Chapter 148: The Old Shipwright

"Great Dragonlord, only your kindness and wisdom are worthy of this precious sword," the frail old man said, struggling to lift the Valyrian Steel Longsword with both hands.

The effort made his body tremble, indicating the sword's considerable weight.

Seeing the Valyrian Steel Longsword, Rhaegar's heart surged with excitement. He leaped from Cannibal's back and landed with a thud beside the charred remains of the pirate leader.

Despite the foul smell emanating from the charred armor, Rhaegar's eyes were fixed on the sword as he approached the old man.

As Rhaegar took the sword into his hands, he paused, a smile spreading across his face. "It's actually a greatsword!" he exclaimed.

Swords came in various types, and this one was particularly special. The common ones were hand-and-a-half swords, like Blackfyre, the standard sword of his house. But greatswords, longswords, shortswords—they all had their unique attributes.

It was said that the Starks of the North possessed a Valyrian steel greatsword named Ice, passed down through generations.

Rhaegar examined the charred hilt and the blade, his fingers tracing the palm-sized surface. Though the sword's surface was blackened by dragonfire, the distinctive water-patterned steel of Valyria shone through. The material was exceptional.

The wooden handle was burned and worn, and the blade bore the scars of numerous battles, its edges chipped and pitted.

"The quest is now open: Retrieve the lost Valyrian steel greatsword," the system beeped in Rhaegar's mind. He grinned, summoning the system interface.

[Lost Valyrian Steel Greatsword]

Exploration Progress: 0.5%

"Thanks to these pirates, I've acquired a Valyrian steel greatsword," Rhaegar thought, gripping the hilt with both hands. He swung the sword twice, testing its balance and weight.

"It's a bit heavy, not ideal for prolonged combat," he mused.

With the relic [True Dragon's Blood], Rhaegar's physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary men, enhancing his endurance and strength. His current sword, Dark Sister, was originally designed for women—long, thin, and increasingly inadequate for his needs.

This Valyrian steel greatsword could replace Dark Sister.

Overjoyed with his new sword and the quest it presented, Rhaegar felt a surge of gratitude. He pointed to the young girl who had brought him the sword. "Take good care of her. If she can't find work, she can come with me to King's Landing."

This sword had been delivered to him by this slave ship, and he felt a responsibility to help these destitute people.

Wrapping the greatsword in a piece of burlap, Rhaegar secured it to his back.

"Roar..."

Cannibal, sensing Rhaegar's intention, lowered his altitude to allow Rhaegar to climb the soft ladder draped around his neck.

As the dragon and his rider ascended into the sky, Rhaenys eyed the heavy sword cradled in Rhaegar's arms with envy. "You really are lucky," she remarked.

Valyrian steel, a magical product from the ancient Valyrian Freehold, was exceedingly rare. When the Doom befell Valyria, the secrets of forging Valyrian steel were lost, along with most of its creations.

Today, only a handful of Valyrian steel artifacts remained.

A heavy Valyrian steel sword was a priceless treasure.

"Thank you for letting me go," Rhaegar said with a genuine smile. "With this sword, House Targaryen gains another ancestral weapon."

"These slaves presented the sword to you, not me," Rhaenys teased, her head held high. "Just don't let Corlys see it; he'll go mad with envy."

House Velaryon had a long history dating back to Valyria, though it was once a minor noble house.

Many years ago, the Velaryons possessed a Valyrian steel weapon—a scimitar called Sea Foam. It was lost on a voyage, leaving House Velaryon without a Valyrian steel heirloom.

The Targaryens, also of Valyrian descent, were among the most prominent Dragonlords, possessing the ancestral swords Blackfyre and Dark Sister, as well as the lesser-known Dragonhorn Dagger.

House Celtigar was rumored to have a Valyrian steel battle axe.

House Velaryon, however, had no such weapon.

The Sea Snake, Lord Corlys Velaryon, had sailed around the world, harboring dreams of acquiring a Valyrian steel weapon. Unfortunately, his dream had yet to be realized.

Rhaegar's grin widened. "I can't wait to see Lord Corlys' envious and jealous expression."

The sword was now his, and no one could take it away.

He relished the thought of flaunting it in front of the cunning old man, Corlys.

Rhaenys shook her head, laughing at her nephew's antics. "I don't want to talk to you, you lucky devil."

Rhaegar issued orders for the boatload of slaves to wait. Then, the dragons and Rhaenys returned to Driftmark.

...

The feast on Driftmark lasted for several days and concluded successfully.

One by one, the large ships that had brought the guests began to depart from the harbor, returning to their respective islands.

A sizable ship with seahorse sails was anchored in the harbor, with sailors maintaining order and laborers loading supplies.

"Prince, the Stepstones Islands are scattered and disorganized. My family's fleet can only set up defenses on Bloodstone Island. Any wider area is out of reach," Sea Snake reported in a low voice as he stood on the pier, watching the goods being transported onto the ship.

Rhaegar stood beside him, nodding in understanding. "To fortify the entire Stepstones Islands, we would need watchtowers, fleet patrols, and soldiers stationed at fortresses. It's beyond the capabilities of House Velaryon alone."

The Stepstones consisted primarily of two large islands: Bloodstone Island and Gray Gallows Island.

In the last battle of the Stepstones Islands, the pirates of the Triarchy had defended these two islands, avoiding direct conflict and delaying the battle indefinitely.

Currently, the Triarchy had not yet captured the islands, presenting an opportunity for the kingdom to send troops and repair the defense fortifications.

"When we return to King's Landing, I will inform my father of the situation," Rhaegar said. "I'll strive to secure funds from the treasury to fully arm the Stepstones Islands and bring them under the kingdom's protection."

As they spoke, a group of bare-chested old shipwrights disembarked from the ship, accompanied by their apprentices, and approached the two men.

"Lord Corlys, the ship's inspection is complete, and everything is in order," reported a short, stout, silver-haired old shipwright respectfully.

Sea Snake glanced at him and nodded. "Thank you, Master Hammer."

"Yes, Lord Corlys," Master Hammer replied, accustomed to his lord's condescension. He then led his companions away.

With no outsiders to disturb them, Sea Snake and Rhaegar continued their discussion about the defense of the Islands.

"Prince, we should take action as soon as possible. The pirates of the Triarchy could invade the Stepstones Islands at any moment," Sea Snake advised. "Without proper defenses, we risk repeating the failures of the last battle."

Sea Snake's analysis was sound and highlighted the urgency of the situation.

Rhaegar listened attentively, scanning the harbor. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the short, stout old shipwright, Master Hammer, squatting in front of a stall selling oranges, bargaining with the vendor. Beside him were two small figures.

Two little boys with silver-blonde hair and dark skin.

They reminded Rhaegar of the bastards he had seen on Dragonstone.

As the seat of House Targaryen, Dragonstone had many bastards, with blood relations often tangled.

It was surprising to see that even the traditionally old-fashioned and noble House Velaryon had its share of bastards.

(Word count: 1,223)