Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Jialin nodded and changed into a dark-colored casual outfit that was both practical and elegant.

However, it accentuated her figure a bit too much, causing Cohen to catch his breath again.

Cohen also changed his attire; his current public identity is that of the Holy Son of the Star Clan, and he is to accompany Jialin to meet King Peter's subordinates.

Without exchanging any words, the two, like perfectly in sync, silently disappeared into the deep darkness of Toringard, one after the other.

For the next few nights, following the directions on the list, they wandered like ghosts through the vast and complex labyrinthine city of Toringard.

The meeting places were incredibly varied, filled with the everyday life of ordinary people and hidden corners.

Sometimes it's a quiet warehouse in the back alley of a noisy seafood market in the early hours of the morning, reeking of fish; sometimes it's the tavern owner quietly opening the secret door leading to the underground wine cellar after closing time late at night; and sometimes it's the home of a seemingly mediocre minor official who goes to get off work and leaves on time every day.

Every meeting was like a silent, thrilling drama.

Garlin will present the Abyss Ring and the Seran Emblem, then utter a specific code word known only to the other party and King Peter, followed by King Peter's signature gesture.

Cohen was naturally responsible for observing the other party's behavior from the side, and if he noticed anything unusual, he would immediately kill them and retreat.

And these loyal embers left behind by King Peter did not disappoint Cohen and his companion.

Although these people reacted differently upon first seeing Jialin and the keepsake: shock, doubt, unbelievable excitement, overwhelming joy with tears streaming down their faces, and wary scrutiny...

Without exception, after carefully examining the tokens and repeatedly verifying the code words, they all chose to believe Jia Lin's identity.

They knelt before Garin, swearing allegiance in an ancient manner, tears streaming down their faces as they expressed their worries for King Peter, their hatred for the puppet regime, and their anticipation for the princess's return.

An old court mage, who had lived in seclusion for many years, held the Seran emblem in trembling hands, carefully stroking each line. Tears streamed down his cloudy old eyes, and he choked back sobs, barely able to utter a complete sentence:
"Your Highness... Your Highness, Heaven has eyes! This old minister... This old minister has been lying low for many years, worrying day and night, and finally... Finally, the day has come when the royal banner will be raised again!"

A former captain of the royal guards, disguised as the leader of a large merchant caravan and a seasoned traveler, suddenly knelt on one knee after confirming the coded message was correct. He clenched his right fist and pounded it heavily against his left chest, his eyes gleaming with astonishing light.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty did indeed have a backup plan. Your Highness, please give your orders."

For the glory of Thrane, for the Thrane family, for His Majesty, we, the old guard, are willing to die a thousand deaths.

A middle-aged man, who had infiltrated the city hall as a clerk using his exceptional abilities, handed a secret letter filled with tiny handwriting to Jialin in his private room:

"Your Highness, the Black Tomb and its henchmen are extremely pervasive in their surveillance, especially targeting the military and the old nobility."

But we've been operating in the shadows for years and have our own channels.

This list consists of lower- and middle-ranking officers from the capital's garrison, city defense forces, and surrounding military units who, after being secretly vetted, still remain loyal to the royal family and are considered worthy of being won over.

These addresses are our secret contact points and safe houses; they are absolutely reliable.

Furthermore, Avery has recently been frequently mobilizing his close associates, seemingly preparing for a crackdown on border bandits. His intentions are unclear and require close monitoring…

These meetings not only enabled Jialin and Cohen to successfully gain their first core support force rooted in various industries within Serene, but also served as sparks of inspiration.

Through the personal networks these loyalists had cultivated over many years, the news that "the princess has secretly arrived in the capital and is contacting her old followers to gather strength" was quietly spread to more people who still cared about their former masters and dared not speak out against the puppet regime.

But Jialin and Cohen knew perfectly well that this was just the beginning.

Gaining the support of the old guard is only the first step. How to integrate these forces, how to deal with the inevitable and fierce counterattack of the Black Tomb, and how to finally raise the banner of resistance on the land of Serene—the real test is yet to come.

