Spellcasting Gods

After all, due to his rapid expansion, he could not have a group of loyal vassals who had stood the test of time, like those ancient noble families that had been passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years. Just like the Stark family in the North, even though they were almost wiped out, there were still many people willing to be loyal to Sansa, even though she was a silly girl who didn't understand anything.

However, what puzzled Zhang Cheng was that since Deli had followed him, he had always maintained a cautious attitude and strictly adhered to the bottom line of the steward, neither inquiring about the master's privacy nor interfering in unnecessary matters.

If he was also a spy, then who sent him?

What motive is hidden behind this?

Filled with questions, Zhang Cheng stood up and went outside, gazing at the black market bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. Before he could come up with any clues, Blanco, who had been waiting for a long time, came over and asked, "Sir, shall we go back now?"

"Go back? Are you sure you still want to come back with me?" Zhang Cheng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He couldn't understand if this guy had gone mad, unaware that he had been exposed and that staying would likely lead to retaliation, or even murder to silence him.

“Of course! Why not?” Blanco shrugged nonchalantly. “You know, I am a nobleman who has been bestowed a title by you, and I have the responsibility and obligation to assist you in eliminating all your enemies. Moreover, Lord Varys instructed me before he left to make sure that the transaction would not go wrong.”

"Oh? Aren't you afraid of dying?" Zhang Cheng deliberately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

Blanco clearly knew something about the Demon Sword, and quickly took two steps back, his face revealing undisguised fear.

But the fear came and went quickly. In less than half a minute, he regained his composure, smiled and shook his head: "No, you won't kill me, at least not now, because I still have enough value to you. As long as that value hasn't disappeared, I don't have to worry about being killed."

"Hahaha! You think you know me very well?" Zhang Cheng asked, laughing loudly.

"Yes! Although you have killed many people, you are not a rational person at heart, and you are rarely swayed by emotions such as anger or jealousy..."

Just as Blanco was speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a sharp dagger piercing his heart from behind, the blood-stained tip of the sword gleaming with a dazzling, eerie light in the setting sun.

As Zhang Cheng gazed at the old mercenary's eyes, which were rapidly losing their luster, a cold smile appeared on his face. He leaned close to the man's ear and whispered, "I'm sorry, you made a small mistake. The one who's still useful to me isn't you, but Varys. So you can die in peace. I don't have the habit of keeping enemy spies around."

The words had barely left his mouth!

The masked man who launched the sneak attack suddenly drew his short sword, letting the blood gush out. In the blink of an eye, a pool of viscous blood formed on the ground, and the pungent smell of blood quickly spread with the heat.

Many passersby noticed this scene and, instead of leaving, showed expressions of curiosity.

It's important to know that the "black market" is not a peaceful place. Revenge battles and double-crosses are common occurrences, and it's quite normal for one or two people to die.

Zhang Cheng ignored these audacious fellows and asked the masked man who had just wiped the blood off his weapon, "So, have you found anything?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry to disappoint you. The other party was more cautious than I expected. He spotted me after only two blocks, then slipped into an old house and escaped through a pre-prepared secret passage. Clearly, he had done a lot of preparation beforehand. Unless you intend to break ties, it's almost impossible to complete the tracking silently." The masked man's tone revealed a strong sense of helplessness.

Unfortunately, while many people may know that Varys is an expert in intelligence gathering, few know that he is also a master of disguise who is skilled at changing his appearance. Tracking such a person is undoubtedly a very difficult task.

However, Zhang Cheng himself didn't have much hope, and waved his hand dismissively: "No need to apologize. Just dispose of the body for me, and then bring everyone back."

"Withdraw? Why?" The masked man was clearly taken aback.

He couldn't understand why his employer's attitude had suddenly changed completely.

