Chapter 317: Forty Million Golden Dragons


    Overwhelmed by the pressure, Hizdahr had no choice but to reveal everything to Viserys, exining the n from start to finish.


    For the past month, the ve owners of ver’s Bay had gone to great lengths to lower Viserys''s guard, all to lure him to Qarth. At the heart of their scheme was the Warlocks'' House of the Undying.


    In the original timeline, the Mother of Dragons had led her small khsar across the Red Waste and arrived in Qarth with no choice but to trust the Warlocks, who easily tricked her into entering the House of the Undying. Lacking any knowledge of magic, she was led into a dangerous illusion and narrowly escaped death when Drogon killed the Undying Ones just as they attempted to drain her life force.


    But Viserys was different. Hecked for nothing and posed a far greater threat. The ve owners believed he had walked into their trap, like a fish drawn to a hook. They saw his arrival as an opportunity to reim power—not just for ver’s Bay, but for the entire ve-owning world. Moreover, Viserys’s actions in Westeros had severely damaged their influence, uniting ver’s Bay and Qarth against him.


    "So why not just kill me here in ver’s Bay?" Viserys asked, his tone sharp. "If I don’t go to Qarth, your entire n falls apart, doesn’t it?"


    Hizdahr, trembling, replied, “You’re a buyer from ver’s Bay. If you die here, it would bring chaos. We cannot risk killing you on our soil.”


    Viserys sneered. <em>Typical—too afraid to risk anything when chasing greatness.</em>


    Since the fall of the Old Empire of Ghis to Valyria, there had been no major struggles in the region. It made sense why a girl like Daenerys, barely fourteen or fifteen, could arrive with three young dragons and turn the ce upside down.


    "Drag them away and behead them," Viserysmanded in Valyrian.


    At the sound of their sentence, the ve owners erupted into panicked wails, their voices thick with desperation.


    “Viserys! These are ancient houses with histories spanning thousands of years! Without us, no one will be able to help you rule ver''s Bay!"


    Hizdahr, sensing the gravity of the moment, knew he had to make onest effort to preserve hope for Meereen. He stepped forward, trembling but determined.


    "Who said I want to rule ver’s Bay?" Viserys shot back.


    "What?" Hizdahr''s eyes widened in shock.


    Viserys smirked at Hizdahr’s disbelief. He was about to dere, <em>I am a conqueror, not a ruler</em>, indulging in a bit of arrogance. But then he caught himself. <em>I am already an emperor</em>, he reminded himself. <em>I must be mindful of what I say and do. Future generations will follow my example.</em>


    Viserys believed that emperors, kings, and monarchs were meant to be builders of civilization, not mere plunderers. Only barbarian chieftains bragged about destruction and conquest. The Targaryens were destined to rule and build a new world, not simply tear it down.


    “There are forty Dragonlord houses in the past, and now there’s only House Targaryen. What are you?” Viserys''s words echoed coldly.


    Hizdahr zo Loraq’s world shattered in an instant. His mind struggled to process the weight of that question as the de fell, ending his life. There are forty Dragonlord houses in the past, and now there’s only House Targaryen.What did they think they werepared to him?


    With the ve owners dealt with, Viserys turned swiftly to his nextmand.


    “Caggo,” he called.


    “Your Grace,” Caggo replied, stepping forward.


    “You will take 10,000 men and march south to join Ser Jorah and Prince Hoyt in the siege of Yunkai.”


    “Yes, Your Grace!” Caggo responded with a sharp salute.


    Viserys turned to anothermander. “John Mudd.”


    “Your Grace,” came the response.


    “You will garrison Meereen. Kill all the ve owners with ten or more ves. Confiscate their property and send everything back to Tyrosh.”


    “Understood, Your Grace!” John Mudd nodded, already nning how to carry out the purge.


    The spoils from Astapor, excluding the Unsullied, had been worth an estimated 10 million golden dragons. But Meereen—wealthier and more prosperous—promised even greater rewards. The fortune of this city would flow directly into Viserys''s coffers.


    Caggo and Young John Mudd had brought over 20,000 men, half of whom were cavalry.


    With the 30,000 Unsullied recruited from Astapor, and the 20,000 soldiers Hoyt and Jorah had at their disposal, Yunkai, the weakest of the three Free Cities, stood no chance. Viserys doubted they would even fight. A city like Yunkai would likely surrender before the siege began.


