Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

After weighing the pros and cons, Cohen did not immediately answer "yes" or "no." Instead, meeting Charles's urgent yet hopeful gaze, he asked the most crucial question:
How to cooperate?
What can Your Majesty offer, and what does Your Majesty expect me to do?

He needs to see the specific stakes and conditions before he can make a judgment.

Especially when the other party is in such a hurry, it is even more important to clarify the details.

Charles seemed to have anticipated Cohen's question, and he spoke rapidly without any pause:

My sincerity is right here!
The Holy Healing Order, my sacred center on the mainland, the organization where my thousands of believers gather, from this day forward, all its power, resources, connections, and intelligence network are at your disposal and at your command.

Your Majesty should know better than I what a large, efficient, and loyal medical force means in future wars.

This can save the lives of your soldiers and spare your people from the suffering of plague and injury, which I need not say more about!

Furthermore, I can help Your Majesty resolve the problem concerning Empress Mephis Tinuvel—to be precise, a fatal one!

Cohen's expression tightened, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on Charles's increasingly ethereal face:

What's wrong with Mavis?

Charles's previous deductions about the "time stasis seal" were already astonishing enough, but now he's even saying that Mavis has some fatal problem?

Could this be a side effect of the seal?

However, when confronted with Cohen's persistent questioning, Charles's increasingly faint projection simply watched him silently, offering no further words.

The meaning is clear—you must first state whether you want to cooperate before I reveal more crucial information concerning the safety of your loved one's life.

This is both a bargaining chip and a bottom line.

Time passed in the silent standoff.

The edges of Charles's projection began to dissipate like wisps of mist, merging into the surrounding light. His form became more transparent, as if he would be completely annihilated in the next second.

Cohen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He turned his head and exchanged a glance with Adele beside him.

Adele met Cohen's gaze and nodded almost imperceptibly.

With Adele's silent support, Cohen felt reassured and looked at Charles again, asking in a deep voice:

What do you need me to do?

Charles immediately spoke up:
"Give me a contractual divine kingdom!"
I know that the Ice Goddess Daphne, and the lineage of ice deities behind her, are preparing to bind their divine kingdom to your Effie and engage in deep cooperation with you.

But as far as I know, you own far more than just Effie!

The newly crowned queen of Ceylon is also your lover.

And then there's the Starry Empire, whose empress also has a close relationship with you.

And then there's this newly rebuilt, legitimate, and infinitely potential arcane empire!

Charles's gaze was fixed on Cohen, as if trying to see right through him:

"What I want is for you to guarantee that you will reserve a place for me in the future."

A location within a contractual divine kingdom!

He practically roared out his final demand, and the projected light flickered violently, revealing his inner persistence and longing for this matter.

Inside the Emerald Hall, Charles's voice was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirring not only up a sound wave but also a shock that reached the very soul.

Cohen clearly sensed that this was not simply a matter of a deity seeking a powerful patron.

This is Charles Wilson, the God of Healing, in recognition of his lifelong practice of the concepts of "healing" and "purification," his followers in the Healing Order across the continent, and his clergy whose core purpose is to save lives and alleviate suffering.

In the foreseeable torrents and unpredictable calamities of the future, he seeks a sufficiently reliable "ticket" to ensure his path continues through the storm.

A deity.

A being who has embarked on the path to immortality, possesses a divine kingdom, condenses a divine essence, and wields authority, and is supreme and eternally immortal in the eyes of countless mortals.

At this moment, however, he adopted an almost humble posture, even with a hint of imperceptible "pleading," to seek a future "way out of death" from a human, a mortal king whose lifespan was no more than a hundred years and whose power had not yet reached the realm of gods.

Despite Cohen Corleone's absolute confidence in himself, his path, and his future, and despite his long-standing accustomedness to dealing with and even confronting various powerful beings.

However, faced with such a humble and proactive act of surrender from a mid-level deity and his demand for a future seat, his heart was inevitably stirred.

The fact that a deity, especially one whose role is based on the relatively mild function of "healing," could make such a pragmatic and even shameless choice speaks volumes.

However, Charles's face, which appeared slightly unreal due to his emotional excitement, showed no trace of embarrassment or shame.

On the contrary, a glimmer of almost wisdom flashed deep within his compassionate eyes.

Face? Dignity?
For Charles Wilson, survival and the continuation of tradition were not things he needed to cling to tightly.

He was able to rise from a mortal of neither the most illustrious origin nor the strongest fighting force to the path of godhood, and maintain a stable position of intermediate divine power in the perilous divine realm, not through brute force or fanatical expansion of faith.

