Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

With just a simple sentence and a single gesture, Adele revealed the hostess's poise and elegance.

Without any deliberate gesture, she naturally became the absolute victor in this invisible confrontation. The dignified princess of the Eastern Empire had no ability to resist in front of Yadel.

Grace took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the complex emotions surging within her.

He slowly reached out and gently grasped Ada's cool, soft fingertips, maintaining a polite smile on his face, and softly replied:
"I have long heard of Her Majesty's unparalleled beauty as the most beautiful woman on the continent. Today I am finally fortunate enough to meet her. She truly lives up to her reputation."

Adele simply smiled faintly upon hearing this.

However, it was this seemingly indifferent smile that seemed to brighten the surrounding light.

The stunning charm she exuded even caused Grace, who was also a stunning beauty, to feel a strange flutter in her heart.

The two exchanged a few more polite words, their conversation seemingly harmonious, but in reality, every word contained a subtle barb.

This made Cohen, who was waiting on the side, feel extremely uncomfortable and restless. He wished he could just disappear into the shadow dimension and run away.

He was just worried that if he ran away, Grace would be completely crushed by her sister, the Queen.

Finally, Adele gave a graceful bow and said:
"I am busy with state affairs, so I will not accompany Your Highness. Let Cohen show you around the palace."

after all……"

His gaze shifted to Cohen, who was now restless, and he gave him a deep look before saying:

"This will be your home sooner or later, so get familiar with it beforehand."

After saying that, he turned and left without lingering.

The stunning figure cast a long, solitary shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun, gradually disappearing into the depths of the palace.

Only when Adele's figure was completely out of sight did Grace let out a long sigh of relief, as if all her strength had been drained away.

She felt as if she had just fought a tough battle and was suddenly relaxing after being under intense mental pressure.

Her long, slender legs suddenly went weak, and her body swayed involuntarily.

Fortunately, Cohen had been watching her closely and quickly stepped forward, extending his strong arm to steady her.

Otherwise, this esteemed princess would probably collapse on the floor of the Effie Palace.

Cohen steadied Grace, who was swaying slightly, and said in a low voice with a look of both amusement and exasperation on his face:
"Your Highness, you can't be serious."

Grace steadied herself with his help, then raised her foot, clad in an elegant high heel, as if to step on Cohen, and said reproachfully:

"Just who is your queen? This innate noble air and the air that even I feel pressured about are not something that can be cultivated in an ordinary noble family."

Cohen himself had many doubts about Adel's true origins.

After all, not everyone can be valued as highly as the Ice God, who is at the level of a supreme elemental god, and whose relationship with him is even subtly one of equality.

But since the Queen had never brought it up, he was unwilling to delve into it further.

In his view, no matter what secrets Adele might be hiding, it would not change the deep affection and unbreakable relationship between the two.

He simply smiled and skillfully changed the subject:
"I've already contacted Isa, and she's almost finished dealing with things there. She should be able to get back tonight."

Sure enough, Grace's attention was immediately diverted upon hearing that her best friend was about to arrive.

A clear look of happiness appeared on his face, and he hurriedly urged:
"That's more like it. You should urge her to hurry up, so that I, an outsider, won't be bullied when I'm in an unfamiliar place."

Upon hearing this, Cohen couldn't help but grin, revealing a slightly mocking smile:
"Who in this world would dare to bully you, my Princess!"

Grace gave a soft hum and raised her delicate chin:
"Lead the way. Where is your Princess Windsor? It's been a long time. Let's go see if that winged elf is still as arrogant as before."

Recalling the bickering and arguing between Grace and Windsor in the Lost Lands, Cohen couldn't help but smile helplessly.

These two are indeed old "acquaintances".

He shrugged and explained:
"Windsor is currently busy overseeing the deployment of new equipment in various military regions and may not be able to return in time. Let me ask him."

Grace, however, raised an eyebrow and gently pushed Cohen away.
"Is that the legendary long-distance teleportation array? With something this convenient, how could you not get back in time?"
Tell her to come back quickly! Her old friend is coming; how can she, as the princess, not show up?

Seeing Grace's "I have to see her" expression, Cohen could only shake his head with a smile, knowing that she was venting her grievances and dissatisfaction at being "suppressed" by Adele earlier.

I had no choice but to agree:

"Okay, I'll ask her now."

