Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

After the matter was roughly settled, Governor Calvin's smile became even more amiable and warm.

He casually reached into his robes and took out an exquisite box, about the size of a palm, meticulously carved from warm jade.

Instead of handing the box directly to Cohen, she gently pushed it toward Nephthys, who was sitting next to Cohen, and explained in a soft voice:
"I've heard that Miss Nephthys is a highly skilled and exceptionally talented mind sorceress."

They also achieved a commendable runner-up position in the Bronze Division of the Noble Martial Arts Festival.

After offering a few words of praise, Calvin slowly opened the box.

Inside the box was a gem the size of a pigeon egg, with deep flame patterns all over its body, constantly emitting powerful spiritual energy fluctuations.

"This 'Touch of the Soul' gem was forged by the combined efforts of our top alchemists and enchanters in the 'Blazing Fire Division'."

It is of considerable benefit to spellcasters who specialize in the mental and spiritual realm.

It can greatly increase casting speed and mana regeneration.

More importantly, wearing it for a long time can significantly enhance the wearer's 'willpower' attribute, and has a remarkable effect on resisting mental shocks and stabilizing the mind.

It is made primarily from a local specialty mineral from our "Liu Huo District," containing pure fire elements and the essence of the earth.

It's not a high-level item, but it's still a magical equipment that barely crosses the line into the legendary tier. I'll give it to you, Miss, as a small gift.

Calvin's actions were shrewd and sophisticated, demonstrating his deep understanding of human nature.

He had long ago used his intelligence network to find out the identity and profession of Nephthys, the stunningly beautiful and unique woman who was by Cohen's side.

What he knew even better was that Cohen's reputation as a "womanizer" had already spread throughout the mainland, and his relationships with many stunning women around him were an open secret in high-level circles.

Ingratiating oneself with these women who were favored and trusted by Cohen was often more effective than directly ingratiating oneself with Cohen himself.

Calvin dared not, nor did he have the appropriate means or sufficient leverage, to offer direct and obvious bribes to a powerful and influential figure like Cohen, who was likely not lacking in resources.

Doing so is extremely risky and could easily arouse the other party's vigilance and resentment.

Therefore, choosing to give Cohen a perfectly appropriate and valuable gift that meets his professional needs to a female companion with whom he has an obviously close relationship becomes an extremely clever "indirect" strategy.

This conveys goodwill without appearing overly utilitarian, making it more acceptable and leaving a good impression on Cohen as someone who is "capable and understanding."

This precious "Touch of the Soul" may seem like a gift for Nephthys, but every bit of its meaning is actually directed at Cohen.

Cohen casually reached out and took the exquisite box containing the "Touch of the Soul" gem from Calvin.

He did not immediately hand it over to Nephthys, but casually played with it for a moment, his fingertips gently caressing the warm jade box and the shimmering gemstone surface, as if appreciating its quality and craftsmanship.

A moment later, he casually handed the box to Nephthys beside him, gesturing for her to accept it.

At the same time, he glanced at Governor Calvin, who was opposite him with a humble smile, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips as he said:

"The Governor is truly thoughtful, considering things so thoroughly and meticulously."

I will remember this kindness.

When I return to the palace, I will certainly tell Her Majesty the Empress about the Governor's diligence and loyalty here.

This is a verbal promise about the potential positive words spoken for it in the future.

This would undoubtedly be extremely attractive to a governor eager to consolidate his position or even seek greater political rewards.

Sure enough, Cohen not only accepted the gift but also made this verbal statement that conveyed positive feedback.

A surge of barely suppressed joy flashed through Calvin Freeman's heart, and his smile became even more genuine and fervent. He quickly bowed and said:

"Your Highness is too kind. It is my duty and a great honor to be able to share your burdens and help you overcome difficulties."

Over the next few minutes, the atmosphere of their conversation seemed to become more harmonious and open.

They mainly talked about the unique local customs, resources, and some interesting stories and difficulties in the governance of the "Liuhuo District".

Calvin went to great lengths to introduce the local features and his own achievements, expressing both his love for the area and highlighting his governance skills.

Meanwhile, Cohen also subtly steered the conversation toward the relationship between the "Liuhuo District" and several other important districts, especially highlighting the "Qianliuting" district, which serves as the core hub of the "Southeast Mutual Protection Alliance".

But Calvin Freeman was, after all, a seasoned veteran of the political arena who had been navigating the political landscape for decades. His political acumen was extremely sharp, and he handled the situation flawlessly.

