Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 339 Freya: You don't deserve it!
Bill was so excited he was trembling, and his voice involuntarily rose a few notes:
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I...I am willing to accept this glorious mission!"

Lucia was quite satisfied with Bill's reaction, smiled faintly, and said:

"Don't worry, His Highness won't let you fight alone. He will provide you with some reliable helpers."

"Baron, do a good job! Her Highness will not let down anyone who has shown her loyalty!"

"Yes, sir. Please convey to Her Highness that I, Bill McCoy, am willing to give everything for Her Highness, including my own life!"

Lucia smiled and encouraged them:
"Alright, I will relay your words to His Highness."

However, Baron, everything I just discussed with you must be kept secret, absolutely secret.

If any similar rumors circulate in the future, neither I, nor Her Highness the Princess, will acknowledge anything that happened today.

do you understand? "

Bill nodded solemnly and said:

"I understand completely, I will keep it strictly confidential!"

"Alright, this is the funding for your initial work. Cherish His Highness's trust in you and do a good job."

Bill accepted the valuable mainland-wide gold voucher with great excitement, bowed respectfully, and slowly left.

After Bill's figure disappeared from sight, Lucia slowly put away her smile, walked through the long corridor of the side hall, and came to another, more spacious room.

Inside the room, Freya was fiddling with the bracelet on her wrist. Hearing the noise, she looked up.
"Is the matter settled?"

Lucia praised:

"With the princess's unparalleled charm before him, he would probably be willing to die even if it meant the baron's death."

Freya sighed softly, her voice tinged with a hint of resentment:
"It's a pity that someone seems to be blind to my charm."

Could it be that the title of "Number One Beauty on the Mainland" has raised his standards so high that he looks down on me?

Lucia immediately flattered:

"Your Highness, do not feel sorry for yourself. In my opinion, Your Highness is no less beautiful than Her Majesty the Queen!"
The reason His Majesty hasn't shown you any special favor is most likely because... well, he believes you're not old enough to freely discuss such matters.

Freya said sullenly:

“I’m an adult now, and many girls my age are already married.”

After a brief complaint, Freya calmed herself, a serious expression appearing on her face, and asked in a low voice:

"Is everything arranged there?"

Lucia also lowered her voice:
“Everything is ready. The young master of the Lorthermar family just arrived again. As planned, I will meet with the prince of the Southern Empire in an hour.”

Freya nodded slightly and asked:

"Where are the gentlemen?"

Lucia gave a wry smile:
"We didn't find any trace of the three of them in the banquet hall. I think that with the strength behind each of them, if they really wanted to hide, we wouldn't be able to find them."

Freya stroked the bracelet on her wrist and said softly:

"Then proceed with the plan and prepare for action!"

……

The night was as dark as ink. In the open space outside the side hall where the carriages were placed, the oil lamp in the corner swayed in the wind, casting a dim yellow glow.

Three figures huddled behind a haystack, their hemp clothes covered in bits of grass.

From a distance, they looked no different from other grooms, except for the sharp glint in their eyes that occasionally revealed their unique status.

One of the grooms stretched, tugged at his clothes with a hint of disdain, and lowered his voice:
"I don't quite understand. We could easily pretend to be nobles from some remote areas. With so many people here today, who would notice whom?"
If all else fails, even a nobleman's attendant, guard, or even a waiter in the banquet hall will do.

Why must I dress up as a lowly stable boy?

Young Master Qiao Lun, who had always been pampered, had never suffered like this before.

The other man grabbed a handful of hay in front of him, pretending to feed the horse, but his eyes darted around warily as he whispered:

"Whether you come in or leave, this is the only way through."

Only here can we monitor Greg's movements.

"So, did you find him?"

Cohen smiled faintly:
“He won’t arrive that early. As long as we keep a close eye on that young master of the Lorthermar family, we can follow the clues and find Greg’s trail.”

The last coachman kept his eyes closed the whole time, seemingly resting and oblivious to everything around him.

Time passed second by second, until at a certain moment, the three men's expressions simultaneously turned serious, and the last coachman slowly opened his eyes.

A slightly worn carriage slowly entered from outside. Before long, young Master Malfoy of the Lorthermar family came out of the banquet hall to greet the people in the carriage.

The three of them breathed barely, and Joren and Xia Zuo followed Cohen's example, occasionally taking hay to feed the horses.

The three of them didn't say a word, and their facial expressions remained the same as always. Only the tense muscles in their backs proved that they were on high alert.

