"Daenerys Targaryen."
"Ugh."
"Viserys Targaryen."
"Ugh."
"So, this is the world of A Song of Ice and Fire? And I've become the Beggar King?"
"Ugh."
Viserys stood at the edge of the deck, gazing at the faint outline of the continent on the eastern horizon, saying nothing. No one knew the turmoil within him at that moment.
Transmigration.
The soul currently residing in the body of Viserys was a regular university student from another world, Earth.
Or rather, that wasn't quite right. He was, more accurately, a Gleeok King who had once been a regular university student on Earth.
This was his second transmigration.
Before this transmigration, the student had first transmigrated to a world called the Hyrule Continent. There, he was an ordinary person with a quest in his mind called the Shapeshifting Technique – to obtain materials from the Gleeok King and transform into one.
After living on the Hyrule Continent for nearly ten years, he had thoroughly grasped the limits of the Hylians.
No matter how hard he trained, his strength was less than one percent of the Chosen Swordsman who had awakened after a hundred years of slumber. He couldn't even defeat a regular Gleeok, let alone the Gleeok King.
Fortunately, he realized this in time. He didn't necessarily have to slay the dragon himself. So, he changed his approach, and at the cost of a Hylian Soldier set and 300 Rupees, he hired the omnipotent Chosen Swordsman. And so, he completed the quest.
It was that simple.
He hadn't expected that after consuming the Gleeok King's materials and completing the quest, he would be met with a second transmigration.
The world of A Song of Ice and Fire.
He tried hard to recall his memories of Earth, searching for any information about this world. His experience of once transforming into a magical elemental being allowed his once-blurred memories to gradually become clearer.
The task of the Shapeshifting Technique in his mind had been updated when he arrived in this world, becoming the Dragon Transformation Technique – to collect the dragon souls of this world and become a true three-headed dragon.
In a way, the task in his mind could be considered a "system," but this "system" was very lazy, providing nothing but the task itself. If he wanted to, he could even ignore the existence of the task, treating it as a simple transmigration and living an ordinary life in this world.
But, those were dragons!
Although the dragons were not as beautiful as the Eastern Dragons, their power was genuine.
After his transformation on the Hyrule Continent, he had once tried to challenge the ordinary Gleeok at the Hyrule Great Bridge and nearly lost his life.
And now, the power of the Gleeok King was hidden within him; all he had to do was collect dragon souls.
Viserys extended his right hand, clenching it into a claw in front of him, his purple eyes gazing forward with a certain longing.
Footsteps echoed behind him. Viserys retracted his hand and lifted his gaze to the eastern continent.
"Your Grace, when did you awaken?"
The portly Illyrio approached, offering a surprisingly effortless bow to Viserys, addressing him with formal respect as if he were a subject.
Viserys asked with a hint of mockery, "Tell me, my financial advisor, do your merchant ships carry any dragonbone artifacts?"
Despite his discomfort, Viserys, having absorbed the original's memories, endeavored to play the part, feigning arrogance and ignorance.
The original Viserys was a pathetic figure, driven mad by the crushing weight of reclaiming his throne. He was the exiled last prince of House Targaryen after their downfall, reduced to a guest and a clown among the powerful in the Free Cities. After selling his mother's crown, he became known as the "Beggar King," and his sanity shattered completely.
He declared himself Viserys Targaryen the Third, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.
He was a fool, utterly clueless about the workings of the game of thrones, believing that simply bearing the Targaryen name would compel others to bow down. He thought that if he returned to Westeros with an army, the world would welcome him with open arms.
Not respected, unable to see reality.
If the transmigrator hadn't arrived, in a year, because of his stupidity and madness, he would have his "brother-in-law" melt his golden belt and pour it on his head, bestowing upon him a deadly "crown"—and this was the ultimate reward he would receive for selling his sister, Daenerys.
Wake up, the House Targaryen has been gone for over a decade.
How stupid does Viserys have to be to believe that a verbally promised position as a finance minister would make a wealthy merchant governor of Pentos risk his life and property to help him reclaim the Iron Throne?
Illyrio calls him "Your Grace," yet makes him and his sister live in the cramped cabin of a merchant ship, claiming it's to conceal them from the usurpers and guard against hidden assassins.
Illyrio is already calling him "Your Grace" in public—of course, if the real Viserys was here, he would ignore these things, thinking that he'd achieved a great success by arguing his way into Illyrio calling him "Your Grace," because Ser Willem Darry had held a simple coronation ceremony for him on Dragonstone after the fall of King's Landing—Illyrio initially called him "Your Highness."
Illyrio hid the disdain in his eyes, a harmless smile on his plump face: "Dragonbone artifacts, Your Grace, I thought you would dislike those goods?"
Dragon bones aren't very rare in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. Even though dragons are now extinct, during the Valyrian era and the Targaryen dynasty, there were many trained and wild dragons. Dragon bones, in the Free Cities, are like gems and spices, a high-profit commodity. Pure dragon bones or dragon bone crafts have considerable collection value, and even things like dragon eggs have been traded privately.
