Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Emperor Eberron seemed oblivious to Cohen's subtle expression, or rather, he didn't care at all.

For him, the emperor's authority and methods were always for the benefit of others; his previous assertiveness was a strategy, and his current efforts to "build relationships" were also a strategy.

Since Cohen may hold a tremendous opportunity that could change the balance of power in Hell and even the Prime Material Plane, he naturally has no need to put on a worthless air anymore.

Cohen also knew that it would be unwise to strain relations with Grace's father, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, and that the road to future cooperation was still long.

He coughed lightly, his expression becoming slightly more serious, deciding to release some information to gain trust and cooperation.

He then briefly explained to Emperor Eberron the core framework of the cooperation he had reached with Grand Duke Zariel, omitting some of the most crucial details.

The report highlighted the basis for the alliance between the two sides, their general strategic objectives, the work currently underway, and the potential benefits that the Eastern Empire might gain.

As he narrated, the atmosphere in the study gradually eased from its previous tense standoff.

After listening to Cohen's account, Emperor Eberron took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.

His eyes revealed an undisguised admiration.

After a brief silence, he slowly began to speak:
"Grace has better taste than I, her father!"

Cohen feigned modesty and said:
"Your Majesty flatters me; we have only achieved some minor successes."

Without the Princess's strong support in the early stages, I wouldn't have had such a smooth journey.

A slight smile appeared on Eberron's lips; he was quite satisfied with Cohen's answer.

He turned slightly to the side, his gaze fixed on the brilliant lights of Longcheng outside the window, his tone filled with indescribable complex emotions:

"If...if Grace were a boy, even if she had half the blood of a demon, even if her abilities were slightly lacking."

Even if it costs me everything, even the throne, I will help her ascend to the supreme position and let her inherit the legacy I have personally protected.

Cohen frowned slightly and asked:
"It's not like there aren't female monarchs on the mainland, so what's wrong with making an exception?"
The Eastern Empire doesn't seem like such a conservative country!

Aberron's gaze returned to Cohen, his tone becoming more serious than ever before:
"It has nothing to do with being conservative or not."

It all comes down to just two words: profit!
You should be well aware that in the court today, whether it's the ministers who hold real power or the hereditary nobles who have deep roots in various regions, they all hold considerable influence.

And then beyond the empire, to those allies whose interests are intertwined with ours and who depend on us for their survival…

The vast majority of them truly favored, and believed that the future monarch who best served their interests was Xia Zuo!
They would prefer to see a powerful, radical, military-savvy prince who promises to lead them to continuously expand their territory and plunder more resources and glory sitting in this position.

Rather than a princess with demonic blood, whose style of action leans more towards domestic affairs, economics, and development, and who cannot satisfy their boundless expansionist desires!

Cohen raised his eyebrows slightly but did not reply.

Emperor Eberron continued, his voice carrying an almost cruel clarity:

"To be honest, Cohen, if it weren't for your sudden appearance as a 'variable' that was completely unexpected by everyone,..."

Even with my full support, Grace has less than a one in ten thousand chance of winning the throne.

The so-called "succession struggle" is, in most people's eyes, nothing more than a ridiculous and overconfident joke, not even enough to make Xia Zuo take it seriously.

Eberron laid bare the most brutal reality before Cohen, both stating the facts and making a final confirmation to ascertain whether Cohen truly understood the treacherous game he was about to enter.

Hearing Eberron speak so confidently, Cohen frowned slightly, a hint of confusion on his face.

He asked in a deep voice:

"In my opinion, Xia Zuo's abilities are only average, and in some aspects, he is even quite mediocre."

Why does he enjoy such high popularity and support within the empire?

Even you, the supreme ruler, have no means to suppress it?
This seems somewhat illogical.

Emperor Eberron's gaze suddenly deepened, as if he had fallen into some distant memory, or as if he saw the shadow of another person through Cohen.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice low and deep:

"Xia Zuo's own abilities may indeed be limited, but his father, my late imperial brother, was by no means a simple person."

"Your imperial brother?"

Cohen's expression suddenly froze, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Emperor Eberron's elder brother?

This name, which was almost never mentioned in public and seemed to be covered by the dust of history, flashed through Cohen's mind like lightning.

He vaguely sensed that he had touched upon the deepest and most crucial hidden thread in the power structure of the Eastern Empire.

A brief, oppressive silence fell over the study.

