Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Nactus seemed to realize he had said a bit too much, gave a vague "hmm," and stopped delving into the topic, instead steer the conversation back to the discussion of magical theory.

But Cohen had already obtained the crucial information he wanted—the ancient fire dwarf ruins near Toringard and multiple high-level binding arrays.

These keywords, combined with Nactus's cryptic behavior, make Peter Thrann's possible place of imprisonment quite clear.

Even if it's not 100% certain, it's definitely a direction worth investigating.

In the ensuing conversation, Cohen shared even more exclusive and novel magical conjectures with greater enthusiasm.

This further solidified the friendship with Nactus.

Nactus, on the other hand, felt that he had found a rare kindred spirit of equal skill in the field of magic, and his opinion of Cohen improved more and more.

Even unintentionally, it revealed some features of the magical early warning mechanism of that "special prison".

After several days of subtle probing, Cohen finally gathered enough intelligence from Nactus and prepared to return to the villa to discuss the next steps with Vilekis.

When Cohen returned to the villa, Virekis was already asleep in the living room.

Her Majesty the Queen reclined on the large sofa in the living room, wearing a scarlet velvet dress that barely covered the top of her thighs.

The left leg peeking out from under the skirt was shapely and slender, and the skin shimmered with a delicate porcelain-like sheen in the warm light.

A gilded chain loosely wrapped around the fullest part of her thighs, sliding gently with the movement of her crossed legs, leaving faint marks on her snow-white skin. Every sway seemed to be arousing.

Her wavy hair fell loosely, with a few stray strands clinging to her delicate, porcelain-like neck, making her graceful neck appear even longer.

The layers of gold chains and ruby ​​pendants around her neck swayed gently with her breath, casting alluring shadows on her snow-white skin.

Her full, sexy red lips were even more alluring than the scarlet velvet dress she wore.

Cohen's breath hitched, and he strongly suspected that Virekis was deliberately trying to seduce him into making a mistake.

Take a deep breath and gently awaken Virekis.

Virekis's eyelashes fluttered, revealing her beautiful eyes, and she said with a faint smile:

"He's fairly honest."

Cohen sighed and told Vireikis about the information he had gathered over the past few days.

Virekis listened quietly, her emerald eyes gleaming as if she were rapidly searching through a vast scroll of memories.

When Cohen mentioned the "ancient fire dwarf ruins," a knowing glint flashed in Verecis's eyes:
"If I remember correctly, when the Serene royal family built this capital city in its early years, they claimed that they chose the site of an ancient fire dwarf fortress to take advantage of its solid foundation and natural fortifications."

Without further confirmation, based on the details revealed by Nactus and the ancient memories of Vilekis, it can be basically concluded that this is where Peter Thran was imprisoned.

That evening, Villegis's figure, like a gentle breeze blending into the night, quietly left the villa.

Without using any magic that could cause energy fluctuations, she relied solely on her demigod-level extraordinary perception and control over energy flow and material structure, as well as her elven talent for concealment, to bypass the layers of sentries and guard arrays inside and outside the palace and sneak towards the ruins buried in history and darkness.

Several hours later, Villegis returned silently like a ghost, but her expression was slightly more serious than when she left.

Virekis took the teacup from Cohen, her voice calm, yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of seriousness:

"It's pretty much what I expected."

It had indeed been extensively modified, with many deceptive illusion arrays and traps set up on the outer layer, while the core area was wrapped in multiple powerful composite magic arrays.

The energy source is directly connected to a magic crystal mine deep within the earth's veins, and its structure is incredibly stable.

It is indeed a prison for important figures, and the level of guards and magic arrays is consistent with the status of imprisoning a monarch.

More importantly…

She looked at Cohen and said slowly:

"I can clearly sense that a part of the original consciousness of the three tomb masters, or at least a powerful spiritual imprint, is faintly shrouding the core of that area."

That wasn't a simple warning array; it was more like he had extended a portion of his own perception and locked it there.

Without a doubt, any attempt to forcibly break through the interference array or to communicate deeply with the inside using extraordinary means would alarm him.

Even for me, it would be virtually impossible to penetrate the layers of magic arrays that were connected to his mind and establish a stable connection with the imprisoned person inside without alerting him.

Forcing an attempt carries a more than 90% risk of failure, and failure would immediately expose us; the three tomb masters would undoubtedly use their senses to find us.

Cohen's heart sank.

