Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 249 The Luca family’s evil deeds!
Cohen then asked:

"Where is your father now?"

Perkins replied tremblingly:
"I am staying with the Viscount in Nanjun, waiting...waiting..."

As he said this, he glanced fearfully at Asuna beside Cohen.

Cohen chuckled and said:
"Are you waiting in Nanjun to meet the new Grand Duke?
Unfortunately, he didn't know that his son had seen it before him."

Perkins was pale and terrified.

Cohen glanced at Leif, who came over with a pen and paper.

"Write a letter for help to Levis Luca, asking him to find a way to return from South County."

Perkins' eyes widened, and he immediately understood what Cohen and the others were thinking. His heart was filled with fear, and he said tremblingly:
"Father is accompanying the Viscount. Even if I write a letter, I'm afraid I won't be able to call him back..."

Leif interrupted Perkins harshly:
"Then you'd better pray that your position in your father's heart is higher than Viscount Luca's, otherwise..."

Leif gave a chilling smile.

Perkins' heart skipped a beat as he sensed the murderous intent coming from the other party. He hurriedly took the pen and paper and looked up at Cohen.

Cohen said calmly:

"Say the Gaunt family remnants you took in kidnapped you and want to hold your life hostage in exchange for a way to leave the country and money."

Perkins followed Cohen's instructions and wrote a tearful letter for help.

Cohen turned back to look at the hotel owner and smiled faintly:
"You performed well just now, I hope you can continue.

You can deliver the letter. I don't need to tell you what to say and what not to say."

The hotel owner had been in shock upon learning of Cohen's identity. Seeing that His Majesty the King had actually personally assigned him a task, his entire body was filled with excitement and he trembled as he repeatedly assured her:

"Your Majesty, I promise to complete the task!"

After saying that, he took the letter and rushed towards Nanjun.

Cohen looked at Perkins and the others who were slumped on the ground and said to Leif:

"Detain them first. After we've dealt with the Luca family, we'll deal with them together."

"it is good."

……

Nanjun, the place to welcome the Red Dragon Duchess.

A thin middle-aged man left the gathering place, came to a luxurious carriage and got on.

Sitting upright in the carriage was a well-dressed and elegant male nobleman, flipping through a book.

Seeing the thin man walk in, he asked:
"Levi, what's going on?"

The Luca family's butler, Perkins' father, Levis Luca, shook his head and said:
"Sir, there is still no news. The latest news came from Red Stone County yesterday.

According to the time calculation, it should arrive the day after tomorrow at the latest."

George Luca, the head of the Luca family, put down the book, his expression becoming slightly solemn, his eyes occasionally filled with thought. After a long silence, he asked:
"It doesn't make sense. Why would this young Grand Duke enter the Southern Territory without a word? She is the youngest duke ever appointed by His Majesty, and rumor has it she's even his wife.

I always feel a little uneasy that someone of this status would take office so low-key.

Do you think she received some instructions from His Majesty and wants to secretly visit something in the southern border?"

Levis obviously had the same guess, nodded and said:

"Your Excellency is saying that the Red Dragon Duchess didn't allow anyone to greet her and entered the Southern Territory in a low-key manner because she wanted to conduct a secret visit and search for evidence against the Southern Territory nobles."

Viscount Luca sighed and said:
“We have to be on guard.

I heard that the Red Dragon Duke grew up with His Majesty, so it's hard to say whether her behavior pattern will not be influenced by His Majesty.

Our young Majesty is a master at pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger.

By the way, among the welcoming team, is there any noble or official from the Southern Territory who is not present?"

Levis thought for a while and said:

"Lev Zion, the head of the Military Control Commission's Southern Border Station."

Hearing this name, Viscount Luca felt a chill run down his spine.

He immediately thought of something, and his tone became much different:
"I remember that Duke Red Dragon also held a position in the Military Control Commission. I think he was the director of the Military Control Commission's confidential office, right?"

Levis replied:
"Yes, but she has now come to the Southern Territory to take up her post. According to our investigation, Miss Nephthys will temporarily take over the duties of the Military Control Commission's confidential office."

