Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Claire and Cohen have a close relationship; they have been through life and death together before, trust each other, and there are even some unspoken feelings between them.

But suddenly facing Cohen's official wife, a noblewoman with both beauty and wisdom, even the head of the Claire family, with his composure, couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Isabella noticed her subtle unease and understood, but did not point it out.

She sat down on the sofa opposite Claire, elegantly crossed her legs, and smiled faintly.

"I've heard Sister Adel mention it before. Claire, the chieftain of the mermaid tribe in the South Sea, is not only a trusted comrade of Cohen, but also the most beautiful woman in the Endless Sea, with unparalleled charm."

This is one of the safest places on the entire continent.

There are no outsiders here now. Why don't you remove your disguise, sister, and let me behold the unparalleled beauty of the most beautiful woman in the sea tribe?

Upon hearing this, Claire's expression shifted, and a complex look flashed in her eyes.

However, this place is safe and sound, and since she has already met one of Cohen's closest bed partners and been brought here by her, there is no need to maintain the pretense anymore, as it would only make her seem dishonest.

She took a deep breath, her inner magic surging slightly, and the exquisite disguise on her face rippled like water before quickly fading away.

In the blink of an eye, a stunningly beautiful face, capable of eclipsing the stars, was presented to Isabella without reservation.

Her skin was as smooth and white as the finest pearl, with a faint glow.

Her features were delicate, and her lips were a natural rosy red with a moist sheen.

What is most striking are his eyes, with pupils that are a deep and mysterious azure blue, like an ocean containing the entire starry night. In the flow of his eyes, there is both the majesty of someone who has long held a high position and the tranquility and wisdom of the deep sea.

Her long hair was no longer the dark brown of the disguise, but rather her original long, curly hair with a deep blue sheen, casually draped over her shoulders, adding to her charm and mystery.

Even in her simple secretary attire, her breathtaking beauty and noble bearing were undeniable.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful face before her, which, once the disguise was removed, was enough to eclipse the moonlight, Isabella, even as a woman herself and possessing unparalleled beauty, couldn't help but secretly admire it in her heart.

She clicked her tongue softly, her eyes darting around with a mischievous glint:

"No wonder someone used to always be so obsessed with his 'Pirate King' persona, lingering on the endless sea. It turns out there was a stunningly beautiful woman like my sister waiting for him there."

My sister is such a person, I feel sorry for her.

Well, since we're here, why not choose a suitable palace in this imperial palace and stay there?

I think Cohen would be more than happy to bestow the title of Queen upon another sea creature!

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible blush instantly rose on Claire's stunning face, spreading all the way to her ears, making her skin appear even more like jade.

Her red lips parted slightly as she quickly explained:
"Your Highness is joking, please don't misunderstand."

I have come to see His Majesty Corleone to discuss a matter of paramount importance, concerning the life and death of my people.

"Between me and His Majesty..." She paused, as if she wanted to clarify something, but didn't know where to begin, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing in her eyes.

Before he could finish speaking, the living room door was gently pushed open, and Cohen appeared in the doorway.

He had clearly finished his necessary social engagements in a hurry and found an excuse to come over.

Judging from his expression, he had obviously heard Isabella's last few teasing remarks. A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, but he quickly adjusted his expression, as if he really hadn't heard anything.

His gaze fell directly on Claire, who had regained her true appearance, and his tone carried just the right amount of surprise and concern:

"Chief Claire, it really is you."

How did you manage to disguise yourself and sneak into Florence?

"You didn't even give me a heads-up beforehand, so I could have made some arrangements..."

He deliberately ignored Isabella's earlier jokes and steered the conversation back on track.

Seeing Cohen enter, Claire seemed to have found her pillar of support, but at the same time, she remembered the heavy responsibility she bore, and an unprecedented solemnity and a trace of undisguised fatigue appeared on her face.

