Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen slowly shifted his gaze from the still-warm ashes to the two remaining survivors—Faust, the strategist of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, and the leader of the Ash Fang Brotherhood.

The leader of the Emberfang Brotherhood had just witnessed Hahn screaming as he turned to ashes in the ghostly blue flames, and he was already terrified.

When he saw Cohen's gaze sweep over him, he felt as if he were being stared at by a deadly viper, and his blood almost froze.

A strong will to survive overwhelmed everything; before Cohen could even ask, they blurted out in shrill voices:

"I'll talk, I'll talk, I'll tell you everything!"
I am the leader of the Ashfang Brotherhood. In addition to myself, there is a Gold-rank vice-leader and five Silver-rank squad leaders in our guild.

There are also... dozens of bronze-level brothers. We mainly operate in the 'Black Wind Gorge' area.

We've robbed caravans including…

He desperately wanted to reveal all his family's assets and crimes, just to live one more second.

However, just as the leader was rambling incoherently about the bandits' trivial details, another ball of fire suddenly erupted from beneath his feet without warning, instantly engulfing him completely.

"Sorry, your information is of no value to me!"

"Do not--!!!"

A brief, piercing scream, filled with extreme fear and resentment, suddenly rang out and then abruptly stopped.

In the blink of an eye, of the four men who had come to ambush them with such ferocity, one bandit leader was crushed into a bloody mist from a distance, and the other two were burned to ashes amidst their desperate cries.

Not even a minute has passed since they appeared and launched the attack.

On the scorching sand, only one survivor remained—Faust, the strategist of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

He was imprisoned in a cold, icy cage, his whole body trembling violently.

He watched helplessly as his three companions died instantly in all sorts of unbelievable and horrific ways, without even a chance to resist.

This overwhelming power and ruthless methods have completely shattered all his psychological defenses.

Cohen slowly turned around and looked at the high-ranking member of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

After experiencing a nightmarish and terrifying scene, Faust's mind was finally pulled back to a sliver of clarity by a strong will to survive, even though he was on the verge of collapse.

In a flash, countless clues, details, doubts, and the lingering sense of familiarity with Nephthys finally pieced together a complete and horrifying truth in his mind.

He finally understood where his sense of familiarity with the masked woman's silhouette came from.

That was the mysterious sorceress Nephthys who had amazed everyone at the recent All Nations Nobles Martial Arts Festival and ultimately won second place in the Bronze Group.

And the man who could command such respect and companionship, and who possessed such terrifying strength... in the entire Central Empire, and even the entire human continent, there was probably only one.

A deep shock and disbelief flashed in his eyes, but he quickly calmed down.

He suddenly understood many things and realized where his only way out lay.

Therefore, when Cohen's cold gaze finally fell on him, Faust did something that surprised both Cohen and Nephthys.

He didn't cry out for mercy like Hahn, nor did he try to exchange trivial information for a chance to survive like the leader of the Ashfang Guild. Instead, he knelt down respectfully, performed an impeccable noble ceremony, and clearly stated:
"Faust Tack, strategist of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, pays his respects to His Highness the Royal Consort!"

For the first time, a hint of surprise flashed in Cohen's eyes. He really hadn't expected that in this chaotic desert bandit stronghold far from the capital, someone could so quickly and accurately see through his disguise and identity.

Nephthys, standing beside him, couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation and said:

"Sir, it doesn't make sense that he was able to see through your disguise!"

Cohen's disguise was extremely sophisticated, and with the added benefit of the demon mask, it should not have been easily seen through by a mercenary strategist.

Upon hearing this, Faust, kneeling on the ground, did not raise his head but continued in a humble posture, speaking in a low voice:
"This must be Miss Nephthys, who recently won the runner-up title in the Bronze Group at the All Nations Nobles Martial Arts Festival with her superb magical skills and unfathomable spiritual power."

Nephthys raised an eyebrow, and said thoughtfully:

"Good eye, but bad luck, he ended up in a den of thieves!"

Faust's response piqued Cohen's interest. He waved his hand, put away the cage, and calmly asked:

"How did you figure out who I am?"

