Five days later, in the Astapor Council Hall.
The opulent room that once belonged to the Good Masters was redecorated; most of the Harpies carvings were removed, leaving only the murals depicting ancient Valyria.
Sitting around the long table were Viserys, Ser Arthur Dayne, and Ser Elissar Thorne, along with three of the most senior Unsullied captains and two representatives from the Freemen army.
Spread out before Viserys was a detailed map encompassing the entire Slavers Bay, marking the locations of the three Slavers Bay cities, major roads, and the distribution of key industries in each city.
"Ser Arthur's intelligence has been confirmed." Viserys's finger tapped the location of Yunkai. "The Wise Masters of Yunkai have hired the Second Sons Company and the Stormcrow Company, totaling about four thousand Mercenaries, to help them defend Yunkai."
In reality, the intelligence gathered by the men Ser Arthur sent out was limited, only providing a general idea. The confirmed information was actually obtained by Viserys himself using his Skinchanger Ability.
He paused and added, "Including Yunkai's own slave soldiers and Freemen troops, nearly twenty thousand people have gathered outside Yunkai. They are waiting for reinforcements from Meereen."
He moved his finger toward Meereen. "The Great Masters of Meereen have prepared one hundred warships and a main army of nearly thirty thousand men. A portion of them will travel overland to Yunkai. Once the two armies merge, they will both head to Astapor, creating a sea and land pincer attack against us."
Ser Elissar said gravely, "Then we cannot wait for them to combine their forces. We must defeat one of them before they complete their rendezvous."
"Exactly, and that is why I called this meeting." Viserys tapped his finger on the location of Yunkai. "We must take the initiative. We will take Yunkai before the Meereen reinforcements arrive."
Ser Arthur frowned, "But there are already twenty thousand defenders outside Yunkai, four thousand of whom are experienced Mercenaries. If we launch a frontal assault, even with the Unsullied, our losses will be significant. Moreover, although the walls of Yunkai are not as tall as Astapor's, they are already covered with defensive fortifications and Scorpion Crossbows."
Viserys stood up. "These Mercenaries fight for money; they hold no sworn loyalty to the Wise Masters of Yunkai. Before the formal battle begins, I will personally visit the mercenary camps outside Yunkai and deal with these two mercenary companies first."
Ser Arthur immediately objected, "Your Majesty, that is too dangerous. You should not personally enter such a perilous place."
"I am not a reckless man, Ser Arthur." Viserys turned around to look at Arthur.
"My 'secret informant' tells me that there is long-standing friction between the captains of the Second Sons Company and the Stormcrow Company. The captain of the Second Sons is an old mercenary named 'Mero the Prudent,' who prefers to proceed cautiously. Among the three commanders of the Stormcrow Company, Ben Plumm and 'Bald' Pero are relatively conservative, but the third man, Daario Naharis, is extremely aggressive."
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Viserys's mouth. "I am only going to give them an offer they cannot refuse. Besides, Ghidorah will go with me, and with her there, I will not be in danger."
He looked back at the map, drawing a line across it with his finger. "While I deal with the mercenary companies, Ser Arthur, you will lead ten thousand Unsullied and five thousand Freemen troops along the Coastal Road toward Yunkai. After I deal with the mercenary companies, I will rendezvous with you and inform you of the next step of the plan."
"Ser Elissar, you will lead three thousand reserve Unsullied and the remaining five thousand Freemen troops to stay in Astapor, reinforce the city defenses, clear out any remaining Good Master remnants within the city, and organize military training for the Freemen."
Viserys's gaze swept over everyone. "I only want everyone to remember: our goal is not slaughter, but conquest. The Wise Masters of Yunkai must be eliminated, but ordinary people, provided they lay down their weapons, will gain the same freedom as the people of Astapor. We are the ones who break chains."
Two days later, at dusk, twenty miles outside Yunkai.
The camps of the Second Sons Company and the Stormcrow Company were separated by half a mile, clearly demarcated. The Long Spears Company camp was neat and orderly, with tents lined up straight and sentry posts everywhere—the style of Mero the Prudent.
The Stormcrow Company camp, however, was much messier, with boisterous Mercenaries gathered around campfires, the air thick with the smell of roasted meat and cheap alcohol. But upon closer inspection, one could notice hidden order: the cavalry stables were located in the center of the camp, and though the infantry tents were scattered, they were generally arranged in a fan shape for quick assembly.
Truly worthy of being famous mercenary companies in Essos. Indeed, all those who live a life of danger and bloodshed possess their own survival wisdom.
At this moment, inside the large tent in the center of the Stormcrow Company camp, the three captains were talking.
Daario Naharis, the handsome man wearing refined leather armor, was playing with the dagger in his hand, a strange glint in his eyes. "The Wise Masters won't even give us the advance payment now. If you ask me, we should just find a chance to loot Yunkai's treasury and sail away from this damned Slavers Bay."
Ben Plumm, an old soldier with a weathered face and a scar over his left eye. He glanced at Daario and shook his head. "Don't be foolish, Daario. Yunkai's walls are strong, and they have plenty of defenders. Besides, if word of our treachery gets out, who will hire us in the future?"
"Bald" Pero, a bald, muscular man with a slave brand on his face. He slammed the table. "I'm sick of these fools wearing Tokar Robes. They constantly urge us to advance but don't provide enough supplies. If you ask me, maybe we should defect to that 'Father of Dragons.' At least he dared to order the slaughter of the Good Masters in front of everyone."
"Father of Dragons?" Daario wore a mocking smile. "Do you really believe the runaway slaves who say dragons have returned? Even if they have, they're probably just small lizards. An arrow could shoot them down."
"Too many people saw it with their own eyes," Ben Plumm said solemnly. "Moreover, the Harpies statues in Astapor were destroyed, the Good Masters were annihilated, and the Unsullied defected. The entire city changed hands in a single day. These are not fabricated rumors."
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the tent. The three men stood up simultaneously, Pero already gripping his sword hilt.
A sentry rushed into the large tent, his face pale. "Captains, the sky..."
The three men rushed out of the tent. By now, the entire camp was in chaos, soldiers pointing at the sky above, cries of shock rising one after another.
The sun was setting, staining the sky blood red. And within that crimson curtain, a massive shadow was rapidly approaching.
It was a Dragon.
But not a dragon in the conventional sense. After all, it had three heads.
Golden scales refracted dazzling light in the sunset, and three pairs of molten gold eyes looked down upon the crowd.
"Gods..." Ben Plumm muttered.
The mockery was gone from Daario's eyes, replaced only by shock and greed. He stared intently at the three-headed massive Dragon and the blurred figure on its back.
The massive Dragon began its descent.
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