His answers always perfectly avoided the core sensitive points, either talking about normal cooperation and communication at the official level, complaining about the common problems of border management, or envisioning a bright future for the coordinated economic development of the southern region of the empire.

His words were sincere and his attitude was positive; he appeared to be a loyal and devoted regional official, busy with state affairs, leaving no room for criticism.

After the dinner, Calvin arranged for Cohen to stay in a rather luxurious and high-class villa.

The dinner party ended in an atmosphere that appeared outwardly harmonious but was inwardly rife with subtle tensions.

After the dinner, Calvin personally escorted Cohen and Nephthys to their lodgings, a luxurious private villa nestled against the mountains and beside the water on the edge of the desert, decorated with the utmost opulence and comfort.

Judging from the traces, it was clearly a temporary royal palace, showcasing the owner's wealth and dedication.

Cohen didn't say much, just nodded in satisfaction.

Calvin respectfully took his leave, and at the same time reiterated his assurances:

"Your Highness, please rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will personally accompany Your Highness and the lady to the depths of Mosa Province to begin our exploration of ancient sites."

"Alright, Governor, you've had a hard day. Go back and get some rest."

After watching Cohen and Nephthys disappear through the luxurious gates of the villa, Calvin's expression became quite intriguing.

He stood there, his gaze fixed intently on the tightly closed door, as if trying to pierce through it and see the true intentions of the young royal consort inside.

Brendan Harry, the president of the Mage Guild who had been standing quietly to the side, cautiously took a few steps closer and lowered his voice to say:

“Your Excellency, I think His Highness is simply out for a stroll with his female companion. It doesn’t seem like he’s on some secret mission or has any other deeper purpose.”

"Sir, aren't you overthinking this?"

Calvin heard his confidant's words, and a more complex and unfathomable light flickered in his eyes.

He neither immediately refuted nor expressed agreement.

Ever since he secretly sided with Governor Torg Chambers of the Thousand Streams and joined the secret reactionary alliance aimed at overthrowing the existing order, his nerves have been constantly on edge.

They are extremely sensitive to any movement from the core of the empire, to the point of being somewhat paranoid.

Cohen's sudden arrival was incredibly timely.

Just as he had shone brightly at the Imperial Capital Noble Martial Arts Festival, received the blessings of the gods, and enjoyed the height of his prestige, he suddenly appeared so "low-key" on the southern border of the empire, a sensitive area that could become the source of a rebellion.

This couldn't help but make him feel a strong sense of palpitations and unease, as he felt that this was by no means a simple sightseeing trip.

Fortunately, his spies in the capital and within the royal family delivered the message in time, allowing him to set up an ambush and welcome along Cohen's inevitable route.

She successfully brought the royal consort under her sway and surveillance, thus gaining the upper hand.

Calvin pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"I hope that's the case; I'm just overthinking it."

But there was little relaxation in his tone; instead, there was a subtle hint of seriousness.

Then, the conversation shifted to the most critical security measures:
"Have all the arrangements I've made along the way been ensured to be foolproof?"

Brendan assured him with absolute confidence:
"Please rest assured, sir. All mercenary groups and bandit gangs that are associated with us or receive funding from us along the route from the district capital to Mosa Province shall enter a state of maximum silence immediately and cease all external activities."

Everyone must remain hidden and must not make any attention-grabbing moves.

"We will absolutely not allow His Highness the Crown Prince to see any bandits who shouldn't be there, and we will absolutely not allow any unexpected events to occur that might arouse his suspicion!"

The two consecutive "absolutely not" statements eased Governor Calvin's tension slightly.

"Give the order that the dishes prepared in the future should be lighter and more refined in flavor."

Calvin, reflecting on his observations at the banquet, then added a word of advice:
"This Miss Nephthys seems to have a preference for desserts. Starting tomorrow, have the kitchen prepare a few more exquisite desserts to send over."

"Yes, my lord."

……

Back in the luxurious villa arranged by Calvin, Cohen meticulously examined every corner of the room.

The internal structure of furniture, decorations, and even magical lamps was examined to confirm that no hidden monitoring arrays or spying spells had been pre-installed.

This put him somewhat at ease. It seemed that Calvin was at least outwardly maintaining the most basic respect and propriety towards an imperial consort, and dared not go too far.

However, one thing is certain: there are countless spies monitoring his movements around the villa.

