Spellcasting Gods

Boom!

A giant wave suddenly surged up from the sea and crashed violently onto the dock, producing a terrifying roar that sent chills down one's spine. Several small fishing boats moored at the berth were crushed by an indescribable force, and planks were scattered everywhere.

One can imagine that if this had hit an ordinary person, the unfortunate victim would have suffered severe internal bleeding, broken several bones, and eventually suffocated to death while unconscious.

Without a doubt, after many days of research, he had completely mastered the use of this constant magic, and had also incorporated the Dalaran system's understanding of the elements, making it more than two or three times more powerful than the original.

Gazing at the spectacular sight at the dock, Blanco couldn't help but open his mouth wide, an expression of disbelief on his face.

Although this was not the first time he had witnessed the immense power of magic, the terrifying scene of manipulating natural phenomena, as he had just witnessed, was undoubtedly far beyond his psychological tolerance.

It is estimated that in his mind, only a god could possess such power, not a mere mortal.

"So, what do you think Cersei Lannister's reaction would be if she knew I could unleash a tsunami that could engulf King's Landing?" Zhang Cheng's lips curled slightly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

“If she had any sense left, she would have surrendered obediently and awaited your judgment…” The old mercenary’s voice was low and hoarse, filled with complexity and bitterness.

Zhang Cheng nodded calmly: "Yes! You are very smart, at least smarter than your master. Now, I'm giving you a task: immediately convey to Varys everything you've seen and heard, especially my power and attitude. Then tell him that as long as he helps Daenerys complete the sneak attack, I will forgive his past actions. Remember, you only have one chance, so make the most of it."

"M-Sir! I don't understand what you mean!" Blanco seemed to be startled and quickly took several steps back.

"Don't understand? No, you do understand. In fact, from the day you accepted my employment, I knew you harbored some kind of unspeakable secret."

At the time, I was very confused. I hadn't done anything too outrageous, so why would I attract a spy like you?

But through a series of events, I discovered that your initial target was not me at all, but rather to get close to Petyr Baelish.

However, after I started to show some promise, you quickly went into hiding and pretended to be extremely loyal.

But secretly, you've been constantly passing on all sorts of intelligence. The reason I haven't exposed you is twofold: firstly, I think you're quite capable and can manage those undisciplined mercenaries for me; secondly, I want to see who your master really is.

Here, this letter was found on the raven you released a few hours ago. It clearly states the number of troops in Oldtown, their deployment, and the capabilities I demonstrated.

Now, tell me, what else do you want to argue about?

After saying that, Zhang Cheng took out a piece of paper covered with tiny handwriting and drawings.

As a transmigrator with a severe lack of security, he has never truly trusted anyone. Not only does he not trust anyone, but he also harbors strong suspicions about everyone who enters his vigilance range. Although this suspicion is not reflected in his words or actions, his secret investigations never stop.

Unfortunately, Blanco, who held great power, was the focus of the investigation and suspicion.

It must be said that he was always very careful and had never been caught doing anything wrong until a few hours ago...

Chapter 234 Showdown (Part 2)

"My lord, you are truly terrifying. You have endured for so long without showing the slightest abnormality. I even thought I had gained your trust, but it turned out to be just wishful thinking. Can you tell me what has caused your unusual vigilance, and what makes you so indifferent to money, power, and status?"

After his identity was exposed, Blanco showed no fear or despair. Instead, he sat down very easily, as if he was not worried at all about being killed.

Zhang Cheng stared at the suddenly audacious old mercenary with great interest, and asked with a smile, "Are you sure you want to know? Or are you just trying to stall for time? Remember, don't try your little tricks on me."

“No, I’m not stalling for time, but Lord Varys is nearby. If you wish to see him, why don’t you come with me?” With that, Blanco stood up and gestured for him to proceed.

"Oh? He's nearby?" A strange look flashed in Zhang Cheng's eyes.

You see, he had been secretly tracking the other party for a long time. He originally thought that the "dead eunuch" had probably gone to the Eastern Continent to hide. He never expected that he would be right under his nose.

Blanco nodded meaningfully: "That's right! Think about it, why did I send away the number of troops and defenses of Old Town?"

“I see… He has sided with my enemy, or perhaps he intends to use my enemy for something.” Zhang Cheng stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

He wasn't too surprised that Varys had joined Eric's side. After all, the Spider's specialty was approaching someone as a friend, waiting for them to lower their guard, and then silently stabbing them in the fatal blow.

“You have a keen eye! Lord Varys’ original plan was to maintain a balance of power, letting the two of you slowly wear each other down, or even perish together. However, after learning a couple of days ago that you intended to support Daenerys in restoring the Targaryen dynasty, he slightly modified the plan, intending for you to win this war after paying a certain price.” Blanco said as he led the way toward the door.

"Pay a certain price? His real intention is to weaken my power as much as possible so that I won't be sidelined after Daenerys sits on the Iron Throne, right?" Zhang Cheng, who was following behind, sneered sarcastically.