……

As Garlin successfully roused King Peter's old guard and confidants, an undercurrent hidden in all levels of Serene society began to surge rapidly.

These loyalists have been operating for many years, possessing resources, deep connections, or controlling unknown forces.

After confirming the authenticity and legitimacy of "Princess Jialin," they no longer hesitated and began to secretly mobilize their respective resources to pave the way for the restoration of their kingdom.

After careful intelligence analysis, combined with the suggestions of the old nobles and Peter's former subordinates' assessment of the control over various regions.

Ultimately, they targeted a large industrial city called "Ironrock City" in the northern region of the Kingdom of Serene, making it the base of their restoration campaign.

Located far from the political center of the royal capital Toringard, the Black Tomb's direct control is relatively weak, and its influence is more pervasive through proxies and economic means.

Ironrock City is renowned for its developed mining, metal smelting, and military industries. The city has a sturdy structure, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It possesses well-developed fortifications and a large industrial workforce.

More importantly, several influential local nobles and chamber of commerce leaders had long harbored resentment towards the oppressive regime of Toringard and the sinister rule of the Black Tomb.

Through the connections and covert lobbying of certain key figures among Peter's former subordinates, they were moved by "Princess Garlin's" legitimate identity, saintly strength, and her promise to protect the interests of all parties after the restoration, and thus became her inside agents.

They easily overthrew the rule of the puppet regime and liberated Tieyan City.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Jialin bid farewell to Cohen and, with the core members of the Star Clan, arrived at Ironrock City ahead of everyone else.

Peter's former subordinates, who had already secretly gathered here, the persuaded local powerful figures, and nobles, officers, scholars, and merchants from all over Serene who had come after hearing the news, all gathered together.

Iron Rock City, inside the City Hall.

Wearing a white-gold gown that blended traditional Serane royal patterns with Starbringer star elements, Garin formally presented the Abyssal Seal Ring and the Serane Clan emblem in the presence of several highly respected elders of the Serane family and key figures from Peter's former subordinates.

Before the ancient Thranene founding oath stone, he swore an oath to succeed King Peter as the "sole legitimate bloodline successor" and the guardian of the Thranene family.

There was no lavish worship of the masses, no noisy celebrations or parades, but everyone present was solemn and their eyes were burning with fervor.

As Garlin donned the makeshift crown and received the scepter symbolizing royal power, a deep oath of allegiance echoed through the city hall.

"In the name of Thranduil, on the land of Itheran, we swear to serve Her Majesty Queen Garlene I to restore our homeland and drive out the wicked!"

Just as Jialin was officially crowned in Ironrock City and raised the banner of the "Orthodox Kingdom of Serene," the Starbringer forces, who had been preparing for a long time, began to converge on Ironrock City day and night from their hidden settlements, from Ceylon, and from Efein through various clandestine channels.

Among them are skilled craftsmen in forging and engineering, priests proficient in healing and support magic, valiant Star Warriors, and even more powerful orc legions that have received secret training from Cohen and are equipped with divine and demonic gear.

The arrival of these forces quickly filled the gaps in the new regime's military, technology, and production, causing Ironrock City's strength to surge in a short period of time.

The news could no longer be blocked.

The news of Queen Garlin's ascension to the throne in Ironrock City, and the gathering of the Starbringers' forces, Peter's former troops, northern nobles, and even a powerful orc legion, spread like wildfire throughout Serene and even the entire continent, far faster than the previous "princess rumors."

For the people of Serene, who were already suffocating from the rule of the Black Tomb and the pseudo-reignition, and deeply ashamed that their homeland had become an accomplice of the demons, this was nothing short of a raging beacon in the long, dark night.

A saintly queen, of legitimate royal blood, with powerful external support (the Star Clan and the Effie background), and a clear goal of restoring her kingdom.

All of this combined creates an irresistible attraction.

