is extremely time-consuming, energy-intensive, and especially resource-intensive.

The construction of each experimental magic circle requires a massive amount of rare magical materials, highly pure energy crystals, and the tireless work of top rune masters and space mages day and night.

Every test, especially a failed one, represents a staggering loss, potentially accompanied by casualties and damage to research facilities.

Cohen paused again as he spoke, his gaze slowly sweeping over Prince Heinz, Chief Heisenberg, Prime Minister Hayes, and others opposite him.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, the meaning behind his words was already obvious.

Was the price I quoted and the resources I requested really "expensive" relative to the enormous cost and risks we would have taken to master this technology?

That's not just the cost of materials to build a few magic arrays, but also includes countless costs of failure, research and development investment, and risk premiums.

It's probably not realistic to try to lower the price further.

As for the matter of "selling core technology," Cohen's meaning was also quite clear.

It's not that we at Effie are stubbornly refusing to release it, but rather that the technology itself is indeed still immature and full of uncertainties.

In this situation, if an imperfect "half-finished" technology is hastily handed over for short-term gains, and a major accident occurs during the application process, it could result in irreparable loss of life and property.

Not only will cooperation be impossible, but existing alliances may also suffer irreparable damage, resulting in a lose-lose situation.

Moreover, everyone present knew perfectly well that the Imperial House of Nobles, headed by Chief Heisenberg, did not have a good relationship with Cohen.

Even if Cohen were to actually present the full set of technology now, the other party's first reaction would probably still be to doubt whether the technology is genuine or not.
Was there any hidden danger or trap deliberately planted in it?

Technology transfer is something that cannot be rushed.

After a brief silence, Chief Heisenberg's voice slowly rang out:
“We can understand what His Highness the Emperor said.”

The exploration and application of new technologies cannot be rushed; safety must always be the top priority.

However... everything needs a set procedure.

The empire, or rather, we, have paid such a massive price and resources. If we can't even get a relatively clear timetable, that would be a bit unreasonable.

Your Highness should understand that such a large-scale mobilization of resources is not something that I alone, nor can any of the people present make the decision on their own.

Behind this lies the collective effort and aspirations of countless noble families, local powers, and bureaucratic factions that were dependent on the empire.

If we don't even get a definite answer and waste several years without any substantial progress or return, we won't be able to explain ourselves to those below us.

Chief Heisenberg glanced almost imperceptibly at Shanies, who sat regally in the main seat, and continued:
"Moreover, Your Highness, besides being the King of Efein, you are also the future royal consort personally chosen by our Empress, and a member of the Imperial Family."

If the terms of the deal are too harsh, or even if a basic commitment to a deadline cannot be made, it will inevitably raise doubts among some people within the empire.

Questioning His Highness's loyalty to the Empire and His Majesty.

This will likely not be beneficial to His Highness's future reputation and foundation within the empire.

Faced with Heisenberg's subtly barbed question, Cohen met Heisenberg's gaze, then swept it over Prince Heinz, who looked thoughtful, and Chancellor Hayes, whose eyes were darting around, before slowly speaking:
"What the Chief said makes perfect sense. Since it's a collaboration, we naturally need to show sincerity."

Well then, I can tell you all the details here.

As long as the first batch of resources and funds you promised arrives as agreed within three months.

I can guarantee that, starting from the month following the arrival of the resources, Effie will be able to construct, install, and debug a long-range strategic teleportation array for the Central Empire at your designated location every month. This array can be used for military and important resource deployment.

One building per month; as long as resources are available, construction will not stop.

This will be an ongoing collaborative project. During this period, we will send our top rune masters and space mages to the site to ensure the construction quality and safe operation of the magic array.

And provide necessary operation and maintenance training.

Upon hearing Cohen's promise, everyone's expressions softened considerably.

Cohen paused for a moment, then presented the most crucial condition:
"As for the transfer of the complete technology... I can promise here that it will last for two years."

