Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Deep within the Florentine palace, after Grace was "harmed" by Cohen, Adele treated her the same and assigned her a private bedroom.

The night breeze gently stirred the translucent gauze curtains, and the air was filled with the ambiguous atmosphere unique to passion.

Grace wore a silky nightgown, her graceful curves subtly revealed in the soft, magical light.

He was frowning slightly, staring at a communication stone in his hand that had just ended a communication session.

A warm, firm chest pressed against her from behind, and Cohen's arms wrapped around her slender waist naturally like vines.

His palms, burning hot, gently caressed her flat stomach, seemingly unsatisfied.

His chin rested against his smooth shoulder socket, and he exhaled puffs of hot air.

Grace put down the communication stone, turned her face to the side, and glanced at him with her alluring eyes that seemed to drip with water.

"It seems we arrived back at just the right time."

My father just messaged me, asking where I am right now.

He said that King Gaius of Ceylon had contacted him directly and was eager to have an urgent meeting with you.

Cohen chuckled softly upon hearing this:
"Has Gaius's last gamble finally arrived?"

"This time, I will utterly crush all his hopes and firmly grasp the entire Ceylon in my hands!"

"lighter!"

Cohen was taken aback for a moment, then a mischievous, apologetic smile appeared on his face.

Oh, I'm sorry.

"But there's still plenty of time. Let's make that impatient King Gaius wait two more days."

Before he finished speaking, he swept the delicate body in his arms—a body that could drive any man mad—into his arms and carried it toward the messy bed.

As for the fate of Ceylon and the king's anxiety, they all seemed so insignificant at this moment.

……

The meeting was eventually held at an apartment on the outskirts of Quesaon.

Gaius brought very few people with him to the negotiations, only Prince Charles, who was in charge of naval affairs, Prime Minister Youd Merrick, and Vice Admiral Gaston.

On Cohen's side, it was just him and Grace.

On the outskirts of Quesaon, there is a seemingly secluded aristocratic apartment building.

The heavy velvet curtains blocked out all outside views.

Gaius's "special forces" guards had completely surrounded the area, and there was also a special shielding array nearby.

The atmosphere in the ornately decorated living room was so heavy it seemed to drip with tension.

On one side of the long table, King Gaius of Ceylon sat upright.

Behind him sat Prince Charles, who also looked somber, Prime Minister Yod Merrick, and Vice Admiral Gaston Davenport.

This extremely streamlined delegation undoubtedly demonstrated the high degree of secrecy surrounding the talks and Gaius's do-or-die determination.

On the other side of the long table, Cohen sat leisurely in a high-backed chair.

Grace sat quietly beside him. As the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire and the only direct descendant of Emperor Eberon, her very existence was like an invisible pressure.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gaius took a deep breath and got straight to the point:

“Mr. Ya'en, Her Highness the Princess.”

You should already understand the situation in Ceylon very well.

To be frank, I desperately need your help and that of your 'Crimson Raiders'!

After a moment's pause, he suddenly swung his arm through the air and said decisively:
"Join forces with our last three naval fleets in Ceylon to open a breach at sea, capture Emerald Harbor, and bring the war to Efein’s homeland!"

Only in this way can the entire battle situation be turned around!

Didn't we have a similar intention to collaborate back then?

Faced with Gaius's almost pleading suggestion, Cohen simply smiled faintly.

He slowly shook his head, his voice low but clear, carrying throughout every corner of the living room.

“Your Majesty, we have indeed cooperated before and discussed similar ideas.”

But now that things have come to this, I'm afraid I have no choice but to withdraw from our cooperation.

King Gaius's expression suddenly tightened, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the armrest bulged slightly.

But he wasn't too surprised; he had already anticipated that today's negotiations would not go so smoothly.

He didn't expect to persuade the other party to gamble everything on him with just a few words.

Gaius took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anxiety that was about to burst from his chest. His voice became even lower, revealing a resolute determination:

"Sir, please feel free to make your request regarding your terms."

"We will do everything in our power to fulfill any request from Ceylon!"

However, despite his almost desperate statement, Cohen's tone remained cold:

"Your Majesty, please allow me to say something unpleasant."

