Chapter 758: Qohor

Viserys' actions were abrupt, flipping open the entirely black coffin, leaving the bearded monks, including the twelve monk governors, in shock.

"Esteemed guest, you..."

The leading old monk among the twelve governors had a sudden change in expression, and everyone present erupted into a buzz of astonishment.

Viserys' actions were undeniably disrespectful. Despite his noble status and the fact that he arrived on a dragon, such behavior of lifting the coffin lid in someone else's memorial hall was unacceptable.

Before these bearded monks could accuse Viserys of his rudeness, their expressions changed when they saw what was inside the coffin.

The entirely black coffin was now empty, the body mysteriously vanished.

"What's going on?"

"Where did the body go?"

The monk governor was furious and interrogated the slave soldiers present, but the soldiers appeared clueless.

With the funeral lasting for three days and nights, with people guarding constantly, it seemed impossible for someone to have taken the body under everyone's watchful eyes.

However, the scene had descended into chaos, with people gossiping and discussing, and Viserys' actions became the focus of attention, now turning into an investigation.

"Apologies, Your Majesty."

"Please allow us to investigate the whereabouts of the body."

"We have prepared a grand feast for you."

At this moment, a bearded monk governor with long hair and beard approached, slightly bowing and extending courtesies.

In Qohor, not everyone was allowed to keep a beard; only the legitimate monks could. Other men, regardless of their background, generally grew long beards without grooming. Women and slaves were not allowed any body hair, and their heads were shaved. Some noble Qohor women would wear wigs.

However, Viserys had come to Qohor to find this elderly monk with prophetic abilities. The prospect of attending a feast didn't interest him much.

Whether the monk was truly dead or avoiding him, Viserys had no means to force the truth.

"No need."

The silver-haired young man in a black cloak spoke calmly.

His 'calm' demeanor was interpreted by others as 'indifferent,' causing internal distress.

Offending the Emperor of the Valyrian Empire, where would his future peaceful days be?

Especially after just claiming the person was dead, but the body had disappeared, raising suspicions of a feigned death.

The upper echelons of Norvos knew this old monk possessed prophetic abilities. Years ago, he predicted the uprising in Qohor, similar to the one that had occurred in Norvos. The Red God's faithful had seized power, slaughtering many noble families in the city.

Just like the Windblown, led by Viserys and the Prince of Pentos, had taken control of Pentos, annihilating most noble houses. The remaining few fled.

Three years ago, Qohor had fallen entirely under the control of the Red God's worshippers, expelling the Black Goat's faith from the city. The other free cities had expelled them too, and they had even reached the borders of the Empire.

However, the Black Goat's faith involved bloody rituals, sacrificing livestock and, when necessary, the lives of criminals. Some Qohor nobles had even offered their own flesh and blood to the Black Goat when the Red God's followers took control.

Years ago, when the Red God's followers secretly planned their uprising, the city's nobles resorted to the most extreme measures, hoping for the Black Goat's protection.

Unfortunately, the Black Goat did not manifest to save its faithful, and the Red God's worshippers emerged victorious, seizing control of the city. Qohor had become a place entirely devoted to the Red God.

Norvos, on the other hand, faced a similar fate. The lower classes harbored discontent against the bearded monk system. Although the bearded monks were a minority ruling the city, most of Norvos' inhabitants were ordinary people, or even slaves.

Many years ago, when the Red God's followers attempted to take over, the system issued a warning. Norvos expelled all Red Priests and Priestesses and thoroughly hunted down lower-class citizens and slave soldiers planning to participate in the rebellion. The uprising was thwarted.

"Could he really have feigned his death?"

The monk governor was distressed, but Viserys paid him no mind. He wasn't in the mood to linger. With a step, he transformed into a black mist, disappearing before everyone's eyes.

Viserys found his dragon and realized that the creature disliked the constructed world of humans, preferring the deep forests and mountains.

While Viserys was a guest in Norvos, Bellerion had flown to a nearby hill to rest. Dense black forests covered the surroundings, housing various trees like beech, oak, pine, and abundant wildlife such as wild boars, brown bears, wolves, and other prey.

During this time, Bellerion casually hunted and killed a brown bear, roasting it with dragon fire, and devoured it, cleaning its teeth afterward.

Now, as Viserys located Bellerion, he frowned slightly.

He sensed a familiar presence.

After careful consideration, he turned his gaze towards the northwest of Norvos, outside the city.