Calculated from the date the cooperation agreement officially comes into effect, two years later, no matter to what extent our side improves and optimizes the teleportation array technology, as long as your country strictly fulfills the cooperation agreement during this period and pays sufficient resources and fees.

Furthermore, we have verified that the location for the construction of the magic array designated by your country complies with safety regulations and there is no intention to deliberately damage or steal core secrets.

Therefore, upon the expiration of the two-year term, we will, in accordance with the agreement, transfer to the official institution designated by the Central Empire all the technical blueprints, core rune analysis, energy circuit design, and safety operation manual for the current version of the same type of teleportation array.

"Two years..."

Upon hearing Cohen's mention of this timeframe, Prince Heinz, Chief Heisenberg, Prime Minister Hayes, and others fell into a deeper silence, their eyes flashing with an indescribable complexity.

Two years is neither a long nor a short time.

But for those who wield the reins of the empire and are well aware of the undercurrents of the continent's future, this timing is far too intriguing.

Who knows what this continent will look like two years from now?
With the announcement of the Covenant of the Gods imminent, the turbulent demonic tide intensifies, ancient races and ruins appear in various places, friction between nations increases, and clandestine alliances and betrayals never cease...

A cataclysmic upheaval that could sweep across the entire continent could erupt at any moment.

Two years is enough time for too many disruptive changes to happen.

Perhaps by then, the landscape of the mainland will have been completely transformed, and it is uncertain whether the central empire will still be able to maintain its current territory and authority.

Chief Heisenberg, in particular, was more aware than anyone of the hidden crises within the Central Empire.

On the surface, the empire had a vast territory and was at the height of its power, but its enormous territory and unique administrative division system also brought the hidden danger of becoming too powerful to control.

Several important administrative districts in the southeast region, whose governors-general, who held heavy military power and ruled over hundreds of millions of people, had long shown a strong tendency toward autonomy or even separatism, and their relationship with the central government was neither close nor distant.

Once the situation on the mainland spirals out of control and descends into a chaotic world of warring nations, it will be absolutely impossible for Xenias to suppress these ambitious regional officials.

At that time, the fragmentation of the Central Empire will likely become an unstoppable trend.

Chief Heisenberg's mind raced with thoughts. He clearly couldn't openly ask whether the two-year agreement would still be valid if the empire were to split in the future. He could only bite the bullet and agree.

Moreover, he harbored a sense of arrogance and scheming.

Since Cohen agreed to build the magic array at the location designated by the Empire and even allowed the dispatch of a team to be stationed there for debugging and maintenance... this is simply a godsend.

The Imperial Noble Academy is full of talented people and is backed by the Holy Radiance Academy, the continent's premier extraordinary academy. There are countless senior array masters, rune deciphering experts, and space theory masters.

He didn't believe that, given the Noble Academy's profound magical knowledge and the old guys' keen eyesight, they wouldn't be able to figure out the tricks of these magic arrays after observing, touching, and even participating in their construction and operation.

Perhaps it won't be long before the Empire's own team is able to reverse engineer the key principles and master the crucial technology for long-distance teleportation.

With this in mind, Chief Heisenberg's face regained its usual calm, and he stopped dwelling on the specific conditions of the teleportation array, instead steering the conversation back to Cohen's core objective for this trip:

"Your Majesty Corleone, although there are still details to be negotiated regarding the cooperation framework you proposed, the Empire can accept the general direction."

Specific terms can be discussed in detail by the relevant departments later.

He paused briefly, then abruptly changed the subject:
"Now you can tell me, what urgent matter brought you here in such a hurry today?"

Seeing that Heisenberg had finally steered the conversation back on track, Cohen felt slightly relieved, but maintained his composure on the surface.

"Indeed, my sudden arrival today, interrupting your discussions on state affairs, is due to an extremely urgent and important matter. I originally intended to communicate with His Majesty first and then discuss it with you all."

However, I heard His Majesty is in a meeting with you all, so I'll say it all at once.

