Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 359 The Gods of the Lost Land?
(Thanks to reader "20230613015814684" for the donation, thank you so much!)
Moro's face showed admiration, and he expressed his sincere respect, saying:

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from His Majesty."

Indeed, according to our intelligence, the Demon Lord of Chaotic Demon Continent, Sal Ignarion, is actively consolidating his forces and making connections in various places.

All signs indicate that he is preparing for the establishment of a nation.

A sense of understanding flashed through Cohen's mind. In this light, the various abnormal actions of the Chaotic Demon Continent recently could be explained.

It may not necessarily be targeting the Endless Alliance, but simply be part of a nation-building plan, which makes the situation seem particularly tense.

His intelligence agency, the External Security Bureau, which he established in the Lost Lands, also managed to uncover some intelligence about the Chaotic Demon Continent.

However, given its short history, limited manpower, and lack of cooperation from the Star Clan unlike on the human continent, the intelligence it gathered was limited.

We still need to rely on the intelligence capabilities of "locals" like Moro.

Cohen collected his thoughts and asked:
"From what Mr. Moro is saying, the Demon Lord Thrall has already united many forces, is that right?"

Moro replied in a deep voice:

"Yes, as far as I know, the alchemist barons of the Mechanical Continent are very interested in Thrall's proposal, and they will use these two Oases of Order as a base to promote their nation-building plan in the future."

Cohen pondered for a moment, then replied slowly:

"I understand. I know what's going on. Please ask Mr. Morrow to go back and tell the person behind this."

"We'll discuss this properly after the Noble Martial Arts Festival."

Moro's expression softened considerably, and he said:
"Okay, I wish us a pleasant cooperation!"

After seeing Moro off, Cohen had Ryan deliver detailed information about the Chaotic Demon Continent and the Machine Continent.

If Moro wasn't lying to him, then these two forces would be his greatest enemies in the Lost Lands.

It is also the biggest obstacle to his future reconstruction of the Arcane Empire.

Cohen opened the document, which detailed the development history of the Chaotic Demon Continent.

To be precise, it is the story of the struggle of the Demon Lord Sal Ignarion.

Thrall Ignarion started as a down-on-his-luck dark mage who offended the Church of Light on the human continent and was forced to flee to the Lost Lands.

Life in the Lost Lands is extremely difficult. When I first arrived, I was unable to adapt to the cruel survival rules of the Lost Lands and almost lost my life several times.

Until one day, he encountered a dying sorcerer, received the sorcerer's legacy, and became a sorcerer himself.

They subsequently founded a black magic cult, "Touch of Black Magic".

It attracted many similar dark mages and sorcerers.

As time went on, the influence of the Touch of Dark Magic gradually spread throughout the entire Oasis of Order, and Sal Ignarion became the infamous Lord of Dark Magic.

Cohen stared at the documents in his hand, lost in thought.

Sal Ignaryon's rise to power has an inexplicable eeriness.

It's hard to imagine that a down-on-his-luck mage, hunted by the Church of Light and forced to flee to the Lost Lands, could thrive so well in the dark, violent, and chaotic Lost Lands in just a few years.

It was as if someone was helping him from the shadows.

Cohen's brow was furrowed, and his gaze lingered for a long time on Sal Ignaryon's personal history.

……

In the chaotic Demon Continent, in a gloomy and terrifying secret chamber, a middle-aged man with a pale face stood respectfully.

A huge stone pillar floated directly in front of him, with a faint dark green light flashing across it.

After a while, the stone pillar began to shake violently, and at the same time, its edges began to glow.

Then, a child's image materialized on the surface of the stone pillar. Strangely, this child had a pair of angel wings and was riding on the back of a two-headed dragon.

He exudes a captivating aura.

The sixty-two demon gods, Valak.

A genuine deity!

Sal Ignarion, the fearsome ruler of the chaotic continent of the Lost Lands, bowed slightly, a humble smile on his face, his voice filled with heartfelt respect:

“My lord, your most loyal student, Sal Ignarion, has answered the call.”

The deep voice of the pillar demon god Valak echoed from the boulder:
"How are things going?"

Sal bowed and replied:

"My lord, Hex, the alchemist baron of the Machine Continent, has agreed to our terms."

They promised to stand with us when we rise up.

The Pillar Demon God Valak asked:

"What about the other oases?"

Ideally, the entire 'Lost Lands' could be integrated into a single nation.

The greater a nation's power, the greater its advantage will be when nations clash in the future.

The greater the benefits you can gain.

At that time, let alone a few points of divinity, even divine status and divine office will be a piece of cake!

Sal's breathing quickened, and after a moment of silence, he carefully said:
"Lucius Aragell, the Blood Lord of Twilight Continent."