If it were three months ago, or even just one month ago, I would have been willing to take this gamble with you.

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the pale, bewildered faces behind Gaius, before continuing in a calm, almost cruel tone:

"But look at the current situation."

Most of Ceylon's territory has fallen; it seems you have no more bargaining chips to convince anyone that you still have a chance of winning.

He leaned back, his posture becoming even more distant.
"Moreover, given the formidable power that Effie has demonstrated, there is absolutely no need for me to offend such a rising force at this time."

Gaius listened intently, understanding the other's concerns.

Moreover, the legendary Pirate King before them had indeed suffered a great loss at the hands of Cohen Corleone.

Yaen once joined forces with Prince Xiazuo of the Eastern Empire and Qiaolun of the Central Empire in an attempt to blackmail Prince Greg of the Southern Empire.

However, Cohen turned the tables on them, causing them to suffer heavy losses and lose face.

This incident was enough to make Pirate King Yann extremely wary and cautious about anything related to Cohen.

Therefore, Gaius's current retreat and caution were entirely reasonable.

However, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he would never have imagined that the man sitting opposite him was the Pirate King.

In fact, it was the enemy he feared and hated most—Cohen Corleone himself—who single-handedly pushed the Kingdom of Ceylon into the abyss!

The absurd truth was perfectly hidden beneath this exquisite disguise and calculation.

This also caused Gaius's last hope to fall completely into the trap that the other side had already woven.

Gaius took a deep breath, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Cohen, and said, word by word:

"There is still a chance of winning."

Yes, we have indeed lost some soldiers and territory, but our core strength remains unshaken!

Cohen felt a chill run down his spine, a thrill of anticipation shooting through him like an electric current.

The main event is finally here!
The real reason he risked meeting Gaius under the guise of "Yane" on the eve of the final battle was precisely this.

He wanted to personally reveal Gaius's final trump card.

Identify those extraordinary forces that truly determine the outcome of a war of national annihilation—

Those saint-level beings who lurk in the shadows of the kingdom, almost like walking among mortals!

He needs to have this list in advance.

Otherwise, if Gaius were to resort to desperate measures, or if he ultimately fails, these high-level combatants might go into hiding and operate in the shadows.

This would be an enormous and deadly threat to the new order that is about to take over Ceylon!
He needs a clear list so that he can carry out targeted elimination or recruitment in a planned manner.

Despite this thought, Cohen's face remained indifferent.

He chuckled softly and said in a cold tone:

"Your Majesty's 'core base' refers to high-end combat power at the Saint and Legendary levels, right?"

King Gaius showed no surprise at Cohen's blunt criticism.

On the contrary, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and slowly nodded.

The negotiations have finally entered the most crucial and dangerous deep waters.

Cohen's gaze was sharp as a knife. He leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the table, giving off an almost cold and scrutinizing look.

His words were utterly blunt and went straight to the point:
“I admit that Ceylon is an ancient kingdom that has existed for thousands of years, and there must be an astonishing number of saints and legendary-level extraordinary beings hidden within its borders.”

But then, his tone abruptly shifted, becoming much sharper:

"But Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness."

You and the lineage you represent have ruled Ceylon for a little over a hundred years at most.

For over a hundred years, you have been able to command the saints and legends who are completely loyal to you.

How many exactly?

Without waiting for Gaius's reply, he continued in an almost cruelly calm tone:

"Moreover, even legendary-level beings are not invincible."

Effie's current elite legion is more than capable of holding off, or even surrounding, the offensive of dozens of legendary-level warriors.

Once you're caught in a war of attrition with thousands of troops, even your legendary-ranked soldiers might not be able to play a decisive role.

Even if you disregard the prohibition signed by the five great empires that "saints should not be involved in mortal battles," and forcibly send saints onto the battlefield.

Doesn't Effie have any corresponding countermeasures?

As far as I know, Effie also has her own saint!
"Is the power you possess truly enough to crush the saints of Effie?"

After listening to Cohen's analysis and response, Gaius fell into a long silence.

He understood that the other party was forcing him to reveal his hand. Gaius was clearly engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

He was weighing whether he should reveal his last trump card at this critical juncture—the specific information about the hidden Saints and Legendaries—to the "Pirate King" in exchange for a possible cooperation.

