Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Raymond paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the somewhat tense high-ranking members of the Endless Alliance behind Cohen, before continuing:
"Before his departure, His Holiness the Pope repeatedly instructed that eliminating demons, purifying evil, and protecting the living are the foundation of our Holy See and an inescapable duty."

Now that Your Majesty has obtained conclusive evidence and crucial intelligence regarding the arrival of the demons, this battle is now a matter of survival for billions of lives on the continent.

The Vatican will do everything in its power to prevent evil from running rampant.

The reinforcements dispatched this time are all highly trained elites, specializing in the extermination of evil from other worlds, and they will all obey His Majesty's orders!

Deputy Commander Raymond's words were forceful and clear, attributing the large-scale troop deployment entirely to "the Pope's concern about the demonic threat" and "fulfilling his sacred duty," which sounded reasonable and beyond reproach.

However, Cohen fell into a brief silence after listening.

He knew His Holiness the Pope, who stood at the pinnacle of power and faith on the human continent.

He was an old man of profound wisdom, but known for his steady and even slightly conservative style of doing things.

Pope Nicholas has already devoted a great deal of energy to balancing the various factions within the Papacy, maintaining relations with the major empires, and handling complex papal affairs.

It is remarkable that such a powerful force could be dispatched so decisively and swiftly to penetrate the complex situation in the Lost Lands, where the Papacy's influence is relatively weak.

This is not like His Holiness the Pope's usual style of doing things.

Unless... a higher-level, more unquestionable will directly propelled this matter!
Goddess of Light...

A name, along with a stunningly beautiful figure, quietly surfaced in Cohen's mind.

That great being who sits high in the Kingdom of God, holding the divine authority of light, order, and redemption.

Perhaps this is the real driving force behind the Vatican's "generosity".

Thinking of this, a complex emotion swept through Cohen's mind.

However, he did not voice these speculations. Instead, he extended his sincerest welcome and gratitude to Vice Commander Raymond and his men, and arranged for personnel to properly receive this powerful reinforcement.

The matter concerning the Goddess of Light is not yet ready to be revealed; it must be left for the future.

Shortly after the arrival of the Holy See delegation, Cohen's other allies also arrived in the Endless City.

The first to arrive was the team of extraordinary individuals sent by the Golden Wing family.

This wealthiest family on the mainland may not be known for its military might, but its accumulated wealth is enough to allow them to hire and train the most elite guards.

This team was small in number, but their equipment was astonishing; almost everyone on them shone with the light of at least legendary-level magical items.

Furthermore, there is an auxiliary force composed entirely of various expensive magical constructs and alchemical creatures, showcasing the "power of money."

Their arrival greatly enhanced the alliance's logistical support and special operations capabilities.

Following that, Jialin kept her promise and sent a group of powerful individuals from the Star Clan.

Their arrival brought valuable top-tier combat power to the coalition forces.

In an instant, the Endless City, which was already busy and tense due to the establishment of the Supreme Council, became a gathering place for powerful figures from all sides.

On the streets, superhumans dressed in different clothes and from different races and forces could be seen everywhere, and the air was filled with a sense of impending war and a hidden excitement.

Humans, elves, Starbringers, believers of light, and local powerful figures from the Lost Lands... This unprecedented and diverse coalition is rapidly being integrated under Cohen's will.

They are making final preparations for the unification war that will soon break out in the lost lands.

Cohen stood atop the core command tower of the Endless City, which was covered with layers of magical defenses, looking down at the bustling and orderly preparations for battle below, silently taking stock of the high-end combat power that his side currently possessed.

The Holy See of Light: Raymond and another ascetic elder, two legendary transcendents, along with more than fifteen ninth-tier paladins and high-ranking priests.

Star Clan: One Legendary Star Envoy and several Gold-rank Starlights.

The elite of the Pale Wings, the Legion of Gods and Demons, the Dragon Knights, and the Hell Armed Forces promised by Grand Duke Zariel.

The five major factions in the Lost Lands: Conrad's merchant guilds, armed forces, and mercenaries.

The church's armed forces and fanatical followers under Pope Reed.

The financial security and secret forces of the Taivo family, the ancient noble private army of Duke Solari, and the elite mercenaries and arms under the command of Gustav Nilsson.

Each of these five organizations has at least one legendary-level expert in charge, as well as a considerable number of gold-level core members.

Finally, there's the complete Oasis-level power under Bayonetta's control.

If you look closely, at the legendary level alone, Cohen has more than ten people he can clearly mobilize or rely on in the Lost Lands!

There are hundreds of Gold-rank experts!
On the other hand, their opponents are the alliance between Thrall, the Demon Lord, and Hextech, the Machine Continent.

Thrall himself is a peak Legendary-rank Demon Lord, and Hextech is a mid-Legendary-rank Alchemist Baron. They naturally have a group of loyal Legendary and Gold-rank subordinates under their command.