When we spoke with him last time, he still had doubts about our prediction.

The vampires have always been like this; they're quite xenophobic, and they probably won't side with us until the very last moment.

As for the Wolf Lord of Nightmoon Continent, Thorwald Kayya.

He was quite interested in our proposal, but the conditions were rather harsh, requiring him to hold five princely titles and ten grand duke titles in the future empire.

It also made many excessive demands regarding the ownership of the military and the autonomy of its jurisdiction.

If what he says is true, then the country we have built is just an empty shell.

Aside from a different name, it's exactly the same as before.

After a brief silence, the voice of the Pillar Demon God Valak rang out:

"The title of nobility can be discussed further, but as for the ownership of the army and the autonomy of the jurisdiction, there is no room for negotiation on this point."

The places where the gods place their divine kingdoms must be complete nations; otherwise, they cannot sustain the laws and order governed there.

Demon Lord Thrall replied:

"Yes, that's what I'm thinking too. I'll continue to discuss it with the Wolf Lord."

"Over there in Twilight Continent..."

Valak, the Pillar Demon, continued Thrall's words, saying:
"Let's leave Twilight Continent alone for now. The progenitor of the vampires is still in the Divine Realm. They will get accurate information sooner or later and make their own choice."

What did the witch say?

Thrall's expression became slightly unnatural, and he said:
"The Mysterious Continent is the most troublesome; it's locked in a fierce battle with that Lord of Shadows."

The Shadow Queen's other identity is a human king; I fear she will not cooperate with us.

A hint of doubt appeared in the eyes of the Pillar Demon God Valak:
"The Lord of Shadows?"

Sal added:
"His true identity is King Efein, Cohen Corleone."

Upon hearing the name Effie, a rare emotional fluctuation appeared on the face of the sixty-two demon gods, Valak.

A hint of fear surfaced deep in his eyes.

The only being that can instill fear in a deity is an even more powerful deity.

Valak thought of a major event that had recently occurred in the Demon Realm: the fall of the forty-seven Demon Gods, Huale!
I've heard that Hua Le's fall is somehow connected to this Aifein!
After a moment of silence, Varak said slowly:

"Let's win over the other three oases first. As for the Mysterious Continent and the Endless Alliance, we'll deal with them later."

Sal's pupils contracted slightly. He had originally hoped to use this opportunity to obtain permission to take action against the Mysterious Continent, and ideally, to get some assistance from the Demon God.

The other party's reply surprised him greatly.

However, as a mere legendary figure, he dared not question the decision of a god.

Varak concluded by reminding everyone:

"Remember, you must not mention my existence to anyone."

The Lost Lands are the ruins of the Arcane Empire, and many gods, both from the divine realm and the demonic realm, have their eyes on this place.

Understand? "

Sal's heart skipped a beat, as if he had suddenly realized something. He quickly composed himself and said respectfully:
"Yes, Master."

Valak, being merely a projection, did not notice the change in Thrall's expression and continued:

"The matter of establishing a nation will have to wait until after the Noble Martial Arts Festival."

This grand event on the mainland will attract the attention of the gods; our actions cannot be revealed so early.

"I understand completely."

"Go, do well. The day you ascend the throne will be the day I help you advance to the rank of Saint."

Sal's face lit up with excitement, and he responded loudly:
"Thanks be to my Lord for his grace!"

The projection of the sixty-two demon god Valak disappeared from the stone pillars, and Thrall's expression gradually froze.

Valak's words just now reminded him of something: in the entire Chaotic Demon Continent, besides himself, there was another person who knew of the existence of the Demon God.

Thrall pondered for a long time before summoning the vice president of the Dark Magic Touch.

The first thing he asked upon meeting was:
"Is there still no news about Bennett?"

The vice president frowned slightly, wondering why the Demon Lord was suddenly concerned about this fugitive who had disappeared for over a year.

He gathered his thoughts and replied in a deep voice:
"No, I heard last time that he escaped to the Machine Continent. Later, the pursuit team went to the Machine Continent but failed to catch him. They were too late."

After that, there was no trace of him; some say he sneaked back to the human continent.

Sal frowned deeply, secretly regretting that he should have just killed him to silence him.

Bennett Rogers was a necromancer personally trained by Thrall.

Thrall valued him highly. In addition to being very talented in necromancy, Bennett was also a seasoned mechanic!
The magic pillar that the pillar god Valak used for projection was designed and built by Bennett himself.

According to the original plan, Thrall was to kill Bennet after he finished building the magic pillar.

However, he still admired Bennett's talent, so he found a reason to imprison Bennett, thinking that he might be useful in the future.

Unexpectedly, Bennett found a chance to escape.

