Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

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Nephthys's words were like a thunderclap, suddenly exploding in the tense oasis.

For a moment, all sorts of people who had been secretly watching the commotion around them also showed expressions of astonishment and amusement.

Nephthys's words were incredibly audacious, directly exposing the unspoken rules that everyone was keeping to themselves in broad daylight.

Hearing Nephthys's clear, melodious yet startling question, and gazing at the stunning face that came into view, Hahn was completely stunned, momentarily lost in thought.

He has traveled all over the country, risking his life for so many years, and has seen quite a few beauties of all kinds.

But the woman before him, whose face was only partially visible and whose temperament was extraordinary, possessed a beauty and charm that far exceeded all his previous understanding.

In his limited imagination, even the legendary Queen Adel, hailed as the most beautiful woman on the continent, was probably no more stunning than this.

Such a stunning beauty should never appear in this perilous and windswept frontier.

The overwhelming sense of amazement even made him briefly forget the sharp accusations in the other person's words.

Almost instinctively, he straightened his slightly roguish body and quickly concealed the threatening expression on his face.

Reverting to his usual polite demeanor, he cleared his throat and explained in a serious tone:
"My beautiful lady, what are you saying!"
The bandits are vicious and greedy, robbing merchants and committing all sorts of evil deeds. They have always been the mortal enemies of our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group. We are irreconcilable enemies with them, so how could we possibly collude with them?
What I mean is that someone as distinguished as you, Miss, surely wouldn't want to encounter any potentially unpleasant surprises or troubles during this long journey.

Our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group is your most reliable choice. We can clear all obstacles in your path, ensuring your journey is comfortable, safe, and enjoyable!

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted back to Nephthys's veil.

Nephthys let out a very soft laugh through her veil, said nothing more to him, and gracefully turned away, disappearing back into the shadows inside the carriage.

The window slowly closed, revealing a visible look of disappointment on Hahn's face.

Immediately afterwards, Cohen's cold and impatient voice came again from the closed carriage:

I don't want to repeat myself a third time.

"I don't need your services, Lanris, let's go!"

Two consecutive, merciless rejections, coupled with the stunning beauty's disdainful attitude, finally enraged Hahn and shattered his last shred of hope.

Hahn's eyes instantly turned icy cold.

Originally, he would not easily give up on such a "fat sheep" customer.

And now, there was such a stunningly beautiful woman hidden inside the carriage. Under the double temptation, intense greed and sudden lust overwhelmed his mind.

This led him to selectively forget the instructions recently given by the higher-ups within the organization.

"stop!"

Hahn suddenly shouted and winked at his companion beside him.

The two men simultaneously stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, blocking Lanris's path as he was about to drive the Fire Armored Lizard forward.

Hahn placed one hand on the hilt of the curved sword at his waist, his feigned politeness vanishing completely, revealing a savage and fierce expression.

Staring at the tightly closed window, he said in a somber voice:
"Sir, the rules of the Lahasa Desert are not up to you to decide."

"You'll have to hire guards today, whether you want to or not!"

……

Located on the edge of the Lahasa Desert, this supply oasis is usually a bustling and diverse place.

At this moment, they saw a spectacle to watch, and one of the parties involved in the conflict was actually a member of the "Blazing Fire Mercenary Group," a group that was renowned in this desert and almost no one dared to provoke.

The various people who had been resting and observing quickly gathered around, forming a circle of onlookers, with low, gloating laughter filling the air.

In their eyes, the lone lizard car with only one driver and two passengers dared to openly refuse the "goodwill" of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group and even talk back to them; it was simply courting death.

They could almost foresee the scene of the mercenary group forcibly seizing the luxury car.

However, what happened next was completely beyond everyone's expectations!
Just as two members of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, led by Hahn, blocked the front of the vehicle, with one hand already on their weapon, preparing to forcibly "persuade" the people inside,

A terrifying surge of magical energy, seemingly capable of igniting the air itself, erupted from the carriage like a volcanic eruption.

