Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Thrall's blatant and tempting "pie in the sky" acted like the most powerful catalyst, instantly igniting the flames of greed in the hearts of most people present.

Unify the lost lands, establish a new empire, and become a founding father!
This is the ultimate temptation that is simply irresistible to these chaotic and evil people who worship power, pursue authority and immortality.

The crowd's breathing instantly became heavy, their eyes gleaming with fanaticism. All their previous worries about the Endless Alliance, the demons, and the human empire seemed insignificant in the face of their overwhelming ambition.

Huge risks are often accompanied by huge rewards!
The rewards that Sal described were enough to make them take the risk!
Looking at the scene below, where the crowd was full of enthusiasm and fighting spirit, the Demon Lord Sal knew that the army's morale was high and the fighting spirit was strong. It was time to issue specific orders!
He gestured with his hands to signal everyone to be quiet, and his voice regained its usual cold and authoritative tone:

"A grand blueprint needs solid steps to be realized."

Our first and most crucial step is to remove that relatively isolated thorn—Twilight Continent!
Drive those vampires who only hide in the shadows and coffins, surviving by sucking blood, out of this lost land!
Vampires may seem mysterious and troublesome, but their weaknesses are equally obvious—they are few in number, suffer from severe internal clan infighting, and are overly reliant on ancient castles and specific dark environments.

Most importantly, they were completely isolated and helpless!
No one wanted to cooperate with this xenophobic group of vampires.

Taking Twilight Continent will not only provide us with a rich base, but also greatly deter other forces, test the combat capabilities of our new legion, and clear the flanks for subsequent operations!

The specific operational plan and task allocation will be issued in detail later by our Empire's new Chief of Military Affairs, General Bafmümügös.

Upon returning, each unit immediately began its final mobilization, inspected its equipment, and familiarized itself with the command and coordination of the new soldiers.

Ten days from now will be the official founding ceremony, which will also be the time for our imperial army to set off!

I want to see a legion with sharpened claws, ready to pounce on the Twilight Continent and drink the first cup of fear from those ancient vampires!

Let the flames of chaos and conquest begin there and spread throughout the entire Lost Lands!

"For the new empire! For eternal glory!"

It is unclear who uttered the first shout, but soon after, fervent cries echoed through the hall like a tidal wave.

The Demon Lord Sal nodded slightly, and then began to swiftly assign specific tasks.

The order in which he called out names and the responsibilities he assigned were clearly the result of careful consideration.

It takes into account each person's strengths, territory, and expertise, and also implies checks and balances and tests:
"Blood Axe" Balzac was the ninth-tier peak demon general who was the first to test the demon soldiers. He was known for his bravery and brutality.

He was appointed commander of the "Blood Moon Vanguard Army," responsible for commanding the first batch of 3,000 demon soldiers who had completed their conversion, as well as the most elite heavy infantry legion of his headquarters, totaling 15,000 men.

As the absolute vanguard and siege hammer in the attack on Twilight Continent.

The mission is to tear apart the outermost "Crimson Wall" defense line of Twilight Continent within three days of the start of the war, at all costs.

They also captured at least three medium-sized vampire castles, opening a passage for the subsequent army.

Sal even directly promised tangible benefits, provided that Balzac could achieve the predetermined goals.

In the future, one-third of the territory of Twilight Continent will be incorporated into the Empire's "Bloodblade Province," and Balzac will be the first governor of the province, enjoying priority in selecting 30% of the province's spoils.

Morena the Shadow Speaker is a shadow assassin master who is halfway to legendary status and one of Thrall's secret confidantes.

She was appointed as the commander-in-chief and intelligence coordinator of the "Dark Blade Force".

Responsible for mobilizing all spies and assassins lurking in Twilight Continent and the surrounding area.

Before the war, they carried out large-scale assassinations and sabotage, spread panic, and sowed discord among the vampire clans.

Before the final assault begins, at least three vampire deacons in Twilight Continent must be assassinated or severely wounded.

At the same time, coordinate secret communications with advance reconnaissance units of the Machine Continent.

Upon success, you can enter the "Abyss Treasury" to select any three legendary Shadow or Cursed equipment and receive a nomination as the first director of the new Empire's "Shadow Guard Hall".

Gregory, the "Master of Bones," was born in the Black Tomb. He was forced to flee to the Lost Lands after being hunted down by the five great empires.

He is a near-legendary necromancer who commands a vast undead army.

He was appointed as the overseer of the "Legion of the Dead" and the chief of logistics and corpse disposal.

Their role is to create death zones on the front lines, using battlefield corpses to quickly replenish and expand the undead army, thus creating continuous pressure to wear them down.

