Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

"A variable?" A look of bewilderment appeared on the face of Grand Duke Hills of the Emerald Duchy.

All five empires have made it clear that they will no longer interfere with the actions of the Demon Gold Empire.

What other variables remain on the continent now...?

Grand Duke Hohenzollern gazed at a distant point on the map and said slowly:

"The Demon Gold Empire is so rampant that it cannot be ignored forever."

The five great empires may be temporarily preoccupied, but what about the other powers?

Grand Duke Hills' eyes lit up and he immediately said:

"Does the Grand Duke mean to seek aid from the powerful homeland of our Northwest Continent?"

Immediately someone echoed:
"Yes, why don't we go to Effie, the strongest power in the entire Northwest Continent, and ask for help?"

His Majesty Corleone's Supreme Council was originally a mortal enemy of the Magnum Empire.

And the Kingdom of Serene is also a powerful nation on the northwestern continent!

Before he could finish speaking, someone quickly retorted:

"Effin and Serene are not to be trifled with. What if they finish the war and refuse to leave..."

The argument between the group caused a momentary stagnation in the atmosphere, followed by a brief silence, which was then followed by an even more intense commotion and debate.

A relatively young speaker from the Bloodsail Federation stood up excitedly and said:
"What can we do then? The five great empires are standing by and doing nothing."

Are we just going to sit here and wait to die, watching the Demon Gold Empire hold its sword to Northumbria's throat, and then we all perish together?

Another nobleman from a destroyed border county hissed:

"If we don't go to Effie, if we don't go to Serene, are we going to surrender to those reptiles in the abyss?"

We are human beings, descendants of heroes who inherited the glory of our ancestors, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the gods, and drove the demons back to the abyss!

Bowing down to the devil? We'd rather die fighting on the walls of Nottingham!

Despite his haggard appearance, Grand Duke Hills of the Emerald Duchy was now flushed with humiliation and despair. His trembling finger pointed out the window, as if he could see his distant, fallen homeland:
“That’s right. My Emerald City is a forest sanctuary left by our ancestors. Now it has been corrupted by the evil power of demons, and its people have become slaves and victims of the sword.”

If we bow down to the perpetrators just to survive, how can we face the wise men of the past?

Grand Duke Hohenzollern's voice rose, drowning out the noise:
"No one said they would surrender to the devil!"
My Hohenzollern family has ruled Northumbria for over five hundred years, through seventeen generations of grand dukes, and has never bowed to any foreign enemy.

Our ancestors built their home in the volcanic lava, forged weapons from rock-patterned steel, and repelled countless monsters and invaders.

The word "surrender" doesn't exist in the Northumbrian dictionary!

He glanced around at everyone, then changed the subject, his tone heavy with sorrow:

"But precisely because we need to resist and survive, we must not resort to desperate measures."

Yes, we are descendants of heroes, but our ancestors were able to win the war between gods and demons not only because of passion and slogans, but also because of wisdom, unity, and... allies!

He pointed again to Effie's location on the map and said in a deep voice:
“Cohen Corleone, that young man, I’ve studied every step of his rise to power.”

From emerging victorious from the internal strife in Effie, to consolidating the nation, and then extending his reach into the Lost Lands… his methods are more cunning than the most sly fox, and more insatiable than the most greedy dragon!

Look at the Twilight Continent of the vampires, look at the Night Moon Continent of the werewolves.

Didn't they have their own strength and pride back then?

But now, they nominally retain autonomy, but their army has been reorganized, their resources have been seized, their diplomacy is subject to the instructions of the Supreme Council, and even their internal affairs are subject to Cohen's approval.

This is no alliance, this is blatant annexation!
Go to him for help. Yes, he might send troops, and he might be able to help us temporarily repel the Demon Gold Empire.

But then what? Will his army leave?
Will Northumbria still be Northumbria of the Hohenzollern family by then?

Are you all still able to return to your palaces and become the absolute rulers you once were?

"I'm afraid that by then, we'll all become just another vassal under his throne, like the Twilight Vampires and Nightmoon Werewolves, dependent on him and barely clinging to life!"

He paused, allowing this cruel possibility to ferment in everyone's hearts, before continuing:
"As for the Kingdom of Serene... it's an even bigger quagmire!"
What kind of organization is the Black Tomb?
The venomous snake lurks in the shadows of the mainland, behind which stand demons and gods!
They are in cahoots with the Demon Gold Empire, and they will eventually reveal their true colors.

Look at the old king of Serene, who was inexplicably imprisoned, and the power of the entire country was usurped by that so-called three masters of the Black Tomb.

Those cowardly fellows are less trustworthy than the devil.

Cooperating with them is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst; before the demons even arrive, we'll likely be devoured, leaving not even bones behind!

