Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

King Peter took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart and trying to calm himself down.

After all, he was the king who had ruled Serene for many years, and he still possessed basic composure and judgment.

He looked at Adele again, his gaze becoming focused.

The voice has become much more stable, although it is still hoarse:

“Your Highness Angryn, may I ask if you... and Effie behind you, have the ability to help me escape from this place?”

If I can regain my freedom and reclaim my throne, I, Peter Thrand, swear by the glory of the Kingdom of Thranduin and the ancestors of my Thranduin family, will join hands with Effie and all the forces of justice fighting against the Daedric Prince and the Black Tomb.

With coordinated efforts from within and without, we must completely eradicate these malignant tumors that have taken root on our land!

Adele's reaction was very calm; she simply shook her head slightly.

“Your Majesty Peter, being able to establish contact with you here and in this way is the best I can do right now.”

Forcibly removing your physical body from this heavily sealed prison, constantly monitored by saints, will inevitably alarm the three tomb masters, triggering uncontrollable conflicts and unforeseen events.

The flame of hope in King Peter's eyes quickly dimmed with her words, but Adele's next words caused his newly formed composure to crumble instantly:

"I've come here to tell you something."

Adele's voice remained calm, yet every word was like a knife, dissecting the bloody reality:
"Your Kingdom of Serene, during the time you were imprisoned and your royal power was usurped, has completely sided with the Demon God."

Now, it is no longer the front line for the human kingdoms to resist the darkness, but has become a bridgehead and vanguard for the demon legions' invasion of the central continent.

"what?
No…that’s impossible!”

King Peter was struck dumb, his face turned deathly pale, and his body (consciousness) swayed uncontrollably, as if he were about to lose his balance.

Although he had a bad feeling, hearing such a definitive verdict from Queen Alfie, who was known for her integrity and wisdom, was still more devastating than he could bear.

Yardelle didn't give him time to process this cruel reality, and continued to calmly and concisely recount the recent dramatic changes that had taken place on the continent:

Deep within the Lost Lands, how did Thrall, the Demon Lord, collude with the Abyss Demon Horde to establish the Demon Gold Empire?

How did the demon legion cross the barrier and march straight towards the mainland?

How did the Black Tomb forces, entrenched in Serene, cooperate with the Magma Empire, binding the entire Kingdom of Serene to the war machine and turning it into a springboard and accomplice for the demons' attack on the human world...?

Every word was like a red-hot branding iron, searing fiercely into King Peter's soul.

He could almost see that during the time he was trapped in darkness, his beloved kingdom, the land that Thranan family had protected for generations, his proud army and people, were sliding into an abyss under the control of the three tomb masters and those who had surrendered (such as the prime minister Avery).

Turn your blade against your former compatriots and sell your soul to the devil!

And he, the rightful monarch of Seren, was not only powerless, but would also be forever nailed to the pillar of historical shame because of this betrayal, becoming a sinner for the Seren family and the entire Seren kingdom for all eternity!
"Do not--!"

From the depths of King Peter's consciousness, a roar burst forth, filled with endless anger, pain, humiliation, and despair, echoing in the tranquil, icy blue space.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face was contorted, and his once composed demeanor was completely gone, leaving only utter despair and rage.

"How dare they, those traitors, those beasts!"
The glory of Thrane, the witness of the gods and the ancestors, I, Peter Thrane… I…”

King Peter was incoherent, his consciousness nearly torn apart by immense pain and shame.

Adele watched him struggle on the verge of collapse silently, offering no words of comfort, nor any expression of sympathy or disdain.

It simply waits calmly, like an ancient, frozen ice.

As her memories gradually returned, apart from people and events related to Cohen, very little else could evoke any emotional response from her in this continent, this plane, or even the entire multiverse.

After a long time, King Peter's roar gradually turned into painful sobs, leaving only a deep-seated despair and bewilderment.

Adele then spoke again, her voice still chillingly calm:
“Serene has not yet completely fallen into the abyss, Your Majesty Peter.”

A disgrace may still have a chance to be washed away.

King Peter abruptly looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Adele, as if a drowning man were grasping at a last straw, his voice trembling uncontrollably:
"Your Highness Angryn, you...you mean...there is still a way?"
As long as I can wash away this shame and escape Serene's clutches, I'm willing to pay any price!

Even my life, my soul!

