Game of Thrones: The Black Dragon King

At midnight, the battered and battered Valerian fleet, escorted by Lannino, slowly sailed into the anchorage. Meanwhile, in the shore camp, Reed and Damon, having eaten and drunk their fill, were lazily surveying the ships that had docked.

"You're finally back. Shall we go to the war council?"

"No, I haven't rested since midnight, I should go to sleep."

"Don't you care about today's results?"

"That's your war."

Reed turned and walked toward his own tent, leaving Damon alone at the dining table, gazing into the distance in a daze.

Before long, officers of rank and above, as well as captains, gathered in Corliss's tent. Attendants quickly served the long-prepared light wine, white bread, and steaming stew.

Sea Serpent removed his salt-stained cloak, picked up a piece of white bread, tore it into small pieces, dipped it in the stew broth, and chewed it. He ate slowly, steadily and at a fixed pace, filling his mouth with food to replenish the energy expended during the day's intense battle at sea.

Without being told, the officers below them started eating on their own. Soon, the only sounds in the tent were the soft clinking of spoons against plates and the swallowing. Their faces showed more or less fatigue, but they could not hide their excitement after the victory in the naval battle.

"Sir, the battle losses and results have been tallied."

"Read it to me!" The sea serpent Corliss did not stop chewing; the food in his mouth made his voice somewhat muffled.

"Our losses: 7 large warships sunk, 9 heavily damaged; 23 medium and small warships sunk, 7 heavily damaged; 27 ocean-going sailing ships and transport ships sunk, 9 looted. Details are as follows:"

"Golden Grapevine, sunk in battle."

"Silver Oak, sunk in battle."

"The Codfish is sunk."

Each time a ship's name was read aloud, the excitement on the crowd's faces faded slightly, replaced by a growing heaviness. Those names were not merely cold ship names, but also the names of countless familiar relatives, comrades-in-arms, and partners…

The Valerian family had deep roots in the seas, and most of their fleet members came from their fiefdom on Tidehead Island, from the villages of Tidehill, Spice Town, Shiphull, and the Lowlands. On each ship were relatives and friends—brothers, nephews, cousins, or even familiar neighbors. These crew members, bound together by blood and homeland, supported each other through storms and fought side by side in battle. At this moment, every word "sunken" was like a heavy hammer, shattering the hopes of countless families and piercing the emotional foundation upon which the fleet was united.

The swallowing sounds inside the tent had quietly ceased at some point, with only the chanting of the ship's name echoing in the empty space. Each syllable carried a heavy weight of grief, making it almost impossible to breathe.

······

"The Snow Wolf has sunk."

Hearing a familiar name, the sea serpent paused slightly: "That was my third ship. She sailed the entire icy waters of the North, a weathered old maid... Harvey, I remember your brother-in-law was on this ship too, wasn't he...?"

"She was burned to death by pirates after the boarding action; there were few survivors." Harvey's voice was hoarse as if it had been sanded, and his rough hands rubbed the coarse wooden spoon.

Corliss's Adam's apple bobbed twice, realizing this wasn't the right topic and he couldn't afford to dampen their spirits like this: "Tell me about our results!"

"44 large ships were sunk and 7 captured; 52 medium and small warships were destroyed and 11 captured; 17 ocean-going sailing ships were destroyed and none were captured. According to the intelligence gathered earlier... nearly one-third of the enemy's main fleet has fled."

"This is good enough, considering the vast disparity in military strength between the two sides. The Reiss possesses a powerful naval force, and Tyrosi and Mil are also formidable naval powers. However, they will not be able to recover their strength for at least a year. The captured ships can offset some of our losses. With this shift in power, we..." Corliss tried to say something good to lighten the somewhat somber atmosphere, but he did not realize that his smile was also forced.

Harvey showed no joy. He lowered his eyes and said in a strained voice, "I know, sir, we should be happy."

Noticing the low spirits of the crowd, Corliss frowned involuntarily, slamming his large bronze goblet heavily onto the table. The bottom of the goblet struck the table with a dull thud, but the broken handle cut his hand.

"Then cheer up!"

"Father!" Lannino rushed forward, wanting to check his injuries, but was stopped by Corliss.

Corliss's gaze swept over each of the dejected generals in the tent, blood dripping from between his fingers onto the rough wooden table, gleaming a glaring red in the dim oil lamp light.

The captains and vassals fell silent. The older officers bowed their heads, as if mourning their fallen comrades; the younger ones had lost the eagerness to achieve glory they had when they set out. Only the crackling of the flickering candlelight and the howling wind outside filled the tent. Those figures who had once commanded the decks with such confidence were now shrouded in an indescribable heaviness.

The fruits of victory were right before their eyes, yet everyone felt as if a piece of canvas soaked with seawater was weighing heavily on their hearts, making it hard to breathe.

As Corliss watched the scene unfold before him, the anger in his eyes gradually faded. He knew that although the battle had been won, it had also emptied the hearts of many people.

"I'm sorry, sir, I know this isn't right, but I just..." Harvey fell silent again before he could finish speaking, those young faces flashing uncontrollably through his mind. Not just his brother-in-law, but also his distant nephew, his father-in-law's cousin, his friend's child... many crew members who were related to him had come from Shiphull Town to sail the seas with him, but now they could never go back.

"Break your guard up, all of you!" Count Corliss's tone was stern. He stepped forward and patted Harvey on the shoulder; his hand was steady and strong, carrying the weight of a seasoned warrior. "There was no other choice in this battle. You did a great job! We all did a great job!"

Count Corliss was silent for a moment. He looked into the distance, his gaze passing through the layers of waves, as if he could see that barren yet warm little island.

"Do you all remember? Thirty years ago, the days we spent on Chaotou Island?"

The count's voice carried a hint of distant nostalgia: "Back then, the island's docks were in disrepair, the farmland in the low-lying areas was constantly threatened by the tides, half the islanders struggled to survive by fishing and salt production, the old castle was cold and damp, and the winter sea wind felt like knives on our faces. My grandfather would always return from meetings in the lord's hall with his backside soaked! Valerian had the seemingly hereditary title of Minister of the Sea, yet he couldn't even gather enough stones to repair the castle!"

Harvey's eyes reddened even more. How could he forget those days? Back then, Earl Corliss was a spirited young man who, with his young servants, sailed the dilapidated fishing boat "Queen Cod" across the reef-filled Narrow Sea for the first time, bringing back grain from Oldtown and the golden dragon of King's Landing.

"And then?" The count's voice rose higher. "Through seafaring and adventure, we explored waterways and trade routes little by little, and gradually built up our wealth. New castles were built on the island, spacious stone houses were erected, and the people became prosperous. Thanks to seafaring, shipbuilding, and commerce, merchant ships flocked to the docks, the fish markets were bustling with activity, and the aroma of carrot and beef stew wafted from every household's stew pot. How did we achieve all this?"

Sea Serpent pounded his chest excitedly: "It was us! It was through our hard work, ship by ship, risking our lives time and time again at sea, that we achieved this prosperity in maritime trade and the flourishing of our family!"

"We lack the boundless fertile lands and pastures of the Reach, nor the inexhaustible gold mines of Casterly Rock. We even have to purchase shipbuilding timber from the North! Resources are scarce, and the population is sparse. All we possess is this unpredictable and perilous sea! Trade is our only means of survival, and maritime trade routes are the lifeblood of Tidehead Island!"

"Those pirates from the Three Bitch Kingdoms, those filthy, greedy vampires who covet our trade routes, want to sever the lifeline upon which we depend for survival! They want our docks overgrown with weeds! They want our trade to wither! They want our towns to fall into ruin!"

"You think we'll submit just because of the heavy casualties? Don't even think about it! The men of Chaotou Island have the salt of the sea in their bones. We've made our living on the crest of the waves for generations, and we've never been afraid of anyone! They dare to cut off Chaotou Island's lifeline! We dare to sail our warships back to the bottom of the sea!"

Count Corliss's voice rang out with unwavering conviction: "We fight to protect! To protect the smoke rising from the chimneys of Tidehead Island, to protect the prosperity of our family, to protect everything we've earned with our blood and sweat!"

Halvey stared blankly at the Earl, as if a glimmer of light had been torn open in his sorrowful and heavy emotions by these words.

"We've won this battle!" Count Corliss's voice brimmed with fighting spirit. "Although the price was heavy, we cannot wallow in grief. The threat from the Stone Steps Islands has not been completely eliminated; those greedy, bloodthirsty, and vile pirates still roam the islands' caves! We must reorganize our fleet, boost morale, and prepare for the next battle!"

The crowd's breathing grew heavier, and the sorrow in their hearts gradually subsided, transforming into a heavy force.

"Ancient! Authentic! Brave!" Weimond suddenly stood up and shouted in the Valerian language.

The crowd then shouted in unison, "Ancient! Authentic! Courageous!"

"Ancient! Authentic! Courageous!..."

The roaring shouts crashed against the canvas, making the entire tent vibrate and tremble.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!" A series of powerful applause rang out.

