Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 334 Prince Xia Zuo, Young Master Qiao Lun, I have a big business deal to discuss with you!
"I will bear the blame for the suffering of my people."

The order to redeploy the Northern Garrison and tighten the defensive lines was quickly relayed. Faced with officials who did not understand, Chief of Staff Orphene responded with the above statement.

Having already returned to Quessaron with Melantha, Cohen listened to Station Chief Julian's report with a thoughtful expression on his face, and said slowly:

"This Gaius is truly courageous, daring to make such a choice during such a turbulent time. He is indeed a wise and enlightened monarch."

Moreover, I suspect that Chief Orphene was merely his mouthpiece. The decision to redeploy the Northern Legion, which was meant to defend the barbarians, to deal with the Windbreak Kingdom's expedition to the southeast was something he had planned long ago.

"It's only out of concern for the impact and public opinion that they've pinned all the blame on Chief of Staff Orpheum."

Julian echoed in reply:
“I think so too. This way, the people of the Windbreak Kingdom will have a headache.”

A playful smile curved Cohen's lips:

"Perhaps we can use this news to our advantage—"

The corrupt and incompetent usurper regime allowed the brutal barbarians to burn, kill, and plunder the kingdom's people. With a heart full of righteousness, the princess took the initiative to send a special task force to the northern border to resist the barbarian invasion and protect her people.

What do you think of this public opinion?

Julian paused for a moment, then said:

"That sounds good, but crossing most of the kingdom to the northern border... isn't that a bit too difficult?"

Cohen patted Julian on the shoulder and said softly:
"The men were sent out, but they were either stopped or annihilated by Gaius's army on the way."

In conclusion, due to Gaius's repeated obstruction, the princess's restoration army ultimately failed to reach the northern front in time.

Julian's eyes showed deep admiration, and he bowed and said:
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Julian left, and Melantha emerged from behind Cohen, a mischievous smile in her eyes:
"You're really wicked; how could you come up with such an idea?"

Cohen grabbed Melantha's hand and gave a wicked laugh:
"I have even worse aspects, would you like to try them out?"

As the two were flirting, the crisp sound of high heels echoed from upstairs.

The princess looked at Melantha, who had returned with Cohen, with a strange expression, and felt slightly uncomfortable.

It's hard for anyone to feel good watching their fiancé bring one woman home after another.

Melantha didn't think too much about it. She took Cohen's arm and greeted Grace warmly when she saw her come downstairs.

Grace forced a smile, her gaze falling on Melantha's dishearteningly ample bosom, subtly comparing it to her own, which only made her feel worse.

As the saying goes, three women make a drama, let alone three noble, elegant, and stunningly beautiful women.

As the three were talking, a streak of light flashed by, and Windsordler returned from outside.

Looking at the people in the room, he chuckled:

"Your Majesty really knows how to enjoy life, sending your princess out to do chores while you stay at home enjoying the pleasures of having two wives?"

Cohen thought to himself, "Didn't you ask to go on your own initiative? How did it become that I sent you?"

Being unreasonable is a woman's prerogative, so Cohen wisely remained silent, poured a cup of black tea and handed it to her, asking softly:
"how is the situation?"

Windsordler took the tea, took a sip, and said:

"It has been verified that Xia Zuo has indeed arrived in Quesaon. Although he was hiding very well, we still managed to find his hideout."

A strange smile appeared on Cohen's lips as he said in a low voice:

"It's finally here! I was getting impatient waiting for it to arrive."

Young Master Joren should have had enough of hiding in Quessaron lately; it's time to give him a break.

He looked up at Grace:

"Your Highness, you must not have seen your cousin, the Prince, for quite some time now."

Grace frowned slightly and asked:

"What kind of trick are you up to now?"

Cohen smiled slightly, put on the demon mask, his expression shifting, and said slowly:

"I'm preparing a grand welcome banquet for Young Master Qiao Lun and Prince Xia Zuo!"

……

Qiao Lun opened his eyes, finished washing up, and found that the hired cook had already prepared a delicious breakfast.

He took the coffee prepared by the maid, and as usual picked up several authoritative newspapers from Ceylon, checking the current situation in Ceylon while eating his breakfast.

He's growing to love this mission more and more.

Every day was spent leisurely eating, drinking, and having fun, experiencing the local customs and culture of the Northwest Continent. Without the scheming and intrigue, Qiao Lun even felt that he had become several years younger.

As he flipped through the newspaper, reading the official accounts of Quesaon boasting about their great victories in various places and the number of rebels wiped out, a mocking smile crept onto his lips.

If what the newspapers said were true, there would be no rebels in Ceylon by now.

