Game of Thrones: The Bronze and Fire Lord.

Chapter 342 "Strong Man" Dan Duoke - Valyrian Steel Scimitar
"People from the Summer Islands?"

Before Imon's eyes...it was black, such a rare pure black skin.

The general's appearance was quite striking. He was over seven feet tall (231cm), with shoulders and a waist that were almost five feet wide, and his body was covered with bulging, charcoal-black muscles.

He was clearly not a Dothraki; his head was shaved, and he wore an iron helmet topped with a black plume. His robust body was covered in fine chainmail, and he wore an arm guard on each arm, but otherwise he had no protection.

His face was not visible under the helmet; the lower half of his face, below his eyes, was covered by a dirty, smelly burlap mask, but the exposed black pupils were filled with gloom, numbness, and heaviness.

The skin around his eyes and nose was covered with mottled scars from whippings, burns, and cuts, clearly indicating that he had endured inhuman torture.

After looking at the whole person, Imon's gaze was once again drawn to the weapon at his waist.

It was a Dothraki-style scimitar with a silver-gray blade that rippled with water patterns, while the hilt was made of yellowish ivory.

Aemon recognized it at a glance as a rare Valyrian steel scimitar.

"What a fierce man, and what a fine weapon."

This combination of size and weaponry is unparalleled in the entire continent of Westeros.

"You mean 'Strong Man' Shan Duoke?"

Lisangzhuo leaned closer and introduced with a smile: "Shandoke is a new guard I bought from Slaver's Bay. He won a hundred consecutive matches in the Meereen Arena. I heard he killed serpent lizards, brown bears, and long-winged dragons."

His words revealed a boastful pride.

A lot of money was spent on this slave fighter.

However, besides being expensive, expensive things really have no other drawbacks. They are incredibly fierce on the battlefield, even more ferocious than the Howling Warriors of Dothraki.

"Meereen, shall we go to the arena?"

Immon muttered to himself, somewhat surprised.

Seeing this, Lisangzhuo explained the current situation in Slaver's Bay.

Astaber and Meereen were both slave city-states liberated by Aemon, but the former was liberated more thoroughly and has been fighting against slavery ever since.

The latter's liberation was incomplete, and after several cycles of new governments and rebellions, it returned to slavery.

Thus the Great Colosseum of Meereen opened.

"Strong Man" Shan Duoke was among the first batch of captured slaves to fight. His indomitable will and acts of resistance subjected him to severe torture by the slave owners.

Lisandro secretly told Imon that Dandoke's lips and tongue had been cut off, which was why he wore a mask to prevent people from seeing his ugly and hideous face.

Without a tongue, one naturally loses the ability to speak.

In addition, being born into slavery and illiterate, even the most basic communication became a problem.

"Damn slave owners, we'll kill them all one day."

Amon's face was grim, filled with utter hatred for this inhuman cruelty.

Regardless of whether human nature is inherently good or evil at birth.

Anyone capable of such a thing is not human; they are worse than an animal.

"Yes."

Although Lisandro was a beneficiary of the slave system, he would not do such a heinous thing.

But it wasn't all bad; Meereen trained him a top-notch bodyguard, the kind who couldn't communicate with others and was 100% loyal.

"I want him. Name your price."

Imon took a liking to Dan Duoke at a glance and said it bluntly.

"what??"

Lisangzhuo was taken aback upon hearing this.

No, he bought it at a high price and specially equipped it with a Valyrian steel scimitar to protect his top guards on the battlefield.

Imon didn't waste words with him, and said the tycoon, "I want the man, and I want the knife too. Riverdale and Mil are not short of money. Just name a price."

In the past, perhaps no one would care so much about a slave who had suffered a tragic fate, even if that slave was extremely powerful.

But with the conquest of the Three Kingdoms, the development of the Arm of Dorne, and the conquest of Dorne...

Now, with the goal of conquering Na'Sa and planting the Targaryen banner in the Lorne River Valley, their manpower is becoming increasingly insufficient.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to win over Torero and "White Bear" Harlow.

