Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 80 War Gathering

On the third day, shadows had already fallen upon the azure waters of Whispering Bay.

More than ten longships bearing the golden sea monster crest of the Greyjoy family appeared silently on the horizon, like a school of sharks that had smelled blood.

They did not raise battle flags or beat war drums; they simply anchored far away in a silent and subdued manner, in a place where they could see the lush coastline and bustling port of Qingting Island.

The lead warship was exceptionally large and menacing, its prow resembling a twisted, roaring ocean monster—that was Baron Greyjoy's flagship, the "Ocean Troll".

Young Baron Greyjoy stood at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze tugging at his black robes. A hint of impatient smirk played on his face, which, though still bearing the marks of his youth, was already etched with Greyjoy's characteristic ruthlessness. His mission was clear: to intimidate, to provoke, and to firmly pin all of Green Pavilion's attention to this open bay.

The news quickly reached the castle on Green Pavilion Island. Upon hearing the news, Earl Adrian Redwin immediately ascended the highest tower. He gazed at the small fleet in the distance, which, though not large in scale, exuded a fierce aura, especially the conspicuous "Ocean Giant," and a hint of disdain curled his lips.

"Only those Greyjoy brats brought a dozen or so ships?" he said to the knights around him, trying to reassure them and himself. "The scouts are right; the other islands of the Iron Islands are still slowly assembling their longships. Looks like old man Coron is trying to intimidate us with his son first? What a joke!"

He was confident that he had made thorough preparations. The port's defenses had been strengthened, the patrols had been doubled, and the soldiers on shore were on guard day and night. He ordered his fleet to remain on alert, but strictly forbade any preemptive strikes to avoid falling into a trap. His eyes were fixed on Whispering Bay, on Baron's fleet, and he was convinced that as long as he held the gates, the barbarians of the Iron Islands would be no match for Green Pavilion.

But he was wrong, terribly wrong.

His entire attention was drawn to Baron in the open sea, but he was completely unaware that the real venomous snake had already circled behind him, flicking its tongue, and silently slipped into his garden.

Just as the Baron fleet was drawing all attention, far away in the shadows of the old town, three unmarked, unremarkable small galleys, taking advantage of the twilight and the presence of merchant ships, silently approached the shore like ghosts.

The people on the boat moved with ghostly speed, and once ashore, they immediately dispersed and blended into the labyrinthine streets of the old town.

Their leader, Euron Greyjoy, did not appear on the front lines. He personally led twenty elite Ironborn warriors, handpicked by those most skilled in stealth and killing, choosing an extremely secretive and dangerous route instead of the open sea: they traversed the relatively loosely defended Three Towers region, far from the main roads, moving along the rugged coastline by night and hiding by day.

On a dark night without stars or moon, they were like scavengers on the shore, using small oars wrapped in coarse cloth to row several smaller, stolen fishing boats across the narrow waterway known as the "Redwin Narrows".

This place is very close to the core area of ​​Qingting Island, but because it faces the heavily fortified main port and castle of the Redwin family, it has become a psychological blind spot.

Commonly known as "the darkest place is under the lamp".

The cold seawater licked the hull silently, Euron's eyes gleaming with a predatory light in the darkness. Nearby islands included Crab Reef, Pig Island, Mermaid Temple, Horseshoe Rock, and Wildling Bay. He precisely chose Mermaid Temple, shrouded in shadow, and used a steep, unguarded pebble beach there as his landing point. This place was located on the back of Green Pavilion Island, far from the main towns and ports, with only sprawling vineyards and the occasional winegrower's hut.

Twenty-one black figures, like ink drops on sand, swiftly reached the shore and dragged the small boat into the dense undergrowth to conceal it. They were well-equipped with short axes, daggers, throwing axes, and crossbows, yet remained completely silent.

Euron took a deep breath of the rich, sweet aroma of grapes mixed with the sea breeze, and a smile appeared on his lips.

The breach has been created.

The real fatal blow will not come from a direct assault on the open sea, but from the most unexpected and vulnerable rear. These twenty-one people will be the first spark that ignites the fire on Qingting Island. More Ironclad longships will follow this hidden passage they have carved out, like a deadly virus, continuously seeping into the heart of Qingting Island through this small opening.

On the morning of the fourth day, before the sea fog in Whispering Bay had completely dissipated, new figures appeared on the sea: a dozen or so warships bearing the red coat of arms of the Bonehands joined Baron's fleet. The Drum family of Old Wake Island had arrived. Their leader, Earl Dunstan Drum, nicknamed "Bonehand," personally brought his strongest and fiercest Ironborn, as well as Adrian Drum, revered by the people of Old Wake Island as the strongest sea warrior. The silent fleet grew even larger, exuding a menacing aura.

In the afternoon, as the sun began to set, the sails of more than forty warships appeared on the horizon, their sails bearing the insignia of a black ship with a silver sickle. The Harlow family of Harlow Island—Baron Greyjoy's in-laws—had arrived, and now, led by Horace Harlow, their massive fleet, imbued with the unwavering resolve and cold indifference of in-laws, joined the encirclement at sea.

On the fifth day, Whispering Bay seemed to have become a second home for the Iron Islands. More and more vassals loyal to King Coron arrived in droves with their longships.

The Warmark family warship, depicting a black whale on a grey sea; the Stonetree family longship, with its coat of arms a bare grey stone tree on a black background; the Goobler family from Warhammer Point; the Sucref family from Salt Cliffs—all sorts of menacing figureheads and family crests crowd the sea.

In just one day, nearly a hundred warships from the Iron Islands appeared out of nowhere in this beautiful bay that originally belonged to Qingting Island! The masts on the sea were like a forest, a moving black forest, and the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.

On the sixth day, the main character finally arrived.

Lord Corren Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, Lord of Pike Isle, and Commander-in-Chief of the Iron Fleet, led the mainstay of House Greyjoy's Iron Fleet into Whispering Bay. Behind his flagship, the awe-inspiring "Invincible Ironborn," one could see the various coats of arms and unique sigils of almost every noble family in the Iron Islands. The entire power of the Iron Islands seemed to have reached its final gathering and display at this moment.

Earl Adrian Redwin stood atop the tower, his face having long since transformed from initial disdain to a grim expression. The bay below was now a jungle of steel and sails, the oppressive atmosphere suffocating. The Ironborn warships remained motionless, silently anchored, like the deathly stillness before a storm.

He knew what they were waiting for.

All the raven letters sent to the seven kingdoms clearly stated:

Seven days is the limit!

Tomorrow is the final deadline.

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