Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Before their anger had subsided, more detailed and accurate intelligence arrived from the front lines.

When Thrall and Hextech saw the detailed intelligence before them, especially the identity of the enemy commander, their shock reached its peak, even temporarily suppressing their anger.

"Arnold Constin, the 'war god' of Effie."

How could it be him? How could he be here?

He also brought with him a fully-fledged main force of the Efein army; those orcs were Efein's troops.

Sal looked at the intelligence report describing the enemy's flags, equipment, and fighting style, and could hardly believe his eyes.

Hextech also repeatedly denied it:

"This is impossible, absolutely impossible. According to all our previous intelligence, Effie's main force should still be thousands of miles away."

They were separated from this place by at least three or four small countries, including the Kingdom of Serene, Lorraine, and Whitestone Castle, as well as a vast, impassable mountain wilderness.

Did their army sprout wings and fly here?

Sal forced himself to calm down from his rage and quickly realized a terrible suspicion:

"Spatial teleportation... is a long-distance, large-scale spatial teleportation array."

Just like when the Chaotic Demon Continent headquarters was attacked by Cohen!

Hextech abruptly looked up, his eyes still filled with horror:
"You mean Effie has mastered stable large-scale teleportation array technology?"
Even if it's teleportation, there must be a corresponding receiving array at the destination!

As the master of machines, Hextech has also conducted in-depth research on the ancient teleportation array technology originating from the Arcane Empire.

Although he hadn't reached Adel's level, he had his own understanding, and after a brief moment of thought, he said with certainty:

"The scale, stability, and energy supply of the magic array at the receiving end must be extraordinary to be able to send a legion capable of annihilating Balzac and Gratoni's forces in one go."

It requires a long period of preparation and a large amount of resources. Even if they have mastered the Arcane Empire's complete teleportation array technology, they still need to prepare at least several years in advance.

Could Effie possibly be a prophet?

How could they possibly know so far in advance that we were going to attack Northumbria, and so accurately deploy so many teleportation nodes near Redstone Canyon?

This is precisely the most frightening and perplexing aspect.

If Effiin's only advantage was his swift response to Northumbria's plea for help, leveraging his powerful mobilization and transport capabilities to deploy a main force to the front lines within just a few days...

While this in itself was enough to shock the mainland and chill people to the bone about the efficiency of its war machine, it could at least be explained by “mobilizing the entire nation’s resources to rush to its aid from afar”. Although astonishing, it was not entirely unimaginable.

But if it's pre-planned... then it means that their actions and their strategic intentions are likely to fall into the enemy's trap from the very beginning.

The air in the command center seemed to freeze.

A sense of lingering fear and deep doubt rose in Sal's heart. The arrogance that had arisen from the previous winning streak now seemed so ridiculous.

They no longer seemed to be facing a weak human nation that could be easily crushed, but a mysterious, powerful, and seemingly always cunning opponent.

To prevent Sal from continuing his investigation and shifting suspicion to himself, Cohen, who was standing to the side, raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Sal and Hextech's bewildered faces, and slowly spoke:
“Your Majesty, regarding King Effie, Cohen Corleone…have we overlooked something?”

Thrall and Hextech were taken aback, and the former asked:
"What was overlooked?"

Cohen paused, then calmly said:

"He is the prophetic son personally acknowledged by the Church of Prophecy, and designated by the God of Prophecy!"

Sal suddenly realized that it was true; Cohen had first become famous throughout the continent because of the power of the Child of Prophecy.

If Cohen truly possesses some kind of precognitive ability, even just fragmented images would be enough for him to plan ahead and gain the upper hand.

This sounds more "reasonable" than Effie's intelligence network being powerful enough to completely infiltrate the Supreme Command of the Demon Gold Empire.

After all, prophecy belongs to the mystical realm and is difficult to verify, while loopholes in intelligence infiltration are a real dereliction of duty.

Seeing the change in Sal and Hex's expressions, Cohen knew they had begun to accept this misleading direction, so he continued:
"As for the location of the teleportation array, Your Majesty should not forget that one of Cohen Corleone's wives, Isabella Winzer, has another identity on the surface."

She is one of the top decision-makers of the mainland's premier business organization, "Pale Wings," and is known as the "Golden Wing Daughter."

The Pale Wings' commercial network spans the human continent and even has influence in many non-human kingdoms.

Over the past few years, the Pale Wings have made unusually active and large-scale investments in various countries of the Northwest Continent, including Northumbria, Redstone Pass, and the Emerald Duchy.

During this period, they quietly acquired a large amount of land, estates, mines, and warehouses.

If Effie truly possesses some stable large-scale teleportation array technology, then using the Pale Wings' widespread industries as cover, secretly setting up receiving arrays at key locations in advance would be incredibly easy.