Villegise's conclusion was not unexpected, but it was still disappointing.

Having finally pinpointed the location, they were unable to make contact due to the presence of the three tomb owners, which was tantamount to entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.

His current identity as "Maine" is still very useful. He is an important pawn to obtain details of the cooperation between the Black Tomb and the Magic Gold Empire, and may even turn against them at a critical moment in the future. He must not expose himself by rashly contacting King Peter.

However, getting in touch with King Peter and obtaining what he needed was a crucial step in advancing the subsequent plans.

Vilekis is already the number one expert on the continent. If even she can't do it, who else can?
Is it really the only option to abandon this line?
Cohen muttered to himself, his mind racing, considering all sorts of possibilities—a diversionary tactic? Creating chaos? Finding an inside ally?

However, each plan comes with enormous uncertainty and risk, and may require him to use resources that he cannot currently access, or wait for an uncontrollable opportunity.

Just as Cohen was racking his brains and even starting to consider whether to take a risky move.

Vilekiss suddenly spoke again, her tone somewhat intriguing:

"Actually, there is someone who might be able to do things that none of us can do."

"Who?" Cohen asked instinctively.

"Your Queen, Adele Angelion."

Cohen looked up abruptly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, followed by deep confusion:

"Adel?"

Your Majesty, you're not joking, are you?
"Although Adele possesses unparalleled talent, a talent rarely seen in the world, even you, a demigod, cannot guarantee that you can accomplish this without alerting the Three Tomb Masters. How could she, a legendary-level being, possibly do it?"

Seeing the look of surprise and disbelief on Cohen's face, Virekis's smile deepened. She gracefully shifted into a more comfortable sitting position, her emerald eyes appearing deep and unfathomable in the dim light.

"Cohen, why are you still deceiving yourself here?"
Do you still naively believe that your queen sister is merely an ordinary legendary-level transcendent?

She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice:

"If she was really just an ordinary legend, why did the Ice Goddess Daphne, who was high above and almost never cared about mortal matters, personally descend when she revealed her divine status at the Northwest Continent Exchange Conference?"

They even went so far as to use divine power to temporarily seal the relevant memories of almost all living beings on the entire continent?

During the Northwest Continent Exchange Conference years ago, Adel revealed her divine status in order to save Effie.

To conceal this secret, which was enough to cause a shockwave across the continent and even higher levels, the Ice Goddess Daphne used her supreme power to temporarily seal the memories of all living beings on the continent.

At the time, Virekis was lurking somewhere on the continent. With her demigod-level power, the Ice God's memory seal on mortal beings did not cover beings like her.

Virekis gently swirled the crystal glass that had appeared in her hand seemingly out of nowhere; the amber liquid inside shimmered with a soft light.

"Do you really think that I've been in Florence for so long just to drink tea and admire flowers in your palace?"
I have been observing your queen, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Her strength was well hidden; on the surface, she was only at the peak of the legendary level, and her fighting style was more inclined towards the traditional combination of magic and divine spells.

but……"

Vilekis's gaze sharpened:
"Her strength is definitely much deeper than what she has revealed so far. It's not just a simple matter of concealing her realm; it's a... fundamental difference."

Her soul essence, her life's magnetic field, and the almost instinctive affinity and understanding of the world's rules that she occasionally and unintentionally reveals all exude an antiquity and nobility that I find difficult to fully decipher.

She was no ordinary legend, not even comparable to ordinary demigods or those favored by the gods.

It's something more essential, closer to some kind of origin.

I can't see through her completely, but I'm sure her true level is far higher than she appears.

Perhaps in terms of pure combat strength and energy accumulation, she is currently inferior to me, but in certain specific areas, her talent and ability may... even surpass mine.

Virekis looked at Cohen and said, word by word:

"If anyone in this world could bypass a saint's carefully laid will imprint and imprisonment array and establish contact with the imprisoned person inside without triggering an alarm... your Queen Adele is definitely one of the most likely candidates."

He might even be the only candidate.

Cohen never expected that Virekis had secretly spied on her sister, the Queen, while she was in Florence.

After a brief silence, he said in a deep voice:
“Your Majesty, I remember very clearly that when the Ice Goddess Daphne descended, she solemnly warned that the power within Adel should not be used too much, otherwise it would accelerate the breaking of that memory seal and bring unpredictable consequences.”