Bennett possessed the secrets of the sixty-two demon gods, and Sal couldn't openly issue a warrant for his arrest, so he could only secretly send people to search for him.

It wasn't until today, when the demon god Valak reminded him, that he remembered this hidden danger. Thrall, gathering his thoughts, asked:
"Have his family members or relatives been located?"

The vice president replied cautiously:
Bennett was a member of the Central Empire before coming to the Lost Lands.

Our resources there are limited, and we can't contact any officials in the Empire. We have to investigate on our own, and we haven't made any progress yet.

Sal, his face grim, said in a deep voice:

"Continue to send more people and increase the reward. We must find him as soon as possible, dead or alive!"

Although the vice president was puzzled, he still replied:
"Yes, Lord Demon."

……

Endless City, Shadow Prison.

The prison was equipped with magic arrays to shield it from magic, specifically designed to imprison high-level superhumans.

Inside the interrogation room, Cohen tapped his fingertips lightly on the long table in front of him as he watched Bennett Rogers, whose magic was locked by anti-magic handcuffs, slowly walk in.

Bennett hunched his shoulders awkwardly, his slightly rounded cheeks flushed red in the intense light of the interrogation room's magic lamp.

Judging from his appearance alone, it's hard to imagine that he is a seventh-tier necromancer.

Of course, it's also possible that it was all a disguise.

Cohen looked calmly at Bennett, who only glanced at Cohen when he came in before lowering his head and never making eye contact with him again.

Seeing that Cohen remained silent, neither interrogating nor using torture, Bennett couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Who is this person in front of me?
Why was I escorted from Candlehold to the Endless City?
Could the other party be a high-ranking official of the Endless City?

A jumble of thoughts churned in Bennett's mind until a deep voice sounded in his ear:

"What is your relationship with Sal Ignarion, the master of the Chaotic Demon Continent?"

Bennett's facial muscles twitched involuntarily, his expression still showing unease, even tinged with a hint of bewilderment:
"What...what does Your Excellency mean?"

Cohen said calmly:

"You are a seventh-tier necromancer, and you were personally named and judged by the Demon Lord Thrall. You must have something that the Demon Lord values."

Tell me, what's your relationship with him?

Bennett's eyes widened, his face flushed red, and his voice betrayed his panic and fear:
"My lord, I... I really don't know what you mean."

Cohen sneered:
"If you don't want to talk, I'll just hand you over to Sal."

Bennett's expression gradually froze, and his initial panic disappeared.

After hesitating for a moment, he whispered:
"Isn't the relationship between you and the Demon Lord quite bad?"

What do you want from giving me to him?

Cohen gave Bennett a half-smile and said:

"So you already know who I am?"

Bennett gave a humble smile and bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty Cohen Corleone, the Great Lord of Shadows, Founder of the Endless Alliance, King of Eifine, and Son of Prophecy."

Cohen remained calm and said softly:

“Mr. Bennett Rogers, besides being a necromancer, you are also a mechanic, aren’t you!”

Bennett's smile froze instantly, a hint of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes.

Cohen's voice was calm and measured, as if he had completely grasped the other person's thoughts:
"I've seen the necromancy workshop you set up in Candlehold."

Ordinary necromancers simply do not have the ability to build a necromancer workshop of this level.

In the workshop, you use the Soul Forge to convert undead energy into mechanical power, forming a self-sufficient energy network.

This method has been lost for many years, including the method of creating the Soul Furnace, which ordinary necromancers simply cannot master.

If I'm not mistaken, you should have found the legacy of the Arcane Empire's Mechanists in the Lost Lands.

Unfortunately, you haven't fully understood this Soul Forge, which led to the inability to stop its operation and caused the accident.

Am i right? "

Mechanists are engineers who specialize in combining mechanics and magic, bringing greater power to machines by embedding magical runes into them.

They excel at creating powerful devices that combine magical energy and mechanics, somewhat like alchemists, but their scope of expertise is not as broad.

Specializing in large-scale magical machinery, such as the magical crossbows and large power armor commonly used in warfare, is a typical creation of the Magical Mechanist.

Bennett's eyes widened, and this time he wasn't faking it; he was genuinely shocked by Cohen's words.

His lips trembled as he asked incredulously:
"The Son of Prophecy... even the Son of Prophecy couldn't do this."

"It involves the secrets of the Arcane Empire. Even if you could foresee it, the result would certainly have been altered. You..."

At this point, Bennett quickly stopped talking, a hint of annoyance appearing on his face.

A sharp glint flashed in Cohen's eyes as he asked in a cold voice:
"Who told you that the prophecies concerning the Arcane Empire would be altered?"

Bennett kept his lips tightly shut and didn't say a word.

