Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

After a series of seemingly ordinary pleasantries, the atmosphere in the living room seemed to ease a little.

When President Conrad accurately revealed Grace's identity, and Cohen tacitly agreed, subtle yet intense waves of emotion surged within the hearts of the five giants of the Lost Lands present.

They exchanged knowing glances, their minds racing with information about the recent upheavals on the human continent.

Not long ago, King Cohen Creon of Efein joined forces with the mysteriously rising "Pirate King" Yann Hughes, who dominated the Northwest Sea.

With thunderous force, they destroyed the Ceylon Kingdom, which dominated the northwest of the continent.

Behind this earth-shattering battle, various versions of rumors had already been circulating.

Rumors suggest that the reason these two seemingly unrelated powerful figures were able to engage in such a deep and tacit military cooperation lies in the most important women in each of their lives.

Isabella, the daughter of King Cohen's wife, and Princess Grace, the fiancée of the "Pirate King," share an unusually close friendship.

Seeing the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire appear so naturally at the meeting chaired by Cohen concerning the top secrets of the Lost Lands, these rumors were confirmed.

His Majesty Corleone and that mysterious Pirate King are probably more than just strategic partners.

The interpersonal networks and vested interests behind them are deeper than one can imagine.

The appearance of Princess Grace further cast the shadow of the behemoth that is the Eastern Empire onto the chessboard of the Lost Lands.

Cohen maintained a calm smile, his gaze sweeping over the five people with their varying expressions, as if he didn't see the surprise and scheming in their eyes.

He pointed to Grace and added in a solemn tone:

"As President Conrad just discerningly observed, please allow me to once again introduce to you all—this is none other than the esteemed Princess Grace Tang of the Eastern Empire."

Your Highness has come here with a dual mission.

Firstly, I was fully entrusted by her fiancé, my good friend and important ally, Lord 'Pirate King' Yann Hughes, to participate in this upheaval in the Lost Land as an ally of our Endless Alliance.

Secondly, she also represents the will and concern of His Majesty Emperor Eberon of the Eastern Empire.

Therefore, Your Highness will be one of the key participants and representatives in our multi-party negotiations and cooperation.

Furthermore, I must state in advance that Her Highness Grace and the forces she represents will undoubtedly occupy a place in any future alliance we may form against common threats, becoming indispensable allies and partners.

alliance?

Grace was also involved, and even represented the Eastern Empire?

Cohen's words immediately caused a huge uproar.

The confusion on the five people's faces could no longer be concealed; instead, obvious astonishment and bewilderment surfaced.

They exchanged quick glances again, and finally, Ilya Taiwo, the financial tycoon known for his meticulous thinking and sharp words, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke at the opportune moment, asking the question that everyone present cared about and was most worried about:
"Your Majesty Corleone, please forgive my bluntness... What you just said was quite a lot of information, which has left us somewhat confused."

You mean, Princess Grace not only represents that mysterious Pirate King, but also... the will of His Majesty the Emperor of the Eastern Empire?
Does this mean that the Eastern Empire, one of the five great empires of the human continent, will directly intervene in this conflict within our Lost Lands?

He paused, his gaze shifting between Cohen and Grace, before continuing:
"Your Majesty, the Lost Lands have their own rules and traditions."

Although we have had interactions with the human continent, we have always maintained a clear separation.

Never before have the hands of the five great empires reached so directly into the internal affairs of our land.

Moreover, what we are discussing now is a united front for self-preservation against Thrall, which is essentially still a power struggle and a battle for survival within the Lost Lands.

Is it appropriate to introduce the power of an external empire, and what unpredictable variables will it bring?
How will other empires react?

Taiwo's question hit the nail on the head and also revealed the biggest concern in the hearts of the other four.

The reason for inviting Cohen, an "outsider," to lead the Alliance is that he has already established himself in the Lost Lands, built the Endless Alliance, and demonstrated the ability and determination to fight Thrall, and has been partially accepted to some extent.

But the Eastern Empire... it was a completely external behemoth, and its motives, extent, and potential political and military chain reactions were entirely unpredictable.

This is no longer a simple matter of leveraging power; it could evolve into "inviting a wolf into the house," or trigger a direct struggle between human imperial forces in the Lost Lands, which would be far more complex and dangerous than the threat posed by Thrall, the Demon Lord.

The Lost Lands have always rejected the human continent, especially the direct interference of the five great empires. This has been an ironclad rule that all forces in the Lost Lands have tacitly agreed to abide by for a long time.

