Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

The next morning, before dawn, Governor Calvin appeared outside the villa again on time.

His face still wore that impeccable smile as he prepared to continue his daily routine of greetings and accompanying the customer during meals.

However, this time, he was unable to meet Cohen in person as smoothly as he had the day before.

After waiting outside the villa for a while, it was not Cohen or Nephthys who came out, but the two Rose Guards dressed in royal rose-embroidered uniforms.

The female security guard relayed the message in a businesslike tone:

"Your Excellency, His Royal Highness the Emperor has instructed me to inform you that His Highness is currently busy assisting Lady Nephthys in calming the disordered magic within her body and stabilizing her injuries."

We are at a critical juncture, and it is truly inconvenient for me to be in two places at once.

His Highness also specifically instructed that in the next few days, the Governor and all officials need not come to inquire about the matter every day, so as not to delay the important task of district governance.

His Highness will summon you if needed.

Upon hearing this, Calvin's smile froze slightly for a moment; he instinctively felt that something was amiss.

However, the reasons given by the other party were impeccable, and were personally conveyed by the Rose Guard, who represented the Empress's majesty, making them extremely weighty and leaving him no room to raise any questions or insist on an audience.

He quickly composed himself, bowed to the female guard, and said:

"Yes, yes, your subject understands."

Your Highness's treatment of Miss Nephthys is of utmost importance, and I would never dare to disturb you.

"Please convey to His Highness, Lady Guard, that I am ready to serve you at any time should you require my assistance."

After offering a few more sincere blessings and expressions of loyalty, Calvin left the villa area.

……

However, what Governor Calvin could never have imagined was...

Almost at the same time he was receiving a message from the female guard outside the villa, in a secluded corner outside the villa area, the air rippled slightly like water.

Two figures stepped silently out from a very faint crack in the shadows, as if they had stepped into reality from another world.

One of them was dressed in well-tailored, sophisticated clothing. He had an ordinary face, a capable physique, and an overall demeanor that made him look like an elegant middle-aged nobleman.

The other person was a young lady wearing a sand-proof cloak and a thin veil covering her face.

Although the veil concealed most of her face, her elegant figure and the occasional air of mystery revealed that she was a woman of extraordinary birth.

They looked like an ordinary aristocratic couple who occasionally appeared during this season, coming to the southern frontier to experience the exotic customs or to conduct some less important business trips.

The two blended seamlessly into the usual flow of travelers in the "Fire Zone," attracting no extra attention whatsoever.

Without a doubt, this was Cohen and Nephthys who escaped Governor Calvin's surveillance through the Shadow Dimension and successfully slipped away.

Cohen used the demon mask he obtained from Gilworth to change his appearance and demeanor, transforming himself into an ordinary middle-aged nobleman.

Nephthys wore a veil, and the two carried no royal insignia or luxury items that could reveal their identities as they proceeded toward their destination.

They will use this disguise to venture deep into the province of Mosa, on the one hand searching for clues to the "Key to the Black Rose," and on the other hand, to see the true face of this land with their own eyes.

In particular, they wanted to meet those legendary bandits to verify whether they were connected to the hospitable governor.

……

The province of Mosa is located deep within the "Blazing Fire Zone," quite a distance from the border region where Cohen and Nephthys are currently located.

Moreover, it also involves crossing the Lahasa Desert, the largest desert on the continent.

In order to avoid attracting too much attention and to better blend into the local environment, Cohen decided to use the most conventional mode of transportation that suited the characteristics of the area, namely, to rent a "carriage" pulled by a local monster.

Although it is called a carriage, the beast that leads it is not an ordinary horse or any horse-like magical beast, but a lizard-like magical beast with unique local characteristics of the "Fire Flowing Zone" and capable of adapting to the extreme hot environment - the Fire Armored Lizard.

The fire-armored reptile is a large and imposing creature.

They can typically reach over five meters in length and nearly two meters in shoulder height, and their bodies are covered with thick, hard, dark red scales.

These scales not only effectively resist the erosion of wind and sand, but also reflect most of the scorching sunlight, and can even move around in lava areas for a short period of time.