Sometimes he really couldn't understand why the Spider would go to such lengths to restore the Targaryen family's rule.

Obviously, as a man who had lost his manhood, Varys could never have had any feelings for the young and beautiful Daenerys. In fact, he initially supported not Daenerys, but the foolish Viserys.

Secondly, Varys did not show too much enthusiasm for money and power. Even Littlefinger admitted that the reason his old rival was so invincible was because he was without desires, and only in this way could he never be blinded by interests.

Finally, the eight-legged spider has no relatives and no offspring. No matter how much wealth or power he has, he cannot pass it on to his descendants or establish a family. This means that no one will be truly willing to be loyal to him.

In short, Zhang Cheng could not find a plausible reason to explain Varys's motives.

Blanco seemed to sense something and said in a low voice without turning his head, "I think you must be wondering why Lord Varys is so insistent on making the Targaryen bloodline the master of the Iron Throne?"

“That’s right! Aren’t you surprised that he was willing to create a brutal war and cause the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in order to achieve this goal? Is the Targaryen bloodline really that magical?” After saying that, Zhang Cheng glanced at the dark alley around him.

Although he had never been to this place before, he was able to confirm, based on the furtive figures around him and the wary glances that kept flashing through the cracks in the doors and windows, that this was indeed the infamous "black market" in the old town.

Don't think that the "black market" only refers to the sale of stolen goods; it also includes a range of illegal transactions such as slaves, drugs, weapons, and armor. It is said that if a person is rich enough, they can buy anything they want on the black market.

“Hehe, let Lord Varys answer that question. We’ve arrived, please come in.” Blanco stopped in front of a rather old wooden house.

“The most dangerous place is the safest place. My dear Varys, you’ve chosen a perfect hiding place.” Zhang Cheng muttered to himself as he pushed open the dilapidated wooden door that was almost rotting.

By the dim light of an oil lamp, one could vaguely see a chubby person sitting at a table, sipping a bowl of steaming fish soup.

Without a doubt, he was none other than Varys, who had disappeared from everyone's sight for a long time.

"Good afternoon, dear friend. I've been looking for you for a long time. Could you please explain what gave you the audacity to break the agreement we signed earlier?" Zhang Cheng stepped over the threshold and entered the house, feigning anger as he questioned him.

“Ah! Lord Mason, please sit down. Come, try the fish soup I cooked myself, it’s absolutely delicious. You may not know, but after I was abandoned and subjected to inhuman torture, I barely survived on a bowl of fish soup.” Varys quickly stood up, putting on a hospitable demeanor.

“No, thank you, but I don’t like fish soup; it’s too fishy. Also, don’t try to dodge the question. Please answer me: what gave you the audacity to break the covenant, and what made you think that the First Priestess of the King of Light was capable of killing me?” With that, Zhang Cheng walked to the table and looked the other person up and down.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he vaguely sensed a trace of active magical energy emanating from the dead eunuch.

Varys put down his soup bowl and sighed bitterly, "Why can't you just let these things go? I admit I made a few fatal mistakes, but they were all misunderstandings."

"Misunderstanding?" Zhang Cheng raised his eyebrows dramatically.

“Yes! It’s a misunderstanding! I’ve always thought you were an ambitious man, like my old friend Petyr Baelish, who would one day have his hands on the Iron Throne. But now it seems you really have no interest in power, and even if you suddenly develop an interest in it later, it’s within my acceptable range,” Varys explained sincerely.

"Just because I'm planning to become Daenerys's husband?"

"Yes! As long as the master of the Iron Throne has Targaryen blood flowing through his veins, that's enough."

Staring at the eunuch's constantly flickering eyes, Zhang Cheng subconsciously frowned: "Why? Why are you so determined to make the Targaryens the masters of the Iron Throne? Is it because of Aerys's promotion and kindness?"

"No, no, it's because of a voice, an illusion, a prophecy—you wouldn't understand..."

Chapter 0235 Showdown (Part 2)

"Illusion, prophecy?!" Zhang Cheng's face showed an expression of disbelief.

It's worth noting that the Spider King is known for his aversion to magic and supernatural powers. Who would have thought that his motivation for supporting the restoration of House Targaryen would be related to vague prophecies and illusions?

It's as unbelievable as someone who constantly proclaims the supremacy of science being discovered one day to be a worshipper of a mysterious force.

Varys undoubtedly realized how frightening his words had been, and quickly forced a smile as he explained, "Don't make such a fuss, Lord Mason. You have no idea what I've been through, nor how terrible the impact that event had on my life. It is true that I hate magic because it has brought me endless suffering, but that doesn't mean I won't face its power."

"Oh? Can you tell me more about your experience, especially that mysterious vision? I really want to know what kind of prophecy would make you so afraid." Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, deliberately feigning curiosity as he asked.

“As I just said, you wouldn’t understand. It was a war between ice and fire, light and darkness, an eternal struggle between gods. In the vision, I saw two outcomes: one was that the messenger of the King of Light won, and human civilization was able to continue; the other was that the terrible enemy won, and the whole world was shrouded in darkness, cold, and death…”

As he spoke, Varys was trembling slightly, and his eyes revealed an overwhelming fear.