Adele's silver-purple eyes stared directly at him, as if she could see into the deepest desires and resolve of his soul:

"It's not that serious. My husband is willing to help your Kingdom of Serene break free from the control of the Black Tomb and the Demon God, and return to the human camp."

And in the future reckoning, try to secure a... relatively less tragic ending for Serane.

King Peter's heart pounded wildly, almost bursting out of his chest:
"Please tell me what you need me to do, Your Highness."

"If it can be done, I, Peter Thrann, will do anything, even die for it!"

Adele's tone was clear and calm:

"The first and most important step."

The Kingdom of Serene needs a new, legitimate king who is clearly aligned with the human faction.

A king who can represent Serene, publicly condemn the betrayal of the Black Tomb and the Magisterium Empire, and lead the remaining forces in rebellion.

Only in this way can Serene be legally and morally separated from the pseudo-regime controlled by the Black Tomb, thus securing a legitimate cause and international support for future actions.

"The new king?"

King Peter was taken aback at first, then a bitter smile appeared on his face, a smile that was even more unsightly than crying.

The glimmer of hope that had just begun to rise seemed to be cruelly extinguished by reality.

"Your Highness Angryn, you may not know this..."

King Peter's voice was filled with grief and helplessness:
"That old monster, the Third Tomb Master, is meticulous and ruthless."

While he controlled the capital and imprisoned me, he had already secretly executed or imprisoned all my adult direct descendants with legitimate inheritance rights—my brothers, my princes, my princesses—in some unknown, desolate place.

His aim was to completely sever the legitimate bloodline of the Thranan family and eliminate any potential threats to his rule.

He closed his eyes in pain.

Cut off the heir!

For a royal family, for a country, this is a more thorough and devastating blow than the fall of the nation.

Without a legitimate heir, who will become the "new king"?
Who can unite people's hearts and minds?

Who can gain the recognition of those forces within Serene that have not yet fully submitted or who still harbor feelings for their former masters?

Without a leader of legitimate bloodline, any so-called resistance is likely to be nothing more than a disorganized mess, and may even be easily smeared by the three tomb masters as "rebels" or "foreign interference forces," making it even more difficult for Serene to shake off the stigma.

Is there really no hope at all?
King Peter's heart sank once again into a cold abyss.

Adele's expression remained calm and composed, her silver-purple eyes showing no ripples. She spoke in a voice devoid of emotion:
"The extinction of the orthodox bloodline does not mean that the flag will fall."

Since there isn't one readily available, let's 'make' one.

What about a Thranan princess who has been exiled, endured hardship, and now returns to save her country from peril?

"To forge the identity of a royal princess?"

King Peter almost instinctively wanted to retort—that was utterly absurd.

The Thranan royal family's genealogy, bloodline verification, and historical records... how could they be so easily forged?

Are the Black Tomb and its three owners not to be trifled with?

Since they dared to target the royal family's direct descendants, they must have the means to verify the authenticity of their bloodline. How could they allow others to deceive them?

However, before the words were even out of his mouth, a name suddenly echoed deep within his mind!
The current Queen of Ceylon!

The Ceylon royal family was instigated by Alfiein to start a civil war.

Freya, who claimed to be the legitimate princess of Cromwell's royal family, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. With the strong support of Effie and especially Cohen, she quickly gathered resources, gained popular support, and eventually ascended the throne to rebuild Ceylon.

As the monarch of a powerful nation in the Northwest Continent, King Peter had dealt extensively with the former Ceylon Gaius royal family and was certainly familiar with them, if not intimately acquainted with them.

He knew perfectly well that the "Princess Freya" who had suddenly appeared was a complete imposter.

Its origins and lineage absolutely cannot withstand rigorous research.

But the result?

Efein, through its powerful national strength and Cohen's personal methods, successfully manipulated, guided, and even coerced the five great empires and mainstream public opinion on the continent, shaping Freya into the legitimate heir to the Ceylon royal family and a hero of national restoration.

What's even more chilling is that they managed to get the identity of "Freya" recognized by the Church of Prophecy, which is known for not interfering in worldly affairs!
This terrifying power and astonishing methods, capable of manipulating events, distorting the truth, and even influencing the attitude of the prophetic church, had once secretly alarmed King Peter.

He developed a deep sense of dread towards Effie, and especially towards the young King Corleone.

At this moment, all these clues came together, and it was like a sudden enlightenment that made King Peter see the light.

I see, I see!
Effin, or rather Cohen Corleone, had done this before, and done it with masterful skill and utmost success.

