Near the border between the Wolf Pack Company's territory and Myr, the Free Army had made several high-profile appearances, causing panic among the Myrish people. Some manor lords had already fled back to Myr with some of their slaves.
The dark clouds of war hung heavy in the sky, and the battle horns of the Disputed Lands blew cold, causing the Myrish demand for Mercenaries to skyrocket. Many Mercenaries and adventurers traveled to Myr, hoping to secure a contract.
But the eastern front was merely a feint; the real point of attack was on the islands. On two nameless islands near the Stepstones, pirates suddenly heard the roars of other sailors.
Many nameless islands dot the Stepstones, with only Bloodstone and Grey Gallows Island being well-known. However, all these islands are storm-ridden and desolate.
Black ships landed on the shore, laden with escaped slaves from Volantis and some knights of the Wolf Pack Company.
"For the Wolf Pack!"
"For the Wolf Pack!" The grey-white Wolf Pack banner fluttered alongside the Free Army banner, which depicted broken shackles.
The pirates had not anticipated the attack from the Wolf Pack Company and the Free Army, and their formations quickly collapsed... In the military tent of Firegrass Manor, the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy looked at Gendry, who sat before him on a tiger-skin folding chair. This tiger skin was a gift from the escaped slaves of Volantis to "the liberator" and "the abolitionist."
Behind Gendry was a Myrish tapestry depicting a valiant knight hunting. Gendry wore a black, crude iron mask, flanked by Unsullied guards and a white-haired, smiling Maester.
"Most rumors are untrue!" thought the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy. Rumors about Gendry had also reached Tyrosh, claiming he was a tyrant who beheaded and collected the skulls of slavers, an eight-foot-tall, heavily bearded strongman and warmonger, invincible in battle, who loved to wield a warhammer, had a mountain-like physique, and ate raw meat and drank blood. The head wolf was also rumored to sacrifice blood to evil gods in exchange for berserk war power.
But what the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy saw before him was a tall man, over six feet (1.83 meters), but certainly not seven or eight feet. The Butter-King had black hair and blue eyes, tall and agile, and his appearance was far from that of a crude mercenary brute; rather, he was elegant and dangerous. However, some information was indeed true: the warhammer, exuding the coldness of black iron, glowed faintly. It was this spiked warhammer that had smashed the heads of many, including Unsullied, Bandit Mercenaries, and Myrish people.
"First, I present the gift from our Archon of Tyrosh to the Commander-in-Chief of the Wolf Pack Company and the Free Army in the Disputed Lands, the head wolf." The box presented by the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy was opened, revealing Tyroshi pear brandy and some elaborately decorated armor.
"I like the Archon of Tyrosh's gift very much," Gendry said. "But you didn't travel all this way just to deliver some fine wine, did you?"
The Tyroshi were also in a panic over the rise of the Butter-King. During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Tyrosh had been occupied for a long time by a Ninepenny King, Silver Tongue, who declared himself king.
"You have already gained enough in the Disputed Lands, Commander-in-Chief. Do you truly wish to make an enemy of half the world? Besides Myr, there are also Lys, Tyrosh, Volantis, and Slaver's Bay..." the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy began. The Archon of Tyrosh's envoy had purple-red hair and beard; Tyroshi people liked to adorn themselves with bright colors.
"I wonder if the Archon of Tyrosh has any good suggestions to save my confused self?" Gendry looked at the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy.
"Stop that slave-liberation propaganda and retreat to your original territories. Tyrosh will not care about Firegrass Manor and the first few manors. But if you continue to expand, Tyrosh will consider the Wolf Pack's greed an act of war provocation!" the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy said, suppressing the panic in his heart. The Black Wolf, leader of the Wolf Pack Company, the Butter-King, the Iron King. Although the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy was present, he did not want his head smashed.
"Since the dissolution of the Three Daughters Alliance, the Three Daughters have hated each other. The Myrish have a deep grudge against me. Will the Tyroshi people be alarmed if I attack Myr?"
"Do you truly want me to speak the truth!" The Archon of Tyrosh's envoy could not suppress his dissatisfaction. "The Disputed Lands were originally communal, but now the Wolf Pack's territory continues to expand. Many Tyroshi slaves have also escaped and defected to you; you are deliberately instigating war. Our Archon, out of friendship, has not yet demanded the return of the slaves."
"It seems the Archon of Tyrosh also wants to intimidate me!"
"I wouldn't dare! But the Commander-in-Chief should understand that your recklessness is provoking widespread anger. The Myrish are cooperating with the Golden Company. Not to mention the future of the Commander-in-Chief's own small kingdom, I believe the Commander-in-Chief does not wish to add a formidable enemy to himself!"
"The Golden Company? But I am also discussing cooperation with the Golden Company!" Gendry said with a smile. "The Golden Company is interested in Westeros, and I am interested in the Disputed Lands. You see, this is a win-win situation."
"What?" The Archon of Tyrosh's envoy's face changed drastically, unsure of the truth or falsity of the information. The Golden Company was the most powerful mercenary group in the Disputed Lands and had clear political intentions.
"It seems this negotiation has ended unpleasantly, Commander-in-Chief. I still hope you will consider it," the Archon of Tyrosh's envoy made a final effort.
"How can there be negotiations for one-sided gains? However, I will certainly send appropriate blessings to the Archon!"
"Since you are so stubborn, there is no need for me to stay!" The negotiation ended so unpleasantly. The Archon of Tyrosh's envoy, seeing the man-eating Free Army warriors, could not stay any longer and left in a hurry.
The Unsullied's spears gleamed with a cold light, like tigers ready to catch their prey at any moment.
"It seems the Tyroshi will also join the alliance against us soon!" Gendry said.
"The Tyroshi are the most greedy; they certainly cannot coexist with us!" Tyrosh's slave trade was relatively developed, and its slavers were highly aggressive. They even sailed north, beyond the Wall, to find Free Folk to enslave.
"This false information about the Golden Company and the Wolf Pack must have scared the Tyroshi out of their wits," Maester Qyburn said.
"This is not entirely false information," Gendry said. "We have a basis for cooperation with the Golden Company."
The Golden Company has always been single-mindedly focused on the West, still wanting to return to Westeros and restore their kingdom. Moreover, they originated from Westeros and inherently disliked slavery. The Golden Company and the Wolf Pack Company still have opportunities for cooperation. Just as the Golden Company supported the Ninepenny Kings in occupying the Disputed Lands and Tyrosh, and later chose to attack the Stepstones.
"The Golden Company! The Golden Company has good strength; they could be an ally to contact!" Qyburn thought for a moment.
"Dangerous friends! Think about how they were driven here!" The Handsome Man said. The Golden Company's demands were too great, which is why they had not made much progress over the years.
"Many members of the Golden Company are from second-tier noble families of The Reach; perhaps they still have some old friendships, such as Peake. They also have supporters in Dorne."
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