It is entirely possible that they have already laid out such coordinates in various countries of the Northwest Continent, or even in more distant places.

This means that, theoretically, Effie's army could appear anywhere on the Northwest Continent, if Cohen so desired.

This ambush may only be its first appearance.

"hiss--"

Hextech gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

As a fervent researcher of the ancient civilization of the Arcane Empire, he knew all too well what this meant.

This is no longer a simple military ambush, but a strategic projection network that could potentially cover the entire continent.

Effie's army could theoretically appear anywhere within the network's coverage, achieving a true "divine intervention."

This is more intimidating than any solid defensive line or massive army!
The anger on Sal's face gradually faded, replaced by deep apprehension and solemnity.

He nodded slowly, acknowledging Cohen's analysis.

After a brief silence, he sighed heavily.

"The Child of Prophecy... teleportation coordinates scattered across the continent... what a grand ambition, what a profound scheme."

Effie, this Cohen Corleone has no small ambition.

He doesn't just want to stop us; he wants to control the entire continent!

However, recognizing the enemy's formidable nature is of no use in turning the tide of battle.

The next two weeks were a nightmare for the Demon Gold Empire's expeditionary force.

After Arnold Constantine proved the value of his title as a "war god" with a clean and decisive annihilation battle, he did not give Sal any chance to catch his breath or regroup.

He led his well-equipped and highly motivated orc legion, combined with local auxiliary forces reorganized in Northumbria and other reclaimed territories, in a fierce counterattack.

Sarr was forced to urgently mobilize more troops from within the country to deal with the situation.

However, Arnold's tactics were flexible and varied. Sometimes he would concentrate his superior forces to force a breakthrough at one point, sometimes he would divide his forces into multiple routes to outflank and penetrate, and sometimes he would use complex terrain to set up ambushes.

He always managed to pinpoint the subtle gaps in the coordination between Thrall's Legion and the Hextech forces, or exploit the fact that the demon legions were wild but relatively undisciplined, to deliver a fatal blow.

The armies of the Magnum Empire, whether the valiant demon legions under Thrall's command or the war machines designed by Hextech, appeared to be at a disadvantage in the face of Arnold's efficient, ruthless, and precise art of war.

The demons' charges often fall into carefully laid traps and crossfire, while the mechanical golems' advance is frequently met with surprise attacks and magical interference targeting the energy core.

In just half a month, the human nations that had been conquered by the Demon Gold Empire—Redstone Pass Duchy, Emerald Duchy, Lorraine Free City, Whitestone Fortress Territory—were like dominoes falling.

Piece by piece, the coalition forces led by Arnold recaptured the land.

The defeated army of the Demon Gold Empire retreated all the way, suffering heavy losses and low morale.

Whenever a city or piece of land was liberated, Nephthys would appear on time before the local temporary government or the most prestigious surviving nobles, accompanied by a capable team of Effiin diplomats and legal experts.

Her negotiations were concise, efficient, and unquestionable.

Based on the framework of the Mutual Defense Treaty previously signed with the Grand Duke of Hohenzollern and others, a series of "supplementary agreements," "security guarantee treaties," "economic integration memorandums," and "deepening military alliance clauses" with varying details were presented to these individuals.

The content is largely the same: acknowledging the special security responsibilities and leading position of Effie and the Supreme Council in the liberated areas.

Allow Effie to station troops and use key military facilities.

The development and trade of vital resources, such as mineral and grain production areas, must prioritize meeting the needs of Effie and its allies.

Foreign policy needs to be coordinated with Effie's standards, and the judiciary, taxation, and other areas should gradually align with Effie's standards...

The conditions were harsh, but on the land freshly cleansed by blood and fire, under the shadow of the lingering threat of demons, and with the real "protection" of Effie's powerful military force, they were able to succeed.

Almost no surviving ruler or power had the courage or strength to refuse.

There were rebels, but they quickly vanished without a trace.

Sometimes they are the remnants of the defeated Demon Gold Empire, sometimes they are "unidentified" bandits, and sometimes they are the Effie garrison's forced suppression in order to "help maintain order."

Thus, under the combined influence of Arnold's iron hooves and Nephthys's official documents, the map of the northwestern continent is changing at an astonishing pace.

Effie's eagle banners began to appear frequently on this war-torn land.

A vast political and military alliance centered on Effie and encompassing multiple former duchies, free cities, and principalities is taking shape at an alarming rate, and its sphere of control and influence are expanding rapidly.

"A new empire will be born on the human continent after ten thousand years!" Such whispers began to circulate in taverns, merchant guilds, noble salons, and even in the tents of fugitives.

From the trading city-states of the south to the bitter cold of the north, from the ports of the west coast to the estates of the eastern plains.

People spoke of Effie's rise with a complex mix of fear, anticipation, and worry, and of Cohen Corleone's name, which shone like a comet.

