Larys had nowhere to hide. His eyes flickered slightly as he entered the state. "Before I give you advice, Prince, I want to know more about your prospects."
"Take control of the Vale and use it as a springboard." Aemon said frankly.
Larys nodded and responded as expected: "The Vale is closed and conservative. There are few ancient nobles, and its military strength is weaker than that of the Seven Kingdoms."
The Moon Mountains form the fertile Arryn Valley, which feeds the Eyrie. Outside the valley, the Fingers and the Three Sisters Islands are barren. Nobles near the Moon Mountains, such as those in Redfort and Coldwater City, rely solely on their land for wealth. Without wealth, they can only stick to their own ways.
"The people of the Vale follow the rules and are loyal." Aemon pondered. Even though there aren't many nobles, loyalty is inevitable.
Larys frowned and had an idea. "Drink the hot soup, but not too fast," he said.
"Oh?" Aemon became interested.
Larys moved his scepter and laughed, "There are few nobles in the Vale. Most of them are poor and stubborn. You just need to wait for the right time and choose a few worth winning over."
In other words, it means winning over one group and fighting another.
"Will someone start before me?" Aemon sensed a deeper meaning.
Larys said, "If you want to rule the Vale, how can the people of the Vale not be on guard? There's a saying: There's a thief who can steal for a thousand days, but there's no such thing as a thief who can steal for a thousand days. Delay for a while and see who loses patience first."
Aemon thought carefully and couldn't help but smile. There is some truth to that. When opponents with equal chess skills compete, it depends on who shows weakness and makes mistakes first.
"Larys, you are very talented." Aemon chuckled and looked at his conspirator, who was caught up in the overall situation of the "Dance of the Blood Dragons."
Larys was humble. "You flatter me."
"I know your ability." Aemon's eyes brightened, and he asked again. "The Sea Snake returned to Driftmark in anger. Will there be any action?"
He wanted to see if the other party was being honest.
Larys's heart pounded with alarm, and he asked, "You are a conqueror who married the daughters of two families."
"Yes." Aemon admitted generously.
Larys understood and whispered, "You are the key to stabilizing the situation."
Many people understand this. The Velaryon family was once prosperous, but they did not dare go to war with the royal family. Corlys's real purpose was nothing more than marrying his children to members of the royal family and getting closer to the Iron Throne. Only through these relationships can the Velaryon family maintain its power. More specifically, the dragon-taming rights of Princess Rhaenys's father, Aemon Targaryen, can continue.
However, Lady Laena married outside the family, and Ser Laenor cut his ties. This bloodline is destined to transfer from "Targaryen-Driftmark" to "Targaryen-Riverdale." Through the marriage of Prince Aemon and Lady Laena, the bloodlines of "Brave Baelon" and "Aemon Targaryen" merged and reverted to the Targaryen surname.
"You're right." Aemon smiled slightly. The Sea Snake is far-sighted and will not fail to see the family's shortcomings.
Larys breathed a sigh of relief, but his body remained tense. He was really afraid of the other party. He gripped his shoulders tightly, as if he were going to push him down the stairs. It wasn't easy to catch a smart man; how could Aemon let him go easily?
Thinking that the other party intended to approach Alicent, he suddenly said, "Have you heard about the black and green factions circulating in the court?"
Larys was stunned and hesitated. If he answered incorrectly, he might fall from the building.
"Don't worry. Speak boldly." Aemon's eyes flashed dangerously.
The hatred between Alicent and Rhaenyra has not reached the point where it's either you or me. The biggest conflict stems from inheritance rights and family disputes. It's still easy to appease.
Larys hesitated for a moment and said, embarrassed: "Her Majesty the Queen has been patient, and Her Majesty the Princess has begun to show the demeanor of a true dragon. The ministers of the palace must stand on their own sides."
"Then which side are you on?" Aemon said something shocking.
Larys's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he was alert. "If the kingdom wants stability in the long term, you should be the regent and assist Her Royal Highness the Princess," he said.
"So you mean to support the Black Party." Aemon's eyes were aggressive.
Larys had no choice but to remain silent.
"Haha."
Aemon stood up and said with a smile, "Thank you for your advice. You are a talented person, Larys." He loosened his grip on the other person, patted his butt, and left. To answer questions and resolve doubts, I will let him go today. He's not a tiger that will cause trouble. At most, Larys is a poisonous insect, far from a beast. He's just like an ambitious person from the Fingers in the future. Once the cunning of such people is exposed, they will be like fish on a chopping board and will be ravaged by others.
Godswood.
Aemon sat under the Fishbeam Tree, with red leaves swaying above him. His back was against the pale bark of the tree trunk.
Today is a big day. As usual, the Magic Essence Panel will bring good things.
