Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 380 The Agreement—Open the City Gates

The night in Lotus Harbor is as thick as ink, and in the deathly silence, only the tireless waves crashing against the rocks remain.

The torches on the city wall were sparse, like the will of the defenders that was about to burn out.

On the evening of the second day, within the time limit set by Euron, the appointed time arrived.

Inside the city, the warriors of the Long Spear Regiment and the Raven Regiment, with their commander's tacit approval, had "changed shifts" at the crucial passage leading to the main city gate. The air was tense, like a taut bowstring, and every pair of eyes gleamed with unease and determination in the darkness. The Cat Regiment's encampment was unusually quiet. Their new commander, "Giant Axe" Cassius Fletcher, had taken control of the situation. Redbeard's cronies had already been quietly eliminated, and his spiky head was placed in a rough wooden box.

Outside the city, the Iron Islands' camp, like a lurking behemoth, revealed its cold silhouette under the moonlight.

Euron Greyjoy wore no armor, only a dark robe, as if he had not come to fight, but to receive a preordained sacrifice. Jalabah Thal stood beside him, his hand on his sword, his breathing slightly rapid, his eyes fixed on the massive city gate that would determine the fate of countless people.

"Crunch, crunch, creak!"

A heavy, rusty sound, as if it came from the depths of hell, suddenly shattered the silence of the night!

The massive, bronze-studded main gate of Lotus Harbor was slowly pushed open a crack from the inside with a sickening groan!

At first, it was just a sliver, revealing faint light and swaying figures from within the city.

The gap widened, and pushing open the city gate were several burly men from the Long Spear Gang, shirtless and muscular, who were bracing themselves against the door frame with their shoulders, their faces contorted with a ferocious determination born of excessive force.

The city gates were wide open! Like a huge wound, exposed to the Iron Islands coalition forces.

Behind the gate was a deep city gate passageway, and at the end of the passageway lay a chaotic, terrified, yet somewhat relieved scene within the city.

Prandah Na. Gison, the leader of the Ravens, appeared at the cave entrance. He held a torch high and drew three huge circles in the direction of the Iron Islands encampment—this was the agreed signal!

As the signal was given, Gillo Rehha of the Long Spear Regiment personally carried the wooden box containing the red-bearded man's head out of the gate, respectfully placed it on the open ground directly in front of the city gate, then quickly stepped back, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head.

"Advance."

Euron saw the red-haired, red-bearded head, nodded slightly, and gave the order. His voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire vanguard.

There were no earth-shattering battle cries, no frenzied charges.

Like a silent, gray tide, the Iron People warriors marched with heavy, orderly steps, past the kneeling traitors, over the head that served as a pledge of allegiance, and poured unstoppably into Lotus Harbor through the open city gates.

This last stronghold of the Summer Islands, with its heart ripped open from the inside, heralded the beginning of its fall. The conquerors' boots finally trod its streets.

In the shadows inside the Lotus Harbor city gates, three mercenary leaders stood with their hands at their sides, like prisoners awaiting sentencing. Their subordinates stood silently behind them, not uttering a word.

The air was filled with sporadic sounds of fighting and crying coming from deep within the city, which only served to highlight the deathly silence of the place.

Euron Greyjoy strolled slowly toward them, the sea breeze ruffling the hem of his dark robes, his gaze settling on the tangled head in the wooden box.

"Hmm," Euron said calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, "You did a good job."

Before Euron stood three mercenary leaders, fresh from their betrayal and armed with weapons, and behind them stood a dense, imposing mass of three thousand mercenaries.

The advantage brought by the numerical superiority ratio has vanished at this moment.

Euron didn't even deliberately release any killing intent. He simply stood there, slightly raising his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone. But this seemingly ordinary gaze seemed to carry an immense pressure, an invisible aura accumulated from countless bloody battles, riding deep-sea behemoths, and even stealing the authority of the gods, spreading out like a tangible tide.

The air seemed to freeze, and the hustle and bustle of the harbor seemed to be isolated in another world.

