Pentos Magisters Illyrio looked through the carriage window and saw the spectacular grey-brown outer city walls of Viserysgrad below the hill, with the walls built on giant stone foundations.
At the foot of the hill was the city with its docks, and on the hill was the King's White Fort, with black banners bearing red dragons fluttering on the summit.
Viserysgrad leaned against the Upper Rhoyne River on its left and was flanked by rolling hills on its right; the city also had a moat, making it look like a crouching dragon and a tiger.
Illyrio observed the design of the Viserysgrad, which commanded a high vantage point.
There were also giant walls, covered with battlements, arrow slits, and murder holes, truly a fortress of bronze and iron.
Since Pentos was effectively disarmed by Braavos, the Pentos Magisters rarely had experience leading troops, but even from an outsider's perspective, it was clear that this place would be difficult to conquer.
"Why do these stones look so familiar?" Illyrio carefully examined the outer walls of Westeros City, and instantly realized they were the circular megalithic array from the Velvet Hills.
"Clever man, he knows how to use local materials. It seems that giant Valyrian steel statue will also disappear soon."
Illyrio continued his journey. With a joint letter of passage from the Pentos Magisters, he was sent as an honored guest to the fortress on top of the hill with little trouble, as Viserys had arranged this beforehand.
Thus, the guards inspected Illyrio's carriage entourage.
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Besides Illyrio's own provisions for eating and drinking, there were also many gifts for Viserys.
All seven carriages were filled with gifts.
Gold and silver jewels, beautiful clothes, precious spices, fine wines, and several pretty virgin "maids."
Though called maids, they were actually lifelong contract servants, or slaves, a trick played by the Pentos people.
Illyrio's carriage proceeded along the white flagstone road towards the hill.
This well-ordered city, filled with joyful and reassured andals, undoubtedly demonstrated Viserys's managerial capabilities.
"Could this Viserys be an unparalleled genius, merely skilled at hiding himself?" Illyrio mused to himself.
But Illyrio quickly dismissed this thought; Varys's intelligence was rarely wrong.
The boy Viserys in the Red Keep was a temperamental, spoiled prince.
It was more likely that hardship and bitterness had forged the man, sharpening Viserys's talents and transforming him from a spoiled brat into a capable individual.
If this were true, then this Viserys would be even more formidable, requiring a truly ruthless and unyielding heart.
After breaking free from the protection of his guardians Ser Darry and the Sea Lord, he seized the strategic opportunity and grasped power himself.
This foresight in seizing opportunities and the ruthlessness to act personally did not at all resemble a spoiled brat.
"If that is truly the case, then our plan seems to need some adjustments," Illyrio pondered to himself. Originally, their plan did not include Viserys and his group, as they had looked down on him.
Viserys and his group were merely a smokescreen to attract the iron throne's attention, allowing them time to develop their own "Aegon."
But now the situation was changing too rapidly; they might be unable to reach Viserys.
While he was still pondering, the new Targaryen Family castle, the "White Fort," was reached.
Illyrio laboriously dismounted from the carriage; his large chest and fat made him look like a fat manatee.
"Heaven help me, this is truly a chore," Illyrio commented. "But compared to the rich and prosperous Pentos, this White City also has a fresh air, a new city."
In the past, since leaving Pentos, the plains of Pentos had orchards, farms, and mines, but only farmers and laborers were bound there, and the land was ravaged by dothraki horsemen.
Not to mention Andals, which was a poor, remote area that the Pentos people looked down upon even more.
Such a large area often showed no towns, and the Governors rarely traveled far.
Illyrio was still very curious upon seeing the White Fort.
The black-armored guards politely took over Illyrio's escort, and Illyrio also ordered his Unsullied warriors to obey.
A smart man gives his host face.
"Please, Magister," a tall andal warrior came to lead Illyrio.
Illyrio followed the warrior's steps towards a white council hall.
The originally grey-brown stone council hall had been completely renovated and was now a council hall constructed of white marble.
Although not particularly luxurious, the council hall looked simple and beautiful.
