Chapter 103: Tyrion's Trip to Tyrosh
Tyrosh, South Port Docks
"Thump, thump… we've arrived at the port!"
When Tyrion Lannister, still slightly hungover, stepped out of the captain's daughter's cabin, he saw a dock that was undergoing continuous repairs.
From the scorch marks on some buildings, it was evident that the city had not yet recovered from that war, yet Tyrion could already see smiles on many people's faces.
After glancing at the warehouse area on the docks, Tyrion followed a passage toward a checkpoint-like area; it seemed all three streets leading from the docks into the city had such checkpoints.
"Are these fellows Tyrosh's 'Gold Cloaks'? I hope they aren't even harder to deal with than those in King's Landing!"
After seeing the Tyrosh City Watch soldiers wearing purple cloaks and tiger-crested helmets, Tyrion muttered these words with some helplessness.
The City Watch served as the enforcers and local toughs of a city. Due to their low status and lack of proper management, the City Watch in many places often set up private checkpoints or collected protection fees.
Since he had broken away from his family, Tyrion could no longer spend money as lavishly as before. Furthermore, last night, for a night of pleasure with the captain's daughter, he had given away his most valuable pearl necklace.
Now, Tyrion had only a few silver stags left on him. If this Aegon wasn't the same Aegon he had met at the Wall, he would likely starve to death in this city.
Because most people in this world were not very friendly toward dwarfs and the disabled, without the protection of House Lannister's name, he was just a dwarf.
"If it weren't for that old man's foul mouth and his heartless ways, I really wouldn't have wanted to leave the family. Oh well, I hope the Seven bless me! Otherwise, I'll lose a lot of face this time!"
While waiting in line with other travelers, Tyrion found himself thinking of his father, Tywin Lannister.
Ever since Tyrion returned from the Wall, he had been brooding over Jon's "dream." The scandalous affair between his sister and brother, the king being cuckolded, and the many events that might unfold in the future all weighed heavily on him.
Especially after witnessing those hellish creatures in the Haunted Forest, Tyrion couldn't help but reflect on his own fate.
After learning that Eddard Stark in King's Landing had been rescued by Aegon—who had transformed into a dragon—Tyrion quickly realized that war in the Seven Kingdoms was now inevitable.
To avoid walking the path of kinslaying, Tyrion had sought out his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, but in the end, he received nothing but ridicule and contempt.
Thus, the "Imp" of House Lannister publicly declared his departure, packed his belongings, and came to this land across the Narrow Sea.
Although Tyrion knew that if he went to serve Daenerys Targaryen, he could use his foresight to gain the favor of the Dragon Queen—
after witnessing Jon's near-divine methods, Tyrion had developed a different plan.
Tyrion understood clearly that in a world where strength ruled, intelligence alone could not change his fate.
Unless he could find magic capable of turning him into a normal man, he would live his entire life under the label of a dwarf.
No lord would willingly follow a dwarf—but a dwarf with dragons or miracles? That would be a different matter entirely.
"State your name, origin, and purpose!"
"Uh…"
Just as Tyrion was lost in thought, a voice snapped him back to reality. Only then did he realize he had reached the checkpoint.
Sitting across from him was a man of Summer Isles descent with close-cropped hair. Tyrion's strongest impression of such people came from a certain mother-daughter pair in King's Landing—dark-skinned, yet incredibly skilled in their trade.
"This checkpoint is for registering travelers who speak the Common Tongue. My Common Tongue is clear enough, isn't it? Did you not hear me?"
Seeing Tyrion's distracted expression, the man repeated himself.
"Oh! No, no—I am Tyrion Lan… uh, Lantell. I come from King's Landing and wish to seek a position as an accountant in the Purple Palace. I heard that Prince Aegon is recruiting talent, and I believe I am more than qualified!"
After Jon took Tyrosh, he sent out recruitment notices to several port cities across the Seven Kingdoms, calling upon displaced lords and capable individuals to come serve him.
He also introduced a form of merit-based selection in both Westeros and Tyrosh, declaring that anyone—regardless of birth—could become an official, so long as they proved loyal to The Chainbreakers and passed the necessary examinations.
This unprecedented system caused a stir across both continents. The highborn scoffed at it, while the overlooked and ambitious saw it as a path to rise.
"Oh? Really? Here is your pass. Proceed through Channel One—that is reserved for those from Westeros. If you pass the assessments, you may advance further. Judging by your confidence, I would say your chances are good."
This man had once been a slave tasked with educating the children of Tyroshi nobles. From Tyrion's speech and bearing, he could tell he was no ordinary traveler, so he offered a word of advice.
After receiving a wooden pass marked with the number 130, Tyrion followed the City Watch's directions into the designated passage.
At this moment, Tyrion held the wooden token in his left hand, while his right tightly gripped a silver stag. He had thought he could simply bribe his way through, but things here were far more structured.
"Hey—you're that 'Imp' of House Lannister, aren't you?"
Just as Tyrion moved slowly along the fenced passage, a low voice startled him.
Turning around, he saw a man in leather armor with a sword at his hip standing behind him.
The man looked to be in his thirties, with a scruffy appearance and a sharp, calculating gaze. From the moment Tyrion noticed him, the man had been sizing him up like a merchant inspecting goods.
"What do you want?"
Tyrion quickly glanced around. Seeing City Watch patrols nearby, he relaxed slightly.
"Nothing much. Just seeing if you're really worth a thousand gold dragons. There's a bounty on your head—one thousand for your corpse, and another thousand if you're delivered alive."
"That must be my dear sister and brother. My sister fears I'll kill her, as the prophecy says, and my brother simply wants me brought back."
Realizing the man had no immediate killing intent, Tyrion let out a self-mocking chuckle.
"How did you find me? I arranged multiple escape routes and even used decoys. No one should have tracked me. The bounty would have been issued after I left… which means you came from King's Landing."
"I can only say you're unlucky. I boarded the ship in Dorne. That girl Acacia—she has good taste. I've been with her before. This morning she showed off your pearl necklace. I noticed the lion sigil on the clasp."
The black-haired sellsword smirked.
"And what do you want from me?"
"Nothing serious. Just making your acquaintance. I'm curious why a Lannister like you would come here. Do you even know what your father and brother have done?"
"I've known Prince Aegon for some time. If he truly wanted me dead, I would have died long ago."
Now confident in his safety, Tyrion relaxed further. To be cautious, he also revealed his connection to Aegon.
"Then I made the right bet. Let's get acquainted—we might serve the same king someday. I'm Bronn, a sellsword. A pleasure, Lord Tyrion… the 'Black Lion.'"
"Hello, Bronn… wait—your name is Bronn!?"
Seeing the man's exaggerated bow, Tyrion nearly missed the introduction. When it registered, he exclaimed in surprise.
"Y-yes… I'm Bronn. Have you heard of me?"
Bronn looked uneasy, quickly searching his memory for any dealings with House Lannister.
"I've heard your story from a friend. He spoke highly of your skill—and your luck."
Tyrion replied with a faint smile, though it was clear Bronn didn't grasp the deeper meaning behind those words.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics