Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 211 Iron Islands Fleet - Departure!

Euron has decided to bring the Stone Steps under his control, and what he needs next is a pretext that will allow the Iron Islands to intervene openly and legitimately.

Ten days later, a merchant ship from the Iron Islands, flying the flag of the "Ice and Fire Merchant Guild," sailed into the complex waters of the Steppe Islands according to its planned route.

The Ice and Fire Merchant Guild's cargo ship, named "Sea Beast," was carrying furs from the North and fine iron from the Iron Islands. It was originally intended to cross these dangerous waters to trade with Essos.

However, it did not reach its destination as scheduled.

Several days later, horrifying news arrived in Pike City along with a surviving small communications boat. The Ice and Fire Merchant Guild's "Sea Beast" merchant ship had been attacked by an "unknown force" in the waters near Bloodstone Island.

All twenty-odd sailors and more than ten guards on board were killed. Even more horrifying, the bodies of these Ironborn were cruelly hung on the reefs surrounding Bloodstone Island, left to be battered by the waves and eaten by seabirds.

Euron would certainly not use his loyal subjects to carry out this self-inflicted suffering.

The corpses, disguised as Ironborn crew members, hanging on the Bloodstone Isle, had been meticulously prepared long ago by Balf's son, Floyd Parker. This illegitimate son, who had spent years mingling in the Steppes, was all too familiar with how to find such "scapegoats."

In the shadowy corners of the Steppe Islands, there is never a shortage of rootless wanderers—fugitive criminals, bankrupt sailors, slaves who have lost their masters, and even survivors of other pirate raids.

Freud could easily recruit dozens of such outlaws by simply scattering a few silver coins in a tavern. To them, a staged "pirate attack" was just another opportunity to make quick money, unaware that their fate was already sealed.

"Thirty? "Freud scoffed when he received the order. "In this area, I could find you three hundred, let alone thirty."

And so, a meticulously planned "accident" unfolded as scheduled. As those nameless corpses hung from the rocks, battered by the waves, no one knew their true identities, and no one cared—except for those who needed the excuse.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy scent, swept across Bloodstone Island, rustling the hanging corpses as if telling the story of this cruel yet perfect plan.

When the news reached Euron, he stood in the chart room of Pyke and had Maester Qyburn send a message to the Seven Islands: "Summon the captains," he said calmly, "The blood of the Iron Islands cannot be shed in vain."

The following day at noon, the atmosphere in the Seastone Hall of Pike City was heavy. All the lords of the seven Iron Islands had arrived, their longships densely packed in the harbor, like a group of sea monsters poised to pounce.

These rugged-looking lords had just received infuriating news: Iron Islands merchant ships had been robbed at the Stepstone Islands, and all the crew members had been brutally murdered. Now, they gathered in the Seastone Hall, their faces etched with the characteristic brutality and rage of the Ironborn.

Euron's "Ice and Fire Merchant Guild" cleverly became the link connecting the seven islands. Pyke City held a 50% stake, while the other six islands each received the remaining 50%. Each ship of the guild was staffed with sailors from each island in the same proportion. This ingenious system, like an invisible cable, firmly bound the six islands to Euron's warships.

When news of the merchant ship's wreck reached them, every island lord realized that it not only concerned the interests of Pike Island, but also directly affected the profits and people of their own island. Dunstan Zodoo of Old Wake Island gripped his battle axe tightly, Harrag Hall of Great Wake Island had a grim face, and even the lord of the most remote Black Tide Island showed murderous intent.

Euron stood before the sea stone, his gaze sweeping over each lord present. "Gentlemen," his voice echoed through the sea hall, "that someone has extended their bloody hand upon the people of the Iron Islands, must pay the price in blood. Whoever they are, let them know that those who offend the Iron Islands, no matter how far away, will be punished!"

"6

The sea breeze rushed in through the open hall doors, ruffling the lords' cloaks and stirring their fighting spirit.

When news of the war with the Stone Steps Islands spread throughout the Iron Islands, the entire archipelago was in an uproar.

The excited shouts of the Iron People and the clanging of weapons echoed between the sea cliffs, like a group of sea monsters that had caught the scent of blood.