After the first large-scale field battle victory, at least one "giant corpse conversion array" must be built on the original battlefield site to convert no less than 50,000 skeletons or zombies within twelve hours.

At the same time, they were responsible for handling the remains of the demon soldiers after their "losses" to prevent leaks.

Upon completion of the mission, after the war, you will be able to choose any ancient battlefield or cemetery rich in death energy within the Twilight Continent as your private territory, and you will be permitted to study some forbidden knowledge from the Abyss regarding the imprisonment of souls.

"Lava Tyrant" Gratoni is a half-legendary fire/earth elementalist who controls the largest volcanic mining area in the Chaotic Demon Continent.

He is responsible for commanding all heavy siege engines, war golems, and the "Lava Giant" legions under his command.

The mission was to provide long-range fire support for Balzac's vanguard and to carry out complete physical destruction after breaching the vampire castle.

To prevent the possibility of vampires being resurrected through the ancient castle.

Upon completion of the mission, you will be awarded the position of "General Manager of Military Industry and Forging" in the new Empire, and will have priority in mining any rare minerals that may exist in the Twilight Continent.

General Political Officer Nax Philson has been appointed "Minister of Wartime Coordination." He is responsible for coordinating the supply of materials to all participating troops, the supply of magic crystals, the transfer of the wounded, the initial management of occupied territories, and logistical coordination with the new ally, the Mechanical Continent.

The core mission is to ensure a continuous supply of materials to the front lines after the start of the war, and to initially establish three supply lines from the core area of ​​Chaotic Demon Continent to the front lines of Twilight Continent.

He would naturally become the prime minister of the new empire.

As for the other city lords, tribal leaders, and secret society leaders, they were all given responsibilities such as leading the attack, providing support, guarding the rear, or undertaking special tasks (such as spreading plagues, mental pollution, summoning lesser demons, etc.).

Sal's arrangements were meticulous and ruthless, like the blueprint for a sophisticated war machine, binding everyone to his chariot.

Just as the task assignments were nearing completion, Mavis, who had been standing quietly at the front of the crowd, seized a brief pause, slowly stepped forward, and gracefully bowed towards the throne, her voice clear and melodious:
"My Lord Demon Lord, I have a plan I'd like to report to you!"

Mavis's words instantly drew everyone's attention in the hall.

As the most important intelligence chief under Sal, Mavis holds a special position, directly controlling most of the Chaotic Demon Continent's external spy networks and intelligence analysis.

Its "Performer" sequence ability is invincible in extracting intelligence and controlling people's minds, and has made great contributions to Sal.

Much of the basic intelligence and internal dynamics of the Twilight Continent are continuously transmitted back through her network.

Morena, the "Shadow Whisperer" who was just appointed as the intelligence coordinator and was responsible for assassinations, sabotage, spreading panic, and sowing discord among vampire clans within the enemy ranks, was Mavis's subordinate.

The Demon Lord Thrall relied heavily on this capable lieutenant who seemed to have little ambition for power.

When Mavis spoke first, her voice was slightly gentler than before:
“Miss Mavis, please speak freely.”

No one knows the Twilight Continent better than you.

I've always been very interested in your plans.

Sensing Sal's gaze and the focused attention of everyone, Mavis took a light breath. A hint of embarrassment, which seemed inconsistent with her usual cold and aloof image, seemed to flash across her beautiful face, but she quickly suppressed it.

She coughed lightly, her voice remaining steady:

"Your Majesty, I do have some additional ideas regarding the strategy for conquering Twilight Continent."

However, before discussing this plan, I need to introduce someone to you.

Perhaps you, my lord, and all of you here, have heard to some extent that I have a close friend in Twilight Continent.

friend!

The meaning of the word coming from Mavis's mouth, especially at such a serious military conference, was self-evident.

A series of playful and amused whispers and soft laughter suddenly filled the hall.

The rumors about a "little man" by the side of the "Potion City-State" lord, known for her coldness and mystery, and the Queen of Intelligence in the Demon Continent, are no secret in high-level circles.

Previously, no one dared to confirm it in person, but now that Mavis has personally admitted it and even used the phrase "quite close" to confirm all the speculations.

A hint of undisguised regret and jealousy flashed in the eyes of many male generals.

Mavis's appearance, temperament, strength, and status are unique in the Chaotic Demon Continent and even the entire Lost Land, making her the object of admiration for countless people.

Hearing that she has someone she loves now is truly heartbreaking.

Some people looked on with curiosity and curiosity, wondering who this "rose with thorns" could win the heart of.

The Demon Lord Sal's eerie green eyes lingered on Mavis for a moment, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate all pretense and see into her heart.

He had certainly heard those rumors, and probably knew even more than others.

He spoke slowly, his voice revealing little emotion, yet carrying an encouragement for her to continue:

"Haha, I have indeed heard about it."