……

Time flies, and it has been five days since Grace arrived in Florence.

Isabella rushed back from the distant Dragon Plane on the very night Grace arrived.

These two best friends, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, had endless things to talk about as soon as they met.

They directly occupied the princess's bedroom, refusing to let Cohen in.

As a result, Cohen, who had hoped to spend some quality time with Isabella after her long absence, didn't even get a chance to get close to her.

Two days later, Windsordler rushed back from the Southeast Military District.

Several women with special identities rarely get together, so this was a small reunion.

However, happy times are always short-lived.

Isabella and Windsordler each had heavy responsibilities on their shoulders and did not stay in Florence for long.

After a brief reunion, they went their separate ways again, throwing themselves back into their busy work.

Over the past few days, Grace, accompanied by Cohen, has toured Florence and its surrounding famous sights.

Now that I think about it, it's about time.

The two packed their belongings and prepared to set off for the unknown and dangerous hellish dimension.

The Hell Plane, a forbidden place feared throughout the multiverse, has an origin that can be traced back to the beginning of creation.

It and the main plane that carries countless living beings are like twins of light and shadow, born from the same fluctuation of primordial law.

Its creator was none other than Thanatos, the first god of death, who held the reins of life and death and whose majesty was unfathomable.

Guided by its supreme authority, it forged the Nine Hells, the final resting place of the dead and a prison for sins.

The Nine Hells Plane is not a single plane, but a vast and harsh plane system.

Beyond the core of the Hellish plane lies a host of subsidiary planes, each with its own distinct rules and bizarre landscapes.

The most infamous and terrifying of them all is the abyss of the underworld.

It is like a bottomless dark vortex, eternally devouring light and hope; it is the ultimate prison specifically designed to imprison those extremely evil beings who cannot even easily accept death.

The legendary realm of Belmod is modeled after the abyss of the underworld.

After the war between gods and demons came to an end, the defeated demon forces, especially the seventy-two pillar demons who formed the core leadership, met their demise.

Most of these once-powerful beings were sealed or banished to the deepest part of the underworld.

Under the close surveillance of Losanda, the God of Space who governs the origin of space and weaves the warp and weft of order, and Heim, the God of Protection who swore to safeguard the existing order and construct an absolute barrier.

The Hell Plane itself is more commonly referred to as the Nine Hell Planes.

Its vastness and boundless expanse, with a spatial scale identical to that of the human prime mover, are like a dark reflection of the entire world of light.

This is not simply desolation or chaos, but rather a representation and hierarchy of all the sins, desires, betrayals, and darkness of the main plane in an extreme and orderly way.

This is a complete world with a strict structure and cold operation, the final place where negative energy from the multiverse settles and the dark side of order.

The Nine Hells Plane, this austere kingdom shrouded in eternal shadow, has an internal structure resembling a massive and intricate dark pyramid.

It is divided into nine distinct levels, each with its own set of rules. Each level is an independent territory, ruled by a powerful being whose strength and authority are enough to awe all realms.

First level Aphrodite.

This is the gateway to the Nine Hells, a desolate plain repeatedly scorched by the flames of bloody battles.

The ruler is Grand Duke Zariel—a demonic grand duke whose power has reached the middle stage of sainthood.

His fame was built on a glorious victory when he led his army to a head-on defeat and replace the brutal Pit Demon, Bayer, thus being crowned Lord of Aphonas.

Zariel commands the largest demon legion in the Nine Hells and thug armies from various planes. This place is not only the front line against external enemies, but also the sharp spearhead for the Nine Hells' outward expansion.

He was also the great-grandfather of Princess Grace in her bloodline, and the target of Cohen and Grace's trip to hell.

The second level, Dis, is ruled by Grand Duke Dispat, a Saint of the first stage, the chief arms dealer of the Nine Hells, and perhaps the largest weapons supplier in all planes.

The third level, Minauros, is ruled by the demon Grand Duke Mammon, who is now in the same camp as Cohen and is a high-level legendary being.

Mammon is the chief merchant and miser of the Nine Hells. As the lord of Minauros, Mammon oversees the soul trade.

The fourth level, Phrygsos, is the only level in the Nine Hells ruled by two kings.