Accompanying Cohen and Nephthys were two Rose Guards, mainly responsible for taking care of Cohen's daily life.

They would also communicate and coordinate with the local government when necessary, essentially serving as accompanying ladies-in-waiting.

Nephthys declined their offer to tidy the room, instead making the bed herself, and asked softly:
"Sir, should we really agree to Governor Calvin's request to let his large group of men accompany us tomorrow to search for the 'Key to the Black Rose'?"

Cohen shook his head decisively and said:
"Of course not. If Governor Calvin and his men keep following us every step of the way, how will we have a chance to find out what kind of shady business this high-ranking official is up to in private?"

Additionally, I'd like to see the unique bandits of the "Firestorm Zone" and experience the local customs and culture firsthand.

Nefertsis instantly understood: Cohen was deliberately leading them into a dangerous area where bandits might lure them out, to see if these "bandits" had any connection with the governor. Nefertsis frowned slightly.

“But judging from Calvin’s demeanor during the day, he’s clearly determined to stay with us the whole time. It won’t be so easy for us to shake them off.”

Cohen, however, seemed quite confident. He walked over to Nephthys and gently patted the back of her hand:

"Don't worry, I have a solution."

As he spoke, Cohen summoned the two Rose Guards who were always on standby.

Two female guards appeared silently in the room, their posture upright and their appearance beautiful yet carrying the unique competence of soldiers.

Cohen gestured for them to come closer, then lowered his voice and gave them a few instructions.

After hearing Cohen's instructions, one of the older Rose Guards showed obvious reluctance on her face:
"Your Highness, His Majesty's orders to us are to protect you at all times and ensure your absolute safety."

Your decision to travel alone with Lady Nephthys to an unknown and dangerous area presents a tremendous challenge for your subordinates, and one from which we cannot explain ourselves to His Majesty.

Cohen chuckled and said:

"Silly girl, do you really think you can protect me if you follow me?"

Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If an emergency really happens, I have a way to contact you through secret methods.

Your task now is to stay here and help me keep Governor Calvin on my side. It will only take a few days.

As for Shanies, I will personally explain to her afterwards that I will take full responsibility and will ensure that you are not blamed in any way.

Seeing that Cohen was adamant, the two Rose Guards knew that further persuasion would be useless.

They exchanged a glance and could only nod in agreement helplessly.

After making this crucial move, Cohen finally relaxed.

Returning to the inner room, Cohen went back to Nephthys's side and embraced the sorceress, whose figure had already developed to an extremely impressive level and who exuded mature charm.

Nephthys nestled obediently into his arms, and the two lay down together on the luxurious, soft bed, feeling each other's warmth and breath, and soon drifted into a peaceful dream.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Governor Calvin Freeman, accompanied by Brendan Harley, the president of the Wizarding Guild, and a small group of maids carrying various exquisite dishes, waited respectfully outside the gate of the luxurious villa where Cohen was staying.

Not long after, the villa's carved gate was pushed open from the inside.

Cohen appeared at the door, but his expression was not good. A distinct gloomy look was shrouded between his brows, and his eyes were somewhat deep, as if he had something on his mind.

Governor Calvin, who had been keeping a close eye on the commotion at the door, felt a sudden unease when he saw Cohen's expression, and his own expression involuntarily tightened.

His first thought was that the highly perceptive prince consort had discovered the extremely well-hidden sentries and surveillance points he had arranged far away from the villa.

If this were exposed to their face, it would be a huge problem.

He quickly suppressed his surprise and doubt, took a few steps forward, put on a smile, and cautiously asked:

"Your Highness, you don't seem to be in good spirits today. Did you not get enough rest last night?"

If we're not satisfied with the environment here, why don't we go directly to Yongyan City?

Conditions there are much better than in the border provinces.

Yongyan is the administrative center of the "Blazing Fire District" and is one of the top five city-states in the empire.

Cohen seemed to be jolted from his reverie by his words, and looked at Calvin with a somewhat unfocused gaze.

He then waved his hand, his tone somewhat absent-minded, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible irritation:

"No need, I rested very well, I was just thinking about some other things."

Cohen gave a vague explanation, not going into detail, clearly not wanting to continue the topic.

Calvin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Cohen did not pursue the matter further, but he still dared not relax completely.

He quickly turned to the side, pointed to the row of maids behind him holding luxurious silver platters laden with a dazzling array of exquisite breakfast dishes, and asked even more cautiously:
"It's good that Your Highness is alright. Breakfast is ready. Shall we eat first?"