Viscount Luca's expression grew even darker, and he said:
"Normally, it's impossible for the butcher Leif not to attend the Red Dragon Duke's welcoming ceremony. Since he didn't show up, it can only mean one thing—he has already met with the Red Dragon Duke in secret!"

The two looked at each other, and both saw a hint of coldness in each other's eyes.

Asuna secretly summoned the chief of the Military Control Commission's Southern Border Station. The implications of this move were not optimistic.

After a brief silence, Levis said:
"You don't have to worry so much, sir. I have handled our family's affairs perfectly. Even Leif can't find any valuable clues."

Viscount Luca lowered his voice:
"We still need to be cautious, especially any traces of contact with that side must be completely removed."

Levis made a promise and said:
"Don't worry, sir. No one else will know about this except the two of us."

After calming Viscount Luca's emotions, Levis left the carriage, returned to the gathering place, and continued to observe the situation.

As the sky gradually darkened, a familiar figure suddenly broke into the Luca family's residence.

When Levis saw the hotel owner rushing over, he had a bad feeling in his heart.

The hotel owner was his son's trusted subordinate. He hurried over from the family home at this time. Something must have happened to Perkins.

Levis pulled the hotel owner to a secluded place and asked in a deep voice:

"Is something wrong with Perkins?"

The hotel owner swallowed his saliva, nervously took out a letter, and said in a trembling voice:

"Master, this is bad, the young master has been kidnapped!"

Levis was stunned for a moment. Who in the Southland would dare to kidnap his son?

He quickly opened the letter, and when he saw the contents, he immediately became furious and cursed:
"These remnants of the Gaunt family are so shameless! They actually dare to threaten us at this time!"

At the same time, a sense of clarity emerged in his mind. It seemed that the arrival of the Red Dragon Duchess had made these remnants of the Gaunt family smell the danger, and they were preparing to escape.

The hotel owner wiped his sweat and said:

"Sir, they said that if you don't prepare the money and a way to leave the country within one day, they will...will...they also said they want to see you in person before they will release you."

There was a flash of anger in Levis' eyes. These ungrateful bastards, he really shouldn't have taken them in for the so-called treasure!

He took a deep breath. Under normal circumstances, he could just send people to seize the base of these remnants of the Gaunt family, but that was not possible now.

The entire southern border is in a sensitive period of power transfer, and we cannot make too much noise at this time.

Levis suppressed his anger and said to the hotel owner:

"Does anyone else know about this?" The hotel owner shook his head.

"No, they attacked me unexpectedly when I was having dinner with the young master in my hotel.

After I read the letter, I knew it was a serious matter, so I came to see the master without notifying anyone."

Levis breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the situation didn't escalate, it would be fine.

The Gaunt family was just trying to survive and would not do anything to Perkins. He nodded and said:

"You did a great job. Wait here for a moment. I'll report to His Excellency the Viscount."

Levis took the letter and hurried back to Viscount Luca's carriage.

After reporting the matter, Viscount Luca also looked very shocked and asked quickly:
"Does anyone else know?"

Levis shook his head:
"No, it's still under control."

Viscount Luca thought for a moment and then gave his instructions:
"You return with a guard team and agree to whatever they ask for. Make sure they leave the southern border as quickly as possible!"

Viscount Luca felt something was wrong. At this moment, any small disturbance would lead to a big chain reaction.

This matter must be resolved as soon as possible.

Levis asked:
"Sir, all the passages in the southern border are now taken over by the Military Control Commission..."

Viscount Luca said without hesitation:
"Use that passage to send them to the Kingdom of Ceylon!"

Levis was startled, but then he suppressed his shock and nodded:
"Okay, my lord."

With Viscount Luca's order, Levis did not waste too much time. He gathered a family guard with "conventional-level" combat capabilities and rushed back towards the family.

……

It was still the forest that Perkins led Cohen and the others to. The moment Levis and his men stepped into the transaction location specified in the letter, they felt a biting chill spreading from their hearts.

He arrived at the agreed location, looked around, and said in a deep voice:

"Come out, I brought everything."