Almost everyone knew that, if the young king so desired, he could wear the crown that symbolized supreme power at some grand coronation ceremony.

A new empire, spanning the continent and possessing unprecedented power, will soon stand in the world.

This will be a massive, unified entity that the human world has never seen in the tens of thousands of years since the collapse of several legendary empires in ancient times.

However, behind this seemingly glorious rise, there are unspeakable undercurrents.

First and foremost is the "Covenant of the Gods" that hangs over everyone's heads.

This covenant, soon to be propelled by the gods and aimed at plunging the entire continent into its most chaotic phase, has already spread throughout the land.

At this extremely sensitive moment, Effie's expansion with such a strong and rapid pace, almost single-handedly integrating the Northwest, is so powerful that it cannot help but give us pause for thought.

Secondly, there is the vigilance and calculation of established empires.

In the Heart Hall, Heisenberg, the chief of the House of Nobles of the Middle Empire, spent the entire night analyzing and assessing the threat and potential opportunities that Effie might pose.

Prince Xia Zuo of the Eastern Empire was also constantly monitoring the situation in the Northwest Continent.

There are also the Southern Empire, the Northern Empire, the Kingdom of Serene, the Kingdom of Wind's Breath...

The already tense situation across the continent seemed poised to erupt at any moment, thanks to Effie's forceful intervention.

……

Effie, the capital city of Florence.

Despite the raging war and turbulent undercurrents in the northwest of the continent, the nascent form of a new empire was faintly visible amidst the blood and fire of conquest.

Effie, thousands of miles away, seemed to be in another world.

Thanks to Marshal Arnold's brilliant victory outside the border, and Nefertiz's subsequent political maneuvering.

Of course, the most important factor is the effective governance of Her Highness Queen Adele Angrain, the most beautiful woman on the continent and the youngest legend on the continent.

The entire city of Effie was not affected by the war at all; on the contrary, it flourished with an unprecedented momentum.

The factory's furnaces burned day and night, supplying the front lines with sophisticated equipment and abundant supplies.

Farms and ranches are yielding bumper harvests, ensuring supplies for both the military and civilians.

The magic workshop was brightly lit, constantly optimizing various war and civilian equipment.

The streets are clean and bustling, the market is teeming with people, the theater is staging a newly adapted play, and the sound of students reciting their lessons can be heard from the school.

The entire land was immersed in a steady yet vibrant atmosphere.

This confidence stems from a strong national power, an aspiration for the country's future, and unconditional trust in His Majesty the King, who lives a secluded life yet has repeatedly created miracles.

Today, for countless young people in Effie, especially those ordinary people with ambitions and a desire to change their fate, it is a pivotal day that could determine the course of their lives.

The annual national open recruitment examination for civil servants, organized by Effie, began today in major cities across the country.

Unlike any previous year, this year's recruitment scale has reached an unprecedented level.

The recruitment announcement jointly issued by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Personnel clearly shows that the number of political officers, administrative officers, and technical officials to be recruited this year has more than doubled compared to last year.

The reason is simple: with Marshal Arnold's successive victories on the Northwest Continent, Envoy Nefertiti has turned one "Framework Treaty for Mutual Defense and Future Cooperation" after another into reality.

Effie's sphere of influence and power is expanding rapidly at an unprecedented rate.

Newly acquired territories, newly incorporated towns, newly established expatriate agencies, and newly launched joint development projects... urgently require a large number of reliable, professional, and loyal administrative personnel.

The kingdom's domestically trained pool of officials was stretched thin in the face of such rapid expansion.

Therefore, expanding recruitment and attracting talented individuals has become an inevitable and urgent national policy.

What excites countless young people from ordinary backgrounds even more is that this recruitment still adheres to the principle of "appointing only the talented" that His Majesty King Corleone has vigorously promoted since his accession to the throne.

The announcement states: Anyone who is 18 years of age or older and meets the educational requirements (must have graduated from a college recognized by the kingdom or passed an equivalent examination) and qualification requirements for the corresponding position, regardless of race (human, halfling, dwarf, half-elf, etc., all legal races of the kingdom are eligible), status (noble, commoner, free citizen, former slave who has been pardoned), gender, or original belief (must swear allegiance to the king and the laws of the kingdom), may apply voluntarily and participate in the examination on an equal footing.

These few words opened a door to power and ambition for countless talented individuals who had previously been blocked by social class, bloodline, and wealth, and also became an important source of vitality and cohesion for the kingdom.

The exam process consists of three stages:

Written Examination (Comprehensive Test of Administrative Ability): One day in length, covering logical reasoning, mathematical calculation, understanding of legal provisions, general knowledge of national conditions, document drafting, case analysis, etc.

