The king has issued his decree, and all must obey.
When the news reached Dale, the young prince smiled.
It was a Viserys-esque act of pretending to be confused.
It was just right and impeccable.
"My uncle was born to be a king, but he was born into the Targaryen family."
His Royal Highness commented, choosing to obey the decree.
He lived deep in Dale and focused on development.
...
Half a year later...
114 AC.
It was the beginning of June, a sultry summer.
The valley was deathly quiet, and the fall of the Waywood family did not cause a stir.
No one dared to be the first to speak up.
The valley was unique and quiet.
The Lonely Mountain was the Dragon's Nest.
In the dark cave, a silver-haired figure walked and stopped.
"Very tasteful."
Aemon was ready, carrying a green backpack.
He walked around piles of dried dragon dung to the depths of the Dragon's Nest.
After a long time, he found two piles of fresh dragon dung hidden in the corner.
From the outside, they looked like lumps of black, viscous liquid that had solidified.
Without saying a word, Aemon used his small hoe to break open the shiny black shell.
A pungent white smoke burst out and the viscous liquid overflowed along the broken shell.
There were one green, one rose red, and one grayish white egg.
Three dragon eggs lay in the incubator, their eggshells covered in scales and sticky with black liquid.
"Great," he said.
Aemon opened his bag and pulled out the shivering, golden-nosed mouse.
The little mouse covered its eyes with its paws and stuffed three dragon eggs into its mouth.
"Discover an item containing magic and gain +3 magic essence..."
Aemon did the same and knocked open another incubator that looked like dragon dung.
The viscous liquid splashed out, and the stench rushed to the top of his head.
It was real dragon dung.
"Hey~"
Aemon's face fell, and he returned the same way with his harvest.
Silverwing had been very agitated lately. The dragon breeders stationed in the valley town predicted that the dragons would lay eggs.
As expected, this trip was very fruitful.
Ring!
As he passed by the bronze sacred tree, he heard a pleasant, crisp sound.
"Huh?"
Aemon glanced casually and walked forward quickly.
As for the origin of the sacred bronze tree, there was almost no information.
But one thing was clear.
The bronze sacred tree is indeed a plant or form of life.
After more than a year of growth, its height has increased by one inch, reaching three feet and one inch.
Now, it has grown to a pleasing three feet and one inch.
"Squeak!"
The golden-nosed rat crawled out of the bag, its little eyes flashing.
Aemon was surprised.
This little creature is as timid as a mouse and fears contact with dragons.
How dare it show up in the dragon's nest?
Ring!
The bronze sacred tree was motionless, and the bronze birds and sun disk on its branches did not move.
However, the bronze bell on the first branch swayed from time to time, making a crisp sound.
Aemon pondered for a moment, feeling as if the bronze bell were telling him to reach out.
He did so.
He opened his right hand and placed it directly below the bell.
Suddenly, the first branch trembled, and the three bronze leaves emitted a hazy halo, resembling a baby's clapping hands.
The bronze bell fell squarely in his palm.
The panel prompt sounded: "Discovered special materials containing magic. Gaining +10 magic essence."
Aemon's eyes widened.
There is a limit to the amount of magic power that items can carry. You can only gain five points of essence when the mithril beans are precious enough.
A small bronze bell in his palm is worth two beans.
Then...
The bronze bell stopped shaking as if it had been drained of its essence.
"Since it is a material, it is suitable for forging tools."
Aemon was satisfied.
...
Lonely Mountain was at the foot of the mountain.
Aemon climbed down the steep mountain wall. Two dragon breeders, one old and one young, had been waiting for a long time.
"Three dragon eggs. Keep them well."
He took off the bag from his waist and placed the dragon eggs in the prepared incubator.
The old dragon keeper was relieved and moved surprisingly fast.
Aemon smiled indifferently.
This nest of dragon eggs was publicly registered, and ownership belonged to the royal family.
He could keep them for a while, but ultimately, he would have to send them to King's Landing.
The result would be the same if the three dragons on Driftmark Island laid eggs.
Dragon keepers were assigned to various places to oversee dragon eggs.
"Prince, your vassals are here."
The old dragon keeper said in a low voice.
Aemon nodded and asked, "Is there any news from King's Landing recently?"
He had summoned the vassals.
After six months of rapid development, the river valley was unrecognizable.
The old dragon keeper replied, "I heard that Her Royal Highness the Princess has finished her tour and is on her way back."
It was not new news.
Aemon strode down the mountain.
River Valley City.
A magnificent white building emitting a sacred light in the sun.
Half a year of infrastructure construction yielded remarkable results.
River Valley City was officially complete.
The three halls stood tall like impassable mountains.
The blue brick and black tile design with colorful accents on the white background looked like the most beautiful painting.
Aemon entered Dale City and looked down at the city's prototype below.
A paved Dale Road connects Raven Ridge to Arryn Vale, and the main road leads to the gates of Dale Town.
This is in contrast to the limited conditions of the mountain road.
The main road inside the valley is 20 meters wide, with 10-meter-wide auxiliary roads on both sides, for a total width of 30 meters.
Small trees are planted on both sides to provide shade and block the wind.
Along the way, wheat fields cultivated by farmers could be seen, with green malt emerging from the black soil.
At this time, several groups of Vale Knights ran along the road and arrived at the towering walls of Riverdale.
After obtaining permission, they entered through the bronze gate.
Aemon's pride knew no bounds.