The "strong man" Shan Duoke in front of me is simply a perfect warrior.

If used properly, they will surely become pioneers in expanding the family's territory.

Even if we take a step back and assume they're the best choice, using them as bodyguards for Xiao Jie or the twins would be far safer than having one or two Royal Guards.

In a short time, the image of the "strongman" Shan Duoke came to mind.

His early life was largely consistent with what Lisandro described: he was a captured slave fighter who achieved an incredible record of one hundred consecutive victories in the Meereen Arena.

After the Blood Dragon Dance, Dan Duoke became the personal bodyguard of Lisangzhuo's youngest daughter, Lara Luojiaer.

Lara Rogar married Prince Viserys, who had been captured by the Three Women Kingdom and sold to the governor of Rhys.

Young Viserys inherited his parents' good looks and charm. Even when trapped in enemy territory, he thrived thanks to his personal charisma and noble blood, living a carefree life.

Not only did he marry the beautiful Lalara Rogar, who was seven years his senior, but he also persuaded his father-in-law, Lisandro, to send him back to King's Landing after the civil war had been quelled, so that he could reunite with his brother, Aegon the Younger.

But the gifts of fate always come with a price.

This marked the beginning of the "Luo Jia'er Era," which lasted for several years.

After the collapse of the Rogal Bank and the complete downfall of the Rogal family, Ulwin Bek of Three Towers seized power and trapped Prince Viserys and his wife Larra in the Prime Minister's Tower.

They forced Prince Viserys to hand over his wife Lara and join the Rogal family in atonement, or they would take military action.

In the critical moment, the "strongman" Shan Duoke blocked one end of the only drawbridge of the Prime Minister's Tower, instantly killing four soldiers and a Royal Guard, thus intimidating Ulwin Baker.

This demonstrates the loyalty and bravery of this top-notch guard.

“Prince Imon, that’s not how it’s done.”

Li Sangzhuo was heartbroken and reluctant to sell Dan Duoke.

"Ok?"

Imon remained silent, giving him a brief, indifferent glance.

With just one glance, Lisangzhuo shuddered, casting aside his reluctance and resentment.

The Targaryens are not to be trifled with.

With control of the Vale, the Arm of Dorne, and Myr, and the entire continent of Westeros under his rule as regent, Aemon Targaryen, the "Dragon Slayer," is even more formidable.

Not to mention, Aemon is Damon's eldest son and the legal and designated heir to Rhys by the "Lake of Long Succession Act".

The future of the Luo Jiaer family will depend on them for survival.

“Then, then three thousand golden dragons.” Lisandro cautiously stated a number, and seeing that Aemon’s expression did not change, he quickly added, “The Dandoke and Valyrian steel scimitar are yours, and I will give you an extra fifty Dothraki riders.”

Upon hearing this, Imon smiled slightly, patted the other person on the shoulder, and said, "Don't think of me as a robbery. The price is what it is. I won't let you suffer a loss."

One Immaculate One is priced at eight hundred Golden Dragons.

How could a humanoid monster that can win a hundred consecutive matches in the Meereen Arena be cheap?

Moreover, it also comes with an incomparably precious Valyrian steel scimitar.

His spending money to buy it was a way of winning over future vassals.

Giving only three thousand golden dragons would be somewhat insulting.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Lisang Zhuo forced a smile, but there was really nothing to be happy about; it was hardly better than crying.

The only saving grace is that the future ruler will be generous and wealthy, unlike Damon who only knows how to take.

"Once the war is over, contact Johanna, and she will send you money."

In high spirits, Imon released Lisanzhuo's shoulder and walked towards the human-shaped mountain of Danduoke.

Li Sangzhuo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sighed inwardly.

Originally, he intended to give Dandoke to his grandson, Little Egan, or leave it to one of his daughters as part of her dowry.

And that daughter will most likely be married to Damon as his second wife.

Unexpectedly, the plan turned into a bubble.

"Your name is Shan Duoke?"

Imon walked up to the burly man with charcoal-black skin, tilted his head, and sized him up.