Emperor Eberron seemed to be sorting out distant thoughts, or perhaps weighing how to recount that long-forgotten past.

Finally, he spoke again, his voice deeper than before, carrying a sense of vicissitude that had traversed decades:
"Fifty years ago, the late emperor met with misfortune in a sudden turn of events and unfortunately passed away."

The incident happened extremely suddenly, without any prior warning.

At that time, the empire had two crown princes: one was me, and the other was Xia Zuo's father, Udi Tang.

However, at that time, Uldy was on a mission to an extremely distant plane to handle a confidential matter concerning the lifeline of the empire, and was not in the country.

The late emperor passed away in such a hurry that he left no word about his successor.

The empire was instantly plunged into a state of panic and turmoil, leaderless and with an uncertain future.

In order to stabilize the situation as soon as possible and prevent the empire from falling into internal strife or even splitting due to a power vacuum.

Prime Minister Tiberius Hawke, along with several high-ranking military ministers and heads of some of the country's most influential hereditary noble families, held an emergency consultation.

Ultimately, they jointly drafted a 'last edict of the late emperor'.

The contents of that will were, of course, to support me, who at the time held considerable prestige within the country, to inherit the throne and become the new emperor of the Eastern Empire.

As for my elder brother, when he finally returned from that distant plane after enduring countless hardships, everything... had already settled down!

Cohen's eyes suddenly narrowed; Emperor Eberron's words, though spoken casually, were quite different.

It seemed to be recounting a long-forgotten story, but the logical contradictions and coincidences in time made Cohen keenly sense a conspiracy.

Perhaps the old emperor did not leave a clear edict of succession, but the so-called "in order to stabilize the situation as soon as possible" required taking advantage of the fact that the other legal heir—the prestigious eldest son, Prince Udi—was far away in another world and had no news of him.

Why was the second son, Eberron, so hastily enthroned?

No matter how you look at it, it sounds forced and contrived that can't stand up to close scrutiny.

He coughed lightly, meeting Eberron's gaze with a calm expression:

"Your Majesty, if I may ask a question..."

Back in China, between you and Prince Udi, the two crown princes, who was the most popular candidate to become emperor?

Who is considered the rightful successor by the court officials and the people?
The old emperor has been on the throne for so long, surely he must have had some biases!

Emperor Eberron turned to look at Cohen, then suddenly burst out laughing:

"Is the new Queen Freya of Ceylon truly of Ceylon royal blood?"

Cohen was taken aback at first, then shrugged helplessly and gave up on asking further questions.

"Very well... Your Majesty, I think I already know the answer."

The truth is already quite obvious.

It was during the crucial moment when his father-in-law, who was not his biological father, was far away in another world and unable to return in time.

He united a group of imperial ministers and powerful families, led by Prime Minister Tiberius, and quickly "manufactured" a will, thus ascending the throne that did not belong to him.

The scheming and decisiveness displayed are chilling.

If anyone's to blame, it's the old emperor who died too soon.

Was the old emperor really killed in an accident?

A chill ran down Cohen's spine.

He immediately cut off his thoughts, not daring to think any further—some abysses, once gazed into, could lead to utter ruin.

The bloodshed and filth behind the change of imperial power often exceed ordinary people's imagination.

Emperor Eberron seemed to be able to see through people's hearts; he keenly caught the fleeting fear and subsequent restraint in Cohen's eyes.

A subtle, enigmatic expression crossed his face, as if to say that some things are best left unsaid.

He didn't linger on this dangerous topic, but continued speaking, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet study:

"After returning from that distant plane where he faced death at the cost of his life, my elder brother appeared remarkably calm on the surface, even in the face of the established facts."

They did not express any dissatisfaction, nor did they take any action to challenge or overturn the status quo.

This has rendered all my prior preparations futile!

Cohen clicked his tongue lightly and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"He can take things in stride; this Prince Udi is quite a character!"
He's much better than his son, Xia Zuo.

Eberron's gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling the scene from that time:
"Perhaps he knew better than anyone that the die was cast, given that Tiberius and those great nobles had already clearly expressed their support for me."

He had already lost any chance of turning the situation around.
The disparity in numbers is so great that any rash action would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

He paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery, or perhaps a belated sense of awe:

"At that time, I even thought that he had accepted his fate and was willing to remain silent and be a law-abiding prince."

After all, on the surface, he had relinquished most of his military power and withdrawn from the core decision-making circle, seemingly intending to spend the rest of his life in peace.