This is an extremely dangerous decision; once it is revealed, there will be no turning back.

Cohen waited quietly, his face showing no sign of anxiety.

There is only one kind of patience and ruthlessness a hunter possesses when waiting for his prey to step into his trap.

He knew Gaius had been pushed to the brink.

After a long silence, King Gaius slowly raised his head.

He didn't look at Cohen again, but instead turned his gaze to Grace, who had been sitting quietly next to Cohen.

His eyes held a complex and enigmatic light.

The voice became unusually slow, and the tone even carried a hint of pleading:
“Your Highness, after all, you had a very close friendship with Princess Isa of Effie.”

He paused slightly, as if considering his words, before continuing to ask:
"Could you please tell me if you know how much Saint-level power Effie can currently mobilize?"

Upon hearing this, Grace's alluring eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing yet slightly mocking glint flashing in them.

A faint, ambiguous smile played at the corners of her lips as she spoke in a nonchalant tone:

"Your Majesty, what you really want to ask is how many Saints the 'Golden Wing Family' can currently mobilize for Effie, isn't it?"

Her words hit the nail on the head!

The Golden Wing family has now stood firmly on Effie's side, a fact known to all.

Given the limited resources of a newly emerging nation like Effie, it would be impossible for them to possess Saint-level power cultivated domestically.

The highest level of combat power it can rely on must come from its most steadfast ally—the Golden Wing family with its profound heritage.

Gaius, having his thoughts exposed, showed no embarrassment whatsoever; instead, he nodded even more readily.

"Yes, I need to know exactly what kind of power my opponent possesses."

Only in this way can I give Mr. Yann a genuine confidence that will allow him to make a firm decision.

Grace pretended to be deep in thought, lowering her eyelids slightly, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her fair cheeks, as if she were really trying to recall and calculate something.

After a moment, she slowly raised her eyes and said in a tone that seemed to have been carefully considered:

"Based on my understanding and estimation, the Golden Wing family currently possesses between three and five Saint-level experts."

"Third to fifth place!"
Gaius's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

This number was both within his expectations and carried a chilling pressure.

The key lies in how many bargaining chips he still holds to counter him.

This is precisely the trump card he needs to show Yaen in exchange for cooperation.

A brief silence fell over the living room.

King Gaius's gaze was fixed on Grace's face, as if trying to glean more information from the subtle changes in her expression.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again:
"It's definitely impossible for all three to five of them to be mobilized."

The Golden Wing family's businesses span the entire continent. As the undisputed wealthiest family, they attract far too many people who secretly covet their wealth.

They would never put all their eggs in one basket with one son-in-law.

The family itself must retain considerable strength to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

In other words, they will only send a maximum of two saints to assist Effie.

Grace listened quietly, her face expressionless, until Gaius finished speaking, at which point she slowly nodded:

"At most."

Upon receiving this confirmation, Gaius's brow furrowed even more deeply. He pressed his fingers to his temples and continued his calculations:
"And then there's Saint Garcia, who betrayed the 'Black Tomb,' and the three-headed hellhound that once appeared in the Northwest Church."

And the Church of Light, which has maintained close ties with Effie.

Even the church sent two saints to provide support.

That makes a total of six Saints.

Six saints!
This is a terrifying force capable of overthrowing a medium-sized kingdom!
Before the Ceylonians could recover from this shocking number...

A half-smile played on Cohen's lips as he glanced at Gaius's increasingly grave face, gently shaking his head and offering a reminder:
"Your Majesty, you seem to have forgotten a crucial factor."

This King Corleone is not only the King of Effie, he is also the 'Son of Prophecy'.

He is the agent personally appointed by the God of Prophecy on earth!

His tone suddenly shifted, becoming much sharper:
"Would Pope Atkinson of the Church of Prophecy simply stand by and watch his own chosen one besieged by saints without intervening?"

"The Church of Prophecy!"
"Pope Atkinson!"
Gaius's expression turned grim again. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded and said:
“Yes, Mr. Yann is right. Then let’s add two more.”

In total…

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, before uttering that despairing number:
"Eight Saints!"