Cohen nodded slowly:

"Okay, but next time you don't need to be so extravagant, just keep it simple."

Calvin nodded immediately, then waved for the maid to go inside.

Throughout the entire process, Cohen seemed somewhat absent-minded, and his gloomy expression never faded, keeping Governor Calvin, who had been carefully observing his expression, on edge.

I have absolutely no idea what this young royal consort is thinking, or why he's in such a bad mood so early in the morning.

Inside the villa, in the luxurious yet tasteful dining room, Governor Calvin was attentively preparing to have breakfast with Cohen.

A glance across the restaurant revealed that only Cohen and two Rose Guards were seated; the ever-present sorcerer Nephthys was nowhere to be seen.

His face immediately showed just the right amount of concern, and he leaned slightly forward to ask Cohen:
"Your Highness, why is Miss Nephthys not here to dine with us?"
I specially prepared some local delicacies for you, Miss..."

Cohen was slowly stirring the porridge in his bowl with a silver spoon when he heard this, he paused slightly, and the gloomy expression on his face seemed to deepen.

"She's not feeling well and is still resting."

Calvin was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but then instantly understood.

So this is the reason why His Highness the Emperor was in a bad mood and looked gloomy this morning.

It must be that the beloved sorceress is unwell, causing His Highness great concern.

He immediately showed great concern:
"Where do you feel unwell? Do you need someone to take a look? There are a few female pastors with you. If it's convenient, please have them take a look at you."

Cohen shook his head:

"No need. It's just that there was a mistake when I was practicing the spell, and the magic power has backfired a bit. I need to calm down and recuperate for a while, so it's not convenient for outsiders to disturb me."

Furthermore, the planned trip to Mosa Province to explore historical sites will likely have to be postponed for a few days.

A barely perceptible gleam of joy flashed through Calvin's mind; this was exactly what he wanted, giving him more time to maneuver and observe.

However, he still looked concerned.

"No rush, let Miss Nephthys rest well first, her health is the most important thing."

"If Your Highness needs any medicine or resources, please just say the word. I'm ready to serve you at any time."

"Thank you."

After the meal, Calvin once again solemnly and repeatedly expressed his best wishes for Miss Nephthys' recovery, and stressed that she should be notified immediately if she needed anything.

Only then, with a worried expression, did he respectfully take his leave and depart from the villa.

As they stepped out of the villa, Brendan Hari, the president of the Mage Guild who had been following closely behind, immediately took a few steps closer and lowered his voice:

"Indeed, there is a very obvious and unstable fluctuation of magical energy. It seems that Miss Nephthys is seriously injured."

Especially since she is a mind sorcerer, this level of magical backlash could very well have damaged the very essence of her soul.

This is no ordinary injury; it is extremely troublesome and dangerous to recover from, which explains why His Highness the Emperor's face looks so grim.

His beloved companion was heartbroken; naturally, he was extremely anxious and distressed. It's no wonder he was in such a bad mood.

Calvin smiled meaningfully, and then gently shook his head:

"On one hand, he was publicly appointed as 'Imperial Consort' by Her Majesty the Empress, enjoying supreme honor and power."

On the one hand, he kept several beautiful and intimate lovers outside the marriage.

Calvin clicked his tongue and remarked:
"This His Majesty Corleone truly lives up to his reputation as the 'Lord of Amorousness' that is so prevalent on the continent!"

Brendan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but chuckle softly, a hint of relief in his voice:
"However, this is actually a good thing for us."

At least for now, there's no need to worry about him having the extra energy to do anything else underhanded.

Calvin's smile faded, and he solemnly warned:

"No, Brendan, now is not the time to let our guard down completely."

Especially at times like these, we must not let our guard down.

Tell those mercenary groups and bandits to behave themselves lately and not to make any big moves. Anyone who dares to commit any heinous acts of highway robbery, murder, or other violent crimes at this critical juncture, causing a commotion that reaches His Highness's ears, is unacceptable.

Let them cut off their own heads as an apology!

He absolutely could not allow any unexpected events to occur that would disrupt the carefully constructed facade of "peace" and attract Cohen's extra attention.

"Yes, my lord."

Brendan's expression hardened, and he immediately bowed to accept the order, quickly turning around to leave and make arrangements.

Calvin stood alone, glancing back at the quiet villa one last time, a faint smile playing on his lips. (End of Chapter)