Rather, it is an extremely accurate and discerning eye, and the decisiveness to set aside pride and take the lead in betting at crucial moments.

He saw it.

He saw the ice element and the goddess of ice and snow, Daphne Ice, how this powerful goddess almost firmly bound her divine kingdom and the foundation of her faith to Cohen Corleone's Effie.

He also saw the extraordinary attention that Aetherel, the goddess of light, the powerful chief god who wields light, order, and dawn, showed to Cohen Corleone.

This is a privilege that ordinary believers or earthly kings could not enjoy.

Their attitude itself is the strongest signal.

Charles wasn't good at fighting against beings like the God of War or Erebus on the battlefield, but he was good at survival, observation, and finding the ship most likely to weather the storm in a complex situation, and then boarding it without hesitation.

Rather than waiting until Cohen Corleone truly rises to prominence, demonstrating undeniable potential and strength, attracting the attention of the gods and even leading to fierce competition for investment, it's better to add icing on the cake.

Why not take advantage of this opportunity to offer timely assistance, establish a connection early, gain a head start, and secure a more substantial commitment?

Charles has calculated this very clearly: by lowering his stance now, he can secure a stable ally in the future, ensuring the survival of himself and his lineage amidst future turmoil, and perhaps even gaining greater room for development.

This is one of the key reasons why he was able to seize the opportunity and achieve godhood despite his relatively unremarkable background and talent.

He always sees the "trend" earlier than others and dares to bet enough when an opportunity first appears.

Charles Wilson, the God of Healing, did not originate from being an appendage of any glorious pantheon, nor from being a member of the royal family of an ancient empire.

He came from a remote corner of the southwestern continent, to an inconspicuous Duchy of the Rhine, and was born into a viscount family named Wilson.

Among the many beings who relied on top-tier power, vast resources, or powerful bloodlines to pave their way to godhood, such a starting point can be described as "humble".

However, from a young age, Charles showed an extraordinary sensitivity and fascination with life forms and pathological mechanisms.

He observed the withering and flourishing of plants, dissected animals to study their textures, and had an extraordinary insight into diseases.

This talent was not buried by his noble status; on the contrary, it led him to join the Healing Order, which was dedicated to saving lives, spreading life and healing the faith, almost naturally after he came of age, starting as a doctor.

Within the order, Charles quickly demonstrated his talent, mastering the application of divine healing techniques with remarkable speed.

But he soon discovered a reality that made him extremely uncomfortable: the Holy Healing Order's divine healing, although highly effective, was limited by its cost (whether it was the required level of faith, the materials used in the rituals, or the energy of the priests) to serve mainly nobles, wealthy merchants, and high-ranking professionals.

For the vast majority of the poor, serfs, and laborers, seeking a miraculous cure is often an unattainable luxury.

The prevailing view at the time, and even the perception of many priests and doctors, was that magic and advanced medical skills were not intended for the poor—they could not afford the cost, and their lives did not seem worth the precious resources of magic.

Charles, born into nobility but with a compassionate heart, had profound doubts about this.

He longed for the healing arts to truly benefit all people, rather than serving only a select few.

However, this "heretical" idea fundamentally conflicted with the mainstream traditional view within the order that regarded divine magic as a symbol of "gift" and "privilege," as well as the logic of many doctors who viewed advanced medical skills as a scarce resource to be sold at a high price.

Instead of openly confronting the enemy, Charles chose a more difficult path—he secretly began researching a medical technique that could be less dependent on divine magic, cheaper, easier to promote, and truly affordable for ordinary people and the poor.

With his extraordinary talent and tireless efforts, he made groundbreaking progress in herbal medicine, pathology, surgery, and public health concepts, and summarized many effective and cost-effective treatment methods.

They even began to try to analyze the healing principles in divine arts, attempting to transform some of them into mortal medical techniques.

His ideas and practices gradually attracted a group of like-minded young doctors, idealistic low-ranking priests, and reformers dissatisfied with the existing system within the Healing Order, forming the prototype of what would later be known as the "radicals".

However, Charles's success and expanding influence severely threatened the vested interests within the order, especially those of conservative priests and doctors with close ties to nobles and wealthy merchants. It also challenged deeply ingrained traditional dogmas regarding the "sanctity of magic/medicine" and the "class-based nature of those served."

Conservatives denounced Charles and his followers as heretics who "betrayed the founding principles of the Healing Order," "intended to blaspheme God's grace with worldly methods," and "misled people and plotted to usurp the leadership of the order."

The tragedy erupted due to collusion between conservatives and external forces.