After putting down the newspaper and finishing breakfast, he was contemplating whether to go hunting at the Quisaon hunting grounds or invite a few noble ladies to enjoy an opera. Just as he was immersed in this blissful dilemma, a knock on the door made him instinctively wary.

Soon, the familiar voice outside made him breathe a sigh of relief.

It was Rudolf Bohr, a spy planted in Quesaon by the Central Empire.

"come in."

Rudolf walked hurriedly, his face showing anxiety.

Seeing this, Joren's expression darkened slightly. The fact that Rudolf had such an expression so early in the morning gave Joren a sense of foreboding.

Before Joren could ask, Rudolph spoke up:
"Master, something happened."

Qiao Lun said in a deep voice:

"Don't be in a hurry. Speak slowly."

Rudolf took a letter from his pocket and said in a low voice:

"On my way to work today, someone handed me a letter, saying... that I should pass it on to a guest from the Central Empire!"

Qiao Lun was startled, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

It's out! My identity has been exposed!

Joren took the letter and sighed:
“It’s my fault for dragging you down. You’ve been hiding in Quessaon for so long without any problems, but I was exposed as soon as I arrived.”

Rudolf quickly shook his head:
"Young Master, you're being too harsh. It's just that the other side is too cunning; we didn't even notice their presence."

A thoughtful look appeared in Joren's eyes as he stared at the letter in his hand, a sense of confusion rising in his heart—which faction could it be?

He opened the letter; the contents were short, and he read it quickly.

This was a dinner invitation, but when he saw the signature at the end, he couldn't help but gasp:
Yann Hughes, leader of the Crimson Raiders.

Joren's expression froze slightly. He had considered many possibilities, but he never expected that the first person to recognize his identity would be Yann Hughes, the descendant of the ancient pirate king who had recently risen to fame in the Endless Sea, the fiancé of the princess of the Eastern Empire, and the owner of the ghost ship.

Qiao Lun fell into deep thought. He was at a loss as to how to deal with this person.

Rudolf then asked in a low voice:
"Young Master Qiao Lun, whose letter is this?"

Joren handed the letter to Rudolph and said in a deep voice:

“Yan Hughes, that’s strange. How did he manage to see through my identity?”

Rudolf quickly read the letter, his face showing the same confusion, and asked:
"Are you going?"

I'm worried this is a trap.

Qiao Lun concealed his thoughts, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness:
"Can we not go? They've already sent the letter to our home."

"If I don't go, the whole of Ceylon will probably know I've arrived in Quessaon by tomorrow."

Rudolf nodded slowly:
"it is good."

Cohen received Akdemion's report, and Joren unsurprisingly accepted the invitation.

Not long after, news came from Xia Zuo that after being found out where he was staying, Xia Zuo had no choice but to attend the banquet.

All the main characters have arrived, and Cohen is ready to have a unique gathering with his two "old friends"!
……

In the north of Quesaon lies a low-key yet luxurious courtyard, belonging to the renowned luxury goods company "Flaming Lips" on the mainland.

As evening approached, a carriage slowly pulled up outside the courtyard, and a handsome young man dressed in fine clothes stepped out.

As if they had been waiting for him, the tightly closed gates slowly opened as soon as the young man stepped off the carriage, and a well-to-do middle-aged merchant, with a smile on his face, politely bowed to Qiao Lun.
"Young Master Joren, good evening. Welcome to Quisaon. I hope you have a wonderful experience tonight."

Before coming to Ceylon, Joren had learned about the prominent figures in Quesaon, and he was no stranger to the man in front of him.

Viscount Karen Locke, head of the "Flaming Lips" in the Kingdom of Ceylon, also serves as the Royal Jeweler and maintains a very good friendship with several female members of the Cromwellian royal family.

He was considered a prominent figure in the upper echelons of Quissaon society.

Qiao Lun returned the greeting and asked softly:

Was I the only one invited to the dinner?

Viscount Locke chuckled and replied:

"Young Master Qiao Lun will find out once he goes in; I guarantee everyone there will be someone you know."

Joren frowned slightly. Sure enough, Yann Hughes had invited others as well. Wouldn't that make it impossible for him to hide his identity any longer?
He shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly. He had been careless; he didn't know where he had slipped up and his identity had been discovered so quickly.

He collected his thoughts, gripped his cane, and slowly stepped into the courtyard.

The courtyard was much larger than he had imagined, with a geometric lawn as smooth as jade and a three-tiered stone fountain in the center.

Symmetrical along an east-west axis, it is surrounded by rare boxwood hedges, with a large flower bed in the center planted with deep red geraniums and snow-white lisianthus, forming regular ripples of warm and cool colors.

Following the light, Qiao Lun entered the courtyard's reception room, where a burly figure stood with his back to him.

Upon seeing the figure, Qiao Lun felt a sense of familiarity.

