Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

When only Cohen and Jialin remained in the council chamber, a subtle atmosphere instantly filled the room.

Originally, Cohen could have treated this aloof and snow-white saintess with a businesslike, calm, and rational attitude.

But the tacit agreement among the star envoys, coupled with the fact that the space was now so enclosed and quiet that one could almost hear their own heartbeats, made them a perfect match.

The atmosphere between the two suddenly became somewhat unusual.

Jialin remained standing there quietly, her exquisite profile appearing even more serene and holy in the light streaming through the stained-glass window.

His slightly lowered eyelids and the unconsciously clasped hands in front of him revealed a hint of barely perceptible unease.

Cohen coughed lightly, trying to break the somewhat unsettling silence.

His gaze fell on Jialin, but he didn't know where to begin.

Discussing matters such as the war situation and future plans would seem too abrupt and inappropriate.

Other topics, however, seem to make this already delicate atmosphere even more ambiguous.

Cohen keenly caught the fleeting, subtle embarrassment that crossed Jialin's pristine face.

He couldn't help but give a wry smile, his voice softening considerably:
"Auntie, my identity as the 'Holy Son' is more of a public statement."

You don't need to feel guilty about this.

Upon hearing this, Jialin sighed softly, her gaze lowering slightly to her clasped hands.

"It's no wonder they acted this way."

The Star Clan has endured far too much deception and betrayal over the past tens of thousands of years.

If you don't use the title of 'holy son' to tightly bind your fate to the clan.

They will never easily decide to dedicate their entire clan's strength to cooperating with you.

She raised her eyes and looked at Cohen again, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in them:

"Fortunately, you have done a very good job during this period."

It has truly won the hearts and minds of the entire clan.

Now, even if you don't want to be this Holy Son, you probably have no choice.

Cohen remained silent.

He knew that what Jialin said was true.

Politics, especially politics involving the revival of an ancient race, is often so realistic and helpless.

Trust requires a bond, and the strongest bond is often this seemingly illusory identity that is universally recognized.

He didn't want to say anything more.

At this moment, he could only secretly rejoice that Isha was understanding and could comprehend the helplessness behind all of this.

Otherwise, he really wouldn't know how to deal with this complicated situation and his special relationship with this "aunt."

An awkward silence fell over the council chamber once again.

All that remained was the complex, tangled relationship between the two of them, inextricably linked to the fate of their race.

……

The matter concerning the Star Clan Saint has just been settled.

Cohen didn't stop; his gaze had already turned to the distance, and he began to look for other forces he could rely on.

The support from the Pale Wings goes without saying.

Since Cohen and Isabella got together, they have become a close community of shared interests and destiny.

Cohen simply used teleportation magic to greet his father-in-law, Aziz, the current patriarch of the Golden Wing family.

Soon, three saints belonging to the Pale Wings were clearly on standby at any time.

Everything proceeded smoothly and naturally.

Finally, all that remained was to persuade the Holy See to send two saints.

However, this trip to the Holy See took him by surprise.

He had originally prepared for a difficult negotiation.

After all, the Church of Light, as the most powerful and influential church organization in the prime plane, has always been aloof from worldly affairs.

To persuade their saint to take action would likely require paying a considerable price.

However, what happened next was completely unexpected by Cohen.

Northern part of the Western Regions Empire.

A magnificent and imposing city stands on a vast plain.

This is the "City of Light"—the core holy site and ruling center of the Holy See in the Prime Material Plane.

The entire city was designated by the emperor of the Western Regions Empire to be directly owned by the Holy See of Light, and enjoyed complete autonomy.

As the largest church in the prime plane, the Church of Light is not only the state religion of the Western Empire.

Furthermore, it has a very deep connection with the royal family of the Western Regions Empire—the Monroe family.

In fact, according to ancient records...

The first ancestor of the Monroe family was a powerful seraphim under the command of the Goddess of Light.

After the devastating war between gods and demons, this seraphim established the prototype of the Western Empire on the ruins.

From then on, the Holy See and the Monroe royal family forged an inseparable and profound relationship.

This relationship has withstood tens of thousands of years of trials and tribulations, and has not only not faded but has become even stronger.

Cohen's Book of Time and Space did not have the spatial node of the City of Light imprinted on it, but this did not stump Cohen.

Effie's long-distance teleportation spatial array technology is now quite advanced.

Several years ago, under Yadel's visionary planning, it was already consciously placed in various strategic locations and important cities on the mainland.

In conjunction with the Kuomintang's (KMT) mobile stations spread across the country, a secret and efficient transmission network was quietly established.

Om-!
A soft yet intense magical light flashed by.

After a slight distortion in space, Cohen's figure appeared in a square filled with a bright and holy aura.