Supporting a "royal princess" to the throne might seem like a pipe dream to others, but for Effie, who has already successfully pulled it off once and possesses such immense power and terrifying skills, it is probably a piece of cake, and she may even have developed a complete process and contingency plan.

Their decision wasn't a spur-of-the-moment one; they likely considered this possibility long before deciding to intervene in Thereon's affairs, or even earlier. The so-called "deal," the so-called "helping Thereon wash away its shame," from the very beginning included the core step of creating a legitimate new king!

His own recognition and cooperation as the former king was merely a step that made the plan more legitimate and harder to refute!
Having figured all this out, King Peter broke out in a cold sweat.

Looking once more at Queen Efein, whose beauty seemed otherworldly and whose aura was as cold as ancient ice, I felt not only relief at escaping from this desperate situation, but also an indescribable chill and a deep sense of awe.

Effie's schemes, King Corleone's methods, and the unfathomable power displayed by the queen before him... all far exceeded his imagination.

This is not a simple rescue operation based on compassion or justice, but a far-reaching and meticulously planned strategic game.

And I am merely a relatively important piece in this grand game.

However, chess pieces also have value and the right to bargain.

Especially when he grasped a key element of the other party's "legitimacy" in their plan.

A resolute glint appeared in King Peter's eyes.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and straightened his back with the posture of a king facing diplomatic negotiations, looking intently at Adele:

"I understand."

King Peter's voice was still hoarse, but it had regained its strength and rhythm. "Your Highness Angrian, and His Majesty Corleone behind you, are indeed... far-sighted."

He didn't say it outright, but both sides understood each other implicitly.

“I can agree to your conditions, recognize and support the legitimate status and inheritance rights of a ‘Thalas princess’, and will leave behind credible evidence in my own way.”

King Peter spoke slowly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with sorrow and resolve, "But!"

His tone shifted abruptly, his gaze sharpening like an eagle's, locking onto Adele's calm, unwavering eyes:

"In exchange, Effie must agree to three conditions!"

Adele made no comment, but simply listened quietly.

King Peter's voice was resolute, filled with deep-seated hatred:
"First, the Black Tomb must be completely and thoroughly eliminated!"
In particular, the three tomb masters, this evil organization that usurped the throne, slaughtered my royal bloodline, and dragged my Serene into an abyss of no return, and its leader, must be uprooted.

Every core member must pay the price!
I want to see their destruction with my own eyes!

"Secondly, after the war, once the demon god forces and their lackeys are completely eliminated, the interests of the continent will inevitably be redistributed."

The Kingdom of Serene suffered enormous losses and stigma as a result, but made the right choice at a crucial moment.

Effie must ensure that Serene receives compensation and benefits commensurate with her contributions and status in the new continental order.

Territory, resources, and the right to speak—we cannot afford to lose any of them!

This is how a king, as the king, strives for the future survival space and development capital of the country he deeply loves.

"third,"

King Peter's voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible sorrow and pleading.

"Regardless of which 'princess' ultimately ascends the throne, and in whatever form the Thranduil bloodline continues, Efein must make a solemn promise to guarantee the Thranduil descendants, whether direct or collateral."

In the future, they will all enjoy the honor, status, and security that come with royalty.

The Thranan name must not be tarnished by this calamity, nor should it be severed!

This is the last monarch's final responsibility and entrustment to his family and ancestors.

After stating these three conditions, King Peter stared intently at Adele, his chest heaving slightly, awaiting her response.

This was his last line of defense, the promise he could exchange for with his remaining value and the future of the entire Kingdom of Serene.

He knew he was at a significant disadvantage and had little bargaining power, but he had to secure as much protection as possible for Serane and the Serane family.

In the icy blue space, time seemed to lose its meaning; only the tireless, slowly falling, crystalline snowflakes brought a touch of dynamic life to this absolutely tranquil realm.

They moved and spun silently, reflecting the constant, cool, icy blue light from the depths of space, enveloping the figures of Adele and King Peter in a hazy, sacred halo.

Yadel stood quietly in place, her exquisite face like an ancient, unchanging painting of ice and snow, her silver-purple eyes deep and unfathomable, without the slightest ripple.

The three conditions proposed by King Peter concerned a deep-seated blood feud, the future of the nation, and the survival of his family; any one of them could have triggered a war or changed the fate of a continent.

But to her ears, it was as if a gentle breeze was blowing across the ice, failing to stir any emotion.

