Chapter 3: Adventures at Pentos (1)

Stannis Baratheon, alone in the office, drank both salt and lemon water until the sun went down.

"Dear, you are drinking too much. Why don't you stop here today?" Selyse Baratheon, Shireen's mother and Stannis Baratheon's wife, checked the surroundings as she said in a soft voice.

The surroundings were a mess. The table was full of empty cups. The smell of lemon emanating from the cup was enough to make his face frown. Stannis Baratheon looked at Selyse with a painful expression on his face.

"Selyse. I yelled at Shireen today. I know better than anyone how wrong this is, but when I wake up, I see blood running down Shireen's hands with a wide grin on her face. Is there something wrong, Selyse? Has this something to do with the Lord of Light's prophecy? Am I a bad father? I'm trying to rectify things with violence because our children were stillborn, and only Shireen survived." He shook his head in pain.

Stannis Baratheon is not good at expressing his emotions but he is indeed fond and loves his only child, Shireen Baratheon. Meanwhile, Selyse never liked Shireen because she was born as a girl and has greyscale, thinking that she is a curse because sons are never born in the House Baratheon of Dragonstone. If Woo Ma-wang hears this, he would literally reply bullshit to Shireen's mother. Though it is bound that Ma-wang will soon know that her own mother hates her own child. Maybe Ma-wang can change that.

Though Selyse caught the attention when Stannis said that he saw Shireen's bloodied hands with a wide grin on her face in his dreams. Does it mean something?

"Well, you should ask Melisandre regarding your dreams about Shireen. And dear, it's fine if you yelled at her either intentionally or unintentionally. You are a human being after all."

"Yes, that's true. But what about Shireen? She's the only child who went through a lot because of the greyscale…" Stannis paused, "Selyse, I love our daughter. She's our only child. The only heir of Dragonstone. I may be fond of her but I don't know how I should treat Shireen."

Selyse hugged Stannis and stroked his hair.

"Please don't blame yourself too much. Although you may have been lacking in some ways as a parent, we are the only ones who can correct Shireen's behaviors." Selyse continued,

"And the Stannis Baratheon I know is not someone who should let his own daughter stray off in the wrong direction. You still have the chance to set things straight for Shireen, especially in the future."

"Are you talking about this underworld organization led by Magister Illyrio Mopatis? Shireen is a stubborn yet intelligent child. She probably said he would take care of the Pentoshi sharks herself in the heat of the moment."

"But if we leave her like this, who knows what will happen to her?"

"Why don't you get my uncle, Ser Axell Florent, to help Shireen? You never know, she could be a great she-knight just like Brienne of Tarth."

"Yes, you're right." Stannis sighed.

"Is anybody there?!" Stannis yelled.

"You called, my lord?" It was Bryen Farring, the first squire of Stannis Baratheon.

"Call Ser Axell Florent immediately."

But there was something they were overlooking. Shireen Baratheon. She wasn't the daughter they knew before. A sweet child turned into a cold one. Protecting the words they spit, even at the risk of their lives, was the new Shireen they would come to know.

-

A few days later.

Shireen left Dragonstone and set sail for Pentos by using the war galley Wraith, accompanied by Ser Davos, and his eldest son; Dale Seaworth who manned the war galley, the jester Patchface who could be useful for translating bastardized Valyrian is also part of this group as well. With several Baratheon knights disguising as merchants acting as security. Shireen found a way to convince these people to destroy this Pentoshi organization once and for all though Davos couldn't hide his worries because this is the first time that Shireen left Dragonstone without Stannis' permission though Stannis will find out about this sooner or later. What will happen to her will be Davos' responsibility.

Now they're at Pentos, going out like this is really dangerous. Illyrio Mopatis' criminal empire is a heinous group that has experience on terrorizing both Westerosi nobles and Essosi magisters. Davos must have been thinking of retaliating against Shireen from the last incident.

"My lady. I know you're my responsibility if something happens to you. In addition, Lord Stannis doesn't know that we are at Essos but we don't know when Mopatis' men will come back to get revenge. Why don't we just tour around, my lady?"

Shireen found out about Illyrio Mopatis, his underworld organization and his true nature, and learned that they were, as rumored, a dangerous group. And there is a high chance that it is also a Targaryen loyalist group.

"Ser Davos, when do you think that Illyrio Mopatis and his organization gained the strength they have now?" said Shireen.

"I don't know, my lady."

"His organization waged wars with the usury powers that opposed them, and gained notoriety by brutally killing them. That's the start. Notoriety breeds fear, and they realize how efficiently they can use it to get things done."

Ser Davos was surprised at Shireen's remarks on Illyrio Mopatis and his organization. Shireen is truly an intelligent child though not in a child way, more like an adult way. Even the four Seaworth men noticed this. There's no child that can think like this!

"But are they still dangerous?"

"Yes, as long as they can make me afraid, that is." Shireen sighed and laughed.

Illyrio Mopatis and his organization is actually dangerous. It makes sense since he is one of the magisters of Pentos.

Notoriety swelled up, and in order to protect that notoriety, I had to do something worthy of the notoriety.

Those who have nothing to lose in Murim needed to be careful, but the problem was that Shireen was a heavenly horse. Heaven. Heavenly Demoness. The apex of magic. What happened from the dirty muddy water to the top position? Suicide? Terrorism? That was everyday.

