Pentos.
Located across the Narrow Sea, facing King's Landing across the water, it is one of the nine Free Cities.
The political structure of Pentos is controlled by forty nobles who hold the city-state, collectively propping up a Prince of Pentos as a puppet. In the event of military defeat, natural disasters, or man-made calamities, the Prince's throat is slit, and the nobles elect a new one.
It was originally a slave city-state, but after being defeated by Braavos, slavery was forcibly abolished and replaced with a feudal system.
However, the greedy nature of the nobles remains, and slavery continues to persist.
Illyrio's Manse.
"The war in the Seven Kingdoms is nearing its end."
Illyrio stood on the balcony, a raven perched on his left arm, looking over a letter with one hand.
In his youth, he was still robust, with a tall and broad stature, not yet possessing the potbelly and layers of fat he would have later.
"The Targaryens have two princes fighting for the succession; one is the eldest son without a dragon, and the other is a Second Son with a dragon. How exciting!"
Illyrio stroked his beard, revealing a calculating, mercenary smile.
He started as a mercenary and made his fortune through trade. Now, he is one of the Magisters who effectively controls Pentos.
Killing people, consuming people, and manipulating others to kill so he can more easily consume them.
This was the history of how he made his fortune, step by step.
Investing in the Blackfyres and coveting the Iron Throne was his grand plan to change his life and take a step further.
Illyrio calculated: "Should I gift those three petrified Dragon Eggs to Rhaegar Targaryen to bring us closer?"
The war on the continent of Westeros wasn't over yet, but Robert's rebel army was already certain to lose.
Thinking of investing in the Blackfyres to replace the House Targaryen was clearly impossible now.
It would be best to support a prince and integrate the Blackfyre bloodline into the House Targaryen, waiting for the right moment to reclaim the throne through descendants three generations later.
Rhaegar's eldest daughter, Rhaenys Targaryen, was an excellent target.
Whoever could marry her would be guaranteed descendants with dragon blood.
"Dragon Prince Daeron Targaryen is too young and too arrogant. Blindly investing in him would only result in a total loss."
Illyrio had his own little schemes and believed it was more appropriate to invest in Crown Prince Rhaegar.
Firstly, Rhaegar had already produced offspring, and primogeniture was on his side.
Secondly, Daeron was unmarried, and the Blackfyres had no suitable daughters to marry him.
From an outsider's perspective, Daeron's marriage would likely end up being an internal House Targaryen union.
Since neither side could form a marriage alliance to tie their bloodlines together, Illyrio didn't dare to invest with peace of mind.
Crown Prince Rhaegar was suitable.
He had a daughter, and there was another unborn child on Dragonstone.
Even if he couldn't help Rhaegar ascend the Iron Throne, supporting Rhaegar to compete with Daeron for the crown and fueling the House Targaryen's internal strife would be a good thing.
If the two brothers were to both end up wounded, the House Blackfyre could take advantage of the opening.
"If I give the three Dragon Eggs to Rhaegar, he won't be able to hatch them anyway, and it will improve our relationship."
Illyrio was willing to part with the three petrified Dragon Eggs.
"However, according to Varys's warning, both Targaryen brothers seem to be observing Pentos. I can't rush to send gifts; that would be too conspicuous."
He and Varys were close friends and political allies.
Restoring the Blackfyre bloodline was their common goal.
A young man who looked like a servant hurried over and whispered a report into his ear.
After hearing it, Illyrio was furious: "Damn those pirates from Three Daughters! It's fine if they fight over the Stepstones, but they just have to disturb the peace of the entire Summer Sea, drawing in pirates from all over the world into a chaotic brawl."
His merchant ship bound for Volantis had been intercepted by pirates in the lower half of the Narrow Sea again.
That ship carried the introductory gifts he intended to send to Yi Ti.
Two whole treasure chests of gold and silver!
"Go and prepare another introductory gift. We must invite a sorcerer from Yi Ti."
Illyrio said with a dark face.
Ever since the Red Comet appeared, magical phenomena in the world had been increasing.
