Spellcasting Gods

After all, only a few parties were present when the agreement was signed, and he couldn't understand who would leak the secret to an outsider.

“Where I got the information is not important. What is important is whether Dorne still intends to fulfill this secret pact? Although Visery is dead, his sister, Daenerys, who inherited the blood of the true dragons, is still alive.” After saying this, Zhang Cheng bowed to the young girl beside him with one hand on his chest, clearly expressing his attitude.

"You mean... you support Daenerys' return to the Iron Throne and the restoration of the Targaryen dynasty?" Oberyn probed tentatively, his tone uncertain.

“Why not? You see, while Daenerys has many flaws such as naivety, immaturity, and a lack of ruling experience, she is still much more likable than the vicious, short-sighted, and ruthless Cersei. Now, just answer me: if I had a plan that could effortlessly take King's Landing, would House Martell be willing to join us?” Zhang Cheng didn't beat around the bush and gave his choice directly.

Oberyn clearly hadn't expected the young man before him to reveal his hand so quickly. A hesitant look appeared on his face, and it took him a full minute before he spoke: "Before answering you, I need to know what exactly was going on with your ambiguous relationship with the Lannisters, and what role the Tyrell family played in this plan?"

"You're more cautious than I expected. But that's alright, I'm happy to explain."

Zhang Cheng casually put the bottle back where it belonged, then, gazing at the lingering golden afterglow on the sea, said without turning his head:

"First of all, I never made any alliance with the Lannisters, only a verbal agreement with Tywin himself, which stated that as long as he lived, I would choose to stand with the Lannisters in any conflict. But unfortunately, he is now dead, so I naturally no longer have to fulfill the agreement."

Secondly, my relationship with the Tyrell family is not as close as you might think. Although I married Elo Tyrell, I never touched her. Do you understand what that means?

Finally, and most importantly, I made a promise months ago that I would help Daenerys reclaim the Iron Throne once she set foot in Westeros, and I have no intention of breaking my word, even though she has lost her army and three dragons.

Many people may think that the upcoming war will be very brutal, but no one realizes that this is actually a good opportunity to launch a coup and seize the throne.

Currently, Oldtown has attracted the attention of all the Seven Kingdoms. All you need to do is take your men and disguise yourselves as a merchant ship fleeing from war to infiltrate King's Landing. Then, once the war breaks out, you can take over the Red Keep, eliminate all the important members of the Lannister and Tyrell families, including Cersei, and avenge your sister Oberyn.

Believe me, no one would have expected Dorne's reinforcements to launch a surprise attack on King's Landing at this crucial moment.

Without a doubt, Zhang Cheng's sudden decision to intervene in the power struggle within King's Landing was not a whim, but rather the result of a mysterious parchment suddenly beginning a 168-hour countdown a day earlier.

This means that he will have to leave the world of A Song of Ice and Fire in about a week.

In order to gain more benefits at the end, one must try to acquire as much power and status as possible by the deadline, and the easiest way to do so is to support a young and beautiful queen and then make oneself the queen's legitimate husband...

Chapter 0231 "Declaration of Love"

Daenerys was clearly unaware of Zhang Cheng's intentions; to be precise, she was shocked that he was planning to join forces with Dorne to launch a surprise attack on King's Landing and place her on the Iron Throne at this time.

This cannot be simply described as bold or self-righteous; it is utter arrogance, an arrogance that completely disregards potential adversaries.

However, having nothing at the moment, she did not intend to reject or question this hard-won surprise, nor did she intend to investigate what ulterior motives were hidden behind the whole plan. In any case, apart from her beauty and bloodline, she had no other bargaining chips to exchange.

As for Oberyn, he stroked his chin, seriously considering the feasibility of the plan, and finally nodded with a smile: "Of course! I will not give up any good opportunity to uproot the Lannisters! But you have to tell me, what is your motivation for doing this? Power? Wealth? Hatred? Or some more secretive personal reason? Also, are you so confident in the war? You know that once we are defeated, everything we have planned will be in vain."

"Confidence stems from strength, from my profound understanding of magic. You simply don't understand the astonishing destruction I can unleash if I were to unleash all my power. Faced with such destructive force, those fledgling dragons, far from reaching adulthood, are utterly insignificant. In fact, I have never considered that self-proclaimed Dragon King as an enemy; the war he has instigated is, in my view, nothing more than a farce. As for my motives, they are simple: naturally, they are for the sake of our beautiful Queen..."

