Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen's voice suddenly rose in pitch:
"Once the war in the Lost Lands begins, or when Thrall deems it the right time."

These 'devil pillars' buried deep within the human world will be activated simultaneously.

At that time, an endless army of demons will pour out like a plague directly from your side, from the center of your city, and from the rear areas that you consider the safest.

Caught between internal and external attacks, and besieged on all sides, all nations of humanity will instantly descend into unimaginable chaos and destruction.

Not long ago, during the war that destroyed the Kingdom of Ceylon, we discovered a demon pillar that was nearly completed within the capital city of Quessaon.

If the previous news about the demon legion of the Lost Lands was just a distant thunderclap, then the news about the demon pillars is tantamount to announcing that the thunder is ready to explode at our doorstep at any moment.

Prime Minister Hayes, looking grave, hurriedly asked:

"Your Highness, can you find out which countries and specific individuals on the human continent the Demon Lord Sal have colluded with?"
Most importantly, where exactly were those damned demon pillars built?
A list! We need a list! The more detailed the better!

Cohen nodded slowly and said in a deep voice:
"In order to save his life, the captured Sal confidant has revealed everything he knows."

This is the detailed list he has provided so far.

Representatives of all human factions that have colluded with the forces of the Demon Lord Thrall, as well as the locations where Demon Pillars have already been built, are all here.

Before Cohen could finish speaking, Prince Heinz, Chief Minister Heisenberg, Prime Minister Hayes, and several other important officials had already quickly gathered around the long table, their eyes eagerly fixed on the unfolded scroll.

The magical characters on the specially made leather scroll glowed faintly, yet remained clearly legible.

Their gaze swept over the names of countries, places, and people... When they saw the words "Central Empire," and the names of several administrative divisions, specific cities, fortresses, and even noble estates listed afterward...

Everyone looked on in astonishment.

In particular, when a series of shocking words came into view, such as the Fire Flood Division, Deputy Governor Gracchus, Skyfire County, and the city defense army's underground secret armory.

No one is calm anymore!
"Geragu?!"

Prime Minister Hayes let out an incredulous growl, jerking his head up to look at Shanes, then at Cohen, his eyes practically spitting fire:

"That traitor!"
He actually dared to collude with the devil!

As the deputy governor of an administrative district, he was already an important figure who had entered the upper echelons of real power in the vast and hierarchical ruling structure of the central empire.

Holding real power, governing hundreds of millions of lives and vast territories.

Such a figure had already secretly colluded with Thrall, the Demon Lord, in the Lost Lands, without the imperial central government's knowledge, and it is even highly likely that they were in Thrall's core military stronghold.

He personally buried the demon pillars that could summon the abyss demon army!
This shocking truth, like a red-hot branding iron, was fiercely burned into the hearts of every key minister of the empire present.

After their initial shock and anger, they felt a chill run down their spines and a lingering fear.

The empire appeared impregnable, but in reality, it had long been hollowed out from within, and the worms were lurking in the ruling class, which they believed to have a tight grip on power.

Empress Shanes Klein's stunningly beautiful face was covered with frost, and her eyes burned with suppressed rage.

Her gaze slowly shifted to Chief Heisenberg, who had remained silent since the list was announced, his expression complex and unreadable.

According to the unspoken rules and power divisions among the high-ranking officials of the Central Empire, the Liuhuo District and its surrounding provinces have long been regarded as the traditional sphere of influence and projection area of ​​the "House of Nobles" faction.

If Shanis's memory serves her correctly, that audacious, treasonous Vice-Governor Gracchus...

He was initially recommended for this crucial position by important figures within the House of Nobles faction.

Now that the scandal has come to light, the blame inevitably falls on the House of Lords and Heisenberg, the most influential representative of the House of Lords in the court.

The gazes of the others also drifted, seemingly unintentionally, toward Heisenberg, following Shanis's gaze.

An invisible pressure filled the air, awaiting an explanation from this highly respected veteran official.

Chief Heisenberg felt the pressure from those gazes.

He knew that he could no longer remain silent. Faced with such irrefutable treason, any excuses or justifications would be futile and would only damage his prestige, and might even implicate the entire House of Nobles faction.

He gently pressed his throbbing temples, his face showing a complex expression of heartache and deep self-reproach, and his voice sounded older and hoarse than usual:

"Your Majesty, my colleagues, it is a disgrace to our Empire that such a wolfish and ruthless scoundrel as Gragu has emerged from the Flowing Fire Division. It is also the fault of our Noble Council for its ineffective supervision and misjudgment in personnel selection."

I will never shirk my responsibility for this matter, nor will I tolerate evil.