Several servants went up to greet them, and when they saw that it was the eldest son of the Lorthermar family who was personally welcoming the guest, their expressions became much more respectful.

Malfoy waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need a guide. After the servants left, the people in the carriage lifted the curtain and got out.

Several servants dressed as attendants accompanied them.

Cohen and his two companions had already looked away, even deliberately avoiding looking in Greg's direction.

Malfoy led Greg, who had disembarked from the carriage, and several attendants behind him, toward the depths of the banquet hall.

After a while, the three of them relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

The three exchanged glances, and Xia Zuo spoke first:
"Three are legendary, the rest are all gold-tier."

"If we don't count ourselves, these people could turn Breiburg upside down."

Joren raised an eyebrow and glanced at Cohen with surprise.

With the support of the Empire behind them, it's not surprising that he and Prince Xiazuo could sense the anomaly behind Gregor. But the fact that Commander Yann could react in the same way as them is truly unfathomable.

Cohen seemed to read Joren's mind and smiled at him:

"I didn't realize he had so many powerful people behind him. I just saw the two of you suddenly get nervous, so I got nervous too."

Xia Zuo said with a playful tone:
Are you nervous?

"Commander Ya'en's behavior just now seemed quite natural!"

Cohen changed the subject:

"There's not much time left before the plan is finalized. Have you both prepared your manpower?"
Just a reminder to you two, Princess Freya cannot die yet.

The longer she exists, the better our interests in the Kingdom of Ceylon can be protected.

Xia Zuo said calmly:

"Don't worry, Greg's entourage can't just go into the private room. Once Greg is drugged, my men will take action to restrain those three legendary figures."

I promise I won't hurt anyone.

Qiao Lun echoed:

"A legendary-level transcendent being can make a move in an instant. Once we pinpoint the exact location of those three legends, we guarantee they won't be able to touch a single hair on Her Highness's head."

However, to be fair, the princess Gavin and his team chose was above average; at least in terms of looks and demeanor, she won over many people.

Cohen coughed lightly and said calmly:

"Now that they're already inside, let's start changing too. The grooms can't get into the banquet hall."

Qiao Lun quickly said:

"What could it be this time? It can't be another male servant or something like that, can it?"

Cohen's lips curled slightly:

"Young Master Qiao Lun, rest assured, this identity will definitely suit your taste!"

……

Malfoy led Greg to Lucia in a side hall and introduced them:
"Lady Lucia, this is my distant relative, Gray."

"Grey, this is Lady Lucia, the princess's head butler."

The two exchanged brief greetings, and Lucia said with a light laugh:

"His Highness is in the drawing room inside. Young Master Malfoy and Mr. Grey didn't eat much either, did they?"

It just so happens that His Highness brought three chefs from the 'Lost Lands' with him on this trip. Let's have an extra meal later and chat while we eat.

This is also a good opportunity for the two of them to try the local delicacies of the Lost Lands.

Malfoy de Greg replied:
"It is a great honor to have dinner with Your Highness. I hope we will have a wonderful evening."

Lucia smiled and clapped her hands lightly. Several guards appeared behind her and said to Malfoy:

"Let them treat your entourage well."

Malfoy glanced at Gregor almost imperceptibly, and the latter nodded slightly. Only then did he speak:
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lady Lucia."

After settling her entourage, Lucia led the two of them deeper into the banquet hall.

After passing through several corridors, we came to a restaurant of similar size to the main hall. On the west side of the restaurant was a spacious open kitchen where three chefs were preparing dishes.

Freya sat in the main seat and smiled at Malfoy and Greg as they entered, saying:

"I really couldn't get used to the food here, so I had them send three cooks from the 'Lost Land'."

"Perfect timing! You two can also try the local delicacies of our Lost Land today."

Malfoy continued, "..."

“That would be a great honor, Your Highness. This is my distant cousin, Gray. Their family has a much deeper foundation than our Lorthermar family. If you can gain their support, defeating Gaius will greatly reduce the difficulty of restoring Ceylon.”

Freya's eyes revealed undisguised surprise, and her voice was extremely pleasant to listen to.
"Then I really can't wait, please, you two."

Malfoy and Greg took their seats on either side of the table, and the waiters began to place food on the table.

The group started by chatting casually, but when they were about halfway through, Freya clapped her hands lightly, and the kitchen brought out a fragrant seafood soup.

Freya stood up and introduced:

"Brittanic blue lobster soup, a specialty of the Lost Lands."

These blue lobsters were caught by the navigator Mr. Planck from the most dangerous waters of the Endless Sea. The broth was made from the shells of Brittany blue lobsters and thickened with brandy, cream, and lobster roe.

