Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Hearing Grace's resentful reply, Cohen felt a chill run down his spine and quickly lowered his tone, explaining:
"Your Highness, I'm innocent! This really wasn't my idea."

I'm just a Gold-rank cultivator; how could I possibly resist in front of that person?

You must believe me, this was absolutely not my intention.

Then came another round of coaxing and deception, using soft words and gentle persuasion.

Cohen used almost every trick in the book to finally calm the princess's anger on the other end of the communication stone.

Grace threw a little tantrum for a while, complaining and grumbling for a bit, before reluctantly turning the conversation back to business.

Seeing that Grace was no longer dwelling on the matter, Cohen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the most difficult hurdle was finally over.

As expected, everything went exactly as Adel and Cohen had anticipated. Grace did indeed come to ask Cohen to accompany her to the Hell dimension.

After calming herself down a bit, her voice became serious again:

"You have now officially entered the eighth rank. Based on your combat strength, you should be able to put up a fight against a legendary rank opponent."

Cohen understood what Grace meant and said with a light laugh:

"Please do not hesitate to ask if Your Highness needs anything."

Grace smiled gently and said:
"In the few months since I returned to China, the domestic situation has changed rapidly."

Especially after this Noble Martial Arts Festival, Xia Zuo seemed to have been stimulated by something and accelerated his preparations.

Also, the recent battle on Ash Plains, the military power you displayed made him extremely nervous.

He has formally submitted a plan for a full-scale conquest of Hell to the Imperial Military Council.

According to my information, the Imperial army will officially set off for the Hell Plane in as little as three months.

The target of the first battle was my great-grandfather, the great devil Zariel, the ruler of Aphonas, the first level of hell.

So I plan to go to hell in the next couple of days to contact my great-grandfather in advance.

Ideally, we should gain his support, or at least give him some time to prepare.

Cohen agreed without much thought:
"Okay, I'll go with you."

Cohen's unwavering attitude and answer felt like a warm current instantly flowing through Grace's body.

The jealousy and resentment that had arisen in my heart because of the "accident" just now vanished in an instant.

On the other end of the communication stone, the voice unconsciously became much softer, even carrying a hint of coquettish gentleness:
"Then let's set the date for three days from now. I'll come to Effie to find you."

"it is good!"

……

At this moment, the entire war situation in the Kingdom of Ceylon has completely turned in favor of Efein.

With frequent reports of victories from the front, Gaius's forces could only retreat to a few important city-states and put up a stubborn resistance.

The overall situation is settled, and there is indeed no longer a need for King Cohen to personally oversee and command.

He only needs to wait three months for the crucial naval battle that will ultimately determine Ceylon's fate. Then he can return and deliver the final blow.

Having made up his mind, Cohen no longer delayed.

He quickly arrived at the palace and told Adele about Grace's request and his own decision.

Adele gave a soft snort and said:

"Go ahead, lest people say that I, the rightful queen, am narrow-minded, jealous, and intolerant of others."

Cohen immediately stepped forward and gently embraced her.

She lowered her head, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, and said with a smile:

"How could that be? My sister is so good to me, who would dare to say that?"

Adele let him hold her, but her expression gradually became much more serious.

She raised her hand and gently stroked Cohen's cheek, her gaze serious.

"The Hell Plane is a forbidden place that even saints are unwilling to easily set foot in."

Each of the nine levels of hell is filled with endless conspiracies, treachery, and unimaginable dangers. You must be extremely careful on your journey.

Let me know immediately if anything happens.

"Okay, don't worry, sis, I'll be back safely."

……

Deep within the Dragon City Imperial Palace, the heart of power in the Eastern Empire, on the Land of Dragons.

In a solemnly decorated imperial study, Emperor Eberron Tang, the supreme ruler of the vast Dragon Empire, sat behind a massive desk.

He had just finished reviewing a memorial concerning border military equipment when, at that moment, the heavy wooden door of his study was silently pushed open.

His daughter, Princess Grace, entered with graceful steps.

Grace walked to the desk, bowed slightly, and said softly:

"Father, I plan to make a trip to the Northwest Continent."