However, in terms of the quantity and quality of conventional high-level superhumans, the new alliance led by Cohen is already on par with them!

Cohen's gaze drifted into the distance, as if it could pierce through space and see the surging darkness deep within the Chaotic Demon Continent:

"Now, the only problem, and the biggest variable, lies in the abyssal demons behind the Demon Lord Thrall, and the demon god Valak."

Just how many high-ranking demon lords, great demons, and even... possible abominations or demon god incarnations will be deployed?

The terror of the demon legion lies not only in its sheer number and fearless madness, but also in the fact that it contains various terrifying beings comparable to, or even surpassing, legends.

Balor Flame Demon, Six-Armed Serpent Demon, Bewitching Demon, Soul-Slaying Demon... These top predators from the abyss, each in its mature form possess terrifying power capable of destroying cities and rivaling that of human legends.

As for the demon god Valak, since he has planned such a huge conspiracy, it is hard to imagine that he will not use his true core power at the critical moment, or even descend in his avatar!

Cohen silently assessed the situation. However, even so, with the power we have gathered so far, combined with the purification magic of the Holy See, the high-level superhumans of the Star Clan, and various targeted arrangements, we are still a formidable force.

In high-level combat confrontations, they should at least be able to hold their own and not be easily defeated.

The key lies in how to leverage intelligence to gain the strategic initiative and deliver a decisive blow before the demon legion fully deploys and the demon god's power fully intervenes.

Or at least hold them back and wear them down, creating favorable conditions for the final battle.

The shadow of war grew ever thicker, but within the Endless City, a firm and fervent fighting spirit ignited, fueled by the convergence of reinforcements from all sides.

The chessboard that will determine the future fate of the Lost Lands, and even the entire continent, has been laid out; all that remains is for the first piece to be placed!
……

Just as Cohen was busily integrating the forces of all parties, adjusting strategic deployments, and making final preparations for the upcoming great battle.

Mavis, who had been lurking in the chaotic Demon Continent, sent back a crucial piece of intelligence.

Through clandestine channels, the Demon Lord Thrall issued a forced summons to all his core subordinates who had reached the ninth-tier transcendent level or even the "half-step legendary" level, as well as all the lords of the Order City-States.

They were required to reach the central palace of the "Eternal Night Royal Court," the heart of the chaotic Demon Continent, within seven days.

There are matters of "important importance concerning survival, prosperity, and decline" that need to be explained in person, and no delay or shirking is permitted for any reason.

Mavis included her own analysis and judgment in the intelligence report.

Thrall's sudden summons of all his high-ranking confidants is most likely a formal showdown, a complete revelation of the truth about the demonic legions, their relationship with the demon god Valak, and their final timeline for unifying the Lost Lands, to this innermost circle.

This means that Sarr has decided to formally issue the decision to launch a large-scale military operation.

The gears of war are about to begin turning irreversibly, and the full-scale war in the Lost Lands could very well erupt within a day or two after this gathering!
The first piece is finally about to be placed!

As Cohen looked at the intelligence Mavis had sent back, a bold idea popped into his mind.

Mavis's location in the Chaotic Demon Continent was already quite deep, but she was ultimately just one of Thrall's many subordinates, not his absolute confidant, and the level of intelligence she had access to was still limited.

In particular, the exact time, place, and scale of the demon army's arrival, the direct intervention methods of the demon god Valak, and the core strategic cooperation between Thrall and Hextech, the continent of Machines...

These most sensitive pieces of information are probably only known to the top few 'shadows' around Sal.

Cohen's gaze swept across the map, finally settling on the skull marker representing the chaotic metropolis of "Eternal Night Court."

A near-crazy idea gradually became clear in Cohen's mind—if he could infiltrate this top-level core gathering with a suitable identity, or even directly infiltrate Sal's side.

Therefore, the intelligence value that can be obtained will be incomparable to that of Mavis's current position.

The most important question is how to infiltrate and under what identity; this is definitely the number one challenge.

Especially recently, with the launch of the joint extermination operation by the five major empires on the human continent, it was no longer possible to completely hide the news of Viktor's arrest from Thrall's ears and eyes.

The Chaotic Demon Continent must have raised its guard, and the scrutiny of those of unknown origin will be more stringent than ever before.

The exposure of Viktor, this "white glove," was undoubtedly a major blow to Sal's logistics, intelligence, and external communication networks.

However, precisely because of this, what Thrall lacks most right now is a capable, resourceful, and independent 'good assistant' like Viktor!
No matter how powerful the demon legion is, it is ultimately synonymous with chaos and destruction, and is not good at governance, management, diplomacy, or complex conspiracy operations.

Thrall needs to manage the vast, chaotic continent of Demons, coordinate the alliance with the mechanical continent, and maintain partial control over the impending demonic legions. He needs talented people, people with ability and ambition.

