"At this moment, death and fear have left me. I am the Holy Light, the Radiant Dragon, the Sun's Messenger, the Vanguard of Justice, and the Torchbearer of Freedom. I am also Daenerys's eldest son and the Grand Guardian of Light of the Faith of the Seven under her command," declared the Radiant Dragon, Big Black.
"You're not calling yourself 'Deathwing' anymore?" Kuhuru's face twitched. "'Radiant Dragon' doesn't quite match his dark, gleaming skin. 'Deathwing' still suits him better."
"His skin may be dark, but his heart is divine and full of light—just like us Summer Islanders," said the black-skinned woman Koja, looking up at the sky with misty eyes and a face full of admiration.
"Well, true enough..." Kuhuru glanced down at his own obsidian-like skin and couldn't help but nod in agreement.
The crowd at the dock was shocked and noisy, but the voice of the Radiant Dragon, Big Black, continued to boom from above:"The House of Black and White lives up to its name. Under the guidance of the High Priest of the Many-Faced God, the negotiations were concluded at the very gates of the House on the Isle of Gods."
"That fast?" Koja exclaimed in disbelief.
"Sigh, after experiencing the pain inflicted by Deathwing, how could the negotiations not be swift? Even if the Dragon Queen proposed the most unequal terms, Braavos would have to agree instantly," the black captain said with a sigh.
The powerful voice of the Radiant Dragon echoed across the Old Clothes Trader's Wharf:"The treaty contains only four clauses. First, the Dragon Queen deposits the gold from Slaver's Bay into the Iron Bank, which will charge a 13% handling fee."
"This..." Kuhuru frowned in confusion. "That's actually very reasonable. If the Braavosi have already surrendered, shouldn't the Dragon Queen take advantage of it—"
"Second," Big Black dropped another bombshell, "the Dragon Queen will purchase at least 50 million gold dragons' worth of grain from the Iron Bank at 130% of the current highest market price, to be delivered within five years."
"Fifty million? Gods! How much is that? How much grain? Has the Dragon Queen lost her mind?" the merchants cried out in shock.
"Deathwing, why is the Dragon Queen buying that much grain?" A bold sailor climbed the mast and shouted up at Big Black.
Whoosh—Big Black suddenly dove, roaring past just above the sailor's head, drawing gasps from the crowd below.
Then, the black dragon began circling low above the large sea vessel, roaring,"Sailor, what did you call me?"
"I am the Holy Light, I am the Radiant Dragon, the Sun's Messenger, the Vanguard of Justice, the Torchbearer of Freedom, the Dragon Queen Daenerys's eldest son, and the Grand Guardian of Light of the Faith of the Seven of Slaver's Bay!"
"Are you trying to awaken Deathwing?" Big Black's voice rose high and sharp, then gradually deepened, as if even the already gloomy sky grew darker under its weight.
"No, mercy, Holy Light! Have pity, Sacred Dragon! I was wrong!" the sailor clung to the mast, wailing.
A warm trickle soaked through his gray hemp trousers, dripping from high above onto the deck—some even caught by the upturned mouth of the first mate staring into the sky.
"No~~mercy!"The Sacred Dragon suddenly seemed to transform into the Doom Dragon. He reached out with his claws and, in a low-altitude dive, snatched the sailor right off the mast.
Crack!The top mast splintered and broke.
"Aaahhh!"The sailor dangled helplessly from the dragon's grip, screaming in utter terror.
"You have awakened the wrath of the sleeping dragon. I must punish you," growled the Doom Dragon.
"Aaahhh!"The sailor lost all control, soiling himself as his consciousness faded, managing only to scream senselessly.
"Ahhh! The Doom Dragon is eating people!"Sailors and vendors at the dock shrieked in horror.
Skreeee—Big Black's roar rumbled like thunder, shaking everyone to the core.
"Sailor, you have two choices: answer my question, or be thrown into the sea from the sky."
"Ugh... the Doom Dragon doesn't eat people?" one sailor murmured in disappointment.
"Shut up, damn it! That's not Deathwing, not a Doom Dragon—it's the Holy Light, the Sacred Dragon, the Radiant Dragon! Don't call him the wrong name!" his crewmate whispered nervously.