She took a deep breath, her deep, ocean-like eyes gazing at Cohen. Her voice, devoid of the composure and authority she usually displayed as the clan leader, instead betrayed a hint of weakness and helplessness.
"Your Majesty... I have come here at great risk because I have nowhere else to turn and have come to you for help."

Isabella knew that this was no small matter, seeing that the two were about to discuss serious business and that Claire looked so solemn.

She stopped teasing him, stood up gracefully, walked to Cohen's side, reached out to straighten his slightly disheveled collar, and whispered in his ear with a smile:

"Miss Claire has come from afar, Your Majesty should treat her well, inquire about her reasons, and do your best to help her."

I wouldn't mind having one or two more sisters in the palace to liven things up, but it's best to let Windsor know first; that elf is incredibly prone to jealousy!

Cohen was somewhat embarrassed by Isabella's parting "sharp remark," and quickly straightened up, saying:
"Don't cause trouble. Chief Claire and I are close friends who have fought side by side. We are upright and honest. There is no secret relationship between us."

Isabella looked at Cohen's slightly embarrassed yet forced composure, and at the barely perceptible blush that appeared on Claire's face again after hearing what she said. She understood, and her smile widened, full of playfulness, which made Cohen feel a little uneasy.

Without another word, she turned gracefully and walked lightly toward the door. Before leaving, she turned back and gave Claire a friendly and meaningful smile before gently closing the door behind her.

As Isabella left and closed the door, the living room fell completely silent.

Claire visibly relaxed, her tense shoulders easing slightly. She looked at Cohen and said with a hint of helplessness:

"Your women are all incredibly powerful."

Princess Isabella is no ordinary woman.

Cohen smiled wryly and shook his head:
"Isha meant no harm; she may have misunderstood our relationship."

Alright, let's get down to business. What exactly is the purpose of your journey to Florence, where you went to great lengths to disguise yourself and risk your life to venture deep inland?

Has something serious happened in the South China Sea?

When business was discussed, the slight ease on Claire's face vanished instantly. She took a deep breath, her azure eyes fixed on Cohen, and said in a deep voice:

"You guessed right. Dramatic changes have indeed occurred within the South China Sea."

To be precise, my clan of tidal mermaids is facing a life-or-death crisis.

Cohen's brows furrowed instantly.

In recent years, although he has focused on the struggle for continental supremacy and the construction of the empire, and rarely goes to the Endless Sea in person, he has always kept a close eye on the South China Sea, especially the movements of the merfolk and Claire, through the "Crimson Raiders" and his intelligence network.

According to the intelligence he had recently obtained, Claire's prestige and strength increased greatly after obtaining the Trident of Poseidon, and her Tide Clan's status within the Merfolk rose accordingly, with their situation improving day by day.

There are even intelligence reports that she is accelerating the integration of various mermaid races, and it seems that she is not far from achieving the actual unification of the entire mermaid race.

How did it suddenly become a "life-or-death situation"?

Seeing the doubt and question in Cohen's eyes, Claire didn't keep him in suspense. Knowing time was of the essence, she began to explain the complex situation within the merfolk:
"Your Majesty should be familiar with the power structure of our merfolk."

The highest ruling and decision-making body of our race is the Mermaid Joint Conference.

In the joint meeting, the three mermaid royal families truly held the core power.

Originally, these three mermaid royal families were our Tide Clan, Lan Clan, and Bitao Clan.

Our three tribes jointly wield the Mermaid Scepter and lead all tribes.

However, many years ago, a great upheaval occurred. The royal family at that time... due to a critical mistake, caused severe damage to our clan's supreme sacred artifact—the 'Tear of Eternity'.

Because of this irreparable mistake, the joint council at the time made a severe ruling: temporarily terminating our Tide Clan's royal status and stripping us of most of our privileges.

We were also forced to leave the core decision-making circle of the joint meeting.

Cohen nodded slowly, his expression solemn.

He was no stranger to the secrets of the mermaids that Claire had described.

