Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 358 The Journey

On the Zhiyuan.

Not only are there women like Ashara, Lisa, the Red Priestess Gwendolyn, the Shadowbinder Evelyn, the three sisters of Lonely Lantern Island, and Asha.

There's also Alexander, who's a month old; Daren, who's one year old; and the younger children, Maren, Asha, and Urgan.

In fact, when Euron announced that he would take them aboard the Reach, Baron Greyjoy was strongly opposed, his face instantly darkening like the sea before a storm.

At that moment, Baron's voice was as rough as the friction of rocks as he roared, "Euron! Are you insane? Women's skirts and children's cries stepping onto the deck is the greatest disrespect to the Drowned God! Misfortune will drag down the entire fleet like a sea monster—this has been the Ironborn's rule for thousands of years!"

Euron did not directly refute his brother's anger. He turned and led Baron and the group of captains who were looking at him with suspicion to the drowning priest's cabin.

Under the flickering whale oil lamp, the old priest's tattooed face was lined with wrinkles as deep as ocean trenches.

After listening to Baron's accusations and worries, the old priest let out a low laugh. "Lord Baron, you are right," the priest said slowly, his withered fingers gently stroking the driftwood staff. "For the mortal Ironborn, the gentleness of women and the fragility of children may indeed dilute the sharpness of seafaring and bring unnecessary risks."

"But Lord Euron—he is the Son of the Drowned God!"

The priest's voice suddenly rose, filled with unwavering piety: "The blood of God flows within him, and the will of God guides his course. His ship is a moving altar, and his presence is the place where God's blessings reach. Here, all worldly taboos vanish—for the will of God is the only rule!"

This announcement was like a thunderclap, exploding in the narrow cabin.

Baron opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but seeing the priest's fanatical and unwavering gaze, and Euron's calm smile, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he ultimately swallowed all his objections. He could disagree with his brother, but he couldn't openly challenge the judgment made by the Drowned God Priest in the name of God. He could only snort coldly, his face ashen, and step aside.

Facing his brother Baron's almost fiery gaze, Euron strolled to the huge porthole. Outside, the giant sails of the "Zhiyuan" blotted out the sky, and further away, hundreds of warships had masts like a forest.

Euron said calmly, "Baron, the lessons and rules our ancestors learned came from their struggle to survive amidst storms and the fangs of pirates. They crammed into leaky longships, their food was moldy, fresh water was more precious than gold, and every breath they took was a gamble with death. In that environment, women and children, being physically weaker, could hardly endure it."

Euron's gaze swept over Baron and the hesitant captains around him, his voice clear: "But look now," he raised his arm, pointing to the colossal ship that resembled a sea fortress, "we're not sitting on a canoe tossed by the wind, but on a mobile city that can crush the waves. Our warehouses are overflowing with provisions, and as for storms and pirates?"

Euron laughed, "We are the greatest storm on this ocean. We are the eternal nightmare of all our enemies. Rest assured, their safety is guaranteed on my ship."

At that moment, Euron exuded a godlike confidence based on absolute power, overlooking all obstacles.

On the vast expanse of blue waves, the fleet sailed forward like a moving fortress.

Beneath the grey sails, an even larger shadow was silently lurking—the sea monsters belonging to the Greyjoy family, following their destined masters on their expedition.

Baron's partner, "Scaleblade," is a steel-scaled sawshark. The jagged bony spikes on its back resemble unsheathed blades, gleaming with a chilling metallic luster in the sunlight as they cleave the water. Its swimming style is aggressive, and each tail swirl carries the force to shatter a small boat.

Viktorion's "Moo Moo" is a manatee as large as a mountain, its rough skin resembling a reef that has stood for thousands of years. Its movements seem slow, but they contain overwhelming power, and the waves it creates when it surfaces can cause nearby ships to rock violently.

These two Greyjoy brothers often leaped into the sea with their muscular upper bodies bare, landing precisely on the broad backs of their respective behemoths.

Baron lay hidden behind the rapidly moving dorsal fin of the "Scale Blade," his figure becoming one with the giant shark. Wherever he passed, the waves were sharply sliced ​​apart, as if the sea itself was making way for him.

Victalion sat firmly atop MooMoo's island-like head, rising and falling with the behemoth's deep breaths. He let out a low growl, and MooMoo responded with a muffled groan, its massive head plunging into the water, instantly creating towering waves on one side of the fleet.

Two figures, one swift and one slow, wielded two completely different ocean forces, showcasing the Greyjoy family's deep-rooted courage to control the raging waves.

Euron stood at the bow of the ship and chuckled, making no attempt to stop the two brothers' almost boastful behavior; on the contrary, this was exactly the scene he was happy to see.

The steel-scaled sawshark's "Scale Blade" cleaving through the waves, and the manatee's "Moo Moo" shaking the sea, transcend mere play or competition. They are silent declarations, moving war totems, vividly illustrating the unfathomable depth and power of the Greyjoy family before all Ironborn warriors.

Uncontrollable gasps and exclamations of amazement rippled through the fleet's ships, the air thick with awe transformed into fervor, every gaze directed at the behemoth grew ever more intense, and every face fixed on the Greyjoy banner was etched with an even stronger conviction of victory.

Fear can instill obedience, but only absolute faith mixed with awe can ignite the soul and forge an invincible army. Before the battle begins, let them witness firsthand the mighty forces they will be working with—there is no greater event than this to boost morale and unite hearts.

After ten days and nights of battling the wind and waves, the massive fleet of the Iron Islands slowly sailed into the waters of Qingting Island.

The iconic golden rock face gleams in the sunlight. The grapevines that were once uprooted by the ironworkers have been replanted, and the terraced grape fields on the top of the rock face are clearly visible. Even the sea breeze seems to carry a faint aroma of grapes.

Long before the Iron Islands fleet had assembled at Pyke, Euron's ravens had already crossed the Channel carrying letters bearing the kraken emblem, which reached the Tyrell family of Highgarden and the Redwyn family of Greentree.

In the letter, Euron informed the Iron Islands fleet of its upcoming voyage and explicitly requested a brief stopover at Greenwood Island for rest and resupply. As a rightful lord and ally, he requested the right to anchor for one night and necessary supplies in this peaceful sea under King Robert's rule.

The Qingting Island authorities quickly responded in a friendly manner.

In his reply, Earl Redwin not only readily agreed to the request, but also promised to prepare ample fresh water and various supplies in advance to fulfill his duty as a host.

Euron stood at the bow, and under his command, the fleet began to anchor in an orderly manner at the designated anchorage.

The sails were lowered one by one, emitting a weary yet satisfied sigh. For the Iron People soldiers who had sailed for ten days in the salty sea breeze, the solid ground beneath their feet exuded an almost luxurious allure.

They were allowed to go ashore, set up camp in the designated area, and enjoy a peaceful night's sleep without being tossed about by the waves. A sense of relaxation and anticipation filled the air, and smiles finally appeared on their tired faces.

The first important stop on the expedition has been reached.

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