Before he could speak, the figure heard the noise and slowly turned around.

Their eyes met, and they both saw the astonishment on each other's faces.

Qiao Lun couldn't help but widen his eyes and asked first:
"Prince Xiazuo, when did you come to Quesaon?"

Qiao Lun truly never expected that he would actually run into Prince Xia Zuo of the Eastern Region Empire here.

Qiao Lun was surprised, and Xia Zuo was even more shocked.

He was already surprised when he received the letter from his "cousin-in-law" during the day. He had only been there for a few days and he didn't expect that his whereabouts would be discovered so quickly.

But when he saw Joren, the chief of the Central Empire's Noble Council, he was even more shocked.

After a brief silence, Xia Zuo slowly spoke:
"Long time no see, Young Master Qiao Lun." Qiao Lun gradually concealed his surprise and said in a deep voice:
"So, this dinner party tonight was your idea, brother and sister?"

Xia Zuo replied calmly:

“I was invited here by Mr. Yaen, and I have nothing to do with my cousin.”

Neither of them wanted to say much about their secret arrival in Quessarion, so after exchanging greetings, they changed the subject.

As they were talking, a steady, powerful footstep came from outside the door. The two stopped talking at the same time and looked towards the door.

Cohen walked in slowly with a faint smile on his lips:
"Young Master Qiao Lun, Prince Xia Zuo, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope I haven't called you by the wrong name."

The two gazed at the renowned descendant of the ancient pirate king and son of the demon god, their minds filled with countless thoughts.

After exchanging polite greetings, the three took their seats.

Cohen clapped his hands lightly, and one delicious dish after another was served.

Cohen raised his glass and said to the two men:

"Your Highness has something to do tonight, so he won't be able to come. It's fate that we can meet again in this foreign land. I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the future."

After finishing their drinks, Cohen didn't mention anything else and warmly invited the two to enjoy the dinner.

Like three old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, the atmosphere at the banquet was exceptionally peaceful.

It wasn't until near the end that Cohen asked a question, seemingly unintentionally:
"Gentlemen, I have a big business opportunity with very high profits, but unfortunately I can't secure it on my own. I need one or two strong partners. I wonder if you two are interested?"

Qiao Lun and Xia Zuo both felt a chill run down their spines. After so much buildup, they were finally getting to the point.

Seeing that Xia Zuo remained silent, Qiao Lun spoke first and asked:
"what business?"

Cohen chuckled and said:

"The ultimate secret of the Orc Legion!"

Upon hearing this, Cohen clearly felt that both of their breathing rhythms became a little erratic.

A look of deep concentration appeared in Xia Zuo's eyes, and he remained silent.

Qiao Lun frowned and asked:
"What is the ultimate secret of the orc legion that Commander Yaen mentioned?"

Cohen laughed heartily:

"Do you two really need me to spell it out so clearly?"

King Efein possesses the secret to commanding orc legions!

Xia Zuo finally spoke, asking:

"Commander Yaen, I don't recall ever hearing that you had any contact with King Efein."

Cohen smiled faintly:
"No contact doesn't mean I'm unaware of his movements."

"I had never met either of you before today, so why was I able to know your exact whereabouts the moment you arrived in Quessarion?"

This is a question that both of them want to know the answer to.

A mysterious smile played on Cohen's lips as he lowered his voice:

"How many people on this continent have secretly made deals with demons? Do you two know?"

Xia Zuo and Qiao Lun's eyes suddenly turned deep.

They almost forgot that the person in front of them, besides being the successor of the ancient Pirate King, also had another identity—the son of the Demon God!
As a pillar demon god, Ami would not have failed to make arrangements for the future of his descendants, which means that the other party may very well have a powerful intelligence organization in their hands.

Those who are tempted and corrupted by the devil are his spies and agents.

Joren stared into Cohen's eyes and asked in a deep voice:

"Could you elaborate, Commander Ya'en?"

Cohen nodded and said:
"of course can.

The secret to commanding the orc army lies with one man.

"Marshal Efein, Arnold Constantine, which means that if we can capture this man, we can obtain the secrets about the Orcish legion from him."

Xia Zuo began to speak:
"As far as I know, Arnold should be in Gavin territory right now."

In the previous Battle of the Twin Towers Fortress, it was he who led his troops to annihilate the main force of the Northwest Theater.

Cohen nodded and said:
"That's right, he's currently in Gavin's territory and is planning his next operation."

Next operation!
Upon hearing this, the two of them immediately became extremely alert.

Cohen chuckled and said:

"Their next plan is to work with the Red Dragon Duchess in the southern border of Efein to break through the border between Ceylon and Efein."