Their limbs are strong and powerful, with thick claws, making them well-suited for walking on soft sand or rugged volcanic rock terrain.

Feeding on geothermal moss, heat-resistant insects, and even small fire elemental creatures, the Fire Armored Reptile, despite its somewhat frightening appearance, has become quite docile and reliable compared to its wild counterparts after long-term domestication.

More importantly, they possess exceptional endurance and load-bearing capacity, enabling them to carry heavy cargo or tow large vehicles from behind.

They are ideal pack animals for trekking for days in harsh environments without needing long rests, making them ideal for desert and volcanic regions.

Taming the Fire Armored Lizard is an important skill and tradition in many tribes and settlements in the Blazing Fire Zone.

Skilled riders know how to communicate with these monitor lizards and build trust. In many remote areas, a caravan or trading post with a healthy fire-armored reptile is often the "lifeline" for the survival and trade of a settlement.

Generally speaking, for a small village or a caravan to engage in trade and transportation, the caravan must have a level 4 or higher Fire Armored Lizard as its core power source to cope with the various challenges of the journey.

The fire-armored reptile that Cohen rented this time is even more extraordinary.

It comes from a large chamber of commerce that trades with the capital, and its strength has reached the gold level.

This means that it is not only more robust, more enduring, and faster, but its intelligence and adaptability to harsh environments also far exceed those of its ordinary counterparts, and it can even understand more complex instructions to a certain extent.

Renting such a powerful magical beast would not only ensure the comfort and efficiency of the trip, but also indirectly demonstrate the "employer's" considerable wealth and status, and could even draw out the people Cohen wanted to meet.

And so, Cohen and Nephthys embarked on their journey deep into the province of Mosa, riding in this lizard-drawn carriage, which was towed by a gold-tier fire-armored reptile and featured a distinctive local style on the outside but had been carefully decorated by the Chamber of Commerce to make it comfortable and spacious inside.

……

The three-day journey passed almost in the blink of an eye thanks to the Fire Armored Reptile's steady and swift pace.

Cohen and Nephthys soon arrived at an important geographical point in their journey—the border of the vast and boundless Lahasa Desert, known as the "Sea of ​​Death."

Looking out, the Gobi Desert, once dotted with drought-resistant shrubs, has transformed into a vast and magnificent sea of ​​golden sand.

The undulating sand dunes, like solidified giant waves, stretch all the way to the horizon where the view meets the sky.

The scorching air distorted the distant scenery slightly, and the silence seemed to conceal endless danger and the unknown.

However, with this Fire Armored Lizard, whose strength reaches the Gold rank, as a mount, crossing this daunting desert is not an insurmountable challenge.

Experienced members of the Chamber of Commerce estimated that, given the stamina and speed of this powerful magical beast, it would take at most ten days to traverse the core area of ​​the Lahasa Desert and reach the heart of the Mosa Province on the other side.

The rider of this fire-armored reptile was a middle-aged male named Lanris.

His skin was dark and rough, his palms were covered in calluses, and his eyes were honest. He was the kind of honest man who had spent years dealing with deserts and monsters.

He was a seasoned rider highly recommended by the Chamber of Commerce when Cohen rented this Gold-tier Fire Armored Reptile. He was known for his rich experience, calm personality, and most importantly, his tight-lipped nature, never asking too many questions.

Cohen chose him precisely because of his "quiet and reliable" nature, which is why he was ultimately chosen to be in charge of managing this trip, in order to avoid unnecessary communication and potential exposure risks.

For driver Lanris, this mission was a first in his professional career.

This was the first time he had encountered such an "arrogant" client with such a peculiar purpose.

They spared no expense to rent an extremely precious gold-tier fire-armored reptile, which is usually only used to escort the most important supplies, just for the two guests to ride on.

This completely overturned the ideas he had formed while serving the Chamber of Commerce.

When the merchant guild that initially leased the equipment received the order, they instinctively assumed that the client was a large merchant guild or family that needed to use such a high-level magical beast to transport a batch of extremely valuable goods.

They never imagined that it would all end up being just a trip for two people, something that seemed like an ordinary journey.