"Then what do you think we should do?"

The speaker was the mayor of the Free City of Lorraine, a business leader known for his shrewdness.

At this moment, he had lost his usual composure, and almost roared:

"Grand Duke Hohenzollern, we respect your wisdom and courage."

I am also grateful to Northumbria for taking me in, but now is not the time to slowly weigh the pros and cons.

The demon army is just a few hundred miles away; they won't give us time to slowly find the perfect ally.

We either seek help from a powerful force that might devour us, or we are utterly destroyed and enslaved by demons.

At least, even if our people are swallowed up by humans, they might still survive and retain some of their culture and bloodline.

But if it falls into the hands of a demon… that means utter annihilation and eternal torment!

This statement reveals the deepest fears and helpless choices many people have.

Faced with the threat of genocide, even the "loss of independence" seems to be an acceptable price to pay.

A loud shout suddenly rang out from the hall:
"What are we waiting for? Our people are still suffering from the torment of demons!"

The speaker was the Grand Duke of the Red Stone Pass Kingdom.

This duke suffered the most tragic fate, as his duchy guarded the Redstone Canyon, the most important passage from the Lost Lands to the Northwest Continent.

The main city's "Aikou Pass" is built on the cliffs on both sides of the canyon, and it is known as "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand men".

However, it was precisely this crucial geographical location that made him the first to bear the brunt of the first and most intense wave of invasion from the Demon Gold Empire.

His once plump figure had become much thinner due to days of fleeing and grief, and his eye sockets were sunken.

But in those bloodshot eyes burned a flame that bordered on obsession.

At that moment, he stood up and roared at all the dignitaries in the hall:
“Slave, ha...yes, even if it means being a slave, I would rather be a slave to humans, a slave to the legendary 'most beautiful woman on the continent,' Queen Adele!”
I no longer want to see my people driven and slaughtered like livestock by demons, turned into those inhuman, ghostly monsters!

He abruptly ripped open the front of his ornate suit, revealing a gruesome new scar on his chest, and roared angrily:

"This is what I left behind when I broke through the encirclement. I saw with my own eyes my chief guard, the brother who grew up with me and swore to protect me with his life, being torn in two by a demon soldier."

I witnessed firsthand how, on the streets of Aikou Pass, the survivors were shackled and dragged away like cargo.

Demons…they are not conquerors, they are plagues that destroy all civilizations!

His gaze swept across every face present, whether showing reluctance or shared hatred, finally settling on the face of the Grand Duke of Hohenzollern, his voice filled with a tearful plea:

"Lord Hohenzollern, I respect your foresight and prudence, but you have not personally experienced that kind of hell, nor heard the desperate cries of your compatriots before their death."

Some choices aren't between good and better, but between bad and worse!

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and said:
"I've heard that the one who is actually governing Effie now, managing that country so well and making it increasingly prosperous, is Queen Angelen, the wife of King Corleone."

According to rumors from the mainland, she was not only the most beautiful woman in the world, but also wise and kind. During her time in power, she treated the people with kindness and reformed corrupt practices. Even the lowest-level farmers and craftsmen praised her wisdom.

Under her rule, Effie was governed by strict laws yet also imbued with compassion; the nation was powerful yet not militaristic…

Even if such a ruler were to actually bring our land under his control in the future, at least our people would still be able to live as human beings.

It will also preserve our language, our customs, and our bloodline!
Our children can still run in the sunshine, instead of being turned into monsters by the devil's whip and the corruption of evil energy!

The words of the Grand Duke of the Red Stone Pass resonated deeply with those exiled rulers who had also just lost their homes and witnessed human tragedy.

Grand Duke Hills covered his face, his shoulders trembling slightly. The Speakers of the Bloodsail Federation clenched their fists, and Mayor Lorraine closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.

The young regent of Baishibao choked up as he thought of his elder brother who had died on the battlefield and his nephew who had been separated from him during their escape...

Grand Duke Hills wiped his eyes hard with his sleeve, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Grand Duke Redstone is right!"

As long as we can drive away the demons, reclaim our homeland, and free our people from the torment of purgatory, even if... even if we have to depend on others, I'll accept it!
I have long heard of Queen Angrain's virtuous reputation; that's far better than her being reduced to ashes by demons!

"I second that. We, the Bloodsail Federation, are willing to accept Effie's... conditions!" an old speaker said tremblingly.

"As long as we can get revenge, as long as we can take back White Stone Castle! I'm willing to talk about anything!" the young regent almost roared.

The remaining lords of the autonomous territories, who had not yet spoken, were still pale-faced and their eyes were filled with struggle, but the look they gave to Grand Duke Hohenzollern clearly conveyed the same message.

