Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

King Gaius's gaze fell blankly on a relief on the dome of the palace, his thoughts drifting to the nightmare-like events of the past six months.

Every scene from that period was filled with breathtakingly unreal twists and turns.

The collapse of everything began with that damned border war.

To this day, he still cannot fully comprehend how Efein's army managed to bypass the Ceylon Kingdom's northwestern border defenses, known as the "Iron Wall," which had been built up over hundreds of years.

They appeared without warning behind the main imperial army, delivering a fatal blow to the unsuspecting Ceylonian forces like divine intervention.

The border defense line, painstakingly built up over generations, crumbled overnight.

The gates to the heart of Ceylon were completely breached, allowing Alfie's cavalry to advance unimpeded, with no further defensible positions.

However, the nightmare had only just begun.

What followed was the Battle of Ash Plains, on which he had placed great hopes.

That meticulously planned joint operation with the Kingdom of Serene was intended to lure the Kingdom of Windbreak's expeditionary force into an encirclement and then annihilate them in one fell swoop.

To alleviate the pressure from the Windrise Kingdom.

The plan was supposed to be flawless.

But the result?
Efein's army once again appeared in organized formation on the Ash Plains thousands of kilometers away, as if emerging from a rift in hell.

Not only did they not fall into the trap, they also launched a brutal counter-encirclement and counter-ambush against the Ceylon and Serene allied forces who thought themselves hunters.

Fiasco.

A complete and utterly devastating defeat.

The empire's last and most elite field legions were almost completely slaughtered on that plain stained with fire and blood.

After this battle, the backbone of the Kingdom of Ceylon was completely broken.

The once continuous territory was forcibly cut in two by Effie's military might.

A vast kingdom was thus fragmented, falling into a desperate situation of fighting each other and waiting for its demise.

Then came an even more suffocating month.

These past thirty days and nights have felt like a series of dull knives, slowly cutting away at the kingdom's last vestiges of life.

The Central Seven Cities Alliance was once a prosperous land known as the "Granary of the Empire" and the "Golden Bloodline".

They suddenly and collectively turned against each other without any warning.

Even the powerful inspectors sent by the kingdom, along with their taxes and loyalty, joined the rebels.

Having lost this most important source of revenue, the royal family and its affiliated army, trapped in Quisaon, instantly fell into an unprecedented financial predicament.

The treasury was drying up at a visible rate, and the soldiers' pay, weapon maintenance, and even the most basic food supply were becoming increasingly strained.

However, misfortunes never come singly.

At the same time, the "Crown Thorn Society," which had been lurking in the shadows, emerged—a true remnant of the former dynasty, composed of former officials and stubborn nobles.

They even openly joined forces with the rebels of "Gui Mian City".

This move was like pouring a bucket of cold water into a boiling pot of oil, instantly triggering a violent political explosion.

It caused immeasurable political shock and psychological pressure to the northern provinces that were still loyal to the royal family, and many forces that were originally waiting to see what would happen began to waver and become disloyal.

In addition, there was the previous collaboration with Pirate King Yann Hughes to build a ghost ship.

In order to raise the enormous and alarming military expenditure proposed by Yann.

The Gaius royal family extended their reach to these aristocratic families.

The pent-up resentment finally erupted at this moment, and several more nobles from the early days of the nation broke away from Quesaon's side.

But Gaius, and every senior Ceylon official present, knew perfectly well that...

All these betrayals, collapses, and chaos ultimately point to the same name—Effin.

It was the overwhelming military strength displayed by that emerging kingdom that put unbearable pressure on this former "strongest nation on the continent".

It was only at this moment that the rulers and ministers of Ceylon finally realized the truth.

They recalled that exchange meeting in the Northwest region many years ago.

How was the young King Cohen of Efein able to defeat the allied forces of the two great empires and the "Black Tomb" with overwhelming force?

What made them feel even more bitter and powerless was the "Red Dragon Duchess" Asuna Iliad, who was said to have been granted the title of Grand Duchess by becoming the king's bed partner.

Her precise and ruthless command ability on the battlefield has indeed reached the pinnacle level of a world-class general.

Throughout the Kingdom of Ceylon, not a single person could be found who could withstand her ferocious yet orderly advance, as powerful as the breath of a red dragon, on the front lines of battle.

Wherever her army went, cities fell, armies collapsed, and resistance was crushed.

This is a desperate disparity in strength.