Sunlight shone on the pristine white pillars, while in the distance, the majestic spire of the Temple of Light pierced the sky.

A middle-aged man dressed in traditional aristocratic attire from the Western Regions Empire, with a capable demeanor, was already waiting in the square.

It was none other than the highest-ranking official of the Western Regions Empire's military intelligence station, Siven Strauss.

Xiwen came all the way from the capital, Zero.

Upon seeing Cohen appear, Xiwen quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, your letter has been delivered to Archbishop Clement of the Holy See through secure channels."

His Highness the Cardinal expressed his wish that you could visit the headquarters of the Holy See at 7 PM tonight for a discussion.

Cohen nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the majestic cluster of buildings in the distance:
"okay, I get it.

You can continue with your work.

Prime Minister Angus and Prince Hauge will travel to Zero in the next two days to meet with Emperor Monroe.

You should make all the necessary arrangements in advance.

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

Siven Strauss straightened up abruptly and answered solemnly.

Cohen said no more and turned to look at the magnificent temple bathed in holy light.

Their figures gradually blended into the bustling crowd, heading towards the heart of the "City of Light".

At exactly 7 p.m., before the majestic gates of the Holy See headquarters, engraved with countless sacred runes.

Cohen appeared right on time.

He had just stood still when his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Beneath that door, which radiated a soft, holy light, stood an elderly man dressed in a simple white linen robe, standing quietly.

His hair and beard were all white, his face was kind, but his eyes were so deep that they seemed to see through all the illusions of the world.

It is His Holiness Nicholas, the current Pope of the Holy See!

A hint of surprise flashed across Cohen's eyes; he had never expected that His Holiness the Pope, of such high status, would personally greet him at the door.

Pope Nicholas, with a gentle smile on his face, looked at Cohen and slowly began to speak:

"Your Majesty Corleone, please come with me."

The words have not yet fallen.

Cohen felt the surrounding scenery suddenly blur.

The next moment.

He and Pope Nicholas were already in a dimly lit, antique-furnished, yet vast and sacred room.

Cohen felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

Such effortless spatial teleportation, occurring in an instant, did not even cause the slightest magical fluctuation.

This seemingly kind and benevolent Pope's true strength has probably already surpassed the Saint level and stepped into the legendary "demigod" realm, which is almost divine.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, his face regained its usual composure and calmness.

Without much small talk, he got straight to the point and explained his purpose.

He clearly explained the need for the Holy See to send two saints to assist in the final battle in Ceylon.

And they had already prepared a set of exchange terms in their minds that would be enough to entice the other party.

However, to Cohen's utter surprise once again...

Pope Nicholas didn't even wait for him to state his conditions before smiling and nodding, saying:
"no problem.

"Two saints, is that right? Your Majesty, rest assured."

"Our Holy See will be there on time."

Simple and neat!

No hesitation at all!
There was absolutely no bargaining involved!

This straightforward, almost eerie attitude startled Cohen, and a strong sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

If it weren't for the fact that Effie and the Holy See have maintained an extremely good cooperative relationship for a long time...

Both sides have a deep understanding and mutual trust on many important issues.

Cohen almost thought there was some terrible trap hidden there, waiting for him to jump in.

His gaze unconsciously met Pope Nicholas's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, trying to glean some hidden message.

However, all he saw was a bottomless abyss, filled with kindness and peace.

This only deepened Cohen's doubts and wariness.

Pope Nicholas keenly caught the fleeting look of doubt on Cohen's face.

A look of understanding crossed his face, and he explained with a smile:
"Your Majesty Corleone need not worry."

Not long ago, our Lord personally sent down a divine decree.

The Holy See is ordered to unconditionally fulfill all your demands.

Please rest assured that the Holy See will be your most steadfast and powerful supporter.

Upon hearing Pope Nicholas's explanation, Cohen's eyes trembled slightly, unable to contain himself.

Those fragmented memories that often surfaced flashed through my mind in an instant.

And when I first met the Goddess of Light, Aetheril, her unusual attitude and meaningful gaze.

The reason why Aetheril would grant such great convenience was that he even went so far as to send down a divine oracle.

Most likely, it is intricately connected to their mysterious "past life".

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to temporarily suppress the surging emotions in his heart.

Now is not the time to explore these things.

He raised his eyes, his gaze regaining its composure, and looked at Pope Nicholas, speaking slowly:

"In that case, I thank His Holiness the Pope in advance."

Since the other party has already put it this way...

Trying to hide it further would only make you seem petty.

Cohen took this opportunity to also bring up another important matter:
"In addition, there is one more thing I hope the Holy See can lend a hand when the time comes."

