Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 232 Above the Sea—I Am Invincible

Inside the room, the candlelight cast long shadows of the two people on the wall.

Before Marin the Bloodhand was dragged to the execution ground, Euron Greyjoy had a brief, unknown conversation with him.

Euron's voice was low and calm, as if stating a routine deal: "Marin, before you died, you publicly accused Gustav Drummond of the Three Daughters Alliance of ordering you to kill the Ironborn. If you did as he said," he paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at the other, "I swear by the name of the Drowned God, I will protect your mistress in Tranquil Bay and your son with her. I will give them enough gold to live on and send them away from this place of trouble to Braavos, King's Landing, or Tyrosh to start a new life."

Upon hearing this, the pirate king, on the verge of death, first showed a flash of astonishment on his twisted face, then grinned, revealing a smile mixed with blood and mockery. He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva: "Go to Rhys. That woman—she was originally a whore from a brothel there, so going back there is perfect for her."

Euron met his gaze without looking away or making any further promises, simply asking in a calm tone, "Do you trust me?"

Marin was silent for a moment, a hoarse sound coming from his throat. Finally, the fierce light in his eyes faded, replaced by a resigned ruthlessness and calculation: "It's just a matter of a word. Anyway, I've long disliked those velvet-clad, self-important scumbags. Besides," he said, panting heavily, "I believe—someone like you wouldn't stoop to bothering a woman and child who pose no threat to you. That would be too beneath you."

Euron's lips finally curled up slowly, forming a cold, yet reassuring arc.

"Deal reached."

As the last rays of sunset sank completely below the horizon, ships in the waters surrounding Grey Gallows Island departed like the receding tide, obeying the silent commands of their new master.

The island, which had been bustling all day, quickly fell silent, with only the sound of waves crashing on the shore becoming increasingly clear.

Inside the fortress hall, only Euron Greyjoy's innermost circle remained.

Prince Oberon leaned back lazily in a thick fur-covered chair, toying with the dagger in his hand, a habitual, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips: "If you want to fight, then fight. You always like to come up with high-sounding pretexts for yourself first. One after another, don't you find it troublesome?"

Earl Paxter Redwin, however, looked deeply worried. His portly face was furrowed, and the exquisite silver cup in his hand seemed to weigh a ton. "Lord Euron," he said, "are we really going to wage a full-scale war against the Three Daughters Alliance? They are not like those rabble of pirates. They are backed by the wealth and fleets of the three free trading city-states of Tyros, Rhys, and Myr. This is no child's play."

"Heh heh!" Uncle Balf chuckled hoarsely, slamming his hand on the table, making the cups rattle. "What's there to be afraid of? My nephew's eight deep-sea monsters! That's the power of the sea god! I'd like to see which nation's fleet can withstand a single blow from them! On this ocean, no one can stand against our Iron Islands alliance right now!"

The newly appointed Floyd Greyjoy was flushed with excitement. He abruptly straightened up, pounded his chest with his right hand, making a dull thud, and his voice was hoarse with fervor: "Lord Euron! Whoever you say you'll hit, my sword will be pointed at them! Without hesitation!"

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Baron Greyjoy remained with his arms crossed, his eyes gleaming with undisguised bloodlust. Unlike the worries or schemes of the others, he never questioned whether war should be waged against the Three Daughters Alliance. In his world, having come here, he was here to crush everything.

At this moment, Baron was enraged by something else entirely. His deep voice, sharp as a whetstone, rang out, filled with incomprehension and rage: "Why are we keeping those pirate scum around?" He abruptly waved his hand, as if shooing away a swarm of repulsive flies, "Cut them all off, leave no one alive! Their heads could probably double the height of our 'Crown of the Sea'! That's the kind of language that silences everyone!"

Baron's words contained no strategy, no consideration, only the most primal and utter desire for destruction. In his view, Euron's allowing the new pirate alliance to exist, or even negotiating with it, was an unnecessary and almost weak act of mercy.

However, Euron's idea of ​​"Crown of the Sea" suited him perfectly, and he even considered building one in the Iron Islands as well.

Faced with the differing attitudes of his subordinates, Euron simply took a slow sip of his drink, a profound smile of complete control appearing on his face. "As long as the Stone Steps Islands don't have a true king, this sea will continue to be plagued by pirates and smugglers. Therefore, we need a pirate alliance under our control."

"As for the Three Daughters Alliance, I do want to give them a good beating," Euron put down his wine glass, his voice steady but with an undeniable determination, "beat them until they feel the pain, beat them until they remember who's in charge on this sea, beat them until they can only behave obediently and act according to my rules from now on."