It is the cornerstone for maintaining the unique ecology of this lawless land and the delicate balance between various forces.

They already had some reservations about Cohen bringing the Eastern Empire's eldest princess, a member of the imperial family with a sensitive background, to the forefront.

However, considering that the other party represents One Piece, I didn't say much.

But now that Cohen has openly stated that in addition to representing the Pirate King, he also represents the will of Emperor Eberron of the Eastern Empire, this has aroused their vigilance.

The Eastern Empire is a traditional imperial giant with a strict system, a vast territory, and a natural desire to expand its territory and influence!
Allowing it to intervene in the internal affairs of the Lost Lands in such a formal manner undoubtedly crossed that sensitive line.

Given Cohen's current prestige and power, and the fact that this meeting was to discuss the crucial "anti-Shar" plan that concerned their life and death, the group temporarily suppressed their dissatisfaction.

But Chief Taiwo's sharp questioning had brought this widespread unease and doubt to the forefront.

Faced with Taiwo's doubts and the obvious disapproval in the eyes of others, Cohen did not rush to defend himself, but instead showed a calm smile.

He gently waved his hand, signaling everyone to calm down, and spoke in a steady voice:

"Please do not panic, nor should you jump to conclusions too soon."

Since I invited Princess Grace here and stated that she represents the Eastern Empire, I naturally have my reasons.

Please allow me to explain the real predicament we are currently facing.

After hearing this, you might understand why we must, and can only, rely on the power of the human continent, especially the five great empires, to jointly address this crisis.

Cohen paused slightly, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps giving everyone time to prepare mentally.

Then, he slowly began to speak, steer the conversation toward the most terrifying and horrifying truth:

"I believe that since our last discussion about the Lost Lands, you have all returned to your respective forces and must have used all available resources to intensify your intelligence gathering efforts on the Demon Lord Thrall and his new ally, the ruler of the Mechanical Continent, the 'Alchemist Baron' Hex."

So, with your abilities, you should now be able to confirm that Thrall and Hextech, the two strongest beings at the top of the Lost Lands, have officially joined forces and are actively preparing for it.

Are you planning to unleash a massive war on this land in the near future, a war that will overturn the existing order and engulf all living beings?

Upon hearing this, the five leaders all became extremely solemn.

They looked at each other and saw deep worry in each other's eyes.

Finally, Chief Taiwo, representing everyone, slowly nodded and acknowledged:

"That's right. Our intelligence results all show that their alliance is a done deal, and they are making frequent moves, with large-scale personnel gathering, material mobilization, and arms production all accelerating."

They...were indeed preparing to establish a new, unified empire unlike any other in the lost lands.

A massive war engulfing the entire Lost Lands is now inevitable.

Cohen nodded slightly: "Very good, it seems our information is synchronized."

So, when you were collecting this intelligence, did you think deeply about it, or did you notice any unusual signs?

What kind of power do they intend to use as the cornerstone to support and win this war of unification?

Cohen leaned forward slightly and coaxed:
"Please consider this. The Lost Lands are vast and boundless. They were once the core territory of the glorious and prosperous Arcane Empire. Their size is in no way inferior to any of the five great empires on the human continent."

Moreover, the distribution of power here is far more fragmented than that of the human empire. Oases, city-states, tribes, ruin guardians, independent strongmen... all kinds of forces are intertwined, and the intensity and complexity of the struggles far exceed ordinary people's imagination.

Although we may be slightly inferior to the most established empires on the human continent in terms of the number of top-tier superhumans and the overall level of advanced magical civilization.

However, in terms of the proportion of low- to mid-level extraordinary individuals, the martial spirit among the populace, and the general competence in dealing with chaos and battle… the Lost Lands far surpass ordinary nations on the human continent!

He looked intently at the crowd:

"To wage a war of conquest aimed at unification on such a vast, complex land with fierce folk customs and numerous powerful forces."

Defeat all opponents and establish and maintain a stable new empire.

What a massive, elite, and efficient army this would require, and what enormous resources, logistics, and governance costs it would incur.

Thrall, the Demon Lord, and his Chaotic Realms, along with Hextech of the Mechanical Continent, undoubtedly possess formidable power, making them top-tier entities in the Lost Lands. But is their current strength truly sufficient to support such immense ambition? Faced with our potential alliance, and the resistance of all other forces in the Lost Lands unwilling to be enslaved, what is their ultimate trump card, the one that will determine the final outcome?

Cohen's question struck everyone like a hammer blow.