Those routes of infiltration, detours, and surprise attacks always struck precisely at the weakest point of the Kingdom of Ceylon, each time as if they were prophetic.

This goes beyond the scope of conventional military strategy; it's more like a dimensional reduction attack.

It was as if there truly was an all-knowing and all-powerful eye above the battlefield watching their every move.

An invisible giant hand casually manipulates the scales of war, pushing victory to the other side without any suspense.

This feeling of being completely seen through and manipulated at will.

More than any crushing defeat, it sent chills down Gaius's spine and terrified him.

He slowly raised his head and looked around at the magnificent golden decorations of the hall that had once symbolized supreme glory.

At this moment, however, his eyes radiated a chilling coldness, as if playing a final elegy for him and his kingdom.

The sun in Ceylon seems to be really about to set.

No, he still has one last chance to live!
Ghost ship!
And there's a ghost ship!
This is his last hope!

As long as we can cooperate with that mysterious "Pirate King".

A direct sea attack on the heart of Alfein—Emerald Harbor!

They could even bring the war to the coast of Florence, the capital of Effie!

At that point, Effie will be caught between two difficult situations, and the offensive at the front will inevitably be thwarted.

The entire battle situation may be about to take a turn for the better.

He suppressed the turmoil in his mind and fixed his gaze on a figure standing in the corner of the hall—

That was Gaston Davenport, the naval vice admiral in charge of the ghost ship's construction.

King Gaius's hoarse and dry voice broke the suffocating silence in the hall.

"General Gaston, I heard that the 'ghost ship' has been fully completed."

Could you please tell me and my ministers when they will be officially deployed to the battlefield?

The Vice Admiral Gaston Davenport, who was named, stood tall and straight, but his face was shrouded in an unyielding solemnity.

He stepped forward, gave a deep military salute, then looked up to meet the king's burning gaze, and replied in a steady but clearly hesitant voice:

"Your Majesty, the ship itself has indeed been fully completed and has passed the final inspection."

However, our sailors had only undergone a few months of intensive training.

Their familiarity with the complex manipulation of ghost ships, ancient artifacts, and their unique tactics for navigating through fog and shadows is far from sufficient.

He paused slightly, indicating that what he was about to say was more important:

"Participating in a naval battle of this magnitude allows no room for carelessness or mistakes."

What we need are experienced veteran crew members who can operate with remarkable skill and even take the lead, even in the worst sea conditions.

Experienced veteran crew!
The ancient ghost ship has only been around for a few years, so who can be considered experienced?
Without a doubt, Gaston was referring to the "Crimson Raiders" fleet under the command of the mysterious "Pirate King" Yann, whose reputation shook the entire Northwest Sea!
Today, the "Crimson Raiders" are no longer a simple pirate fleet.

They are the undisputed rulers of this vast sea.

Under that menacing crimson skull banner, even the powerful maritime kingdoms along the coast, renowned for their naval strength, fell one after another to their might.

What they relied on was their godlike ability to control the ghost ship.

These ghost ships, which recreate the power of the ancient times, under their control, have once again made the countries of the entire northwestern sea region taste the fear of being dominated by nightmares from the deep sea.

Although Gaston didn't say it explicitly, the meaning couldn't be clearer.

The goal is to bring the ghost ship fleet to full combat capability and engage it in decisive naval battles.

Therefore, cooperating with the "Crimson Raiders," or rather, taking the lead by leveraging their power, is almost the only option.

A subtle and tense silence fell over the hall once again.

King Gaius's brows were furrowed tightly, and his face, already haggard from anxiety, was now shrouded in an even deeper, more oppressive gloom.

His voice seemed to be suppressing immense dissatisfaction:
"Didn't we already sign a formal cooperation agreement with the 'Crimson Raiders'?"
The powerful magic cannons they are now equipped with, the docks they use, and even the enormous cost of building these ghost ships themselves.

These are all military funds that our Kingdom of Ceylon squeezed out of its own teeth!
In order to raise this money, we even went so far as to impose a special wartime tax on the three northern provinces, which caused widespread public resentment.

"Having paid such a huge price, can't we at least get their cooperation in launching a decisive operation?"

Faced with the king's pressured questioning, Gaston Davenport's face showed obvious difficulty.

He lowered his head slightly, avoiding the king's piercing gaze, and carefully answered:

"Your Majesty, they have not explicitly refused to cooperate, but Pirate King Yann Hughes himself is not currently in the fleet."