    Having settled the military matters, Viserys led Shinelli up the steps of Meereen''s 800-foot-tall golden pyramid. Once inside, they searched for a proper bed, but finding none, Viserys simply spread hisrge ck cloak on the ground.


    As the golden morning sun bathed their bodies in light, Shinelli, pressed tightly against him, asked, “Your Grace, are you really going to Qarth? Why not call Princess back? We don’t need to worry about those Warlocks anymore.”


    Viserys’s gaze remained distant, his voice thoughtful. “The Warlocks are getting stronger. If we don’t deal with them now, they could be a threat—to my child, to our future.”


    Of course, Viserys wasn''t only thinking about his offspring. He knew the Warlocks'' dark interest in "King’s Blood." And he remembered how the White Walkers were drawn to Stark blood. If he could unravel the secrets of blood magic, he might uncover the key to defeating the White Walkers.


    Shinelli, however, wasn''t thinking that far ahead. Her mind drifted to her own growing ambition. <em>My child…</em> She touched her slightly swollen belly, smiling to herself. <em>Surely it’s possible, afterst night.</em>


    Even if her child didn’t have a im to the throne, being Viserys’s firstborn would secure an important ce in his heart. She knew this, and that knowledge brought herfort.


    It was a natural thought. Even the most upetitive women couldn’t help but harbor ambition when it came to their children. And Shinelli’s hopes weren’t unreasonable—she only wanted her child to earn more of Viserys’s love, a reasonable desire in such a world.


    “I''ll head straight to Qarth after we conquer Yunkai. Take care of yourself, and I’ll return as soon as I can,” Viserys said, his tone confident.


    “Yes, Your Grace,” came the reply.


    The conquest of Yunkai went smoother than anticipated. When Viserys''s armies from the north and south surrounded the city, the Wise Masters didn’t even realize what was happening. Supreme Commander of the Armies and Allies of Yunkai, often referred to as ‘Pickled Plum,’ had even considered a diplomatic chat with Viserys, but it was toote. The dragonfire swiftly breached Yunkai’s crumbling walls, allowing 30,000 troops to flood in. Soon, the banners of the three-headed dragon flew over the city.


    Yunkai, known for its infamous bed ves and apricot ves, faced a new future under Viserys’s rule. With his decree to abolish very, these people could no longer be treated as property. However, the question of what to do with them was one forter. For now, the wealth of the ve owners was confiscated, and both ves and citizens were liberated.


    Conservative estimates ced the wealth extracted from the ve owners of the three cities of ver’s Bay at over 40 million golden dragons. This was more than thebined taxes Viserys had received from the other five Free Cities over thest forty years, excluding the Hopeful Lands and the Stepstones.


    Viserys’s campaign in ver’s Bay was almostplete, but dealing with the Warlocks was the next challenge. For that, Viserys, Dany, their seven dragons, and a small entourage—including the Valyrian steel-armored guards—should suffice. However, controlling the entire city of Qarth would be a different matter, one that might require leading an army of 20,000 men.


    Marching bynd would mean crossing the Red Waste, a journey that would take at least two months, and by the time they reached Qarth, his forces would be exhausted. It would also alert Qarth to their approach long before they arrived. On the other hand, traveling bynd and sea would take only about a month, but Qarth, with its extensive shippingwork, would likely detect their arrival. Rumors of Viserys’s conquest of ver’s Bay had probably already reached Qarth.


    “Commander, I’m leaving the administration of ver’s Bay in your hands. I n to sail to Qarth first. Prepare a fleet of 20,000 men to support me,” Viserys ordered.


    “Understood, Your Grace!” Hoyt responded.


    Hoyt, who had looked sickly before arriving in ver’s Bay, now radiated energy and vitality. Recently, Viserys had strengthened Hoyt’s constitution through blood magic, and the results were striking. Buoyed by his renewed strength, Hoyt believed he might even father another son in the future.


    Grateful for his decision to side with Viserys and join the Windblown, Hoyt reflected on how much had changed. Not only had they reimed Pentos, but Viserys had also helped him ‘renew his life.’ Although Hoyt wasn’t sure what kind of magic was at y, he knew one thing: everything came with a price. Whatever Viserys had sacrificed, it had been significant. Hoyt was determined to guard ver’s Bay in his name.


    Before departing for Qarth, Viserys decided to enter Dany’s dream, as they had agreed to meet at fixed times to ensure their safety against the Warlocks. As soon as he entered her dream, Dany had unexpected news for him.


    “Brother, a Shadowbinder appeared on my ship. Her name is Quaithe, and she said some strange things to me.”