Chapter 195: The Unsullied

The matter of the wine merchant was but a minor incident as Viserys entered the city of Pentos.

By the time Viserys and his entourage arrived at Illyrio's courtyard, Ramsay, the 'Little Flayer,' who had been following them, had somehow vanished.

He disappeared into the vast city teeming with people, like a drop of water merging seamlessly with the sea.

Of course, Illyrio didn't notice that Viserys' group was missing a few people, and he warmly welcomed Viserys into his mansion.

Viserys dismounted, then handed the reins to a soldier wearing light armor, with a short sword at his waist and a spiked helm on his head.

The soldier's movements were swift and efficient, his eyes devoid of any other colors, like an emotionless precision machine.

"Hmm?"

Viserys curiously examined the soldier for a few moments, not recalling having seen this type of soldier during his last visit to Illyrio's courtyard.

It seemed...

Viserys felt a sense of familiarity, almost ready to blurt it out.

"Unsullied."

The rotund merchant and Magister, Illyrio, wheezed as he descended from his carriage. Upon seeing Viserys' gaze linger on his soldier, he proceeded to explain.

"Is this your first time seeing them?"

"Though, it's not surprising. These 'swordless' fellows come from Astapor, which is quite a distance from Andalos."

Illyrio laughed heartily.

"So, they are the Unsullied."

Viserys' eyes revealed a hint of astonishment, as he had just thought of it but was unsure whether to confirm it.

The Unsullied were a renowned army on the continent of Essos, having created countless miracles in the history of warfare. Though they might not have seen them, almost everyone knew the Unsullied were the finest soldiers.

These slave warriors underwent brutal elimination since childhood, with only one in three able to survive years of dehumanizing training.

Ultimately, they became true Unsullied, completely discarding human emotions and transforming into pure killing machines.

They would unconditionally obey their master's commands, even if ordered to cut off a hand on the spot or slit their own throats without hesitation.

The only drawback to these Unsullied warriors was their high cost.

However, the steep price wasn't the fault of the Unsullied, but rather that the wealthy merchants who desired to purchase them for protection couldn't afford them.

Viserys glanced at the soldier's retreating figure once more.

The Unsullied led his warhorse to the designated area outside the courtyard, meticulously tying it up, seemingly oblivious to Illyrio's words.

Only then did Viserys avert his gaze.

"Very impressive."

"Unsullied, truly living up to their great reputation."

Viserys looked somewhat envious of these elite soldiers, knowing that regular training could hardly achieve such results.

Illyrio, still chuckling heartily, his yellow beard quivering with a hint of pride, knew that having Unsullied warriors guarding his estate was practically the highest level of defense.

Days before, a Pentoshi Magister had been murdered at his estate outside the city. The guards he had with him didn't even realize their master had been tortured to death.

When these slave guards finally discovered what had happened, they chose not to inform anyone, but instead scattered and fled.

This Magister had a family, and if they found out that their negligence had led to his death, they wouldn't be spared either. So, the slaves scattered, trying to escape.

However, within two days, all the slaves were captured and buried alive as a funeral offering for the murdered Magister.

As a result, every Magister and wealthy merchant in Pentos felt unsafe.

Illyrio had purchased a hundred Unsullied to strengthen the security of his courtyard, to prevent a similar tragedy. Upon returning to Pentos, he sold some at a higher price to other Magisters.

Astapor's rules dictated that Unsullied could only be purchased in units of one hundred or one thousand, as they needed a commander's staff to give orders. The Unsullied, trained to obey the staff and not the person, would even kill their own master without hesitation if commanded by the staff.

"If you're interested, I'll give you two when you leave Pentos."

Illyrio casually offered two Unsullied to Viserys. Although the Unsullied were expensive, he could afford to give away two.

"No need," Viserys replied, shaking his head slightly.

Two Unsullied wouldn't be of much use, even less than two battle-hardened mercenaries. Otherwise, they wouldn't have suffered so many casualties against the Sons of the Harpy.

But fighting individually was not the correct way to utilize the Unsullied. They truly showed their strength when formed into an army.

They were fearless, maintaining formation even in the face of terrible circumstances, and even when only one soldier remained, they would courageously raise their spears and charge at the enemy.

That was their most fearsome quality.

"Please."

"Please."

Viserys and Illyrio then entered the reception room.

A golden-haired young maidservant poured tea and stole a glance at Viserys, her cheeks flushing before she hurried away.

Viserys was accustomed to such situations, looking at the shy girl's retreating figure before turning his gaze back to the wealthy Magister and speaking.

"Lord Illyrio, what did you mean by what you said at the city gate earlier?"

Viserys didn't engage in small talk with Illyrio but got straight to the point.

Illyrio, realizing that Viserys didn't want to beat around the bush, nodded and went straight to the heart of the matter, his greasy, fat cheeks becoming increasingly serious.

"Well... perhaps you don't know."

"Your Grace."

Illyrio's voice was hoarse, his small eyes filled with solemnity, and he even unconsciously lowered his tone as he spoke.

"Some of the Magisters of Pentos now harbor ill intentions towards you."

To Viserys' surprise, Illyrio openly admitted this.

"Hmm?"

Viserys raised his eyebrows slightly.

He hadn't expected this. He had thought that Illyrio would feign ignorance.

After all, no matter how close he was to the Targaryens, Illyrio was still a Magister of Pentos, and this concerned his fundamental interests.

Could Illyrio actually be selling out his fellow Magisters so easily?

Viserys' curiosity was piqued, and he decided to press further.

"Lord Illyrio, why are you telling me this? Aren't you worried about the consequences?"

Illyrio looked at Viserys, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"Your Grace, you must understand that not all of the Magisters in Pentos share these malicious intentions. I, for one, am loyal to you and your family. My ultimate goal is to see the Targaryens restored to their rightful place on the Iron Throne."

Viserys listened intently, weighing Illyrio's words.

Illyrio continued, "The situation in Pentos is more complicated than you may realize. Some Magisters and merchants seek to maintain the status quo, fearing that your return to power will disrupt their businesses and influence. Others, like myself, believe that only under the Targaryens' rule can true peace and prosperity be restored to the Seven Kingdoms."

Viserys nodded slowly, taking in the information.

"I appreciate your honesty, Lord Illyrio. I trust that you will continue to provide me with valuable insights into the political climate in Pentos."

Illyrio bowed his head respectfully.

"Of course, Your Grace. I am at your service."

And with that, Viserys knew that he had a powerful ally in Illyrio, one who could help him navigate the treacherous waters of Pentoshi politics as he sought to reclaim his birthright.