Clearly, this incident left him with considerable psychological trauma, and every time it is brought up again, it triggers a series of aversion reactions.

Zhang Cheng carefully observed the other person's expression, trying to find some element of acting, but soon realized that it was definitely not acting, but a tremor from the deepest part of his soul.

Especially when he mentioned that the world was shrouded in darkness, cold and death, the eight-legged spider seemed to have experienced it firsthand, clenching his fists tightly and even his breathing became rapid.

If it were someone else, they would probably immediately believe the scene he described.

Unfortunately, Zhang Cheng didn't believe a single word of it.

He had already seen Kronada with his own eyes and was convinced that this dragon, who had lived for countless years, was the so-called Lord of Light.

Therefore, it can be inferred that the so-called god of cold and death is probably a similar powerful magical being, perhaps a giant dragon that controls ice and death energy, or some kind of unknown magical creature. In any case, it is definitely not a true god.

According to his understanding, a true god should not only possess immense power that transcends the limits of mortals, but also have a unique will and philosophy that belong to God, and tirelessly transform the world according to this will and philosophy.

By this standard, the Old Gods and Titans of Azeroth could barely be considered among the true gods. However, most of the messy belief systems like A Song of Ice and Fire were obviously created by humans themselves. Even if a few of them showed some incredible abilities, they did not have any obvious intention to change the world. They merely used some shady means, such as prophecy or hints, to gain the awe of their followers.

As a seeker of power, Zhang Cheng detested such pretentious tricks. Before Varys could finish speaking, he interrupted with a cold laugh, "Stop! According to you, the prophesied savior, the reincarnated Azor Ahai, is Daenerys Targaryen, the only surviving descendant of the Targaryen family?"

“Yes!” Octopus Spider nodded without hesitation, then added, “At least that’s what I think, and Kinvara agrees with my choice. Of course, Melisandre chose Stannis. Because prophecies and visions aren’t very clear, everyone who sees them will have a different interpretation, and we each firmly believe that we are right.”

"Heh, interesting. Alright, since you all believe the prophecy is true, then I'll take it as true. Tell me, can you help Daenerys and Oberyn take the Red Keep?" Zhang Cheng was clearly too lazy to explain anything and went straight to the point.

After all, he didn't have much time left, and the sooner he got everything sorted out, the sooner he could secure more benefits.

“Please do not worry, my little birds are already waiting for them in King’s Landing. Once they can infiltrate the city, my men will lead them through the secret passage into the Red Keep and seize control of the Lannister family’s key members.” Varys gave his assurance without hesitation.

If anyone currently possesses knowledge of all the intricate underground passages beneath King's Landing, it is undoubtedly him.

Back in the Targaryen dynasty, he was already the chief of court intelligence, responsible for gathering information for the Mad King. From Aerys, he knew almost everything about the exits of every secret passage. Even after Robert became the new king, he knew far more than Aerys did.

In a way, Varys is a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Zhang Cheng couldn't understand why neither Robert, Tywin, nor Cersei had promptly eliminated this destabilizing factor that posed a threat to their safety. If it were him, his first priority after gaining control of the situation would have been to eliminate the Spider-Man, who possessed countless secrets, to prevent future trouble.

However, while he had ideas, he had no immediate plans to put them into action. He nodded calmly, "Very good! With your help, I believe the plan to ambush King's Landing will be a complete success. Now, let's discuss the current battle. Tell me, to what extent do you intend to weaken my forces?"

“It’s simple! You must at least have half of your army killed or wounded, and the Tower of Babel must be destroyed. Once these two conditions are met, I will begin to help you deal with the enemy.” Varys quickly stated his terms.

"Okay!" Zhang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then immediately agreed.

To him, the army was nothing more than cannon fodder; he didn't care if they all died. The Tower of Heaven was incredibly valuable, but since he couldn't take it with him, its destruction was no big deal. Understanding the magical techniques used within was enough.

"Thank you very much for your understanding. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. Blanco will continue to stay by your side to handle communications."

Having received the answer he wanted, Varys slowly stood up, bowed, and turned to walk outside.

Before he could take two steps, Zhang Cheng suddenly called out from behind, "Wait! Can you do me a small favor?"

“Speak!” Varys turned around, a fake smile on his face.

"Help that idiot make a decision on a full-scale attack quickly, I'm getting impatient." As he finished speaking, a cruel and bloodthirsty glint flashed in Zhang Cheng's eyes.

Varys shuddered instinctively upon seeing this, and replied in a low voice, "Give me one day! By this time tomorrow at the latest, you will see an endless army surging towards Oldtown. Oh, and by the way, a word of advice: watch out for your steward..."

Chapter 0236 Arrangement

"Butler? Delhi?" Zhang Cheng stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

In fact, he had known for a long time that some of his men were spies sent by other forces, but he was too lazy to investigate them one by one.