Years ago, in the Endless Sea, the two met by chance and embarked on an adventure together, ultimately finding the lost Trident of Poseidon. (See Chapter 56 of Volume 2: Leaving a Deep Mark on the Soul of a Wicked Woman!)

During that life-or-death adventure, Claire had revealed to him the past and plight of the Tideborn.

The "Tears of Eternity," the supreme sacred object of the merfolk and considered a spiritual totem, is not only a symbol of power but also contains incredible strength.

It can summon the spirits of powerful ancestors who have long since passed away to fight for the protection of the clan in times of crisis.

This sacred object has historically been kept in rotation by the three royal clans: the Tide Clan, the Lan Clan, and the Azure Wave Clan, changing hands every hundred years.

However, about a hundred years ago, when the custody rights passed to the Tideborn, the Naga launched a sudden and massive attack.

Clan was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses, with most of their elite forces wiped out. Even more devastatingly, the "Tears of Eternity," which bore the heavy responsibility of protection, was also severely damaged in the chaos and plunder.

The other two royal families, the Lan Clan and the Bitao Clan, had long harbored resentment towards the Tide Clan for its long-standing dominance in the Joint Conference.

The destruction of the sacred artifacts was a godsend for them.

They immediately united numerous vassal clans that they had already won over or feared their power, and launched an attack at the joint meeting.

They accused the Tideborn of failing to protect the sacred artifact, which led to a resolution that temporarily terminated the Tideborn's royal status.

The so-called "temporary" was merely a way to leave each other with a last fig leaf, and also to avoid a strong backlash from the forces within the clan that still supported the Tide Clan at the time.

Since then, the Tide Clan has been ostracized from the core of power, its resources have been reduced, its territory has been squeezed, and it has been hampered and suppressed at every turn, falling from the heights to the depths.

Claire also proposed cooperating with Cohen, hoping to one day use the pretext of repairing the sacred artifact to return to the Merfolk.

Summon all tribes that are unwilling to be oppressed by the Lan and Bi tribes, dissolve the joint council that has long since become a tool for self-interest, and uproot the Lan and Bi tribes. Completely unify the merfolk and end the infighting and strife within the merfolk.

However, plans can never keep up with changes.

After that, Cohen's focus was completely occupied by the changing situation on the continent. Rise, establishment of a nation, conquest, and becoming emperor... a series of events surged like a tidal wave, leaving him no time to pay attention to the waves of the endless sea.

Claire's strength and prestige soared after she obtained the Trident of Poseidon and Cohen inherited the Pirate King's legacy, and they successfully built the Ghost Ship. As a result, her strategy for unifying the Merfolk was adjusted.

With greater strength and more flexible strategic support, Claire abandoned the more radical and direct plan she had initially agreed with Cohen: "Invade, annihilate both races, and adjourn the meeting."

She then adopted a more conservative strategy, one that was more in line with the political traditions of the Sea People.

By leveraging the "legitimacy" of the Trident of Poseidon and the strategic mobility and deterrent power of the Ghost Ship, we can start from the big picture and gradually divide, win over, and deter others.

Step by step, they dismantle the resistance forces and alliances of the Lan and Bitao tribes, while consolidating the Tide tribe itself and winning the support of other neutral or oppressed tribes.

This strategy proved highly effective over a period of time.

This was exactly what Cohen had learned through intelligence channels—Claire was gaining momentum and had already subdued many tribes, putting enormous pressure on the Lan and Bi tribes, and seemed to be only one step away from achieving the substantial unification of the merfolk.

The next step is to integrate the power of the entire merfolk, and then plot to restore the glory of their ancestors, unify the entire sea race, and establish a powerful maritime empire.

This was originally a clear and promising path to advancement.

But now, Claire herself has said that "the Tideborn are in a life-or-death situation." This huge reversal made Cohen realize instantly that there must be an extremely powerful and unexpected external force forcibly intervening.