At that time, relations between the Duchy of the Rhine and its neighbor, the Iron Dynasty, were tense. Extremists among the conservatives seized upon a deliberately staged medical accident involving Charles as leverage and launched a purge under the pretext of "eliminating heretical pollution and purifying the monastic order."

They not only mobilized the armed forces within the order, but also secretly colluded with the Black Iron Dynasty, which was hostile to the Duchy of the Rhine.

Caught off guard and attacked from both inside and outside, the Wilson Viscount family, to which Charles belonged, was accused of "harboring heretics" and "blaspheming the law," and suffered annihilation.

The entire family was almost completely wiped out, their property was divided up, and their relatives and friends were slaughtered or imprisoned.

Charles himself, with the desperate cover of a few loyal followers, managed to escape the Duchy of the Rhine and began a long and dangerous life on the run.

The pursuers came not only from conservatives and the Iron Dynasty, but also possibly from other forces that had been bribed or misled.

He traveled to various places, and finally had to board a ship bound for the Endless Sea, fleeing the mainland and seeking refuge on those dangerous and unpredictable islands.

In the dimly lit, turbulent lower deck of the ship, facing the destruction of his family, the shattering of his ideals, the sacrifice of his followers, and his own dead end, young Charles did not break down or despair.

He wrote in blood on the title page of his notebook:
"Life should not be bound by dogma, and hatred should not be eroded by time."

If God does not allow healers to save lives, then I will become the God who judges healers.

This is not a curse of despair, but the most steadfast and rebellious vow made by a soul who has seen through the hypocrisy and injustice behind certain "holiness" in dire straits.

From that moment on, Charles Wilson, the idealistic doctor who only wanted to use his medical skills to benefit all living beings, was, in a sense, "dead."

The one who survived was a "quasi-divine" being who combined the belief in healing with the determination to judge, and was determined to overthrow the old order and establish new laws.

The ship eventually took him to some remote islands on the edge of the continent.

There was a lack of medical care and medicine there, and illness and injury were commonplace. The glory of the Holy Healing Order rarely shone on those forgotten corners.

Charles went into hiding there and resumed his old ways.

This time, however, he was no longer bound by any dogma. Instead, he combined his early, secret research into medicine aimed at benefiting the masses with his understanding of the essence of life, and wholeheartedly treated every patient he could reach, regardless of their wealth, status, or even race.

A turning point in fate quietly arrived.

While practicing medicine on a seemingly desolate island, he stumbled upon ancient ruins buried by time.

Charles was overjoyed. With his extraordinary medical talent, he began to study, decipher, and absorb these ancient medical traditions, combining them with his own ideas and practices.

His medical skills began to improve at an astonishing rate. Many injuries and illnesses that were considered incurable on the mainland or required expensive magical treatments were alleviated or even cured in his hands in a simpler and cheaper way.

The news spread like wildfire, initially only among poor fishermen and wanderers on the islands, but gradually reaching the ears of merchant ships and adventurers in the nearby waters.

Charles's name began to circulate quietly on the fringes of the civilized world, posing as a "mysterious healer."

More and more people began to follow him.

Among them were lower-class healers who had been suppressed and ostracized by the Holy Healing Order, who identified with Charles's ideals and came seeking knowledge and refuge.

Displaced people who lost their homes due to war and persecution received treatment and respect from Charles.

There were even some impoverished noblemen from the Duchy of Rhine or the surrounding area whose families had also been implicated or who were dissatisfied with the actions of the Holy Healing Order.

They brought with them some resources, knowledge, and a desire for revenge.

These people gathered around Charles, regarding him not only as a highly skilled medical mentor, but also as a leader who could lead them out of darkness, realize their ideals, and even seek justice from their persecutors.

Throughout his medical career on a remote island, inspired by ancient ruins, supported by followers, and constantly threatened with assassination, Charles gradually shed the "arrogance" that may have carried the pride of a noble son and the naivety of an idealist in his early years, becoming more composed and decisive.

He remained compassionate, treated all patients equally, and diligently taught his followers medical skills.

At the same time, he also learned ruthlessness and strategy, realizing that to achieve his goals, kindness and medical skills were far from enough; he also needed strength, organization, and, when necessary, a merciless counterattack.

He began to consciously integrate the power of his followers, establish a preliminary order, and carefully plan for the future.

As his power grew, Charles was no longer content with remaining in a small corner of the world.

He led his growing following and began to strategically travel to areas on the mainland where the influence of the Holy Healing Order was relatively weak or where conflicts were acute.