Eberron's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

He leaned back slightly into the wide dragon throne and asked in a calm tone:

"Having just returned from the Central Empire, I'm about to leave again."

What's it about this time?

Grace said in a very serious tone:

"Isn't Yann currently working with King Gaius of Ceylon to build a ghost ship fleet? He's been quite busy in the Endless Sea lately."

I can't handle this matter right now, so I thought I'd go over and keep an eye on things for him, so he won't suffer any losses later.

With me here, the Ceylon Navy wouldn't dare to try anything sneaky.

Moreover, this also concerns our country's future maritime interests.

Eberron's eyes became much more playful. He was now almost certain that his nominal fiancé, the legendary "Pirate King" Yann Hughes, was the one to be betrothed.

His true identity is none other than Cohen Corleone, the King of Effie, who has risen to prominence in recent years and stirred up a storm across the entire continent.

The real purpose of my precious daughter's so-called "official trip" was definitely not to discuss any damned cooperation.

Instead, she couldn't wait to go to the Northwest Continent to see the man she had been dreaming of!
Eberron gazed silently at his daughter, whose thoughts had already wandered far away.

Although he had a general idea of ​​Grace's true purpose for this trip, he couldn't quite figure out what she was going to do.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke in a slow, steady tone:
"Didn't I say before that I would have Ya'en come to the Eastern Empire after the Noble Martial Arts Festival?"

As the emperor, I need to see my future son-in-law with my own eyes to put my mind at ease!

Aberron paused, his gaze becoming more focused as he looked directly at Grace:

"So, when do you plan to bring him to meet Father Emperor?"

This seemingly ordinary question inexplicably made Grace feel flustered.

Her slender fingers unconsciously curled up slightly, and her eyes flickered for a moment.

He quickly racked his brains for a response, and after a moment raised his eyes, trying to maintain a calm expression, and replied:
"Father, as you know, in order to be worthy of the husband of the eldest princess of the Eastern Region Empire."

He's currently busy adventuring in the Endless Sea and simply can't spare the time.

"How about I have him come to pay his respects to Father Emperor when he has time?"

Emperor Eberron did not press the matter further, but instead waved his hand gently, his tone regaining its usual majesty and composure:
"Go early and come back early, and be careful."

Upon hearing this, Grace breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed in response:
"Yes! Your daughter understands! She will certainly remember Father's teachings!"

After speaking, she seemed afraid that if she lingered any longer, she would give herself away under her father's sharp, eagle-like gaze.

He gave a hasty bow, then turned and hurried away as if fleeing.

Watching his daughter's hurried departure, the playful smile in Eberron's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deep contemplation.

Grace's slightly hurried footsteps had just disappeared at the end of the corridor outside the Imperial Study, and the study fell silent again.

Just then, a blurry figure, like a shadow, silently emerged from the shadows in the corner of the study.

The figure bowed deeply to Emperor Eberron, who sat regally on the dragon throne, and asked in a low, almost inaudible voice:
"Your Majesty, this involves crossing two continents. Should we send people to secretly protect the princess's safety?"

Eberlen did not answer immediately.

His gaze remained fixed on the direction Grace had gone, and after a long silence, he slowly shook his head.

"No need. If Grace is really going to see Cohen, then no matter who you send, he will easily find out."

This would only expose the fact that we've already seen through his identity.

The shadowy figure trembled slightly, seemingly surprised by the emperor's judgment.

He hesitated for a moment, a hint of surprise in his voice that he couldn't hide:

"Does Your Majesty imagine this young king to be too formidable?"

Eberon shook his head slowly again.

He raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the dome of the imperial study, looking towards some distant and mysterious place.

His voice became unusually low and slow: "The blessing ceremony by the gods after the Noble Martial Arts Festival was not made public, and many people do not really know what happened that day."

But through special channels in the divine realm, I found out everything that happened that day.

It is said that this mysterious King of Efein had an unusually close relationship with the two elemental gods.

It's not just a simple favor, but some deeper connection, and according to the speculation of a certain deity, this King Corleone..."

Emperor Eberron lowered his voice, and a rare hint of fear flashed across his usually dignified and composed face, as if he had touched upon a secret that even he found hard to believe or even frightening.