There was a rustling sound in the jungle, and a middle-aged man with a pale face walked out.

When Levis saw the person coming, anger flashed in his eyes, and he said with a gloomy face:
"Phillips, is this how you repay our Luca family's friendship?"

The middle-aged man seemed to be threatened by something and said calmly:
"No need to waste time talking. That Duchess is obviously here on a mission. I must leave Effiin.

Don't even talk about friendship. You're not coveting the treasures left by our family. You're the ones who want us dead the most."

Levis cursed inwardly, threw a space storage ring over, and said coldly:
"There are 100,000 gold coins and a road map inside. Take them and get out!"

The middle-aged man took the ring and asked:

"Now all the exit routes from the southern border are controlled by the Military Control Commission's bastards. Is the route map you gave me reliable?"

Levis said angrily:

"You'll know for yourself if you take a look. This route is absolutely safe.

Let Perkins go, and get out of here."

The middle-aged man opened the route map, which showed a sea route. He couldn't help but say:

"This... this has to pass through the territory of the three major pirate groups. Wouldn't it be a waste of our lives if we took this route?"

Levis snorted coldly:
"Don't you see the letter inside? The Dark Tide Ghost Pirates have a cooperation agreement with us. Just contact them after you enter the sea area.

Well, I don't have that much patience, let's go."

However, the middle-aged man still did not leave, but just turned back and looked towards the depths of the forest.

The other party's unusual behavior immediately alerted Levis. He waved his hand slightly, and a guard emerged from behind him. He asked in a deep voice:

"I've given you everything, what else do you want to do..."

Before he finished speaking, a young man and woman appeared next to the middle-aged man.

The outstanding looks of the two people immediately attracted Levis' attention, especially their faces, which made him feel vaguely familiar.

Cohen took the letter and route map from the middle-aged man, looked at them, chuckled, and said:
"I never expected that the three major pirate groups off the coast of the Kingdom of Ceylon, the 'Scarlet Reavers', the 'Black Sails', and the 'Undertide Ghosts', all have some connection with us, Effiin.

It seems that the Kingdom of Ceylon has been deliberately planning to deal with Effiin for a long time."

Levis's eyes darkened as he stared at Cohen. Just as he was about to refute him, a chill suddenly passed through his chest, and a guess that made his scalp tingle came to his mind.

He finally understood where this familiar feeling came from.

There was a look of disbelief in his eyes. He racked his brains but couldn't figure out why these two people appeared here!
Levis felt his legs go weak and his mind was a mess.

Cohen snorted coldly and asked:

“Levi’s Luca?

What do you want to do with so many people?"

Hearing this majestic voice, Levis could no longer bear it and fell to his knees with a thud, his voice full of fear:

"See Your Majesty..."

The guards behind him were also frightened by Levis's address and knelt down reflexively.

Soon, a group of soldiers in Black Hawk uniforms surrounded Levis and his guards.

Levis was completely desperate and collapsed to the ground.

Cohen came to Levis and asked calmly:
"The fate of you and your loved ones depends on every word you say next. I hope you can think carefully before answering."

Levis shuddered all over and replied in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, please ask."

"Who is the Luca family's contact in the Kingdom of Ceylon?"

Levis's expression froze, he looked at Cohen, who had a stern expression, closed his eyes, and whispered:
"A nephew of Viscount Luca, serving as a personal soldier under the third prince Saxon of the Kingdom of Ceylon."

Cohen narrowed his eyes slightly and continued to ask:
"Why are you colluding with the Dark Tide Ghost pirate group?"

Levis's breathing became heavy, his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot, and he said:

"Your Majesty, I don't ask for anything else. I just hope that those in my family who are unaware of this can keep their lives..."

Cohen said coldly:

"You have no right to bargain, but I can tell you that I am not a bloodthirsty person, and I will not kill innocent people."

Levis seemed to have let go of some burden and said resignedly:

"It was a secret plan hatched by the top brass of the Kingdom of Ceylon—

They asked us to cooperate with them, secretly collect talented children in the southern border, and secretly transport them to the Kingdom of Ceylon for training through the pirate group's secret channels..."

(End of this chapter)