Faust, now free, dared not make the slightest move. He remained kneeling respectfully, not even daring to raise his head, and humbly replied:

"Your Highness, I have had the privilege of watching every match of Your Highness's at the All Nations Nobles' Martial Arts Festival through magical images."

I was quite impressed by His Highness's unique style and demeanor during battle.

Furthermore, the fact that a seventh-tier cultivator could so easily kill an eighth-tier transcendent being is something that, within the entire Blazing Fire Division, probably only His Highness the Imperial Consort, who is nominally resting in the capital, possesses.

Not to mention the company of Miss Nephthys…

Faust's analysis is logically clear and interconnected, demonstrating exceptional observational skills and intelligence integration abilities.

After hearing his explanation, Cohen's face remained expressionless, showing neither joy nor anger, and he said calmly:

"You do have some cleverness. Alright, give me a reason not to kill you."

Upon hearing this, Faust's heart clenched; he knew the moment that would decide his fate had arrived.

He forcibly suppressed the fear and panic in his heart, his mind racing. He took a deep breath and said slowly:
"Since Your Highness came here in secret without the Governor's knowledge, it must be because you suspect Governor Calvin and want to investigate and gather evidence in secret."

Having spent many years mingling with the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group and other gray forces within the district, I have come into contact with and have some understanding of their shady dealings, networks, and even secret dealings with certain officials of the Governor's Office.

I am willing to serve as Your Highness's mole within the "Fireflow District," secretly gathering intelligence, investigating evidence, and even, when necessary, providing inside support.

Cohen did not show the slightest sign of being moved after hearing his "surrender".

He looked calmly at Faust, slowly shook his head, and said indifferently:
"Information alone isn't enough to buy your life."

Faust lowered his voice even further:
"The Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, to which I belong, is actually the largest mercenary group secretly kept by Governor Calvin."

In order to consolidate his rule in the "Liuhuo District", the governor secretly carried out some tasks that were inconvenient for the government to handle.

For many years, through our Blazing Fire Mercenary Group and several other mercenary groups under its control, they have secretly controlled a considerable number of armed forces not under the Imperial Military's command.

These forces are scattered throughout the desert, nominally bandits or independent mercenaries, but in reality, they are under the command of the governor's office.

If Your Highness trusts me and lends me some manpower, I am confident that, based on my familiarity with the internal system and personnel, I can gradually and secretly subdue and integrate these scattered armed forces for Your Highness.

Transform them into a hidden blade in His Highness's hand!

Cohen let out a cryptic laugh and clapped his hands.

A burly, rugged figure, exuding the stench of battlefield blood, emerged unexpectedly from beneath a patch of yellow sand not far behind the group.

This sudden turn of events caused Faust, who was already on edge, to shudder violently and nearly scream in terror.

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the ghostly figure that seemed to have crawled out of the ground.

He never expected that there would be outsiders here, and that his ambush today was a joke from beginning to end.

Moreover, judging from the energy fluctuations emanating from this dark figure, it has clearly reached the peak of the ninth rank.

After the burly black figure appeared, he completely ignored Faust, who was terrified to the bone.

He strode up to Cohen and Nephthys, performed a clean and decisive chest-thumping salute, his voice as steady as a bell:
"Stationmaster Sidnicardon of the Blazing Fire Station greets Your Majesty and Miss Nephthys!"

Military...Military Intelligence Bureau?
Upon hearing this self-introduction, Faust felt a deafening roar in his mind, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

Effie was from the Military Intelligence Bureau!

That legendary high-level intelligence and secret operations agency that is all-pervasive, monitors the entire world, wields immense power, and strikes fear into the hearts of countless officials and forces.

Their tentacles had already silently infiltrated the Central Empire's "Blazing Fire District"?
Even the stationmaster is a peak ninth-tier expert?
Cohen gestured with his chin toward Faust:
"Sidney, I'm entrusting him to you. With his help, you should be able to find a breakthrough in the problem that has been troubling you so much: how to infiltrate and control Calvin's secret armed forces, right?"

A fanatical glint flashed in Sidney's eyes, and he pounded his chest, his voice booming:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that with the help of Mr. Faust, who is known as the 'Desert Fox,' everything will be foolproof."