This extravagant behavior, which far exceeded common sense, aroused in the honest and unassuming Lanlis a great sense of awe and curiosity about the identities of the two employers in the carriage who maintained a certain degree of mystery.

He instinctively sensed that these two guests were no ordinary nobles or wealthy people; their backgrounds were probably unfathomable.

Therefore, he was even more careful and cautious in his actions, never saying a word or glancing at anything other than necessary instructions, for fear of causing unnecessary trouble.

However, as they approached the Lahasa Desert, the driver, Lanris, remained almost entirely silent and focused on driving.

Seemingly after a fierce internal struggle, he finally couldn't help but turn around and, through the front window of the carriage, cautiously asked in a heavily accented and very respectful tone:
"Your Excellency, is it really just you and your wife in this group, with no other guards or servants accompanying you?" Cohen was disguised as Viscount Ian, a nobleman from the Eastern Empire.

Cohen replied calmly:

"No, it's just me and my wife."

Lanris swallowed hard and said cautiously:

“Viscount, this… this Lahasa Desert has never been very peaceful.”

"A person of your esteemed status, sir, would normally be accompanied by a large entourage of guards before daring to enter this desert."

Cohen asked with a half-smile:
"You mean we're likely to encounter those legendary sand bandits in this desert?"

When Lanris heard Cohen's question, his lips moved slightly, and he nodded silently, which was taken as an admission of the worst and most likely guess.

Beneath this seemingly desolate sea of ​​sand lurks a threat even more deadly than monsters.

Cohen chuckled softly:
"It's alright, let's go. Even if some foolish bandits jump out..."

As far as I know, they usually don't deliberately make things difficult for or harm drivers like you who operate under the guise of legitimate chambers of commerce.

Your safety should be fine.

A strange look flashed in Lanris's eyes. He never expected that this seemingly pampered "Viscount" from out of town would be so knowledgeable about the "Fire Stream Division," especially the unwritten rules of the Lahasa Desert region that straddled the line between right and wrong.

He didn't seem like a nobleman setting foot in this place for the first time.

Indeed, as Cohen said, those bandits entrenched deep in the desert, though ruthless and greedy, were not mindless fools.

They are well aware of the principle of "sustainability through short-sighted exploitation".

These charioteers, belonging to various chambers of commerce, were like messengers and guides transporting their prized prey.

If they target the drivers, it will only lead to no one daring to drive into the desert anymore.

Therefore, the bandits usually only robbed goods and passengers, and as for the drivers, they mostly just drove them away or impounded the vehicles, rarely taking their lives.

Filled with doubt and unease, Lanris finally activated the Fire Armored Lizard.

The lizard vehicle slowly drove into the last small oasis where supplies could be replenished, located on the edge of the Lahasa Desert.

This oasis is not large, with only a few springs and a few drought-resistant palm trees and shrubs growing sparsely.

Scattered around are a few simple houses built of rammed earth and stones, as well as some tents for travelers to rest.

The place was a melting pot of all sorts of people, filled with dust, animal dung, cheap beer, and a barely perceptible tension.

As soon as Cohen's lizard-cart, pulled by a gold-tier fire-armored reptile and clearly worth a fortune, entered the oasis, it instantly attracted countless gazes, both overt and covert.

In this lawless land, such a well-fed convoy, yet "utterly defenseless," is simply the most tempting prey in the desert.

Not long after, two young men dressed in uniform leather armor, with scimitars and crossbows at their waists, walked straight toward Cohen's carriage.

The charioteer, Lanris, immediately noticed the striking burning flame emblem on the two men's armor, and his expression changed slightly, clearly recognizing their origins.

He quickly turned his head and, through the front window of the carriage, lowered his voice and spoke rapidly to Cohen, reminding him:

"Viscount, these two are members of the most famous and largest mercenary group in the area, the 'Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.' They are usually solo travelers in the desert or members of smaller caravans."

For safety reasons, most people choose to hire them as bodyguards.

He deliberately emphasized his tone, highlighting the other party's reputation:
"The Blazing Fire Mercenary Group is very powerful in this area and has a considerable deterrent effect on most of the desert bandit groups operating in the desert."

The convoys escorted by them usually arrived safely.

His words were both a statement of fact and a suggestion that Cohen consider hiring them for peace of mind.