Belial and Philna, two powerful demonic archduchesses, jointly rule this burning kingdom. Their relationship is complex and dangerous; they are both partners and rivals. Beyond this lies the fifth level, Stygia, an eternally frozen sea. Its ruler is Grand Duke Levestus, who lurks in the frigid abyss, controlling its secrets and waterways.

The sixth level, Lord Gracia of Marbogi, is the embodiment of desire and temptation, who has transformed this place into a realm filled with twisted pleasure and cruel punishment.

The seventh level, Maradomini, is a desolate place filled with ruins and bureaucracy. Grand Prince Barzeb runs his vast but inefficient empire here.

The eighth level, Kania, is a land of endless ice and eternal covenants. Its ruler is Mephistopheles, the eldest and most cunning of the demonic dukes, the undisputed confidant of the King of Hell.

And the very bottom of the Nine Hells, the absolute center of darkness and power.

The supreme ruler of the entire hell plane, Asmodeus, the lord of the ninth level of Nessus.

He is the ultimate master of all hellish demons, the final embodiment of the strict order of the Nine Hells, and his power and authority are unfathomable.

Between the Nine Hells Plane and the Human Main Plane, there are many remaining passages formed due to wars between gods and demons or spatial rifts.

According to the intelligence Cohen possessed, in a remote and sparsely populated area of ​​the vast northwestern continent, there lies a relatively stable spatial passage that leads directly to Minauros, the third level of hell.

Choosing this path to hell was a well-thought-out decision.

Firstly, geographically speaking, the route from Minauros to the territory of Grace's great-grandfather, the first-tier Lord of Afonas, Grand Duke Zariel, is relatively convenient and avoids many unnecessary and dangerous areas.

Secondly, and more importantly, it is because of the existence of Mammon.

For them, who were new to Hell, Minauros, the kingdom of this devil who had allied with Cohen, was undoubtedly a relatively safe and familiar starting point.

Establishing a foothold in the territory of a familiar and powerful figure is always better than venturing directly into a completely unknown and hostile environment, as it allows them to carry out subsequent actions more smoothly.

However, the passages from the main plane to the Nine Hells plane are all under the strict surveillance of the God of Space, especially the passage in the Northwest Continent.

However, all known passages connecting the main plane and the Nine Hells are, without exception, under the close surveillance of the God of Space, Losanda, and his forces.

Especially this passage in the Northwest Continent, because very few people know its exact coordinates, is used far less for smuggling than other popular routes.

This desolation, ironically, makes the spatial barrier here more solid and intact compared to other frequently used passages.

This formidable barrier is difficult for Cohen and Grace to breach silently with their combined strength alone.

The only one capable of solving this problem was the first Elf Queen, the demigod powerhouse Vilekis.

……

Inside the villa by Emerald Lake, Grace followed Cohen into the living room.

When her gaze fell upon the graceful figure by the window, the expression on her face froze instantly, then became exceptionally fascinating.

The woman standing by the window possessed an ethereal and otherworldly air, as if she had gathered all the brilliance of the world.

Her beauty was exceptionally rare, even comparable to that of Queen Adele, who put Grace under pressure.

Yet it carries a completely different, mysterious and ancient charm, like a moonlit forest.

Grace's heart skipped a beat, and a name that had long resounded throughout the continent almost instantly appeared in her mind—the Elf Queen!
Aside from this former "most beautiful woman in mainland China," she couldn't imagine anyone else possessing such breathtaking charm.

Virekis's emerald green eyes swept indifferently over Grace, finally settling on Cohen, a cold smile curving her lips:
"Your Majesty Corleone, is this how you treat Windsor?"
"Keep finding her sisters?"

Cohen's face immediately showed an undisguised embarrassment, and he quickly changed the subject:

“Your Majesty, I haven’t had a chance to introduce you yet. This is Princess Grace Tang, the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire. I’m going to accompany her to the Hell Plane this time.”

Then, he turned to Grace, who still looked somewhat dazed, and introduced her:

“Your Highness, this is the current Queen of the Elven race, and also Windsor’s mentor and most important guide.”

The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became subtle because of this unexpected meeting.

Two stunningly beautiful women, each with a different background but both intricate connections to Cohen, stirred up an undercurrent in this tranquil space.

As the officiant at Cohen and Windsordler's wedding and an elder of Windsordler, Vireikis treated Windsordler like her own daughter.

Seeing her "son-in-law" constantly finding sisters for Windsordler, she naturally didn't have a good impression of him.

