Chapter 22: Summer Isles Receives the News
Bloodstone Isle, The Stepstones
Bloodstone Isle is one of the few named islands in The Stepstones, and it is also the largest island in the entire archipelago. The famous pirate stronghold, Torturer's Deep, is also located on this island.
Bloodstone Isle has been a favorite place for many Pirate Kings to occupy since ancient times. During the "Dance of the Dragons" period, the famous "Crabfeeder" Craghas Drahar rose to power step by step using this place as his base.
And just today, the Pirate King "The Bull" Jason, who originally occupied this place, was pushed to the ground like a stray dog.
At this time, the castle of Torturer's Deep had been occupied by Salladhor Saan's men. At this moment, the port was filled with the corpses of pirates and damaged warships.
On some important outposts and passes on the docks, countless corpses with eyes wide open were staring at the positions where they fell like dead fish, as if accusing the injustice of fate.
Throughout the residential areas of the docks, fire and slaughter still ravaged this city built by pirates. The women, without exception, were subjected to the brutal violence of the enemy pirates, while the men resisted desperately.
However, when the city gates were opened from the inside, all of this was already predestined. Salladhor Saan had bribed "The Bull" Jason's deputy in advance, allowing the other party to open the gates.
And at this time, it was also that bribed deputy who kicked "The Bull" Jason to the ground.
"Bah... Lemon! You damned chameleon, have you forgotten who rescued you from the slave traders? One day you will also be thrown on the beach to be eaten to death by crabs!"
"You disgusting guy, wasn't it because you took a fancy to my... my..."
The handsome young man called Lemon shouted out in shame and anger. The veins on his hand holding the hilt of his sword bulged, and the killing intent on his face gradually grew stronger.
"Hahaha, Master Jason's bullwhip isn't something just anyone can taste, hehehe, have you forgotten your... ugh..."
"The Bull" Jason, who had nothing left to lose, was not afraid of his scandals being exposed and shouted it out directly in front of everyone.
But before he could finish his words, his throat was pierced by a longsword. The person who did it was none other than the handsome young man Lemon, who had betrayed him.
"Huff... huff... I'm... I'm sorry, Lord Saan, I... I... didn't..."
After the young man struggled to pull the longsword out of Jason's mouth, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He slumped on the ground and looked at Salladhor Saan with some fear.
Salladhor Saan was a middle-aged man with a somewhat dark complexion and a buzz cut. This was not because he had spent too much time in the sun, but because he had half Summer Isles blood.
He wore a yellow-green military dress uniform with gold trim and linear buttons made of silver thread, which looked very beautiful. The leather boots on his feet were polished to a shine.
"Alright, Lemon, you are my great hero. How could I blame you? Someone, take Lemon down to rest first!"
Although Salladhor Saan was somewhat annoyed by Lemon's overstepping of authority, he still had to work hard to maintain appearances. So, after arranging for people to take the man named Lemon away,
Salladhor Saan, who was still in a good mood, called people over to deal with "The Bull" Jason's corpse. Looking at the corpse being dragged away, he did not feel any ill luck, but was instead uncontrollably excited.
Because from today onwards, he, Salladhor Saan, would become the master of the entire Stepstones. From here, he would integrate all the pirates step by step to establish his own dynasty.
Soon, under his subordinates' arrangements, Salladhor Saan entered the castle's Throne Room. This throne was left behind by the former "King of the Narrow Sea and The Stepstones," Daemon Targaryen.
There were rumors that this throne was enchanted, and only those with the blood of the true dragon could sit on it safely. If those with mixed blood sat on the throne, they would be cursed by the magic upon it and eventually die a violent death.
"Thump... slap slap..."
After plopping down on the throne, Salladhor Saan even patted it hard a few times, as if he wanted to feel the heavy sensation of power upon it.
"Isn't this just an ordinary chair? Why can't I sit on it? Even the once-glorious Targaryens were driven off their throne. Hahaha, having money and men is what's most important. These guys who don't know how to use their brains will only become my stepping stones one by one."
Salladhor Saan's hearty laughter echoed throughout the Throne Room, and the bloodstains on the floor that had not yet been cleaned up seemed to attest to the bloodiness of his rise.
In order to seize this Bloodstone Isle from "The Bull" Jason, Salladhor Saan had been planning for several months. Although he had spent nearly a thousand gold coins in total, the result made him very satisfied.