Without further hesitation, he directly revealed his plan regarding the imminent official emergence of the Star Clan. This was approved by the three major empires of the Central, Eastern, and Western Regions.

In addition, there is the public support and endorsement of the largest church on the human continent—the Church of Light.

From this day forward, no force on this continent will dare to openly stand up and obstruct the resurgence of the Star Clan!
When Cohen mentioned the resurgence of the Starfolk and his role as the "Son of God" in it.

Even Pope Nicholas, who had maintained a calm demeanor, couldn't help but show a hint of undisguised surprise on his face.

However, this surprise did not last long.

He quickly regained his composure and nodded slowly:

"it is good.

On behalf of the Holy See, I accept this task.

I will personally witness the resurgence of the Star Clan.

They received a personal promise from His Holiness the Pope.

The last weight on Cohen's heart finally lifted completely.

Although many mysteries still linger in our minds like a fog, at least in this grand game of chess concerning the fate of the continent, we are at peace.

He has successfully grasped the most important trump cards.

The prelude to the decisive battle is about to begin.

After seeing Cohen off, Pope Nicholas did not linger in the basilica.

His figure flickered slightly and appeared in a secluded, quiet room.

A smooth, mirror-like crystal floats in the center of the quiet room.

He stood respectfully before the crystal, reporting something in a low voice.

Just after he finished his report, a soft and sacred halo suddenly rippled across the surface of the crystal.

A fragment, no bigger than a fingernail and shimmering with iridescent light, emerged from the crystal.

"This is!"

The moment I saw this fragment.

Even Pope Nicholas, whose heart had been tempered into a rock by countless trials, couldn't help but feel his breathing quicken.

His eyes were fixed on the fragment, his pupils contracting violently from extreme shock and ecstasy.

Fragments of Godhood!

This is actually a fragment of a godhood containing the essence of divinity!

For someone like him who has already stepped into the realm of demigods and is desperately pursuing the path to higher divinity!

The value of this fragment is simply immeasurable.

At that very moment, a ethereal, majestic voice, seemingly emanating from the heavens above, rang out:

"Well done, this is your reward."

In the future, there will be no need to report similar matters in advance.

He was given whatever he wanted.

The voice just fell.

The suspended crystal then vanished into the air with a "pop" like a bubble.

Only that radiant fragment of divinity remained, floating silently before Pope Nicholas.

The room was deathly silent.

Pope Nicholas stared blankly at the fragments of divinity before him.

After a long while, he suddenly came to his senses.

He wished he could rush out right now and chase Cohen back, begging him to make a few more demands!
Any request is fine!

This is an unimaginably generous reward!
His heart was filled with immense shock and bewilderment at the young king Cohen Corleone from Efein.

Why would the revered Goddess of Light attach such importance to this?

They even went so far as to bestow fragments of divine power as a reward!

The profound meaning hidden behind this made even the well-informed Pope feel a chill run down his spine.

He carefully reached out his hand, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, and took the fragment of divinity in his hand.

His eyes gleamed with an incredibly complex light.

He understood that the situation on the mainland would likely undergo a dramatic change because of this young man.

The Holy See of Light must stand firmly by his side!
……

With the chosen one of the saints confirmed, the next step is to quickly work on the affairs of the three great empires.

The reappearance of the Starburst Race is no small matter; it is enough to cause a massive upheaval across the entire human continent.

Without a sufficiently powerful force to endorse and support it, it will inevitably attract countless overt and covert suspicions and obstacles.

Therefore, before the final battle begins, he must race against time to complete communication and coordination with the three major human empires.

News that had lifted his spirits had already arrived from the Eastern Empire.

Despite her excuse, claiming that the decision to cooperate in dividing Ceylon was due to her friendship with Isabella.

It sounds rather far-fetched.

But surprisingly, the decision-making body of the Eastern Empire, from Emperor Eberon to those shrewd and calculating Grand Councilors, was also affected.

Surprisingly, they all "happily" accepted this explanation.

Cohen knew perfectly well why.

Besides Emperor Eberron's tacit support for his "son-in-law,"

Furthermore, the Eastern Empire, from top to bottom, clearly saw the substantial and tangible benefits that lay behind this.

Compared to those vague and ethereal grudges and feuds from ten thousand years ago.

Right now, the best option for the Eastern Empire is to get a share of the spoils from the soon-to-collapse behemoth that is the Kingdom of Ceylon.

Moreover, there has always been a strong voice within the Eastern Empire advocating for easing relations with the Kingdom of Efein and even for strategic cooperation.

Taking advantage of Princess Grace's suggestion, they smoothly reached a cooperation agreement with the then-booming Effie.

This is undoubtedly a good thing that benefits both sides.

As for King Gaius of Ceylon?