This has completely disrupted the balance in the South China Sea and may even reverse the favorable situation that Claire has painstakingly built.

A deep weariness appeared on Claire's beautiful face. She sighed, her voice tinged with suppressed anger:

"Everything was indeed going very smoothly."

Just a month ago, through multi-party pressure and negotiations, I forced the chieftains of the Lan and Bitao tribes to bow their heads in principle and agree to reconvene a joint meeting to discuss restoring the Tide tribe's royal status.

They also elected me as the new chief speaker of the joint conference, effectively giving me command over the entire nation.

Although they were unwilling, they had no choice but to accept the situation and the overwhelming force of the situation.

It seems that... it seems that only one last step is needed to achieve unification without bloodshed and end the internal strife.

But at this crucial moment, the Southern Empire intervened!

"The Southern Empire?"

Cohen's pupils contracted slightly, his expression immediately darkening, and he asked in a deep voice:
"Is it the eldest prince—Gregor Alvis—who has always advocated exploring the endless sea and sees the ocean as the future territory of the empire?"

"it's him."

Claire nodded firmly:

"The Southern Empire has always had a tense relationship with our merfolk, especially with the tribes in the South China Sea near its coastline. Conflicts and frictions have been constant over the struggle for shipping lanes and mineral islands and reefs."

They had long coveted the rich, endless sea, and Prince Gregor was the vanguard of the empire's expansionist faction in the maritime arena.

Perhaps my previous struggles with the Lan and Bitao tribes were detected by the intelligence network deployed by the Southern Empire in the South China Sea.

They learned that I had received help from 'One Piece'.

The Southern Empire has always hated the Pirate King to the core, regarding him as a thorn in its side and determined to get rid of him as soon as possible.

When they discovered that I, who was about to unify the merfolk of the South China Sea and might become the overlord of the southwest of the Endless Sea in the future, actually had a close connection with the Pirate King, and might even be an ally, they naturally couldn't sit idly by.

Therefore, Crown Prince Gregor, or rather, the maritime expansionist forces of the Southern Empire he represented, decisively intervened.

The "Pirate King" that Claire mentioned here does not refer to the identity that Cohen later used, but rather to the first Pirate King who left a deep mark on the history of the Endless Sea and was unforgettable to the Southern Empire.

He is also the legendary figure who inherited Cohen's mantle in the Endless Sea.

During his active years, the first Pirate King caused the Southern Empire a great deal of trouble. His fleet appeared and disappeared unpredictably, repeatedly inflicting heavy damage on the Southern Navy and plundering its rich coastline and trade routes.

Several emperors even lost their lives because of it.

This deep-seated hatred, spanning generations, has long been etched into the very marrow of the Southern Empire.

Since Cohen inherited the legacy of the first Pirate King and the Ghost Ship, he also "inherited" to some extent the deep-seated hostility from the Southern Empire.

When the Southern Empire discovered that Claire was cooperating with the successor of the Pirate King, both old and new grudges were instantly amplified.

This is not merely a geopolitical precaution, but also an excellent opportunity for revenge and reckoning.

Their interference in the merfolk's internal strife was not only to prevent the emergence of a potentially hostile and powerful unified merfolk regime, but also to force the "Pirate King" to appear so that they could eliminate this major threat once and for all and avenge their previous defeat.

Claire continued:
"After all, it is one of the five great empires of mankind. The Southern Region Empire has unparalleled influence in the Endless Sea and has a deep foundation."

Its national strength, resources, and promised benefits are irresistible to many seafaring powers.

They not only persuaded the remaining forces of the Lan and Bitao tribes, but also used their influence to actively lobby, pressure, and even threaten within the sea tribes, inciting many other sea tribes or forces to put pressure on the Merfolk Joint Conference.

Their demands are becoming increasingly blatant; they are even attempting to force our entire merfolk race to relinquish our independence and become a vassal race of their Southern Empire.