We need reinforcements to reclaim our lost territory and rescue our people who are suffering under the hooves of the demonic legion.

Immediately, at any cost. At the suggestion of the Redstone Duke, the overwhelming majority in the hall supported seeking help from Effie.

It was not just a desire to survive, but a compromise born from a deep-seated fear and hatred of the atrocities committed by the devil.

Grand Duke Hohenzollern slowly closed his eyes.

In an instant, this ruler, known for his strength and wisdom, seemed to have aged considerably, and his once straight back now showed a slight, almost imperceptible hunchback.

He certainly understands this principle.

Faced with an absolute power disparity and the death threat of national subjugation and genocide, all long-term plans, sovereignty and dignity, and concerns about "seeking help from a tiger" seem so pale and powerless.

But he knew even better that some paths, once embarked upon, could never be reversed.

Seeking help from Effin, who devours everything that approaches like a black hole, and from Cohen Corleone, a man of deep thoughts and unpredictable methods, might truly provide temporary relief and keep the demons' advance outside the country's borders.

But then what? Would Effie's army leave the country so easily?
How many clauses, enough to make Northumbria unable to recover for decades or even centuries, will be hidden in those inevitable aid agreements?

Will the Hohenzollern family's centuries-old legacy and the independent lives of the Northumbrian people be quietly transferred to another through this life-saving contract, becoming pawns firmly controlled on the road to expansion for another powerful empire?
This is not just inviting trouble; it could be entrusting the soul of an entire family and the future of a nation to a pair of unfathomable hands.

Inside the hall, everyone's eyes were fixed on him, awaiting his decision.

Just as this almost suffocating silence and pressure reached their peak—

“Report—!”

The heavy obsidian doors of the council hall were flung open, and an officer dressed in the standard armor of the Northumbrian court guards strode in with a solemn expression.

Seemingly oblivious to the somber atmosphere and the many dignitaries in the hall, his gaze fixed directly on the Grand Duke of Hohenzollern, who sat at the head of the table. He strode forward, knelt on one knee, and leaned close to the Grand Duke's ear, quickly reporting in a very low but clear voice:
"...A delegation of about twenty people, bearing the banner of the joint efforts of Effie and the Supreme Council, has arrived in Nottingham through secret channels."

The leader was a female envoy who called herself Nephthys, carrying a document bearing the double seals of King Cohen Corleone of Effiin and the Supreme Council, requesting a secret audience with the Grand Duke.

They stated they would discuss urgent matters concerning the current crisis on the mainland and regional security.

When the officer reported, the Grand Duke of Hohenzollern tensed up almost imperceptibly for a moment.

He had a vague premonition that, given Effin and Cohen Corleone's style, they would never let such a good opportunity slip by, but he hadn't expected them to act so quickly, so precisely, and so directly.

He waved his hand, and the officer understood, bowed his head in salute, and then silently left the hall, closing the heavy door behind him to isolate himself from the outside world.

Silence returned to the hall, but this silence was filled with the oppressive tension of an impending storm.

Grand Duke Hohenzollern slowly leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the faces below.

He remained silent for a few moments, as if processing the sudden news and gathering his strength to face this unavoidable moment of choice.

Finally, he slowly spoke:
"Gentlemen, it seems our debate can be put to a temporary halt."

Foreign aid has arrived uninvited.

We have just received news that a delegation from Alfie, representing the so-called 'Supreme Council,' has secretly arrived in Nottingham.

Their envoy requested to see me immediately.

After a brief silence, the hall erupted in a cacophony of noise.

Astonishment, elation, doubt, unease, fear... a variety of emotions intertwined on everyone's face.

Grand Duke Redstone clenched his fist, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

The Jade Grand Duke covered his mouth, his body trembling slightly. The other exiled monarchs and lords also had different expressions, and suppressed murmurs could be heard.

After a brief discussion, the Grand Duke of Hohenzollern and the exiled rulers present reached an agreement to receive the uninvited envoy, Effin, in the council hall that symbolized the highest power in Northumbria.

They had nowhere to retreat and no time to arrange a more diplomatically appropriate venue. The shadow of evil was looming, and every minute and second was incredibly precious.

As the guards pushed open the heavy doors and led the delegation members inside, the previously noisy whispers in the hall instantly vanished.

All eyes were focused on the stunningly beautiful woman walking at the very front.

Nephthys.

The name, along with the chilling organization she represented—the Military Intelligence Bureau—and her well-known close relationship with the legendary King Cohen Corleone, was enough to send shivers down the spines of any ruler present.

She was no ordinary diplomat; she was a blade in Effie's shadow, one of the most direct extensions of Cohen's will.

Her arrival itself signifies the importance that the highest levels of Effie attach to the situation here, and... an undeniable stance of intervention.