Faust, kneeling on the ground, was startled when Sidney called him by his little-known nickname. His face showed disbelief and astonishment, and he instinctively asked:

"You...you know me?"

Sidney wore a slightly mocking smile:
"Hehe... Mr. Faust's name and wisdom are renowned throughout this gray desert region."

Our "Katon Trading Company" has had quite a few dealings with the lower-level mercenaries and transport teams of your Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, and has done a few small business deals with them.

"However, in the past I've only dealt with lowly errand boys. A high-ranking strategist like you, Mr. Faust, would naturally not notice a small-time merchant like me."

Cohen's gaze returned to Faust, and he calmly said:

"Alright, you can contact Station Chief Sidney directly about the specific action plan and details later."

He paused, then gave Faust a meaningful look:
"As for what happened here today, you should know how to report back to your commander and even Governor Calvin behind you in order to save your life without arousing their suspicion, right?"

Faust knew this was a test for him. He frowned, quickly considering various explanations and possibilities in his mind.

A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and he respectfully said to Cohen:
"Your Highness, in order to gain the trust of the higher-ups within the regiment, especially to deceive the suspicious Deputy Commander Walter, I'm afraid we'll need your help."

Ideally, it should look like someone who narrowly escaped after being severely wounded by a powerful dragon-type spell during a fierce battle.

Without saying a word, Cohen pushed him away with a palm strike.

A scorching, domineering, and terrifying energy instantly struck Faust's chest from a distance.

Faust had no time to react; he felt an irresistible force slam into his body, as if his internal organs were instantly ignited.

His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the sand.

The intense pain made his vision go black, and he almost fainted on the spot.

Station Master Sidney, standing to the side, wore a satisfied smile.

"Alright, now I can act as a kind passerby and take you back to the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group!"

Sidney's cover identity in the "Blazing Fire Zone" is that of a merchant guild manager who occasionally makes deals with the lower-ranking mercenaries of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

It is perfectly reasonable for him to find the severely injured and unconscious Faust in the desert and, in order to gain favor from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, take the initiative to send him back.

Faust, enduring excruciating pain and on the verge of losing consciousness, mustered his last bit of strength to lift his head and gaze deeply at Cohen.

His eyes were filled with endless awe, fear, and a complex mix of relief and relief.

He was then quickly lifted onto a lizard car that had been prepared beforehand, with Sidney's help, and sped off toward the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group's base.

The driver, Lanris, was already stunned by the series of earth-shattering events that had occurred before him, as well as the terrifying identities that were enough to crush him a thousand times over, leaving his mind blank.

He had previously guessed that the two employers in the carriage were of noble status and had impressive backgrounds.

Even if he racked his brains, he would never have imagined that this seemingly easy-going nobleman, who occasionally made a few jokes along the way, was actually the Imperial Consort who reigned supreme in the clouds, ruling over a vast empire, and who only existed in legends and epics.

The woman, whose beauty seemed otherworldly and whose methods were unpredictable, was also the runner-up in the World Martial Arts Festival. She was a character who seemed to only appear in the most fantastical heroic legends.

The enormous class gap and the shock of identity overwhelmed Lanris like a tsunami.

He felt stiff all over, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet, and stared blankly as Cohen walked towards him.

When Cohen walked up to him, Lanris suddenly woke up as if he had been pricked by a needle.

He practically tumbled and crawled, collapsing heavily to his knees on the scorching sand, pressing his forehead against the gravel, and stammered incoherently:

"Greetings, greetings to His Highness the Royal Consort."

Cohen chuckled and said:

"Get up. Our identities have nothing to do with you. You don't need to think too much or be afraid."

Just drive as you normally would, and safely deliver us to our destination in Mosa province.

Lanlis shuddered and lowered his head:
"Yes, Your Highness. I understand! I will do my utmost!"

……

Inside the official residence, Governor Calvin Freeman paced anxiously back and forth in his luxurious study, which was covered with thick carpets.

This is the seventh day!

For seven whole days, he, the supreme ruler of the "Blazing Fire Region," did not even get to see the esteemed Imperial Consort.

