Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

In the Central Empire, in the capital city of Kuntandin, outside the magnificent and heavily guarded imperial palace, a high-ranking official is experiencing the most agonizing wait of his life.

Governor Calvin Freeman of the "Fire Zone" stood motionless in the waiting room of the outer court of the palace.

Wearing a magnificent formal suit representing the Imperial Governor, embroidered with the unique flame emblem of the "Fire Zone," the buttons were fastened meticulously.

But anyone could see the unease on his face.

Calvin's face appeared extremely unhealthy pale under the slightly cold lighting of the outer court.

Fine beads of cold sweat kept seeping from his forehead, but he didn't even have the courage to raise his hand to wipe them away, and could only stiffly maintain his respectful posture.

His eyes darted around nervously toward the unfathomable palace gates.

It has been seven days since Cohen left the "Blazing Fire Division".

After Cohen and Miss Nephthys vanished completely from his territory, "Blazing Fire Zone," as if they had evaporated into thin air.

Calvin never slept soundly again.

Upon hearing the shocking news that Hahn and his group might have offended someone they shouldn't have, he went almost mad, personally leading his most elite and trusted guards to follow the vague clues and eventually find the "Akurran Temple Ruins".

However, all that awaited him was a ruin completely eroded by wind and sand.

Unwilling to give up, he used every available force to turn the entire southern part of Mosa Province upside down.

Just when he was overwhelmed with worries and almost in despair.

An urgent order from the capital city of Juntandin was delivered directly to his governor's mansion via a magical communication array.

The command is simple and straightforward:
"Governor-General Calvin Freeman of the Blazing Fire District, upon receiving this order, shall depart immediately and arrive in the Imperial Capital within three days to pay homage to Her Majesty the Empress. No delays shall be tolerated."

This order struck Calvin like a bolt from the blue, plunging his already stretched nerves to their limit.

It was not a regular annual performance review session, nor was the governor of other districts summoned at the same time.

And it just so happened that he summoned him alone after His Highness the Emperor had secretly inspected his district and mysteriously disappeared!
The implications of this were chilling to Calvin upon closer examination.

The possibilities that drove him to despair floated through his mind:
Could it be that His Highness actually found some deadly evidence from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group in the desert?

Was this summons essentially a trial and purge targeting him?

Every thought sent chills down his spine!

Calvin even began to uncontrollably imagine the tragic scene of being stripped of his title and imprisoned.

Governor Calvin's fear and despair had reached their peak.

If it weren't for the fact that his wife, children, and even the entire Freeman family bloodline, as well as the vast network of relationships deeply intertwined with his interests, were all firmly rooted in the "Blazing Fire Zone," he would have been in a different situation.

It was impossible to safely transfer so many important personnel and a large amount of wealth out of the empire's tight surveillance system.

He wanted to flee immediately.

After contacting his most trusted and closest political ally in the imperial high command—the governor of "Thousand Streams Court," the wealthiest administrative district in the empire, and also his "good older brother" with whom he had known each other for many years and whose interests were deeply intertwined—Torg Chambers.

Torge's words reassured Calvin considerably.

"...Think about it carefully. What if His Majesty has really obtained irrefutable evidence from His Highness the Imperial Consort that is enough to sentence you to death?"

Would she still be so 'polite' as to issue a formal summons, giving you the opportunity to enter Constantinople and the palace with dignity?
Given His Majesty's decisive and ruthless style, the moment you receive the order, the Imperial Censorate or the Imperial Guards will likely be at the gates of your governor's mansion and arrest you on the spot.

They've been secretly escorted back to the capital, giving you absolutely no time to react or prepare.

In my opinion, the most likely explanation is that His Highness the Imperial Consort complained to His Majesty a few times after returning to the capital.

For example, the security situation in the "Liuhuo District" is worrying. Bandits run rampant and even dare to attack the carriage of the Imperial Consort.

It startled him a bit, and he also lost face.

His Majesty would naturally have to respond to this.

That's why they specifically summoned you, the regional governor, most likely to reprimand you in person, give you a warning, and tell you to properly rectify the security situation within your territory.

It's not a big deal at all. If you don't go now because you're scared or try to run away, that's the real guilty conscience, and you're just admitting it without being asked.