As the last word fell, Zhang Cheng stepped in front of Daenerys, took her hand, and gently kissed the back of it.

"For me?" Daenerys was undoubtedly taken aback by this sudden act of intimacy.

Because back when they first met, she had extended an invitation to this mysterious young man, but was met with a ruthless rejection.

Zhang Cheng wasn't a fool; he was well aware that his rapid change in attitude was highly suspicious. However, not wanting to reveal his true intentions too soon, he deliberately responded in a half-joking tone, "Yes! I'm deeply attracted by your temperament and beauty. I wonder if you would be willing to marry me?"

"Hahahaha! Seven Gods! This is truly the most insincere declaration of love I've ever seen, and also the easiest lie to be exposed. My dear Mason, please show a little more sincerity, at least send a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or a delicate little gift." Oberon laughed mercilessly.

As a nobleman with a colorful love life, he could tell almost without thinking that there was no desire between men and women in Zhang Cheng's eyes, only indifference, a coldness that kept people at a distance.

Generally speaking, people with this kind of indifferent attitude will never make sacrifices for a stranger for no reason, let alone truly fall in love with anyone.

Daenerys seemed to realize something as well, and with a half-smile, she teased, "Lord Mason, if I remember correctly, you just recently married Miss Elo. Although I wouldn't mind having something happen with a handsome and outstanding man like you, you've probably lost your right to be my legal husband."

“Don’t worry, my queen, Elo will not be an obstacle between us. Once the Lannisters and Tyrells are uprooted, I will immediately dissolve my marriage with her and then come to marry you.” Zhang Cheng gently brushed the girl’s hair, which was ruffled by the sea breeze, and responded nonchalantly.

His expression was so relaxed that it didn't seem like he was talking about a momentous event involving the fates of countless people.

"Are you serious?" Daenerys's eyes showed disbelief.

She couldn't understand why a man who had previously looked down on her would suddenly become interested in her again.

“That’s right! I’m serious! This marriage contract doesn’t need to last long, just half a month. After half a month, it doesn’t matter whether you keep me as your husband or declare the marriage contract null and void and marry someone else. In return, my territory, army, wealth, and even this towering tower will all be yours.” Zhang Cheng offered a condition that was impossible to refuse without changing his expression.

After all, once he leaves this world, it's better to give away these things he can't take with him as a favor than to abandon them.

"All of them?! Are you sure you're not joking?" Daenerys was completely stunned by the unexpected gift, standing there dumbfounded.

Similarly, Oberon also wore an expression of disbelief.

Because if the previously proposed plan were to launch a surprise attack on King's Landing and eliminate the Tyrells and the Lannisters, the Westerlands and the Reach would immediately descend into chaos.

Especially in the Reach, which had already lost two important families, the Florent and the Hightoar, if it also lost the nominal ruler, the Tyrell, it's estimated that no one could stop Zhang Cheng from swallowing up all the surrounding areas and forming an overwhelmingly powerful force.

In addition, with tens of thousands of private troops stationed in Oldtown, whoever gains this power will become the strongest contender for the Iron Throne.

If Daenerys were to obtain it, coupled with her Targaryen bloodline, securing the throne would be a piece of cake.

"A joke? No, I never joke, at least not about something like this. Oh, by the way, if you agree, I can also guarantee that I will do my best to ensure the safety of Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon in the upcoming war, and strive to help them survive the fierce battle. Don't rush, you have some time to consider it." Zhang Cheng added another bargaining chip without saying a word.

"No need to think about it! I agree!" Upon hearing the news of the three dragons, Daenerys immediately became a little excited.

The thought of her children being forcibly controlled and forced to kill for the enemy was like a knife to her heart, not to mention the many benefits that came with it, and the only price she had to pay was a marriage.

Anyway, she was sold to Drogo when she was still a young girl, so compared to her terrible situation back then, this is nothing now.

"Then it's settled!" Zhang Cheng slightly curled the corners of his mouth, bent down and kissed the other person's forehead.

Daenerys showed no sign of refusal or resistance, closing her eyes and accepting the kiss willingly. Although she wasn't entirely sure what the young man who kissed her intended, one thing was certain: their relationship would not involve sex.

Because she didn't feel even the slightest passion in the kiss just now; it was more like a polite gesture, a smokescreen to cover up her true intentions...

