Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen seemed to have anticipated this question, and with a calm smile, he answered unhurriedly:

"President Conrad has considered everything very thoroughly. I do have some preliminary ideas about the structure and operating rules of the committee."

First, regarding whether to establish a chairman or chief of staff, my opinion is as follows.

The committee does not have a permanent chairperson to avoid premature concentration of power or causing unnecessary suspicion.

However, in order to maintain daily operations and coordination efficiency, a rotating chairmanship is established.

The committee members take turns serving in a pre-agreed order, with each term lasting one month or one quarter, depending on the circumstances.

The rotating chairperson is responsible for convening and presiding over committee meetings, coordinating the work of the various subgroups, and handling routine emergencies, but does not have special decision-making powers that exceed those of other committee members.

All major strategic decisions, military operations, resource allocation, and foreign treaty negotiations must be submitted to the plenary session of the committee for collective discussion and voting.

The voting principle is that the minority submits to the majority.

For general matters, a simple majority vote is sufficient; however, for extremely important matters such as war and peace, the conclusion of alliances, and the fundamental system of the future nation, a higher majority, such as two-thirds or three-quarters, is required for implementation.

We can draft the specific details later.

Cohen's proposal clearly defined the core principles of "collective leadership, rotating leadership, and majority rule," which ensured both efficiency and democracy and checks and balances, and sounded quite fair.

At this moment, Gustav Nilsson, the arms tycoon who had remained mostly silent and was known for his outspoken nature, raised his voice and asked:
"Your Majesty Corleone, who are your 'committee members'?"

Who is qualified to sit inside?
"If all sorts of random people can come in and give orders, then this committee is better off not having one at all!"

Although his words were rude, he raised a question that everyone present cared about: the committee's eligibility criteria, that is, the definition of the inner circle.

Cohen nodded, his expression turning serious. He took out a pre-prepared parchment from his pocket, glanced at everyone, and said slowly:

"I have a preliminary proposal here regarding the initial list of committee members."

I'll state this first so you can hear it. This isn't a final decision. If anyone has a different opinion, or believes there are other candidates who should be included, we can have a full discussion and consultation later.

He paused briefly, as if giving everyone time to prepare, before beginning to call out names one by one:

"First and foremost, naturally, are those who represent the core forces of the Lost Lands—"

Sebastian Conrad, the head of Unicorn Trading Company.

His Holiness Dominic Reed, the contemporary Pope of the Fallen Church.

Mr. Ilya Taivo, the patriarch of the Taivo family.

Duke Adrian Solari, head of the Solari family.

Mr. Gustav Nilsson, a tycoon in the arms trade.

The selection of these five individuals was no surprise; they represent wealth, faith, finance, traditional nobility, and military channels, forming the core of the native forces in the Lost Lands.

Cohen continued:
"Furthermore, as a major existing top-tier power in the Lost Lands, the ruler of the Mysterious Continent, the 'Lord of Sequences,' the Cursed Witch, Lady Belmod Vynyard, should naturally also have a place on the committee."

Belmody's addition is also reasonable, as her Mysterious Continent is one of the five major oases of the Lost Lands, and its strength and influence are beyond doubt.

Then, Cohen changed the subject and began to list some representatives of external forces:

"I myself, Cohen Corleone, and my Queen, Lady Windsor Windrunner, will join the committee as representatives of the Endless Alliance and related forces."

Princess Grace Tang, the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire, entrusted with full authority by Pirate King Yann Hughes and representing the concerns of His Majesty the Emperor of the Eastern Empire, will also be an important member of the committee.

Finally, Cohen gave a name that was somewhat unfamiliar to the others:
"And, Ms. Mavis Tinuville."

After reading out the list, Cohen gently placed the parchment on the table and calmly looked at everyone:
"This is the initial list of members of the 'Supreme Committee' that I proposed, totaling ten people."

It encompasses the core forces of the Lost Lands, our alliance forces, key representatives of external allies, and a member who has made a special contribution to the current crisis.

Ladies and gentlemen, what are your thoughts on this list?

Does anyone feel there's a need for additional members, or are there any doubts about the qualifications of a particular member?

Upon hearing Cohen announce the initial list of ten committee members, President Conrad, Pope Reed, Taiwo, Duke Solari, and Gustav Nilsson all wore undisguised expressions of doubt.

The inclusion of these five individuals, along with Belmotti, in the first half of the list—six representatives of the Lost Lands' top local forces—is perfectly reasonable and without any issues.

But in the latter half, Cohen himself, Princess Windsordler, Princess Grace, and the mysterious Ms. Mavis are featured.