When the number finally came out of his mouth, even Gaius himself felt a chill run down his spine.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his inner shirt.

Eight Saints!
The terrifying pressure brought by this number even made this seasoned king feel dizzy.

Gaius simply couldn't imagine it.

Five years ago, it was a small border country that was easily manipulated by his youngest son and nearly driven to the brink of extinction.

Now they are able to mobilize such terrifying saintly power.

And the one who accomplished all of this was just a young king in his twenties!

This earth-shattering change gave him a sense of dread and absurdity that came from the depths of his soul.

At that moment, Cohen shrugged, his face showing a helpless expression:
"Look, Your Majesty, eight saints!"
If I choose to help you, to help you attack Emerald Harbor and bring the war to the capital of Effie.

Let's not even talk about the infamous orc legions under Cohen's command.

The retribution of these eight saints alone is enough to wipe my stronghold off the map and sink it into the abyss of the endless sea!

He slowly shook his head, his face showing an extremely clear expression of rejection:
"The risks of this deal are far too great, far too great for me to bear."

I simply cannot risk my life and the lives of so many of my brothers to endure the wrath of Effie.

King Gaius's gaze grew even more solemn, as if two dark flames were burning deep within his pupils.

He forcibly suppressed the turbulent emotions surging within him.

His gaze shifted back to Grace, and he asked in an almost desperate tone:

"Your Highness, how much Saint-level power do you possess that you can readily mobilize?"

Upon hearing this, a sharp, cold glint flashed in Grace's alluring eyes, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Your Majesty, what is it?"

So now they're setting their sights on me?

Faced with Grey's blunt questioning, Gaius did not back down; instead, he seemed to have made up his mind.

Leaning slightly forward, his gaze fixed intently on Grace, he said, enunciating each word clearly:

“If Your Highness is willing to help me at this moment, I, Gaius, am willing to give you all the holy power I possess after the matter is accomplished.”

To help you fight against Prince Xia Zuo!

All the power of the saints!
This condition is nothing short of astonishing.

The king of the strongest kingdom on the continent is willing to use all his holy power to support the struggle for the throne.

A fleeting look of astonishment flashed across Grace's eyes; she truly hadn't expected Gaius to be so insane.

This is practically gambling with the kingdom's last strategic strength, even at the cost of offending Xia Zuo, the number one prince on the continent.

However, this madness also gave Grace an excellent opportunity to get information out of her.

She quickly concealed the surprise in her eyes, her face regaining its haughty expression, and slowly said:
"Just as my husband said before, Your Majesty, how much saintly power can you mobilize?"
Even with the power I possess, I still see no chance of victory.

So your so-called 'helping me seize the throne' is nothing but an empty promise that can never be cashed.

Grace's meaning is clear: reveal your true hand, or there's no point in discussing anything!
The air in the living room seemed to freeze completely at that moment.

All eyes were focused on King Gaius's unpredictable face, awaiting his final decision.

King Gaius's eyelids slowly drooped, as if shutting out all light and sound from the outside world in that instant.

Finally, he abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve, and uttered a shocking number:

Six!

This number seemed to carry an immense weight, causing the air in the entire living room to sink.

He repeated it, as if to emphasize the truth of the number, and also to give himself a final boost of courage:

"Six Saints!"

His gaze swept sharply over Grace and Cohen, his voice carrying a desperate madness:

"This is all the forces I can command and mobilize right now."

"This time, I will mobilize all the saints who have been guarding the deepest parts of the kingdom's treasury year-round, as well as those in the secret sanctuaries passed down through generations in Ceylon!"

His body leaned forward slightly with excitement, his gaze fixed intently on Grace:
"Your Highness, if you can provide me with three more, just three Saints!"
I am confident that I can fight Effie to the end.

The eight saints of Effie came from different factions: the Golden Wing Family, the Church of Prophecy, the Church of Light, and that traitor Garcia.

They could never be completely of one mind with Effie, much less fight to the death with Ceylon for Cohen.

Furthermore, it takes them time to mobilize the saints, while we have them readily available.

By taking them by surprise, the tide of battle can surely be turned! (End of Chapter)