Robert Baratheon? Hatching dragons?"
Viserys Targaryen frowned uneasily.
Truth be told, this niche counter-strategy truly struck his weak spot!
Robert Baratheon was indeed a distant relative of Viserys Targaryen, possessing a portion of pure Targaryen Family blood.
Whether his ancestor was Aegon Targaryen's bastard brother, or his grandmother Rhaenys Targaryen, both were pure members of the Targaryen royal family.
Even if he inherited the iron throne, it would be in the name of a branch of the Targaryen royal bloodline.
"The Targaryen Family, for hundreds of years, has never had a successful case of hatching Hatchling Dragons. If not for His Majesty, the wise and mighty king, just a usurper..."
Maester Daniel retorted disdainfully.
As the most experienced maester in studying Hatchling Dragons of his time, his words gained the approval of most nobles.
"Indeed, how can the pure Dragon King bloodline of the Targaryen Family be compared to an outsider branch like his?"
Everyone shook their heads.
However, Viserys Targaryen remained silent.
He clearly remembered that in the original story, the Red Priestess had tried to persuade the later Stannis Baratheon to sacrifice his family members as offerings to hatch dragon eggss.
Thinking of this, Viserys Targaryen's expression instantly turned grim.
Melisandre, the Red Priestess, was a priestess of r'hllor, the lord of light.
That was one of the few gods on Westeros Continent who actually got things done!
If Robert Baratheon's scheme succeeded, his advantage of possessing dragons would be completely gone!
"It must be Duke Tywin Lannister's idea again!"
Viserys Targaryen's eyes narrowed, his heart filled with immense apprehension.
Both Robert and Tywin could be considered first-rate schemers on Westeros Continent.
And at this moment, facing the concerted cooperation of the Stag and Lion families, Viserys Targaryen truly felt immense pressure!
Viserys Targaryen absolutely could not allow Robert Baratheon's plan to hatch dragons to succeed, not even with the slightest probability.
"Your Highness, there have been cases where bloodline bastards could ride dragons!"
Varys, the Spider, stared at Viserys's face, patiently advising, "Wasn't that the case with the Dance of the Dragons?"
Varys truly could not bear to see Westeros Continent suffer another calamity like the Dance of the Dragons!
Even knowing he would incur everyone's blame, Varys retorted to the crowd without hesitation.
"Presumptuous!"
Ser Joffrey gritted his teeth in anger, wishing he could draw his sword and cut him down immediately!
Admitting that bloodline descendants and bastards could ride dragons was the greatest blasphemy against Targaryen royal authority!
In the Dance of the Dragons, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's outrageous actions instantly pulled the Targaryen royal family members from their pedestal.
Order of precedence was the foundation upon which dynasties had been built in Westeros Continent for nearly a thousand years; it was royal authority, and even more so, legitimacy!
If Robert Baratheon truly became a Dragonrider, then the Targaryen Family's legitimacy to rule Westeros Continent would be completely shaken.
After all, the Targaryen Family's royal authority was maintained by the deterrent power of dragons.
"Lord Varys,"
Maester Daniel retorted with displeasure, "When King's Landing fell, you abandoned the King and escaped alone through the secret passage. Your identity is very suspicious!"
Hearing this, everyone simultaneously looked at the bald man, who had extremely poor connections, with ill intent.
He was originally an ordinary citizen from the City-State of Pentos across the Narrow Sea. Because of his skill in gathering various confidential information, he was heavily paid by the former King Aerys Targaryen and entrusted with important responsibilities.
The Spider's moniker, as the name suggests, meant that anyone he targeted would be devoured by Varys like an insect caught in a spider's web!
Out of fear, many even blamed King Aerys's absurd actions on Varys.
Looking at the questioning expressions of the crowd, Varys's face was expressionless, without even a hint of anger.
"It was the former King who listened to the traitor Grand Maester Pycelle, which led to opening the city gates and letting the enemy in. I tried my best to stop it!"
Varys explained methodically.
"Tried your best?"
Ser Joffrey seemed to have caught a weakness in Varys's words, questioning him with displeasure, "Abandoning the King and running away yourself, is that trying your best?"
Facing everyone's questions, the calm Varys finally showed a slight change in his expression.
He frowned slightly, but still patiently explained, "I am the Master of Whisperers; I live by the whispers of my little birds. Facing an enemy, a single soldier could easily kill me!"
Clearly, his words could not convince everyone present.
Compared to the foreigners across the Narrow Sea, they trusted the natives of Westeros Continent more.
"Varys!"
Viserys Targaryen frowned.
He believed in the loyalty of the Master of Whisperers, Varys.
When the Targaryen Family's forces were collapsing and the rebels were at the city gates, Varys still firmly stood by Aerys, advising him not to open the gates of King's Landing.
After all, without the former King Aerys Targaryen, he would not have this stage to utilize the abilities of his little birds!
"Tell me, when you were caught as a thief in Myr, and the sorcerer cut off your 'two ounces of flesh' and threw them into the fire, what did you see and hear in the fire?"
Viserys Targaryen stared sternly at this man who was always composed and steady, no matter the situation.
"What?"
Varys's eyes widened, his face pale.
He simply couldn't believe his ears.
That was something that happened when he was a child, decades ago.
Logically, no one should know about it except Varys himself.
And this silver-haired, purple-eyed boy, not yet eight years old, knew everything!
Varys trembled all over, retreating repeatedly, and even his visible breathing became rapid.
Dormant memories began to resurface.
He remembered.
In that blue flame, his 'root' burst like a broken balloon.
Then, he saw many blue and green eyes crawl out of the frost.
Immediately after, a demonic whisper sounded in his ear.
He knew this was not an illusion caused by his pain.
Because just as Varys, in a panic, agreed to the demands of the unknown entity, the deity gave a response to his wish.
The sorcerer was burned to death right before his eyes by flames born from the void.
A magical miracle that should not exist in this world occurred directly before him, transcending space!
If not for that, he would have died at the sorcerer's hands long ago!
"Lord Varys... what's wrong with you?"
Seeing The Spider in such a state of panic and bewilderment, even the seasoned Ser Joffrey was shocked.
How could such a seemingly ordinary question scare The Spider, the legendary all-knowing Master of Whisperers, like this?
Castrating male slaves, wasn't that common in Essos Continent?
"Your... Your Highness..."
Varys's mind went blank.
He retreated in fear, looking left and right, terrified that a ball of flame would rise from the void and burn him alive!