*BOOOOM!!!*
With a heavy thud, Vermex landed in front of the Velaryon stronghold on the Stepstones.
"Welcome back, Jace!"
The moment he dismounted his dragon, Baela rushed forward and embraced Jacaerys in a warm greeting.
Jacaerys smiled and gently stroked her soft silver hair before looking up at Lord Corlys behind him. "Grandfather, the reports from our reconnaissance fleet were accurate. Three supply ships from Dorne docked at Grey Gallows, and I burned them to ashes with my dragon."
"Have the scouts continue their watch. Upon the appearance of any ships from Dorne, I request an immediate report. When the time comes, I will ride on Vermax and strike again."
"Do you want to go again?"
Lord Corlys' expression turned grave as he immediately rejected the idea. "Jace, this time you succeeded because it was a surprise attack. Next time, the Dornish will certainly be prepared."
"No. It is too dangerous! I will not allow you to ride a dragon and appear at Grey Gallows again!"
Jacaerys reassured him, "Do not worry, Grandfather. Next time, I will destroy their supply ships while they are still at sea. Besides, this raid was highly effective. I burned 126 Dornishmen to death, cutting down a tenth of their forces in a single strike!"
"Heh, Prince Jacaerys truly has sharp eyes! Even while flying high on dragonback, he can still count his kills with such precision. Next time you fabricate a battle report, at least make the numbers more vague!"
Vaemond Velaryon's scornful remarks came as no surprise.
Though Lord Corlys couldn't fathom how his grandson had calculated the number of enemies slain, he trusted Jacaerys would not lie—at most, he might have exaggerated his achievements a little.
After a moment of contemplation, Corlys spoke in a deep, measured voice. "If we are only attacking supply ships on the Narrow Sea, the risk is indeed not too great. But if we aim to completely sever Grey Gallows' supply line, we must be thorough. I will personally lead two large warships, three medium-sized vessels, and all our reconnaissance ships to blockade the Dornish route."
He turned to Vaemond, his voice taking on a more commanding tone. "Vaemond, you will take five large warships and ten medium ones to closely monitor Bloodstone Island. The moment you notice anything unusual, report it at once. If the enemy launches a surprise attack, hold them off for at least two to three days."
"Jace, you will command the remaining three large warships and seven medium ones. In addition to launching aerial strikes against the Dornish supply ships, you must also safeguard the Stepstones and ensure no pirates dare to raid our stronghold."
"Understood!"
"As you command, Grandfather!"
At the prospect of the coming action, Jacaerys felt a surge of excitement rise within him.
Originally, he had planned to gradually gain control over the Velaryon fleet. But he hadn't expected Lord Corlys to so readily assign him a third of their forces.
Of course, it was clear that the Sea Snake's true intention was to keep him stationed on the Stepstones, ensuring he remained there obediently.
Yet, once Corlys departed, Jacaerys—now holding military command—would have the freedom to maneuver as he pleased. With Vermax by his side, who would dare defy his orders?
Lord Corlys, having been away for years, didn't fully understand Jacaerys' nature. But Baela, nestled in his arms, knew him all too well. Still, she said nothing, simply blinking in silence.
Part of it was because she deeply admired him, never once opposing her betrothed over the years. But more than that, this silver-haired princess, whose mind was filled with tales of knightly exploits, possessed an even stronger thirst for battle than Jacaerys himself.
Lord Corlys was a man of swift and decisive action.
Once he assigned the Velaryon fleet and allocated supplies, he wasted no time. With the ships stocked with weapons and provisions, his fleet set sail toward the western waters of the Stepstones.
Composed mostly of small reconnaissance vessels, Corlys' fleet—manned by a force of around two thousand—was tasked with blockading the trade routes.
Vaemond, leading the main fleet, followed closely behind, heading toward the eastern waters near Bloodstone Island with a force of twenty-two hundred men under his command.
