Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Lucius pointed to the magic sandbox floating in the air.

The crimson color representing the Demon Gold Empire on the sand table, like a greedy maw, has already bitten into the heart of Twilight Continent, its voice tinged with sorrow:
"The fall of the Eternal Night City-State means that the Eastern Barrier has been completely breached."

The entire Twilight Continent has actually been torn open by the Demon Gold Empire, creating a huge gap in its interior.

Connections between the east and west were severed, making it difficult to mobilize troops and supplies.

Given the ferocity of the demon legions, the fall of Twilight Continent is only a matter of time.

Sighs echoed through the hall; everyone knew full well that the situation was extremely precarious.

If no other measures are taken, let alone living the life of an aristocrat in high society as before, I'm afraid I won't even be able to protect my life and fortune.

Lucius raised his head, his gaze sharp as he swept across the entire room:

"Therefore, holding out and waiting for reinforcements is basically hopeless."

Passive defense will only be gradually worn down and devoured.

The most urgent task is to reverse this passive and defensive situation, to organize effective resistance, and even... a counterattack.

"Elders, castle lords, at this critical juncture, what wise strategies do you have? Speak freely!"

A brief silence fell over the hall, broken only by heavy breathing and the rustling of clothes.

The conservatives looked at each other, none of them daring to speak first.

Just then, a chieftain from a vampire clan tribe from the eastern border vassal state suddenly stepped forward.

He is not a pure vampire, but a close relative of the vampire race, the orcs, who have an ancient pact with vampires.

His tribe had served as the frontier guards for the vampires for generations. Having suffered heavy losses in previous border conflicts, they harbored deep hatred for the Demon Gold Empire and had become even more ruthless and aggressive.

"Lord Blood Lord! Elders!"
I believe we can no longer continue to defend passively like this!
The demon legion launched a relentless offensive, their morale soaring, while we retreated again and again, our morale crumbling!
We must shift from defense to offense! We must gather our elite troops, launch a surprise attack, extinguish their arrogance, and recapture some strategic locations to boost morale and reverse the tide!

Before Lucius could even speak, the hall erupted in chaos:

"Turning defense into offense? Chief Grom, you make it sound so easy!"

An elderly man with a stern face, dressed in a magnificent elder's robe, immediately objected:

"How fortified was the Eternal Night City-State? How powerful was Elder Simmons? Yet it still fell!"

The enemy is currently at the height of its power, while our side has just suffered a defeat and our morale is unstable. To launch an attack at this time would be like throwing an egg against a rock.
If we can't even hold our ground, how can we talk about attacking?

“Exactly! If we take the initiative and fall into an ambush, losing our last remaining forces, who will defend Twilight City? Who will protect the foundations of our people?” Another castle lord chimed in, his territory being far from the front lines, and he preferred to preserve his own strength.

"Chief Grom, I know your tribe has suffered heavy losses and is eager to seek revenge."

But we must remain calm, avoid impulsiveness, and not place personal interests above the interests of the entire race.

In my opinion, we should still focus on defense.

Hold firm, and there's a way!

Chief Grom, his eyes bloodshot, abruptly turned and glared at the opponents, his voice booming:

"Defend? With what can we defend? Are we just waiting for the demon legion to crush our castles and strongholds one by one, just like it crushed the Eternal Night City-State?"
Elders, haven't you seen it yet? This is a war of annihilation! The demons don't want land, they don't want submission, they want to turn us all into nourishment for the abyss!

"Constant retreat only leads to certain death!"

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Lucius on the throne, then turning to the nobles who looked hesitant or opposed, and raised his voice:

"I know what you're worried about! Insufficient troops, not enough elite soldiers, right?"

But we vampires have been ruling the Twilight Continent for thousands of years; are these the only legions we have on the surface?

He pointed sharply into the depths of the hall, as if he could penetrate the walls and see the treasure troves and forbidden areas hidden throughout Twilight Continent:
"Where are the silent legions responsible for guarding the secret treasures in the treasure troves, ancient tombs, and hidden lairs of various places?"
Those are the true foundation of our vampire clan, the war puppets and elite guards forged by our ancestors through secret methods and precious resources!

Each of them possesses formidable combat power, is tireless, fearless of death, and obeys only those who possess specific tokens or bloodline commands.

Why not awaken them all, form a united army, actively seek opportunities, and deliver a crushing blow to the demon legion?!

The moment the words "Silent Legion" were uttered, a collective gasp filled the hall, followed by even louder protests.

"Grom, are you crazy?"

The Silent Legion is the last line of defense for our race, protecting the treasures, secret texts, and sacred objects accumulated over generations; it is the very foundation of our people.