“Don’t ask so many questions. You just need to know that Varys is no longer a threat to me. Next, go to the Vale to monitor Petyr Baelish, and if it’s convenient, cause him some trouble. Of course, as always, the better you do, the higher the bounty will be, and the best performer will be made a noble. Coincidentally, Blanco is dead, and his territory is now ownerless. I believe you understand what I mean,” Zhang Cheng tempted with a meaningful tone.

"Thank you for your generosity! It is the greatest fortune of our lives to serve you!" With that, the masked man performed a very strange salute with the sword tip pointing downwards, then picked up the corpse and quickly disappeared at the end of the alley.

Staring at the retreating figure, Zhang Cheng pursed his lips and muttered to himself, "Lucky? No, it won't be long before you realize just how unlucky you are. You all think you understand me, but in reality, you're nothing more than pawns in my game, and what you see is only what I deliberately show you. Now, it's time to let you see the real me..."

Without a doubt, he planned to go all out in the last few days before leaving this world, throwing all his completed and unfinished research into the war.

On the one hand, it tests its power; on the other hand, it helps to figure out if there are any problems in building a complete knowledge system from scratch.

At that time, whether it is Erik, who is an enemy, or the so-called "ally", they will all become the subjects of his horrific experiments, and Oldtown, known as the first port city of Westeros, will be transformed into a blood-red inferno. No one can escape, not even Jaime, who has been stationed outside the city for a long time.

The identity of the Lannister family's nominal heir is currently unknown. An elite force from Dorne has broken up and disguised themselves as merchants and sailors to enter King's Landing.

With the help of Varys's "Little Birds," they effortlessly slipped into the intricate underground tunnels, patiently waiting for their chance.

Oberyn Martell, the "Red Viper," kept polishing his beloved spear, eager to pierce the hearts of Lannister family members one by one and hear their dying screams.

Gregor Clegane, in particular, who raped and murdered his own sister Elia, felt a surge of power coursing through his veins whenever he thought of that repulsive face.

Chapter 237 Sneak Attack (Part 1)

Long waits are bound to make people feel restless and anxious, especially when you're hiding in a dark, secluded passage with no idea what's happening outside.

Just as the Dornish warriors were about to reach their limit, a boy dressed in tattered clothes emerged from the pitch-black tunnel and ran to Oberyn, handing him a hastily drawn map. He explained in a low voice, “This is the secret passage to the Red Keep. This is the changing of the guards’ shifts and patrol routes, day and night. Since Lord Varys is not currently in King’s Landing, this is all we can do. Also, if you intend to act at night, we can sneak into the kitchen and slip some laxatives into the guards’ food, but that might alert them, so you’d better think carefully before you decide.”

"Oh? You guys actually managed to do this!" Oberon stared at the sketch, a look of surprise on his face.

How could I not be surprised!

It is important to understand that a castle is the foundation of a noble family. It is not only a defensive fortification used to protect their own safety, but also a symbol of power, status, and wealth.

As long as the castle remains unconquered, a family will not lose control of its territory even if it is besieged by enemies. Once the enemies retreat, they can immediately use the castle as a base to reclaim the lost lands in the surrounding area, and no one can reverse this process.

Because castles are so important, no family would let outsiders know the true internal structure of their family castle, and the real escape routes are usually only known to the head of the family.

Although the Red Keep was built by the Targaryen family, later seized by Robert Baratheon, and only fell into the hands of the Lannister family after his death, it's not surprising that Cersei didn't know some of the hidden passages. However, it's a bit hard to believe that the entire floor plan of the castle was leaked.

"Hehe! That's nothing! We can even go into the King and Queen's bedroom, let alone the Red Castle. I once saw the Queen Mother having an affair with one of her cousins, I think his name was Lancel," the boy boasted proudly.

"Incest? That's quite an interesting piece of news. I wonder how our Kingslayer will react to it..." Oberyn pursed his lips and revealed a sarcastic smile.

With the War of the Five Kings over, news of the incestuous relationship between the brother and sister and their three illegitimate children had already spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Although many people still had doubts about it, most people were already convinced of it, only daring not to talk about it openly because of the Lannister family's current status.