While continuing to practice medicine and save lives, they put Charles's philosophy of "medical skills for all" into practice, winning the gratitude and trust of the grassroots people with tangible results.

On the other hand, they began to systematically collect, organize, and publicly expose the corruption, hypocrisy, and cruelty within the Healing Order.

They showed the world how the higher-ups of the Healing Order used magical healing as a means to amass wealth and consolidate their power, and how they turned a blind eye to poor patients who could not afford the expensive treatments.

How conservative forces suppress, persecute, and even assassinate colleagues with differing medical views in order to maintain their authority and traditional dogma.

How some priests colluded with local nobles, using the pretext of "eliminating heretics" to actually eliminate dissidents and seize property, creating countless wrongful convictions, their hands stained with the blood of innocent people...

These truths, combined with the efficient and inexpensive medical practices of Charles and his team, create a stark contrast and are extremely impactful.

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

Charles's reputation and ideas spread rapidly among those who were dissatisfied with the Holy Healing Order, suffered from its influence, or simply longed for cheap and effective medical care.

More and more people are beginning to believe in "Dr. Charles"—not only the patients and their families he has cured, but also the refugees he has saved, the healers who agree with his innovative ideas, and those who have suffered persecution by the Holy Healing Order themselves or their families and see hope in him.

They prayed for him, remembered his kindness, and spread his deeds and ideas, regarding him as "the hope of salvation," "the future of medicine," and "a true healer."

These heartfelt, pure feelings of gratitude, reverence, and anticipation transformed into an invisible force of faith, flowing like a gentle stream from every corner of the continent toward Charles.

This power of faith nourished his soul, tempered his will, and began to resonate with the laws of the universe.

His life force field subtly changed, gradually detaching itself from the mundane realm and moving towards a higher level of life form—the divine.

His methods of healing and saving lives have also begun to unconsciously take on a mystical effect that transcends ordinary medical skills and contains the power of rules.

The higher-ups of the Healing Order could no longer stand idly by.

The growth of Charles's power and the spread of his ideas not only seriously shook the authority and interests of the religious order, but the visible torrent of faith that gathered there also caused them extreme panic.

They realized that the former "heretic" and "fugitive" was embarking on a forbidden and terrifying path in a way they could not comprehend, a path that could threaten their very foundation!
The order mobilized all available resources, uniting with conservative nobles from various regions and even hiring powerful mercenary and assassin organizations to launch several large-scale and brutal crackdowns on Charles and his followers, attempting to completely eradicate this "cancer" and extinguish the nascent flame of faith.

Charles led his followers, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, the cover of the people, their increasingly sophisticated collective medical skills, and his own ever-deepening understanding of the laws of life and harm, to repeatedly thwart the encirclement and suppression, and to grow stronger and more powerful in the battles.

The conflict escalated and eventually turned into a decisive battle that would determine the fate of both sides.

The Holy Healing Order poured all its resources into completely destroying Charles's body and soul, severing his path to godhood.

On the battlefield, blood and fire intertwine, and the forces of life and death collide fiercely.

At the critical moment, facing the terrifying destruction and distortion of laws caused by the monstrous use of forbidden methods by the religious order, Charles did not back down.

He felt the immense power of faith emanating from all directions, from countless people who believed in him, longed for him, and placed their hopes in him.

That power was pure, fiery, and filled with a thirst for life and a will to resist injustice.

"If God does not allow healers to save lives, then I will become the God who judges healers!"

The blood oath of yesteryear resounds deep within the soul.

Charles opened his mind completely, actively embracing and guiding that vast torrent of faith.

Under the baptism and tempering of the endless power of faith, his soul underwent a fundamental transformation. The fragile outer shell of his mortal soul peeled away piece by piece, revealing the brilliant and immortal divine radiance within.

His philosophy—"Life should not be bound by dogma, and healing should be shared by all"—resonated and merged with the relevant principles of life, healing, and purification under the burning flame of faith.

Just as the ancient forbidden spell used by the Holy Healing Order was about to devour him, Charles's soul and the power of faith reached a perfect resonance.

A magnificent, pure, and vibrant divine radiance erupted from his body.

In the radiance, the phantom of an olive branch, representing healing, and a flame, symbolizing purification, appears.

At this moment, Charles Wilson officially crossed the insurmountable chasm between mortals and gods, his soul ascended, divine fire ignited, and his divine nature was condensed!

He became the Holy God of Healing, who held the power of "healing" and "purification"!

This also marks the last recorded instance of someone on the Demon Tide Continent successfully ascending to godhood! (End of Chapter)