Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 112 The Thirteen Giants - The Alternative Plan

Before the Battle of Qingting Island, although there were some "little birds" from King's Landing fluttering their wings and sporadically gathering information in this harsh land of the Iron Islands, they ultimately did not amount to much.

However, everything quietly changed after that naval battle that shocked the seven nations.

At the docks of Pike Town, at the foot of the castle walls, in the fishermen's taverns, and even around the remote salt fields, the seemingly inconspicuous beggars, mischievous children, and small merchants suddenly appeared in large numbers. Their eyes darted around, but their ears were always perked up, like quietly growing moss, silently seeping into the fabric of the Iron Islands.

All these unusual developments did not escape Euron Greyjoy's notice. He clearly sensed that the "Eight-Clawed Spider" far below the Red Keep had turned more attention to this previously inconspicuous northern archipelago.

"Lisa, Victoria," Euron commanded in a low voice amidst the stillness of the Ghost Tower, "the 'sparrows' on the island seem a bit too noisy. Find out which ones are genuinely foraging and which ones—are wearing collars (little birds of the eight-legged spider)."

After Victoria Daniels' assassination attempt failed, she was hired by Euron, and her first task was to assist Lisa in clearing out the little birds on the island.

The Iron Islands don't tolerate idlers!

The maid Lisa silently accepted the order and began to discreetly patrol every corner of Pike City, utilizing her existing intelligence network and keen observation. However, this task was far beyond human capability. What truly played a decisive role was the holographic map deep within Euron's consciousness, a map that only he could glimpse.

He periodically immersed his consciousness into the map function of the [One Piece System]. The cold blue dots represented the Iron People under his rule, while the abrupt, constantly moving red dots clearly marked every spy with ulterior motives. Their movements and gathering places were clearly visible on the map.

Lisa's human resource surveys and the system's precise positioning were perfectly combined, and a silent "cleansing and transformation" plan quietly unfolded.

Lisa will accurately locate the target based on Euron's directions. Victoria Daniels, on the other hand, will use her agility to carry out the capture.

For some insignificant or uncontrollable little birds, a cold dagger or an accidental "fall into the water" is their end; they disappear silently like insects that have been trampled to death.

Those who are more valuable, or whose eyes still hold a sliver of survival rather than absolute fanaticism, will face different fates.

What awaits them may be Euron's personal "recruitment," Maester Qyburn's mind-altering potion, or Evelyn the Shadowbinder's soul-stirring whispers of shadow.

Coercion, bribery, and even magic—all serve one purpose: to pry open their mouths, sever their ties with King's Landing, and quietly place that collar back around its former master's neck.

Gradually, the flow of information in the shadow of Pyke began to change direction. Some messages still reached King's Landing, but their content gradually transformed into what Euron Greyjoy wanted Varys to see.

Another long-stalled project has also made new progress.

Two weeks ago, in that room in the Ghost Tower overlooking the icy sea, Lisa shed all her cautious facade for the first time. The tension that had been building for so long finally began to ease under Euron Greyjoy's daily machinations and immeasurable "tolerance." She took a deep breath, exhaling the heavy burden of her past that had been building up for years, and slowly recounted her origins to this young but ambitious master.

Her voice was calm, yet contained a chilling coldness: "My father was a successful spice merchant in Qarth. His caravans traversed the Red Moor, his ships sailed the ports of the Jade Sea, his wealth grew daily, and his reputation was enough to allow him to reach that supreme position—the seat of the 'Thirteen Masters'."

She paused, a sharp glint of pain flashing in her eyes: "But it was precisely because of his success that he attracted greedy eyes. The Spice Ancient Guild—that behemoth lurking in the shadows of Qarth—could not tolerate a new challenger. They orchestrated an 'accident,' a fire that engulfed his warehouses and his life. Then, under the guise of law and debt, they easily swallowed up all his possessions. My mother and brother also perished in their home. And I—" A bitter smile curved her lips, "I went from being the heir of a wealthy merchant to a slave who could be bought and sold at will. The Spice Ancient Guild owns over twelve hundred ships, their tentacles are spread throughout the known world, and my hatred is as insignificant as dust before them."

Lisa didn't go into detail about how her father was burned to death, how her mother was brutally humiliated by the mercenaries at home, or how her three-year-old brother was thrown from the fourth floor and turned into mincemeat. All the deaths and betrayals were glossed over in a single sentence. But this deep-seated hatred was one of the underlying reasons why she chose to pledge allegiance to Euron—she needed a force strong enough to challenge the old order.

Blood debts must be repaid with blood!

In the quiet hall of the Ghost Tower, the fireplace crackled, and the eternal waves murmured outside the window. Lisa stood before Euron and recounted her past, a history steeped in spices and blood, in its entirety.

Euron listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously tapping the back of her chair. Her eyes held no overflowing pity, only a cold, calculating gaze, like a deep pool. As her last word faded, a heavy silence filled the air.

After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice low and steady, yet carrying an undeniable power: "The sharpest blade of revenge is never another dagger, but replacement." His gaze fell upon Lisa with a tangible intensity. "Since they crushed everything you had because of the power of the 'Thirteen Giants,' then the most thorough and elegant revenge is to make that position our own."

A barely perceptible smile played on his lips: "When we were traversing the waterways of Qarth, I told you that if the opportunity arose, I would be happy to place a Grand Master, imbued with the will of the Iron Islands, on the throne of that city of a thousand bridges." This "Qarth Thirteen Grand Master Replacement Plan," deeply embedded in his grand scheme, finally surfaced clearly between the two of them.

Lisa took a deep breath, nodded, and her eyes sharpened and focused: "Yes, my lady. It was from that moment that I began to construct the blueprint you described in my mind—how to cultivate a tyrant, and then influence and even control Qarth. After returning to Pike Isle, I used every information network we could reach to find a key figure. Someone who has the ability, and even more importantly, the right to help us achieve this plan."

She wasn't without leverage. She had an uncle who, like her family, had been exiled after their downfall and harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Ancient Spice Guild. He was familiar with all the rules, both overt and covert, of Qarth and was the ideal agent to carry out this plan.

The core of the plan is clear: Euron will mobilize the wealth the Iron Islands have accumulated through war and trade, and will spare no effort—including precise trade strikes, pervasive intelligence infiltration, covert commercial sabotage, and even the Iron Islands' military force to plunder rival merchant guilds in the shadows—to fully support Lisa's uncle's return to the vortex of power in Qarth. They will help him accumulate prestige and strength step by step; the first stage's goal is to seize one of the thirteen ivory and gold chairs.

"My uncle, Sisyphus Garfield, is on his way to the Iron Islands!"

"Okay, I think we can reach a consensus."

This is far more than just avenging Lisa.

It was Euron Greyjoy's ambition, restless with the status quo, that first precisely and forcefully extended towards the ancient, wealthy city-state across the Narrow Sea, ruled by merchants.

The strategic value that a "giant" who is absolutely loyal to him can bring within Qarth far exceeds that of ten fleets patrolling the seas.