As an avenger, he didn't mind ruining the Lannister family's reputation while eliminating them, turning them into a laughingstock and objects of contempt.

"Well, can we begin now?" Daenerys appeared behind us, looking impatient.

This woman, described as possessing "inhuman beauty," was wearing a slightly yellowish brown wig, and her wide robe completely concealed her curvaceous figure. Her fair skin was covered in grime, making it impossible to see any beauty in her at all.

It was precisely because of her near-perfect disguise that she was able to successfully evade the Golden Robe's inspection and sneak into the city.

However, every coin has two sides. Although the disguise concealed her true identity, it also brought great inconvenience, especially the sour smell emanating from not bathing for several days in a row, which was an unbearable torment for a woman like her who loved beauty and cleanliness.

“That’s right, my queen. You see, with this, Cersei Lannister will soon be a prisoner.” Oberyn didn’t waste any words and handed over the sketch in his hand.

As a direct descendant of Martell, he knew very well that his brother had never intended to covet the Iron Throne. The two of them secretly plotted various schemes for only one purpose: revenge.

The Dornish, who are infused with the blood of the Rhoynar, are more resilient and tenacious than people anywhere else on the continent of Westeros. They do not easily yield even to the fearsome dragons. When their enemies are stronger than themselves, they choose to endure, but once their enemies weaken, they immediately unleash their fury of revenge.

Unfortunately, Tywin, who considered himself a "wise man," overlooked this point. In order to gain Robert's trust, he allowed his knights to brutally murder Elia, thus creating a terrible enemy for his family.

Daenerys took the document and glanced at it briefly before eagerly asking, "When do we make our move?"

"Tonight! To be precise, after midnight, I don't want to encounter too much resistance. After all, we only have two thousand men, and if we lose too many during the raid, we simply won't be able to control such a vast territory as King's Landing. Oh, by the way, your fiancé seems to have given you a small gift before you left; perhaps it's time to take it out." With that, Oberyn cast his gaze toward the other man's neck.

"Now?" Daenerys instinctively touched the gemstone pendant hidden inside her clothes.

Oberyn nodded without hesitation: "Yes, now. We need to figure out who the enemy and who the friend are before we launch the attack, and that list is crucial."

“Alright, take it.” Daenerys hesitated for a moment, then immediately opened the pendant and took out a crumpled note.

As for the above content, it is naturally a long list of names of varying lengths, some of whom are nobles, some are merchants, and some are officers in the city's defense forces.

It goes without saying that these people were all recruited by Zhang Cheng through threats and bribery. They may not be loyal yet, but once the Lannister family falls, they will certainly not mind swearing allegiance to the new master of the Iron Throne.

Oberyn narrowed his eyes, connecting each name to his memory one by one. After about three or four minutes, a smile appeared on his face, and he sighed softly, "Mason, my dear friend, you are truly a cunning and treacherous fellow. You have planted so many pawns in King's Landing without a sound. With this list, once you take the Red Keep, you can quickly control the entire city. It seems you have long harbored the idea of ​​attacking King's Landing."

"What are you planning to do next? Contact these people first? Or take the Red Keep first?" Daenerys asked softly.

"Of course, we should take the Red Keep first! I have a long-standing score to settle with the Lannisters!"

As he spoke these words, Oberyn gripped the spear tightly in his hand, his entire body radiating a naked killing intent.

"M-Sir, if you have no other instructions, I'll take my leave." The boy was clearly terrified, his voice trembling slightly.

"Go on, and remember to add something to the guards' dinner." Oberon gently patted the little guy's head, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light.

Chapter 238 Sneak Attack (Part 2)

Late at night, dark clouds had gathered over King's Landing, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere. Coupled with the constant stream of bad news about the war circulating in the streets and alleys, everyone felt suffocated.