The aim is to select candidates with clear thinking, basic administrative skills, and sufficient knowledge through standardized testing.

The questions were jointly drafted by the Royal Academy of Sciences, the nation's highest institution of learning, and capable officials from the Home Office, and were kept strictly confidential to ensure fairness.

For each position, candidates will be selected to advance to the next stage based on their scores, with a ratio of 1:5.

Exceptional Testing: This step is only for applicants to positions involving force or special abilities, such as law enforcement, city defense forces, border patrol, and confidential file management.

The examination is conducted by professionals from the Kingdom's "Department of Extraordinary Affairs Management" in a specific venue. It primarily tests the examinee's extraordinary level, attributes, and whether they possess any potential dangerous tendencies or hidden malicious curses, contracts, etc.

Most candidates for general clerical, technical, and management positions do not need to go through this stage; those who pass the written exam will proceed directly to the interview.

The interview is conducted jointly by the head of the recruiting department, senior officials in the relevant field, and sometimes even special observers from the royal family or the Ministry of the Interior.

Through face-to-face Q&A, scenario simulations, and stress tests, the candidates' adaptability, communication skills, professional competence, political loyalty, and personal character are thoroughly examined.

Florence, National College of Law and Political Science.

As the highest political and legal academy in the capital and one of the important cradles of the civil service system, the Florence National Academy of Political Science and Law naturally became one of the largest and most prestigious examination centers for civil servants in the entire Effie.

Before the solemn, classical-style gates of the college, the motto bestowed by the Corleone family is engraved: "Understanding the law, practicing diligently, serving the people, and fulfilling responsibilities."

At this moment, the eight-character school motto shines brightly in the morning light, watching over the dark mass of people in the square in front of the gate.

At dawn, with the sky just beginning to lighten and the thin mist not yet completely dissipated, the wide avenue in front of the college and the squares on both sides were already filled with surging crowds.

Thousands of candidates came from all districts of the capital and even surrounding towns to gather here.

Most of them were young, their faces showing a mixture of nervousness, anticipation, excitement, and a little fatigue.

Their clothing varied, some wearing neatly starched but plain student uniforms, others wearing simple and sharp hunting outfits or work clothes.

There were also a few noblemen dressed in fine clothes and with arrogant demeanors, but at this moment, they were all just candidates waiting to be checked in and enter the examination hall.

Most of the attendees were relatives and friends who came to see the examinees off.

Parents earnestly offer their final words of advice, straightening their children's already neat collars; lovers hold hands tightly, whispering words of encouragement; friends pat each other on the shoulder, loudly offering their blessings.

The breakfast vendors pushed their carts along the edge of the crowd, calling out their hot pancakes and oil tea. Business was booming, and they were busy as bees.

The city defense soldiers, dressed in crisp blue-black uniforms and carrying halberds, patrolled the examination hall with sharp eyes to ensure the passage was clear and safe.

Among the crowd, the scenes were diverse, yet they coexisted harmoniously.

A young orc with bluish skin and rough, horny texture on his forehead was quietly squatting in a corner of the steps, flipping through a thick book, "The General Code of the Kingdom (New Edition)".

As the orc legions gradually became the most important type of soldier on the continent, the status of the orc race also began to rise.

Especially in Effie, the founder of the orc legion, this place is home to the largest orc race on the entire continent.

The young orc was dressed simply, with a huge backpack beside him, from which the edges of more books were visible.

People around him cast curious or slightly strange glances at him, but he was completely oblivious, absorbed in the legal provisions.

He was a young orc from a settlement on the northern border who, through his outstanding performance while serving on the border and through self-study, qualified to apply for the reserve force in law enforcement.

Several young men and women dressed in the dark blue robes of the University of Florence gathered together, discussing in hushed tones the possible directions of the exam questions.

The college badges on their chests indicate their different majors—law, economics, and public administration.

They are the cream of the crop in the ivory tower, hoping to pass this test and directly enter the core of national governance.

There was also a dark-skinned boy who seemed to come from a craftsman's family. He was repeatedly checking his admission ticket and pen, muttering to himself as he recited some common sense and legal provisions, his eyes gleaming with a burning desire to change his destiny.

A considerable number of noble children, however, were relatively reserved, gathering in twos and threes a little further away, talking in hushed tones.

He occasionally glanced at the group of ordinary test takers, his eyes filled with complex emotions, a hint of superiority mixed with a subtle tension.

They knew that in this relatively fair exam, family background could only provide limited direct help; the real contest lay in knowledge and ability.

Especially during the years that Queen Angrain ruled, she deeply abhorred and resolutely cracked down on the phenomenon of nobles using back channels to gain entry into the system.

Unless they are truly top-tier nobles, even fathers or mothers with noble titles can no longer easily secure them decent positions as they used to. (End of Chapter)