After the court session, I will immediately initiate the most rigorous investigation procedures within the House of Nobles to thoroughly investigate how this person managed to pass through layers of screening and infiltrate the upper echelons of the empire.

All aspects related to this person's promotion, assessment, and supervision, and all personnel involved, regardless of who is involved or their position, will be thoroughly investigated.

We must root out every corrupt official and potential accomplice along this line, leaving no one out.

In accordance with the ironclad laws of the Empire, this matter must be dealt with strictly, severely, and swiftly as a warning to others and a cleanup of our ranks!

Seeing Chief Heisenberg's serious statement, a softening expression finally appeared on Xenia's face.

Heisenberg then changed the subject and continued:

"However, the most urgent task is to take down Gracchus as soon as possible."

Take him into custody as quickly as possible and interrogate him thoroughly. You must get him to talk and find out what secret dealings he had with the Demon Lord Thrall besides building the Demon Pillar in Skyfire County.

Are there any accomplices within the Empire? Do they know the exact locations or construction plans of the other Demon Pillars?

We must race against time and remove all the thorns he has planted throughout the Empire before Thrall launches his attack.

Cohen picked up the conversation and said in a deep voice:
"What the Chief is saying is absolutely right. Eliminating internal troubles is of utmost urgency. As for how to take down Gracchus in the least disruptive, fastest, and safest way, and interrogate him to extract a confession..."

And following this trail, I will eliminate all potential threats from the Demon Pillars across the continent. I already have a preliminary plan in mind. I wonder if Your Majesty, and all the other officials, would be interested in hearing it?

Upon hearing this, Prince Heinz's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He slowly sat up straight and looked directly at Cohen.
"Since His Highness the Emperor has long been aware of the crucial information about the Lost Land, he must have already given careful consideration to the subsequent course of action and made a comprehensive plan."

"In that case, Your Highness, please speak."

Feeling the focus of everyone's attention, Cohen stopped being coy and began to speak:
"Please look at the list, gentlemen."

The sheer number of countries involved, the high status of the nobles and officials involved, and the wide scope of the issue far exceed the judicial jurisdiction and operational capabilities of any single country.

Whether it was Grag in the Blazing Fire region or traitors within other empires and kingdoms.

If it were solely our Central Empire that unilaterally conducted cross-border arrests, searches, or even took necessary military actions.

Not only is it illegitimate and improper, but it is also very likely to cause diplomatic disputes, suspicion between countries, or even armed conflict. It may also alert the other traitors on the list and cause them to flee.

They might even resort to desperate measures, prematurely activating the Demon Pillar and causing irreparable disaster.

Therefore, my plan is to unite the five great empires to jointly establish a transnational joint investigation and special operations force with the highest legitimacy and the strongest military support.

Authorized jointly by the supreme rulers of the five great empires, this force is granted the authority to investigate the suspected persons and locations listed in the list within the territory of any country on the continent.

The power to search, control, arrest, interrogate, and, if necessary, to use force to eliminate all facilities.

The core military support and supreme supervisory authority of this force can be entrusted to the Holy Supervisory Office jointly dispatched by the five great empires.

The saints do not directly participate in the specific arrests, but they stay behind the scenes, coordinate all parties, deter the villains, and provide the highest level of military support and arbitration for the action forces.

Ensure that the operation does not deviate from the established goals and is not interfered with by foreign forces or internal resistance.

According to the list, we will make unified plans and act in unison.

The goal is to eradicate all the treacherous and hidden threats that the Demon Lord Thrall has laid on the human continent in the shortest possible time with overwhelming force!

This is not only to eliminate the immediate threat, but also to avert a catastrophic disaster that could engulf all living beings on the entire human continent before the demonic calamity truly descends!

Cohen's plan quickly gained unanimous approval.

Prime Minister Hayes said in a deep voice:

"Without delay, I will immediately draft a top-level confidential letter in the name of the Imperial Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and notify the foreign affairs authorities of the other four empires through emergency diplomatic channels."

They requested that a most urgent magical communication meeting be arranged with their emperor!

We must immediately bring this matter to the forefront and strive to gain their support and participation!

Prince Heinz immediately chimed in, acting swiftly and decisively:
"I will be in charge of the selection of personnel and the preliminary preparations for the joint force."

I will select the most loyal and elite officers and soldiers from the Imperial Guard, the main legions, and the special operations forces to form our dispatch detachments, and make them ready to depart at any time.

At the same time, the military intelligence bureau was ordered to conduct top-secret surveillance and intelligence verification on all personnel and locations on the list that were within my country's territory to ensure the operation's success.

Heisenberg, the chief, also said in a deep voice:
"I will conduct an immediate and secret investigation and purge of the House of Nobles, and I will show no leniency."