Local nobles, military generals, influential chambers of commerce, and even some low- to mid-level officials who had previously been observing and hesitating began to actively or passively move towards Iron Rock City.

A large number of commoners, artisans, bankrupt knights, retired veterans, and even some scholars and mages who were desperate about the status quo, who were unwilling to submit to the Black Tomb and the Demon God, began to travel north, towards "Ironrock City"—this new land of hope—risking being captured by the Black Tomb patrol.

Iron Rock City, originally an industrial hub, experienced a population explosion in a very short period of time, which also changed its atmosphere.

The streets are no longer filled with numb workers and cold machinery; there are now many new faces, weary from their journeys yet with eager eyes; there are the resounding sounds of military drills; and the flickering flames and clanging hammers of weapons and armor being forged day and night in temporary workshops.

The city walls were further reinforced, and new defensive arrays were constructed and deployed around them.

With Queen Garlin at its core, a streamlined yet efficient central administrative and military command system was quickly established.

Those who came from all over Serene and from diverse backgrounds were recruited into different departments after rigorous screening, where they could utilize their talents.

A new regime with a legitimate claim, a clear program, a strong leader, a preliminary military and political system, and growing recognition from the people and local forces has already established a solid foundation in Ironrock, north of Serene.

And like a giant tree that constantly absorbs nutrients, it began to grow strong, and its branches and influence were rapidly spreading to other areas of the kingdom.

The Kingdom of Serene was first hijacked and usurped by the Black Tomb's conspiracy, and then forcibly bound to the Demon God's chariot. This shame and pain that permeated the country had long been buried in the hearts of countless citizens.

Now, a powerful, beautiful, noble-born holy queen who intends to set things right has stepped forward and raised the banner of rebellion, which is tantamount to opening the floodgates of this pent-up frustration that is about to boil over.

More and more people, whether out of loyalty to their former masters, a desire for honor, dissatisfaction with reality, or simply a search for a way to survive, began to turn their gaze northward, set foot on Ironrock City, and place their hopes on the Star Queen named "Jalyn".

All this commotion and convergence naturally transformed into the most urgent and weighty battle report, which was delivered to the depths of the Toringard Palace, before the throne shrouded in shadow.

……

The three tomb lords sat high on their shadowy thrones deep within the Thoringard Palace, listening to urgent military reports from the northern city of Ironrock.

"...The rebels openly held a ceremony of usurpation at the 'Heart of the Furnace' castle in Ironrock City, where the false king 'Galin I' was crowned with the support of the rebels and declared himself the rightful heir of Serene..."

"...The false king presented what appeared to be a secret royal heirloom, inciting the people and causing the garrison of Iron Rock City and several surrounding cities to defect, and the city walls to be overrun..."

"...A large number of Starburst Clan survivors have appeared, bringing heavy weaponry and intervening with what appears to be an orc legion with Effiin's background, and their combat strength is considerable..."

"...The former northern nobles Bernstein and Daville, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, have openly expressed their support for the false king. The rebel-controlled area has expanded to three counties, and refugees, defeated soldiers, and rebels are flocking to join them, their momentum growing stronger every day..." "...Undercurrents are surging among the people. Anonymous leaflets praising the false king and graffiti defaming the capital have appeared in many places. There have even been attacks by rioters on the tax office and patrol teams belonging to the Black Tomb..."

The messenger's voice grew softer and softer, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground.

They feared that the being shrouded in shadow above would be enraged by the series of bad news and turn them to dust.

Beside the throne, Prime Minister Avery Lincoln stood in attendance.

That lean, rigid face was now contorted with extreme anger.

He was the most complete traitor, a "traitor" who bound his soul and future to the Three Tomb Masters and the Black Tomb Chariot.

The uprising in Ironrock and the appearance of Queen Garlin were not just rebellions for him, but also the most direct challenge to his personal power, status, and even the foundation of his survival.

Once the sham regime is overthrown, Avery Lincoln's fate will be a hundred times more miserable than Peter Thrand's.