Whenever he went to the villa where His Highness was staying to ask for instructions or to try to visit, the two aloof Rose Guards would always come out to greet him and convey his orders.

They always used various impeccable reasons (His Highness is at a critical moment in healing Miss Nephthys, His Highness needs to meditate, His Highness is not receiving guests for the time being, etc.) to keep him out of the door.

Even the carefully prepared meals and supplies could only be handed over to the female guards, who would then deliver them inside.

Cohen himself seemed to have vanished from the world, leaving no trace and making no sound.

This unusual state caused an increasingly intense unease to rise uncontrollably in the heart of the naturally suspicious and shrewd Governor Calvin.

Even if Miss Nephthys's injuries were severe enough to require His Highness's personal attention and effort to heal her, surely it's not so bad that he couldn't even make a brief appearance for seven consecutive days.

To put it another way, if that young lady's injuries were truly so severe that even His Highness was helpless and had to remain in seclusion at all times...

Shouldn't Your Highness's first reaction be to immediately send someone to invite the most skilled healing mage or the church's archbishop from the capital or nearby provinces as quickly as possible?

How could they be so silently trapped in this remote border villa, without making a sound? This simply doesn't make sense!
A terrifying thought, which he had suppressed for a long time and had never dared to think about deeply before, rushed into his mind, instantly making him break out in a cold sweat.

"Could it be...could it be that His Highness is no longer in the villa at all?"

Calvin suddenly recalled the information he had gathered about this royal consort, which did mention that he possessed an extremely strange and sophisticated escape technique, capable of concealing his whereabouts even under the perception of a Saint-level expert.

If he had already used that kind of escape technique to secretly leave this place, or even if he had secretly infiltrated deep into the desert to investigate...

Calvin grew increasingly frightened as he thought about it, his face turning deathly pale. He dared not think any further; the mere thought of this possibility sent chills down his spine.

He was considering sending someone to risk infiltrating the villa to find out what was going on.

But as soon as the thought arose, he forcibly suppressed it.

The risk was too great. If he were discovered and charged with disturbing the imperial procession, he simply could not bear the consequences.

Moreover, those two Rose Guards were clearly not easy to deal with.

After another agonizing two or three days of waiting, the villa remained stagnant, unchanged.

Calvin's unease and fear had reached their peak, and he could no longer contain himself. He secretly summoned Brendan Hari, the president of the Mage Guild.

He told Brendan his unsettling suspicions in detail.

The latter was also startled, clearly realizing the seriousness of the problem.

After thinking for a moment, I made a suggestion:
"Why don't we try to force His Highness the Emperor out?"

"any solution?"

Brendan lowered his voice.

Calvin nodded thoughtfully and said:
"It can only be this way."

Soon, the two arrived at the villa again, and Calvin said to the Rose Guard who came out:
"Your Highness, I wish to see Your Highness."

"I have just received urgent official business from King Tandin, which requires Your Highness's personal review."

Seeing Calvin's expression, Rose Guard knew that the truth could no longer be hidden.

The governor's patience had run out, and Cohen's smokescreen could no longer be concealed.

Fortunately, Cohen had anticipated this before he left, and at the time he only told the two female guards to keep it a secret for as long as possible.

The female guard raised her eyes, her tone carrying just the right amount of apology:

"Oh, I forgot to inform His Excellency the Governor in time."

His Highness the Imperial Consort departed late last night.

The news struck Governor Calvin like a bolt from the blue.

He shuddered violently and couldn't help but raise his voice:

"Your Highness... His Highness has already left?"

Why haven't I received any messages at all!

The female guard calmly replied:

"His Highness said he had some urgent business and didn't have time to inform the Governor."

Calvin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He forced himself to steady his nearly out-of-control emotions, taking several deep breaths to barely suppress the turmoil in his heart, and then asked:

"Where did Your Highness go?"

The female guard shook her head:

"I don't know about that, but His Highness said he would be back soon."

Upon hearing this devastating news, Governor Calvin lost all interest in staying. He disregarded all etiquette and hastily led Brendan away, his steps faltering.

He had to return immediately, he had to use every means at all costs to find out where His Highness the Emperor had gone, and... prepare for the worst! (End of Chapter)