The powerful surge of magic instantly caused the expressions of everyone watching the spectacle to change drastically, and they all subconsciously took a few steps back.

Hahn, who was the first to be hit, turned pale. He never expected that his opponent would not only dare to make a move, but also launch such a merciless and incredibly powerful attack.

He screamed in horror, relying on his years of experience living on the edge, and frantically mobilized all his magic power, trying to condense a defensive barrier in front of him.

But it was all in vain.

This intensely hot torrent of magic easily tore apart all the defenses he had hastily erected.

boom! ! !
A dull thud was followed by two painful groans.

Hahn and his companions were thrown out without any resistance, crashing heavily onto the sand several meters away, rolling around several times before finally coming to a stop.

Hahn felt an excruciating pain, as if his internal organs were being burned, spread throughout his body in an instant. He struggled to get up, but suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood that smelled burnt.

His entire body felt like it was being burned by fire, and he had clearly suffered serious internal injuries.

Gold tier!
Hahn's eyes widened in fear. His opponent was actually a Gold-rank transcendent being, and the intense and domineering attack made him feel as if his entire body was on fire.

He finally understood why the other party dared to be so fearless.

He himself is a powerful Gold-rank transcendent being and doesn't need any mercenary group protection at all.

The coachman, Lanris, who had been so tense he was almost suffocating, was now stunned by the scene before him. No wonder this nobleman didn't need guards; it turned out he was a Gold-ranked individual and had the confidence to do so.

"roll!"

A single word, yet it contained a chilling aura of authority and murderous intent.

Upon hearing this word, Hahn trembled violently. His face lost all trace of the arrogance and greed he had shown before, replaced only by fear and lingering dread.

He endured the excruciating pain, struggled to his feet from the sand, and fled the scene in a disheveled state, not daring to look at the carriage again.

The crowd that had been waiting to watch the spectacle had fallen silent, their faces filled with awe, and they instinctively made way for the quiet lizard-shaped vehicle.

No one expected that this seemingly easy target was hiding a powerful dragon capable of easily overthrowing the members of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group!
……

After a short while, Cohen's calm voice came from inside the carriage, startling the driver, Lanris, who was still in a state of shock and disbelief:

"Let's go, it's time to enter the desert."

His tone was completely calm, as if the thunderous strike that had just repelled the powerful enemy had never happened.

Lanris jolted at the sound, his voice still trembling slightly:
"Yes...yes, sir."

He frantically gripped the reins, took several deep breaths, and barely managed to calm the turmoil in his heart.

Driving the fire-armored lizard, which seemed somewhat uneasy after being startled by the magical fluctuations, and pulling the lizard cart, they slowly drove away from the eerie oasis and officially stepped into the boundless golden sea of ​​sand.

The wheels rolled over the gravel, making a monotonous, rhythmic rustling sound.

Inside the carriage, Cohen casually lowered the curtain through the window, leaned back lazily, and naturally rested his head on Nephthys's soft and elastic thighs.

Finding a comfortable position, he closed his eyes, looking relaxed and ready to enjoy the journey.

Nephthys's slender, fair fingers gently caressed Cohen's temples, slowly massaging them.

Her eyes were lowered as she gazed at the man resting his head on her lap, a thoughtful expression on her exquisite face.

"Sir, since that Governor Calvin already knows we're here, and may even have guessed some of our intentions."

Given his caution and shrewdness, he will surely strictly control all his forces related to the bandits, forcing them to lie low in the near future.

We entered the desert with such fanfare, even deliberately displaying our wealth and..."

At this point, Nephthys paused slightly, seemingly a little embarrassed:
"Can we really attract those bandits who should be strictly forbidden from taking action by doing this?"

Cohen felt the amazing elasticity from the back of his head and the gentle caress of Nephthys's fingertips. He reached out and pinched Nephthys's cheek, smiling as he said:

"My dear sorceress, you are seriously underestimating your own maddening charm. More importantly, in the minds of those greedy, lawless bandits and low-level mercenaries."

We should still be comfortably staying in our luxurious villa in the provincial capital, recuperating from our injuries.