Now, with the extinction of dragons, dragon bones have become a more valuable luxury.
Viserys sighed, "After drifting in the Free Cities for so many years, even if I dislike those goods, I have grown accustomed to them."
Illyrio didn't care about Viserys's questions, nor did he even want to know the reasons behind them. He simply brushed them aside and steered the conversation towards something he wanted to know: "Are you in good health, Your Grace? Shall I call for a ship's physician to examine you?"
"I am healthy, and feel no discomfort." Viserys remembered the wound on his right wrist and subtly turned his head away. He felt a sudden surge of excitement, eagerly anticipating the restoration of his kingdom. "Do you think that if I had dragon eggs, I could hatch a dragon and, like Aegon the Conqueror, reconquer Westeros?"
Illyrio seemed to think Viserys had addled his brains from the fever. "Your Grace, you do not need to reconquer. All the people of Westeros await you. As long as you return with an army, raise your banners, and fight against the usurper, the Iron Throne belongs to the Targaryens. This is the consensus of Westeros. In fact…"
Sensing that Illyrio was about to peddle some plan or perhaps try to flatter him, Viserys rudely interrupted Illyrio. He pointed towards a bay that suddenly appeared on the edge of the vast continental shelf to the east. A massive port city was already visible in the distance. Excited, he asked Illyrio, "Is that the Port of Pentos?"
The people would welcome the king's army with food and drink? Viserys thought to himself, How could his predecessor have believed such nonsense? Illyrio was clearly trying to fool him, treating him like a fool, but he seemingly turned a blind eye?
Illyrio swallowed his words but wasn't annoyed. A smile bloomed on his round face. "Yes, Your Grace, that is the Port of Pentos."
Viserys feigned interest. "Could you please tell me about Pentos, Illyrio?"
Illyrio smiled and nodded. "Of course, Your Grace."
It had to be said that, no matter what Illyrio was thinking, at least his expressed attitude made Viserys, who was actually being used, quite satisfied. At the very least, the man didn't make him lose face when he pressed on with some unimportant things.
But this also gave Viserys a headache. Although his actions revealed that Illyrio actually looked down on him and harbored ill intentions, at least he was willing to concede verbally.
As the saying goes, "Watch what they say and observe what they do."
Illyrio's restraint in his words was at least quite commendable, but this usually meant that he was either cunning or thought he was cunning.
This type of person was very troublesome because those who chose to scheme always acted in roundabout ways. If you didn't want to be sold out, you needed to be extra vigilant when dealing with them.
Because whether he finally sold you out with a clever scheme or a foolish plot, the fact that he wanted to sell you was true.
"Oh, Daenerys has arrived."
Hearing the sailors cheer, Daenerys realized they were about to reach their destination. She walked out of the cabin onto the deck and, after finding her brother's position, lowered her head and approached.
At this moment, Viserys was chatting and laughing with Illyrio. She dared not get too close, so she stood shyly a few steps away, fiddling with her fingers, hesitating whether to go closer.
Fortunately, Illyrio took the initiative to mention her. Viserys then beckoned her over, signaling for her to approach. She walked closer, her steps light and careful.
Viserys didn't speak, and Daenerys hesitated, wanting to say something.
Illyrio, being perceptive, said, "Your Grace, the merchant ships are about to arrive. I'm afraid I have matters to attend to and cannot stay."
Viserys nodded in response, "As you wish."
Daenerys quickly nodded in agreement.
After Illyrio had gone some distance, Viserys still didn't look at Daenerys. He asked in a detached tone, "What is it you want to say?"
Viserys's demeanor and actions seemed the same as usual, yet Daenerys felt a strange sense of unease emanating from her brother, starting that morning. Nevertheless, she replied. Softly, with her head lowered, she whispered, "Brother, you said we shouldn't be seen in public in our current situation."
"In public?" Viserys replied in a gruff voice. "Did the Governor not call me 'Your Grace' in 'public'? This is his ship."
Daenerys frowned, considering the meaning behind Viserys' words. She wasn't foolish; she quickly grasped the core of the matter, but this didn't clear her thoughts. Instead, it filled her with confusion. Because when a fourth person was present, Illyrio would call her "My Lady," while he called her brother, Viserys, "My esteemed guest."
Daenerys cautiously inquired, "Do you trust him?" She glanced up, her eyes quickly assessing Viserys' expression.
She didn't know if her words would anger her brother, Viserys.
Viserys wasn't angry, nor did he answer Daenerys' question. He simply gazed towards Pentos, and countered, "Are you hungry, Daenerys?"
After playing Tears of the Kingdom last year, the idea of the Gleeok King transforming into a three-headed dragon appearing in the A Song of Ice and Fire world had taken root in his mind. Now, he had finally made a start, and hoped to write a story worth reading.
(End of Chapter)