Aemon Targaryen

-Chapter 130-

-POV Aemon Targaryen-

From the sky, I could see that the gates of the small fort Daemon had built on the island of the Seahorse had been opened, which meant that the fort had been taken without any damage.

This made me smile because it meant that no one had been informed of my plan and that more than half of said plan had already been carried out.

'As long as I manage to divert Baelon from Daemon, this entire operation will be a success.'

'Even if I fail to divert him from Daemon, simply capturing him will give me an advantage over Daemon, and I will have all the time I need to take him under my wing and prove that I am on his side,' I corrected myself internally, unable to suppress the feeling of anticipation growing deep within me.

'The impatience to recruit another dragon rider into my camp,' I thought as I guided Urrax by thought so he would land near the gates.

---

While I was calmly removing my gloves atop my dragon, I looked down at the men waiting at its base for me to deign to descend.

I did not hurry because I wanted them to feel the gap in class between us.

'As well as the gap in power,' I thought, noticing that some of the most feared captains on the Seven Seas were trembling at the sight of Urrax, who, I admitted, was monstrously large.

'It's for their own good anyway,' I thought, because the sooner they understood the power gap between us, the more docile they would be and the less greedy they would become over time.

'Allowing me to maintain a firm grip on the Stepstones even after the archipelago falls back into chaos,' I told myself, finally deciding to dismount from my dragon's saddle.

"Go, help the Prince," said a man with caramel-colored skin but with the classic Valyrian features of the Lyseni.

'Clear eyes and silver hair,' I thought, observing his ponytail.

I jumped and landed effortlessly on the ground, slightly bending my knees to land perfectly without appearing to exert myself.

The man raised an eyebrow in surprise because I had just jumped from over five meters.

I hadn't done it to surprise him, but it was a good thing because the deeper the impression I left in their minds, the easier it would be to control them.

None of them knelt or even bowed, but a few of them lowered their heads, not daring to meet my gaze.

"Your highness," said the black man, who appeared to be their leader, giving a short bow.

"Who are you?" I asked, granting the pirate my first words while checking his information through the system.

• [Name: Saabhos Saan]

• [Age: 36 years]

• [Title: Patriarch of House Saan, Captain of the Saan fleet]

• [Allegiances: House Saan]

• {Attributes}

[Constitution: 67]

[Strength: 71]

[Endurance: 72]

[Dexterity: 59]

[Agility: 66]

[Speed: 59]

[Intelligence: 76]

[Willpower: 72]

[Charisma: 74]

[Perception: 78]

[Wisdom: 81]

"My name is Saabhos Saan," said the man whose name I already knew.

"Johanna chose well," I said, pretending to examine him from head to toe before adding, "You have a reputation, captain. I expect a lot from you."

"I will take the islands…" he began, flattered, but I interrupted him with a sharp tone, saying, "That's not what I was talking about."

He seemed surprised by my change in tone and cautiously asked, avoiding a glance at Urrax, who had moved behind me:

"Then may I know what you were talking about?"

"I'm talking about what comes after," I said without providing further explanation.

"After?!" he asked, surprised, as the contract he had likely made with Johanna surely only concerned the five islands and nothing more.

"I am not doing this solely to take revenge on my father," I said honestly, which seemed to surprise him, before adding, "I am doing this to maintain a minimum of control over the Stepstones, and you are going to help me do that."

"You want me to serve you?" he asked, frowning at the idea.

'He values his freedom; he is a pirate after all,' I thought, fully understanding what he disliked about the idea of 'serving me.

"You could put it that way…, " I said at first, then added, seeing that he was about to object, "... But what you imagine is not what I want."

"Then what do you want?" he asked me seriously, as I had been beating around the bush throughout our conversation without clearly expressing my true intentions.

"It is useless to annex these barren rocks where I cannot grow anything. Nor does it make much sense to try to build great ports or cities there; it would cost too many resources—resources I do not have and which I would direct toward other sectors if I had them at this very moment," I said calmly, without rushing.

I waited a few seconds before finally getting to the point, saying:

"What I expect from you is very simple. I want you to become the new Lord of Bloodstone, form an alliance of pirates, and establish your pirate kingdom in the Narrow Sea."

He seemed shocked by my demand at first, then almost immediately said: "I can't do that. You're asking too much."

"For what reason?" I asked.

"We don't have the men. We don't have the ships. And even if we did, we would lose everything in the end because…"

"The Free Cities would never allow you to do as you please in the Stepstones. Is that correct?" I asked.

"Hmm," he replied.

"Then rest assured, because I have many friends, and for now, I possess the two greatest dragons in the world. This means no one can stand in my way. If you agree to swear allegiance to me, you will become the King of the Narrow Sea and the Privateer of Prince Aemon Targaryen, Rider of Urrax. Even if there comes a day when you are captured by your enemies, I will ensure your release…" I said before continuing, "... As long as you follow my orders, of course."

"That's a dangerous offer," he said, thinking carefully.

"I know. Your answer?" I asked, as I was eager to end all this and retrieve Willem to return to the Vale and properly celebrate the birth of my child, as Jeyne had just begun labor when I left.

The man turned to his second-in-command, who gave no visible sign, but through their shared look, the two seemed to hold a silent conversation.

Urrax snorted in displeasure, sensing my impatience, but I placed a hand on him to prevent him from threatening them.

Not because I needed him to wholeheartedly agree to enter my service, but simply because it was unnecessary.

We both knew I wasn't offering him the position.

He simply had to accept it.

'Though the risks are high, there is much for him to gain,' I thought, as becoming my puppet came with many advantages.

"Very well," he said, nodding as he accepted my offer.

"Perfect," I said, leaping to grab my saddle and smoothly climbing into it with movements so fluid that anyone watching might think they could do it just as easily.

"And what about the islands, then?" he shouted, as we had not discussed how we would attack the others.

I smiled, then shook my head, laughing as I said disdainfully:

"I don't need pirates to kill my enemies. I need you to maintain a semblance of chaos on these islands and prevent a new order from taking hold."

'As if I needed pirates to fight my battles. I will be the one to bring fire and blood to my enemies,' I thought, giving Urrax a light tap on his side with my hand to signal him to take off.

'It will be faster,' I thought.