The three regimental commanders, who were the first to be affected, felt it most strongly.

Gillo Reihar of the Long Spear Regiment felt as if he were being stared at by some prehistoric sea monster. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his back, and he involuntarily lowered his eyes, unable to meet that calm yet unfathomable gaze. Pranda Na. Gison of the Raven Regiment, the muscles on his broad, calculating face twitched slightly. He tried to analyze the man before him, but felt as if his thoughts were trapped in a dark, deep sea, unable to function. Cassius Fletcher, the new leader of the Cat Regiment, known as "Giant Axe," a burly man renowned for his strength, felt a tightness in his throat, as if an invisible hand was choking his breath. His broad shoulders involuntarily hunched slightly, as if trying to avoid some unseen sharpness.

The three thousand mercenaries behind them were in even worse shape. The slight commotion and panting that had been there vanished the moment Euron's gaze swept over them. Everyone felt a chill run from their feet to their heads, as if they were standing naked on an icy plain, being watched by some enormous being from the depths of the sea. Sweat beaded on their palms as they gripped their weapons, and some even began to tremble uncontrollably.

One man alone, facing three thousand armored soldiers.

The momentum, however, is completely reversed.

It wasn't a roaring rage, nor an arrogant domineering presence, but a deeper, more fundamental, almost rule-like sense of oppression. It was as if the place where he stood was the center of the domain, the embodiment of authority. Within this domain, the number of people became meaningless.

Euron ignored their attitude, paused, and continued, "I am a man of my word. I said I would give you a way out, and I will not kill you. You will wait here." He pointed to the area right next to the port, "To avoid being caught in the crossfire, you may leave only after the war is completely over."

Gillo Reha of the Long Spear Regiment stepped forward, his posture extremely humble, yet his tone carried a hint of eagerness to seize the opportunity: "Lord Euron, the city is not yet completely pacified. Is there anything else we can do for you?"

The new leader of the Cat Clan, "Giant Axe" Cassius Fletcher, immediately chimed in, his voice booming but unable to conceal his obsequiousness: "We are willing to serve you, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Euron's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer, his tone remaining calm: "I never intended to hire you," he uttered each word clearly, "and I certainly didn't plan to pay any commission."

Pranda Na. Gison of the Raven Crow Gang immediately chimed in, his Gis accent standing out clearly in the tense air: "This job is free." He bowed slightly, "It's both to repay your life-saving grace, sir, and also a token of our sincerity in hoping to establish future cooperation with you, 'Lord of the Sea Beasts.'"

"Future cooperation?" Euron repeated softly, seemingly thinking of the complex situation in the Stone Steps Islands and even the more distant disputed lands. A meaningful smile flashed across his face, and then he said calmly, "In that case—you will go and guard the harbor. Keep a close eye on all the ships to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to escape by sea."

After saying that, he didn't look at them again, turned around and led his guards into the darkness leading to the city center, leaving the three mercenary leaders behind.

Watching Euron's departing figure, Cassius Fletcher couldn't help but lower his voice, asking with a hint of doubt, "He just... left like that? Isn't he worried we'll take the opportunity to steal a ship and run away?"

Pranda Na. Gison shrugged, a "you're too naive" look on his face. "Run? Why should we run?" He gazed in the direction Euron had disappeared, his tone carrying an almost awe-inspiring calm. "Since Lord Euron himself promised us a way out, given his status, position, and the reputation he's built on the seas over the years, he would never go back on his word. Keeping his promises is the cornerstone of his rule. Lying to a few insignificant people like us? He wouldn't stoop to that."

Gillo Reha took a deep breath of the salty, gunpowder-scented air, as if to etch the lesson into his very being. He turned to the other two, as if admonishing himself: "Go, guard the harbor. Remember what I said today, remember it well—" His gaze swept over Cassius and Pranda, "Unless you retire from the seas and never make a living at sea again, whatever you do, never offend Euron Greyjoy."

The three exchanged glances, said nothing more, and walked towards the bustling port with a complex mix of relief and uncertainty about the future.