As the de facto ruler of the city, Cersei Lannister stood on her bedroom balcony, her mind preoccupied with how to preserve her power and status.

Despite her many fatal flaws in character, she was not stupid. She understood that the impending great war in the South would likely determine who would rule Westeros for the next few centuries, and therefore dared not be careless.

However, just as she was considering whether she should go all out in a final battle against the enemy should the old town fall, or choose to endure and retreat, kneeling down to offer her loyalty like her father, a maidservant rushed forward and reported in rapid succession: "Your Majesty, bad news. The guards in the castle have suddenly suffered from a large-scale outbreak of diarrhea. Sir Adam Malbrand believes this is a matter of great concern."

"Diarrhea? Have you found out the cause?" Cersei frowned instinctively.

"The scholars are inspecting the kitchen; they think there's probably something wrong with dinner," the maid replied cautiously.

"Tell them to hurry! Also, tell Ser Adam Marbran to immediately remove a group of guards from the city gates and double the patrols tonight." Cersei hesitated for a few seconds before giving the orders.

Although diarrhea is not uncommon due to poor eating habits and extremely poor hygiene, the large-scale outbreak of diarrhea during this sensitive period still caused her concern.

"Understood! I'll have the knight prepare it right away." The maid bowed slightly, turned, and disappeared into the dimly lit corridor.

But before she could finish climbing the spiral staircase, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and covered her mouth. Then, a sharp dagger pierced upwards from her jaw, going straight through her brain.

The young girl stared wide-eyed, her face filled with bewilderment. She died without ever understanding who killed her or why they did it.

After the corpse's muscles began to fully relax, a girl of about twelve years old, dressed as a servant, slowly left the shadows. She looked around to make sure no one had noticed her before letting out a sigh of relief.

Instead of dealing with the body, she pulled out a torch and waved it three times forcefully in front of the window.

Meanwhile, the boy who was hiding at the exit of the secret passage and leading the way saw this scene and quickly turned to Oberyn and said, "My lord! We can make our move now! Our men will cooperate with you to take out a few patrol guards in key positions. Do not engage in any unnecessary entanglements. Head straight for Maegor Tower to capture the King and his mother first, and then attack White Sword Tower to kill the Kingsguard. Then you will be able to completely control the Red Keep."

"Don't worry! I know what to do without you teaching me." With that, Red Viper, spear in hand, was the first to rush out of the secret passage.

He was so fast that before the soldiers could react, he was already behind the two patrolling guards, piercing their throats with two sharp thuds.

"Hehehe! That's right! Fantastic! That's the feeling! Power! Revenge! Don't rush, my dear sister, the bastard who killed you will soon get what he deserves..."

While muttering to himself nervously, Oberyn took the lead in attacking the "Golden Robes," whose fighting strength was not very strong to begin with.

Just like his nickname suggests, most of his victims were killed by spears that seemed to spew venomous tongues before they even knew what was happening.

In the blink of an eye, several key high points within the castle fell, and elite warriors from Dorne silently sealed off the only entrance and exit, while also blocking the passageways to several major buildings.

At this point, the raid can be considered a success. Even if the enemy discovers it immediately and launches a counterattack, it is only a matter of time before the entire city falls.

As a faint smell of blood began to permeate the air, Oberon, covered in blood, finally stormed into Megalos.

This massive, square fortress, located in the very center of the Red Keep, boasts three and a half meters thick walls and a dry moat covered with iron spikes. It has always served as the royal residence, both during the reign of the Targaryen dynasty and to this day.

Unfortunately, the tall and thick city walls today have served absolutely no purpose.

With only about thirty casualties, the Dornish successfully captured the city walls and fired down on the enemy who were trying to put up a stubborn resistance.

In an instant, the sound of arrows whistling through the air filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, at least a hundred city guards fell to the ground screaming in agony.

Because of their armor, most of them did not die on the spot, but they were stabbed to death by the spearmen who followed closely behind.

No mercy!