Chapter 98: First Month-End Settlement
The Black Oyster departed from Duskendale, bound for Blackwater Bay, then through the throat between Crackclaw Point and Dragonstone, entering the Narrow Sea and sailing all the way to Pentos.
The journey would last at least a week.
Ian rested his hands on the ship's rail, gazing at the distant horizon. The setting sun hung low at the intersection of sea and sky, painting the waters a golden hue.
Waves lapped against the merchant vessel beneath Ian's feet, occasionally sending up spray that chilled him slightly.
This was a ship designed only for coastal travel or the Narrow Sea. Its sides were low. If it were to cross the Stepstones and enter the Summer Sea, it would likely not make it far before being capsized by a storm far more violent than anything on the Narrow Sea.
Looking back at Dun Fort high above Duskendale, Ian mentally said goodbye to Westeros.
He didn't know if he would ever return after his journey to Essos, but if he did, he suspected it would be as a conqueror.
Dinner consisted of salted beef, hard cheese, and black bread harder than stone. Ian had to soak it in incredibly sour, half-turned red wine before he could swallow it.
It wasn't that Ian was so miserly as to deny himself proper food; this was simply the best fare available on board. Even the captain ate the same.
Most of the others had a small piece of black bread and a bowl of fish soup, unseasoned and without any spices to mask the fishy smell.
"Gulltown has been taken by the royal forces," Daeron Grafton whispered, sitting beside Ian. "The coalition, led by Lord Royce 'Bronze Yohn,' numbered three thousand men. They took Gulltown that same day and captured my father and brothers. They will be brought to King's Landing for trial, just like your father and his kin."
"What news did the sailors bring from the sea?" Ian bit off a small piece of dried beef.
"Yes, a sailor on a merchant ship that came from Gulltown to Duskendale told me so," Daeron sighed sadly. "It's my fault they were caught."
But Ian couldn't sense genuine sadness. If Daeron had truly been determined to save his father and brother, he would have returned to Gulltown immediately after the Battle of the Abandoned Fishing Village.
That way, he could have made it home before Ser Raymun and his men from the crossroads reached King's Landing. Even if Gulltown ultimately fell, he could at least have allowed his family to escape Westeros with their wealth.
But he didn't. Persuaded by Ian's words about supporting the dragon's great cause, he obeyed Ian's instructions and came to Duskendale.
Clearly, in Daeron's eyes, after he'd defected to Viserys, the existence of his father and brother had become an obstacle—an obstacle to his claim to the title of Lord Grafton.
"However, there is one piece of news about your House Darry," Daeron paused and changed the subject. "It's hard to say whether it's good news or bad. Ser Raymun betrayed Ser Jonothor before the Iron Throne, making Ser Jonothor also bear the crime of treason.
And your trueborn brother, Lyman Darry, is also dead. I don't know whether it was Ser Jonothor or Ser Raymun who did it. In the end, King Robert gave Castle Darry to Ser Raymun." Daeron observed Ian's reaction while speaking, and smiled slightly after noticing there was no sadness on Ian's face. "In short, now we are the last surviving members of our respective families."
"That's why we must stand together even more firmly." Ian followed his lead.
"Yes! United!" Daeron repeated Ian's words. "You saved my life, and I will treat you as my brother from now on!"
You just got your own brother killed! Ian couldn't help but think critically after Daeron finished speaking, then pretended to ask casually: "By the way, can you tell me what you've been doing these past ten days?"
"I went north to complete some business arrangement and acquired a modest sum. About thirty gold dragons. As for what I did, it involves other people's secrets."
Ian could choose not to explain to Daeron, but he had to craft this answer because when they arrived in Pentos, Illyrio would certainly ask again.
After all, they'd taken so long to reach Pentos after the battle at the abandoned fishing village; the time gap needed an explanation.
Daeron didn't press further. After finishing his remaining food, he bid Ian goodnight and returned to the cabin.
After dinner, Ian and the others entered the hold. The conditions were quite wretched.
Because this was a cargo ship, there were no private or even shared cabins for passengers.
Passengers were crammed like sardines in the pitch-black hold, surrounded by the stench of excrement and vomit, seeking shelter among the corners of the cargo.
However, Ian didn't want to endure such hardship; he had coin.
He quickly rented a room normally used by the crew for his own use for one gold dragon. If it weren't for the need to stay with Kes and the others, he would have even considered renting the captain's cabin for himself.
Ian's group consisted of only five people, and Dorian the Black Falcon did not accompany Ian.
According to Ian's instructions, Black Falcon would take his men and the coin provided by Ian to Pentos separately and reorganize his sellsword company there.
When Ian needed him, he would make contact and assign him tasks.
Lying in his bunk, Ian waited until late at night without falling asleep.
Because it was time for the settlement after the first month of the game, he needed to know where his 26 points would rank among the players.
Time soon came to midnight, and the auxiliary system chimed with a prompt right on schedule.
[Day 30 Settlement Report: Current Number of Remaining Players: 44]
In the first month of the game, less than half the players were still alive.
And Ian also knew that the number 44 would soon be reduced by 3 more due to the leaderboard's assassination mechanism.
Then Ian clicked on the second message.
[Congratulations to the player who ranked first on the leaderboard at the first month's settlement.
Rewards: 5 points, 888 gold dragons, and two A-rank NPCs (within the region) of your choice.]
"Whew!" Ian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. Fortunately, he'd managed to kill the gold-cloaked player before leaving King's Landing, earning a significant point gain. Otherwise, after purchasing the [High Shepherd's Blessing] and expanding his inventory, he'd have had so few points left that even taking first place, he might not have broken into the top three.
Overall, Ian was quite satisfied with the rewards. If he could consistently earn 888 gold dragons each month, it would be significant income, even for him now.
Furthermore, it also included 5 points and two A-rank NPCs, each worth 10 points in the system shop.
The increase in the number of his loyal "warrior priests," even if they were only A-rank, would significantly increase Ian's flexibility in his strategic deployments.
(End of Chapter)
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