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The reactions of the lords were exactly as he expected.
Euron stood, his voice echoing in the secret chamber. "As I said, the Summer Isles are merely a stepping stone." His finger pressed heavily on the map, tracing an imaginary route eastward. "The true conquest of this voyage lies far beyond."
His finger swept past several distant markers. "After uniting and conquering the Summer Isles, our fleet will continue east. We will conquer Naath, seize the Basilisk Isles, and take control of the Isle of Marahai and Greater Moraq."
Every name seemed to carry the scent of exotic storms and untold riches, making the lords breathe heavily.
Finally, Euron's finger stopped on a dazzling, distant city. His gaze swept over the face of every lord like a hawk, and he spoke each word with deliberation.
"Finally—our ultimate goal is Qarth!"
A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room.
Qarth. The legendary City of a Thousand Thrones, a titan of a city where spices and wealth were piled like mountains. Its significance dwarfed that of mere islands.
Before they could digest this earth-shattering goal, Euron dropped another bombshell.
"Lisa's father was once one of the Thirteen of Qarth." He looked at the quiet woman beside him. "Another core objective of this expedition is that I will pour all our strength into supporting her—to become the Queen of Qarth!"
Until this moment, only King Quellon and Balon had known of this.
Announced so suddenly, it was like a depth charge dropped into the room. Though the lords knew Euron's ambition was boundless, they were struck speechless by a plan so vast it bordered on madness.
Euron took in their reactions, his voice rising with undeniable will. "Listen clearly! We are no longer satisfied with looting and sailing home with treasure. We want eternal rule! From the Summer Isles to Qarth, every land and sea along the way will belong to the Iron Islands, to the children of the Drowned God!"
He scanned the room, his eyes burning. "So, from this moment on, you must stop thinking about how to plunder, and start thinking about—how to rule these islands and city-states that will soon be ours! We shall become, in the truest sense—Kings of the Sea!"
A long, dead silence fell over the chamber, broken only by heavy breathing and the crackle of torches. The lords' chests heaved, their eyes a mix of shock, ecstasy, and a trace of fear for the unknown.
This silence wasn't hesitation; it was the pressure before the storm, the final restraint before ambition was fully ignited.
Suddenly, like the first bolt of lightning tearing through dark clouds, a lord yanked the hand axe from his belt and slammed it into the table with a deafening roar: "Conquest!"
The shout was a spark in a keg of black powder, instantly detonating all the pent-up emotion.
"Rule!"
More arms shot up, more weapons were drawn. The clang of steel and wild shouts merged into a devastating wave of sound that threatened to lift the stone roof.
Finally, all voices converged into a single title symbolizing their infinite ambition, crashing and echoing through the chamber like a tsunami:
"Kings of the Sea!"
"Kings of the Sea!!"
The roar penetrated the stone walls, faintly reaching the outside, causing the drunken Ironborn to pause their singing and dancing, looking toward the depths of the keep in bewildered awe. They didn't know what was happening, but they could feel a majestic power, born from the depths of the soul and hungry to conquer the world, awakening to sweep everything away.
Lisa stood frozen, a layer of disbelief glazing her intelligent eyes with tears.
She had known of the expedition plans, but she had never imagined that Euron would set Qarth, far in the East, as the ultimate goal. Nor had she expected him to declare, with such conviction before all the lords—Queen of Qarth.
Euron had mentioned similar thoughts in the past, but she had always assumed they were pillow talk, private jokes, or comfort.
But here, in this secret chamber that decided the fate of the Iron Islands, declaring it before the most powerful lords... meant it was no jest. He intended to act on it, cementing it with an iron oath.
Euron turned, his gaze cutting through the impassioned crowd to land precisely on her. His look was one of inquiry and trust. "Are you ready?" His voice wasn't loud, but it reached her ears clearly. "Ready to rule a kingdom?"
Lisa could no longer hold back her tears. They rolled down her cheeks, which trembled with emotion.
She didn't wipe them away. Instead, she nodded heavily, forcefully, as if using every ounce of her strength. Her voice was choked but undeniably clear: "Yes!"
In this moment, personal destiny and the grand design were tightly interwoven. She saw not just the weight of a crown, but the unreserved trust behind Euron's bottomless ambition.
Euron swept his gaze over every lord present, smiling openly, his tone calm. "The matter of Qarth naturally involves my own selfish desires. If any of you feel this goal is inappropriate, or that I am placing personal will above the interests of the Iron Islands, speak freely. There is no shame in wishing to withdraw."
His words were met not with doubt, but with low laughter of understanding and support.
Lord Rodrik Harlaw was the first to shake his head, a smile on his face. "Euron, on the Iron Islands, we have long been one. The affairs of the Iron Islands are never purely private; and your affairs are the affairs of us all."
Donnell Stonehouse, Lord of Saltcliffe, laughed loudly, shaking the room. "Well said! You, Euron, always look ten steps ahead. Your mind is more intricate than the undercurrents of the sea. Since you dared to say it here, you must have already calculated it in your heart and prepared for everything. What do we have to worry about? We follow you!"
Eldred Orkwood, Lord of Orkmont, nodded steadily, his eyes gleaming. "Indeed. If Lady Lisa can truly become the Queen of Qarth, it would be of immense significance to the Iron Islands. It would be like having our strongest, most glorious stronghold and springboard on the vast continent of Essos."
Baelor Blacktyde, Lord of Blacktyde, stroked his chin thoughtfully and admitted, "To be honest, I expected our first hard bone to chew would be unifying the Stepstones, or maybe pointing our swords at the Free Cities like Lys, Tyrosh, or Myr. Aiming directly for Qarth... that truly exceeds my expectations." He shifted gears, excitement lighting up his face. "But this is a surprise, a magnificent thing! It shows that Lord Euron's vision and ambition are far vaster than we could have imagined!"
"A fortune for the Iron Islands!"
His words voiced the thoughts of many lords, and a chorus of agreement filled the chamber. No opposition, only expectation and consensus for a grander future.
Euron smiled with satisfaction and nodded slightly to the group. "Thank you for your support." He then steered the topic to a more practical level. "As I just said, every land we conquer will become an extension of the Iron Islands. And every island needs a qualified ruler to hold it."
His gaze swept over each lord. "Now, I need you to recommend suitable candidates from your own families—specifically from those sons who are not heirs. They need more than brute strength; they need the brains and ability to govern an island. Gentlemen, think carefully. Which second sons or younger brothers in your families have both the guts and the knowledge to rule? Each house, recommend one person."
At these words, the impassioned atmosphere settled, replaced by deep contemplation as the lords furrowed their brows.
This was indeed a difficult problem.
In their families, finding a warrior who could sail a ship and swing an axe was as easy as breathing. But finding a talent who had not just muscle, but brains—someone who knew how to tax, judge, placate the populace, develop trade, and truly govern an island—
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this really is..." one lord mumbled, unconsciously rubbing his fingers together.
"My boys fight more fiercely than the last, but show them a ledger or a law book and they get a headache worse than seeing a kraken..."
"I can think of a nephew. He's meticulous, but his character is too soft. I fear he couldn't hold the room..."
A low murmur of mixed helplessness and distress filled the secret chamber. For the first time, they realized clearly that while conquest might rely on courage and strength, ruling was a completely different, far more complex art.
Euron took in everyone's reaction. He wasn't surprised. He smiled calmly, breaking the slightly awkward silence. "Lords, there is no need to rush. The expedition is set for six months from now; we won't sail until spring arrives next year. So, you have ample time. Go back, consider it carefully, weigh your options. Once you've decided, then tell me."
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