Yes, Thrall and Hextech are very strong, but the Lost Lands have never lacked strong people and powerful alliances throughout history, yet no one has ever truly achieved unification.

What makes them think they can do it? What are their hidden cards that haven't been fully revealed yet?
The group fell silent. Cohen's question had hit the nail on the head.

Indeed, the reason they were willing to set aside their pride and gather here today, besides feeling the immense pressure from Sal, was for one more important reason.

They used every means at their disposal, but they still couldn't find out the deepest reason why the Demon Lord Thrall dared to launch a war of unification!
While Thrall and Hextech's conventional military forces are indeed formidable, they are by no means enough to make them feel so desperate.

There must be other, even more terrifying trump cards up their sleeve.

This trump card can probably only be held by the person in front of us who rules the Military Intelligence Bureau and is the prophesied son personally appointed by the god of prophecy.

Cohen took in the silence and solemnity of the crowd. He knew the time was right, so he lowered his voice and slowly said:
"Let me tell you, after extensive investigation, we have even paid a considerable price."

It has now been determined that Thrall's greatest strength lies in the fact that he has already formed an evil alliance with several powerful demon tribes that reside deep within the Abyss!
Within his Chaotic and Mechanical Continents, with Hextech's tacit approval and even assistance, Thrall has secretly constructed several permanent spatial channels that can stably connect to specific abyssal strata, specifically for guiding the souls of the demon legions to descend.

These channels have complete structures and abundant energy sources.

Once Thrall deems the time ripe and gives the order, the bloodthirsty and chaotic demon army from the endless abyss will pour down like a flood through these channels, directly descending upon the land beneath our feet!
When that time comes, you can estimate for yourselves how many of these demon legions you could withstand, even if you joined forces.
A few days? A few weeks? Or a few months?
Don't forget, we are facing a demon!
It was a terrifying being that required the entire human race to unite and even the personal intervention and sacrifice of the gods to barely repel and seal it back into the abyss!
Their ferocity, chaos, and hatred for the living are etched into the very essence of their souls!

boom--!
Cohen's words plunged the entire conference room into a deathly silence.

The five giants who had dominated the Lost Lands for years now had all their faces drained of color.

Their pupils contracted to their limit due to extreme horror, and some even trembled slightly uncontrollably.

demon!

Thrall has colluded with demons!
Do we need to lure the demon army directly to the Lost Lands?
This has far exceeded the scope of a power struggle; it is about dragging the entire Lost Land into an abyss of no return, turning it into a purgatory ravaged by demons!
Pope Reed of the fallen church could no longer maintain his compassionate composure. He abruptly stood up from his seat, his white robes trembling slightly with emotion.

His gaunt face was filled with disbelief and rage, and his voice trembled with extreme shock:
"Evil...demon?"
They...they actually dared to contact the devil?!
Your Majesty Corleone, this matter concerns the safety of the entire Lost Lands.

Do you have any concrete evidence to support your claim?

As someone who serves the gods and has the deepest understanding of the evil nature of the abyss, he knows better than anyone what this means and is more eager to have it confirmed.

Cohen was not surprised by Pope Reed's outburst. He took out several pre-prepared magical memory crystals from his pocket and handed them to Conrad, Reed, Taiwo, Duke Solari, and Nilsson one by one.

"The evidence is right here; you can see for yourselves."

This is real-time magical footage secretly recorded by our informant near the core training area of ​​the Demon Lord Thrall, at great personal risk.

The five people exchanged glances, and each saw surprise and heaviness in the other's eyes.

Without further hesitation, they almost simultaneously channeled a wisp of magic into the magic crystals in their hands.

The crystal surface shimmered with light, and moments later, chilling images were projected directly into their minds:
A dark and vast underground space, with tall, twisted and eerie buildings.

There were also "human soldiers" lined up neatly but with blank stares, their bodies faintly glowing with an ominous red light, undergoing rigid yet highly efficient killing training.

If you look closely, you can occasionally see a glint of inhuman, insane, bloodthirsty rage in the depths of those soldiers' eyes.

Further away, some even larger creatures with dark red or purplish-black skin were engaged in a more ferocious battle under the overseer's whip.

Their roars, even through the magical images, seemed to pierce the soul.

In one corner of the scene, a faint, dark red altar-like structure covered with strange runes could be seen, surrounded by kneeling figures draped in black robes.

The aura of abyssal demons, humans corrupted or possessed by demonic power, evil abyssal rituals, and organized, demonized armies...

