Spellcasting Gods

Since then, the Tyrells have never won a single war or a single battle, whether it was the War of the Conquerors against Aegon the Dragon King, or the infamous Blackfyre Rebellion and the War of the Usurpers; they have only ever suffered defeat.

Normally, a family that suffers repeated defeats should have been swept off the stage of history long ago.

Interestingly, instead of weakening from repeated defeats, the Tyrells became increasingly prosperous, a fact that remained unchanged despite the secret contempt and ridicule of many ancient families in the Reach for being nouveau riche.

The root cause was not the wealth of the Tyrell family, nor the strength of their army, but rather their unwavering commitment to maintaining a minimum level of loyalty while forging alliances with as many families as possible through marriage, thus creating a vast network of vested interests.

In this way, even if the victor accidentally chooses the wrong side, he will consider the enormous chaos that weakening or eliminating House Tyrell might cause, as well as the benefits of gaining their loyalty.

It must be said that this is a very clever strategy, so clever that it can almost guarantee that whoever wins the final victory will not be made too difficult.

Daenerys's brother, the infamous idiot Viserys Targaryen, firmly believed that the Tyrells would be the first family to stand up for and support him upon their return to Westeros.

As the current head of House Tyrell, Olenna Tyrell, the "Queen of Thorns," keenly sensed that with Stannis's defeat and Robb Stark's death at the Red Wedding, the previously stable power structure within the Seven Kingdoms had been completely shattered.

Currently, the only families capable of vying for supreme power are the seemingly imposing Lannisters, whose finances are severely overdrawn; the Martells, who have remained inactive in ruling southern Dorne; and the Tyrells, who have not been affected by the war and whose fertile lands produce enough to feed the entire population of the continent.

Of course, now we also need to add a young man of unknown origin who possesses powerful and mysterious magical abilities and controls a terrifying demonic dragon.

Olenna Redwyn was not as afraid or wary of Tywin as he was of the other party. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity, a chance for the Tyrell family to rise to a higher level.

After all, Zhang Cheng is just an individual so far, without the support of a large family or a noble bloodline recognized by the aristocratic class.

In her view, if the other party wanted to sit on the Iron Throne, they would inevitably emulate Aegon the Conqueror, demonstrating their unstoppable power while simultaneously courting and supporting families willing to kneel before the new dynasty.

If the Tyrells could express their intention to form an alliance before everyone else, and then weave a gentle trap to firmly ensnare the other party's emotional world, then the Tyrell family could gain unimaginable benefits from it. In particular, after several generations of intermarriage, the Tyrell family might also acquire that incredible magical talent and the power to control dragons.

As for the young and beautiful Margaret and Elo, they had long been used as sacrifices and pawns in the rise of the "Queen of Thorns".

However, before that, Olenna Redwin had one more thing to confirm: whether the other party had ambitions commensurate with their power...

Just as the Tyrell family was secretly taking action, Zhang Cheng was standing in the training grounds on the upper level of the Red Keep, watching Joffrey unleash scorching flames again and again. He teased in a half-joking tone, "My dear Tyrion, you've been standing behind me for quite a while now. Just say what you have to say. Don't tell me you're here to see your nephew. Everyone knows how much you two hate each other, like ice and fire."

"Why?" the little devil suddenly asked, seemingly out of the blue.

"Sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean. What do you mean, 'why'?" Zhang Cheng turned around, a puzzled look on his face.

“Why teach him magic? You should know Joffrey’s character well! Doing so will only make him more and more unruly, and more innocent victims will be burned alive.” Tyrion frowned, clutching the note hidden in his sleeve tightly.

He couldn't believe it in his wildest dreams that the young man who had always appeared calm and rational had silently caused the deaths of thousands of civilians, and showed absolutely no remorse afterward, as if he hadn't killed living people, but rather accidentally stepped on a few ants.

"Hmm... what does this have to do with me?" Zhang Cheng shrugged nonchalantly. "You have to understand, magic is a powerful force, but also a dangerous one. Therefore, in the process of learning and researching it, you must maintain utmost patience and vigilance, or you will die without a burial place. I am very lucky to have found an extremely talented prospect who can be used to test unproven theories and conjectures."

"So... you used Joffrey, the king of the Seven Kingdoms, as a guinea pig?" Tyrion's eyes widened in surprise, as if he were trying to get to know him all over again.