After listening to Lanlis's introduction, Cohen, sitting in the carriage, smiled knowingly.

"Does it have a 'deterrent effect' on the bandits?"
In other words, as long as I'm willing to spend money to hire this mercenary group, those bandits will automatically avoid my carriage out of respect for them.

This doesn't sound like hiring bodyguards; it sounds more like paying a 'protection fee' to someone to buy peace of mind.

Or are you implying that the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group is actually in cahoots with those sand bandits?

When Lanlis heard Cohen's blunt and direct deduction, all the color drained from his face, and his eyes were filled with fear and panic. He dared not utter another word.

If such words were to get out, he and his family would probably not see the sun rise tomorrow.

At the same time, two young mercenaries from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group had already walked to the side of the carriage.

They were clearly familiar with Lanlis, the driver who had been running this route for many years.

One of the leading mercenaries casually pulled a few gleaming copper coins from his leather pouch at his waist, and tossed them to Lanris in the driver's seat with a chuckle, greeting him familiarly:

"Hey! Old Lanris, you're in luck."

This time, we've landed a really big, generous customer!

His gaze seemingly casually swept over the magnificent golden-tier fire-armored lizard and the exquisitely decorated carriage, but a hint of greed surfaced deep in his eyes.

However, to Hahn's surprise, after Lanris hurriedly caught the copper coins, he didn't accept the "small token" with a smile as usual. Instead, he forcefully stuffed the coins back into Hahn's hand as if he had caught a hot potato.

"Hahn, you know my rules. No extra money can be accepted during this race. We can't break the rules. The Chamber of Commerce is keeping a close eye on things lately."

He stammered an excuse, but his eyes kept glancing at the carriage behind him. He was clearly terrified by Cohen's words and was afraid of getting involved with these mercenaries again.

Hahn took back the returned copper coin, his smile froze slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

He gave Lanlis, who was behaving strangely, a deep look, then glanced thoughtfully at the closed carriage window, as if he had sensed something unusual.

However, he didn't show any displeasure. With a flick of his wrist, he deftly retrieved the copper coins back into his palm, then changed the subject politely, saying:
"How about I speak with this noble gentleman alone? Perhaps he'll be interested in our services?"

His gaze returned to the closed window, as he attempted to speak directly with the person in question.

Upon hearing this, Lanlis, sitting in the driver's seat, immediately showed an even more troubled and nervous expression. He opened his mouth, but did not know how to respond.

He dared not make decisions for his employer, yet he knew all too well how troublesome these mercenaries were.

Before Lanris could even gather his thoughts, a calm and indifferent voice rang out clearly from inside the carriage, directly answering Hahn's request:
"No need, Lanris, let's go."

This blunt, even slightly contemptuous, rejection made Hahn's expression instantly stiffen as he tried to maintain a polite facade.

His eyes turned cold, and he gave the bewildered Lanris a vicious glare, clearly taking his anger out on the driver for the "humiliation".

He then stepped forward, approaching the carriage, and said coldly through the window, his voice carrying an undisguised threat:

“My lord, I advise you to reconsider and have a ‘good talk’ with us before deciding whether or not to go in.”

The Lahasa Desert is windy and sandy, and the roads are difficult to travel. Without our protection, some unpleasant things could very well happen..."

Although the subsequent threats were not fully uttered, the implication that "those who don't know their place will suffer" was already quite clear.

Just as the atmosphere suddenly turned to freezing point and Hahn revealed his true colors.

A clear and melodious female voice rang out from inside the carriage, like pearls falling onto a jade plate:

"What's not so good?"

The sudden female voice startled even the previously aggressive Hahn, who was clearly not expecting a woman to speak so directly.

Immediately afterwards, the tightly closed window was slowly pushed open a crack from the inside.

A young woman's face, though mostly obscured by a thin veil, still revealed her stunning beauty, came into Hahn's view.

A hint of amusement flickered in Nephthys's exposed, beautiful eyes, her voice tinged with amusement:

"Could it be that your 'Blazing Fire Mercenary Group' is planning to collude with desert bandits to rob us 'disobedient' travelers?" (End of Chapter)