11 Chapter 11

Astapor, the very existence of the city boiled Edwyn's blood. Butchers treated the animals in much better ways than the masters did to their slaves.

In his past life, Edwyn had seen similar things happen but it was never in the open where the ninjas or Samurai could take action against the oppressors.

In Planetos though, the cruelty and greed of the masters exceeded everything else. Because there was no power who could endanger them.

Edwyn separated from Daenerys' group and walked around on his own.

'She's pitying them. No, they are beyond any pity. So naive. I'll need to test her abilities as a ruler. Before that, she needs an army. But she doesn't have enough gold. Should I help her with the gold I have? No... this will be a good test for her, to see how cunning she is.'

The owner of the Unsullied army was an ugly rude testicle of a man. Thinking that Daenerys couldn't understand Valyrian, he didn't hold back while using offensive slurs.

Edwyn was keenly observing Daenerys' reaction.

'She's barely controlling herself from lashing out. A hint of vindictiveness in her eys... she's prideful. Understandable.'

The talks ended soon after and they all began strolling around again. A little girl attracted Daenerys' attention. There was something off about her.

Daenerys followed the little girl and soon, the girl dropped a ball at the little queen's feet.

Daenerys lost balance and fell down. Suddenly, the ball opened and a very poisonous scorpion emerged from it, intending to sting Daenerys.

But it was killed by a hooded man who had been following them for some time.

Jorah and the few Dothraki guards tried to capture the girl but she had already escaped.

As Edwin look at the hooded man, he smirked and said, "Well, well, well... Look who we have here... What, did the 'little mad prick' send you to kill me?"

Daenerys' head whipped towards the hooded man as her guards stood in front of her, their weapons ready to strike the hooded man at the first signs of hostility.

Barristan removed the hood and huffed, "You jest, Prince Edwyn. There's not a man alive who would dare to accept any requests or orders of killing you."

Edwyn tilted his head and asked, "Then why are you here?"

Barristan cleared his throat and answered, "King Joffrey..."

But seeing the scowl that had suddenly appeared on Edwyn's face...

"... Uhm, I mean, the 'little mad prick', *cough*, removed me from the Kingsguard after I failed to protect King Robert..."

Another scowl...

"... Uh, after I failed to protect 'the degenerate pig'. He said that my services were no longer required."

Edwyn's expression turned solemn as he asked, "How was Ned Stark killed? What happened to 'lady' Sansa and the little wolf?"

Barristan lowered his head in shame and replied, "The king, on his death bed, had made a royal decree that Lord Stark would serve as the regent in the stead of prince Joffrey until he was of age. But, the queen tore the decree and declared Lord Stark as a traitor to the realm. He trusted the wrong men. Petyr Baelish betrayed him, so did the city guard. Lady Sansa is being held as a hostage in King's Landing. Lady Arya has been missing since Lord Stark's execution."

Edwyn took a moment to grieve for the tragic death of the fool known as Eddard Stark. Even after he had warned the Lord Paramount of the North, he let his foolish Northern pride to occlude his rationality.

Sansa, the poor girl would suffer greatly at the hands of Cersei and Joffrey and Edwyn could do nothing about it. He just hoped that Arya Stark was still alive.

An arrogant snort broke Edwyn out of his grieving, "So usurper is dead, along with the traitor Stark. Good, lesser enemies for me."

Edwyn exhaled forcefully, asked Barristan to follow him and marched away, not wanting to deal with the naive and arrogant Targaryen queen.

When they were out of the little queen's sight, Edwyn said, "I understand why you are here, Barristan. You want to serve the house of Rhaegar Targaryen one more time before you die. But the girl is naive and arrogant. She's letting the power cloud her mind. It's just the beginning, but I can already see it. Wait for a while before you declare your loyalty to her. I don't want you to die at my hands. You were one of the few who I was fond of back in King's Landing."

Barristan looked at Edwyn in surprise and asked, "Y-You're going to kill her?!"

"No... at least, not yet. I'll try to guide her a bit, to direct her away from the madness that runs in her veins. But if she proves to be like her father, I'll kill her before she reduces Westeros to ashes. I don't care what happens to all those power-hungry pricks who sit in their castles and plot against each other like a bunch of fools. But I won't let the common folk suffer under the rule of a tyrant."

"And if she does prove to be a good ruler?"

Edwyn replied with a genuine smile, something that Barristan had rarely ever seen, "Then I'll crown her myself and destroy all of her enemies. Countless people have suffered because of the greed of a few. If she can promise a better and a peaceful future to Westeros, I'll unite the sky above and the ground below if that's what it'll take for her to sit on the iron throne."

Barristan was dazzled by the conviction and sheer determination in Edwyn's words.

"... And you? Will you be the king?"

Edwyn chuckled, but there was no humour in it. The smile transformed into a sad and melancholic one as he replied, "King, I don't know what I want, Barristan."

Barristan could tell that there was something more that Edwyn wanted to tell but he didn't pry and silently followed Edwyn around.

Edwyn looked up at the sky and sighed, 'I don't know if I could ever love someone else, Hinata.'

The pain of losing everything he cherished resurfaced as he closed his eyes and sighed again. He had buried the grief deep inside himself, but it would sometimes resurface. He remembered their smiling faces, all the happy times he spent with those he loved. But they were taken away by the greedy Otsusuki.

Lossing everything he cared for had changed him for the worst. He was just a fragment of his former self. After sixteen long years in Planetos, the innocent and the epitome of goodness known as Naruto Uzumaki was long lost. All that was left was a ruthless killer. At the very least, he still had his morals.

But as he opened his eyes, they began burning with resolve.

'I'll find the answers I'm looking for. No matter what. I'll destroy all the gods if that's what it'll take. But first...'

Edwyn looked around at the masters and the tortured slaves.

'... I need to cleanse this world of all the filth that has been festering it for thousands of years. The so-called gods and the heretical humans that follow them, the masters and all the other oppressors, I'll purge them all... or at least, die trying.'