Avery finally couldn't contain himself any longer and took a step forward, his voice tinged with an indescribable panic:

"A clown jumping around, a skeleton in a tomb."

How dare a mere northern border town, a group of bewitched fools, disgraced nobles, and alien races of unknown origin claim legitimacy and carve up territory?
Your Majesty, at this critical juncture, there must be no mercy or hesitation whatsoever.

We must mobilize the royal guards and the legions loyal to His Majesty with overwhelming force, and then ask the lords of the Black Tomb to take action, and march straight to Iron Rock City.

This puppet regime and its cronies must be uprooted and crushed into dust.

The most brutal and bloody methods must be used to publicly execute the fake king Jialin and all her supporters.

Only in this way can we deter all those with ulterior motives and let those who are still watching and wavering know the consequences of betraying His Majesty and the Black Tomb!

Free's proposal was full of violence and urgency; he wished he could immediately lead his army north to raze Ironrock to the ground and wash away his fear with the blood of traitors.

The three tomb owners were naturally filled with rage.

The sudden rise of Jialin, the establishment of the restored regime, the intervention of the Star Clan, the defection of the old nobles and the people... all of this disrupted his plans.

In particular, the rapidly gathering momentum of "orthodoxy" is a highly corrosive and inflammatory poison for a pseudo-regime that came to power through conspiracy and violence and whose foundation is unstable.

However, he suppressed the urge to immediately mobilize troops to quell the rebellion.

They had just forged a detailed alliance with the Morgen Empire, and the Morgen Empire's delegation had only just left Toringard.

Serene's massive war machine has been fully activated in order to support this grand plan of attacking Effie and its allies from both the east and west, in conjunction with the Magma Empire.

A large number of troops, supplies, and elite forces from the Black Tomb are being assembled and mobilized in the planned direction of attack.

If we were to launch a large-scale campaign to quell the rebellion in the north at this moment, it would not only severely disrupt our established strategic plans and consume precious war resources, but we might also miss a fleeting opportunity.

Compared to the rebellion that erupted in a corner of the north, this golden window of opportunity presented a chance for Effie and his allies to find themselves preoccupied with the Demon Gold Empire's efforts on the eastern front and with the five great empires unable to focus on the "Covenant of the Gods."
Executing the established plan of joining forces with the Demon Gold Empire, expanding territory, seizing resources, and taking revenge on Effie is clearly a higher priority and has greater potential benefits.

Only by quickly defeating Efein, this major threat, can the Black Tomb's rule in Serene and even the Northwest Continent be truly consolidated. At that time, dealing with the rebellion in the north will be a piece of cake.

Seeing that the three tomb owners did not react to his vehement suggestions and remained silent, Avery became even more anxious.

He knew the Lord's temperament; He would never tolerate any provocation. But the silence at this moment meant that the Lord had deeper considerations.

He forced himself to calm down, took a deep breath, changed his approach to persuasion, and lowered his voice:

"Your Majesty, this old minister has investigated carefully and found that the background of this self-proclaimed 'Jialin' is extremely complicated."

She claims to be from the Starburst Clan and has close ties to the Golden Wing Clan of the Pale Wings.

There's not much to say about the Golden Wing family. Your Majesty should know that Princess Isabella, the most favored princess by Cohen Corleone's side, is the daughter of the Golden Wing family patriarch.

As for the Starbringers, they had already clearly sided with Cohen during the internal strife in the Kingdom of Ceylon, providing him with substantial assistance.

The current drama of a 'princess who has fallen into exile' ascending the throne and restoring her country is exactly the same in its methods, its propaganda, and its collusion with outsiders as the rise to power of the imposter Freya in Ceylon.

This is definitely not a coincidence!

Your Majesty, this old minister dares to swear on his life that this so-called 'restoration of the kingdom of Garlin' is undoubtedly another scheme orchestrated by Cohen Corleone.

He was the one who orchestrated all of this behind the scenes.