Shanis's gaze swept over the several high-ranking officials who had quickly settled into their tasks, finally settling on Cohen's face, and she said slowly:
"Since this plan was proposed by you, you and Prince Heinz will serve as the coordinators for this joint operation, responsible for coordinating all parties and directing the operation."

All departments of the Empire must cooperate fully.

"Okay, I will cooperate well with Uncle Wang!"

After discussing some details, the general direction and division of labor for the action plan have been largely clarified.

The tense and heavy atmosphere in the hall eased a little.

Prince Heinz, Chief Minister Heisenberg, Chancellor Hayes, and others, all seasoned veterans, naturally sensed the subtle tension between Empress Saness and Cohen. The high-ranking officials exchanged knowing glances, and then, led by Prince Heinz, they all bowed respectfully to Saness.

"Your Majesty, if there are no other instructions, we will go and make our own preparations."

Shanis nodded slightly, her voice regaining its usual authority:

"Go, but be careful and do not make any mistakes."

Several pillars of the empire filed out, and soon, only Xenias, seated on the throne, and Cohen, standing below the steps, remained in the magnificent and spacious council hall.

After a brief silence, Shanis coughed softly, breaking the stillness.

She did not rise immediately, maintaining the empress's upright posture, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible resentment:
"Why didn't you give us a heads-up before you came? Were you in such a hurry?"

Upon hearing this, Cohen gave a wry smile, took a few steps forward, and softened his voice considerably as he explained:

"The military situation is urgent and cannot be delayed for even a moment."

As you've seen from Viktor's list, demon pillars are scattered across the continent, and Thrall's war machine in the Lost Lands is also accelerating.

I need to rush back to the Lost Lands to take charge; there's a ton of stuff waiting to be dealt with there.

He paused, his tone becoming more serious:
"The main target of the Demon Lord Thrall has always been the Lost Lands."

I must make all possible preparations before he fully launches his attack there.

If the Lost Lands truly cannot withstand the pressure and collapse or fall on a large scale, at least on our human continent, we must take precautions in advance and not be caught off guard.

The construction of teleportation networks and joint defense systems, the allocation of strategic resources... all of these take time.

Shanis knew that Cohen carried a heavy burden, and said softly:

"I will keep an eye on the Empire for you. As long as the five great empires unite, the Demon Lord Thrall's arrangements on the human continent will be ineffective."

Cohen nodded slowly, then changed the subject, bringing up another, more important matter:

"In addition, there is the matter of training a new army that I discussed with His Majesty before."

I think we can take advantage of this opportunity to deal with the Thrall threat in the Lost Lands and send our new army to fight, so that they can gain experience in actual combat.

When the flames of war in the Lost Lands truly reached the edge of the human continent, the surrounding small countries sought help from the five great empires.

"Your Majesty's new army can be put to immediate use, rapidly deployed, and become the backbone of the resistance against the demons."

This was a long-term strategic plan that Cohen had discussed privately with Shanes before, in order to enable Shanes to have a new army that would truly be loyal to her when the situation in the Central Empire changed drastically in the future.

Shanis raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible reproach:
"You rushed here in such a hurry, is there nothing else you want to tell me besides these important military and national affairs and the safety of the mainland?"

Cohen's expression softened considerably, and he said softly:
"Of course there are other things too. I've missed Your Majesty a bit since I haven't seen you for so long."

This almost blunt confession made Shanis's heart tremble almost imperceptibly.

But her expression remained unchanged; only her beautiful eyebrows arched higher, and a half-smile curved her red lips.

Oh? You just 'somewhat' you want to?
It seems His Majesty Corleone has gained quite a lot from this trip to the Eastern Empire.

Has Emperor Eberron already accepted you as his son-in-law?

Cohen inwardly groaned and tried to change the subject:

"Your Majesty is joking... Speaking of the Eastern Empire, I did indeed have an in-depth meeting with Emperor Eberon this time."

Besides official business, I also learned about their internal situation.

Princess Grace's situation in the Eastern Empire is much more difficult than we had anticipated.

Prince Xia Zuo and the forces behind him were deeply entrenched, forming a comprehensive encirclement and suppression against her, and her support base among the military and traditional nobles was quite weak.

If I hadn't brought some chips with me this time, she would have had almost no chance of winning.

I was thinking... if Your Majesty could establish a closer connection or understanding with Princess Grace.

For example, cooperating in areas such as commerce, magical research, or military operations, or even providing her with support on certain international occasions.

This will greatly help alleviate the pressure she faces within the empire.

If Princess Grace can gain a foothold in the Eastern Empire, it will be very beneficial to His Majesty's future situation within the empire.

This is definitely a win-win situation for both sides...