Calvin might order his trusted core members to behave themselves in the near future, but what about the lower and middle-level leaders and small groups of bandits scattered throughout the vast desert, where information transmission is already slow and chaotic?

They may not receive it in time, or be willing to fully trust and strictly implement the order.

Especially when they see us, a wealthy client with no powerful guards, and accompanied by... well, a stunning beauty like you, barging into their territory.

The intense temptation of something so readily available is enough to make most greedy people selectively forget or ignore warnings from above.

They might take a chance, thinking that as long as they do it cleanly and efficiently, who would know it was them?
Don't worry, someone will definitely be tempted to make a move against us!

Nephthys nodded thoughtfully, said nothing more, and continued to gently massage his temples with her fingers.

Silence returned to the carriage, with only the howling of the wind and sand outside and the rhythmic sound of the lizard-shaped vehicle moving forward.

……

Deep in the Lahasa Desert, in a small oasis that barely survives on a few weak springs, stands a rather large building constructed of heavy stones and rammed earth.

This place may seem like a rest stop for desert travelers, but it is actually an important stronghold of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group in the Lahasa Desert.

The lobby inside the building was dimly lit, and the air was filled with dust.

The atmosphere inside the hall was unusually heavy and tense. The mercenaries who had been drinking, making merry, and exchanging information had all consciously retreated, not daring to make a sound.

In the center of the hall, Hahn, covered in wounds, his clothes torn, and his face deathly pale, knelt trembling on the cold, rough stone floor. He kept his head down, not daring to look directly ahead.

Sitting high up directly in front of him was a gaunt middle-aged man, exuding a heavy, decisive aura. He was none other than Walter, the vice-captain of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

Walter's cold eyes were fixed on Hahn kneeling below, like those of a viper, and he remained silent for a good several breaths.

The deathly silence was more suffocating than any roar or shout, making it almost impossible for Hahn to breathe.

Finally, Walter spoke:

"What did I tell you a few days ago?"

Upon hearing this, Hahn trembled violently, lowered his head even further, and tried to defend himself:
"Uncle, I shouldn't have gone looking for trouble, but you weren't there at the time, so you have no idea how arrogant and despicable that couple in the carriage was."

They didn't take our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group seriously at all..."

"shut up!"

Before Hahn could finish speaking, Walter suddenly let out a low but extremely intimidating roar, and a terrifying cold light flashed in his gloomy eyes.

"Who's your uncle? There's only the vice-captain of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group here!"

Hahn shuddered violently at the angry shout and quickly changed his tone, his voice becoming even more humble and terrified:

"Yes...yes, Commander."

Walter gave a cold snort, leaning forward slightly, staring intently at Hahn, his voice even lower, carrying a chilling undertone:

"Do you know that His Highness the Imperial Consort is currently in the 'Blazing Fire Zone'? In broad daylight, you are so reckless as to try to solicit business and even tried to resort to violence!"
Are you doing this because you think you're living too long?

"You still think our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group is living too comfortably, and you want to drag the entire mercenary group down with you!"

Hahn was terrified by Walter's stern warning about "His Highness the Emperor," but his deep-seated greed for enormous wealth and beauty had not been completely extinguished.

He suppressed his fear, licked his chapped lips, and cautiously raised his head, attempting a final explanation and attempt to persuade:
"Commander, you...you are right, but I heard that although His Highness the Emperor is indeed in the 'Flowing Fire Division,' he seems to have been staying in his official residence in the provincial capital and has not gone out."

Moreover, His Highness probably doesn't have any connections or informants here. As long as we act cleanly and discreetly, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Team leader, you have no idea how wealthy this client is. Just two people, and this must be a huge sum of money and a very deep pocket.

"I've been working in the supply oasis for so many years, and I've seen my fair share of nobles and wealthy people, but I've rarely encountered such a lavish client as this."

Walter stared coldly at Hahn, who felt immense pressure and finally couldn't withstand it, revealing his true motives:
"Yes, yes, I admit it, I was also attracted to the woman in the car at the time..."

