Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 429 Luo Xiong

As Queen Nuya Maxwell and Euron Greyjoy walked side by side out of the ruined palace gates, miraculously, the torrential rain that had lasted all night suddenly stopped, and the rolling thunderclouds quietly dissipated, leaving only the lingering smoke and the mess on the ground as proof of the fierce battle that had just taken place.

In this sudden silence, all fighting within the city temporarily ceased.

The blood-soaked Iron People warriors quickly assembled on the right flank, forming a black vanguard; the remaining Thunder Island defenders gathered on the left, gripping their broken weapons. The two sides faced each other across the corpse-strewn square, their tension palpable, the intense killing intent almost tangible, as if a single spark could ignite another bloody battle.

All eyes were focused on the figure on the palace steps.

Empress Nuya Maxwell stepped forward, her white robes fluttering gently in the blood-stained breeze. Her gaze swept over the blood-stained faces of every Thunder Island warrior in the square, and she slowly raised her hand—all the Thunder Island soldiers instinctively lowered their weapons.

"Children of Raiden Island," her voice pierced the frozen air, "lay down your weapons. We—have been defeated."

Clang—A long, blunted sword slipped from the veteran's hand.

Then came the second, then the third, the clanging of metal echoing like a mournful wail across the square. A young guard suddenly knelt and wept, only to be violently pulled up by the centurion beside him: "Straighten your spine! Don't let the conquerors see the Thunder Islanders' final humiliation!"

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The Queen turned to Euron, her emerald eyes reflecting the twilight of the entire dynasty: "Now, they are your people." She personally removed the sunset-embroidered cloak, a symbol of her rule, from her shoulders, letting it flutter onto the steps. "By the rights of the conqueror, I request that you keep your promise not to massacre the city."

Euron's eyes narrowed slightly in the morning light. He drew his longsword and pointed it at the sky, the sea monster banner fluttering at the tip: "I bring not conquest, but rebirth. The faith of Thunder Isle will be preserved, trade will flourish, and everyone will find their place on this land."

"In the name of the drowning god! Lay down your weapons and live!"

A deafening roar erupted from the Ironborn ranks, while the Thunder Islanders silently bowed their heads—for the first time in four hundred years, this land had heard the oath of a foreign god. In the glow of the still-burning wildfire, a fragile balance was achieved amidst the bloodshed between the two starkly different faiths.

The end of the war did not bring peace; instead, it ushered in an even more difficult chapter.

The entire island of Rae boasts three major ports and a total population exceeding 300,000. Generations have lived and thrived here, their blood flowing with independence and pride. Currently, only Rae-Mae, home to the Queen, has been conquered; like a head temporarily bowed, its body still struggling. The other two important cities and their vast hinterland remain out of control.

How to leverage the now-submissive empress to command and appease the hundreds of thousands of people, each with their own grievances and resentment, became the most urgent and crucial task facing Euron and the Iron Islands. This was far more complex than simply breaching a palace.

The deeper problem lies in the long-term rule.

Should they adopt a high-pressure approach or a more lenient one? How to establish effective management, how to balance the old and new forces, how to ensure that Thunder Island's wealth and manpower are used by the Iron Islands instead of becoming a constantly bleeding wound—all of this is like a heavy fog shrouding the newly acquired Star Crown Palace.

The real conquest has only just begun.

In a side hall of the Star Crown Palace, Euron met alone with the Queen's concubine, Rothon. The air still faintly smelled of gunpowder and blood.

Euron's gaze was sharp as a knife as he cut to the chase: "Empress Nuya Maxwell seems to have no genuine intention of surrendering. If it weren't for your insistence, she would probably be buried alive with the poisoned hairpin in her hand." His eyes scrutinized him as he smiled, "Tell me, why did you choose to advocate for surrender?"

Luo Xiong bowed deeply, his voice calm yet revealing a profound understanding gained through life's experiences: "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Victory is victory, and defeat is inevitable. It is easy to die a heroic death, but to live on bearing humiliation and responsibility is truly difficult." He raised his head and said frankly, "When I strongly advised against it, it was indeed for the sake of the lives and property of the 300,000 civilians on Lei Island."

"That's all?" Euron asked indifferently.

Luo Xiong remained silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice carrying a subtle warmth and resolve: "In my heart, there is only Her Majesty the Empress and our daughter." He met You Lun's gaze and stated his truest reason: "Between certain death and seemingly humiliating survival, only by choosing to surrender can we secure a path to life for them."

Euron tapped the armrest of his chair lightly with his fingertips and said calmly, "Family—is indeed always the most important bond." His tone suddenly turned cold: "But how can you be sure that surrender will definitely bring survival? Perhaps I just need a pawn to reassure people, and I will still eliminate all hidden dangers afterward."

Luo Xiong was not deterred by this blunt threat. He maintained his bowed posture, his voice clear and steady: "Because Lei Island is completely different from the Fiery Lizard Islands you conquered before. We are not precarious wandering pirates, nor are we incurable villains. Lei Island's foundation lies in its farmland, cultivated for generations, with a simple and honest people; supplemented by underground mining, fragrant spices, and a dazzling gem trade. Hundreds of thousands of people have lived and thrived here, their blood and land already inextricably linked."

Luo Xiong raised his head, looked directly at You Lun, and made the most crucial judgment: "The Iron Islands and Thunder Island are separated by thousands of miles of ocean. If you want to rule this rich land for a long time and effectively, you cannot achieve it by suppressing it with force alone."

You still need a flag, a symbol. Her Majesty the Queen is that flag that best unites people and ensures the smooth implementation of your decrees. Leaving us to rule in the name of the Queen is the lowest-cost and highest-return option.

Luo Xiong concluded softly, as if stating a simple fact: "Only by living can you create value. Death leaves only trouble to clean up and indelible hatred."

Euron pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "What you say makes sense. So, in your opinion, what should the Iron Islands do next?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiong let out a barely audible sigh, clearly having already given it considerable thought: "The most urgent matter is for His Majesty to issue an edict summoning the lords of the other two cities to Lei Ma and ordering them to surrender." He paused briefly, leaving room for maneuver in his words, "If they come as ordered, see His Majesty in person and hear His Majesty's decree, things will naturally become much easier."

"If you don't come—"

Euron waved his hand casually, as if it were a trivial inconvenience, and said, "If they don't come, there are ways to deal with it. I'd rather hear how the Iron Islands will rule this distant land in the long years to come if the three cities are under our control?"

He was asking not only about strategy, but also about the future blueprint of this dynasty.