Nephthys walked steadily to the center of the hall, her powerful aura making it seem as if she were the master of the place.

His gaze swept around the room and finally settled on Grand Duke Hohenzollern, who sat in the main seat.

Their indifferent gazes were unsettling, as if those present were not a group of esteemed rulers, but a row of bargaining chips awaiting evaluation.

Nephthys was followed by several equally capable-looking attendants, each carrying a sealed dossier.

Nephthys stopped, nodded slightly, and spoke in a clear, melodious voice:
"Your Excellency, Grand Duke Hohenzollern, Your Excellencies."

Effie and Nephthys, the special envoy of the Supreme Council, have come on the orders of His Majesty the King and the Council, in response to the current crisis in the southeast of the continent.

Please forgive my intrusion in visiting.

Grand Duke Hohenzollern took a deep breath, suppressing the myriad thoughts in his mind, and rose to return the greeting:
"You've come from afar, sir. It must be tiring. In these turbulent times, I apologize for any shortcomings in our etiquette. Please have a seat."

The two sat down without exchanging many pleasantries.

Nephthys didn't even touch the volcanic tea served by the waiter, and went straight to the point:

"Time is of the essence, so I'll get straight to the point."

Nephthys got straight to the point, taking a relatively thin document from a box of files carried by her attendant, gently pushing it across the smooth tabletop, and stopping it in front of Grand Duke Hohenzollern:
"Before discussing any possible cooperation, Your Excellency, and all of you, please take a look at this."

Grand Duke Hohenzollern glanced at her with a puzzled look, then reached out and picked up the document.

Turning to the title page, my gaze fell upon the dense text, charts, and images of magical imprints.

After reading just a few lines, a chill ran down my spine.

The document's title was: "Operational Plan for the All-Out Offensive by the Magic Gold Empire against the Principality of Northumbria".

It details the expected launch time of the attack, the main direction of attack, the sequence of troops to be deployed, the marching routes of each detachment, the assembly points, and even the pre-set key breakthrough positions and reserve deployment areas.

Some of these hidden ambush points and circuitous routes went unnoticed even by him, the ruler who had governed Northumbria for decades.

"This...is this?"

Grand Duke Hohenzollern abruptly looked up at Nephthys, his face drained of color, his voice trembling slightly with extreme shock and a hint of instinctive fear:
"The Demon Gold Empire's top-secret attack plan?"

How...how could you possibly have obtained such detailed intelligence, even down to the specific legion numbers and attack times...?

It was as if the highest command of the Demon Gold Empire had personally delivered the battle plan to him!

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what he had said, and a chill ran down his spine to the top of his head.

Who is this person in front of me? He is the head of the military intelligence agency, Aifei, the head of that omnipresent intelligence organization that keeps the rulers of various countries on the continent awake at night.

If it's the Military Intelligence Bureau... if it's the legendary Military Intelligence Bureau that can even find out what their opponents ate for dinner, then obtaining this plan doesn't seem entirely impossible.

But to what extent would this infiltration need to go, and what price would be required? Is Effie's intelligence capability really that terrifying?
The look in Grand Duke Hohenzollern's eyes as he looked at Nephthys had changed from initial wariness and scrutiny to an undisguised shock and awe.

If this intelligence is true, its value is immeasurable.

However, the fact that Effie was able to present this information to him so "generously" suggests that her intentions were not small.

Nephthys was not surprised by his reaction and calmly said:

"The duty of the Military Intelligence Bureau is to clear away the fog for His Majesty and to foresee the future."

The Demon Gold Empire is not monolithic; there are always cracks to be found.

She offered a brief explanation, but to Hohenzollern and the others present, it was like a thunderclap.

This is no longer just a matter of intelligence capabilities; it also means that Effie's infiltration of the Magic Gold Empire may have reached a level that they could not have imagined.

Nephthys seemed to see through the Grand Duke's last glimmer of hope and said calmly:

"Of course, words are not enough."

You can verify the authenticity of the intelligence based on the information provided in it.

Grand Duke Hohenzollern's expression shifted, and he flipped through the intelligence report in his hand, quickly finding the most fatal piece of information.

The intelligence report mentioned that a lightly armed raiding force of about 3,000 men was lying in ambush about 120 miles from Nottingham.

The plan was to make a rapid incursion from here at the start of the general offensive, heading straight for the relatively weakly defended Hot Springs town on the east side of Nottingham, creating chaos and cutting off one of their vital supply lines.

If all of this is true, it would be a fatal blow to the entire Principality of Northumbria.

After a brief silence, Grand Duke Hohenzollern summoned his chief guard, whispered a few instructions, and the chief guard obeyed, heading to the vicinity of Hot Springs to verify the intelligence's authenticity. (End of Chapter)