The simultaneous entry of these four individuals, who were clearly closely associated with Cohen, into the highest decision-making level, almost on par with the local forces, naturally made them wary.

It seems that Cohen's arrangements have overemphasized the influence of his own faction.

After a brief silence, it was the most diplomatic of the bank presidents, Conrad, who spoke first. His gaze shifted between Cohen and Windsordler, who stood quietly to the side. His tone was tactful, but his question was sharp:
"Your Majesty Corleone, we have no objections to this list in general."

However, there are one or two details that we find slightly puzzling, and we hope Your Majesty can enlighten us.

Your Majesty, as King of Efein and Lord of the Endless Alliance, joining the core leadership of the Committee is naturally what everyone expects and is indispensable.

Princess Grace represents the Pirate King and the Eastern Empire, so it is only natural for her to serve as a committee member.

But Her Highness Princess Windsor, she seems to represent the power of Effie and the Endless Alliance, just like you.

With two members who have such a close relationship serving as committee members at the same time, wouldn't this create an imbalance of power in the committee's voting and deliberation processes?
This inevitably raises some unnecessary doubts about the committee's broad representation and impartiality.

Conrad's words were polite, but the meaning was clear: you two occupy two committee seats, and your combined influence is too great, raising suspicions of a family-run empire and manipulation of the committee.

Cohen smiled slightly and explained in a calm tone:

"President Conrad is mistaken. My seat on the committee represents Effie and the overall interests and military presence of the Endless Alliance, built around Effie, in the Lost Lands."

This is based on the position of the nation and the alliance.

He changed the subject, pointing at Windsordler, his gaze serious:
"The Princess of Windsor's status as a committee member does not represent Effie, nor myself, but the entire Winged Elf race that stands behind her."

And the elven power and influence she could wield as the heir to the Elven Queen.

Cohen's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone becoming meaningful:

"As you all should know, the Winged Elves are the oldest and most powerful of the elven races, possessing profound magical knowledge, natural expertise, and unique connections across various planes."

These will all be valuable assets in our future fight against evil.

Princess Windsor's inclusion as the designated successor to the Elven Queen signifies that the Elven race is at least open to and supportive of our anti-magic cause.

If we don't grant her the appropriate status to participate in core decision-making, how can we expect the Elven race to wholeheartedly support us?

Perhaps in the future, they might even send reinforcements or provide magical assistance?
Of course, if you feel that we don't need allies like the Elves to fight against Thrall and the demon army, or if you think the power of the Elves is insignificant.

Then I can also ask Windsor to withdraw from the committee list, after all, a committee seat is also a responsibility and a contribution.

However, if we suffer losses on certain special battlefields against demons due to a lack of crucial natural magic support, then…

Cohen didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear. He was elevating Windsordler's role as a committee member from a personal connection to that of a racial representative.

Didn't you complain that there were too many of us?
Alright, then let me tell you, my wife represents the entire Winged Elf race, and she is a powerful ally you desperately need. Whether you want this ally or not is up to you to decide.

These words made Conrad and the others realize something instantly, and at the same time feel a little embarrassed.

They were so preoccupied with balancing the power within the committee that they almost forgot that survival was the most important thing right now.

The combined forces of Demon Lord Thrall and Alchemist Baron Hextech were already extremely powerful, and now that they have confirmed the trump card of the demon army, they only wish they had more and stronger allies.

How could we possibly push away such a heavyweight potential ally as the Winged Elves?

Windsordler's status as a committee member is not a problem at all; on the contrary, it is a guarantee that must be firmly held onto.

President Conrad immediately complied, apologizing and bowing slightly to Windsordler.
"So that's how it is. We were short-sighted and didn't think things through."

The arrival of Princess Windsor, representing the Winged Elves, is a great honor for our alliance.

The others nodded in agreement, indicating their complete understanding and support for Windsordler's inclusion on the committee as a representative of the Elves.

The controversy vanished instantly.

Having resolved the Windsordler issue, President Conrad did not stop there. He adjusted his glasses, turned his gaze to the last and most enigmatic name on the list, and spoke again:
"And this last committee member, Ms. Mephisto Tinuville..."

There may be many women named 'Mavis' in the entire Lost Lands, but only a select few can catch His Majesty's eye and qualify for a place on this Supreme Council.

As far as I know, there seems to be only one, and that is Mavis, a capable lieutenant under the Demon Lord Sal, a Gold-rank expert, and the lord of an Orderly City-state. His Majesty has included her on the committee; could it be that…

He didn't say it explicitly, but the questioning look in his eyes was very clear.

Could it be that this Mavis has been turned by you, or is she one of your people all along?

Cohen nodded slowly, confirming Conrad's guess and revealing another astonishing secret:

"President Conrad is right."