"Now, all I have to face are those other few guys. Not bad, not bad. It seems I am not far from becoming the King of the Narrow Sea!"
Salladhor Saan said with his hand on his chin, as if he could already see the pirates surrendering before him.
"My Lord! My Lord!"
Just as Salladhor Saan was fantasizing about his beautiful future life, an untimely voice suddenly appeared below the throne.
"Hmm, what is it? Didn't I say not to come and disturb me when I'm thinking?"
There was a hint of annoyance in Salladhor Saan's words. When a beautiful dream is broken, a person will more or less carry some anger.
"Hon... Honorable Lord Saan, I... I am, there is a messenger outside claiming to be from Cutthroat Isle who wants to see you. What... what do you think?"
The attendant was very careful when speaking. As a slave who had served his master for many years, Jommy knew very well that if some important information was not conveyed in time, what awaited him would be an even more severe punishment.
"Hmm!? Alright! Go and call him in!"
After hearing that the other party was from Cutthroat Isle, Salladhor Saan's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, as if he had a bad premonition.
Cutthroat Isle is located in the middle of The Stepstones and is a geographically very important island. Coupled with its characteristic of being easy to defend and difficult to attack, it has become a piece of fat in the eyes of many pirates.
Salladhor Saan did not conquer that place by force because he knew very well that most of the pirates there were from the Iron Islands.
Years of life at sea had made Salladhor Saan aware of this terrifying race located on the Sunset Sea, and he also knew that these people who called themselves Ironborn were all existences who were not afraid of death and took pride in dying.
Therefore, after spending a large amount of gold coins and slaves, Salladhor Saan took "Skullcap" Bill under his command, even though that batch of female slaves included a beautiful bed slave he had bought from Myr.
As long as the problem could be solved by spending money, Salladhor Saan felt it was worth it. But now, Cutthroat Isle, which likely had a problem, caused Salladhor Saan's good mood to be completely extinguished.
Under the lead of the servant Jommy, a somewhat sneaky fellow appeared in Salladhor Saan's sight. The other party's clothes looked ragged, and there seemed to be bloodstains on them.
"Lord Saan! You must avenge us! We encountered a sneak attack by the enemy, and the entire island has been captured!"
After seeing Salladhor Saan on the throne, the other party knelt on the ground, wailing and crying.
"Speak properly, what exactly happened?"
Although he already had a guess in his heart, when he actually heard this news, it was still difficult for Salladhor Saan to accept. Therefore, when he asked, his words also carried a hint of anger.
"It's like this..."
Under the narration of this wretched man, the process of Jon leading "The Chainbreakers" to capture Cutthroat Isle was also completely recounted.
"They only had one ship? You guys..."
"What!? You're saying that ship belonged to Gusta? Then that means my batch of slaves also..."
"Skinchanger!? Direwolf!? Have you all been drinking too much..."
"'The Chainbreakers'? Does that mean these guys want to go to war with all the slave owners here?..."
...While that wretched man was answering Salladhor Saan's questions, the sounds of surprise from his mouth never stopped, and Salladhor Saan became more and more alarmed as he listened.
Because he found that Jon was not just an "idealist," but his military talent was also very strong.
Although this messenger had not gone back, according to his description, there could only be one result of the battle that night, and that was the total defeat of "Skullcap" Bill's side.
"M... M... My Lord! So what should we do next?"
Seeing Salladhor Saan fall into deep thought again, the servant Jommy hurriedly spoke up to remind him.
"Uh... alright. Your name is Tom, right? I'll have someone give you the money later. You've worked hard, go down and have a good rest! 'Salladhor Saan will respond to all help,' and this is also my promise to all my own people."
"Yes, yes, yes... thank you for your kindness, respected Lord Salladhor Saan!"
After signaling the messenger to leave, Salladhor Saan fell into deep thought once again. For a moment, he seemed unable to think of what to do.
"Jommy!"
"I'm here! My respected Lord!"
After hearing Salladhor Saan's call, the servant ran up immediately. Jommy knew very well that his master had more arrangements.
"Go and find a few messengers right now. I have tasks to assign to them!"
Just as Jommy was about to leave, Salladhor Saan's voice came through once again.
"By the way, go and find Sonny for me as well. I have something to tell him."
"Yes, Lord Salladhor Saan!"
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