"I have a riddle. Listen well," the Radiant Dragon's voice boomed."Fat and plump, full of blubber, hates cleanliness, never bathes. Everyone calls it a lazy thing. After eating and drinking, it just sleeps. What is it?"
"Ahhh!"The sailor rolled his eyes, struggling and screaming unconsciously.
"A pig! A pig!"The sailors, merchants, and townsfolk at the dock stomped their feet and beat their chests, desperate to shout out the answer and prove their wit to the Sacred Dragon.
"Foolish pig, you don't even know that!"Big Black scoffed and tossed the sailor from the sky.
From a height of about fifty meters, the man plummeted, screaming, and splashed into the sea near the ship.
Immediately, sailors from the same crew dove in and dragged him back onto the deck.
"He's still breathing," someone said, seeing the man's chest heave and his eyes rolling. The people on board all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"I am the Dragon God. My word is law! If I say I am no longer Deathwing, then I am not. As for the grain..."The Radiant Dragon Big Black let out a long sigh.
The crowd below was stunned—did they actually hear a note of compassion and sorrow?
They listened as Big Black began loudly preaching about the appearance of the White Walkers, the Wall, and the coming of the Long Night.
"Is this for real?"People at the dock stared blankly, as if looking at a deranged dragon.
Given how the dragon kept switching between 'Doom Dragon' and 'Radiant Dragon,' calling him a "Mad Dragon" didn't even seem like an exaggeration.
Could it be that, like the infamous Targaryen madness, the Dragon Queen's eldest son had inherited her "mad blood"?
Through Big Black's eyes, Daenerys observed the crowd's reactions and muttered inwardly:Is this the so-called Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth? Where all sentient beings are so clouded by calamity that their minds become dull and confused?
Still, she had expected such a reaction. That's exactly why she deliberately played up the "Legend of the Radiant Dragon and the Sailor" to grab attention.
—So many world-shaking events had happened in Braavos over the past two days that if she simply lectured on the Long Night, people's attention would be hijacked by other, more sensational news.
Like... the death of the Sea Lord, the Braavos coup, the annihilation of the council, the diving dragon, the talking dragon, falling meteors, the fire at the Purple Harbor, and the intervention of the House of Black and White.
Compared to those, the "vague and distant" Long Night seemed smaller and less appealing.
After all, the prophecy of Azor Ahai and the Long Night had been heard for thousands of years. People had become numb, bored of it.
Thus, it was better to tie the Long Night's warning to something far more provocative and legendary—like the tale of the Sacred Dragon's riddle.
Keywords like "sailor," "Radiant Dragon's wrath," "riddle," and "pig" would all help spread the message about the coming Long Night.
The great holy dragon Dahei began to cosplay as the Buddha from Journey to the West. His voice echoed through the docks like a morning bell or evening drum—solemn, ancient, and filled with an odd sense of compassion and mercy—as it rang out over the tens of thousands gathered in Xintian:
"I am the Dragon God. I have traveled across timelines and glimpsed the future—a future in which there is no place for any of you.Braavos and all other city-states of the world will be buried in snow during the Long Night. People will starve and die by the thousands, turn to cannibalism, and the cities will become hell on earth.This is the will of Heaven, this is fate. Any who reveal it shall be cursed by the heavens.Yet I am the holy dragon of light, merciful and compassionate, here to deliver all living beings. I cannot bear to see such suffering.Today, I willingly endure the backlash of tenfold destiny, only to advise you this: Lay down your gold dragons and return to the land. Take up your hoes and plant more sweet potatoes.By the Seven above—so be it, so be it!"
※※※ Original novel first published on 69 Book Bar ※※※
The dockside district fell into absolute silence. No one spoke. Only the clear, distant chime of a bell from a faraway tower echoed through the still air, making the atmosphere feel inexplicably sacred.
The black dragon in the sky seemed cloaked in a layer of holy golden light. His body had grown vast enough to blot out the sky, like a divine being of mercy gazing down from the heavens.
It was the first time this world had ever faced a "Buddha of the West," and no one knew how to respond.