Vilekis simply smiled indifferently.
"Young man, you are being far too cautious, and you are underestimating your Queen sister."

She glanced sideways at Cohen, her fingertips twirling a strand of hair, and said slowly:

"You do the math yourself. How much time has passed since the Northwest Exchange Conference?"

The seal set up by the Ice God was merely a temporary measure, and its effectiveness will naturally diminish over time, further influenced by Adel's own growth and external stimuli.

From what I sense, the seal was only a few months away from naturally breaking and becoming completely ineffective.

Using a little more or a little less effort now will only bring this point forward or backward by a month or two, which will not make any difference to the overall situation.

Moreover, the situation on the mainland is constantly changing, and the covenant of the gods is just around the corner.

Once the terms of the alliance are officially announced, long-dormant topics such as old gods, new gods, faith, and rules will become the focus of attention across the entire continent. At that time, the attention of various forces and the entire continent will be greatly diverted.

In the face of such an overwhelming force, the divine status emanating from Adel would actually attract less extra attention.

The risk is actually decreasing.

Cohen fell into deep thought and slowly nodded:

"Your Majesty's words make a lot of sense, but the Third Tomb Master is, after all, a Hundred-Star Saint."

Seeing that Cohen was still worried about the memory seal, Virekis changed the subject, her emerald eyes looking directly at Cohen, her tone tinged with a hint of mischief:
"Even if we take a step back and say that, Cohen Corleone, all these years you've been running around, fighting in the Lost Lands, laying out plans in Ceylon, stirring up trouble in the Northwest, consolidating the Lost Lands, making connections with various forces, and now you've even risked infiltrating this capital of Serene..."

Isn't all of this precisely to accumulate power, to gain the strength and resources to control one's own destiny and protect those one cherishes?

She leaned slightly forward, her voice low, yet each word was clear, striking Cohen's heart:
"Is it possible that things have come to this, that you have already stood at the peak of the Gold rank, and can step into the Legendary rank at any time, that you have a force under your command that can make a country take notice, and that you yourself have experienced countless storms and your mind and skills are no longer what they used to be..."

Don't you have the confidence to stand in front of your queen sister when she needs it, to shield her from the storm and protect her?
Do you still feel the need to carefully hide her under the wings of absolute safety, afraid to let her face any storms?

You don't really think that we women only want to stand behind you men forever, do you?

Virekis's question struck Cohen like a thunderclap, instantly dispelling the fog of excessive worry that had clouded his mind.

yes……

Everything I've done over the years, wasn't it all for this moment?

In the Northwest, he witnessed Adele nearly being exposed while trying to save him, and he was powerless to do anything about it. That deep sense of powerlessness and protectiveness became the greatest driving force that made him constantly grow stronger and make plans.

Even now, his risky infiltration of Toringard as "Chief of Staff of Mayne" to deal with the Black Tomb is also to obtain key intelligence, destroy potential threats, and gain a more favorable strategic position for himself and Effie.
All he did was so that when Adel's secret could no longer be hidden, when the storm truly came, he would have enough strength and resources to face it, to protect her, and to create a safe haven for her.

Could it be that now, with an opportunity presented to them, and even the demigod Vilekis believes that Adel might be the key to solving the problem?

When you have already gained considerable power, should you retreat because of excessive protectiveness and let all your previous efforts and preparations go to waste?

Do not!
Cohen's gaze gradually hardened.

He is Cohen Corleone, King of Effie, who stands on the threshold of legend, with loyal followers, spies across many countries, a strong economic backing, and even intricate connections with gods and ancient kings.

He has the ability and the determination to protect those he wants to protect!

Even if Adele's divinity is exposed and attracts covetousness, so what?

He was prepared to face any challenge, relying on his foundation as a leader and the resources and leverage he had accumulated through careful planning.

Moreover, the Queen herself was never one to be a flower that needed to be raised in a greenhouse.

She is the youngest legendary-level being on the continent, possessing a complete divine spark, and capable of unleashing power that even he finds astonishing in dire straits.

What I should do is trust her, support her, and fight alongside her, instead of simply excluding her from danger, which could be a sign of distrust and constraint.

Having figured all this out, Cohen's face showed a calm and resolute expression of sudden enlightenment.

He straightened his back, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination, and offered a heartfelt thank you to Virekis:
“You’re right, Your Majesty. Thank you for reminding me. I was being too rigid.”

He always thought of protecting her behind him, but forgot that she herself had the power to soar through the heavens.

