The changing situation Across the Narrow Sea was like a butterfly bringing forth a storm.
"The Ninepenny Kings, they certainly brought several years of excitement to the world. King Robert's grandfather, Maegor, died in that very place!" The Queen of Thorns said. "Nine Wights pirates, I didn't expect anyone to emulate them so many years later!"
"It's just a game for pirates, butter vendors, cheese vendors, and slavers!" Mace still dismissed it.
"This time, the Butter-King releasing slaves in the Disputed Lands might also stir up waves!" Willas said. "But the Butter-King has completely fallen out with Myr, freeing slaves and now aggressively seizing the Myrish Magisters' manors. His other two daughters are probably on pins and needles, fearing this storm."
"Merchants in Myr City have driven the price of gunpowder herb to sky-high levels amidst the chaos, but the Butter-King has more gunpowder herb, and it's more affordable, and gunpowder herb is urgently needed by armies. I think we also need to get in touch with the Butter-King!" Willas said.
"What kind of logic is that! A lord doing business with a slaver!" Mace pouted.
"It's always right to observe this world carefully! Be cautious." The Queen of Thorns added. "Willas, don't be like your father. Sometimes I wish I were a country farm wife, so I could hit him with a big wooden spoon and knock some sense into that fat head of his."
"Mother!" Mace's face turned red.
"When a slaver has resources, it's a completely different matter; gunpowder herb has always been expensive!" The Queen of Thorns said. "This is also for the future of the family, for the possible chaos to come. The clouds of war linger, this summer is so long, and the coming Long Winter nights will surely be cruel."
"I will continue to monitor the situation in the Narrow Sea, and the sailors from Oldtown and Redwyne will also relay messages for us! If necessary, we might have to go and meet this newly risen Butter-King!" Willas said. "But will the Spider embellish our plans?"
"The eunuch is more cunning than you imagine; this person won't ruin our affairs for now! Child, prepare for the future. King's Landing is filled with lions, and a resentful, stubborn stag." The Queen of Thorns declared. "The eunuch's thoughts are much deeper than ours; he seems to be everyone's friend, but what he's thinking, no one knows."
"Can I go to the Disputed Lands too? I've read about the Ninepenny Kings' war in books; the Disputed Lands are a rich but chaotic place!" Margaery suddenly interjected.
"Absolutely not!" Mace immediately cut off his daughter's idea. "There are pirates on the Stepstones who specifically prey on the nobles of Westeros."
"What if our little Rose is accompanied by the valiant Garlan?" A tall and strong knight in a green robe arrived; he resembled the Knight of Flowers, but was taller and stronger.
"Brother! I'm so happy to have your protection!" Margaery said happily.
Garlan also stepped into the pavilion. Garlan wore a beard, looking more like a wild warrior than a delicate noble young master. Garlan's personal sigil was two golden roses on a green field, signifying his status as a second son.
Garlan was braver than Willas and more intelligent than Loras, possessing the strengths of both.
"I'm also very interested in the Butter-King. I suspect he might be an exiled knight from Westeros, because the Wolf Pack Company has always been like that," Garlan said. "However, such a valiant knight should have already distinguished himself in a Tourney."
"Perhaps he doesn't care for honor and fame!" Margaery said. "Like you, Brother, he's a humble and practical person."
"Then he's even more terrifying!" Garlan thought for a moment. "If a young man doesn't care for false fame, then he wants more! The Butter-King is also a practical person, fighting to the death with Meereenese and Unsullied." Garlan yearned to meet such an opponent. Garlan was also very skilled with a sword, often practicing with three or four people to simulate real combat situations and prepare himself in advance... A manor in the Disputed Lands, not far from Firegrass Manor, was another small manor belonging to a Myrish Magister.
The Free Army surrounded the manor like a tide. The Free Army's flag was black, with a slave breaking his shackles. The liberated slaves cheered slogans: "Freedom! Freedom!"
The crowd parted, and Gendry appeared like a storm, riding a black warhorse. Longspear and others followed closely. The Mercenaries of the Wolf Pack Company were the most elite; the Wolf Pack Company was fully armed. Double-edged great axes, sharp daggers, longswords, maces, spiked Morningstars, studded leather and chainmail, greaves protecting the legs, and gorgets supporting the head.
"Victory! Victory!" The Free Army also cheered, their equipment much simpler. Chainmail, leather armor, and very crude weapons. Because there wasn't much good equipment in the slave manors, they could only barely arm the slaves. However, at least the Wolf Pack Company wasn't short on money for now and could purchase supplies with gunpowder herb. Steel Fist and Longspear trained the Free Army taxi soldiers to master short swords, shields, and heavy pikes.
Gendry wore a rough iron mask and black scale armor, and that black warhammer, famous in the Disputed Lands, radiated a cold light!
War had refined him, tempered him. Gendry appeared taller and more robust. He raised the mace in his hand and rode back and forth several times in front of the Free Army. Each time he appeared, the cheers of the soldiers grew louder. There is a truth in war, and that is victory.
Outside the entire manor, screams and shouts echoed. There were no cheers from the defenders, only desolation.
"the liberator! The one who breaks shackles!"
"the liberator!" the Free Army warriors cheered.
The newly freed Free Army were generally thin and sallow, but they finally possessed a precious quality, a golden confidence.
"Perhaps, I can do even better!" Gendry thought. "Seize the shining opportunity for battle, and then achieve victory, like a shining star."
The manor gates opened on their own; without resistance from the slavers, the rioting slaves had killed the Myrish steward and offered up this manor.
"The seventh manor!" Qyburn said behind him. Manors meant people and wealth, but also great responsibility.
"Master Qyburn, you will continue to count the population, wealth, and survey the land!"
"Longspear, maintain military discipline. The Free Folk are our brothers; we are not a beastly army!"
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief!"
"Enter the city!" Gendry waved his hand, riding his black horse into the manor, the breeze rustling his black hair. At this moment, he was a galloping stag.
The slaves rushed out of the manor joyfully, for this brief reunion.
"Freedom! Freedom!" The slaves climbed to the top of the manor tower, scrambling over each other. The slaves threw down the ship banners representing Lys; Lysene coins also feature a ship.