“That’s right! By the way, very few people possess magical talent. So far, I’ve only seen two, one of whom is Joffrey. It’s incredible, isn’t it? A deformed man born of inbreeding, an idiot with huge personality flaws, actually possesses talent dozens of times greater than ordinary people. Fate has truly played a cruel and amusing joke.” Zhang Cheng ignored the little devil’s reaction and smirked sarcastically.

“You’re a terrible madman! Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Joffrey the truth? Tell my father and sister?” Tyrion retorted expressionlessly.

“No, why should I be afraid? Even if you tell Joffrey, will he give up the power he's worked so hard to gain? Obviously not. He will continue to trust me and crave more from me. And your father Tywin is still counting on me to help deal with the increasingly powerful Daenerys, so he won't make any rash moves. As for your ambitious but short-sighted sister Cersei, she's nothing to me, at least not until Lord Tywin is dead.”

After saying that, Zhang Cheng picked up the wine glass on the table, handed it to the little devil, touched it lightly, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chapter 0194 Fearless

As a wise man once said, desire is the driving force behind humanity's journey from barbarism to civilization, and it is also an outward manifestation of a person's subconscious and soul.

If you want to truly understand someone, pay attention to the desires they inadvertently reveal in their daily life. This will allow you to easily determine their personality, preferences, what they most desire deep down, and what they fear losing.

Although Zhang Cheng is far from being a master in this regard, he has always remained an outsider, observing the strengths and weaknesses of each player in the game of power with an almost detached perspective.

Without a doubt, nothing is more important to Tywin than preserving the Lannister family's status and honor. Therefore, as long as this is firmly grasped, anyone can easily predict his next move, just as Littlefinger has manipulated him time and time again.

Perhaps in many people's eyes, Tywin Lannister is a charismatic leader with outstanding talent and political acumen, but very few can see through the fragile and weary heart hidden beneath his tough and disciplined exterior.

In fact, since his wife Joanna died, Tywin's private life has not been as austere as outsiders have imagined.

According to information previously obtained from Varys, the Duke of Casterly Rock would secretly instruct his men every so often to find him a young and beautiful prostitute to satisfy his pent-up desires.

Because of the excellent secrecy, even his children didn't know about it, especially his son, who always thought his father was both strict and cold-hearted, completely unaware that no one in this world can completely abandon emotions and desires.

The more you suppress certain things, the more violently they erupt, and in the end, they might even become a deadly noose that strangles you...

Feeling the exhilaration brought on by the alcohol flowing through his veins and throughout his body, Zhang Cheng gently placed the glass back in its place, then stared into the other man's eyes and asked, "Tell me, Tyrion, what is the purpose of your sudden appearance? Are you representing yourself, or the Lannisters?"

"What if I represent myself, or what if I represent the Lannisters?" Tyrion retorted without looking at him.

“That depends on what you want to know, or rather, what message your father Tywin wants to convey through you,” Zhang Cheng explained, glancing casually at the growing black dot in the distant sky outside the window, a playful smile on his face.

"First, let me confirm something with you on my behalf: is the information here true? Did you really kill thousands of innocent civilians?" After much hesitation, Tyrion raised the note hidden in his sleeve and asked in a low voice.

Zhang Cheng took the note, glanced at it briefly, and immediately laughed, exclaiming, "Hahaha! I was wondering why Lord Tywin didn't use this opportunity to gain a favorable negotiating position at the King's Council. Now I finally understand. It turns out he planned to bypass the Tyrell family and make a deal with me separately. Yes, it was me. You can now represent the family and your father to set the terms. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what tempting proposals the Lannisters, who are on the verge of financial crisis, can offer."

There is no doubt that he has moved beyond the initial cautious mode of action and is slowly beginning to enjoy the game of power.

It must be said that although he himself did not think it was a wise choice to waste a lot of time on intrigue, the real owner behind the parchment seemed to think it was a necessary process and a skill to be mastered.

As the saying goes, since you can't resist it, you might as well enjoy it.

After breaking free of the shackles binding him, he could almost be considered one of the most powerful individuals in the world. Unless the dragon Kronada broke the seal, there was no human or monster that could pose a fatal threat to him.