"If all the suspicion and blame are directed at you, that's suicide, and no one can save you."

Thorger's words calmed Calvin down.

After much deliberation and internal struggle, Governor Calvin finally gritted his teeth and decided to go to Constantine.

This explains why he stands nervously and anxiously in the outer court waiting room, like a prisoner awaiting final judgment.

Despite the comfort of Torg's analysis, actually standing before this magnificent building, a symbol of the empire's highest power, one feels the omnipresent majesty and oppression.

His inner fear and anxiety were still difficult to completely subside.

All he could do was silently repeat Torg's words in his mind, forcing himself to cheer up and praying that the worst would not happen.

……

In the deserted waiting room, Calvin's attention was fixed on the carved door of the reception room that led to the heart of power.

Every slight footstep outside the corridor, every turn of the door hinges, and even the faint sounds of conversations coming from afar would draw his intense attention.

He desperately wanted to see a familiar face—whether a colleague, an old acquaintance, or even a political enemy—to at least offer a tiny bit of psychological comfort from this suffocating, completely unknown, and isolated wait.

Time ticked by in anxious waiting.

Finally, with a creaking sound as the door opened, a Rose Guard entered, her gaze falling on Calvin, and announced without any emotion:

“Governor Calvin Freeman, His Majesty is currently in the council chamber and summons you for an immediate audience. Please follow me.”

Despite being mentally prepared, Calvin still couldn't help but shudder when the final summons actually arrived.

He stood up almost reflexively, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and trying his best to put on a calm and composed expression.

After adjusting the front and cuffs of his dress once more, he took a deep breath and, with slightly stiff steps, followed the expressionless female guard out of the reception room.

Passing through the heavily guarded palace corridors, the female guards stopped before a massive gate carved with the imperial emblem.

Two royal guards standing by the door silently pushed open the door that symbolized the highest center of power in the empire.

In an instant, a solemn and dignified atmosphere swept over us.

Calvin held his breath, lowered his head slightly, and cautiously stepped into the brightly lit, spacious, and magnificent Imperial Council Hall.

His gaze swept quickly across the hall.

Her Majesty Shinise Klein, the supreme ruler of the empire, sat upon the throne at the far end of the hall.

Dressed in a simple yet dignified dark court dress, he held a document in his hand and was intently discussing something with several high-ranking officials standing below the imperial steps.

The sight of those figures standing below the steps made Calvin's heart skip a beat.

The Prime Minister, the mature and prudent Duke of Hayes.

The Minister of War, Prince Heinz, was a powerful and ruthless figure.

There were also three or four department heads, some he recognized and some he didn't, dressed in the highest-ranking uniforms or robes of their respective departments.

This was clearly a high-level military and political conference concerning important matters of the empire.

Seeing this, Calvin, who had been on tenterhooks, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

With so many people here, it's unlikely that this is directed at me.

He quickly quickened his pace, bringing himself to a suitable distance below the steps. Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee in the most standard and respectful posture, bowing his head in greeting, and proclaimed in a clear voice:
"Your Majesty, I, Calvin Freeman, Governor of the 'Blazing Fire District,' am here by imperial decree!"

Just as Calvin was secretly rejoicing at the large number of people in the council chamber and the atmosphere that seemed to be a "trial" not directed at him alone.

Seated in the main seat, Shanis slowly put down the documents in her hand, without engaging in any customary pleasantries or asking any routine questions about the district's administrative affairs.

Instead, he uttered a sentence that nearly made Calvin's breath catch in his throat:
"Viscount Freeman, is the 'Blazing Fire District' still part of the Central Empire?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire council hall fell into a deathly silence.

Even Prince Heinz and Prime Minister Hayes, who were discussing military affairs in hushed tones, abruptly stopped what they were doing.

Their faces simultaneously showed expressions of extreme astonishment.

They all turned their shocked gazes to the Empress on the throne, then abruptly turned to Calvin kneeling on the ground.

They had no idea why His Majesty would suddenly ask such a serious question.
This is practically the most severe accusation ever leveled against a high-ranking official.

But they were all seasoned political veterans, and after the initial shock, their thoughts raced.

Considering His Majesty's unusual move of suddenly summoning a regional governor to participate in the military district rotation meeting, and then hearing this earth-shattering question...