Cohen narrowed his eyes, stood up, and walked over to Bennett. He carefully examined him, paused for a moment, and then said in a deep voice:

"You...have seen a deity, haven't you?"

Bennett's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he gaped in astonishment.

Looking at Bennett's expression, Cohen confirmed his suspicions.

He's becoming increasingly interested in this person.

It's not just because the other party's profession as a mechanic is very useful for Effie's future development.

Furthermore, it is a secret he possesses that could definitely bring him unexpected help.

In the Lost Lands, someone is able to contact the gods!

This discovery is of great significance.

However, this made Bennett even more silent.

Cohen wasn't in a hurry and said calmly:

"I know you are not afraid of death or threats."

It's okay. You may not be afraid of death, but some people are.

For example, your close friend, Mr. Levi Cooper, the Undersecretary of Agriculture of the Viscount Minorus in the Central Empire.

Before you fled from the human continent to the Lost Lands, you entrusted your two sons and daughter to him, didn't you?

Bennett stood frozen in place, the magic lamp above his head illuminating his pale face, his body trembling violently, his expression filled with terror.

After a brief pause, the fear on his face faded, replaced by a twisted rage, and he opened his mouth to let out a hoarse roar:

"That despicable parasite, Levy!"
If it weren't for his greed for smuggling profits, my lab would never have been exposed!

Bennett's temples were bulging with veins, and his voice was filled with hatred:
"That bastard, I modified his cargo wagons to cover up his smuggling of dark magic materials."

In the end, I was burdened with a mountain of sins and forced to leave the Central Empire by the lackeys of the Holy See.

He's still doing well as a government official.

I should have known better; how could such a shameless scoundrel possibly keep his promise!

Levy and Bennett have known each other since childhood.

After Bennett's talent as a mechanic and his profession as a necromancer were revealed, Levi, who was serving as a political officer in the Viscount of Minorus, thought of smuggling dark magic materials as a way to make money.

Later, when their business was exposed, Levi persuaded Bennett that once his identity as a necromancer was revealed, the Church of Light would not spare him.

So they simply let Bennett take all the blame, and in exchange, Levy would take care of Bennett's children.

Bennett then fled alone to the "Lost Land".

This is news that Cohen just received from the Central Empire.

During the time Bennett was being escorted to the Endless City, Cohen sent people to investigate Bennett's true identity.

The people of Chaotic Demon Continent cannot access the high-ranking officials of the Central Empire and can only search using sheer numbers.
Cohen then contacted Shanis directly and reviewed the necromancer incidents that had occurred throughout the empire over the past decade.

Bennett's true identity was quickly confirmed.

After venting his anger, Bennett suddenly looked up and stared directly at Cohen, a hint of pleading in his eyes:
"I'll tell you everything I know, can you please spare my child?"

Cohen smiled calmly and said something that left Bennett stunned for a long time:
Do you want to live in the sunlight again?

Yes, with your child!

To live in the sunlight again?

What beautiful yet unfamiliar words and phrases.

Since becoming a necromancer, that phrase has become irrelevant to him.

Advancing to become a necromancer was not his intention.

He started as a highly talented mage apprentice, but he simply couldn't afford the spellcasting materials and exorbitant tuition fees required by a normal mage.

Forced by circumstances, he had no choice but to become a necromancer.

Therefore, after accumulating enough wealth, he chose another side profession for himself: a mechanical engineer.

He hopes to change his identity through this profession.

Levi's appearance disrupted his plans, until he was finally exposed and forced to abandon his family and flee to the infamous Lost Land.

Bennett stared at Cohen for a long time before tentatively saying:
"Your Majesty Corleone, I...I am a necromancer on the list of the Holy See's Inquisition, a criminal wanted by the Central Empire, the most powerful empire in humankind..."

Your joke isn't funny at all.

Cohen pulled a blank pardon decree from his pocket, bearing the personal signature of Her Majesty Empress Denise Klein of the Central Empire, and handed it to Bennett, calmly saying:

"As long as you cooperate honestly, you can sign your name in this blank space."

Bennett froze on the spot, his brows furrowed into two sharp lines as he stared intently at the pardon decree that Cohen handed him.

Cohen continued:

"As for the Holy See... you should know that I once cooperated with Archbishop Clement of the Holy See of Light to kill the Saint of the Black Tomb, the Lich King Nexus."

Removing a mere seventh-tier necromancer like yourself from the Tribunal's kill list is not a difficult task.

Bennett's eyes suddenly exploded with excitement, his whole body trembled, and a hoarse voice squeezed out of his throat:

"Your Majesty, please ask. I will tell you everything I know!"

Cohen stared into Bennett's eyes and asked in a deep voice:
"The first question: Who was the deity you saw?"

(End of this chapter)