People exchanged confused looks, eyes blank and dazed. A strange mix of absurdity and warmth filled their hearts.
"Will there really be a Long Night?" Kukuru suddenly shouted.
"Ah! The Laurel Wind!"The great black dragon's pupils shrank. He quickly recognized the familiar Black captain below. Circling downward, he flew above the Laurel Wind and once again shifted his tone and voice.
From Buddha, he reverted back into Smaug—his voice low and tinged with menace.
"Captain Kukuru Mo. I remember you. That year in Qohor, I drew a portrait for you."
Dahei's voice oozed with wicked charm, rising and falling like he was reciting poetry with rich emotion—sending shivers down the spines of those listening below.
"Ahhh! Papa! The Holy Dragon remembers us!"The Black girl, Koja, shrieked in manic delight.
Kukuru's dark face flushed red. He looked as if he were drunk, dizzy with pride.
Never in his life had he felt such recognition. He wanted to shout it out to the world:
"Did you hear that? The Holy Dragon, Deathwing, BB—he knows me!"
"Stop sailing. Go home. The Long Night is almost here. My eyes pierce time and space—I've seen the dark forces stirring in the Land of Always Winter."
Dahei sighed, his voice melodic and deep.
Then he ascended higher into the sky, projecting his voice in all directions:
"Clause Three: Braavos shall lease 80 large cargo ships—each with a carrying capacity of at least 400 tons—to the Mother of Dragons at cost price, for two years. She reserves the right to renew the lease.Clause Four: The Mother of Dragons and Braavos jointly acknowledge the Copernian-Yarathon rebellion. All blame falls solely on him. Sea Lord Ferrego did not break his oath, nor violate guest rights. He did his best to protect the Mother of Dragons, who was his guest.This is a holy contract witnessed by the gods themselves—so be it, so be it!"
Having said his piece, the black dragon flew a graceful circle in the sky, flicked his tail lightly, pierced through the thick fog, and disappeared beyond the horizon.
"Hey—wait! I haven't even..."Kukuru snapped back to reality and reached out in vain, clawing at the air with regret.
"I didn't even get to respond... Why did the Holy Dragon leave so quickly...?"
"Only four terms? That's it?" Koja looked puzzled.
"What were the Braavosi thinking? The Mother of Dragons didn't even propose a single unfair clause. Why make such a fuss? The damage to Purple Harbor alone must be over five million gold dragons, right?"
Captain Kukuru shook his head and sighed.
"It has nothing to do with the clauses. The Mother of Dragons, a noble soul, stood beneath a crumbling wall—and those who disliked her couldn't help but try to bring it down on her. If there weren't clauses excluding land concessions or reparations, I'd suspect she was baiting them on purpose."
Braavos did pay compensation—just in a different form.
Otherwise, would the Dragon Queen have agreed to Clause Four, recognizing the Copernican coup?
To acknowledge the coup was to admit Braavos hadn't broken its oaths or violated guest rights.
In future generations, when faced with criticism and ridicule, the Braavosi could proudly proclaim:
"We did our best. We honored our vows. We protected our guest. It's just that a traitor emerged from within, and there was nothing more we could do!"
The hush money Braavos gave to the Dragon Queen came in the form of 80 giant sea vessels, each capable of carrying over 400 tons. They were staffed with 4,000 experienced sailors and 80 seasoned captains well-versed in the routes of the Shivering Sea, Narrow Sea, and Summer Sea.
And these ships weren't empty. They were loaded to the brim with supplies: wool, cotton, barley, cheese, butter, sausages, beast sinews, horseshoes...
More than 40,000 tons of cargo.
And all this—cost the Dragon Queen merely 200,000 gold dragons.
The 200,000 wasn't even paid to the Braavosi, but used to cover the wages of the 4,000 sailors, 80 captains, and maintenance fees for the 80 ships over the next two years.
There were also a few minor conditions—such as gifting Jero a Valyrian steel sword, or requesting a dragon egg (which was declined, as the eggs had been sent to Volantis).
However, the Braavosi promised to purchase a stone egg in the future and gift it to Dany.
(End of Chapter)
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