Her detached calmness even gave King Peter the illusion that his desperate struggles and negotiations, in which he had given his all, were nothing more than this in her eyes.

After a long time, just as King Peter's heart sank, thinking that the other party would refuse or drastically reduce the terms, Adele finally spoke again:
"can."

There is only one word.

Concise, straightforward, without any embellishment, without any additional promises or explanations.

Then, Adele's voice rang out again, adding details about the third condition. Her tone remained calm, yet it made the promise more concrete and weighty:

"The name of Thran will never end."

Once the dust settles and the new Thranene monarchy is firmly established, a wealthy territory of no less than the size of a duchy can be designated as a fiefdom and homeland to be inherited by the Thranene royal family for generations to come.

Its lords enjoyed complete autonomy, remaining monarchs, only needing to nominally acknowledge the new king as their overlord.

A duchy with a monarch who is completely autonomous and whose rule is perpetual!
These conditions were far more favorable than King Peter had imagined.

This was not merely about ensuring the "honor and safety" of their descendants; it was practically giving the Thranan family a state within a state.

A foundation that can be truly passed down, possess real power, and maintain independence.

This means that even without the crown of the Kingdom of Seren, the Seren family can still continue their bloodline and glory as a regional lord, and may even have a broader space for development in the future.

This goes far beyond the scope of "guarantee" and is almost a generous gift!
King Peter was stunned.

He had expected the other party to agree, but he didn't expect them to agree so readily and offer such generous terms.

This, however, gave him a sense of unreality and a deeper chill.

How big are Effie, or rather Cohen and Yardelle, really after?

So much so that they were willing to pay such a price to get his cooperation at this moment.

Behind this “generosity” lies immense confidence and far-sighted planning, which instilled in him a sense of awe that bordered on trembling.

But soon, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and a feeling of relief that everything had settled overwhelmed him.

Compared to Thrann's royal family bearing the eternal infamy of colluding with evil, utterly annihilated in humiliation; compared to himself suffering endless torment in a dark and hopeless prison, ultimately turning into silent bones and becoming the tyrannical ruler in history who let the wolf into the house and caused the kingdom's downfall...

The outcome we see is the brightest and most respectable option we can find in the abyss of darkness.

At least, the Kingdom of Serene has a chance to escape the clutches of evil and return to the human race.

At the very least, those traitors and demon lackeys of the Black Tomb and the Three Tomb Masters will face Effin's thunderous strike.

At least, Thran's name will not be lost, and he may even be able to maintain his territory and continue his glory.

And he, Peter Thran, though destined to bear the shame of losing his country and being imprisoned, at least in the final moments, made the right choice, securing a relatively bright future for the kingdom and his family.

This was perhaps the last and best thing he, as the last monarch, could do for Thrane and for House Thrane.

A long, heavy sigh seemed to release all the pent-up frustration, resentment, anger, and despair that had been building up in King Peter's heart.

He slowly raised his head, looked at Adele, the woman who had appeared to him like a goddess in his most desperate moment, and solemnly nodded:

"I...agree."

By the name of the ancestors of the Thranan family, and by the spirit of the past kings of the Kingdom of Thranan, I, Peter Thranan, acknowledge and accept the covenant with the Kingdom of Efein, with His Majesty Cohen Corleone, and with Her Highness Ardelle Angrayn.

I will keep my promise.

Having made his decision, King Peter no longer hesitated. Knowing that time was precious and opportunities were fleeting, he began his narration:

"The ultimate symbol of the Thraine monarchy is not the crown with the 'Shadow Star' that you usually know."

The true token is a 'Chenyuan Seal Ring' forged from ancient meteorite iron mixed with the ashes of past kings.

It was hidden outside the city of Thoringard, in a forbidden area known as Sleeping Valley.

The first few ancestors of the Thranan family are buried there, a fact known only to successive monarchs.

It contains an ancient protective barrier that can only be activated with a specific incantation.

The ring was hidden in a compartment in the inner wall of the largest coffin, sealed with the magic of 'Shadow Words'.

King Peter paused, then drew a line in the air with his finger, revealing a complex and ancient family crest after a moment:

"This is my personal keepsake, buried next to the roots of the oldest birch tree in Serren National Park, and it's called the Serren coat of arms."

Then he made a mysterious gesture:

"By possessing the Abyss Seal and the Thran Emblem, and by demonstrating this gesture before those loyalists, they will believe that you have received my final authorization!" (End of Chapter)