There are very few people who can make him hold his head high.

Dan Duoke had already spotted the handsome prince with his long silver and gold hair, but upon hearing his voice, her previously stiff and numb face showed surprise.

He was from the Summer Islands and had barely learned some advanced Valyrian after being abducted.

He couldn't discern the purity of Aemon's High Valyrian origins, but there seemed to be a magic in the other's words that allowed this brute with only a smattering of knowledge to understand them.

"From now on, you will follow me, leading the army and serving as my guard, understand?"

With a smile on his face, Aemon used the technique of the Binding Spell to speak words that entered the other person's heart through their ears, so he was not afraid that the other person would not understand.

Pfft!
Dan Duoke suddenly knelt down, his burly figure still towering, like a small iron tower.

Strangely, he looked up at Imon with excited eyes, his body trembling slightly, as if a scoundrel covered in mud had seen a god.

"Ah wu wu wu..."

Danduo Ke tried to speak, but without a tongue, all that came out were howls like those of a wild beast.

"This is……?"

Imon blinked, somewhat puzzled.

But soon, with Shan Duoke's animated gestures, the truth came to light.

Among Aemon's many titles is "The Shacklebreaker," which he earned by liberating Slavery Bay.

His bronze statue with Vomisor still stands on the walls of Astaber.

Although Dandoke was a slave fighter captured after the Liberation War, while imprisoned in the Meereen Arena, he often heard the slaves mention the name of Imon and pray that he would descend on dragons again to liberate them.

After enduring inhuman torture, Danduo Ke had long since abandoned her original Summer Islands faith.

In the dark dungeon, day after day, a faith and worship of Aemon began to take root.

He firmly believed, he longed for, and he sought the return of the Dragon King, as the slaves spoke of, to Slave Bay to kill the despicable slave owners and save the slaves from their hellish existence.

One day, Lisangzhuo sent someone to Meereen to buy the 100-game winning streak of Danduoke for a large sum of money.

At first, Dan Duoke was filled with vigilance and resentment, but when she saw the three red dragon flags hanging on the Luo Jiaer family's ship, she was overjoyed.

The Dragon King did indeed arrive.

Even if this Dragon King is not that Dragon King.

He was illiterate and unable to speak, and could only glean from Lissandra's fragmented words that the Dragon King of Ries was the father of the Dragon King in his heart.

The concept of fatherhood and sonhood is deeply ingrained in people's minds.

It's not unacceptable that Aemon was bought by his father's subordinates, since he never actually met him.

I never expected to meet the Dragon King in person today.

"Awooooo...!"

Dandoke knelt on one knee, her head bowed to the ground, her hands holding the Valyrian steel scimitar high above her head.

He wanted to offer his loyalty and soul to the Dragon King.

The people of the Summer Islands believe that all things have souls, and that the soul is the ultimate destination of everything.

"You will pledge allegiance to me?"

Aemon understood his meaning and remained silent for a moment: "But I did not save you, nor did the person who bought you save you; rather, it was your indomitable soul that saved you."

If someone were to suffer such torment, they would probably have chosen suicide or other extreme measures long ago.

There isn't one in a million people like Shan Duoke who persisted and persevered through it all.

He was saved by himself.

"Ah-hoo-hoo..."

Danduo Ke roared urgently, lowering his head even further, his forehead touching Imon's boots.

Imon took a half step back, disliking this kind of slave-owning perversion.

Dan Duoke's eyes reddened instantly, and the towering man began to sob, his shoulders trembling.

A person can abandon their faith, but they cannot be abandoned by their faith.

"Arise! There are no slaves under Targaryen rule!"

Aemon grasped the somewhat heavy Valyrian steel scimitar with one hand and formally placed it on Dandor's left shoulder, immediately taking the oath of tradition.

"Awooooo...!!"

Dan Duoke was overjoyed, her eyes gleaming with a blinding light, and she clumsily but earnestly completed the wordless oath.

"Get up! You don't need to kneel anymore!"

Aemon grabbed his shoulder armor and lifted him up.

(End of this chapter)