Cohen took a deep breath, as if carefully choosing his words or calming his emotions, and then spoke slowly and deliberately in a deep voice:

"Gentlemen, during my secret patrols in the Lost Lands these past few days, I captured one of the confidants of Thrall, the ruler of the Chaotic Demon Continent."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

Everyone present knew that their royal consort still wielded considerable influence in the Lost Lands.

The Endless Alliance is known as the sixth major oasis-level power.

However, they didn't take it seriously at first, treating it as a dispute within the Lost Lands.

Cohen coughed lightly and continued:

"For certain reasons, our Endless Alliance and the Chaotic Demon Continent do not have a harmonious relationship, so after capturing this confidant, I personally conducted the interrogation."

After undergoing some necessary interrogation, the confidant revealed many shocking details.

The most crucial and terrifying of these points points to a shocking secret that could overturn all our understanding and even concern the very survival of the entire human continent!

It concerns the life and death of the entire human continent.

Upon hearing Cohen use such severe words to describe the situation, the expressions of several high-ranking imperial officials who had initially paid little attention to the matter instantly changed.

They knew all too well Cohen Creon's character and vision, that it was possible to hear such profound words about "the human continent" coming from the mouth of this young yet miraculous monarch.

The seriousness of the situation behind it probably far exceeds their imagination.

Any internal political calculations or weighing of interests pale in comparison to major events of this magnitude.

Everyone held their breath slightly, their eyes fixed intently on Cohen.

Cohen didn't keep everyone in suspense. Facing the suddenly serious gazes of the crowd, he dropped a bombshell that could detonate the entire council hall:

"Based on this person's exact confession and our subsequent cross-verification, we can now conclude that..."

The Demon Lord Sal Ignarion, who occupies the lost land of Chaos Demon Continent, has long since formed a secret alliance with several powerful demon tribes lurking in the depths of the endless abyss!
Thrall is actively preparing to launch an unprecedented war in the Lost Lands in the near future.

And his so-called 'legion,' its vanguard and core assault force, are not the fallen ones or mercenaries we might imagine, but true demons of the abyss!

Cohen's gaze swept over the faces that had suddenly changed color:
"These demons will use human bodies treated with special magic as vessels for their souls and as a medium for their descent, through some extremely evil abyssal ritual."

They descended upon our prime material plane on a massive, organized scale!

At that time, what will appear on the battlefield of the Lost Lands will be a terrifying legion disguised in human form, driven entirely by abyssal demons—an extremely bloodthirsty and chaotic force!

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. The news of the "demon legion's arrival" was like a thunderbolt to them.

Even with their shrewdness and experience, it would be difficult for them to completely control their emotions in an instant when faced with such a direct and shocking announcement of the invasion of the Abyss.

Demons have appeared in the Lost Lands?

Even though that land was chaotic and remote, and did not border the core territory of the Central Empire, if a demon were to descend, the Central Empire could not stand idly by!
They knew all too well how fast the demon's madness was expanding.

However, Cohen's second statement extinguished their last shred of hope:
"Moreover, the Demon Lord Thrall's ambitions have long since extended beyond the Lost Lands."

He knew better than anyone that once an unprecedented demonic legion appeared in the Lost Lands, the armies of human nations would not stand idly by and would inevitably intervene.

Therefore, many years ago, he quietly laid out even more insidious and deadly pieces on the human continent.

He paused briefly, allowing everyone to process this even more terrifying deduction, before continuing:

"One of the core responsibilities of the Thrall confidant I captured was to serve as a secret liaison and coordinator between Thrall and certain partners on the human continent."

According to his confession, over the past few decades, the Demon Lord Thrall has established secret connections with many monarchs, powerful nobles, and even local lords on the human continent through various means such as coercion, bribery, and deception.

And in most cases, these people are not even fully aware of who they are working with.

They helped Thrall secretly build an unknown number of demon pillars in their respective territories, cities, and even some crucial strategic locations!

The sole purpose of these pillars is to open the passage for the demon army to descend at a specific time and in a specific manner! (End of Chapter)