If you move them all away from their protected locations, and the treasure is lost or the secret manual is stolen, can you bear the responsibility?
This is the foundation of my vampire lineage; how can it be used lightly? Or should we mobilize it all for field battles?

If anything goes wrong, our people will lose their last hope of revival!

"That's right! The Silent Legion's duty is to defend, not to be expendable resources for offensive operations!"

"The situation varies from place to place. Some Silent Legions are integrated with the local magic arrays and cannot get away at all!"

"This proposal is far too risky; it's tantamount to shaking the very foundation of our race!"

Conservatives and vested interests voiced their opposition. They may have known the situation was critical, but to mobilize the Silent Legion, which they considered their own private domain and guarded precious resources, was tantamount to cutting off their flesh.

In the eyes of these ancient nobles, those treasures and secret texts were more important than the frontier territory or even the lives of some of their people; they were the guarantee of the continuation of their family and bloodline.

Looking at these elders who were still fixated on the treasure and disregarded the threat of their race's annihilation, Grom felt a surge of grief and indignation rise to his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and he almost roared, his voice echoing throughout the hall:
"Elders! Deacons! Wake up!"

If Twilight Continent falls, if our vampire clan is slaughtered by demons, what use is it for us to guard these underground treasures and the secret texts in the tombs?

Could they possibly jump out on their own and fight off the demons?
Could they possibly bring our dead people back to life?

In the end, it was nothing more than a wedding dress for Thrall and those demons, becoming resources and spoils for them to conquer their next target!

"If we don't use every available force now, and fight to the death, are we going to wait until the demons are at the gates of Twilight, until your castles are breached one by one, until we've all become slaves to the abyss, before we regret it?"

Grom's hoarse questioning echoed throughout the hall.

Some of the younger frontline lords and generals, or those who had personally felt the threat of the demons, showed expressions of agreement and determination on their faces.

The conservative elders, on the other hand, turned pale and remained silent, scoffing coldly.

The atmosphere inside the hall became tense once again.

Should we rely on our ancient resources, take a desperate gamble, and seek an opportunity to win? Or should we continue to hold our ground and wait for a miracle to happen?

Or perhaps they seek the path they internally resist but seem to have no choice but to take, humbly asking for help from the outside world.

All eyes finally turned once again to the expressionless Blood Lord Lucius on the throne.

What choice will this supreme ruler of the vampires make?
Is it to support Grom's radical plan and forcefully push for the deployment of the Silent Legion? Or is it to suppress the radicals and continue with a conservative strategy?
Lucius's crimson eyes were unfathomable, and no one could fathom the true turmoil within him at that moment.

What he needs to weigh is not only the gains and losses in military affairs, but also the balance of power among the various factions within the clan.

In Lucius's true heart, he would rather use the "Silent Legion" to gather the strength accumulated by the vampires over thousands of years and fight that damned demon legion to the death, defending the dignity and survival of the vampires.

Chief Grom's open proposal was his hint.

He needs people, especially generals from the front lines, to tear down the last fig leaf.

As he predicted, the opposition was even more intense and critical than he had anticipated.

His gaze slowly swept over the excited and indignant faces below.

Those elders who held real power in the various families, those castle lords who ruled over vast territories and vassals, those council members who guarded ancient treasures and resources...

They worried about the loss of their family's private armies, felt sorry for the resources within their territories being conscripted, and clung tightly to the dormant, silent legions within their respective spheres of influence, regarding them as their last trump card and private property.

Deploying the Silent Legion means bringing together these forces, which are considered the foundation of various factions, and placing them under the command of a unified organization.

This undoubtedly touched upon their core interests and weakened their ability to protect themselves in chaotic times.

Lucius sneered silently to himself, feeling a wave of desolation wash over him.

If a large tree falls, how long can the vines and moss clinging to it, clinging to that little bit of decaying soil, barely survive?
Grom is right. If the vampires are gone, those treasures buried deep underground and the secret scriptures sealed in forbidden lands are nothing more than gifts prepared for the demons.

But he couldn't say these words himself.

As the Blood Lord, he needs to maintain balance and provide guidance, rather than becoming the target of everyone's criticism by forcibly pushing forward a plan that would tear apart the unity of the clan, especially given the current strength of external enemies.

He knew that this path was doomed to fail in the face of this group of nobles, each with their own agendas and deeply entrenched interests.

Forcing it will only cause greater internal divisions, and may even lead to chaos before the battle even begins.

However, he never expected this radical proposal to pass.

This was merely the first stone he was testing the waters with, intended to lay bare the worst possible options and use the shock and fear they brought to pave the way for the real plan.

The argument inside the hall continued, with the conservatives incessantly emphasizing the Silent Legion's "sacred duty of protection" and "irreplaceability," as if those cold war puppets were more important than their people bleeding and dying on the front lines and the land about to fall.