However, I will naturally not interfere in Miss Mavis's private affairs.

"I never expected that your 'friend' would be involved in the Twilight Continent's plans!" Mavis met Sal's gaze, the slight embarrassment on her face quickly replaced by the calmness of an intelligence officer, but deep in her eyes there seemed to be a trace of extremely subtle gentleness that only appeared when talking about "someone she cared about".

She nodded, her voice regaining its previous coolness:

"That's right, sir."

My friend has a rather special background.

Perhaps, he could be an unexpected key to unlocking the gates of Twilight Continent!

A playful glint flashed in the demon lord Sal's eerie green eyes. He leaned back slightly on his throne and let out a soft, enigmatic chuckle:

"It seems that our 'Magic Rose' Miss Mavis is about to have some good news."

Once we conquer Twilight Continent and completely open up the situation, I will personally host a grand wedding worthy of your status for you and that mysterious 'friend'!

That would surely be a celebrated story in the new empire.

However, Mavis gently shook her head and replied in a low voice:
"Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated."

However, I am bringing this up now not for personal reasons. To be honest, I should have reported this person's true identity to you long ago, but I have hesitated and have not revealed it.

Firstly, this matter involves a wide range of issues and is of great importance, which makes me somewhat uneasy.

Secondly, the timing wasn't right, and we didn't know how to make proper arrangements.

Now that Your Excellency has finalized the grand plan to conquer Twilight Continent, and is in dire need of capable men, I have decided, after much deliberation, that rather than continuing to conceal the matter, it is better to be frank with Your Excellency and all your colleagues.”

Mavis's words, spoken sincerely yet with a hint of unspoken difficulty, instantly brought the slightly playful atmosphere in the hall back to a serious tone.

The crowd, who had initially thought they were just listening to some gossip, now put away their joking intentions and realized that things were not so simple.

The playful look in Demon Lord Sal's eyes vanished quickly. He leaned forward slightly, his eerie green flame-like gaze seeming to pierce through Mavis's soul, and his voice deepened:

"Oh? From what Miss Mavis is saying, your friend's identity seems to be more than just a 'friend of Twilight Continent'?"
Could it be... that he has a deeper connection with Twilight Continent?

Mavis remained silent for a moment, a brief silence that seemed to freeze the air in the hall.

She slowly raised her eyelids, her gaze meeting Sal's with unwavering resolve, and then said, word by word:

"Yes, he not only has close ties with the Twilight Continent, but also with the Mysterious Continent, and even with the recently rising Endless Alliance!"

A mysterious continent?

Endless Alliance!

As soon as this statement came out, it was shocking!

A collective gasp of surprise erupted within the hall, and everyone's expression changed. Even the Demon Lord Sal, seated on his throne, suddenly narrowed his eerie green eyes, which then flashed with a terrifying light.

Twilight Continent, Mysterious Continent, Endless Alliance!
These three forces are precisely the most sensitive entities in the current Lost Lands landscape, within the Chaotic Demon Continent.

The Twilight Continent is the primary target, the Mysterious Continent is a mysterious and unpredictable neighbor and potential adversary, and the Endless Alliance is a behemoth with Cohen at its helm and a complex background.

Mavis's friend is involved with all three parties at the same time?
This is simply unbelievable and extremely dangerous!
The voice of the Demon Lord Thrall became completely solemn:

“Miss Mavis, this matter is of great importance and is not a trivial matter. Please explain in detail.”

Feeling the terrifying pressure that pressed down like a mountain and the countless scrutinizing gazes that were like knives and swords, Mavis seemed to be prepared. She took a light breath.

The carefully crafted "truth" begins to be presented:
“Yes, sir. My friend’s name is Maine. He used to be a human from the human continent.”

His true identity, however, was neither that of an ordinary adventurer nor an exiled nobleman.

He is a top-level secret agent personally dispatched by Her Majesty the Cursed Witch Belmody Vynyard, the Sequence Master of the Mysterious Continent, and has been infiltrating the Twilight Continent for a long time!

Mavis's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears once again!

"To be precise, he is the highest-ranking person in charge of the intelligence network of Twilight Continent and its surrounding areas within the entire intelligence system of the Mysterious Continent."

Within the Twilight Continent, all spies, informants, and infiltrators sent by the Mysterious Continent are theoretically under his control or have one-way communication with him.

All intelligence concerning the politics, military, economy, and even the ancient secrets of vampires of the Twilight Continent will eventually converge on him for screening and analysis, and then be encrypted and transmitted back to the Mysterious Continent.

It could be said that he possessed almost the most complete and core classified intelligence network regarding Twilight Continent!