Chapter 0232 Winter is Coming

"My lord, are you really going to trade your territory, wealth, and army for the title of so-called queen's husband?" No sooner had Daenerys and Oberyn left than Blanco emerged from the corner, asking with a worried expression.

As one of the beneficiaries and a newly promoted nobleman who has stepped into the center of power, he does not want his wonderful life, which has just begun, to be ruined, nor does he want to change his allegiance.

Based on his years of experience and knowledge, he believed that there was no other lord in the world as generous, magnanimous, and unconcerned about sharing wealth and power as Zhang Cheng.

In fact, through war and plunder, the mercenaries who had sworn an oath of loyalty had already made a fortune. About one-fifth of the gold, silver and jewels and goods they had seized from the Iron People were given away as rewards.

If we were to ask which noble family among the seven kingdoms had the most loyal vassals, it would undoubtedly be these seven.

The reason is simple: for mercenaries who live on the edge and struggle to survive, the hypocritical ethical and moral concepts of the old nobles are utter nonsense. Their thoughts are simple: whoever can bring them benefits, they will risk their lives for.

Clearly, there is no one more generous than Zhang Cheng in the entire continent of Westeros.

You have to understand that no matter how much treasure he gets, he can only take away a very small portion at most. Rather than carrying precious metals of varying quality, it would be better to take more magical items and special materials.

As for what can't be taken away, it's naturally given away in large quantities. Anyway, this money will eventually benefit outsiders, so it's better to use it to win people's hearts.

Staring into the old mercenary's dull eyes, Zhang Cheng curled his lips and asked in a half-smile, "What, are you questioning my decision? Or do you think your interests will be harmed in this deal?"

“No! Of course not! I just feel sorry for you. Perhaps Daenerys does possess the inhuman beauty of the Targaryen family and the allure that makes men swoon, but that's far from being as tempting as ruling the Reach and establishing a great family that can last for a thousand years. I don't understand why you, who have never been interested in women, are suddenly willing to make such a great sacrifice for her?” Blanco carefully chose his words, afraid of crossing any lines he shouldn't.

“Sacrifice? Is that how you interpret my decision? No, Blanco, I haven't sacrificed anything.” Zhang Cheng slowly stood up, a profound light flashing in his eyes. “What you might consider worth a lifetime's work for—wealth, titles, territories—are nothing to me. They're merely byproducts of acquiring knowledge and power. If I can exchange these byproducts for the former, I won't hesitate for a second. Remember, don't try to judge my actions by your own values, and don't try to interfere with my decisions, or you know what will happen…”

Upon hearing this statement, which was neither clearly a warning nor a threat, Blanco instinctively shuddered and quickly lowered his head to explain, "Please don't misunderstand, my lord. I didn't mean that. I'm just a little unsure whether Daenerys Targaryen can be a competent ruler. As you know, nobles look down on us mercenaries, considering us crude, disloyal, and mercenary. If she's influenced by this, we'll inevitably face exclusion and isolation, and might even lose our hard-won lands and titles..."

"So what you're worried about isn't me, but your own interests being harmed, right?" Zhang Cheng, tired of the old mercenary's roundabout way of speaking, interrupted him directly.

“Yes!” Blanco didn’t try to deny it and nodded directly.

He never felt that discussing interests was something shameful, especially at such a critical moment, where the slightest misstep could cause him to lose the rights, status, and wealth he had worked so hard to gain once again.

Without a doubt, everyone likes to get something back after losing it, and no one likes to lose something they've gained.

Zhang Cheng tapped the table lightly with his fingers. After about a minute or two, he suddenly looked up and asked inexplicably, "Have you ever heard of the Stark family's family name?"

"What?" The old mercenary's face showed a look of astonishment.

“The Stark family motto!” Zhang Cheng quickly repeated.

“Winter is coming.” Although Blanco didn’t understand how this had anything to do with the topic they had just been discussing, he still gave the answer.

After all, as one of the oldest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms, there are few people who don't know the Stark family name.

“That’s right! Winter is coming. But do you understand what that means?” Zhang Cheng asked meaningfully.

“I…I don’t know…” Blanco hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook his head.

In fact, because so much time has passed since the last White Walker invasion, not only outsiders but even direct members of the Stark family do not remember the meaning of "Winter is Coming," and many people even believe that it refers to the threat posed by the wildlings living north of the Wall.