Shanis interrupted Cohen directly:

“I’ve said it before, I don’t want to hear any official business right now.”

He stared intently at Cohen, as if trying to see right through him.

Cohen didn't say another word, but stepped forward and gently embraced Shanis.

As he pulled her into his arms, Shanis's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment before completely relaxing. She nestled into his familiar, warm embrace, raising her exquisitely beautiful chin.

Cohen slowly leaned down, his gaze lingering for a moment on her stunningly beautiful face so close to his own, before pressing his lips to her soft, slightly cool red lips without hesitation.

A long, deep kiss, as if pouring all the longing and complex emotions accumulated during their separation into this one kiss...

Despite not having seen Shanes for a long time, Cohen did not succumb to his affections.

There's still a lot of stuff waiting for him to deal with in the Lost Land.

After a brief moment of tender intimacy, Cohen took one last deep look at Shanis before opening the Book of Time and returning to the Lost Land.

At the same time as Cohen disappeared, a storm that would sweep across the highest levels of power on the human continent began to quietly brew.

Prime Minister Hayes was extremely efficient; confidential letters concerning the situation on the continent reached the foreign ministers or emperors' close associates of the other four empires almost simultaneously.

Shock, suspicion, scrutiny, urgent verification, high-level secret talks...

The same process was playing out almost simultaneously within the power core of the other four empires.

Despite varying speeds of response and internal resistance among nations, the threat was undeniable, coupled with the dual endorsement of humanity's most powerful empire and the prophets.

The five empires quickly reached a high degree of consensus.

While disputes over details, power struggles, and the division of responsibilities are inevitable, most of these conflicts are temporarily suppressed in the face of the death threat that "the devil may crawl out of your backyard tomorrow."

An unprecedented transnational joint operation to eradicate the invaders, authorized by the five great empires and overseen by the Holy Alliance, has officially begun.

The massive machine of the human continent has finally begun to operate in concert for a common external threat to survival.

Just as the human continent was launching a massive mobilization to eliminate internal scourges, Cohen's figure reappeared in the Lost Lands.

Eliminating internal threats is the first step, but the real battlefield lies in the Lost Lands.

The Demon Lord Sal has ruled the Chaotic Demon Continent for many years and has also formed an alliance with the Mechanical Continent, making his power immense.

The Endless Alliance and Bayonetta's Mysterious Continent alone might be able to keep up with him, but it's far from enough to contain or even completely defeat him.

The Lost Lands are vast and chaotic. In addition to the five major Order Oases that each control their own territory, there are countless independent Order City-states, tribal forces, guardians of ancient ruins, and even some maverick legendary powerhouses scattered throughout.

These forces may be limited individually, but if they can unite, they will become a force to be reckoned with.

Thrall's ambition is to unify the entire Lost Lands, which undoubtedly infringes on the fundamental interests of all forces that desire independence or to maintain the status quo.

It's time to take the initiative and form alliances.

A glint flashed in Cohen's eyes. He couldn't possibly bear the brunt of Thrall's attack on the entire Lost Lands alone. He needed allies, and he needed to unite those forces that also felt threatened by Thrall, or those that were already suppressed by Thrall.

To rally them onto a common chariot to fight against the Chaotic Demon Continent and the Mechanical Continent Alliance!

In Cohen's blueprint for alliances and collaborations, the most promising and crucial allies, who also require the most careful management, are undoubtedly the top-tier forces represented by the "six major investors."

These six forces have powerful backgrounds and abundant resources, and can be considered hegemons in their respective fields.

When Cohen first arrived in the Lost Lands and took over the Farmer City-State, they secretly interfered due to their conflicting interests, causing a lot of trouble.

However, after Cohen's coercion and enticement, and the establishment of the Endless Alliance, these people have become Cohen's best partners.

But cooperation is one thing, forming a new alliance is another.

It is easy to imagine how difficult it would be to persuade these local bullies, who are used to being aloof and acting independently, to stake their lives on an alliance with an uncertain future.

Cohen was fully aware of this.

The reason he had to push this forward, besides the ostensible reason of dealing with the imminent threat from Thrall, was that he also intended to take this opportunity to unify the Lost Lands!

Thrall, the Demon Lord, and Hextech, the Machine Lord, have openly bared their fangs, intending to establish a unified empire dominated by demonic forces and mechanical enslavement on the ruins of the Lost Lands.

Cohen, of course, wouldn't lag behind. Forming alliances with these top powers to fight against Thrall and Hextech was just his first step.

In this process, he will, as the leader of the alliance, consolidate forces and establish authority in the lost lands, ultimately rebuilding a unified empire on the ruins of this arcane empire! (End of Chapter)