Chapter 75: Plan

According to Arthur's understanding, decades ago, when the tragedy at Summerhall occurred, the king at the time, Aegon V, was attempting to hatch dragons.

He gathered seven dragon eggs, but instead of summoning the seven dragons he desired, he brought about disaster.

On the border of the Stormlands and Dorne, the standing Summerhall ignited in a great fire, burning to death the king, the Prince of Dragonflies Duncan the Small, the legendary Knight Duncan the Tall, and half the courtiers.

This made the already dwindling House Targaryen's situation even worse.

And the reason for the failure to hatch the dragon eggs was that there were not enough materials for Blood Magic.

The Blood Magic materials here refer specifically to special humans such as those with dragon blood, kings, and sorcerers.

According to Arthur's interpretation, these are people who possess destiny.

The Mother of Dragons used the lives of Ma Wang, a witch, and her own unborn child—three lives—to exchange for three dragons via Blood Magic; yet at Summerhall, there were only two Blood Magic materials, Aegon V and his son Prince Duncan the Small, so how could they have possibly exchanged for seven dragons?

Therefore, failure was inevitable.

But if these seven dragon eggs were to fall into Arthur's hands, it would be a different story.

Having already learned how Aegon V failed, how could he stumble in the same place?

The law of conservation of life, that one Blood Magic material exchanges for one dragon, must be obeyed.

In fact, House Targaryen possessed mature and stable technology for hatching dragon eggs, but due to the conspiracy of the Citadel, everything related to magic was quietly erased by them, so this technology was not passed down.

Therefore, at this point in time, one can only use low-level hatching techniques like Blood Magic.

And in reality, there are actually quite a few known Blood Magic materials.

Not to mention that there are five kings in the War of the Five Kings, even for those with dragon blood—that is, those carrying the blood of House Targaryen—because King Robert left seeds everywhere, at least twenty or so could be found.

Of course, the bloodline of the Baratheons actually has two layers: the Targaryen bloodline brought by Robert's grandmother, and the close-kin Targaryen bloodline left behind by the Baratheon ancestors.

And as for sorcerers, there are even more: Red Priests, witches, Warlocks, and so on; as long as one has money, one can always find a few.

But Arthur is a kind person; he could not just casually exchange a person's life for a dragon's life.

Therefore, the scope of Blood Magic materials is very small.

At the very least, they must be people who have committed unforgivable sins.

For example, the bloodthirsty and cruel Qiao Fo Li Da Di.

When watching the TV series in his past life, Arthur felt very pained that the Emperor was so easily poisoned to death.

Although Joffrey did not possess the Baratheon dragon blood, he was a proper king and also an excellent Blood Magic material.

How could one waste that?

This could exchange for the life of a dragon; it is very valuable!

So Arthur decided to first send people to try to find the dragon eggs, and then plot to hatch dragons.

Whether it succeeds is another matter; at the very least, he must start preparing.

"You know about Summerhall, right? After we head south and leave the Kingswood, I will take men to the Reach to purchase armor and weapons, and you go to the ruins of Summerhall to find a few ellipsoidal stones."

Inside Arthur's room, he whispered to his uncle.

His servants were staying in the two rooms next door, so it was very safe; he was not afraid of walls having ears.

Furthermore, he was only a minor lord; which power player in King's Landing would be idle enough to send people to eavesdrop on his room at all times?

"What kind of stones?" Yule's old face was very surprised.

His nephew actually wanted stones; what kind of hobby was this?

"They are ellipsoidal, usually one color, with very regular scales on the surface, shimmering with pearlescent luster; the kind that looks very expensive at a glance."

Arthur described them, then carefully exhorted:

"This matter is very important and is critical to the revival of our family. You must take it to heart. Go to Summerhall and search for a few months or a year; in any case, you must find them, at least one."

Actually, finding one is no different from finding seven, because they are all kept together.

Yule was stunned for a long time, then cautiously asked:

"This stone you speak of, is it also called a dragon egg?"

"As long as you understand, in any case, you must find it. I will send the soldier Piper to accompany you."

Among the four people Arthur brought to King's Landing, the only ones with combat capability were Yule and the soldier Piper.

Meidan and the stable boy were not combat units; sending them along would be of no use.

Having too many people would instead easily attract the attention of local nobles and the public.

And Piper grew up on his own lands, similar to a servant born into the household in his past life; his loyalty was beyond doubt.

Having him follow Yule could prevent any trouble from arising.

Yule nodded and asked again: "There are actually dragon eggs in this place; how did you know?"

"Don't worry about how I know. Find the dragon eggs, and after I become king, I will grant you a title of Marquess, Duke, or something; even Prince is not impossible. You can pick any castle in my fiefdom." Arthur tempted him this way.

Anyway, he had nothing right now, so he just promised titles and castles at will.

Promising Yule money or Gold Dragons was impossible, because he really did have tens of thousands of Gold Dragons.

"Also, this matter must be kept secret. If it leaks out, I will greet you with my Great Hammer." Arthur added another layer of insurance.

Yule nodded with a complex expression.

He was just a drifter; how did he suddenly get involved with legendary items like dragon eggs?

I was originally an idler in the Riverlands, what do dragon eggs have to do with me?

After discussing the details carefully for a long time, Yule left with an indescribably heavy heart.

Following one's nephew, one also has to do the work.

Arthur went to find the soldier Piper in the next room; he didn't need to tell him what he was doing with Yule, just to instruct him to keep a close eye on Yule.

This was a family soldier who had never left the Riverlands, and he firmly executed the words of his lord, Arthur.

This night passed just like that.

The next day.

Yule continued to take Arthur to meet with dozens of groups of free mercenaries without stopping.

Quite a few with excellent reputations were recruited by Arthur on the spot, and some who caught Arthur's eye were also hired.

In the afternoon, the Brave Companions also met with Arthur and his group outside the city.

There were one hundred and thirteen people in total; according to their members, the rest were still on their way by horse.

Arthur did not believe this; for some time before this, Westeros had been extremely peaceful, and this group of mercenaries had no business at all, so the members should have left to find their own way.

Moreover, these people were all from the bottom of society and lacked communication methods like a Raven, so how could they have been gathered so quickly?

But these one hundred-plus people were enough; added to the ninety-seven free mercenaries hired in the morning, along with Anguy and the thirteen Dornish spearmen, Arthur's recruitment plan in King's Landing came to an end.

【The Brave Companions and ninety-seven free mercenaries have joined your Squad.】

Before nightfall, the two hundred sets of Lamellar Armor from Iron Street were also delivered.

The caravan to transport this batch of armor back to his own territory had already been hired, and they could set off tomorrow.

By then, the ninety-seven free mercenaries and Desmond, Patrick, and the others would travel with this caravan, escorting it back to Red Mill, and then arm the trained peasant soldiers with the armor.

The Brave Companions would follow Arthur south; the lord of Red Mill was a bit uneasy about letting this group go to his territory while he was away.

The twins from House Redwyne would also go south with Arthur; their faces were the best proof for the standard-issue armor Arthur had purchased in The Reach.

PS: Seeking recommendation votes and monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)