The sorcerers of Yi Ti were famous; they knew divination and fortune-telling, and were also proficient in medicine and astronomy, making them rare all-rounders among many sorcerers.
What Illyrio liked most about the Yi Ti sorcerers was that they were more humane, unlike the sorcerers and witches of the Essos, including those from Asshai, who were full of a corrupt aura.
His wife, Serra, had died of a plague.
If a Yi Ti sorcerer proficient in medicine had been there, perhaps Serra would not have died.
Illyrio recalled the beautiful times with his wife, his hand reaching into his pocket, his fingertips tracing a cold finger bone.
He carried a hand bone in his pocket.
"Waaah, waaah~~"
Suddenly, the cry of a baby came from the bedroom.
The male servant froze, stopping in his tracks as he was leaving, doubting he had heard correctly.
"Die!!"
Illyrio suddenly lunged, his eyes bloodshot, muscles bulging in his arm as his fist struck the back of the male servant's head.
With a thud, blood flowed from the servant's mouth and nose; he was brain-dead on the spot.
"Consider it your bad luck; he cannot be discovered."
Panting, Illyrio stepped over the servant's corpse and walked into the luxuriously decorated bedroom.
King's Landing.
Daeron was summoned by Father Aerys. Near the entrance of the King's chambers, he saw Rhaegar coming out.
The two brothers looked at each other and nodded, neither saying a word.
Bang!
Daeron entered the chambers and saw Father Aerys with heavy bags under his eyes.
Aerys had been suffering from insomnia for nights on end, and his mental state was extremely poor. He said in a low voice: "Tywin has been defeated. I have sent Barristan and Jon Darry to the Riverlands to assist Tywin in commanding the army."
"Mhm." Daeron nodded, his eyes glancing at the purple shoes on the other's feet.
It had to be said, the Boots of the Genie were extraordinary.
Even after being worn down like this, the old man could still maintain his reason and hadn't gone mad.
Aerys didn't take praise well. He suddenly flared up and roared: "I ordered Rhaegar to go to the Riverlands to suppress the rebellion, and that unfilial son actually dared to disobey my command!"
Daeron remained silent.
Aerys cursed loudly, pointing out all of his eldest son Rhaegar's faults, describing him as a bastard who respected neither king nor father.
"You're right about everything," Daeron agreed.
Finally, Aerys revealed the truth.
It turned out he wanted to mobilize the ten thousand Dornish spearmen, but Rhaegar had refused.
Rhaegar not only refused to go to war himself but also used his silence to veto Prince Lewyn commanding the Dornish army to fight in the Riverlands.
"Victory is imminent! What is he trying to do by defying the royal command at a time like this!?"
Aerys roared repeatedly.
Daeron frowned slightly, pondering the deep meaning behind Rhaegar's move.
The continuation of the war was beneficial to him.
So he hadn't taken the initiative to apply for battle.
By transferring Ser Barristan and Ser Jon, two members of the Kingsguard, his father was also tacitly preventing his Second Son from gaining more military merit, indirectly weakening his strength.
With Barristan gone, the patrol and security of the Red Keep returned to the hands of the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Gerold.
To this, Daeron played dumb, acting as if he didn't know.
He was busy with major construction in the Prince's Domain. Using the Hall of Abundance as a boundary, he was developing the prototype of a city to the southwest and named it "Tihu Town."
This name commemorated the Stardew Valley panel.
Tihu Town currently had a population of 23,000, consisting of the merged population of the original small villages in the Prince's Domain, as well as commoners taken in from near The Kingswood.
In addition, there were the two or three thousand King's Landing orphans taken in continuously, as well as the families of the eight hundred Dragon Guards.
By the banks of the Blackwater Rush, he had built two watermills and a hydraulic loom, greatly shortening the working hours of the commoners.
This saved more time for clearing farmland, raising livestock, and developing fishing and forestry.
Basic construction was in full swing.
He had no time to deal with Father Aerys's clumsy political suppression.
"But Rhaegar not going to war to seize military merit is truly unexpected."
Daeron suddenly caught a flash of inspiration, but it vanished in an instant.
