Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 219 Pirate King - "Bloody Hand" Marin

Deep within the Stone Steps Archipelago, in the fortress of Pirate King "Bloody Hand" Marin, the ruler was picking his nails with a ruby-encrusted dagger, listening to his subordinates' report about Skull Island's plea for help. His rugged face remained expressionless, but his mind was already calculating.

In fact, Marin had already grown disgusted with the fool "Skull King" Mor Bonewhistle long before Euron's Iron Islands fleet appeared in these waters. This arrogant bastard dared to openly rob merchant ships that had paid tolls to him, "Bloody Hand" Marin.

This broke the rules that had been in place for decades and shook the very foundation upon which everyone depended for survival.

Marin had already sentenced Moor Bonewhistle to death in his mind.

His original plan was ruthless and pragmatic: let Euron Greyjoy's Ironborn attack Skull Isle. If Mor Bonewhistle was killed, it would save trouble, getting rid of an unruly fool. He even considered a more thorough approach: if Euron offered the right price, he wouldn't mind personally severing Mor Bonewhistle's noisy head, carefully packaging it, and presenting it as a "gift" to the second son of the Iron Islands.

As long as the deal is handled well, and the terms are agreed upon beforehand, allowing "Bloody Hand" Marin to save face and appear to remain the undisputed ruler of this sea rather than being forced to submit, then this trade is very worthwhile. Using the life of a rule-breaker in exchange for peace or even cooperation with a new power, and consolidating one's own power, couldn't be more worthwhile.

After all, it was Mor Bonewhistle who crossed the line first. Killing him, morally and logically, leaves no room for blaming Marin.

However, before "Bloody Hand" Marin could put his meticulous plans into action, cold reality slammed into him in an even more violent way.

Euron Greyjoy and his fleet did not act according to his plan. Without pausing or sending any messages of negotiation, they swiftly and decisively attacked Blackrock Island in the heart of the Steps Archipelago, erasing it from the map with chilling efficiency, leaving no survivors on the island.

Euron even used skulls to build a terrifying creation, which he gave a bizarre yet poetic name—"Crown of the Sea Corpses".

This warning was ruthless enough, but what made Marin feel even more uncomfortable was the blatant humiliation that followed.

Euron sent a chilling ultimatum: he had three days to personally bind and hand over "Skull King" Mor Bonewhistle, or else Blackrock Island today would be the Marin's lair tomorrow.

All his subtle schemes were now exposed, leaving him with no room for maneuver.

The blood shed on Blackrock Island cannot be shed in vain. If "Bloody Hand" Marin Roy shows no remorse, how can he continue to rule this lawless sea? His dignity and authority have been blatantly trampled underfoot by Euron. He has no choice but to abandon his previous calculations and is forced to adopt the toughest stance, publicly declaring support for Skull Island and vowing to make Euron Greyjoy pay the price for his arrogance.

Tragically, even with the clouds of war gathering so high, the glimmer of reason had not been completely extinguished. Deep within Marin's heart, he understood that there was still a tiny possibility of a peaceful resolution.

All it takes is a mutually agreed-upon middleman to arrange a secret meeting before the war drums sound.

Two tables, a few glasses of wine, a transaction.

He could easily have a sudden realization, slam his fist on the table, and angrily denounce that it was the fool Mor Bonewhistle who broke the rules and plundered the protected merchant ship, causing this huge misunderstanding! In that case, he could justifiably "sacrifice family for the greater good," cut off Mor Bonewhistle's head according to the ancient pirate law, put it in a box, and hand it to Euron to show justice.

Euron, on the other hand, could perhaps simply pay a certain number of gold dragons as "compensation" for the losses on Blackrock Island, so that both sides could save face and the matter could be settled.

Marin, nicknamed "Bloody Hand," even found a middleman, which could have prevented a bloody and mutually destructive battle.

However, the imagined standoff between the two armies, and the anticipated head-on fleet battle, did not materialize as expected.

The sea remained eerily silent, as if the Iron Islands fleet had never existed, or as if they had merged into the deep sea, brewing an even more terrifying storm.

Marin the Bloodhand spent day and night in anxious waiting until the next morning when a scout stumbled into his hall, his face drained of color, and brought news that, like a cold iron clamp, choked everyone's breath.

The message was brief, yet carried immense weight.

Euron Greyjoy and Prince Oberyn of Dorne, their allied forces did not march directly on Skull Isle, but with ghostly speed and cruelty, simultaneously slaughtered Bloodsail Point and Serpentfang Isle in one night—just one night.

The report's dry vocabulary pieced together a chilling picture: the fortress had been breached, and everyone had been slaughtered.

Most chillingly, the two terrifying creations known as the "Crowns of the Sea" were formed by the severed heads of all the victims, which were piled up at the highest points of the two islands to create enormous and grotesque mounds of skulls. The empty eye sockets all looked out to the sea, silently proclaiming the absolute power and merciless cruelty of the conquerors.

Marin, "Bloodhand," sat withered on his pirate throne, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the rough armrests. The ultimatum, stained with the blood of Blackrock Island, seemed to still burn before his eyes. He had been a master strategist, a calculating man, even contemplating trading the heads of others for his own peace. But now, Euron Greyjoy, with the "Crown of the Sea Skeletons" of two islands, had utterly crushed all his contingencies.

He slowly raised his head, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes replaced by a cold, resolute determination. He had no other choice. This wasn't for that fool, Mor Bonewhistle, nor even for revenge.

He is the Pirate King!

Marin "Bloody Hand" was not earned through compromise and betrayal. It was built on absolute power, ruthless justice, and the protection of his men—regardless of their likeability. If he stood idly by today as Euron slaughtered members of the Alliance, no pirate would dare claim him as king tomorrow. Fear may reign for a time, but betrayal spreads like a plague.

He abruptly stood up, his heavy boot heels slamming onto the stone floor with a loud thud, startling the seabirds that had landed by the window. He surveyed the anxious leaders in the hall, his voice like the cold iron of the deep sea, resounding and unquestionable: "Sound the rallying drums!"

"Send word to all alliance members—raise the black flag, hoist the sails, and bring all your swords and fury!"

"Target: Skull Island!"

"We'll show that madman from the Iron Islands and his Dorne bitch who really calls the shots on this sea!"