After listening, Cohen frowned and asked:
"The Southern Empire has gone to such great lengths, even extending its reach into the Sea Clan, attempting to change the racial hierarchy... Fan Ze hasn't yet given me a detailed report on this matter."

The commander he mentioned, Van Ze, was originally the deputy naval commander of Effie, and was outstanding in ability and loyal and reliable.

After Cohen formed the Crimson Raiders and decided to expand his influence into the Endless Sea, he transferred Cohen to a new post and entrusted him with important responsibilities.

Currently, he is primarily responsible for the "Crimson Raiders" and their affiliated fleets, and oversees the management and strategy of Effie throughout the Endless Sea.

Claire's expression changed slightly, a complex look flashing in her eyes, and her voice was lower than before:
"Actually, I didn't discuss this matter with Commander Fan Ze."

In fact, ever since I began to substantially promote the unification process within the Merfolk, especially in the later stages when we were directly confronting the Lan and Bitao tribes, it has been a long time since I started.

I have consciously reduced direct contact with the Scarlet Raiders and even with your Effie Navy.

Upon hearing this, Cohen smiled and said:

"Does the clan leader still need to be so polite and distant with me?"

Claire shook her head and said in a deep voice:
“Cohen, this isn’t a matter of being polite or not.”

This is an internal matter for our mermaid race, concerning our future destiny and independence.

Unification achieved by relying on external forces, especially the power of human empires, even if successful, will leave endless troubles, making the foundation of the newly unified regime unstable, and it may even be labeled as a 'human puppet'.

I hope that the revival of the Tidefolk and the reunification of the Merfolk can rely more on our own strength, our will, and the favor of our sea god.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, I do not wish to directly involve the Efein Empire in the internal affairs of the Merfolk.

Commander Fan Ze and his forces were used more as a trump card, a deterrent, or a backup plan in extreme situations, rather than as a conventional means.

But now... the Southern Empire has fallen.

With the colossal size of a human empire, they blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of my race, even attempting to turn my entire race into a vassal.

Faced with such overwhelming external power, the Tide Clan alone, or even the Merfolk who are not yet unified, are powerless to resist.

Now, I can no longer insist on the so-called 'purely relying on my own strength'.

The intervention of the Southern Empire broke all the rules and bottom lines.

Cohen, I need your help, I need the power of the Effiin Empire to counter the immense pressure exerted by the Southern Empire.

This is not only for the sake of the Tideborn, but also to prevent the Merfolk from becoming vassals of others, and to prevent the South China Sea from being completely controlled by a single dominant human empire.

Cohen listened quietly to Claire's explanation, nodded slowly, and said in a deep voice:

“I understand. Claire, you have your principles and considerations, and that’s fine.”

When possible, achieving unification through one's own efforts can indeed make the new regime more stable and cohesive.

So, what is the current situation of the Tide Clan and your progress in unifying the Merfolk?
How far has the Southern Empire's intervention progressed?
How much have you lost, and how long can you hold on?

Claire gently shook her head:
"The situation... is indeed not optimistic."

Although the offensive I launched in order to complete unification as soon as possible was fierce, it was ultimately somewhat hasty.

The Lan and Bitao tribes have been operating for many years and have deep roots. Their remaining forces and loyal followers have not been completely eliminated, but have only temporarily gone into hiding.

Now that the Southern Empire has intervened forcefully, offering substantial benefits and even providing direct military support, these remnants of the regime have risen up like sharks that have smelled blood.

Working together with the Southern Empire from within and without, they regrouped into a considerable resistance force.

They are familiar with the terrain and know the internal situation of our tribe, which has caused considerable trouble.

However, these internal rebellions are barely manageable.

The real, deadly threat came from outside—the Southern Empire was no longer content with providing covert support and instigation; they directly dispatched their navy.

Latest intelligence indicates that the Southern Empire has deployed at least three main fleets, advancing towards the Tide Royal Court from different directions, intending to encircle and launch a military attack! (End of Chapter)