Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 344 Lisa – The Future Queen of Qarth

The island lords' reactions were as expected.

Euron stood up, his voice echoing in the secret room: "As I just said, the Summer Islands are merely a springboard." His fingertip tapped heavily on the unfolded nautical chart, moving eastward along an imagined route. "On this voyage, we will conquer far more than just that place."

His finger traced several distant landmarks in succession: "After completing the unification and conquest of the Summer Islands, our fleet will continue eastward to conquer Nas Island, occupy the Basilisk Islands, and take control of Mora Island and Great Mora Island."

Each place name seemed to carry the storms and riches of an exotic land, making the island owners present breathe heavily.

Finally, Euron's finger stopped on a magnificent and distant city, his gaze sweeping across the faces of each island lord like a hawk's, and he said, word by word, "Finally—our target is Qarth!"

A muffled gasp filled the sealed room.

Qarth, the legendary city of a thousand temples, a city overflowing with spices and wealth, far surpasses any island in importance.

Before anyone could process this earth-shattering announcement, Euron dropped an even more shocking bombshell: "Lisa's father was one of the thirteen Grand Masters of Qarth." He looked at the composed woman beside him, "Another core objective of this expedition is that I will dedicate all my efforts to supporting her—to becoming the Queen of Qarth!"

Prior to this moment, only King Coron and Baron knew about this matter.

The sudden announcement was like dropping a depth charge into a locked room. Although the island lords were well aware of Euron's boundless ambition, they were still stunned speechless by this massive, almost insane plan.

Euron took in everyone's reactions, his voice suddenly rising, carrying an undeniable will: "Listen carefully, gentlemen! What we want is no longer to plunder and return with treasure, but eternal rule! From the Summer Isles to Qarth, all the lands and seas along the way will belong to the Iron Islands, to the people of us, the drowning gods!"

He surveyed the entire area, his gaze piercing: "Therefore, from this moment on, your focus will no longer be on how to seize, but on how to rule these islands and city-states that will soon belong to us! We will become the true Kings of the Sea!"

A long, deathly silence fell over the secret chamber, broken only by heavy breathing and the crackling of the torches. The island lords' chests heaved violently, their eyes a mixture of shock, ecstasy, and a hint of fear of the unknown.

This silence is not hesitation, but rather the suppression before the storm, the last restraint before ambition is fully ignited.

Suddenly, like the first bolt of lightning tearing through the dark clouds, an island lord drew a short axe from his waist and slammed it onto the table, letting out a deafening roar: "Conquer—!"

This roar was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting all the pent-up emotions.

"rule--!"

More arms were raised high, more weapons were drawn, and the clanging sounds and wild shouts merged into a destructive wave of sound that almost overturned the solid stone roof.

Finally, all the voices converged into a title symbolizing their boundless ambition, crashing and echoing like a tsunami within the chamber: "King of the Sea!"

"King of the Sea!!"

The roar pierced through the stone walls, faintly reaching the outside world, causing the still-drunk Ironborn to stop their singing and dancing and look in astonishment into the depths of the main fortress. They didn't know exactly what had happened, but they could feel that immense power, originating from the depths of their souls and yearning to conquer the entire world, had awakened and was about to sweep everything away.

Lisa stood there, stunned, her intelligent eyes instantly filled with disbelief and tears.

Before this, although she knew about the expedition plan, she never expected that Euron would set Qarth, which was far to the east, as the ultimate target, and she never expected that he would say "Queen of Qarth" in front of all the island lords.

Euron had indeed mentioned similar ideas to her in the past, but she had always thought they were just jokes and comforts in bed or in private.

But at this moment, in this secret chamber that will determine the future of the Iron Islands, in front of all the most powerful island lords, to declare—that means this is not a joke, but a promise he will make and a vow as firm as iron.

Euron turned his head, his gaze piercing through the excited crowd, landing precisely on her. His eyes held a questioning yet entrusted tone: "Are you ready?" His voice wasn't loud, but it reached her ears clearly. "Are you ready to rule a country?"