A chilling speculation began to surface in their minds.

Something big has happened in the "Liuhuo District," something that shakes the foundations of the regime and involves issues of loyalty.

Could it be that Freeman has ulterior motives?
Or is there a large-scale rebellion or loss of control within the region?
All sorts of terrifying speculations made their gaze toward Calvin instantly sharpen.

As the direct recipient of these words, Calvin Freeman felt a deafening buzz in his head the moment he heard the Empress's question. His vision went black, and a chilling fear, enough to freeze his blood, shot through his entire body.

He could clearly feel the calm gaze from above the throne, as well as the suddenly chilling stares from Prince Heinz, Chancellor Hayes, and other high-ranking officials on either side.

He explained in a flustered manner:
"Your Majesty, the Blazing Fire Zone is of course part of the Empire's territory!"

I, Calvin Freeman, will always be a subject of the Empire!

Shanis said calmly:
"Five days ago, His Highness the Crown Prince was attacked in the Lahasa Desert. How do you explain that?"

Calvin's heart sank; it really was because of this. He quickly replied:

"Your Majesty, it is my fault for failing to govern effectively and for not strictly managing my subordinates."

This led to rampant banditry within the region, disturbing His Highness the Emperor's presence.

Having caused such a calamity, I am willing to accept all punishment from Your Majesty without complaint!

He took all the blame on "poor public security" and "bandits," which was the only option he could choose and seemed to be the most reasonable way to plead guilty.

Prime Minister Hayes and Prince Heinz were also very surprised when they heard about this.

Cohen was attacked in the desert?

No, it should be: Who was so blind as to attack Cohen?
Xenise turned to Prince Heinz, her tone softening considerably:

"Uncle Wang, it seems the security situation within the Liuhuo District has reached a point where a strong and thorough overhaul is necessary."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Prince Heinz's eyes. As the Imperial Minister of Military Affairs, he held the power to mobilize troops nationwide.

He has consistently worked to strengthen the central government’s direct control and influence over the military forces of each administrative region, thereby reducing the potential risk of local governors becoming too powerful with their own armies.

The "Blazing Fire Zone" has a complex environment, with bandits and local mercenary groups deeply intertwined, making it one of the key areas he wants to "rectify".

Now, Her Majesty the Empress has demanded military reorganization of the "Liuhuo District" on the grounds of "the attack on the Imperial Consort" and "unrest in public order".

This is a golden opportunity.

Governor Calvin, kneeling below the steps, immediately understood the purpose of his summons the moment he heard the Empress's words.

Did he want the Central Army to directly occupy his territory to "eliminate the bandits"?
This was tantamount to holding a sharp knife directly to his neck.

In the future, his many gray-area operations and independent rights within the division will inevitably be subject to severe restrictions and surveillance.

His immediate instinct was to argue, politely refuse, or at least try to gain some leeway.

But at this moment, she was still burdened with the serious crime of "failing to protect the Emperor's consort," so she could only silently accept the decision.

Shanis quickly said:
"Then please send a capable army to Liuhuo District to wipe out the sand bandits."

……

After the council meeting ended, Xenias returned to her bedchamber, her gaze immediately falling on a comfortable and spacious couch by the window.

Cohen was leisurely reclining on the couch, casually flipping through the treasured books of the Klein royal family from generation to generation.

Hearing Shanis's footsteps, Cohen slowly raised his head and closed the ancient book in his hands.

Shanis approached Cohen, the empress's majesty on her stunningly beautiful face slightly diminished, and said:
"The matter is settled, and Calvin indeed didn't dare to say anything more."

Cohen smiled slightly and said:

"This means the military will be locked in a dogfight with the local governors, led by Torg, who are the real power faction."

Shanis was clearly much more relaxed and even cracked a joke, which was quite unusual for her:

"What about your little girlfriend? She didn't secretly do anything 'bad' in my bedroom while I was away, did she?"

Cohen stepped forward and embraced Shanies, pressing his lips close to her pale earlobe and whispering:
"All I want to do right now is do bad things to you!"

Before he could finish speaking, his kiss had already gently landed on Shanis's slender neck, filled with boundless affection and burning passion...