Lucius remained silent, letting the somewhat absurd and sad argument continue for a moment.

Only when he felt the time was right did he subtly give a look that only father and son could understand to Keshuram Aragell, his eldest son, the vampire's recognized heir, a young prince whose strength had reached the ninth rank, who was standing not far behind his throne.

Keshram understood perfectly. He had been calmly observing the debate in the temple, analyzing the positions and emotions of all parties.

Receiving his father's hint, he understood that it was time for him to play the piece that had been prepared long ago.

He coughed lightly, took a step forward, his voice not loud, but clear and steady, carrying a composure beyond his years.

This instantly attracted a lot of attention, and even the heated argument subsided slightly. "Elders, lords, Chief Grom's bravery and determination are truly admirable."

Deploying the Silent Legion in a desperate last stand is indeed an option.

However, as you all have said, this matter involves a great deal, concerning the very foundation of our clan's millennia-old history, and requires utmost caution.

"Yes, Your Highness is right!"

"That's right, the Silent Legion is the foundation of our race, how can we use it so recklessly!"

"We support Your Highness!"

Kaishuram's words immediately drew a chorus of agreement. The elders, who were originally indignant, became even more imposing when the eldest prince took the initiative to stand up for them.

However, Keshram then changed the subject, saying:

"However, the Demon Gold Empire is currently at the height of its military power. Without the use of the Silent Legion, neither proactive attacks nor passive defenses can prevent the situation from deteriorating."

So, could we consider another path: cooperation?

This word silenced the hall for a moment.

Kaishuram spoke eloquently, analyzing the situation:
"The ambitions of the Demon Gold Empire, or rather Emperor Thrall, are obvious; they are by no means content with merely annexing my Twilight Continent."

Given the terrifying combat power displayed by the demon legion and the evil methods it has revealed in turning living beings into demons, once my Twilight Continent falls, who in the entire Lost Lands can remain unscathed?

Nightmoon Continent? Endless City? Those scattered neutral forces?

They surely understand the principle of mutual dependence and sympathy.

Given this, why don't we take the initiative to seek an alliance and jointly fight against this abyssal calamity sweeping across the entire continent?

The demonic legions are the enemy of all of us; in the fight against them, it shouldn't be just my vampire clan that sheds blood.

At this moment, an elder who leaned towards the conservatives couldn't help but speak up:
“Your Highness is right, but... how easy is it to unite with others?”

Putting aside our long-standing feud with Nightmoon Continent, why would those emerging forces in Endless City risk a direct confrontation with the rising Demon Gold Empire for our sake?

Even if they were willing, what price would we have to pay? It probably wouldn't be so easy.

Kashuram nodded, readily admitting:
"You're right, forming an alliance at this time will inevitably come at a price."

We may need to open some border crossings, share certain intelligence networks, provide resource support, and even make concessions on some future decisions.

The price may be heavy, costing our people the benefits accumulated over many generations and some of our dominance.

It might even be necessary to...maintain a certain degree of humility.

These words immediately sparked a discussion in the main hall.

It is truly unimaginable to expect these arrogant, immortal beings to set aside their pride and even humble themselves before others.

Seeing that the hall was about to erupt in chaos again, Keshram's gaze suddenly sharpened:

"However, please consider this: rather than throwing our entire Silent Legion, on which we depend for survival, into a decisive battle with an uncertain outcome."

Rather than watching helplessly as territory is lost, people are slaughtered, or transformed into demons... it's better to pay a price in diplomatic resources to gain powerful external support, buy a respite, and even have hope of turning the tide of the war.

Is that unacceptable?

Keshram scanned the elders, whose expressions varied, and then delivered the final verdict:
"Use renewable resources and negotiable benefits to exchange for the chance to survive and the possibility of turning the tide in the future."

The price, though heavy, is certainly worth it.

A new silence fell over the hall.

Before long, the conservative elders who had previously vehemently opposed the use of the Silent Legion showed expressions of approval.

Compared to the radical plan that would threaten their "lifeline," the prince's proposed "joint appeal for aid," while also incurring costs, sounds much milder and more acceptable.

The cost was negotiated, it was controllable, and it was at the diplomatic and resource level, which was far better than directly consuming the Silent Legion that they regarded as their own.

One of the elders was the first to speak, his tone much more conciliatory:
"Your Highness's words are wise and insightful, a sign of a nation's future!"

Uniting against the enemy is indeed the right thing to do. Paying some price is better than deploying the Silent Legion and shaking the foundations of our people.

"Yes, if we could unite the Endless Alliance and the Mysterious Continent, or even those guys from Nightmoon Continent, and gather the power of the Lost Lands, we might actually be able to contend with the Demon Legion."

