Chapter 317: Forty Million Golden Dragons

Overwhelmed by the pressure, Hizdahr had no choice but to reveal everything to Viserys, explaining the plan from start to finish.

For the past month, the slave owners of Slaver's Bay had gone to great lengths to lower Viserys's guard, all to lure him to Qarth. At the heart of their scheme was the Warlocks' House of the Undying.

In the original timeline, the Mother of Dragons had led her small khalasar across the Red Waste and arrived in Qarth with no choice but to trust the Warlocks, who easily tricked her into entering the House of the Undying. Lacking any knowledge of magic, she was led into a dangerous illusion and narrowly escaped death when Drogon killed the Undying Ones just as they attempted to drain her life force.

But Viserys was different. He lacked for nothing and posed a far greater threat. The slave owners believed he had walked into their trap, like a fish drawn to a hook. They saw his arrival as an opportunity to reclaim power—not just for Slaver's Bay, but for the entire slave-owning world. Moreover, Viserys's actions in Westeros had severely damaged their influence, uniting Slaver's Bay and Qarth against him.

"So why not just kill me here in Slaver's Bay?" Viserys asked, his tone sharp. "If I don't go to Qarth, your entire plan falls apart, doesn't it?"

Hizdahr, trembling, replied, "You're a buyer from Slaver's Bay. If you die here, it would bring chaos. We cannot risk killing you on our soil."

Viserys sneered. Typical—too afraid to risk anything when chasing greatness.

Since the fall of the Old Empire of Ghis to Valyria, there had been no major struggles in the region. It made sense why a girl like Daenerys, barely fourteen or fifteen, could arrive with three young dragons and turn the place upside down.

"Drag them away and behead them," Viserys commanded in Valyrian.

At the sound of their sentence, the slave owners erupted into panicked wails, their voices thick with desperation.

"Viserys! These are ancient houses with histories spanning thousands of years! Without us, no one will be able to help you rule Slaver's Bay!"

Hizdahr, sensing the gravity of the moment, knew he had to make one last effort to preserve hope for Meereen. He stepped forward, trembling but determined.

"Who said I want to rule Slaver's Bay?" Viserys shot back.

"What?" Hizdahr's eyes widened in shock.

Viserys smirked at Hizdahr's disbelief. He was about to declare, I am a conqueror, not a ruler, indulging in a bit of arrogance. But then he caught himself. I am already an emperor, he reminded himself. I must be mindful of what I say and do. Future generations will follow my example.

Viserys believed that emperors, kings, and monarchs were meant to be builders of civilization, not mere plunderers. Only barbarian chieftains bragged about destruction and conquest. The Targaryens were destined to rule and build a new world, not simply tear it down.

"There are forty Dragonlord houses in the past, and now there's only House Targaryen. What are you?" Viserys's words echoed coldly.

Hizdahr zo Loraq's world shattered in an instant. His mind struggled to process the weight of that question as the blade fell, ending his life. There are forty Dragonlord houses in the past, and now there's only House Targaryen.What did they think they were compared to him?

With the slave owners dealt with, Viserys turned swiftly to his next command.

"Caggo," he called.

"Your Grace," Caggo replied, stepping forward.

"You will take 10,000 men and march south to join Ser Jorah and Prince Hoyt in the siege of Yunkai."

"Yes, Your Grace!" Caggo responded with a sharp salute.

Viserys turned to another commander. "John Mudd."

"Your Grace," came the response.

"You will garrison Meereen. Kill all the slave owners with ten or more slaves. Confiscate their property and send everything back to Tyrosh."

"Understood, Your Grace!" John Mudd nodded, already planning how to carry out the purge.

The spoils from Astapor, excluding the Unsullied, had been worth an estimated 10 million golden dragons. But Meereen—wealthier and more prosperous—promised even greater rewards. The fortune of this city would flow directly into Viserys's coffers.

Caggo and Young John Mudd had brought over 20,000 men, half of whom were cavalry.

With the 30,000 Unsullied recruited from Astapor, and the 20,000 soldiers Hoyt and Jorah had at their disposal, Yunkai, the weakest of the three Free Cities, stood no chance. Viserys doubted they would even fight. A city like Yunkai would likely surrender before the siege began.

Having settled the military matters, Viserys led Shinelli up the steps of Meereen's 800-foot-tall golden pyramid. Once inside, they searched for a proper bed, but finding none, Viserys simply spread his large black cloak on the ground.