Tyrion, clearly unaware of how dangerous the young man standing before him was, said sarcastically with a grim face, "You killed thousands of civilians in one go, nearly two-thirds of whom were old people, women, and children. Don't you have nightmares at night?"

"Nightmare? Why? Your father ordered Gregor Clegane to raid the Riverlands, intending to lure Eddard Stark into battle. Guess how many innocent peasants were tortured and killed during the Mountain Operation? Did Lord Tywin have nightmares about it? No, he not only didn't have nightmares, but he also considered it a successful tactical example. Besides, others may have the right to criticize my actions, but you alone do not." With that, Zhang Cheng poked Tyrion's chest with his finger.

"Why am I not qualified?" Tyrion suddenly had a bad feeling and subconsciously frowned.

"Because it was your legal wife, Sansa, who poisoned my soup, rendering me temporarily unable to use my magical powers, which led to the tragedy of thousands of deaths. I don't deny that I indiscriminately killed innocent people, but you must understand that when I feel my life is threatened, I will take any means to protect myself. This has nothing to do with good or evil, morality, or humanity; it's simply for survival..."

Out of caution, Zhang Cheng did not reveal too many details, nor did he mention that the victims' fate was not only physical death, but also that their souls were completely devoured, becoming nourishment for the awakening of the demonic sword.

"Sansa poisoned you? Damn it! Why would she do that? No! Who instigated her to do this?" Tyrion roared furiously.

With his keen political sense, he instantly realized that this was a conspiracy, a terrifying plan that could simultaneously target both himself and Zhang Cheng.

If the attack succeeds, Zhang Cheng will certainly die, but the Lannister family will also be seen as an accomplice of the mastermind. The fragile alliance that was originally formed will also fall apart amid mutual suspicion. No one would be willing to ally with a family that might stab you in the back at any time.

If the attempt fails, as the legal husband of the poisoner, he will obviously be implicated, and his entire family may become the target of the poisoner's revenge.

Seeing Tyrion's furious expression, Zhang Cheng smiled noncommittally and comforted him, "Relax. I don't mean to blame you, nor will I blame Sansa, and I'm not foolish enough to think that the Lannisters did this. In fact, I know who was hiding in the shadows and plotting everything."

"Who? Give me his name!" Tyrion's eyes flashed with icy coldness.

“Varys, our dear Chief of Intelligence. By the way, it was Baelish who tricked Sansa into poisoning her. You can teach him a lesson later, so he knows what the price of spying on another man's wife will be. Oh, I almost forgot, guess what I saw when I found Baelish last night? I saw Sansa lying naked on a bed in a brothel. She would rather give her virginity to an old man about the same age as her father than stay with you…”

Chapter 0195 The Return of the Dragon

"Enough! Since you know that Petyr Baelish was the one who persuaded Sansa to poison him, why didn't you kill him? This isn't like you!" Tyrion rudely interrupted Zhang Cheng, his face grim and menacing.

Although he always knew very well in his heart that a young, beautiful, and noble lady like Sansa could never fall in love with him and willingly spend her life with a deformed dwarf like him.

But for some reason, when she learned that the other party had an intimate relationship with another man, she still couldn't help but feel a strong sense of anger and humiliation.

Zhang Cheng shrugged with a nonchalant smile: "Why would I necessarily kill him? The real mastermind is Varys; Littlefinger was merely used. Besides, Sansa isn't my wife. If it were Elo, I guarantee he'd die a horrible death. Remember, my friend, for people like you and me, a wife represents more than just love, marriage, family, and alliances between clans; she represents face and dignity. If your dignity is trampled upon without retaliation, don't expect to gain respect again. As I've said before, dignity is earned through blood and death, not bestowed by others."

Without a doubt, for the little devil who was born with a disability, all his efforts were simply to gain the respect and recognition of those around him.

To preserve this hard-won respect, he even personally took up arms and charged into the battlefield to fight enemies nearly twice his size, almost losing his life in the process.

Recalling his life before becoming Hand of the King, Tyrion felt a fire burning in his chest. It took him several minutes to calm down before he took a deep breath and asked, "Why? Why do you want to use me to get rid of Baelish?"

As someone who enjoys reading and thinking, he wasn't as impulsive as most nobles. After a moment's thought, he quickly realized that the young man in front of him had been consciously guiding the conversation, using language to provoke him into anger.