This dish was prepared three hours ago; please be sure to try it.

Greg and Malfoy naturally did not refuse, each serving themselves a bowl and beginning to enjoy their meal.

After seeing the two drink the soup, Freya and the three chefs in the open kitchen not far away all breathed a sigh of relief without making a sound.

Malfoy exclaimed in admiration:
"It certainly has a unique flavor. Thank you, Your Highness, for giving us this opportunity to taste such a high-class seafood soup."

Greg, accustomed to delicacies, didn't react as strongly. After politely finishing the soup, he winked at Malfoy.

Malfoy, having received the hint, composed himself and rose to speak to Freya:

"Your Highness, thank you very much for your hospitality. Now that we've eaten enough, shouldn't we get down to business?"

Freya gracefully put down her knife, wiped her red lips with a napkin, and waved slightly, signaling the waiters behind her to leave.

Malfoy glanced again at the three cooks not far away and said in a low voice:

"Your Highness, what I am about to say is of utmost importance..."

Freya interrupted Malfoy calmly:

“They are all people who have been by my side since I was lost, and they are trustworthy.”

Malfoy glanced at Greg, who nodded slightly.

Malfoy then spoke:
"Your Highness, I am very sorry, please allow me to apologize to you first."

I just lied to you about something.

Freya frowned slightly and asked:

"Where?"

Malfoy pointed at Greg and said in a deep voice:
“This Mr. Gray is not my relative, and his name is not Gray.”

His real name is Greg Yalves!

Freya's face showed a moment of blankness, then she stood up and said:

"Illvis?"
"Is he Alvis, a member of the royal family of the Southern Empire?"

This time, it wasn't Malfoy speaking. Gregor stood up, his eyes burning with undisguised desire as he stared at Freya's face and said calmly:
"Yes, I am Greg, the prince of the Southern Empire."

Freya remained calm, looking at Gregor and saying indifferently:

"Your Highness has given me a wonderful surprise."

"For the eldest prince of the mighty Southern Empire to appear on the land of the Kingdom of Ceylon... Malfoy wasn't wrong. The foundation of the Alvis family is indeed far beyond that of the Lorthermar family."

Greg suddenly chuckled:
"Now I understand why those princes of Ceylon chose you as their princess."

That composure alone is enough to impress many people.

Freya's expression remained unchanged as she calmly said:
"Your Highness has traveled thousands of miles, even crossing the Endless Sea, to come to the Northwest Continent. You wouldn't be here just to have a meal with me, would you?"

Gregor's expression returned to calm, but his gaze remained fixed on Freya's face.
"Of course, I originally intended to treat you as a puppet."

However, I've changed my mind now. Your looks and temperament are more outstanding than many people I've met. It would be too boring for a woman of this caliber to just become a puppet.

If your body and soul are willing to submit to me unconditionally, I can support you to become the future Queen of Ceylon!

Greg's voice was full of powerful confidence and arrogance, even leaving Malfoy, who was standing next to him, stunned by Greg's words.

The other party's actions were different from what they had agreed upon beforehand.

Freya still wore a faint smile, her voice elegant, but what she said truly surprised the two of them:
"Only you are worthy?"

Greg was momentarily stunned; the other person's answer was completely unexpected.

In his view, Freya should be a rational, calm, and skillful princess. He, on the other hand, was the heir to a great empire. Even if she was unwilling, she shouldn't have said such hurtful things that could completely sever their relationship.

Yes, in Greg's eyes, the other person was just saying things out of anger.

Little did they know that Freya was telling the truth.

Greg doesn't deserve it.

Greg didn't show any anger at the other person's words. He shook his head slightly and sighed:

"Although it's very impolite to force a woman, since I can't win your heart, I'll start with your body..."

Before Greg could finish speaking, his eyes widened suddenly, and a series of excruciating pains surged from the depths of his soul. This pain instantly spread throughout his body, draining him of all his strength, leaving him without even the strength to make a sound.

Before he could react, a loud crash came from the side, and Malfoy had fallen heavily to the ground, unconscious.

Greg's hands trembled as he forced himself to reach into his robes, but soon, an excruciating pain a hundred times stronger than before struck again, plunging his soul into a deep sleep.

Before his vision went dark, he vaguely saw three people dressed as chefs walking towards him.

Cohen gave Joren a disapproving look:
"Hey Mr. Qiao Lun, why does your stuff take so long to take effect?"