As the golden morning sun bathed their bodies in light, Shinelli, pressed tightly against him, asked, "Your Grace, are you really going to Qarth? Why not call Princess back? We don't need to worry about those Warlocks anymore."

Viserys's gaze remained distant, his voice thoughtful. "The Warlocks are getting stronger. If we don't deal with them now, they could become a threat—to my child, to our future."

Of course, Viserys wasn't only thinking about his offspring. He knew the Warlocks' dark interest in "King's Blood." And he remembered how the White Walkers were drawn to Stark blood. If he could unravel the secrets of blood magic, he might uncover the key to defeating the White Walkers.

Shinelli, however, wasn't thinking that far ahead. Her mind drifted to her own growing ambition. My child… She touched her slightly swollen belly, smiling to herself. Surely it's possible, after last night.

Even if her child didn't have a claim to the throne, being Viserys's firstborn would secure an important place in his heart. She knew this, and that knowledge brought her comfort.

It was a natural thought. Even the most uncompetitive women couldn't help but harbor ambition when it came to their children. And Shinelli's hopes weren't unreasonable—she only wanted her child to earn more of Viserys's love, a reasonable desire in such a world.

"I'll head straight to Qarth after we conquer Yunkai. Take care of yourself, and I'll return as soon as I can," Viserys said, his tone confident.

"Yes, Your Grace," came the reply.

The conquest of Yunkai went smoother than anticipated. When Viserys's armies from the north and south surrounded the city, the Wise Masters didn't even realize what was happening. Supreme Commander of the Armies and Allies of Yunkai, often referred to as 'Pickled Plum,' had even considered a diplomatic chat with Viserys, but it was too late. The dragonfire swiftly breached Yunkai's crumbling walls, allowing 30,000 troops to flood in. Soon, the banners of the three-headed dragon flew over the city.

Yunkai, known for its infamous bed slaves and apricot slaves, faced a new future under Viserys's rule. With his decree to abolish slavery, these people could no longer be treated as property. However, the question of what to do with them was one for later. For now, the wealth of the slave owners was confiscated, and both slaves and citizens were liberated.

Conservative estimates placed the wealth extracted from the slave owners of the three cities of Slaver's Bay at over 40 million golden dragons. This was more than the combined taxes Viserys had received from the other five Free Cities over the last forty years, excluding the Hopeful Lands and the Stepstones.

Viserys's campaign in Slaver's Bay was almost complete, but dealing with the Warlocks was the next challenge. For that, Viserys, Dany, their seven dragons, and a small entourage—including the Valyrian steel-armored guards—should suffice. However, controlling the entire city of Qarth would be a different matter, one that might require leading an army of 20,000 men.

Marching by land would mean crossing the Red Waste, a journey that would take at least two months, and by the time they reached Qarth, his forces would be exhausted. It would also alert Qarth to their approach long before they arrived. On the other hand, traveling by land and sea would take only about a month, but Qarth, with its extensive shipping network, would likely detect their arrival. Rumors of Viserys's conquest of Slaver's Bay had probably already reached Qarth.

"Commander, I'm leaving the administration of Slaver's Bay in your hands. I plan to sail to Qarth first. Prepare a fleet of 20,000 men to support me," Viserys ordered.

"Understood, Your Grace!" Hoyt responded.

Hoyt, who had looked sickly before arriving in Slaver's Bay, now radiated energy and vitality. Recently, Viserys had strengthened Hoyt's constitution through blood magic, and the results were striking. Buoyed by his renewed strength, Hoyt believed he might even father another son in the future.

Grateful for his decision to side with Viserys and join the Windblown, Hoyt reflected on how much had changed. Not only had they reclaimed Pentos, but Viserys had also helped him 'renew his life.' Although Hoyt wasn't sure what kind of magic was at play, he knew one thing: everything came with a price. Whatever Viserys had sacrificed, it had been significant. Hoyt was determined to guard Slaver's Bay in his name.

Before departing for Qarth, Viserys decided to enter Dany's dream, as they had agreed to meet at fixed times to ensure their safety against the Warlocks. As soon as he entered her dream, Dany had unexpected news for him.

"Brother, a Shadowbinder appeared on my ship. Her name is Quaithe, and she said some strange things to me."