By uniting the southern borders of Efein and the territory of Gavin, and using Efein as their base, they could gradually erode the entirety of Ceylon.

Xia Zuo and Qiao Lun did not show any special expression. The think tanks behind the two empires had naturally predicted Effie's next move, but they did not know when it would start or how many troops would be deployed.

Since Cohen has brought it up himself, it means he is confident.

The two waited for Cohen to continue, but Cohen suddenly stopped talking and remained silent.

Qiao Lun and Xia Zuo exchanged a glance, knowing that the other was waiting for them to express their opinion.

Xia Zuo harbored the greatest hatred for Effie and Cohen. Seeing such a good opportunity to strike at the core of their power, how could Xia Zuo give it up?

This time it was his turn to speak first:

"Mr. Yann, what exactly is this collaboration you mentioned earlier?"

Cohen took a sip of tea and said with a light laugh:

"Just as you two guessed, yes, I have an intelligence agent planted by Arnold's side, and he has already helped me find out Effie's next battle plan."

The marching route, troop deployment, and logistical supply points are all now under my control.

However, I have no usable power, and as you both know, I am a pirate.

My men are decent fighters at sea, but if you put them to fight those orcs head-on on land, they're far inferior.

My idea is that the two of them will send troops, and I will provide intelligence. While Arnold is attacking the Ceylon border legion, we will launch a surprise attack on his headquarters and cut off his logistical supplies.

Break the myth of the orcs' invincibility and capture the marshal most trusted by King Efein.

And most importantly, obtain the secrets he possesses regarding the orc army!

The two fell into deep thought. Although they had a vague feeling that something was wrong, the collaboration proposed by Yann was just too tempting.

Needless to say, Prince Xia Zuo, given his hatred for Cohen, would be better off not giving up those reports but severely punishing his arrogance.

Not to mention the secret of the orc legion that all the countries on the continent have been longing for.

Qiao Lun felt a surge of excitement. Although he was determined to survive until the end, he had already been exposed. Putting aside everything else, Xia Zuo of the Eastern Empire would definitely be wary of him.

If they participated in this plan and dealt a huge blow to Effie's power, it would completely make up for their previous defeat in Florence.

The two were engaged in a fierce internal struggle. After a long silence, Xia Zuo slowly said:

“Mr. Yann, don’t you have a close working relationship with King Gaius?”

Gaius will certainly support you wholeheartedly in this matter, so why choose us?

To put it bluntly, why would we need to find people from two empires for such a great opportunity?
Cohen smiled, a cold glint in his eyes, and his words sent a slight chill down their spines:
"If Gaius gets the secrets of the Orc Legion, wouldn't the internal strife in Ceylon end quickly?"

Xia Zuo's eyes showed a hint of fear. He had almost forgotten that the person in front of him was the infamous son of the devil.

Smiling in front of others while stabbing them in the back is commonplace for these devils.

Joren couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for King Gaius—he finally found a powerful ally, only to find that the other party was also after him. How could the monarch of the strongest kingdom on the continent have fallen to such a state? It was truly pitiful.

Cohen's voice suddenly turned cold and sharp:
"None of us are new to this world. You've all traveled all the way from the Central Continent and the Dragon Continent to get here, you certainly didn't come just to see the scenery."

I know exactly what you're up to.

As for what I want to do... to be honest, in my opinion, the biggest failure of the ancient pirate king was that he failed to find a foothold on the human continent.

I'm different from him; Ceylon is the territory I've set my sights on.

I want to uncover the secrets of the orc army, build my own power, and establish a pirate kingdom!

In short, are you in or not?

Xia Zuo asked in a deep voice:

"Okay, but I need to verify the authenticity of your information."

Cohen said:

“No problem. I’ll let you see Arnold’s troop deployment and logistical support with your own eyes. If you’re brave enough, I’ll even take you to raid Arnold’s headquarters.”

"I'm fine."

Cohen looked at Joren again, and Xia Zuo's gaze also seemed to fall on Joren.

Joren suddenly felt the pressure.

He considered it for a while, then said:

"About how long?"

Cohen replied calmly:

"According to my intelligence, within three months, Arnold and the Grand Duke of the South will launch a general offensive against Ceylon's border defenses."

Of course, they would do this while the Windbringer Kingdom was attacking the southeastern region.

Joe asked again:

"How many people did Arnold bring this time? And how did his men get across the border from Ceylon to Gavin territory?"

Do they have any other troops that haven't been exposed yet?

Cohen glanced at Joren in surprise. This young master was much more shrewd than he had imagined, and his consideration of issues was quite comprehensive.

He answered the other party's questions one by one:

"He brought a total of 10,000 'elite' orc soldiers."

As for how they bypassed the Ceylon border... they all flew over!

(End of this chapter)