There were dozens of assassins attacking Shireen every day when she was still Woo Ma-wang, and the poisonous eyes that promised to curse her to death were so many that she couldn't even remember them. Shireen is a person who overcame such adversity and rose to the apex.

If the opponent looked directly into their eyes, they would be cut out, and if they cursed, their

tongues would be plucked out. That's Woo Ma-wang as Shireen Baratheon.

The Mopatis organization's notoriety did not bring any horror to Shireen.

"Let's go over there first."

Shireen stops walking. Seeing Shireen suddenly entering the restaurant, Ser Davos and the crew followed Shireen in a professional and cautious way.

"Alright, Westerosi, here is the food you ordered!"

"Woah. Pentoshi food sure is delicious. Better than back at home!" said Dale, who is the eldest son of Ser Davos.

Food came out quickly. The variety of food that filled the table had a fragrant smell, but Shiree whispered to Hans in a calm voice. "You can stay here and eat. I'll be heading out first."

"Huh?! What are you talking about all of a sudden?!" Ser Davos' voice caught the attention of his sons and Baratheon agents/knights disguising as merchants.

"From now on, I'll continue the investigation on myself. Stay here, since it's too dangerous for you." Shireen replied casually.

"I cannot allow that! Even if I am in danger, I cannot send you alone, my lady!" Ser Davoswas adamant as he blocked Shireen on her way.

Meanwhile, the Seaworth sons were just watching, unable on what to do in this situation. And the Pentoshi or foreign customers were just watching the scene though they couldn't understand what these Westerosi people were saying.

Then, laughter came out from Shireen.

Ser Davos Seaworth. He is a good person. Lord Stannis should be proud to have a reliable vassal like Ser Davos. At least he was genuinely concerned for Shireen's well-being.

"Ser Davos, are you really one of my men?"

"Huh?" Ser Davos was confused for a moment. "Of course I am one of your men, my lady. You are the heir of Dragonstone."

"Then do what you can to help me. I do not wish for meaningless sacrifices. You've done more than enough just by accompanying me outside. So you just have to sit here and enjoy the food as I commanded you."

Shireen. Living a new life, she built a fence. And, inside the fence, for the first time, a man named Davos Seaworth was put. Identity doesn't matter. Shireen accepted Hans as his man because she is the heir of Dragonstone, and his life will never be taken lightly.

"I will be back soon." Shireen left the restaurant.

"Father, are you sure about leaving Lady Shireen alone?" asks Dale as he chews the food.

"Of course not, we can't just let Lady Shireen die from those thugs! Otherwise, we're doomed." Ser Davos signalled the Baratheon agents to follow Shireen.

-

'If there's one thing I found out about Illyrio Mopatis' organization these past few days, it's that their strength isn't very formidable. But because they operate in small groups, it's very difficult to hunt them down.' Shireen thought as she walked casually in the streets of Pentos.

'They're probably acting passive, because they're afraid of the consequences if they aren't able to kill me properly.'

'An authority without a figure. If I can't find them myself, I just need to make them come to me.' Shireen devilish grin.

Shireen strolled around in the streets of Pentos on purpose. Mopatis men probably figured out that Shireen is in Pentos. On top of that, today is the day of the Pentoshi city watch's regular training. And because of that, the amount of security on the streets has been greatly reduced. That means if they're planning to get revenge on Shireen, this is their perfect chance.

Shireen made herself an attractive bait. This method was frequently used in Murim as well. Even the great assassins who did not reveal any traces naturally turned on their eyes and rushed in when they exposed their loopholes.

'Three in the back.' Slowly the tail was attached.

At first, some people who watched from afar, now openly followed after her.

'Now I'm tempted.' Naturally, Shireen turned and walked into a quiet alley. That's the direction of the entertainment brothel district in Pentos, so there would be no

doubt about it as an assassin who is ready to kill a Westerosi noble. The bait was gently shaken. Let them bite the bait. Shireen hid her true feelings and disappeared deep into the alley with a cold expression.

Footsteps echoed through the alley. Then Shireen stopped walking, grinning.

"Shireen Baratheon." the assassin unsheathes his dagger.

'I knew it.' She thought, still grinning.

"This is the revenge of Illyrio Mopatis!"

It happened in an instant. A man ran up to her and attempted to stab Shireen with his dagger in her arms. A surprise attack that occurred without warning. Ordinary people would have been helpless, but Shireen's reaction was quick.

Shireen leaned aside. Then, she grabbed the opponent's arm with his armpit, "this little bit-!" and broke it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The man screamed.

When he missed the dagger in his bizarrely broken arm, Shireen grabbed the dagger and stabbed the man in the neck several times. Instantly, blood gushed out like a fountain. The man, with a pale face, hurriedly tried to stop the blood spurting from his neck, but there was nothing he could do about the blood leaking between his fingers. He fell down to the ground, dead.

"W-what the hell?!" the two assassins took a step back as Shireen widely grins at them like a little demon.

"Just what is going on here?!" yelled the assassin.

"How can a kid fight like this?!" yelled the other assassin.

Though the assassins were uncomfortable at this situation, especially that Shireen's smile (and her greyscale on the left side of her face) was really uncanny to the point that it sent chills down their spine.

"What are you guys doing?" Shireen asked as she smiled at the assassins.

"Come and get me." Shireen began to do a defensive stance, signalling the assassins to come and get her.