Lisa could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face, which trembled slightly with emotion.

She didn't wipe it, but nodded forcefully and heavily, as if using all her strength, responding with a choked but incredibly clear voice, "Yes!"

At this moment, her personal fate was intertwined with the grand vision. She saw not only the weight of the crown, but also Euron's unwavering trust in her behind his unfathomable ambition.

Euron's gaze swept over each of the island lords present. He smiled calmly and said in a gentle tone, "Regarding the matter of Qarth, I, Euron Greyjoy, naturally have my own personal motives. If any of you feel that it is inappropriate to use this as a basis for your own actions, or believe that I am putting my personal will above the interests of the Iron Islands, please feel free to speak up. If you wish to withdraw, that is also acceptable."

As he finished speaking, he was not met with doubt, but with a low chuckle of understanding and support.

Count Rodrik Harlow shook his head first, a smile on his face, and said, "Euron, in the Iron Islands, we are all one. There is never anything purely private in the Iron Islands; your affairs are also the affairs of all of us."

Dono Sucliff, the leader of Salt Cliff Island, burst into laughter, his voice echoing across the rooftops: "Well said! You, Euron, always think ten steps ahead for every one you take, your mind more meticulous than the undercurrents of the ocean. Since you dare to say it here, you must have already planned it out in your mind and made thorough preparations. What do we have to worry about? We'll just follow you!"

Earl Erin Oakwood of Oakmont nodded steadily in agreement, his eyes gleaming as he said, "Indeed. If Lady Lisa truly becomes Queen of Qarth, it will be of extraordinary significance to the Iron Islands. It would be as if we had gained the most solid and glorious foothold and springboard on the vast continent of Essos."

Baron Thoni, the leader of Oak Isle, stroked his chin thoughtfully and admitted, "To be honest, I originally expected that the first tough nut we would crack would be the complete unification of the Stepstone Islands, or even aiming at the free trade city-states like Rhys, Tyros, and Myr. Aiming directly at Qarth—that's certainly unexpected." He then changed the subject, his face lighting up with excitement, and said, "But this is a surprise, a fantastic thing! It shows that Duke Euron's vision and ambition are far broader than we imagined!"

"A blessing for the Iron Islands!"

His words echoed the sentiments of many island owners, and a chorus of agreement resounded within the secret room. There was no opposition, only anticipation and consensus for a grander future.

Euron smiled with satisfaction and nodded slightly to everyone present. "Thank you all for your support." He then shifted the topic to a more practical level, saying, "As I just said, every piece of land we conquer will become part of the Iron Islands. And every island needs a qualified ruler to govern it."

His gaze swept over each island lord: "Now, I need you all to recommend suitable candidates from your families, from those who are not heirs. They need more than just brute strength; they need the mind and ability to govern the island. Everyone, think carefully: which of your second or youngest sons possesses both courage and the knowledge of how to rule?"

Each family may recommend one person.

Upon hearing this, the previously enthusiastic atmosphere immediately subsided, replaced by deep contemplation among the island lords, many of whom involuntarily frowned.

This is a real problem.

Among these families, finding a warrior capable of sailing far and wide and wielding an axe is easy; but finding someone who not only has muscles but also brains, who knows how to tax, adjudicate, pacify the people, and develop trade—someone truly capable of ruling an island—is a different story.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is really something—" One of the island owners rubbed his fingers together unconsciously and muttered to himself.

"My boys are all fierce fighters, but when they see account books and legal texts, they dread it more than seeing a sea monster."

"I just remembered a nephew of mine. He's meticulous, but too soft-hearted. I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to handle things well."

A murmur of helplessness and distress rose in the secret room. For the first time, they realized with such clarity that while conquest might rely on courage and strength, domination was a completely different and far more complex art.

Euron took in everyone's reactions without surprise. He smiled calmly, breaking the slightly awkward silence: "Lords, there's no need to rush. This expedition is scheduled for six months from now, setting sail next spring. Therefore, you all have ample time to return and carefully consider your options. Let me know when you've made up your minds."

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