“Yes, you don’t understand, which is why you’re so concerned with personal gains and losses. Once you understand the true meaning of ‘Winter is Coming,’ you’ll realize that all territories, wealth, and titles are less important than your own life. Let me tell you, the real threat to this land has never come from humanity itself, but from the frigid lands north of the Great Wall.” With that, Zhang Cheng picked up a dragon crystal dagger from the table and handed it to the other man. “Here, take it. Trust me, you’ll need it soon.”

Feeling the coolness of the obsidian in his palm, Blanco was completely gripped by a strange panic.

Based on his experience, this mysterious young man wouldn't say such strange things for no reason. There must be something terrible about to invade Westeros, something ten times more terrifying than that guy who called himself the Dragon King.

"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot, go check where our guests are. You know I can't wait to test the power of the Tower of Heaven and see if it can bury an army of 100,000 men in one go." Zhang Cheng waved his right hand, interrupting the old mercenary's thoughts.

The latter suddenly woke up, turned around without saying a word, and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Watching his slightly aged back, Zhang Cheng murmured to himself with a hint of regret, "White Walkers, what interesting life forms. It's a pity I don't have enough time, otherwise I would definitely find out whether this mysterious species has elementalized its body or is utilizing death energy. But it's okay, I can come back to visit again in the future, and while I'm at it, deal with that giant dragon sealed beneath the Valyrian ruins..."

Chapter 0233 Showdown (Part 1)

As the day of departure drew ever closer, Erik's massive fleet finally entered the waters off Westeros.

However, he was not foolish enough to immediately attack the old town. Instead, he first occupied the Shield Islands to allow his main force to rest and regroup. Then, he began sending a small number of warships to harass coastal villages and towns and intercept passing merchant ships. In just two or three days, trade was brought to a standstill, and some merchants even chose to flee with their families to prevent their loved ones and property from being affected by the war.

Clearly, Eric, who had been a pirate captain for a long time, had learned without instruction how to create a sense of panic and oppression through attacks.

He didn't expect to defeat the defending troops stationed in the old town in one fell swoop; he just wanted to see if he could lure out a portion of them to nibble away at, and incidentally undermine the morale of the city's residents.

Perhaps for other lords, such blatant humiliation would be unbearable, and they would inevitably retaliate, otherwise, damage to their prestige would often have fatal consequences.

Tywin Lannister's father, Tytos, was too weak-willed and failed to respond to insults in time, which almost caused the Lannister family to lose control of the nobles of the Westerlands. It was not until he took power and used ruthless methods to purge the two most rampant families that the Lannister family regained its original status.

Unfortunately, Zhang Cheng was neither a native of this world nor did he care about rights or authority. He completely ignored the flames of war raging in his territory and even ordered the guards to impose martial law on the entire city, arresting all the murdered merchants who tried to persuade him to send troops, and temporarily imprisoning them in the dungeon until the war was over.

With his almost brutal methods, he quickly quelled the restlessness of the people and silently awaited the arrival of his opponent.

True to parchment's usual pattern, since a countdown has been given, the war will surely end before the countdown ends. As long as this is firmly grasped, no matter what strategies the enemy uses, it will be meaningless...

"Blanco, what do you think are the chances that Her Majesty the Queen and Oberyn have succeeded in their attack on King's Landing?" Zhang Cheng asked without turning his head, standing on the balcony of the top floor of the Tower of Triumph, admiring the empty harbor.

The old mercenary rubbed his dry eyes and replied with a wry smile, "It's hard to say, sir. I can only tell you that they've disguised themselves as merchants fleeing Oldtown, and they'll probably be able to fool the utterly corrupt Gold Robe. But whether they can successfully capture the Red Keep and take control of Cersei and her son immediately is another matter. After all, King's Landing has a large population, and the Red Keep is notoriously easy to defend and difficult to attack. Any slight misstep could lead to unpredictable results."

“Heh, you’re right. This is a military adventure, and it doesn’t matter whether it succeeds or not. Because as long as I win this war, Cersei Lannister will have to obediently bow her head and submit to my will, no matter how harsh the conditions I set. See, this is power, and only power can inspire genuine awe and make people kneel down in submission.” With that, Zhang Cheng lightly waved his arm.

moment!

The spear-shaped tattoo on the back of his hand emitted a soft, deep blue glow!

next second...