"That's all we can do... Although it would be shameful to seek cooperation from those... well, people, we can't worry about that now for the sake of our race's survival."

"I second that. The most urgent task is to seek all possible external assistance!"

The tide of discussion quickly turned.

Most of the upper and middle-class nobles, especially those powerful figures whose territories had not yet been directly affected by war but whose interests were deeply intertwined, tended to support Keshram's proposal.

After all, paying the price to external forces is a matter for the "public," while deploying the Silent Legion is like cutting into their flesh.

Lucius, high on his throne, took in all these changes.

Although he achieved his goal, he felt little joy, only a heavy sorrow.

The vampires, a race that has been proud of its longevity for thousands of years, are finally forced to bow their heads to survival, abandon their outdated pride, and choose to cooperate with forces they once despised or even hated.

He knew this road would never be smooth.

Negotiations with the sworn enemy, the werewolves, or with the newly formed, complex Supreme Council, will undoubtedly be a difficult struggle.

The “price” that vampires will have to pay will likely be far more severe than what Keshram casually mentioned.

Especially the Supreme Council represented by Cohen Corleone, given the various methods he has demonstrated on the human continent, they will definitely not let go of this opportunity to ruthlessly slaughter the vampires.

Especially considering how much she had previously disregarded his advances.

However, this seems to be the only way to avoid the worst outcome.

Although the general direction of the cooperation has been set, the specific partners immediately became the new focus of debate.

In reality, Twilight Continent only has two choices.

One is Nightmoon Continent, and the other is the Supreme Council, which is formed by the Endless Alliance and the Mysterious Continent.

An elder from an ancient clan spoke first, his tone revealing undisguised disgust and distrust:
"Night Moon Continent?"

Cooperate with those hairy beasts that only know how to roar and fight?
Hmph, a thousand-year-old feud, a blood debt piled high! Even with the abyss before us, how can we easily trust a wolf's ambition?
I fear that the moment we join forces with them, they will betray us, and perhaps even turn on us while our people and the demons are both weakened!

Another elder in charge of foreign affairs spoke up, his expression grave, but his analysis was relatively objective:

"That's right. Werewolves are indeed brave and fierce, and their direct combat strength may be able to hold off the demon army for a while."

However, internal tribal conflicts were constant, and Tolwad's authority was not absolute.

Forming an alliance with them is difficult to coordinate and involves too many variables.

Moreover, werewolves are wild and unruly, and difficult to restrain with common sense. Once there is a conflict of interest, they can turn on you faster than flipping through a book.

Not to mention... the blood feud between our people and theirs runs too deep, and the foundation of trust is almost non-existent.

Many nobles nodded in agreement, their faces showing deep conviction.

Asking them to lower themselves to fight alongside werewolves, whom they consider "uncivilized beasts," and even potentially accept their commands, is far more unacceptable than asking them to deploy a portion of the Silent Legion.

It's not just a matter of interests; it's also a cognitive barrier shaped by deep-seated racial pride and millennia of conflict.

This leaves only the Supreme Council as an option.

When the Supreme Council was mentioned, the discussion in the hall subtly changed.

Unlike the almost unanimous rejection of werewolves, the vampire nobles have more conflicting feelings towards this new power that integrates multiple forces.

"Just an alliance of a mob."

The dangerous sequencers of the mysterious continent, speculative merchants, cultists hiding their true intentions, and opportunists who change their allegiance at the slightest provocation... their composition is complex, and their foundation is shallow.

Compared to the millennia-old heritage of my vampire clan, they are nothing more than nouveau riche.

Especially Cohen from the Endless Alliance, that guy is too ambitious.

Just look at the name he gave his organization, and you can tell.

'The Supreme Committee for the United Resistance and Nation-Building Preparations in the Lost Lands'?
Resisting the enemy is understandable, but what does it mean to establish a nation?
This person is probably in cahoots with Thrall, the Demon Lord, both wanting to rule the Lost Lands.

In my opinion, it would be better to contact some smaller powers and independent city-states..."

A castle lord who paid close attention to outside intelligence immediately retorted. His territory was located near the south, and he was more acutely aware of the rise of the Endless Alliance:
"That's not right. It's precisely because of its complex composition that it can attract the strength of all parties."

The financial resources of Unicorn Trading Company, the covert methods of the Fallen Church, and the resources and connections provided by the Taiwo family, the Solari family, and others should not be underestimated.

In particular, their ability to integrate and take shape in such a short time and openly confront the Demon Gold Empire demonstrates a courage and skill that is far beyond what ordinary 'rabble' can match.

More importantly, they have no long-standing feud with our people, and there are relatively few conflicts of interest, providing a basis for cooperation.

As for establishing a nation, let's talk about that after we resolve the current crisis! (End of Chapter)