He vaguely felt that this didn't seem like Rhaegar's style.
"There must be a master behind him giving guidance."
Daeron speculated boldly that the person was Prince Doran of Dorne.
"Boy, I'm asking you!"
After venting his anger, Aerys shouted fitfully: "If I tell you to lead troops to suppress the rebellion, will you go?"
"Yes," Daeron said calmly. "But Rhaegar won't go!"
Aerys became even angrier.
Daeron asked: "Then I shall go?"
"No need!"
Aerys refused directly. Unable to save face, he began to drive him away: "Go back to your fief, manage those Stormlands traitors well, and don't let them commit any acts of rebellion."
Daeron rolled his eyes in his heart and pushed the door open to leave.
If I really go, you'll be unhappy again.
Honestly~~
Upon leaving the door, he hadn't walked far before he ran into Ser Arthur Dayne.
"Prince."
Ser Arthur stopped him.
Daeron asked curiously: "Ser, are you waiting for me?"
Speaking of something interesting.
Since his elder brother Rhaegar came of age, the king's standard seven Kingsguard had been gathered in the Red Keep during this period.
Not long after, Barristan and Ser Jon left again.
Ser Arthur said solemnly: "It is Prince Rhaegar who wishes to see you."
Daeron came to the backyard of the Red Keep and met his elder brother, who had been waiting for a long time in the lush royal gardens.
.
"Daeron, I have a collaboration I want to discuss with you."
Rhaegar got straight to the point and mentioned the existence of Dragon Eggs in Pentos.
His meaning was simple.
The Dragon Eggs were in the hands of the Pentos Magister Illyrio, who also had ties to the Blackfyre remnants.
To get the Dragon Eggs from him, legitimate means would certainly not work.
There was only one way—seize them!
Rhaegar said seriously: "You have dragons, and I control the Royal Fleet. Together, we can capture Pentos and take back those Dragon Eggs."
What astounding wisdom.
Daeron was stunned for a moment, having no time to worry about how he knew this, and asked in confusion: "The two of us are going to attack Pentos???"
Brother, what time is it now?
The War of the Usurper isn't over yet, and the allied forces of the four regions are still putting up a desperate struggle in the Riverlands.
If you attack Pentos for no reason at this time and draw the attention of the Free Cities, isn't that just looking for trouble?
The Free Cities have plenty of money; if they support the rebel forces even a little, it would be enough for them to hire mercenaries.
"We won't just act recklessly; we will have a sufficient reason to attack."
Rhaegar wasn't completely foolish and planned: "I will find a way to give us an excuse to attack Pentos. Then, we will win with a surprise attack, raid Illyrio's manse, and take back the Dragon Eggs."
Did your men get lost in Pentos?
Daeron's eyes were opened; so this was the kind of person Rhaegar was.
"I have also discovered traces of the ancestral sword 'Blackfyre,' which is related to the Golden Company you mentioned, but it's hidden very well, and I haven't found its exact location."
Rhaegar revealed everything, considering the issue of the Dragon Eggs' ownership.
After the battle, out of the three petrified Dragon Eggs, Daeron would pick one first, and he would take two.
The reason was that Daeron already had three dragons and didn't lack petrified Dragon Eggs.
To compensate Daeron, he would give all the wealth looted from Pentos, after deducting the losses of the Royal Fleet, to Daeron.
"Do you really have a way?"
Daeron became serious, making sure the other wasn't just acting on a whim.
Rhaegar gave a faint smile: "I have discussed it properly with Prince Doran; there won't be any problems."
"I'll wait for your notice!"
Since things had reached this point, Daeron felt they could give it a shot.
If he were to get the Dragon Eggs himself, he would have to wait patiently for an opportunity to avoid triggering a war between the two continents.
With Rhaegar in charge of the operation, and him providing the people and dragons, it would be much easier to handle.
As for the distribution of the Dragon Eggs—
Once I have them, I'll decide how to share them with you. If I haven't even gotten them yet, how can I share them with you?
The strong are meant to ruthlessly bully the weak.
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