Although the images have been processed, blurring some of the most crucial details, the information they convey is still shocking enough to send chills down the spine of any knowledgeable superhuman.

Gustav Nilsson nearly dropped the crystal in his hand. This arms tycoon, known for his audacity, was now sweating profusely, and the muscles in his face were twitching.

Ilya Taivo adjusted his glasses, his fingers trembling slightly.

Duke Adrian Solari gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white.

President Sebastian Conrad took a deep breath and closed his eyes, as if processing the horrifying information.

Pope Reed, on the other hand, was deathly pale, his lips moving silently as if in prayer.

After everyone had barely recovered from the shock of the images, Cohen's voice rang out again, this time revealing a truth even more terrifying than the "demon collusion":

What you have seen is only the tip of the iceberg.

To tell you the truth, we have now basically ascertained that the reason why the Demon Lord Thrall has such audacity and ability to collude with the Abyss is that the true backer and mastermind behind him is the 62nd of the 72 Demon Lords—the 'Lord of Deception' Valak!

He looked around at everyone and said, word by word, with perfect clarity:
"To be precise, the Demon Lord Thrall was simply a pawn that the Demon God Valak had carefully placed on the Prime Material Plane countless years ago, a puppet and representative completely controlled by him!"
All his actions in the Lost Lands were ultimately not for his own domination, but to carry out Valak's will—to open a secure abyss passage and pave the way for the large-scale return of the demon army.

What we face is not merely an ambitious warlord of a lost land, but an evil invasion from the abyss, meticulously planned for countless years, targeting the entire world of the living!

Cohen's words shattered the last vestiges of hope in everyone's hearts like a hammer blow.

He no longer concealed anything, laying bare the cruelest truth before them.

Thrall, the Demon Lord, was not an ambitious and independent individual, but rather a puppet carefully cultivated by the Demon God Valak.

The Lost Lands are not their ultimate goal, but rather a springboard and outpost for the demon legion to return to the human continent and for the demon gods to reappear.

What they are now fighting against is no longer a powerful neighbor in the Lost Lands, but a premeditated, organized, and demon-supported cataclysmic invasion from the Endless Abyss.

The earth-shattering scheme of the seventy-two demon gods was like an invisible mountain, pressing down on everyone present, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.

Cohen softened his tone and said calmly:
"Now, do you still think that it was unnecessary for me to bring in the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire and the power of the human continent?"

Do we, with the existing power of the Lost Lands alone, have the ability to fight against the demon legion supported by the Demon God?
We must, and can only, turn our gaze to the human continent, to those empires that also do not wish to see the abyss descend, and that also possess vast resources and power.

We must race against time, unite all forces that can be united, and nip this disaster in the bud before Thrall fully activates the demonic portal and Valak's power completely permeates the area.

At the very least... we must keep it at the edge of the Lost Lands, and absolutely not let it spread to the human continent, for that would be the end of the world!

Cohen's questioning completely dispelled the last doubts and resistance of Conrad, Reed, Taiwo, Solari, and Nilsson.

They realized that Cohen's introduction of the Eastern Empire's power was not to control the Lost Land, but to save it and to fight against a terrifying enemy far beyond their capabilities.

The landscape has completely changed.

After a brief silence, President Sebastian Conrad took a deep breath and spoke first.

The shrewd businessman's face was now devoid of any calculation, only solemnity and sincerity remained. He rose, bowed deeply to Cohen, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Your Majesty, just as you said, the situation is already extremely precarious, and it is indeed not something that our lost lands can hold on to alone."

Your Majesty, you are the Son of Prophecy, the King of War. The Endless Alliance was created by you. Your prestige, strength, and vision are unmatched by anyone present.

You would never want to see your hard-earned empire become a playground for evil.

Now, with demons before us and gods behind us, we beseech Your Majesty to decide what to do next. We are ready to follow your orders!

Conrad's words expressed the sentiments of the other four.

All eyes were on Cohen, filled with trust, expectation, and a heavy sense of entrusting one's fate to him.

Seeing this, Cohen knew that the time was ripe.

He didn't feign modesty, nor did he hesitate at all; he suddenly stood up.

His tall figure, illuminated by the fireplace, resembled a sword about to be drawn. His gaze swept over each of the assembled leaders, and he spoke in a deep voice:

"Very well! Since you all trust me, Cohen, and are willing to entrust your future to me."

Then I will no longer refuse. At this critical juncture of life and death, empty formalities are meaningless. I will speak frankly about my thoughts and plans! (End of Chapter)