As he spoke, he seemed to recall that fleeting glimpse of breathtaking beauty, and a flicker of infatuation and fervor involuntarily flashed in his eyes once more, even temporarily overpowering his fear, as he hurriedly added:
"But Commander, if you saw that woman with your own eyes, you would know."

That really is... that really is..."

He seemed unable to find the right words to describe that breathtaking beauty.

Before Hahn could finish speaking, Deputy Commander Walter, who was sitting upright, suddenly grabbed a thick stack of parchment documents and hurled them at Hahn, who was kneeling on the ground.

Walter abruptly stood up, pointed at Hahn's nose, and roared furiously:

"idiot!
You hopeless idiot!
I've told you so many times, to make a living in this desert, you need to have sharp eyes and a clear mind.

The more beautiful a woman is, the more trouble she often brings! And the less likely you are to provoke her!

Those who possess and dare to bring such a stunning beauty to such a dangerous place are either terrifyingly powerful themselves, or the forces behind them are simply beyond our reach!
"Have you really just forgotten all these years you've followed me, all those lessons learned with blood, swallowed whole and gone to waste?"

Hahn was hit with documents and dared not dodge, and was also scolded mercilessly. He could only curl up and mumble a word, not daring to say another word.

He actually understood these principles, but at the time he was blinded by the amazing wealth and beauty, and his sense of luck completely overwhelmed his reason and vigilance.

The oppressive silence in the lobby lasted for a very long time.

Kneeling on the ground, Hahn sensed that Walter's anger above seemed to have subsided somewhat, and only then did he dare to muster his courage and cautiously speak again:
"So what should we do now?"
Even if I'm a complete failure, I'm still a member of our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group. And to be beaten like this in public at the supply oasis..."

He glanced furtively at Walter's expression, and seeing that the other man didn't immediately react, he continued:

"If our group doesn't react at all and just swallows its anger, what will happen?"

After that, who will be afraid of us in the Lahasa Desert?
Which other chamber of commerce or traveler would be willing to honestly pay us to hire them?
Our prestige will be completely ruined.

Moreover, this time, the noblemen with such background and power made it easy for them to leave the desert.

What if, after they leave, they spread the word that our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group attempted to force a sale, or even that we might be colluding with the Sand Bandits?

The consequences…

He didn't dare say anything more, but his meaning was already quite clear.

If these two are let go, it could attract the attention and investigation of the imperial authorities, which would be a real catastrophe.

Especially now that His Highness the Emperor is in the "Firefall Zone," what if this gets back to him...

Walter's face grew increasingly grim, and the chill in his eyes could almost freeze the air.

Hahn's voice grew softer and softer until he finally shut his mouth completely, plunging the hall into a suffocating silence once more.

Not long after, the deathly silence was broken by a series of light footsteps.

A middle-aged man dressed in a clean and neat scholar's robe, wearing frameless glasses, and looking very refined, walked briskly into the hall from outside.

When Hahn saw the person who came, it was as if he had seen a savior, and his eyes became even more eager.

The newcomer's gaze first swept over Hahn, who was kneeling on the ground in a disheveled state. A complex expression flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head slightly.

There seemed to be a sense of helplessness, and also a feeling of resentment at their lack of ambition.

He then strode over to Deputy Commander Walter's chair, handed him a piece of intelligence, and began reporting the investigation results:
"The investigation has been completed. The male owner of that lizard carriage is registered with the merchant guild that rented the lizard carriage as a viscount of the Eastern Empire, named Ian Hughes."

Based on the verified identity documents, he has some connection with the 'Flaming Red Lips' business and is a minor shareholder.

Judging from the residual energy from the injuries on Hahn and his companions…

The newcomer glanced at Hahn and continued:

"The man's attack contained an extremely domineering, intense, and ancient 'dragon power' characteristic."

This power attribute is very much in line with the combat characteristics of dragon vein sorcerers or dragon-blooded knights inherited from some ancient noble families in the Eastern Empire.

Therefore, it's almost certain that the other party is from the Eastern Empire! (End of Chapter)