……

In Florence, at the royal palace, a spatial fluctuation emanated, and a silver-white light gate silently rotated and opened.

Two figures stepped out of the portal one after the other.

Stepping onto the familiar, pristine white floor of the Florence Royal Palace, Cohen breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally back!

Adele was still handling state affairs in the front court, and Cohen did not disturb her.

He then spoke gently to Nephthys beside him:
"You should go back and rest first; you must be tired from the journey."

We'll investigate the Black Rose Key matter further later.

Nephthys nodded obediently. She did feel somewhat tired, especially with the vast memories that had suddenly awakened in her bloodline, which required time to calmly sort out.

After seeing Nephthys off, Cohen turned and walked straight towards the other side of the palace, towards Windsordler's bedroom area.

When he arrived at the gates of Windsordler's palace, which was filled with the natural atmosphere and adorned with vines and flowers, the fairy lady, who had already sensed his return, hurriedly came out to greet him.

Windsordler's face showed obvious tension and a hint of unease.

As soon as she saw Cohen, she hurried forward, lowered her voice, and spoke with a hint of resentment amidst her eagerness:
"You're finally back! Do you know how long Her Majesty the Queen has been waiting for you?"

The Queen that Windsordler refers to is the Elf Queen, Vilekis.

Virekis didn't come of her own volition; rather, she was sent by Cohen through a secret messenger.

However, Windsordler was clearly unaware of this. In her heart, Queen Vilekis was her most respected and beloved elder and mentor, a sacred and inviolable symbol of the Elven race.

As her husband, Cohen should naturally be considered the Queen's junior.

Now that her elders have come looking for Cohen, but Cohen hasn't returned yet, Windsordler is naturally anxious.

Not to mention that given Virekis's status and position among the elves, the fact that she would condescend to come in person was truly something Windsordler didn't know what to do.

If it weren't for Virekis's repeated requests for Windsordler to keep it a secret, she would have wanted Adele to hold a grand welcoming ceremony.

Cohen smiled and hugged Windsordler, whispering:

"Alright, Her Majesty the Queen is staying at the state guesthouse, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll go now. Tell Adel and the others that I'm back."

"I understand. Go ahead."

……

As Cohen stepped into the state guesthouse in Florence, which is used to receive the most distinguished guests, before he could even take in the furnishings and environment of the hall, he felt a distortion in his vision.

When their vision returned, they found themselves standing in front of an absolutely stunning beauty.

Directly in front of him was a magnificent couch meticulously crafted from thousand-year-old agarwood and moonlight silk.

A woman with an exquisitely graceful figure, seemingly embodying all the beauty and charm of heaven and earth, leaned against the wall in a languid and alluring manner.

She wore a light purple dress, the hem of which fell casually, outlining breathtaking curves, and her beauty surpassed the limits of what worldly words could describe.

It was a breathtaking beauty that blended an inviolable majesty with an alluring charm that captivated all beings, a paradox that was both contradictory and harmonious to the extreme.

As the previous number one beauty of the continent, Vilekis possesses a mysterious and alluring charm that is hard to resist.

Fortunately, Cohen was used to seeing stunning beauties, so he didn't lose his composure and spoke first:
"Your Majesty, it's been a long time."

Thank you, Your Majesty, for accepting our invitation.

Virekis, sitting on the soft couch, did not immediately respond to Cohen's greeting, but instead looked Cohen up and down as he stood in front of her.

It seemed as if they wanted to see him completely, from the outside in, from his body to his soul.

She had learned quite a bit about Cohen's experiences during this time.

Whether it's suddenly transforming into the consort of the most powerful empire in human history, or sweeping through the silver and gold ranks at the Noble Martial Arts Festival.

Whether it was receiving blessings from a large number of gods of the highest order, it was something that Virekis, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, found hard to believe.

She could clearly sense that the energy level and soul essence contained within Cohen, who was standing in front of her at this moment, were different from when they last met.

A terrifying transformation has already taken place.

It was an unknown power that even she felt a little uneasy about.

Such a rate of growth is simply impossible for ordinary people to achieve!

Virekis stared at Cohen silently for a long while before her alluring red lips, as delicate as rose petals, finally parted slightly:

"You...you're really not a reincarnation of a god?" (End of Chapter)