The first wall was finished. It was ten meters high and eight and a half meters wide at the bottom. It resembled an upside-down blue and white porcelain bowl.
The second wall was halfway built, standing five meters high and ten meters wide at the base.
The mountain clans in the labor camp were building it day by day, and there was less than a year left to finish the project.
The streets inside the town were paved with bluestone slabs, and the inner city had many shops, making it a city in its own right.
If it rained, the rainwater would flow into Long Lake through a drainage canal.
Aemon looked to the left.
A simple dock on the Long Lake moored many small fishing boats.
Next to the dock was the city garrison.
They supervised the dock and prevented invasion.
A medium-sized cargo ship with a red crab logo on its canvas sails docked, and people from the Celtigar family got off.
...
Summer Hall.
Aemon sat in the main seat and listened patiently to the allocation of lime and honeycomb coal quotas.
Johanna spoke eloquently, and all the allies and vassals agreed.
The Redford family of Red Fort and the Celtigar family of Crab Island, for example, were allies of Riverdale.
Their allocation quota was higher, and they could make a lot of money by selling it.
The Coldwater family of Coldwater City, the Tollet family of Grey Valley City, and the Shett family of Seagull Tower were vassals.
As vassals, their allocation quota was smaller.
Once they had enough for their own use, they could sell the rest to wealthy knights or small nobles under their command and earn a considerable income.
"Prince, you are still as generous as ever."
Bartimos smiled flatteringly.
Lime and honeycomb coal are inexpensive to produce but expensive to purchase, and have become a hot commodity in the aristocratic circle.
They can always be sold out, whether they are sold to the great nobles of the River Reach or to the free trade city-states across the Strait.
"You are also very generous."
Aemon waved his hand.
After the Battle of Pentos, all parties owed him spoils.
Seagull Town paid 300,000 gold dragons in full.
The Celtigar family sent people to help build the Long Lake Wharf, as well as sailors and shipbuilders.
They also gave him a broken horn.
The Velaryon family was wealthy and generous. They gave him a three-masted sailing ship named the Chaste Maiden and deposited it in Seagull Town for trade.
Since Aemon could not sail, the Sea Snake was fully responsible.
If something went wrong, he would cover the losses, and the profit would be split 70/30.
However, every time he heard the name of the ship, he felt that the Sea Snake was implying something about him.
Prince Pentos was the most generous.
He sent three large ships across the strait as gifts.
One ship was full of spices, and the other two had a total of 3,000 craftsmen, young men, and young women.
Since the spices were expensive, Aemon gave them to his allies and vassals.
It was part of the reward.
The population of River Town became subjects in exchange for aiding infrastructure.
In short,
Aemon became rich overnight with the help of war.
"Killing and setting fires will bring you a golden belt, while building bridges and paving roads will leave no corpses."
Aemon held his chin with one hand, thinking of this wise saying.
After a fair distribution, everyone left the Summer Hall.
Aemon was free and walked around.
In the white marble vestibule, Adrian and William competed in swordsmanship, fighting back and forth.
Riverdale has grown stronger.
Many noble second sons and wandering knights had gathered there, seeking official positions.
Adrian is the second son of the Redford family.
His sister is also eyeing His Royal Highness.
He was the first to swear allegiance and serve as commander of the city garrison, commanding 500 sheriffs.
This is considered an exchange of interests with the Redford family.
"Prince, there is an urgent report from King's Landing."
Maester Muntor hurried over.
"Does my uncle want to release me from confinement?"
Aemon stretched and took the letter to read it.
At first glance, I didn't know, but I was shocked when I saw it.
Rhaenyra's swift journey had ended, and she had returned to King's Landing with her followers from Storm's End.
At the same time,
According to the Grand Maester, Alicent was pregnant again, and the child was predicted to be a prince.
This double happiness made the uncle very happy.
He decided to hold a tournament.
He specifically pointed out that his nephew must be present.
"Congratulations! The royal family has added another bloodline."
Maester Muntor smiled.
Aemon smacked his lips and said, "Alicent is really fertile. She has borne more children than Silverwing."
He knew this baby would be born safely.
It would be an excellent boy, both in appearance and personality.
If all goes as expected.
Rhaenyra's right to inherit was called into question again.
Looking back on the court struggles of so many years.
This tournament may be an opportunity for the Black and Green parties to truly emerge.
The nobles of the Seven Kingdoms are forced to take sides.
"Which side should I stand on?"
Aemon thought seriously.
Neither the Black Party nor the Green Party is suitable.
He and Laena are married and have a foot in the Velaryon family's ship.
Then there's Daemon, the old man. He will definitely return to King's Landing to stir up trouble.
Given these circumstances, complete independence is obviously not feasible.
The only solution is to create a persona.
Aemon suddenly had an idea and said with a smile, "Yes, establish the persona of a loyal minister to the royal family, and become the sole minister to the Iron Throne."
Given his uncle's ability to play dumb, he will probably agree to this plan.
Once he has stabilized Rhaenyra's position, he will properly train Alicent's children.
The conflict between the Black and Green parties is solvable.
The only problem is explaining it to the Velaryon family.
Laena is the ideal candidate to be his wife.
Rhaenyra cannot be dismissed either.
In reality, having two wives is not only immoral but also illegal in Westeros.
He cannot get engaged for the time being before he has the absolute strength to imitate Aegon the Conqueror and marry two wives.
Fortunately, he is young and can wait three years.
"This tournament is going to be a mess."
Aemon shook his head in disdain.
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