Without his personal approval, none of the other leaders in the fleet dared to, nor had the authority to, make such a significant military decision.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, this matter probably requires your personal discussion with Mr. Yann Hughes before a final decision can be made." "Personally discuss it!"
This suggestion caused King Gaius's pupils to contract slightly.

The atmosphere inside the hall became extremely heavy once again.

Everyone understood the subtext behind Gaston's words: cooperation with the "Crimson Raiders" was far more complex than a simple treaty and money could fully control.

The real key is the mysterious and unpredictable "Pirate King" Yann Hughes.

The prospect of speaking personally with such a figure who walks in the shadows and on the waves was fraught with risk and uncertainty, making every senior Ceylon official present feel heavy-hearted.

This is no longer the time when we were negotiating cooperation on ghost ships.

Everyone knows Ceylon's current predicament. If the Pirate King doesn't take advantage of this opportunity to make an exorbitant demand, he'll be doing a disservice to the name "pirate."

Gaius sighed deeply, filled with endless exhaustion and a sense of resignation.

He knew he might not have many options left, and slowly said:
"Alright, my dear general, then please tell me, where exactly is that elusive Pirate King?"

Upon hearing this question, Gaston Davenport's expression instantly turned even more unpleasant:
"Your Majesty, we have used all available resources and searched for a very, very long time."

However, even the vice-captains of the Crimson Raiders claimed they did not know the exact whereabouts of their captain.

It seems that Your Majesty will need to personally intervene in this matter and inquire with Princess Grace of the Eastern Empire through official channels or private means.

Perhaps she knows some of the inside information.

King Gaius did not show much surprise or anger upon hearing Gaston's reply.

He simply nodded silently, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in his eyes.

"I understand. Go and arrange the meeting with the Pirate King and Her Highness the Princess. Make sure it's kept secret."

"At the same time, notify the other three main naval fleets to make the highest level of combat preparations in accordance with Operations Plan No. 3 previously drafted by the Operations Department."

We are ready to launch a planned naval attack on Efein at any time.

Gaston slammed his right fist into his chest with a heavy thud, and responded loudly:
"Yes! Your Majesty!"

……

The oppressive court meeting came to an end.

Gaston Davenport, the naval vice-commander who had just performed a commendable act of loyalty and bravery before King Gaius.

He strode quickly through several corridors without stopping, his figure making several rapid turns in the shadows.

They quietly stepped into an inconspicuous building located in a secluded corner of the palace.

This is the office of Prince Charles's secretary, Marlene Paxson.

Charles was primarily in charge of the Navy, and I, as the Vice Admiral of the Navy, went to meet with Charles's secretary.

Even if someone happens to catch a glimpse of it, it would be perfectly reasonable and wouldn't arouse too much suspicion.

He deftly pushed open a hidden door and stepped into a dimly lit secret room.

Besides Marin Paxson, the shrewd-eyed secretary, who was already waiting in the secret room, there was no one else there.

Another figure, draped in a dark cloak, was Julian Singh, the station chief and the highest-ranking official of the Efein intelligence network in Quessaon.

Gaston didn't even have time for pleasantries. He turned and closed the secret door, then said to Julian and Marin:

"Gentlemen, what exactly is His Majesty Corleone thinking?"

Where is he right now? If he doesn't show up soon, I really won't be able to keep it from Gaius anymore!

Despite Gaston's provocative questioning, Secretary Marin remained remarkably calm.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calm and unwavering as he looked at Gaston, and gently corrected him:

“General, it is ‘our’ His Majesty Corleone.”

Gaston's expression froze, a hint of unease flashing across his face, quickly followed by obvious displeasure:
“I am a Ceylonian, and my choice to cooperate with you is for the sake of Princess Freya and the true future of Ceylon that she represents.”

Station Chief Julian's magnetic voice timely interrupted the delicate standoff between Secretary Marin and General Gaston:
"Alright, Marin, General Gaston's loyalty has stood the test of both war and time."

His words seemed to carry a strange soothing power, easing Gaston's tense expression slightly.

Julian then turned to Gaston and said slowly:
"Don't worry, His Majesty will definitely appear in Quesaon at the most appropriate time."

Gaston took a deep breath, and the displeasure and anxiety on his face finally dissipated.

He nodded, his tone returning to its usual composure:

"That's good. Gaius asked about it again at the court meeting today."