Their thirst for revenge and anticipation of plunder fueled their passion—after all, the chaotic yet prosperous seas of the Stone Steps Islands had always been the dream battlefield for every Iron People yearning for glory and wealth.

Euron displayed astonishing organizational skills, assembling an awe-inspiring fleet in just three days. Twenty longships stood in neat rows in Pike City harbor, their black sails like the wings of death. Each ship was equipped with one hundred elite warriors, a total of two thousand of the most valiant Ironborn, ready for battle.

For the expedition to the Stone Steps Islands, Euron did not use the formidable giant ship "Wrath of the Grey Sea King," but instead opted for a fleet of specially modified longships.

This complex sea area is dotted with islands and reefs, and the narrow waterways are simply not suitable for the operation of giant warships.

Before Euron rebuilt Ironships and improved shipbuilding techniques, the Iron Islands' warships had a very limited capacity: the largest, the Ocean Giant and the Invincible Iron Seed, could only carry a maximum of 150 people; medium-sized warships could only accommodate 50 people; and standard longships could only carry 2,000 to 30 people.

But now, thanks to Euron's complete reconstruction of Ironship Island and revolutionary improvements to shipbuilding technology, the Iron Islands' fleet has been completely transformed.

At this moment, twenty longships are lined up neatly in Park Harbor. Each one has been carefully modified, with wider and deeper hulls, stronger masts, and larger sails.

These improvements allowed each longship to reliably carry one hundred fully armed Ironborn warriors while maintaining the longship's unique speed and agility.

The sea breeze caressed the newly tar-coated hulls of these warships, representing the latest shipbuilding technology in the Iron Islands, ready to unleash their power in the complex waters of the Steppe Islands.

This expeditionary force was the most elite it had ever seen in the Iron Islands in a century. Among them were warriors who had just returned victorious from the Harrenhal Tournament, their armor still bearing the cracks and bloodstains of the competition—their very survival in that bloody and brutal seven-way melee was the best proof of their strength.

The heirs of prominent families on various islands also joined the expedition: Dennis Dragoon of Old Wick, as the eldest son of Earl Dunstan Dragoon, carried the Valyrian steel sword "Red Rain," passed down through generations of his family, its blade shimmering with dark red ripples in the sunlight; the Goblet family of Warhammerhorn sent all three of their triplets to the battlefield—Greton, Grumman, and Glenn Goblet stood side by side, their equally imposing figures and similar faces creating a unique sight in the fleet; and Horace Harlow, the heir of Roderick Harlow, the patriarch of House Harlow of Gantar, boarded the ship wielding the Harlow family's Valyrian steel longsword "Nightfall."

Among them were many experienced veterans: Dagmo's scarred face was etched with fighting spirit; Balf stroked his gray beard, his eyes gleaming with the sharpness of someone who had seen countless battles. Every warrior's eyes burned with a monstrous fighting spirit, their banners fluttering on the masts like a pack of sea monsters poised to unleash a baptism of iron and fire upon the Stone Steps Islands.

The sea breeze powerfully billowed the black sails, and Euron and his brother Balon stood side by side at the bow of the flagship.

Baron was not originally part of this expedition—as the eldest son and heir of Pyke Island, he should have been safely stationed at the rear. However, his thirst for battle could not be restrained, and even fierce arguments with his father, King Coron, and several disputes with his rock wife, Alanis, could not shake his resolve.

In the end, he even threatened to give up his inheritance rights in order to finally win the opportunity to participate in the war.

Behind Euron, the red priestess Gwendolyn's crimson robes fluttered in the sea breeze, her eyes gleaming with prophetic light; the shadowbinder Evelyn stood silently in the shadows, seemingly one with the ship's silhouette.

On the morning of the fourth day, a thin mist enveloped Pike Harbor like a veil.

In this hazy atmosphere, the fleet, composed of the Iron Islands' most elite warriors, quietly set sail. Longships cleaved the grey sea like twenty poisoned swords, heading towards the Stone Steps Islands.

The sound of the ship cutting through the waves at the bow was like the beating of war drums, foreshadowing the impending blood and fire.