This is another important piece of news I want to announce to you all today, and it is also one of our greatest advantages in our future battle against the Demon Lord Thrall!

He surveyed the crowd, his eyes gleaming:

"The reason I am able to know the Demon Lord Thrall's movements, the inside story of his collusion with demons, and even some of his core military deployments, and to have a lot of key evidence is that I am able to know everything about him."

It is precisely because Miss Mavis, from the very beginning, has been my most important intelligence agent, secretly planted beside the Demon Lord Sal, and my most trustworthy eyes and ears.

She had been working undercover within the Sal Group for many years, holding a stable position and enjoying deep trust. She had passed on countless life-or-death intelligence reports to us, and her contribution to exposing Sal's collusion with demons and the Victor List was immense.

In the future war against Sal, her role as an inside agent will be irreplaceable!
Such a meritorious person, who carries a top-secret mission, has made irreplaceable and enormous contributions to the Alliance, and will continue to play a key role in the future.

Granting her a committee membership would allow her to participate directly in top-level decision-making, ensuring that her intelligence value is used most fully and promptly, while also guaranteeing her safety and operational convenience.

Do you all think this request is excessive?

Hearing Cohen personally confirm that the mysterious female committee member Mavis was his number one ace spy planted in the inner circle of the Demon Lord Sal, he was deeply moved.

The doubts and wariness that had been on the faces of Conrad, Reed, Taiwo, Solari, and Nilsson vanished, replaced by shock, relief, and heartfelt admiration.

Shocked by the depth of Cohen's scheme and the brilliance of his methods, we are fortunate that there is such a crucial inside agent in our own camp.

President Conrad clapped his hands in admiration, his face beaming with a relieved smile:
"I see! Your Majesty is truly far-sighted and a master strategist."

With someone like Ms. Mavis lurking around Sal, we have even more confidence in the war to come.

Such merits deserve no less than a committee seat, or even the highest honor.

The others, including the notoriously rough-around-the-edges Gustav Nilsson, all nodded in agreement, offering no further objections.

In their view, exchanging a committee seat for a key inside agent who could provide deadly intelligence deep within enemy territory was an extremely worthwhile deal.

If Cohen could place a few more such figures under Sal, even ten or eight more committee member positions, they wouldn't mind.

However, they were unaware that they had fallen into Cohen's far deeper scheme.

They never imagined that granting Mavis a committee member position, which seemed reasonable at the moment, would completely destroy their chance to compete for the supreme throne of the Lost Land Empire in the future!

Cohen had already made his plans.

Once Thrall, the Demon Lord, is defeated, the demonic threat is eliminated, the Lost Lands are restored to unity, the overall situation is settled, and people yearn for peace.

He will then choose the most opportune moment to reveal Mavis's true identity to the entire Lost Lands and even the whole continent—the last direct descendant of the royal family of the ancient arcane empire!
He is the most legitimate and noble heir in the ancient land of the Lost Lands!

What is the Lost Land?
It is the ruins of the Arcane Empire, the core territory of a once glorious civilization.

A unified empire is being rebuilt on this land steeped in the glory and legacy of the Arcane Empire.

Who is the most convincing and persuasive person to inherit its legal system and crown, and who can win the hearts and minds of all parties?

The answer is obvious—only the royal descendants of the Arcane Empire!

At that time, Cohen could then legitimately use the pretext of upholding orthodoxy to place Mavis on the supreme throne of the emperor.

What other choice would Commissioners like Conrad and Reed have but to submit?

By personally bringing Mavis into the Supreme Council, they were essentially acknowledging her status in advance, paving the way for her future ascension to the throne.

To oppose it would be to break faith, to deny one's own initial decision, and even more so to deny Mavis's great contribution in saving the entire league.

Cohen made this move quietly, yet he had already planted a crucial piece that would determine the future.

Unfortunately, the five giants, immersed in the joy of "gaining a powerful inside man," were completely unaware of this.

Unbeknownst to them, this top-secret meeting that would determine the future fate of the lost land had lasted from evening until late at night, and from late-night debates and discussions until dawn, for a full day and night.

All parties finally reached a preliminary consensus on the structure, personnel, and basic principles of the "Supreme Committee for Joint Resistance Against the Enemy and Preparation for National Construction," and also achieved their respective expected goals.

The threat was identified, the alliance was established, and initial tasks were assigned.

At the end of the meeting, everyone signed their names or imprinted their soul marks on a preliminary cooperation framework agreement provided by Cohen, which was bound by a magical contract.

The first clause of this agreement is, naturally, to maintain strict confidentiality regarding everything discussed today.