Judging from his words, he will probably contact Princess Grace directly through other secret channels soon.

If His Majesty Corleone does not appear as 'Pirate King Yann' and give a clear signal of cooperation, then...

It seems Gaius simply doesn't have the patience to wait any longer.

Upon hearing these words, Julian sighed softly for no apparent reason.

The sigh carried a complex and enigmatic meaning, a mixture of helplessness and a hint of bewilderment:
"There's no way around it, our 'Red Dragon Queen' is just too good at fighting."

The advance of the front lines far exceeded the initial strategic plans of the Ministry of Defense and headquarters.

In less than a month, she had almost driven Gaius and his last army directly into the Endless Sea.

So it's no wonder Gaius was so eager to launch a maritime operation.

He's probably truly cornered now, with no other option but to pin his hopes on a final gamble at sea.

Julian's teasing nickname for her, "Red Dragon Queen," seemed to remind Gaston of something else.

His gaze swept back and forth between Julian and Marin before he spoke:

"Station Chief Julian, Secretary Marin, there's one more thing I'm still worried about."

Have you submitted the list I gave you to your superiors yet?

He paused and added:

"Most of the people on the list are my close relatives and friends, as well as my old subordinates who fought alongside me."

Also, specific information about some of the industries and spheres of influence they currently operate in.

We earnestly request that our Grand Duke of the Iliad exercise caution during his military campaign to avoid any friendly fire incidents.

The saying goes, "Even after a city falls, swords are not sheathed for three days." As a long-established nobleman in Ceylon, Gaston had businesses all over the country.

With war raging, his concerns are obvious.

Seeing Gaston's worried expression, Julian gave him a reassuring smile and a look that said "don't worry."

"Don't worry, my general. We submitted the list you requested to headquarters immediately."

Ms. Nefertis has personally reviewed the document and given a clear approval.

She assured you that neither you nor anyone on your list would suffer any unnecessary losses in this war.

Upon hearing this definitive answer, Gaston's tense nerves finally relaxed.

But then he seemed to remember something and added:
"By the way, they ultimately decided to adopt 'Operation Plan No. 3'."

After saying that, he couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile:
"But I suppose you already knew about this, right?"

Secretary Marin, who had been standing silently to the side, showed no surprise at all upon hearing this.

As Prince Charles's personal secretary and a trusted confidant, he naturally knew about it long ago.

In fact, a large part of the analysis and planning work for the final selection of the key strategic decision of "Operation Plan No. 3" was completed with the personal assistance of Prince Marin Paxson.

He knew every aspect of the plan earlier and in more detail than many naval commanders.

The air in the sealed room was slightly heavy due to Gaston's worries, but Julian suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence.

His gaze fell on Gaston's face, and he said with a smile:

"By the way, General, a message just came from headquarters, and they specifically instructed me to inform you."

Gaston's attention was immediately drawn to it, and he instinctively straightened his back and asked:
"what news?"

Julian's lips curled into a smile, and he spoke clearly, word by word:

"The coronation ceremony of Princess Freya has been tentatively scheduled for the 23rd of next month in Quisaion!"

General, you must remember to prepare early!
You will likely be attending this grand ceremony in your capacity as Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Kingdom of Ceylon!

Gaston's breathing suddenly became rapid, and a look of disbelief flashed across his eyes before being replaced by immense shock!

The 23rd of next month?
There's less than a month left until that day!
what does this mean?
Does this mean that this massive war, which swept across most of the continent, involved several kingdoms, and could be described as a war of annihilation, is about to come to a complete end in just one month?
Is this magnificent historical chapter, destined to be vividly etched in the annals of history, about to come to an end before my very eyes?

It all happened so fast and so suddenly that Gaston felt a strong sense of unreality.

It felt like being in a bizarre and fantastical dream.

His thoughts drifted away, recalling the records he had read in those thick historical books about the end years of various dynasties.

Those cold words describe the changing times and the ups and downs of individuals.

The wheels of history are rolling forward, and he is now a part of this torrent.

So, in this momentous historical upheaval that is about to settle down, what kind of image will I leave in the history books of the future?
Was he a loyal minister who turned the tide?

Or is he a wise man who assesses the situation and acts accordingly?
Or...

Thinking of this, Gaston suddenly couldn't help but chuckle softly. He shook his head, as if mocking his own pointless worries, and muttered to himself:
"Perhaps in the future, I'll be the one to write this part of history myself!" (End of Chapter)