And... now I truly have the confidence to shield her from the storms of life, and to protect us on our shared path!

As she watched Cohen's face gradually harden, even radiating the glow of a guardian, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within Vireikis.

She has lived for a long time and witnessed countless emotional entanglements, power struggles, desires, and interests among living beings.

But this young human man before them, whether he had subconsciously wanted to keep Adeline out of danger before, or was now awakened and determined to join hands with her.

From beginning to end, the core of all of Cohen's considerations was Adele.

She seemed to have never truly possessed or experienced the feeling of being so wholeheartedly protected, cherished, and trusted by someone, even placing their safety at the top of her own plans and risk assessments.

As the Queen of the Elves, she has borne the weight of her people's rise and fall since birth, and her relationship with them is one of responsibility and bond.

Life is a long journey filled with too much calculation and weighing of options.

I have never experienced being protected and trusted so unconditionally by someone before.

Her life was too long, her power too great; she had long been accustomed to standing alone at the top, weighing the pros and cons, and taking charge of the overall situation.

This almost instinctive, intense, and focused desire to protect was unfamiliar to her, yet subtly touched her heartstrings.

Unaware of the subtle turmoil in Vireikis's heart, Cohen took out his special communication stone and contacted Adele, who was far away in Florence.

He explained the current situation to Adeline in detail.

After saying all this, he looked somewhat hesitant.

After all, Cohen had never asked about the unknown power within Adele, or rather, he didn't know how to bring it up...

Before I could finish speaking, Adel's gentle voice rang out:

"During this period, I did gradually recall many fragments of the past, a vast amount of knowledge, ancient scenes, and some... indescribable feelings."

Like you, in my past life, I was perhaps someone standing at a high place, burdened with causes and responsibilities that I myself had not yet fully understood.

She paused, her tone becoming gentler yet more resolute:

"But those are shadows of the past. What do they have to do with us now, with Adel Angelion at this moment, with your sister, your lover, your wife?"

Regardless of the past or the future, I am here now.

She's your older sister; she'll worry about you and be proud of you.

It is your lover who will miss you and think of you.

She is your wife, who will stand by your side and share the joys and sorrows.

That will never change, do you understand?

Adele's straightforward and warm words instantly touched the softest part of Cohen's heart.

He could almost see the gentle yet firm smile on Adele's face through the distance.

All hesitation and anxiety seemed superfluous at this moment.

"Yes, sister. I understand."

However, what Adele said next made Cohen's relaxed mood rise again, and he even felt a little guilty.

"However..."

Adele's voice carried a hint of slyness and mischief as she stared into Cohen's eyes and said:

"I am absolutely certain that, in both my past and present lives, I have only ever loved one man: you."

And what about you, my dear brother?

Cohen:

"!!!"

He was immediately speechless, and his mental state became violently disordered for a moment.

A breathtakingly beautiful face, so pure and radiant it seemed to illuminate every corner of the universe, uncontrollably surfaced in his mind—the goddess of light, Aetheril!

Seemingly sensing Cohen's momentary embarrassment and confusion, Adele did not press further, instead letting out a soft chuckle:

"Okay, I'm not teasing you anymore."

Adele's voice regained its previous gentleness and composure, as if that fatal question was just a small joke:

"Let's get down to business. You don't need to worry about contacting King Peter anymore; leave that to me."

Cohen immediately snapped out of his embarrassment, his mind once again filled with worry:
"Sister, how are you going to get here?"

Toringard is now under the control of the Black Tomb and the Serene Alliance, and is heavily guarded. The three tomb masters are Saints with keen senses, and they keep a 24-hour watch on the place where King Peter is imprisoned.

It's too difficult to sneak in undetected..."

Adele interrupted his worries, her voice still calm, yet carrying a reassuring and powerful confidence:

"Don't worry, I don't need to personally cross the many blockades to get to Toringard."

I will use—consciousness projection.

Consciousness projection!

These four words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Cohen's mind, making him tremble violently and almost cry out in shock.

How could he not know what "consciousness projection" means?
This is by no means a simple matter of telepathy or illusion.

That's a technique that only beings at an extremely high level can employ.

To project a part of one's consciousness, or even a part of one's essential power, across distant time and space onto a specific location or target.

In mundane religious texts and esoteric records, the projection of consciousness has another name that is more widely known—

A divine oracle has descended! (End of Chapter)