Qiao Lun coughed lightly and replied:

"I was afraid he would notice something was wrong, so I didn't put in too much, but at least it didn't cause any problems."

Xia Zuo ignored the two of them and took out a rope from his pocket. With a surge of magic, he tied Greg tightly.

Cohen quickly stepped forward, touched Greg's body, and soon pulled out several legendary-grade magical accessories.

Without even saying hello to the two of them, he simply put it in his pocket.

Just as Joren was about to speak, Cohen spoke first:
"Both of them have the backing of two great empires, with vast wealth and profound heritage."

Surely they wouldn't try to take this junk from me.

Joren was furious. He thought to himself, "How can the things on a prince of an empire be called rubbish?"
He had already seen several magical ornaments in Cohen's hands that even he found tempting.

Before he could continue arguing with Cohen, Gregor's three legendary followers sensed the abnormality in their prince's aura, and three awe-inspiring auras immediately rose from the ground.

Immediately afterwards, an even more powerful aura from the Six Paths erupted.

Gregor's three legendary followers were instantly surrounded by six legendary followers.

The clash between the nine legendary ranks quickly stirred up a storm in the Breiburg region.

Not long after, King Gaius, far away in Quissaon, received the news.

Regardless of Gaius's reaction to this news, Cohen and his team's initial plan was a complete success, and they were ready to officially begin extorting the Southern Empire.

Before leaving, Cohen said to Freya, feigning indifference:
"We've saved your life today. Don't tell anyone about tonight's events. Just continue being a good princess!"
This person is yours!

After saying that, he left the unconscious Malfoy, Shazor, and Joren with Greg and left the banquet hall.

……

Greg regained consciousness, opened his eyes, and found that all his magic had been sealed, and even his clothes had been changed.

He glanced at the three people watching him with great interest not far away, his voice unusually cold:

Do you know who I am?
How dare you kidnap me! Do you know what kind of disaster your actions will bring to your family?

I'm telling you, release me immediately, or there will be no place for you to live in the entire human world.

After Greg finished making his threat, Cohen chuckled and said:

"Oh dear, what a terrifying threat."

Your Highness Greg, it seems you've had a very smooth life, without experiencing any setbacks.

Has no one told you that in this situation, a little pleading and showing weakness has a higher chance of saving your life than uttering threats?

Greg's face suddenly darkened, and he then closed his lips and stopped speaking.

Cohen let out a startling laugh:
“Gregor, I know that Emperor Wilson has placed a location spell on your soul, but if you think that will allow you to escape this calamity, you are really thinking too simply!”

When Cohen exposed his greatest reliance, a hint of fear inexplicably rose in Greg's eyes. How could the other party know so much about his situation?

Only then did he realize something was wrong, but soon, the other person's words made his heart feel as if it had plummeted into the abyss of hell, and his whole body was filled with an icy chill:
“Your Highness Gregor, I forgot to introduce you to my two comrades beside me, who are also the main planners of this kidnapping of the Imperial Prince—”

Upon hearing this, Xia Zuo and Qiao Lun's lips twitched simultaneously. This guy truly lived up to his reputation as a pirate captain and a descendant of demons; his utterly shameless behavior perfectly matched his identity.

Cohen was naturally immune to their stares, and his voice, which rang in Greg's ears, was like a thunderclap:
"This is Xia Zuo Tang, the first prince of the continent and the first in line to inherit the throne of the Eastern Region Empire!"

This is Joren Wertheimer, the nephew of Heisenberg, the chief of the House of Nobles of the Central Empire, the most powerful nation in humankind, and also the first in line to the Wertheimer family.

"Your Highness Gregor, do you think you still have a chance to escape?"

A look of horror gradually crept onto Greg's face.

He knew that both the Central Empire and the Eastern Empire had sent people to Ceylon to vie for the divine favor bestowed upon King Efein.

It's Xia Zuo and Qiao Lun.

But in his mind, he didn't take these two people seriously at all—the two of them joined forces, with the help of the Black Tomb, and mobilized so many elite troops and saints, yet they couldn't even deal with King Efein, the ruler of a small duchy.

These two good-for-nothings, who utterly destroyed the dignity of the five great empires at the Northwest Regional Conference, are simply not worthy of Greg's attention.

However, the harsh reality told him that he was not even as good as those two good-for-nothings!
Having just arrived in Ceylon, ready to make a big splash, they never expected that the other side had already tracked them down and even inexplicably became their prisoners!
A profound sense of shame and humiliation washed over him; Greg wished he could just smash his head against the ground and die!

(End of this chapter)