In the great hall of Dragonstone,
"Your Majesty, I have previously raised large wild animals such as tigers, leopards, and elephants. It would be my honor to serve the dragons!"
A refined, black-robed maester, dressed in brocade, declared loudly, "I will use my knowledge to help the dragons multiply and thrive!"
"This one is quite good!"
Varys, the Spider, looked at the man before him with a satisfied smile.
Whether it was the maester's chain around his neck, representing the faith of the Seven, or his young and strong physique, he was perfectly suited to raising creatures like dragons!
After all, besides having the physical stamina to care for dragons, a knowledgeable scholar with experience in raising large animals was a rare talent on Dragonstone.
"Hmm… understood. Next batch!"
He pursed his lips and said indifferently, looking at the maester who had traveled so far.
At this moment, Viserys Targaryen sat on the high platform, propping his chin with both hands, utterly bored.
This was not the first batch of excellent candidates Viserys had rejected.
"What?"
Grand Maester Daniel's eyes widened, showing an expression of disbelief.
Viserys Targaryen didn't even find such a valuable talent suitable?
Are you choosing a consort? "Next batch!"
This new king was truly a bit too demanding!
"Your Majesty, your old servant has something to say!"
Ser Joffrey finally couldn't hold back.
This was already the best quality batch of applicants!
It was merely the job of a Dragon Guard.
To put it bluntly, it was a cleaning job involving clearing dragon droppings and providing food. How could it attract high-ranking nobles to join?
Even the ordinary fishermen on Dragonstone might not all look favorably upon it!
"The Hatchling Dragons are still small and need protection for now. But once they grow up, they won't need these guards at all!"
Ser Joffrey reminded him with a serious expression.
Seeing Viserys remain unmoved, he hesitated for a moment, then bit the bullet and said, "Your requirements should be lowered appropriately!"
"Your… Majesty, I… I'm starving. Can the Dragon Guard selection provide food in advance?"
Just then, a ragged, emaciated old man with white hair trembled as he interjected.
He reeked terribly, and his face was covered in grime; he was indistinguishable from a beggar!
The old man's words instantly drew laughter from everyone present.
"Even the animal trainers and grand maesters weren't chosen, and you, a decrepit old man, dare to dream so foolishly!"
"Haha… he must be starving mad. Targaryen isn't here to pick up trash!"
"Get out, you stinking beggar!"
…He had originally thought that being a Dragon Guard was just a menial job, and he hadn't expected so many noble lords to compete for it.
Hearing the black-robed maester's mocking words, the old man's face darkened, and he could only hang his head dejectedly, preparing to leave.
"Hmm, excellent, this one it is!"
Suddenly, Viserys Targaryen's eyes lit up, and he pointed at the old man before him, saying, "I think he's perfect!"
At these words, the entire hall was stunned, even Ser Joffrey stood frozen in place.
I told you to choose, not to choose blindly!
What kind of riff-raff is this?
"What? He… how can he raise dragons!"
The black-robed maester, who had just been rejected, was so angry his nose was practically crooked!
He was an animal trainer with experience in raising large animals, not to mention he had been a maester and could read!
Viserys actually didn't choose him, but chose a poor beggar who couldn't even afford food.
What was wrong with this world?
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
The black-robed maester was almost going mad.
In broad daylight, Viserys's choice was a blatant slap in the face to him and Ser Joffrey.
Watching Viserys casually appoint a Dragon Guard with such a frivolous attitude, Ser Joffrey's face was overcast, but he ultimately compromised.
After all, the boy before him was the King of the Targaryen Family!
Even as a great general, he dared not lightly offend Viserys.
"What is your name?"
Viserys Targaryen leaned forward, curiously examining the old man before him as he asked.
"Viserys Valerion…"
The old man said with a choked voice.
"Okay, you're in. Go get some steamed buns!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Viserys Valerion was stunned, then excitedly knelt to the ground, thanking him with snot and tears.
He hadn't expected this young king to be so kind as to take in a useless person like him, who had no abilities whatsoever.
"This…"
Everyone was in an uproar.
Suddenly, someone seemed to realize something, and their face instantly changed dramatically.
"Legend has it that King Viserys is a Dreamwalker. Could it be that the previous candidates were spies sent by the usurper Robert Baratheon, our rivals?"
At this thought, Varys, the Spider, the Master of Whisperers, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Viserys's actions implied his dissatisfaction with his performance as Master of Whisperers.
"This usurper is truly insidious!"
The Spider stomped his foot in anger.