Cohen suspected that the Demon Lord Sal was in such a hurry to gather all his high-ranking subordinates not only to formally reveal his plans to them, but also because...

There is likely also an intention to reorganize the internal power structure, select a new core team to fill the void left by Viktor, and prepare for the upcoming major battle.

Cohen's thinking became clearer and clearer. The Chaotic Demon Continent was not a monolithic entity; there was inherent competition and conflict among the various city-state lords, tribal chiefs, and warlord leaders.

Thrall's authority was built on absolute military suppression, but those below him also had their own agendas.

Under the pressure of an impending full-scale war, Sal needs to ensure the absolute loyalty and efficient operation of these henchmen and managers. He must give them clearer benefits and may promote some of them to more important responsibilities.

This is an opportunity to take advantage of the chaos and get close to the core!

Cohen muttered to himself, his mind racing as he considered possible disguise plans.

A powerful native of the Lost Lands, with a clear resume and sufficient value, dissatisfied with the status quo and eager to gain a place in the new order, took the initiative to join Thrall when he was in dire need of manpower.

This script might not be without the possibility of success.

Realizing the urgency of the situation and the high risk of the operation, Cohen secretly summoned Belmody, Grace, and Windsordler.

In a secret chamber beneath the Endless City, filled with anti-prophecy and anti-detection barriers, a top-secret meeting was held with only four participants.

Cohen first conveyed to the three of them Mavis's urgent intelligence about "the Demon Lord Sal summoning his high-ranking subordinates for a showdown," and bluntly put forward his audacious, almost insane, "infiltration plan."

As expected, the plan immediately drew strong concerns and opposition from the three individuals.

Windsordler spoke first:
"Infiltrating the Demon City and getting close to Sal... This is too dangerous. It's a den of dragons and tigers, and there's even a Demon God there. If my identity is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Cohen smiled and said:

"It is precisely because it is a den of dragons and tigers that it is worth going to."

The most dangerous places often conceal the most deadly secrets, and are also the easiest to overlook.

Grace frowned:

"At this point, Demon Lord Sal probably won't easily trust anyone!"

Belmody was naturally unwilling, but to avoid giving herself away in front of Windsordler, she didn't say anything, but just looked at Cohen with concern.

Faced with the objections of the three beauties, Cohen chuckled and said:

"Therefore, the core of this plan lies in identity and value."

We can create a flawless new identity that is extremely appealing to Thrall!

Cohen spread out a map, on which were marked Mavis's analysis of the Demon Lord Sal's initial strategic intentions:

"Mavis judged that Sal's first target was neither our Endless Alliance nor Belmot's Mysterious Continent."

Cohen's finger moved across the map, avoiding the two glowing dots representing his own side, and finally stopped at a dark red area in the southeast of the Lost Lands:
"His first battle was fought here—the Twilight Continent."

"Twilight Continent?"

Windsordler frowned slightly:

"One of the five great oases of Order, dominated by vampires."

Cohen nodded slowly and said:
“Sarr isn’t stupid. He knows perfectly well that the Endless Alliance has my backing and is involved with Efein and even the Central Empire.”

With Sister Bay in charge, the Mysterious Continent is deeply entrenched.

Attacking these two targets first would not only consume his time and military strength, but could also prematurely provoke a strong reaction from the human continent and a full-scale backlash from our side, disrupting his overall deployment.

He might even deliberately try to befriend both of us initially, or maintain a 'cold standoff' to avoid fighting on two fronts.

He pointed to Twilight Isles and continued:

"As for the Twilight Continent, although the vampires are individually powerful and have long lifespans, their numbers are relatively small, and their internal structure is relatively closed, with ancient clan bloodlines as the bond."

Moreover, it rarely forms alliances with the outside world, cannot rely on external reinforcements, and its overall strength is indeed relatively weak among the five major Order oases.

Attacking this place will not immediately touch the core interests of other major powers, and will cause much less backlash and intervention.

For Thrall, taking over Twilight's End would not only grant him a rich territory, but also a wealth of 'blood food' resources that would be extremely attractive to certain demons or corrupted creatures.

It also allows him to test and integrate his newly formed army with the vanguard of the impending demons, accumulating experience and confidence for a larger-scale conquest later on.

Mavis's intelligence also indirectly confirms that Thrall's reconnaissance activities in Twilight Continent have been unusually frequent recently.

Grace quickly understood Cohen's intention and said:
"Are you trying to use Twilight Continent as a starting point?"
"If I could offer a pledge of loyalty that would be invaluable to Thrall's conquest of Twilight's End, would I have a chance to gain Thrall's attention and trust?"

"Not bad!"

Cohen picked up the conversation, his tone tinged with excitement as the plan gradually took shape, "Thrall's attack on Twilight's End will be no easy task."