Euron surveyed the crowd, his gaze finally sharpening and becoming clear: "However, I have no intention of completely driving them off the Steps Isles. At least not now."

Prince Oberyn leaned back in his chair, his long fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his wine glass. He frowned slightly as he stared at Euron, a thought swirling in his mind: How could he be considered the true King of the Stone Steps if he did not completely expel the Alliance of the Three Daughters?

What is the point of the crown that was promised to my nephew if it cannot cover the entire territory?

As if piercing through the heart, Euron's gaze swept over Oberyn at that moment. A knowing smile played on his lips as he slowly spoke, both a response to Oberyn's unspoken doubts and an explanation to everyone present: "Earl Pexter is quite right," he first affirmed the Redwin heir's concerns, showing that he did not underestimate his opponents. "Tyros, Rhys, and Myr—these three free trading city-states have deep roots, astonishing wealth, and massive fleets. To uproot them completely and drive them out of this sea they have cultivated for decades is not something that can be accomplished in a day, or even a year or two."

He paused, a weight of history settling in his voice, before citing an irrefutable precedent: "Think of Damon Targaryen, the Gladiator of Shipwrecked Cove. He wielded dragons, possessed great ambition, and took three long years to be crowned king here, but what was the result?" Euron's gaze sharpened, as if scrutinizing the dust of the past. "He ultimately became mired in an endless quagmire of war, and after only six years, he was utterly driven from the Stepstones. I possess sea monsters, and he, too, possessed dragons."

Euron's conclusion was clear and calm, carrying a pragmatism that rejected all illusions: "History tells us that seeking complete conquest here in one fell swoop is almost impossible. What we need is patience, strategy, and to proceed step by step, like the sea eroding a reef."

Upon hearing this, Earl Paxter Redwin's worried expression eased slightly, and he nodded slowly, seemingly lost in thought. Euron's words were not out of fear of war, but rather based on careful consideration of history and reality, which gave him a sense of inexplicable reassurance.

Upon hearing this, Oberyn couldn't help but roll his eyes, his movements elegant yet utterly impatient. He drawled out his question, "If that's the case, then why were you outside just now trying to intimidate them by acting like you were about to start a war?"

Euron's expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated the question. He gently swirled the wine in his glass, his tone calm as if stating an undeniable fact: "If they are truly foolish enough to fight me on this vast ocean—" He paused slightly, raising his eyes, a sudden burst of absolute, domineering confidence flashing in his gaze, "I don't care. Because, on this ocean..."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute force, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "With me, there is no one."

These four words seemed to possess a magical power, instantly igniting the blood of all the Iron Islands core members present. Baron's eyes burned with fanatical fighting spirit, Dagmore's ferocious face twitched with muscles, and Freud was so excited that he almost pounded his chest and swore an oath again.

Even the most cautious Parker and Balf couldn't help but smile with a hint of pride.

The group exchanged glances, their faces displaying knowing smiles. After this battle, they had an almost blind trust in Euron's power to control the ocean.

Lord Paxter Redwin sat slightly behind Euron, watching the new "Crown of the Sea" speak with an air of nonchalance, as if everything was under his control. The almost arrogant confidence emanating from Euron, and his casual remark, "On the sea, I am invincible," were no longer empty words, but had become a heavy, suffocating fact.

Parker sighed inwardly, a sigh so heavy it seemed to weigh down the future of Greenwood Island. What would become of Greenwood Island? The road ahead might be shrouded in mist—his thoughts were in turmoil, but one thing became clearer than ever before, like a reef illuminated by lightning: They absolutely could not be enemies of the Iron Islands, they absolutely could not be enemies of Euron Greyjoy.

The fierce battle with the Iron Islands in the past resulted in heavy losses for the Green Pavilion Island fleet, and the golden grapevine banner was covered in dust. This grudge had always been like a thorn in Parker's heart. Deep down, he harbored some resentment and secretly plotted to one day get revenge and restore his family's reputation and losses.

However, at this moment, all his resentment and scheming vanished completely before Euron's calm yet overwhelming power. His flame of revenge was extinguished by the cold, monstrous wave of reality before it could even ignite.

It seemed—he bitterly realized that past grievances had to be buried completely. The only option for the future was to be on good terms, never to become enemies! This realization carried a hint of humiliation, but it was more of a clear-headed and pragmatic approach in the face of absolute power.

As Parker's mind raced with thoughts, Euron abruptly changed the subject, his sharp gaze transforming into a profound understanding of the world, pulling everyone back to reality from their excitement: "However," he said slowly, "this battle may never even begin."

Euron seemed to have already foreseen the future, his tone carrying a confident air of mastery: "If they are smart enough—what awaits us next is—a long negotiation."

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