The esteemed Master of Whisperers had fallen so low as to require the King to personally screen for spies.
This was an utter humiliation for him!
"Swish, swish, swish!"
At Varys's command, the Gold Cloaks immediately began to act covertly.
Before long, the black-robed maester was firmly pinned to the ground by the Gold Cloaks.
"Your Majesty, after investigation, this maester was a spy hired by Robert Baratheon with a large sum of money from across the Narrow Sea to assassinate the Hatchling Dragons and the royal family!"
Varys's face was dark as he threw a secret letter, discovered from the black-robed maester's satchel, onto the ground.
Clap, clap, clap!
Immediately, all the nobles in the hall stood up, applauding thunderously!
The Dreamwalker was indeed worthy of his reputation.
No scheme or trick could be hidden from this true Dragon King!
The black-robed maester, kneeling below the platform, instantly turned pale.
He had never expected Varys's little birds to be so effective, immediately finding the secret letter he had hidden on Dragonstone.
But then, thinking of the legend of Viserys as a "Dreamwalker," he immediately turned ashen with fear, his face like dead ashes.
In his heart, he had cursed Robert Baratheon countless times!
The usurper had repeatedly guaranteed that the Dreamwalker was a lie concocted by Viserys.
Now it seemed he was the clown!
"I'll tell… I'll tell… don't kill me!"
The black-robed maester immediately spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
"Most of these candidates probably have questionable identities!"
Looking at the dense crowd of applicants below, whose true intentions were hard to discern, even Ser Joffrey, who only managed the navy, stood up, filled with worry.
At this time, the Hatchling Dragons were no bigger than kittens; even a child could easily kill them.
If a large number of assassins infiltrated under the guise of Dragon Guards, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At this thought, Ser Joffrey broke out in a cold sweat.
"Indeed, I was careless!"
Ser Joffrey looked up again at Viserys Targaryen, who sat on the throne looking relaxed and at ease, as if it were as simple as eating and drinking.
Instantly, the image of the Dreamwalker once again became grander.
"Mercy, Your Majesty, Robert forced me. He made me poison the Hatchling Dragons, to kill them without anyone knowing!"
The black-robed maester wept profusely, regretting his actions.
If only he had known, he wouldn't have been the one to stick his neck out!
However, Viserys Valerion, who was standing nearby, heartily eating steamed white buns, would not agree.
He was afraid Viserys would go back on his word and let the black-robed maester snatch his job.
The next moment, he drew the longsword from a Gold Cloak's waist.
Suddenly, blood splattered, scaring everyone into looking away.
"Your Majesty, Viserys Valerion, your Dragon Guard, pledges his loyalty to you!"
The old man knelt on one knee, placing the longsword flat on the ground as he swore.
Viserys Targaryen sat stunned on the throne, watching the bloody scene before him, deeply shaken.
He hadn't expected the black-robed maester before him to be a spy sent by Robert Baratheon.
Everything happened too quickly, catching him off guard.
Viserys didn't choose the black-robed maester simply because he didn't have Targaryen Family blood.
After all, dragons viewed everyone without the blood of a Dragon King as food, no different from cattle and sheep!
Viserys needed Dragon Guards, not dragon fodder.
This was also why Viserys Targaryen had gone through batch after batch of candidates.
Hundreds of years ago, these Dragon Guards on Dragonstone were often the bastards of the Dragon King.
After the extinction of dragons, the selection rules for the Dragon Guard profession naturally disappeared.
Everyone watched as if Viserys was lost in thought while choosing a Dragon Guard.
In reality, before his eyes, a line of attribute descriptions written in Old Valyria script would appear above each competing man's head, just like the old man before him.
Viserys Valerion, faint dragon bloodline 7%.
Spirit: 15 (Hungry state)
Physique: 20 (Weak)
Agility: 15 (Aged)
Strength: 30 (Unstable)
Magic: 7 (Faint dragon bloodline)
"Valerion, an descendant of the Sea Snake family? Then a bit of dragon blood is not surprising!"
Viserys Targaryen mused inwardly.
Looking at the dead black-robed maester before him, Viserys thought of Jorah Mormont, that eternal sycophant.
In the original story, it was he who was assigned by Robert to infiltrate Daenerys's ranks and relay all their information to King's Landing.
"Robert Baratheon is truly an insidious fellow who loves to play dirty tricks!"
Viserys Targaryen felt a chill in his heart.
Now, he was on Dragonstone, so close to King's Landing.
Compared to the distant Narrow Sea in the original story, Robert could clearly act more easily in secret.
There must be more than just this one spy on the island.