Chapter 741: Difficult Choices 

The Imperial fleet descended, obliterating the pirate and slaver ships, liberating this tranquil isle from the clutches of darkness.

The Naathi, who lived on the island and cherished peace, were initially terrified by the sudden naval battle that erupted on the sea. Amidst the chaos of war and the haze of gunpowder, they lacked even the courage to resist the invasion, having never witnessed such a spectacle. However, when Milaz, the Naathi envoy aboard the Imperial fleet, disembarked and clarified the situation to the tribe, the people hiding in the dense forests finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The political landscape of Naath was similar to that of the Summer Isles. There was no unified nation, but the difference lay in the fact that the tribes of the Summer Isles were constantly at war, lacking a 'Conqueror' like Aegon to unify them. The Naathi, on the other hand, worshipped the God of Harmony and advocated for peace, thus never forming a unified nation. They lived in tribes that were friendly neighbors, divided by ethnicity.

Therefore, the leaders of the Naathi tribes were called 'Elders' rather than 'Chieftains' like in the Summer Isles. Although the terms were similar, their essence was worlds apart. Naathi Elders were revered figures who served their people, rather than authoritarian rulers demanding service.

Moreover, Naath had been a part of the global trade system since the Dawn Age, making it far more civilized than the Summer Isles, despite its smaller size.

Faced with adversity, they had actively sent envoys for help. And their efforts had paid off; the peace-loving Naathi had finally found the reinforcements they needed to protect themselves.

"Thank the Emperor, thank the governor for saving the fate of Naath," said the Elder who had been chosen to greet the Imperial fleet docked at the harbor after much deliberation by the Naathi tribe.

He was an elderly man who looked quite robust. His skin had a reddish-brown hue, unlike the darker complexion of the Summer Islanders.

After the war, the sea was littered with the wreckage of ships and the bodies of pirates.

Milaz, the Naathi envoy, was not very familiar with the new Imperial system. In his understanding, the person who was granted a territory was called a 'governor.' This led to a beautiful misunderstanding, as the Naathi considered Asha Greyjoy to be a governor. Asha felt a slight stir at this misunderstanding but did not correct it.

After all, she was thousands of miles away from King's Landing, and no one was there to question her. She could call herself the Hand of the Emperor if she wanted.

Asha later learned why the pirates had hidden in their ships and not disembarked. It turned out that Naath was home to a terrifying virus known as 'Butterfly Fever.'

This virus only affected non-natives, which was why the Naathi, a peaceful people who were even unwilling to take up arms, had not been wiped out. Butterfly Fever had protected them, repelling invaders including the Ghiscari Empire, Valyrian colonists, Volantene adventurers, and pirates.

However, over time, the pirates and slavers found a weakness in the virus. Butterfly Fever was so named because butterflies were the carriers of the virus, and they only had to land at night when the butterflies were resting to avoid infection.

"So that's how it is," Asha Greyjoy mused as she met with the Naathi Elder aboard her ship, understanding why Milaz had opposed the Imperial soldiers' landing.

Asha Greyjoy, leading her fleet from afar, still needed to find a place for her men to stay. Excluding the 300 soldiers left in the Summer Isles, her fleet now numbered just under two thousand.

During their stay in the Summer Isles, they had recruited some local warriors, integrating them into their ranks.

However, with so many men unable to set foot on Naath, they couldn't possibly remain adrift at sea indefinitely.

After consulting with the venerable Naathi Elder, she learned that there were no other islands surrounding Naath.

This beautiful, isolated island had been floating alone in the sea for a long time, cut off from the world until the Ghiscari Empire first discovered them.

"What should we do?"

After bidding farewell to the Naathi Elder, Asha Greyjoy, commander of the Imperial fleet, stood in the command room of the Viserion, her brow furrowed as she studied the map, deep in thought.

"Should we attack the Basilisk Isles, or fall back to the Summer Isles?"

Both options represented different directions and attitudes—one extremely aggressive, the other more cautious.

Retreating to the Summer Isles was undoubtedly the safer option. If they did so, the pirates lurking in the Basilisk Isles would likely seek revenge and follow them. If not, it would be a mutual step back—a safe and error-free choice.

On the other hand, a direct assault on the Basilisk Isles would be a high-risk, high-reward strategy. The pirates around Naath had been wiped out in a recent naval battle, leaving their main base in the Basilisk Isles completely unguarded against the Imperial fleet.

If the Imperial Fleet could indeed annihilate the pirates entrenched in the Basilisk Isles in this single battle, they would secure a foundation for dominating the Summer Sea. In the future, they might even rise to become the undisputed rulers of these waters.

"What should we do?"

The young Ironborn commander, clad in scale armor, stared intently at the map before her. For the first time, she felt the weight of holding the lives of thousands in her hands.

"My lady?"

All the commanders and captains in the fleet turned their eyes toward her. Though Asha's face remained stoic, beads of sweat had formed in her palms.

For it was only now that she truly understood the words Viserys had told her before she left.

"When you reach the edge of the world, every decision you make must be well-considered."

"Asha."

"Because beyond your reputation, you have no other safety nets."

"I believe you will return safely."

Meanwhile, the man who had spoken these words to Asha was at that moment riding through the beautiful Riverlands, admiring the sunset.

"Viserys."

The caravan moved slowly in the distance. The Dragon Princess, Rhaenys Targaryen, saw him standing alone on a hill and spurred her horse to catch up with him.