Vampires excel at nighttime combat; stealth, speed, and mind control are their trump cards.

Moreover, their castles were mostly built in strategically important locations that were easy to defend and difficult to attack, and their internal structures were complex, so a direct assault would inevitably result in heavy losses.

Thrall desperately needs detailed, accurate intelligence concerning core defenses.

For example, the distribution of various vampire clans, their relative strengths, internal conflicts, the magical defenses of important castles, the locations of bloodline relics, the weaknesses of ancient restrictions, and even the whereabouts and habits of the vampire princes!

He looked at the three of them, his gaze intense:

"And we happen to have the channels to provide these, and the Military Intelligence Station in Twilight Continent has been established for a long time."

Although the level may not be the highest, we've already infiltrated and can gather considerable intelligence from the middle and lower ranks. More importantly, our Military Intelligence Bureau's head in the Lost Lands is Ryder Gallo!
Before joining me, Ryder Gallo was one of the de facto rulers of Twilight Continent, and Lucius the Blood Lord's most trusted confidant and right-hand man.

He was deeply involved in the core decisions and secret affairs of Twilight Continent for decades.

However, due to the limitations imposed by his human identity, he was unable to advance further within the vampire clan, and many vampire elders were also dissatisfied with the fact that he, an outsider, was able to wield such power.

That's why he chose to retire gracefully, withdrawing from the core under the guise of 'retirement'.

He became one of the 'six investors' behind the scenes of the Cultivator City-State, until I eventually won him over.

His understanding of the Twilight Continent, especially the true weaknesses hidden beneath ancient covenants and bloodline secrets, as well as the backgrounds of key vampire figures, is probably deeper than that of many vampire nobles today.

With Ryder Gallo's help, and with the constant gathering and updating of intelligence by the Military Intelligence Station, we can completely tailor a generous gift for Thrall regarding the Twilight Continent!

A seasoned intelligence officer happens to possess the intelligence that Thrall desperately needs, and is willing to use it as a gift to secure a place in the new order.

Is this script compelling enough?

Belmod said thoughtfully:

"It is indeed very tempting. Especially when Thrall is overwhelmed by Viktor's betrayal and the purges by the five great empires, and desperately needs reliable new blood and intelligence sources, this gift will be particularly timely."

Windsordler reminded:
"Intelligence is indeed the hardest currency."

Especially intelligence that concerns the outcome of a crucial battle.

But how can Sal be convinced that this intelligence is real and not a trap?
How do you explain the sudden appearance of "you," a seasoned intelligence officer, and your perfect grasp of such crucial intelligence?

Cohen interjected:

"These are the story details we need to carefully weave!"
And most importantly, in what capacity will I appear before Sal?

Cohen's gaze finally settled on Vermouth, who had been sitting quietly listening:

“Sister Bay, I need you to help me forge an identity—a senior intelligence officer secretly dispatched from the Mysterious Continent to the Twilight Continent.”

Seeing the puzzled looks on the three faces, Cohen explained in detail:

"The background of this identity is: he was born in the mysterious continent, and due to the ancient family inheritance, he has a faint demon bloodline in his body."

In a mysterious continent that reveres mysticism but also harbors internal factional struggles, his bloodline subjected him to a degree of exclusion and covert surveillance from a young age, making it difficult for him to gain genuine trust and a high position.

In order to prove his worth and to find a path more suited to his power, he volunteered to go to Twilight Continent, a vampire-infested land, to carry out a long and dangerous mission of infiltration and intelligence gathering.

He eventually succeeded in establishing himself in Twilight Continent, serving as the second-in-command under former intelligence officer Ryder Gallo.

I have a 'Demon Mask' that can perfectly simulate the aura of the corresponding level of the abyss, and can even exert a certain pressure on lower-level demons, which is enough to deal with regular probing.

As long as it's not a direct scrutiny from a demon god-level being, there shouldn't be any problems.

Grace asked:
"This identity seems impeccable, but you can't just walk up to them and say you want to surrender!"

Cohen smiled and said:

"Of course not. As for how to appear in front of Sal in a natural way, that's up to Mavis."

The story goes like this: seven days later, isn't Sal going to reveal his plan to Mavis and the others?
After learning that the Demon Lord Thrall intended to take action against the Twilight Continent, Mavis took the initiative to report to Thrall that she had obtained an important clue from her old network of relationships in the Mysterious Continent.

A seasoned intelligence agent from the Mysterious Continent, sent to the Twilight Continent, happens to possess a wealth of crucial intelligence regarding the Twilight Continent's defenses, power distribution, and weaknesses.

This intelligence agent happens to harbor feelings for her. She can exploit these feelings, coupled with promises of a new future order, to turn this valuable agent against her, causing him to defect to the chaotic Demon Continent with crucial intelligence! (End of Chapter)