Grace was equally hostile. This was the first time she had heard of Virekis's existence, such a beautiful woman living in Cohen's private villa.

This ambiguous relationship makes it hard not to have some suspicions.

After the introductions were finished, the two still showed no reaction.

Cohen said helplessly:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, we have more important things to do later, so let's not let these trivial matters cause us any unpleasantness!"

Virekis snorted softly, and seeing Cohen's submissive and begging expression, she stopped being angry about it.

His gaze fell upon the shimmering waves of Emerald Lake outside the window, and the lines of his profile appeared exceptionally distinct in the light and shadow.
"You'd better watch out in the Hell Plane. Among the Lords of the Nine Hells, apart from Mammon, that half-baked duke who barely made it into the ranks of Grand Dukes through his business acumen, who is still only a Legendary rank."

The other eight were all at least Saints in cultivation.

In particular, Asmodeus, who sits deep within Nessus, is someone who has long since touched the threshold of demigodhood.

You can't even withstand a single move from him.

Remember to be careful; I don't want to get dragged into this for no reason.

Cohen knew that Virekis was referring to the life-and-death pact between them, so he repeatedly assured her:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will only be involved in the first three levels of Hell this time, and I will not wander into the later levels."

I assure you, I would never risk my life.

Virekis's scrutinizing gaze lingered between the two for a moment, finally settling into a barely audible sigh:

"As long as you know what's going on, let's go."

……

After making their decision, Cohen and his two companions did not linger in Florence for long, with the help of the demigod-level powerhouse, Vireikis.

They soon arrived at the territory of a little-known principality in the northwest continent.

This place is remote, with rolling hills and sparse population.

Based on his hazy memories from his past life, Cohen could only roughly determine the area where the passage might exist, but he could not pinpoint its exact location.

Therefore, he secretly contacted the head of the Military Intelligence Bureau stationed in the principality.

Wherever there is a hidden spatial passage, various supernatural phenomena often occur around it due to energy leakage.

Not long after, the news came back.

Near a small mountain village deep in the mountains, villagers have been reporting sightings of strange creatures in recent years, and local livestock often become inexplicably agitated or disappear.

The three immediately set off for the small mountain village.

When they stepped into a grove of dead trees behind the village, they could sense an extremely faint but unusually cold spatial fluctuation even without consciously trying to perceive it.

Virekis closed her eyes, her slender fingers tracing a line in the air. A moment later, she opened her eyes, a knowing glint in them.

He gestured for Cohen and Grace to step back.

She slowly raised her hand, palm facing upward, and an indescribable, immense power began to gather at her fingertips.

With a gentle wave, a silver light screen, rippling like water, suddenly appeared in the previously empty air in front of him.

Grace stood a short distance away, gazing at the invisible aura slowly rising around Virekis, feeling the heart-palpitating pressure spreading through the air.

A hint of undisguised surprise appeared on her stunningly beautiful face.

She thought to herself, "Hasn't the Elf Queen long since become a symbolic mascot, with her strength at most at the legendary level?"
But the unfathomable power before us has clearly far exceeded the realm of legend. What exactly is going on?

Cohen keenly noticed the change in Grace's expression. He turned his head slightly, lowered his voice to an extremely low hue, and said, almost in a whisper:
"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen's true condition is quite sensitive. Everything you saw today must be kept secret and not told to anyone."

Grace's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.

She was an extremely intelligent person, and she discerned a deeper meaning in Cohen's subtle reminder.

He nodded slightly, indicating that he understood, and temporarily suppressed his doubts.

In the short moment that the two were talking in hushed tones, Virekis in front had already completed her action.

With a gentle wave of her hand, the silvery spatial barrier vanished like shattered glass, revealing a deep, bottomless spatial passage behind it.

Unstable energy ripples emanated from the entrance of the passage, faintly emanating a chilling aura from the hellish realm.

Virekis turned around, looked calmly at the two of them, and said in a deep voice:

"Go ahead and be safe."

Cohen took a deep breath, then firmly reached out and gently grasped Grace's slightly cool hand beside him.

He gave her a reassuring look, and then the two of them stepped together into the spatial passage leading to the unknown and dangerous.

Their figures were quickly swallowed by the darkness within the passage, leaving only Virekis standing alone, silently watching the gradually shrinking entrance, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in her eyes. (End of Chapter)