Seeing that the emperor seemed unwilling to discuss the secrets of Cohen and the gods any further, the blurry figure wisely stopped pressing the matter and instead continued:
"Assuming the princess really is going to see Cohen, are we just going to let the two of them continue like this?"
You should know that Cohen Corleone is still the Crown Prince of the Central Empire, as proclaimed by the world. He has one foot in the Central Empire and the other in our Princess.

"If the situation on the continent changes drastically in the future, and the Eastern Empire and the Central Empire inevitably head towards confrontation, Your Highness's situation will become extremely dangerous and awkward."

Emperor Eberron recovered from his momentary shock, his face showing no worry. Instead, he smiled gently and shook his head.

"Teacher."

His tone carried a hint of respect for elders, yet also a calm composure born of worldly wisdom:

"You are my guide on the path to transcendence, but you still don't understand the subtleties of the political situation between the various countries on the continent."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp:

"Cohen Corleone's status as the Crown Prince of the Central Empire is not an enemy to us; on the contrary, he is very likely to become our most important ally in the future!"

The figure whom Eberron called "Teacher"—the Saint Alfie Beryl of the Temple of a Hundred Stars—couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

The halo around him rippled slightly, clearly surprised by this assertion:
"I don't understand. Does this mean that in the future, on the chessboard of the struggle for supremacy on the continent, we are going to cooperate with that behemoth, the Central Empire?"

Emperor Eberron revealed an even more enigmatic smile:

"Teacher, you've misunderstood. It's not about cooperating with the Central Empire, but with the Emperor of the Central Empire!"

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.

The light and shadow around Saint Alphius flickered violently. Clearly, even this well-informed saint was deeply shocked and bewildered by this completely unexpected answer.

……

On the shores of Emerald Lake, a tranquil estate surrounded by lush trees sits quietly beside the shimmering water.

The afternoon sun shines through layers of leaves, casting dappled golden light that makes the white stone building look especially warm and dreamy.

It is one of the many properties owned by the Corleone royal family in Emerald Lake, and is also a private place for His Majesty the King, Queen, and Princesses to enjoy leisure activities.

A luxurious carriage gently stopped outside the manor gate. The curtain was lifted, and a striking figure gracefully leaned out.

Her Highness the Princess was clearly dressed up carefully today.

Instead of wearing her usual ornate royal attire, she opted for a fashionable outfit full of summer charm.

A wide-brimmed hat adorned with delicate lace was perched askew on her cloud-like long hair. Beneath the brim, her stunningly beautiful face was flawless and radiant, seemingly radiating all the light, making it impossible to look away.

She wore a well-tailored light blue dress, simple and elegant in style, which perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.

The skirt swayed gently in the breeze, exuding a fresh and lively vibe.

At this moment, Grace did not look like a high-ranking princess, but rather like a socialite who was about to go on a trip with her sweetheart, radiating youth and vitality.

Cohen was naturally waiting at the manor gate early on.

Seeing that Grace was alighting from the carriage alone, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He quickly went to greet her and said with concern:

"Why didn't Your Highness bring even a maid?"

This journey must have been exhausting.

Grace raised her slender hand and gently adjusted the brim of her hat, glancing sideways at Cohen and giving him a very handsome eye roll:

"how?

Do you really think of me as some delicate young lady who can't live without being waited on hand and foot?

She straightened her back, displaying an independence and spirit that seemed somewhat at odds with her slightly feminine attire:
"I am not that weak!"

Upon seeing this, Cohen immediately put on a smile and quickly replied:

"Yes, yes, I misspoke."

He stepped forward, extending his hand naturally in an inviting gesture, his gaze fixed intently on Grace:
"In that case, I will personally serve Your Highness from now on, how about that?"

His words were clearly teasing and ambiguous, and his eyes lingered unabashedly on Grace's captivating figure.

Grace blushed slightly under his direct gaze, but did not look away.

She gave a soft hum and placed her hand on Cohen's arm.

The two walked hand in hand along the cobblestone path into the depths of the manor.

Grace slightly raised her chin, gently adjusted the brim of her hat with her slender fingers, and explained in a relaxed tone:

"There were actually two maids accompanying us on the way to the Northwest Continent."