It was he who provided the tokens, fabricated his origins, and mobilized the Star Clan and the Golden Wing Clan.

Their aim is to stab us in the back, disrupt Serene, and sabotage our grand alliance with the Magnum Empire!

These words finally elicited a clear reaction from the three tomb masters hidden in the shadows. A dark look flashed across their faces, and they said in a deep voice:

“Cohen Corleone…it’s him again.”

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, containing a chilling intent and murderous intent.

The three tomb masters, and indeed the entire Black Tomb, harbored an irreconcilable hatred and dread towards this name.

"But why is his relationship with the Star Clan so close?"
A marriage alliance with the Golden Wing family alone would not be enough to provoke such full support from the entire Starburst Clan, even to the point of involving themselves in the kingdom's rebellion and openly opposing the Black Tomb!

This is precisely what the three tomb owners are most wary of and worried about right now.

While Freya's success in the Ceylon affair was partly due to Cohen's planning, it largely depended on her long-term cultivation and win-winn relationship with a large number of local nobles, led by Gavin, thus forming a solid base of support.

In Serren, Cohen clearly did not have the time or resources to cultivate such a deep local influence.

The fact that the Ironrock City rebels were able to gain such momentum in such a short time clearly indicates that their core strength and support came from the Star Clan themselves.

If it were anything else, the three tomb owners wouldn't have felt any urgency.

But the Starry Race was once a powerful race that rivaled the human race at its peak ten thousand years ago.

Although it later declined for some reason and went into seclusion, its profound heritage and ancient traditions are far beyond what ordinary alien races or human kingdoms can compare to.

Most importantly, the Star Clan's high-level combat power, especially the legendary and saintly beings, is the most feared.

This is the real reason why the three tomb owners felt troubled and even somewhat anxious.

He could tolerate the scale and scope of the northern rebellion for the time being, regarding it as a minor ailment.

However, if the core supporting force of the rebellion is an ancient race with Saint-level combat power and a deep bond with Cohen Corleone... then the nature of the rebellion is completely different.

Prime Minister Avery bowed slightly and began to explain in detail the latest intelligence he had gathered and his analysis:
"Your Majesty, based on the information relayed by our spies within Ceylon and the Pale Wings, we can be fairly certain."

This fake queen, Garlin, and Effie, the mother of Princess Isabella, were childhood friends, as close as sisters.

Princess Isabella referred to her as her aunt according to seniority.

It is likely through this marriage that Cohen was able to connect with the Starburst Clan, who had long lived in seclusion.

In my humble opinion, this is nothing more than a transaction in which each party gets what they need.

The Starburst Clan, an ancient race that has been silent for millennia, yearns for a territory where they can re-establish themselves in the world and restore some of their former glory.

Cohen Corleone, ambitious and making enemies everywhere, desperately needs powerful external support and high-level combat power to support his expansion and confrontation.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement. Cohen provided opportunities and external support, while the Star Clan provided manpower and resources to promote Garlin, who had close ties with them, to power, using her as a proxy and springboard for the Star Clan's return to the mainland political stage.

The so-called "royal orphan" and "righteous cause of restoring the kingdom" are nothing more than a sugar coating to cover this naked transaction.

After listening to Avery's analysis, the head of the three tomb owners, hidden in the shadows, nodded almost imperceptibly, indicating that he had accepted the deduction.

This explains why the Starfolk are so deeply involved, and it aligns with Cohen Corleone's consistent style of leveraging resources and making far-reaching plans.

After a brief silence, Avery's face showed deeper doubt. He carefully chose his words and tentatively said:

"Your Majesty is wise. In fact, even if the entire Star Clan were to support us, it might not be so terrifying that we would be unable to deal with it."

After all, they are a race that was driven out and forced into hiding by the mainstream of human race ten thousand years ago, and they inherently lack recognition and foundation among human nations.

To truly establish a foothold in a human kingdom, let alone rule it for a long time, is by no means easy; it will inevitably face countless internal constraints and external pressures! (End of Chapter)