"Looks like I missed an inspiring speech?" Damon clapped as he entered the tent, his gaze fixed intently on the sea serpent. "Then could I possibly ask the 'eloquent' Earl Corliss to also give this commander-in-chief, who has lost two thousand men, a little encouragement?"

Damon's black cloak was still stained with wine and oil, but his eyes burned with a flame that rivaled anyone else's.

The shouts inside the tent suddenly ceased, and everyone's eyes were focused on the uninvited guest. The air seemed to freeze instantly, and even the flickering candlelight became cautious.

Collis frowned slightly.

Wimund stepped forward, blocking the Earl's path and glaring angrily: "Then, Your Highness, could you also explain why your deliberate delays led to the heavy losses suffered by the Valerian fleet?"

Behind Corliss, Lannino's face paled even more.

Damon's smile was laced with mockery and arrogance: "An explanation? Sir Wilhelm, what kind of explanation do you want? A unilateral retreat? Leaving my men on the beach? Or the enemy ships whose more than half were burned by my Coraxiux in the naval battle?"

Wei Mengde's face flushed instantly, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force: "That was a reasonable tactical arrangement! If we hadn't made choices under those circumstances, we would have suffered a complete defeat!"

Wei Mengde's voice trembled slightly with anger, his chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with the humiliation and resentment of being questioned, as if he wanted to vent all his suppressed anger on the prince with the mocking smile in front of him.

Damon chuckled, taking a half-step closer, his right hand stroking the hilt of the Dark Sisters' sword, a barely perceptible glint of danger in his eyes: "I truly know nothing about naval warfare, and Reed advised me to trust my expertise. So, Earl Corliss? Is this your expertise?"

"Enough! Now is not the time to assign blame. The battle on the Steps Isles is not over yet; we cannot afford to descend into chaos internally." Corliss's voice was deep yet carried an undeniable authority. He first raised his hand to stop Wilmond from erupting, then turned to Damon, his gaze sharp as an eagle: "Damon, your late-night visit wasn't just to argue about right and wrong in the past, was it?"

Damon's mockery faded, his eyes becoming deep: "Earl Corliss is indeed wise; I need compensation."

"Name your price!"

"Golden Dragon is needed to recruit new soldiers for the upcoming battles."

"That's perfectly reasonable!" Corliss said through gritted teeth.

"Furthermore, in order to strengthen our alliance, I want you to marry Lannar to me."

"You're a married man!" Corliss slammed his large hand heavily on the table in front of him.

"But I don't like that bronze bitch, I'll take care of her."

Corliss stared intently at Damon. "Solve it? How do you plan to solve it? The forces in the Valley won't stand idly by. This will bring us new trouble. We haven't even repelled the enemies on the Stone Steps Islands yet, and you're already going to ignite war in our rear?"

"That's my business, none of yours. I only want Lannar; Targaryen dragon blood flows in her veins, and only she is worthy of me. You should know that with her and me united, our alliance will be unbreakable. At that time, not only the Stepstone Islands, but the entire Narrow Sea will be under our control."

Kolis's breathing suddenly became heavy as he struggled to suppress his anger. "Do you think marriage is a game? Lannar is my daughter, not a pawn for you to consolidate your alliance! She has her own will, a brighter future, and she must not be dragged into this mess by you."

Damon, however, laughed out loud as if he'd heard a joke. "Her will? A brighter future? Marrying my older brother, who's old enough to be her father? Or marrying that stupid son of the nearly dead Braavos Sea King across the Narrow Sea? Or some young talent like the Black Dragon King that you've squandered? Your eye for choosing in-laws is as blind as your naval command skills!"

"How dare you!" Veins bulged on Corliss's forehead, his voice hoarse with rage, each word seemingly squeezed out between clenched teeth. "Daemon Targaryen, this is the Valerian camp, not your Silk Street where you can cause trouble in King's Landing! Lannar's marriage is a matter for my mother and me to decide; it's none of your business, you infamous, dissolute prince! You think you can sway people with a few sweet words? Let me tell you, as long as I breathe, I will never let you use my daughter as a pawn in your game of power!"

"Admit it, Corliss, after all your flawed decisions that proved to be blind in hindsight, I'm the only remaining best option. Golden Dragon, I need to see it before I leave tomorrow! As for the engagement, you still have plenty of time to consider it, until I deal with that woman in the valley who's worse than a ewe. Unless, of course, you no longer need Dragonfire's help." Damon finished speaking and abruptly turned around, his black cloak drawing a cold arc in the air, without giving Corliss another glance.

Corliss watched Damon's departing figure, his chest heaving violently.

Just then, a loud crashing sound came from behind, like tables and chairs overturning. Corliss turned around and saw Lannino slumped to the ground, pale-faced.

"son!!!"