"Hehe, my friend, you've asked too many 'whys' today. But considering the pleasant cooperation we had over a month ago, I'll reluctantly give you an explanation."

First of all, I don't expect you to get rid of Littlefinger; I just hope you can teach him a small lesson. Because strictly speaking, you're not even on the same level. Baelish is much smarter and more cunning than you.

Secondly, you're slowly being pushed out of the center of power. As an ally, I don't want to have to deal with the foolish and short-sighted Cersei one day, so I'm going to lend you a hand. At least now you have a good reason to vent your pent-up anger, don't you?

Finally, and most importantly, please convey to Lord Tywin that he must have a clear understanding of the power I possess before he comes to negotiate with me in person.

As the last word fell, Zhang Cheng immediately turned around and waved towards the window.

Before the little devil could react to what was happening, a gust of wind suddenly rushed in, overturning the tables, chairs, bottles, and glasses placed in the corner, and he himself was blown backward.

The once clear sky was suddenly shrouded in a huge shadow, followed by a violent crashing sound from the hard rock walls, which shook the entire room. A large amount of dust and gravel rained down from the roof.

Once he regained his balance, he was startled to find a violet vertical pupil peering through the window.

Shocked!

excitement!

Surprised!

trembling!

Upon witnessing the legendary dragon with his own eyes, Tyrion was utterly speechless with emotion. He forgot all about running away and simply stood there dumbfounded.

Similarly, Joffrey stopped practicing fire magic, went straight to the window, reached out and gently stroked the dragon's increasingly hard and thick scales, and asked with a fanatical expression, "Count Mason, is this your dragon?"

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Please allow me to introduce you to Kuro Kerba, a little fellow who was just born. Trust me, you will like it.” Zhang Cheng pursed his lips and replied meaningfully.

“Of course! Who wouldn’t love a strong and deadly dragon! I’m finally starting to understand why you keep emphasizing that the Targaryen dynasty’s rule is built on absolute control over dragons. With such monsters, what’s the point of an army? With just one command, it can bathe all those bastards who disrespect the king in scorching flames.” Joffrey spread his arms, his eyes revealing a cruel and insane light.

This idiot was completely unaware that the reason Kuro Kerbal didn't breathe fire and burn him to death was entirely due to his master's orders. He needed to feign obedience to lower the Lannisters' and Tyrells' guard and then see them as a force that could be manipulated.

Only in this way can the game of power continue, instead of simply overturning the table and declaring oneself the sole victor through sheer force.

Enjoying the awe and fear in the eyes of the guards around him, Zhang Cheng approached Tyrion calmly and said in a low voice, "My dear Tyrion, please write this down carefully and relay it to Lord Tywin Lannister verbatim. Remember, my patience is limited. The Lannisters had better come up with satisfactory terms before sunset, otherwise I cannot guarantee that the previous secret agreement will still be valid."

"A secret agreement?" Tyrion, regaining his senses, looked utterly puzzled.

"What, didn't your father tell you? Or does he not consider you a member of the family at all? If I were you, I would quickly find out the truth. You know, it's not a pleasant feeling to be kicked aside every time." After saying that, Zhang Cheng leaped onto the dragon's back and rode away under the gaze of countless eyes.

Almost half the city could clearly see Kuro Kerbal's enormous body and the scales that shimmered with a violet light.

With an undisguised, loud roar, it announced to the inhabitants of King's Landing that the long-absent dragon had returned once again.

It was not a rumor from the other side of the ocean, its veracity unknown, nor was it a tiny creature like a pet in the later Targaryen dynasty; rather, it was a ferocious and terrifying prehistoric beast capable of instantly destroying an army.

In an instant, large numbers of ravens were released from every corner of the city, carrying red clay seals symbolizing the most urgent intelligence, and flew toward the nobles' castles.

Even the most foolish idiot realizes that a brand new era is about to begin...

Chapter 0196 The Conspiracy in Progress

The return of the dragons was like a meteorite falling into a lake, creating a massive upheaval in King's Landing, and the effects continue to grow over time.

However, for Zhang Cheng, this show-like performance is over. He has conveyed his message through Kuro Kerba without missing a single detail. All that's left to do is wait patiently.

Of course, while waiting, he also planned to conduct a few small tests on the meteorite composed of red crystals to figure out the characteristics of the energy contained within it.