"People from the Mysterious Continent? And such an important intelligence chief at that!"

The Demon Lord Thrall could no longer maintain his composure. He almost straightened up slightly from his throne, his eerie green eyes flashing intensely with shock, disbelief, and a brief bewilderment after being struck by a huge surprise.

He stared intently at Mavis, as if trying to confirm whether she was lying, his voice carrying a barely perceptible change in tone due to extreme surprise:

“Miss Mavis, you…you said he is…an intelligence officer sent by the Mysterious Continent to infiltrate the Twilight Continent?!”

Mephisto met the scrutinizing and incredulous gaze of the Demon Lord Sal, and slowly but firmly nodded:
"That's right, it was after I met Mayne, became acquainted with her, and got to know her for quite some time."

It was only through some extremely accidental details and his occasional displays of caution and intelligence so unusual for his status that suspicion gradually arose.

And they eventually managed to verify his true identity.

Mavis's voice carried a perfectly balanced mix of helplessness and frankness, "My lord, you know that for those of us who have long walked in the shadows, disguise and concealment are second nature to us."

If it weren't for him later... for some reason, he gradually lowered his guard against me and took the initiative to reveal some of the truth.

Even now, I'm probably still completely in the dark about him, believing him to be a mysterious but highly capable wandering knight or hermit from a lost land.

Her words explained why Cohen's identity hadn't been reported before, and also hinted that "Mayne" was gradually developing trust and even feelings for her, laying the groundwork for the subsequent "turning" of her.

The intriguing look in the eyes of the Demon Lord Thrall deepened. He leaned back slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne, producing a low and rhythmic sound.

After a brief silence, he spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:
"His identity was so well hidden that even our renowned 'musician' Miss Mavis only managed to uncover it after a long period of contact."

It seems that Mr. Maine is indeed exceptionally skilled in stealth and disguise.

The mysterious continent has indeed nurtured a rare talent.

Mavis gave a timely wry smile and nodded:

"The Demon Lord's judgment is very accurate. Maine's personal abilities are indeed far superior to most of my colleagues."

This is precisely why I mentioned earlier that he is still associated with the 'Endless Alliance'.

Because Mayne's direct superior when he was infiltrating Twilight Continent was none other than Ryder Gallo, the current head of the Endless Alliance in the Lost Lands and a veteran intelligence officer who once dominated the intelligence community in the entire Lost Lands.

To be precise, Ryder Gallo had once been a mentor to Mayne, the one who introduced him to the intelligence field and entrusted him with important responsibilities!

"Ryder Gallo?!"

The power of this name is clearly more impactful than the Mayne that Mavis mentioned.

Everyone present, including the Demon Lord Thrall, was very familiar with this name.

Ryder Gallo is a legendary figure who assisted Lucius the Blood Lord in ruling Twilight for decades and was known as the Shadow Chancellor and First Intelligence Officer of Twilight!

His knowledge of the Twilight Continent and the entire Lost Lands is so profound that it is like a living encyclopedia.

He later mysteriously withdrew from the public eye, and when news of him resurfaced, he had transformed into the behind-the-scenes financier of "Farmers' City-State".

Ultimately, for reasons unknown, he was suddenly recruited by Cohen and became the Endless Alliance's top agent in the Lost Lands.

His abilities, skills, connections, and the secrets he possesses are enough to make any force take notice.

Before everyone could process this top-secret news, Mavis's voice continued:

"Ryder Gallo's abilities and vision are evident to all."

Those who are chosen, trained, and ultimately entrusted with important responsibilities by him must undoubtedly possess top-notch personal abilities and expertise in intelligence work.

It could be said that Mayne was not only the eyes and ears of the Mysterious Continent in the Twilight Continent, but also, to some extent, inherited some of Ryder Gallo's deepest 'legacy' and network of connections regarding the Twilight Continent.

Upon hearing this explanation, the Demon Lord Sal's face lit up with intense interest.

A multi-talented individual who is a top intelligence officer in the Mysterious Continent, was trained by Ryder Gallo, and has been deeply involved in the Twilight Continent for many years!
This is simply a gift from heaven!
If this person could be turned and instead serve the Chaotic Demon Continent... it would mean they would instantly gain access to the most complete, timely, and deadly intelligence network regarding the Twilight Continent.

The vampires' troop deployment, noble relationships, internal conflicts, weaknesses in castle defenses, and methods to break ancient restrictions... these top secrets most urgently needed for attacking Twilight Continent may very well be in this person's hands!

There are also clues inherited from Ryder Gallo about the ancient secrets and hidden connections of Twilight Continent.

This might have a remarkable effect on post-war governance and on dividing and winning over the remaining vampire forces.

This person's value is absolutely immeasurable! (End of Chapter)