Passing through the large oak and iron doors, sunlight streamed through the windows on both sides, illuminating the red carpet on the floor.
The dome was also pieced together from various colored marbles, clearly in the shape of a roaring dragon.
"Magister, you are the first foreign dignitary to arrive at Viserysgrad," Viserys said.
Viserys sat on a throne on a high platform in the hall. The throne was made of oak, with its back carved into the likeness of a three-headed dragon.
Behind Viserys, a large banner hung on the stone wall, featuring a black background with a red three-headed dragon emblem.
Argus and Hugo stood on Viserys's left and right, respectively, as the King's guards.
"Bring a chair for my honored guest; Magister, come closer," Viserys commanded.
Illyrio was so fat that the chair brought for him seemed capable of accommodating a whale, and it had a velvet backrest.
"This is His Majesty's grace, for which I am eternally grateful. Seeing Your Majesty, I seem to see the conqueror of old," Illyrio said.
Sweat beaded on the Fat Magister's forehead, and his pig-like eyes twinkled on his fleshy face.
The rings on his hands glittered, including agate, cat's eye, tiger's eye, tourmaline, ruby, amethyst, sapphire, emerald, jet, jade, and a huge black diamond and a huge green pearl.
Viserys looked at the rings on the Fat Magister's hand. This son of a bitch, the Pentos Magisters, was truly rich.
These great merchant Governors had long since seized power in the great city-states, sidelining the noble princes.
"The Dothraki stole it, so I can't be polite either," Viserys resolved; there would always be an opportunity for a big score.
Of course, not now.
Illyrio noticed a fleeting glimpse of greed in Viserys's eyes, a craving for wealth.
Illyrio, however, felt much more reassured; as long as he loved money, there was a channel for communication.
Illyrio looked at the dashing silver-haired young King, with short silver hair and purple eyes, and a red dragon embroidered with red gems on his black clothes.
Viserys wore a golden circlet with seven gems on his head, and his every glance revealed the demeanor of a king.
There was also Viserys's charm inherited from the true dragon family, a superhuman beauty. Rhaegar was famous for his high Appearance in his day, and Viserys's Appearance was even higher than Rhaegar's.
However, the two had completely different demeanors. Rhaegar was a melancholic, artistic type, burdened by sorrow and resentment, while Viserys was more like an ambitious, confident, and unrestrained young king.
Illyrio compared his hidden "Aegon" with Viserys; the difference was too great.
That Aegon was still a child. Even if he were presented as having a stronger, more legitimate claim to succession, he simply couldn't compare in charisma to the increasingly prominent Viserys.
The current Viserys was a dangerous and magnificent warrior, revered as a god by the andals.
"Thank you for your praise, Magister, but I wonder what is your purpose in coming across mountains and rivers?" Viserys's expression was calm; the fat man's flattery was quite generous.
Viserys had long been wary of this fat man. The best solution was to kill him, but if he could get a petrified dragon egg, that would be best.
Illyrio and Varys believed their schemes were flawless, but Viserys knew the plot.
The reason why people like Illyrio and Varys succeeded in their intrigues was because of their honeyed words and hidden malice, coupled with their excessive ambition and humble conduct, which rarely drew attention to their existence.
"I have come for friendship, the friendship between Pentos and Andals," Illyrio said with a smile.
Illyrio's whole body of fat also moved exaggeratedly.
"What kind of friendship?" Viserys asked.
"A friendship that will surely satisfy you," Illyrio boasted. "If you agree, I will have my Unsullied guards bring in the gifts."
"Please!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!" Illyrio said with a smile, rising, feeling as if the chair would shatter the next moment.
So the Unsullied guards began carrying large chests into the hall; there were seven large chests in total.
One by one, the chests were opened by the Unsullied, revealing a dazzling array of jewels and treasures.
The first chest contained gold, the second silver, the third gems, and the fourth spices, such as cardamom and cloves.
The fifth chest held beautiful clothes, the sixth exquisite armor and weapons.
The seventh chest contained ancient fine wines.
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