Eberron's tone gradually lowered, revealing a chill:
"But... it wasn't until many years later that I suddenly realized that I had underestimated my elder brother's abilities far too much."

His forbearance and concessions were not for the sake of temporary peace, but rather the beginning of a far-reaching and patient plan.

He never truly gave up; he simply changed his approach, silently and patiently weaving a larger web in the darkness!

Cohen's eyebrows twitched slightly, a hint of disapproval on his face:
“Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, your elder brother, Prince Udi, should have passed away more than 30 years ago, right? So many years have passed. Even if he had any plans or schemes back then, once a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. No matter how ingenious the plan was, it should have vanished without a trace.”

"It was thirty-three years ago."

Emperor Eberron's voice was calm and composed as he accurately stated the year, as if that moment had been etched into his very bones.

"Your Majesty does remember..."

Cohen subconsciously picked up the conversation, his tone tinged with emotion, but he abruptly stopped halfway through his sentence.

He suddenly remembered something.

age!

Grace's age!

Although for those who have reached the Gold rank or above, their long lifespan makes their specific age meaningless.

There is no physical difference between a twenty-year-old woman and a thirty- or forty-year-old woman.

But Grace was still very reluctant to mention her age, especially in front of Cohen.

However, Cohen knew very well that she was exactly thirty-four years old this year.

Thirty-three years ago... Prince Udi passed away.

Thirty-four years ago... Grace was born.

This means that Prince Udi died a year after Grace was born.

Furthermore, Shazo was only one year younger than Grace, which means that Prince Udi died without even seeing his own son.

What's even more chilling is that Grace is Emperor Eberron's only heir to date with a direct line of succession!
Why did this powerful emperor have no children during the long years before this?

He felt a chill creep up from his tailbone and spread rapidly throughout his body.

Behind this seemingly simple numerical connection lies a hidden palace secret and ruthless calculation, the darkness and cruelty of which may far exceed his imagination.

A suffocating silence filled the study, broken only by the soft crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

When Emperor Eberron's voice rang out again, it carried an undisguised, chilling killing intent:
Yes, what you guessed was exactly right.

I have been on the throne for decades, yet I have never had a son. All of this is the result of a treacherous scheme meticulously laid out by my good brother, Prince Udi!

He almost extinguished my hope of continuing my bloodline.

If it weren't for Grace's mother possessing hellish blood and being protected by Zariel's bloodline, Grace would likely have been in trouble too.

Even so, she still died after giving birth to Grace, due to the poison she had inflicted earlier!

Eberron's words were like a thunderbolt, laying bare before Cohen the bloody reality of the decades-long, yet far more brutal, war between him and Prince Udi.

Cohen's face did not show much shock, but rather a solemn "I knew it" expression.

He remained silent, his gaze lowered, as if digesting this astonishing secret.

Whether it was the history of his past life or his experiences on the mainland in this life, he had long been accustomed to the cruelty and filth of the struggle for imperial power.

The elder brother usurps the throne, the younger brother seeks revenge, and they use the most vicious means to try to kill each other's offspring and then reclaim the throne...

This is the darkest and most unscrupulous chapter in the game of power.

There is no right or wrong, only success or failure.

He exhaled softly, and the expression on his face gradually returned to calm.

After a brief silence, Cohen raised his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Eberron:
"Grace...does she know any of this?"
Did she know that her birth was entangled with so many conspiracies and sacrifices?

Did she know the truth about her mother's 'death'?

Upon hearing this question, Emperor Eberron's sharp, knife-like features softened unexpectedly.

The cold killing intent in his eyes faded slightly, and he gave Cohen a deep look. His voice, though still low, carried a clear hint of approval:

"After learning such a ugly truth, your first thought is whether Grace knew about it and whether she would be hurt because of it."

Based on that alone, I'm willing to believe that you at least have some genuine feelings for Grace.

Cohen wore a helpless expression, shrugged, and spoke with a hint of grievance, as if he had been wronged:

"Your Majesty, you have really wronged me."

Where exactly did you get the idea that I was being insincere with Her Highness Grace?
My feelings for Her Highness the Eldest Princess have always been sincere and genuine, without the slightest bit of pretense!

Upon hearing this, Emperor Eberron let out a very soft, cold snort, his eyes sharp as knives:

"He has the reputation of being a philandering ruler, yet he keeps so many women in his harem."