Call up the personal panel.
Aemon Targaryen
Talent: Dreamer (Gold)
Bloodline: Dragon King of Ancient Valyria (43%)
Skills: Archery (never misses), Riding (expert), Swordsmanship (master).
Witchcraft: Binding Spell, Remnant (mastery), Solid Rune (proficient), Magical Hands (proficient).
Magic Cards: Strong Body (blue), Solid as a Rock (intermediate, purple), King's Temperament (purple).
Forces: Riverdale (main city); Black Rose Hall (subsidiary).
Equipment: Broken Horn, Dual Valyrian Daggers, Sapphire Amulet (2/3)
Pets: Golden-nosed Rat (blue), White Deer (auspicious beast).
Comments: "The bloodline is growing slowly and is already approaching the shackles."
Aemon read it once, paying special attention to the bloodline column and comments. The bloodline purity increased by 0.5%, the result of natural growth in recent days.
"The purer the bloodline, the more difficult it is to purify?" Aemon whispered.
From the panel display, it's clear that the bloodline is not unchanging. Every Targaryen is born with a rich or thin bloodline. As they grow older, their bloodline's purity increases. This is especially true after they contact and tame dragons. Once humans and dragons form a bond, the bloodline tends to stabilize.
Aemon's mind turned and he suddenly thought, "Every 10% of bloodline purity may be a hurdle." The amount of bloodline purity should correspond to certain changes. For example, the greater the bloodline purity, the greater the chance of hatching dragon eggs in the cradle.
When he was young, he received Balerion's skull as a gift, which increased his blood purity to 13%. Previously, his blood purity was estimated to be no more than 10%, so the black dragon egg had never hatched.
Once the bloodline purity increases to over 20%, one can safely approach dragons such as Dreamfyre and Caraxes. They will not attack.
When blood purity exceeds 30%, the irritable and violent dragon, Vermithor, can be tamed. Additionally, a strong bond is quickly established.
High and low blood purities are divided into categories such as hatching dragon eggs, taming dragons, and communicating with dragons. However, people and dragons are different, so the actual situation varies from person to person. For example, Dreamfyre ignored Aemon and refused to be tamed.
Uncle Viserys tamed the "Black Dread" Balerion, and Daemon tamed the "Blood Wyrm" Caraxes. Their blood purity must not be low. Yet, neither could hatch the dragon eggs in the cradle.
Perhaps the blood purity of young Targaryens is low, and dragons are only tamed after reaching adulthood.
Aemon thought strangely and said in surprise, "Rhaenyra can hatch Syrax. Isn't she a genius?"
None of the four children of Laenor and his sister, including Aemon, hatched a baby dragon. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, succeeded at a very young age. Several of Strong's illegitimate children in the original world and Aegon the "Dragonbane" also hatched dragon eggs in the cradle.
Ridiculously high productivity!
"Thirty percent blood purity is probably a big hurdle." Aemon thought of Daemon, who was far away in the Stepstones. Currently, he and Daemon are the only dragonriders who can achieve the "unity of man and dragon." He has the help of the panel, and Daemon and Caraxes have similar temperaments.
Laena and Rhaenys can't control theirs perfectly. Both mother and daughter love dragons and often ride them to cruise the straits. This suggests that their blood purity is not that strong.
It's hard to say about Rhaenyra. She dotes on Syrax too much and raises her like a child without strict training.
"What special effects will be seen when the blood purity reaches 40%?" Suddenly, Aemon opened his palm.
What's the difference between him and others?
His eyes moved up and fell on the witchcraft column on the panel.
[Empty Hands]: This is a thief's method with the added ability to take objects from a distance. It's convenient for taking a cup at ordinary times, but not very useful.
[Binding Spell: Remnant] and [Rune of Solidity] are clearly magic and sorcery. Unfortunately, they are both passively cast, so it's impossible to tell if they require a "blue bar" or "cooling time."
Aemon is unsure and tentatively determines that blood purity of more than 40% can touch magic. He exceeds the standard; when he was young, both [Solid as a Rock] and [Strong Body] were baptized with magic.
"If you find active magic in the future, you can try teaching Rhaenyra." Aemon had an idea. Rhaenyra's blood is pure, and she is a little white mouse.
"Squeak!" The golden-nosed mouse emerged from the pocket and called out curiously.
"Are you thinking about it?"
"Go back." Aemon pressed the little thing back into his pocket ruthlessly.
The panel flipped over to reveal the card panel. The white mist lingered, and three gray card phantoms appeared in the middle. A golden hourglass appeared at the bottom with a number next to it: [Number of Essence: 2210].
"I haven't drawn a card in a long time." Aemon rubbed his hands excitedly.