Jacaerys, in comparison, commanded only thirteen hundred men. However, Lord Corlys had spent years fortifying the Stepstones.
Relying on the island's defensive structures and siege weaponry, Jacaerys felt no fear of any external threat.
As the highest-ranking officer on the Stepstones, Jacaerys first summoned his mid-ranking officers, instructing them to maintain their usual vigilance while also preparing for battle as per his orders.
At present, Jacaerys system panel displayed a total of 3,758 points, an increase of 1,260 from before.
By analyzing the points gained, he could, of course, deduce the exact number of enemies he had slain.
In truth, during the aerial strike on Grey Gallows, Vermax's flames had directly engulfed no more than thirty to forty Dornish soldiers. Most of the points had been earned when the supply ships exploded from the dragonfire.
From this, it was clear—if he wanted to continue harvesting points, Vermax's breath would be his primary weapon.
After making the necessary arrangements on the Stepstones, Jacaerys turned to Baela and said, "Baela, stay here on the Stepstones and behave yourself. If you need anything, just ask Stone and Rudy."
Hearing this, Baela immediately pouted her soft pink lips, her face full of displeasure. "Jace, you just got back, and now you're leaving again? And you're not even taking me with you?"
"I'm going to meet a friend this time. If it were for battle, I would certainly take you with me."
"Hmm? Aren't the Stepstones filled with nothing but enemies? Where would you even find a friend? And how do you plan on finding them?"
Hearing this, Jacaerys gazed at the Velaryon fleet, now nearly vanished beyond the horizon, and replied calmly, "With such a large force moving, do you think we wouldn't attract the attention of certain individuals? By following their trail, I will naturally find my friends."
---
Swish, swish!
In the central region of the Stepstones, a small oared warship swiftly made its way toward an unnamed island.
If one were to look down from the sky, they would be shocked to see the warship vanish completely the moment it approached the island's northwestern side.
As it turned out, the rock wall on this part of the island was shaped like an enormous mushroom cap, jutting outward.
Beneath this rocky overhang lay a sheltered harbor, shielded from both wind and rain, along with a crude yet bustling town.
At the harbor's outermost, over a dozen medium-sized warships flew banners depicting a skull with a tiger's maw.
The small warship, after undergoing a series of inspections, was finally allowed entry.
This pirate town, home to thousands of outlaws, consisted mostly of three types of establishments—taverns, brothels, and black-market shops dealing in stolen goods and supplies.
The streets were a chaotic mess.
Drunken pirates, their faces flushed, roared with laughter, picked fights, or engaged in outright brawls.
The ship's captain disembarked and deftly navigated his way through the mob of intoxicated men, hurrying toward the grandest building in the town.
Upon reaching the door, a guard informed him that he would be led inside.
The interior was filled with men and women—naked, engaged in rather passionate games—clearly, this was a high-class brothel, dedicated to the pursuit of "philosophical exploration" of the human body.
At the very top of the building, a rooftop garden stood, heavily guarded.
At its center, a burly, scar-covered, one-eyed man was valiantly "battling" three exotic dancers.
The ship captain stepped into the garden and immediately fell to his knees, loudly reporting, "Report to Lord Baelor, three days ago, two Velaryon fleets departed from the Stepstones one after another. The fleet numbers are as follows—"
*BOOOOM!!!!*
Swish, swish!
Before the captain could finish his report, a thunderous impact resounded from above.
Pebbles and dust rained down from the mushroom-cap rock overhead, cascading onto the town below.
The commotion immediately caught the attention of every pirate still sober enough to comprehend it.
ROAR!!
Then, from the skies above—a bone-chilling dragon's roar echoed through the skies.
"Someone, come here! Cut off this unguarded fool's limbs and throw him into the sea to feed the fish."
Baelor, his face darkened, gave a curt command to the guards beside him. Then, he roughly shoved aside the three dancers who were still clinging to him and muttered, "Such a unique way of knocking on the door! Well then, let me meet this esteemed guest."
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[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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