From the Golden-Winged Daughter to the female elf, to the legendary witch, to the mermaid chieftain, to the Starburst Clan's saintess, and then there are empresses, queens, female knights, sorceresses, female assassins...

With such a dazzling array of flowers from all races and nations, how can you expect me to believe that your so-called sincerity towards Grace isn't just a random selection from this sea of ​​blossoms?

Cohen opened his mouth, but when he saw Emperor Eberron rattle off his list of his many "confidantes," both overt and covert, he was speechless for a moment.

Faced with the facts, he simply couldn't refute them with conviction.

He could only touch his nose and awkwardly look away.

Seeing his appearance, Emperor Eberon stopped his relentless pursuit and remained silent for a moment, gradually calming down his aggressive aura.

His voice was much lower, carrying an undisguised weariness and heaviness:
No, I didn't tell her.

I don't want her to bear such a heavy burden of blood feud and pressure at such a young age.

Once she learns that her mother died young because of Xia Zuo and his son's treacherous scheme, given her personality, she will definitely fight Xia Zuo to the bitter end, no matter what.

But before you, this variable, appeared, it was clear to everyone that Grace had absolutely no chance of challenging Xia Zuo.

If she acts impulsively out of hatred and forces a direct confrontation with Xia Zuo, the fiercer the fight, the more devastating her defeat will be.

Cohen nodded in agreement. Emperor Eberron's analysis did indeed reveal the cold and real logic of the power arena.

Often, what an heir possesses is not just personal ability.

More importantly, it involves a complex network of forces and resources behind it.

A powerful interest group is enough to elevate even mediocre individuals to high positions.

It could even be said that even if Xia Zuo and Grace truly had a deep sibling bond and were unwilling to vie for the throne.

Those behind Prince Udi will also forcefully push Xia Zuo onto this path.

Seeing that he understood, Emperor Eberron continued in a deep voice:
“My elder brother, Prince Udi, has been operating in the Eastern Empire for many years. The depth of his foundation and the breadth of his influence far exceed everyone’s imagination.”

In the years before I came to power, he seemed to have faded from the center of power, but in fact he was still cultivating and building up a large number of forces.

It has long since infiltrated the empire's military, political, and business sectors, like an invisible net covering most of the empire.

Even though Xia Zuo's talent was not as good as his father's.

But as long as he firmly takes over this vast network of connections and resources left behind by Prince Udi, which spans the entire empire.

His succession to the throne was a natural and inevitable outcome.

He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes sharpening:
"Moreover, Xia Zuo is not an incompetent person."

Although he lacks personal ability and talent.

But he perfectly inherited his father's ambition and cunning.

He was ruthless and decisive, and even surpassed his teacher in winning people's hearts and suppressing dissent.

He knew exactly how to utilize the political legacy left by Prince Udi and, based on that, continuously expand his sphere of influence.

Eberlen's voice lowered, carrying a complex emotion:

"Moreover... no matter what the circumstances were at the time, my elder brother never openly rebelled until the very end."

He has never left behind any significant mistakes that could be heavily criticized.

Although I eventually gained control of the situation back then, my position was ultimately illegitimate and lacked legitimacy.

Moreover, Udi's death, despite my flawless execution and the complete absence of any clues, was a result of my actions.

But Udi eventually died.

This still triggered a strong backlash and discontent from the factions behind Udi, causing undercurrents within the empire and making the situation quite tense at one point.

He paused slightly, as if recalling those difficult years:
"In order to quickly stabilize the situation and prevent the empire from falling into internal strife or even splitting up."

I had to make some compromises.

One of the most important aspects was the gradual transfer of some military power, as well as the power to appoint and dismiss personnel in some key areas, to the increasingly powerful Xia Zuo.

Allow him to cultivate his own team and consolidate his position.

This was both to appease his father's former subordinates and a political exchange in exchange for their recognition of the new dynasty and to stabilize the domestic situation.

Over time, Xia Zuo's power grew, and his status as the first in line to the throne became a tacit 'consensus' throughout the court and the public.

Aberron's gaze finally settled on Cohen, a subtle, indescribable light flashing in his deep eyes:

"This situation lasted for many years. Xia Zuo's prestige grew higher and higher, and the people behind him spared no effort in promoting him to the outside world."

They even bestowed upon him the title of the First Prince of the Continent.

It seems that Xia Zuo's ascension to the throne is a foregone conclusion.

Even I once thought so.

Until... you appeared. (End of Chapter)