After three consecutive pokes, the white mist dissipated. The three cards turned from virtual to real, revealing their true appearance:
[Loyna's Emerald Ring]: The secret treasure of the water wizard containing a gentle water element. The card features an emerald green ring emitting a warm green light against a blue background.
[Blood Fruit]: After consuming it, it accelerates the body's growth rate. The card is blue with a red fruit.
[Pyromancer's Stone Sculpture]: A measuring instrument. The card features a dragon-shaped stone sculpture carved from black dragonstone with spiderweb-like blood threads spreading across a blue background.
There are three magic cards, all of which are blue.
"Blood Fruit again!" Aemon's eyes lit up, and he poked it directly.
Pop!
The magic card shattered and turned into a little red halo. A red fruit fell from his hand. The number next to the golden hourglass was: [Essence: 1710].
One blood fruit: 500 essence points deducted.
"Worth it!" Aemon's mouth curled up as he said happily, "Feed it to Vermithor and it will grow a little."
I don't know how effective it will be if I use it again.
Then, he looked at the other two magic cards.
[Loyna's Emerald Ring]: [300 Essence]
[Pyromancer's Stone Sculpture]: [500 Essence].
"So expensive?" Aemon said in astonishment. The former is not bad; it contains a mild water element. It's similar to the restless fire element triggered by the dragon and the lightning magic triggered by the remains of the harpy. Three hundred essence points is neither too much nor too little.
Grit your teeth and buy it.
I just don't know the specific effect. It looks like a healing feeling."
"Why is this a stone sculpture?" Aemon checked the introduction and analyzed the function of the measuring instrument.
What is it measuring?
Fire wizards are a special kind of witchcraft in ancient Valyria. They have the same status as blood wizards and are used by the dragon kings of forty families.
Pop! Pop!
Aemon raised his eyebrows and bought the two magic cards. They're expensive for a reason. Since Doomsday, magic props have become scarce. They're worth buying!
The two cards shattered and turned into green and fiery red halos, respectively, before falling into his hands. The number next to the golden hourglass is: [Number of Essence: 910].
"Snowi, open your mouth." Aemon stuffed the blood fruit into the mouth of the golden-nosed rat and examined the two items.
On his left hand was an emerald ring that felt cool to the touch and faintly exuded a pleasant fragrance. On his right hand was a palm-sized, black, dragon-shaped stone sculpture made of dragonstone.
As soon as Aemon touched it, he felt the power of the ring.
Purification and healing!
Place it in water to purify the water source. Wearing it for a long time can heal external injuries.
"As expected of a gentle water element, it is functional." Aemon couldn't help but praise it, keeping it like a treasure.
I gave it to my uncle as a small gift.
It's like a pillow when you're sleepy!
The last one is a dragon-shaped stone sculpture that I observed over and over again. It's a giant dragon with wings spread out. Its appearance resembles Dreamfyre and Seasmoke, with a well-proportioned body and dorsal fin. Its vertical pupils are inlaid with rubies, and its color is dull. The dragon's chest scales, which extend from the abdomen to the lower jaw, are engraved with lifelike lines that resemble measuring lines.
At first glance, they look like dotted lines on a ruler.
Aemon felt something in his heart, bit his fingertip, and squeezed out a drop of scarlet blood.
Tick!
The blood drop fell into the dragon-shaped stone sculpture's mouth, and its ruby pupils instantly flashed red. Aemon held the stone sculpture, and a warm feeling spread from his palm. The heat spread from the belly of the sculpture upward and stopped at the chest. Counting the scale lines on the sculpture carefully, he determined that it was the 46th dotted line.
There were 14 more dotted lines above the stone sculpture's chest.
"Is this measuring the purity of the bloodline?" Aemon looked at the sixty dotted lines and wondered why there weren't more above.
The dragon-shaped stone sculpture didn't seem very accurate. The essence panel showed that the bloodline purity was 43%, but the 46th dotted line on the sculpture was slightly different.
After a while, the temperature of the dragon-shaped stone sculpture dropped. Aemon realized this later and thought, "It's reasonable that the dragon kings of ancient Valyria were proficient in magic and could detect the purity of their blood."
The Targaryen family ranks in the middle and lower tiers, and no inheritance blesses their descendants. However, the top dragonlord families definitely master magic.
His great-grandfather, Jaehaerys, told him that some children in the dragonlord families learned fire magic or blood witchcraft from an early age. There are more offspring. However, there are not enough dragons in the family. The desire to own a dragon or a dragon egg comes naturally.
"Okay, let's go find Uncle." Aemon put away the detection stone carving and was in a good mood.
Send the emerald ring first.
When we return to Riverdale, feed the blood fruit to Vermithor.
Next is the grand cause of the Vale.
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