If it were a year ago, when he was still the powerful monarch who firmly held the throne of the strongest nation on the continent and commanded a million soldiers.

The Eastern Empire might carefully consider whether to make a political investment in him.

But now, the situation has become extremely clear.

Gaius and his Kingdom of Ceylon were not only doomed to defeat, but were also about to be firmly nailed to the pillar of historical shame for "regicide and treason".

In this situation, a king in exile who has lost power and is burdened with heinous crimes.

In the eyes of the decision-makers of the Eastern Empire, it no longer has any value or say.

They would never risk offending the rising power, Alfiein, for the sake of such a hopeless loser.

This is the cold reality of politics.

There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

After receiving the tacit approval and support of the Eastern Empire.

Cohen felt even more confident.

He immediately turned his attention to his next targets—the Central Empire and the Southern Empire.

A more intense and intensive diplomatic maneuvering is about to begin.

He must pave the smoothest possible path for the Starbringers' present world and the impending final battle within a limited timeframe.

Time is of the essence, and every step is crucial.

Cohen entrusted the affairs of the Western Empire to the trustworthy Prime Minister Angus and Prince Hauge.

These two high-ranking officials have personally traveled to Zelo, the capital of the Western Regions Empire, to mediate.

Thanks to the long-standing good relationship between Effie and the Western Regions royal family, as well as the connection through the Grand Duke of Roland.

The outcome of this trip should not be too surprising.

The only country that has not yet been reached is the Central Empire.

Cohen's initial plan was to have a brief conversation with Shanis using the communication stone.

But then he thought about it again and realized that it had indeed been a long time since he had personally visited Her Majesty the Empress of the Central Empire.

Moreover, such a significant matter concerning the continent's格局 (geju, overall situation) as the appearance of the Star Clan cannot be addressed merely by sending a message through a communication stone.

That would seem too casual and disrespectful.

This could very well upset the sensitive Shanies.

Since he possessed the Book of Time and Space, which allowed him to travel through space so easily, he decided to make the trip himself.

Having made up his mind, Cohen did not delay any longer.

He briefly greeted Queen Shanis through the communication stone, and then took out the Book of Time and Space.

After a slight distortion of space, his figure appeared deep within the Central Empire's imperial palace.

In that luxurious palace belonging to Queen Xenias.

In the bedroom.

Shanis leaned lazily against a long couch. When she saw Cohen appear, her stunningly beautiful face did not show any obvious expression.

But a fleeting glint in her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of joy in her heart.

Clearly, she was quite pleased that Cohen had taken the initiative to come.

Cohen, of course, wouldn't rush to state his purpose right away.

He first inquired about Xenias's recent situation and then asked about the recent internal situation of the Central Empire.

Overall, the domestic situation is stabilizing and improving.

The Holy Radiance Academy, a force that was originally independent of the imperial power and belonged exclusively to the noble academy, has now quietly sided with Xenias.

This became an important aid for her to consolidate her rule.

Meanwhile, the governors of the empire's various districts are currently embroiled in internal strife, filled with mutual suspicion and distrust.

Their relationship with the Imperial Army also became increasingly distant.

This created a valuable strategic window of opportunity for Shanis.

The only drawback is that Shanes still lacks a private military force that is completely loyal to her and can be used at her command.

This is undoubtedly a huge hidden danger at critical moments.

At the opportune moment, Cohen changed the subject, lowered his voice, and revealed what he had gained in the Nine Hells dimension.

When she heard about the large quantity of Hellfire weapons, Shanis's beautiful eyes lit up.

She desperately needs this.

A strong and loyal private army not only needs absolute loyalty, but also needs to be armed with excellent equipment.

She had long heard of the performance and power of Hellfire's weapons.

If she could acquire this equipment, it would undoubtedly greatly accelerate her process of building a private army.

Cohen then said:

"Your Majesty, if you wish to develop your own military power..."

"Perhaps we can wait for two to three months."

A full-scale war that will engulf the entire region is about to erupt in the Lost Lands.

Thrall, the Demon Lord of Chaotic Demon Continent, secretly colluded with the Alchemist Baron of Mechanical Continent and made contact with the demon tribes beneath the Endless Abyss.

A dimensional portal connecting to the Lost Lands has been opened, and a great war led by the demon legions is about to begin.

At that time, all human nations will surely send troops to intervene in the name of 'suppressing evil' and 'protecting order'.

This is a golden opportunity.

Your Majesty could certainly use this opportunity to openly and legitimately build an elite legion that would be completely under your personal command.

This plan kills two birds with one stone!
They can legally expand their private military force under the guise of a "just war".

It also allows for the training of troops in actual combat, and the acquisition of substantial war resources and political capital. (End of Chapter)