Her gaze swept over the tranquil scenery of the lake and mountains around her:
"But since they came to Effie to find you, I'll let them go back first."

"Don't worry, besides being the eldest princess of the empire, I'm also a ninth-tier transcendent being."

Upon hearing this, Cohen was slightly taken aback, and then carefully sensed the increasingly condensed energy fluctuations emanating from Grace.

Sure enough, she had already broken through to the peak of the Gold rank without her noticing, and was only one step away from becoming a Legendary.

No wonder she was so eager to go to the dangerous Hell dimension, Cohen suddenly understood.

The two strolled along the grassy path by the lake, chatting casually.

A gentle breeze swept across the lake, bringing with it a moist mist and the fragrance of flowers and grass. After a while, Grace suddenly stopped, turned to face Cohen, and looked at him intently:
When are you planning to leave?

Cohen answered almost without hesitation:

"Anytime is fine, I'm all ready."

Grace's eyes widened:

"You mean, I traveled across the entire continent and thousands of miles to Effie, but you won't even let me into your palace for a seat?"
Are you that afraid of your Queen?

A helpless, wry smile immediately appeared on Cohen's face. He quickly waved his hand and explained:
"Your Highness, what are you saying? My palace is always open to you."

Isn't this because I'm afraid of delaying your important business?

After all, traveling to the Hellish realm is of great importance. Preparing and departing sooner will put Your Highness at ease, won't it?"

Grace let out a soft, ambiguous hum, then turned briskly and strode towards the manor gates.

"Anyway, there's no rush. I haven't officially met your queen yet, and my future sisters. Take me to see them all."

By the way, is Isa at the palace? I haven't been able to contact her lately.

"After you took the dignified daughter of the Golden Wing into your harem, how come you've disappeared without a trace?"

Cohen quickly walked a few steps to her side and slightly turned to lead the way for her.

A helpless smile appeared on his face as he explained:

"Isha is not in the main plane recently, so it's normal that you can't contact her."

I'll ask her when I get back, and if she's not too busy, I'll ask her to come back and see you.

Upon hearing this answer, Grace's slightly tense profile seemed to soften a little.

She gave a soft "hmm," her voice becoming lighter and more cheerful.
"That's more like it. Come on, show me around Florence!"

The two walked slowly along the tree-lined path, one after the other, towards the Effie Palace.

……

Grace came in disguise this time, so naturally she couldn't make such a big fuss.

She followed Cohen and quietly entered the grounds of the Effie Palace via a secluded side path.

Within the palace walls, lush trees provide ample shade, creating a tranquil and solemn atmosphere.

However, before Cohen could even deliver the message, Grace's gaze was involuntarily drawn to a tall figure in front of her.

At the end of the path leading to the main hall, a woman of unparalleled beauty stood quietly, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded her with a soft golden edge, but even without this halo, her own natural elegance was enough to make everything around her pale in comparison.

It was a blend of the majesty of supreme power and the elegance of ultimate beauty, graceful and noble, with a beauty that could rival the most beautiful women in the world.

On this continent, the only one who could possess such beauty and grace is Queen Adel Angelion, hailed as the "most beautiful woman on the continent."

With Adele's current strength and control over the palace, no disturbance can escape her notice.

Although Grace tried her best to conceal her presence, the bloodline of a high succubus in her body could not be hidden from Adele.

Grace's heart skipped a beat.

Despite her previous confident pronouncements that she would personally meet the Queen, when she actually faced Adele, she couldn't help but feel an indescribable emotion.

This feeling was quite strange. She was the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire, with an extremely high status, while the other party was nominally just the queen of a small country.

Even though Yadel's cultivation level might be higher and her appearance might be slightly better, the innate nobility and pressure emanating from the depths of her soul made even this jewel of the empire, who was used to grand occasions, feel a sense of self-deprecation and restraint.

Before Grace could think further, Adele slowly stepped forward, standing before her. A gentle smile graced her exquisite face as she extended her slender, white hand, as if it were a work of art, and softly said:

"Your Highness Grace, welcome to Effie!" (End of Chapter)