Kapitel 197: Chapter 196: Hidden Agendas
Subsequently, Illyrio did not conceal anything, claiming to have told Viserys everything he knew. Viserys had no way of discerning the truth in his words.
However.
Indeed, there was much information that wasn't explicitly stated in Ramsay's intelligence report.
After all, no matter how capable Ramsay was, he was not as terrifying as an insider who was directly in the Magister's seat.
" Andalos' growth has been too rapid, and most importantly, the dragons. No one can ignore their existence," Illyrio said with a sigh.
"If they could, many people would be willing to spend their entire fortune for a dragon."
When Andalos first rose to prominence, it did not attract much attention from Pentos. Such small forces were as numerous as the hairs on a bull. However, their attitude slowly began to change over time.
But at that time, Pentos still did not think of eliminating this restless neighbor. They were using Andalos as a buffer between them and Braavos.
But who would have thought that the buffer would eventually grow into a blossoming center?
But all of this was not the overwhelming factor that led most of the Magisters of Pentos to lean toward the Iron Throne.
In the end, it was still the dragons.
The dragons were like a massive bait that stimulated the desire of the Magisters of Pentos, especially the young ones that hadn't grown up yet.
'No one would ignore dragons.'
'Unless they were blind.'
All of these Magisters of Pentos were ambitious and ruthless, having started in business.
From the moment the news of the dragons' birth was spread, they wanted them.
Especially since they were so close to the dragons, they could even smell the pungent sulfur scent in their breath.
Some wanted the dragons for themselves, while others wanted them for self-preservation.
The existence of dragons meant expansion, and it was almost a consensus among everyone that Pentos would be Daenerys' next target. It was just a matter of sooner or later.
Thus, combining the two, there were those who wanted the dragons and those who wanted to protect themselves. They formed the largest radical faction among the Magisters of Pentos.
Those who remained calm under the lobbying of the Iron Throne's envoys became the minority.
Illyrio Mopatis was one of them.
During this time, the covert battles surrounding this matter played out daily within the city of Pentos. It was challenging for the dozen or so Magisters with their hidden agendas to agree on a unified opinion.
Viserys arrived under these circumstances.
"Did this really happen?"
Viserys nodded.
Although he had already known the truth, he still pretended to hear the news for the first time at this moment. His handsome face showed a mix of anger and fear.
This matched the attitude a normal person should display at this time.
Especially for someone his age, only fifteen or sixteen, it made his performance even more seamless.
When someone encounters betrayal in a foreign land, what should they do?
Naturally, they would seek help from someone they trust. Viserys appeared to be trying to maintain his composure, making his act even more convincing.
"Lord Illyrio, what should we do next?"
The wealthy Magister also seemed somewhat worried, finally shaking his head with a sigh and looking quite troubled.
"Actually, Your Grace,"
"I have always been fascinated by the Targaryens. I once..."
Afterward, Illyrio shared stories from his youth and subtly expressed his ambitions.
He laid his cards on the table for Viserys, hoping to help Viserys claim the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms in the future. In return, he wanted a castle, a Lorddom, and the position of finance council member in the new dynasty.
Viserys merely squinted at Illyrio's sudden revelation, pinching his fingers together. He neither agreed hastily nor immediately opposed the idea.
For now, it was merely a promissory note.
Viserys heard another issue that he hadn't considered before.
"A Serra from Lys?" Viserys asked.
"Magister, was your second wife a Valyrian?"
Illyrio had mentioned during his reminiscence that his relationship with the previous Prince of Pentos was strained, possibly because he had married the prince's cousin. After his first wife passed away, he married a prostitute named Serra, angering the prince at the time.
The girl from Lys had silver-gold hair.
"That's correct," Illyrio acknowledged, unsure why Viserys asked such a question. "Serra did indeed have some Valyrian blood."
"However, there are still many people with Valyrian blood in places like Lys and Volantis."
"Is that so?" Viserys responded, relieved. "I thought your wife might be a descendant of the Blackfyres."
At Viserys's casual comment, Illyrio's expression changed slightly. But before he could say anything, Viserys continued.
"Regardless, it doesn't matter. Red dragons and black dragons are both dragons. The Targaryens have lost the Iron Throne; what's the point in making distinctions now?"
Viserys drank from his cup and shook his head.
Illyrio also sighed in relief. In Targaryen history, there had been several Blackfyre rebellions.
Although essentially family, these illegitimate Blackfyres stubbornly sought legitimacy, and this persisted for generations, resulting in multiple Blackfyre wars.
If Serra were recognized as a Blackfyre descendant by Viserys, their cooperation would end.
However...
Did Viserys no longer care whether she was a red or black dragon?
Illyrio exhaled and chuckled, explaining, "Serra was just an ordinary Valyrian who later died from a plague. She couldn't have been a Blackfyre descendant."
"At the time, she was pregnant with my child... I had every reason to believe it would be a boy."
Reminiscing, Illyrio's face showed a hint of sorrow and grief.
"However, he was never born into this world. The terrible plague took both his and his mother's lives."
Illyrio didn't dwell on his sadness for long. He sighed, regained his spirits, and returned to the matter at hand.
"It may be too late to leave Pentos now, but things haven't reached their worst."
"I will do everything in my power to help Your Grace escape during the festival celebration in three days," Illyrio assured, wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye and pounding his chest.
"Then I must entrust this to you, Magister," Viserys said, visibly moved.
He tightly grasped Illyrio's hands.
...
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein