Viserys waited expectantly, awaiting a reply.
Illyrio finally followed his lead. "With all due respect, Your Grace. Your perception of the political situation in the Seven Kingdoms is truly unique. I've never heard anything like it, and I can't discern its truth. You say that the death of the King's Hand will inevitably plunge the Seven Kingdoms into chaos. But from what I've seen and heard, King Robert was a capable warrior in his youth. Though there have been some rumors since he became king, I don't know the man personally. Over the years, the Usurper's rule over the Seven Kingdoms has been quite stable. The King is still in his prime, and I find it hard to believe that the death of a King's Hand would cause much turmoil in Westeros."
"While regrettable," Viserys didn't panic or get angry, but rather looked disappointed. He looked at Illyrio. "I understand your concerns, Illyrio. I have nothing at this moment, and I know that mere words won't convince you. It doesn't matter, Governor. As we said on the first day in your courtyard, 'You are funding me, not pledging allegiance to me.' I want to know, after I've refuted your plans and spoken these words, are you still willing to provide funding for my restoration?"
Compared to Viserys's words, his demeanor at this moment was what surprised Illyrio the most throughout their entire conversation. Viserys seemed to trust him, speaking his mind, intending to win him over. But he was also clearly holding back.
This behavior meant he truly had confidence – even if it was an act, it spoke volumes.
This beggar king displayed foolishness, but he wasn't necessarily as stupid as the rumors suggested, and he was quite calculating.
Illyrio hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He opened his mouth several times before asking nervously, "Your Grace, you said before that I didn't need to do anything, and you would still make me your first Master of Coin. Is that true?"
"I am Viserys Targaryen, the Third of His Name," Viserys looked at him solemnly. "A king's word is his bond."
"Is it enough to simply provide you with shelter while you wait for the Seven Kingdoms to change?" Illyrio asked, his expression skeptical as he considered Viserys' words.
Viserys nodded. "Yes. It will just take some time. When the old Hand dies, you will know I speak the truth. And when the Seven Kingdoms fall into chaos, you will understand the true value of supporting a Targaryen descendant."
Illyrio's expression shifted rapidly, first with speculation, then a brief flash of greed, and finally, hesitation. "If the old Hand dies, and the Seven Kingdoms do not fall into chaos?"
"They will," Viserys replied without explanation, his tone utterly certain. "The Seven Kingdoms will fall into chaos, Illyrio."
Illyrio looked at his certainty and finally couldn't help but probe, "Forgive my ignorance, Your Grace, but are you so certain because you have a hand in it?"
Viserys hadn't expected a fox like Illyrio to ask such a direct question. He didn't know if it was because Illyrio was too confident in his own intelligence, believing Viserys had nothing, or if he was simply being swayed and losing his composure.
But Viserys resolutely maintained his air of mystery, ambiguously asking, "Can you keep a secret, Governor?"
Illyrio hesitated, then tentatively nodded. "Of course, Your Grace."
"I can too, your Excellency," Viserys replied.
Illyrio was momentarily speechless.
Viserys found it amusing, but maintained a composed expression. He turned to look at the avenue on the other side, where the Dothraki Horsemen, laden with "gifts," were gradually moving away. He said, "Your Excellency, the Dothraki cavalry have been observed. Shall we return to the city?"
Illyrio replied blankly, "Yes, Your Grace."
On the way back to the city, Illyrio sat in the carriage as usual, showing no significant emotional fluctuations.
Viserys rode his horse alongside the carriage, his face also devoid of expression.
The two traveled without speaking, each lost in their own thoughts, yet both focused on the other.
This secret meeting, orchestrated by Viserys, had a significant impact on Illyrio.
The plan to connect Viserys with the Dothraki Horse Lord was completely shattered, and the beggar king, whom he had thought he could easily control, had become unpredictable.
Illyrio suspected that Viserys had obtained a restoration plan from somewhere they didn't know about and was secretly executing it.
But he couldn't convince himself. If that were the case, why would the beggar king Viserys still be wandering around with his sister, seeking shelter everywhere?
Waiting for the right moment?
Where one waited didn't matter. If there was someone behind him, why would they let the last of the Targaryens drift among the nobles of the Free Cities instead of controlling him themselves?
When Illyrio thought about these details, he had a vague guess in his heart, attributing Viserys' seemingly unfounded confidence to certain forces. But he couldn't be sure; he needed solid intelligence to support his guess.
Halfway back to the city, Illyrio had already made up his mind: he needed to go to King's Landing.
Although Viserys, with just a few words, had thwarted Illyrio and the forces behind him's wicked plan to sell Daenerys in exchange for Dothraki Horsemen, he had also put himself on the table.
He and the forces and schemes that didn't exist behind him would be targeted by Illyrio's forces.
One could imagine two possibilities in the following events.
One was that Illyrio and his people would find a force that could vouch for Viserys' actions, and then secretly engage in a battle of wits with "Viserys and the forces behind Viserys."
The second reason was that they saw through Viserys, realizing he was nothing more than a blustering, empty-headed con man whose schemes were just a delaying tactic, serving a hidden purpose.
And Viserys's true purpose, no one would know until he revealed his ability to transform into a dragon.
But that didn't mean there were no risks. If his bluff failed, others would discover that Viserys didn't necessarily need to be a king with choices; he could be a mindless puppet.
The chess players could simply lose patience and smash the board over his head.
But Viserys didn't think this was a desperate gamble with only a sliver of hope. He believed that Illyrio and Varys would certainly find him a "force behind him." After all, the hints he gave, though vague, allowed for various reasonable speculations if one put their mind to it.
Conspirators never readily trust others; it's impossible for two conspirators to have a heart-to-heart conversation.
Moreover, even if Illyrio had sufficiently detailed intelligence sources to confirm that Viserys had nothing behind him, Viserys was prepared with a response for when he was pressed for answers.
After all, as a transmigrator, his butterfly wings were only just beginning to flutter, and his source of information was the original novel.
The "Three Crowned Princes" theory was a narrative he'd concocted based on his memories of the original novel and his own past life. It was designed to fit his current position. It was utterly absurd and drastically different from reality, but it was also steeped in conspiracy. Those who knew the truth would find it ridiculous, while those who didn't might actually believe it.
He adopted a deeply sincere demeanor. Some would see him as foolish; others would suspect hidden motives.
But none of that mattered.
He wasn't trying to present a flawless theory, but rather to muddy the waters with a narrative that suited his position, all without revealing his true intentions.
However, Viserys knew that even the most cunning schemes were ultimately secondary.
He hoped Illyrio would take action soon, allowing him to leverage the fat governor's wealth to gather Dragon Bones and Dragon Eggs.
He understood that only unshakeable strength could make a conspiracy unafraid of exposure.
It was already afternoon when he returned to Illyrio's courtyard.
Daenerys had understood that Viserys had an errand today, so she'd already eaten lunch alone.
Thus, at Illyrio's invitation, only Viserys and he dined together in the dining hall.
Illyrio couldn't help but probe further. "To be honest, Your Grace, I've been giving this a lot of thought on the journey back, and I still have some concerns."
Viserys remained composed. "I understand, Governor."
"No, Your Grace, it's not your words that concern me. It's your terms," Illyrio said earnestly. "As you know, I am a merchant. Forgive me for thinking like one. The terms you offer are too generous. You only need my protection, yet you promise me the position of Master of Coin."
"Governor, did you simply provide me with a house, a place to stay, and a meal?" Viserys asked rhetorically. "It's not that simple. The Usurper's eyes and assassins are lurking in the shadows. You also provided me with a safe environment. You even risked everything to formulate a grand plan for me – a plan that, if put into action, would be far more difficult to conceal than hiding two people. Therefore, I trust you, which is why I say these things."
If you really trusted me, you wouldn't keep saying 'I trust you.'
Illyrio was no fool, of course. His words were merely a prelude to further probing. "Your Grace, forgive my bluntness, but as a merchant, I cannot understand such generosity."
Viserys began his increasingly practiced rhetoric again. "Ah, I see, Governor. Have you heard of House Tyrell?"
Illyrio replied, "The Tyrells of Highgarden, I know them, Your Grace."
Viserys asked again, "Do you know about the Gardener family of the Reach?"
Illyrio replied, "I know a little." He already knew what Viserys was going to say.
As expected, Viserys said, "Before Aegon the Conqueror's conquest, the Gardener family ruled the Reach, and the Tyrell family served as stewards. But now everyone knows that Highgarden and the Reach belong to the Tyrells. Why? Because Harlan Tyrell offered Highgarden to Aegon the Conqueror. Illyrio, you need to understand that I have nothing now, and I don't need you to offer me anything. But I will remember the contributions of the first person who truly acts to restore my kingdom."
Illyrio was startled for a moment. He finally began to be surprised by Viserys's glib tongue. If he were truly sincere, he might have been won over by Viserys's persuasive words.
A look of ambiguous meaning appeared on Illyrio's face, as if he wanted to confess something: "Your Grace, there's something I think I should tell you."
Viserys nodded, "Please, Excellency."
Illyrio confessed, "I plan to travel to the Seven Kingdoms."
"Oh?" Viserys narrowed his eyes, looking slightly nervous. He didn't quite understand the reason for this kind of probe.
Illyrio found it difficult to discern Viserys' true feelings from his flamboyant expressions, so he explained, "I intend to travel to the Seven Kingdoms myself to observe the situation, inquire about the political landscape, and verify your words."
"I see," Viserys relaxed, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Governor, I don't think you quite understand the significance of the phrase 'Three Crowned Princes' isn't really about its truthfulness."
"Oh?"
"Ah," Viserys didn't elaborate, merely chuckling with satisfaction. "Governor, forgive my bad habit, but this phrase is one of my proudest creations. I hope you'll ponder it on your journey. I'm confident you'll grasp its nuances."
Illyrio's gaze sharpened. With the hint provided, he didn't need to ponder long. He quickly understood its significance: This seemingly flawed statement could become a rumor used to stir up unrest in the Seven Kingdoms when necessary.
Will they spread this rumor when Jon Arryn dies?
Do they believe they can cause chaos in the Seven Kingdoms with this rumor?
Are there other methods and conspiracies to go along with it?
Several questions swirled in Illyrio's mind, the surprise nearly uncontainable. Fortunately, he managed to rein in his thoughts, responding to Viserys with a joking tone, "Then consider this a test for me, Your Grace."
"As a matter of fact, Governor," Viserys said, having dropped his bombshell, uncaring whether it had detonated in Illyrio's mind, nor fretting over Illyrio's probing. He followed up with a deliberate guiding gesture, striking while the iron was hot. "If you're worried about the disparity between what you give and what you get, I do have something I need your help with. I mentioned it on your ship. Dragon Bones and Dragon Eggs, Governor. The time until old Jon dies won't be too long, but neither will it be too short."
When Viserys spoke of dragons, an unnatural fervor appeared on his face. "If I can hatch a dragon during that time, why would I need any schemes to restore the kingdom?"
....
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