Whether it's the agreement to establish a nation, or Cohen's report about Mavis's identity, the equipment of the Demon Dragon Legion, and the Hellish Armaments, all of these are top secrets and must be bound by a soul contract.

Secondly, it involves specific content such as intelligence sharing, non-aggression pacts, and joint resistance against the enemy.

After the matter was settled, no one was in the mood for further pleasantries.

After paying their respects to Cohen, Grace, and Windsordler, President Conrad, Pope Reed, Taiwo, Duke Solari, and Gustav Nilsson hurriedly left the villa that had witnessed the historic meeting and rushed back to their respective spheres of influence.

They need to immediately begin internal mobilization, consolidate their forces, adjust their strategies, and make full preparations for the upcoming all-out war against the Demon Lord Thrall and the demon legions.

After a brief discussion, the headquarters and permanent institutions of the "Supreme Committee for the United Resistance and Nation Building of the Lost Lands" were decided to be located in the Endless City, the capital of the Endless Alliance, where Cohen had the deepest roots, the most stringent defenses, and the easiest place to coordinate all parties.

This place will become the brain and heart of the future resistance against the demon legion.

……

The offices of the Supreme Council and its subordinate departments are located at No. 3 Windsor Street in the Endless City.

The framework had barely been established when it was thrown into intense operation. Core personnel from Unicorn Trading Company, the Fallen Church, and the three major families had been deployed, forming a complete bureaucratic team.

They began coordinating resources from all parties, gathering intelligence, and formulating preliminary response strategies.

Just as the Supreme Council was immersed in a busy and tense atmosphere, a group of guests, not unexpectedly, stepped into the city.

The newcomers were a small but incredibly imposing team.

They were all dressed in pure white armor or priestly robes embroidered with golden suns and holy swords. The group was disciplined, their steps were steady, and they exuded an aura of purity, determination, and invisible majesty.

Leading the group were two elderly men with weathered faces. They did not deliberately radiate power, but simply by standing there, they seemed to resonate harmoniously with the surrounding elements and light.

They give off an unfathomable, mountain-like feeling—legendary rank, and there are two of them!
Behind them followed dozens of knights and priests with refined auras and sharp eyes, including more than ten gold-rank experts!
The sudden arrival of this team aroused the high vigilance of the Endless City's guards and quickly alarmed the Supreme Council.

Their identities were quickly confirmed; they were a joint delegation of priests and paladins from the headquarters of the Holy See on the human continent, led by two legendary saints!
However, the support team sent by the Holy See of Light not only greatly exceeded Cohen's expectations, but also shocked several Lost Lands who had just begun to cooperate with Cohen.

They knew that Cohen had some connections with the Holy See and might be able to gain some support from him.

But to everyone's surprise, the other side took it so seriously, sending an envoy led by two legendary superhumans and accompanied by so many elite gold-rank warriors!
This is almost equivalent to sending out a strategic support force comparable to the five major oasis-level forces.

The Holy See of Light, a powerful religious organization that plays a pivotal role on the human continent and whose mission is to eliminate darkness and evil, will undoubtedly inject a strong boost into the newly established Anti-Saharan Alliance with its attitude and commitment.

When it comes to fighting against pure evil like the demon legions that originate from the abyss, the experience, professionalism, and sense of historical mission of the Holy See of Light are undoubtedly the most outstanding and trustworthy among all human forces.

Looking back at the first great war between gods and demons that swept across the continent, the reason why the human alliance was ultimately able to achieve a Pyrrhic victory and reseal the demons back into the endless abyss was because...

The Holy See played an indispensable role in this.

Whether it's uniting various human forces to fight side by side, providing faith support, or developing targeted divine arts, they are an indispensable backbone of the human alliance.

Their holy light, purification magic, and understanding of demonic weaknesses are among the most effective weapons against abyssal creatures.

Therefore, when Cohen saw the Holy See delegation, led by two legendary extraordinary individuals and composed of many elite Gold-rank warriors, he couldn't help but feel a sense of astonishment.

This scale and this lineup have far exceeded the scope of the cooperation he had previously verbally agreed upon with the Pope of the Holy See.

The delegation leader, Cohen, was a familiar face; he was none other than Raymond Harry, the vice-president of the Knights Templar at the headquarters of the Holy See.

Raymond stopped in front of Cohen, placed his right hand on his chest, and gave a standard, solemn knightly salute, his voice steady and powerful:

"Your Majesty Corleone, guided by the glorious guidance of our Lord and by the decree of His Holiness the Pope."

Raymond Harry, Vice-Grand Master of the Knights Templar of the Holy See, leading a 100-strong Disciplinary Order and a 300-strong Holy Knight Vanguard, reports for duty! (End of Chapter)