Chapter 161: Ian's Plan (Part 1)
"I don't quite understand." Celia looked at Ian incredulously after listening. "I originally thought you were a very rational person, but your plan doesn't seem to offer significantly more benefits than mine, does it?"
"The benefits might not be much higher, but it reduces a lot of trouble," Ian shook his head. "Your appearance gave me a strong warning: blatantly disrupting the plot is far easier than maintaining it.
"You can devise a plan to kill Illyrio here, so what if someone goes to Lhazar beforehand to kill the maegi who kills Drogo? What if Drogo doesn't die?
"Or what if a player knows that Daenerys can't be easily approached from Illyrio's location, so they simply start as a Dothraki and wait for us in Khal Drogo's khalasar?
"If so, is it possible that they've already achieved a high position? After all, there aren't many requirements among the Dothraki—as long as you know horsemanship, archery, and the use of the arakh. These are all skills that earn you their respect. Players who level up their combat stats can easily make a name for themselves among the horselords.
"If we follow the original storyline, we'll have to worry about someone somehow altering the outcome of Drogo's death, and we'll also need to be wary of potential players within the Dothraki khalasars—that would be incredibly troublesome.
"Of course, if I had no other choice, I wouldn't mind fighting them, but clearly I have a better option now, don't I?
"By blatantly disrupting the plot, we can thwart any player's hopes of achieving anything through Daenerys's storyline in the source material. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
"That makes sense, doesn't it?" Celia chuckled awkwardly. "Alright, I'll take care of everything. I'll find the ship you want and warn Hazan as you said. But is that all?"
"Of course, leave the rest to me." Ian nodded, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, right, I brought you a gift this time."
"A gift?" Celia looked at Ian strangely. "Is it something to amuse a little girl?" Her expression clearly said, You're the kind of bastard who can say 'I'll kill you if you keep pretending' while bedding someone, and you'd actually do something like this?
"A cat."
"A cat? Do you think I need a pet?" Celia was even more puzzled.
"I require you to keep it by your side at all times. No matter what you're doing, don't let it out of your sight." Ian ignored Celia's question and stated his orders.
"That cat... is that you?" Celia realized. The cat was a creature Ian controlled using skinchanging magic, and Ian's consciousness would monitor her through the cat's body. "You don't trust me?"
"We have a long time to build trust, but for now, I want you to stay within my sight. That's not too much to ask, is it?" Ian gently ran his fingers through Celia's soft, brown hair.
"I suddenly wonder, what position do I hold in your future plans?"
"Secretary."
"You're a genius, you bastard."
"I have urgent business with Lord Illyrio, very, very urgent." After returning to Illyrio's manse, Ian rushed to the gate of Illyrio's residence.
The Unsullied captain guarding the gate, seeing Ian's flustered state, naturally dared not delay. He immediately turned and ran inside to announce Ian's arrival, returning less than twenty seconds later to invite him in.
Ian didn't linger, walking through the brightly lit candlelit corridor to the drawing room.
Seeing that Illyrio wasn't there, he pushed open a door on the right and rushed into Illyrio's study.
Illyrio, seeing Ian's rudeness, instinctively wanted to reprimand him, but when he looked up and saw Ian's pale face and sweat-drenched brow, the words that came out were, "What's wrong? I was just about to retire. Are you feeling unwell?"
"Something terrible has happened, Your Grace. Prince Hazan intends to move against you!" Ian lowered his voice, but Illyrio could clearly see his anxiety.
"Hazan is planning to move against me?" Illyrio paused, then laughed. "I haven't received any reports, and Hazan is currently embroiled in such a huge problem. What could he possibly do to me?"
"Hazan has allied with Magister Tetrus. Tomorrow's tournament is just a smokescreen they conspired to create!" Ian dropped a bombshell.
"What did you say?" Illyrio abruptly stood up, his enormous bulk jiggling with the movement. Ian had never seen Magister Illyrio so distraught.
Ian then explained Hazan's detailed plan to Illyrio, omitting the player's perspective. Illyrio's expression grew increasingly grave.
"That's how it is. This afternoon, when I went to the Red Temple, I agreed to Hazan's sister's request for a marriage alliance, and then they shared their plan with me," Ian added after finishing his explanation.
"Thank you, Ian, thank you for your loyalty," Illyrio gave Ian a tight embrace, almost suffocating him. "I didn't misjudge you. Go pack your things, summon the King and the Princess, and we'll flee now."
"Flee?"
"What else? Their army is ready, and I'm almost unprepared. I don't have the means to fight them. Let's get out of the city first. Drogo's khalasar is just outside the city. I'll make these shameless bastards pay!" Illyrio said, clenching his fist.
"You want to lure the Dothraki into the city? Those savages won't care what your purpose is. Once they're in the city, they'll definitely plunder Pentos! This is your Pentos!" Ian shook his head in apparent disbelief.
"What else can we do? If I had noticed their movements a month or even two weeks ago, I would have had countless ways to deal with them, but their attack begins tomorrow! Where can I find an army to fight them besides the Dothraki?" Under such time constraints, Illyrio could only think of this last resort.
"I've suddenly had an idea, Your Grace," Ian finally spoke. "In fact, while sharing their plans with me, Hazan's sister also asked me to do something for them."
"Oh? No wonder they shared their plans with you beforehand—they want your help?"
"Prince Hazan is worried that after he attacks you, your subordinates, like Steward Mills, will hold His Majesty and the Princess captive in the manse and threaten them with their lives.
"Drogo's khalasar is just outside the city. If the Princess's safety is threatened, Drogo will be furious, and such a threat would be effective. Therefore, Hazan's sister wants me to steal the Princess from your manse before they begin their operation and take her to the mountaintop temple for refuge.
"The mountaintop temple is easily defended—they only need to deploy fifty archers there to ensure your forces cannot recapture the Princess before their operation is over, and they will not be threatened."
"So what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Hazan and his group won't act until I succeed, creating a buffer period during which you can prepare in the Council Palace."
(End of Chapter)
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