The port of Lys was unusually quiet at this moment.
The Shy Maid slowly docked, its ropes tied to the smooth stone bollards.
Usually, this place should be filled with the frivolous shouts and laughter of sailors, and the heavy breathing of slaves as they silently carried cargo.
However, at this moment, there was nothing.
At the dock, ships were packed densely, from nimble sloops to heavy merchantmen, all present.
But the decks were empty, no figures were seen by the gunwales, no cargo being loaded or unloaded, no flow of people, only the whimpering of the sea breeze through the mast ropes and the soft sound of waves lapping against the shore walls.
A scene of desolate silence.
Xiao Griffin and Jon Clinton stepped onto the dock with a team of carefully selected guards.
The sound of boots stepping on the stone slabs was amplified in this excessive silence, sounding exceptionally clear.
Everyone subconsciously tightened their grip on the weapons at their waists, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
In this abrupt emptiness, on a small patch of open ground in front of the dock, a group of people was waiting quietly.
The one leading them was Sa Melis.
She wore a solemn deep purple gown today, covered with a sarong embroidered with silver thread, her hair pulled into an elegant bun, her face lightly powdered with exquisite makeup, and an impeccable smile playing on her lips.
Seeing Xiao Griffin's party, Sa Melis immediately stepped forward, stopping at just the right distance and bowing gracefully: "Mr. Jon Clinton, Prince Aegon Targaryen, welcome to Lys."
"The Governor... sent me to wait here for you."
Her voice was still soft, but it had lost some of its lazy sweetness and gained a bit of business-like clarity.
Jon Clinton's sharp gaze swept over the empty dock and fell back onto Sa Melis's face: "Miss Sa Melis, the dock is...?"
A proper smile of apology and lingering fear appeared on Sa Melis's face: "I apologize for the poor impression, my lord."
"Previously, the Governor... cleaned out some vermin in the city. The commotion was quite large, causing panic among the people, and many merchant sailors have temporarily left for fear of being caught in the crossfire."
"To ensure the safety of you and Prince Aegon, the Governor also ordered this area of the dock to be temporarily cleared, lest idle people disturb our honored guests."
"I see." Jon Clinton nodded slightly, accepting this explanation.
This explanation basically matched what was said in the letters; he and Sa Melis had been in correspondence previously regarding the rumors in Lys.
The letter said Governor Dorian was cleaning out some restless vermin in the city with an iron fist, using harsh methods, which had caused some chaos and various absurd rumors to spread.
But the overall situation was under the Governor's control, asking them to come with peace of mind.
It was this letter, along with inquiries to some merchant ships confirming that the Lysene army had indeed been arresting people everywhere in the city a few days ago, combined with Xiao Griffin's insistence, that dispelled Jon Clinton's last doubts and led to this direct voyage.
He looked around, the scrutiny in his eyes not yet fully dissipated: "His Excellency the Governor has gone to much trouble. I wonder where the Governor is now? Should we go to pay our respects first?"
Hearing this, a flash of appropriate worry crossed Sa Melis's face: "To tell you the truth, Lord Clinton, during the... cleaning operation a few days ago, the Governor encountered a dying counterattack from those desperate dogs and suffered some minor injuries. He is currently resting in the mansion and is temporarily unable to come to welcome you in person."
"He deeply apologizes for not being able to welcome Prince Aegon personally and specifically ordered me to wait here and offer his most sincere apologies to you. I hope you can understand."
"The Governor's injury is more important!" Xiao Griffin spoke up at the right time, his tone carrying sincere concern. "How could we care about such formalities? I wonder how the Governor's injury is?"
"Thank you for your concern, Prince Aegon." Sa Melis bowed slightly.
"It's no longer a problem, but he needs to rest for a few days. The Governor has specially prepared a banquet in the mansion to welcome you and Lord Clinton."
"What do you think...?"
"I'll trouble Miss Sa Melis to lead the way," Jon Clinton said in a deep voice.
Since they had come, the Governors Mansion was a must-visit.
"Please follow me." Sa Melis turned, made a gesture of invitation, and then led the way out of the dock.
The moment she turned, from an angle no one could see, she took a very hidden deep breath and slowly exhaled.
The feeling of suffocation in her chest, which had been so tight it pained her since she stepped onto the dock, seemed to ease slightly.
The mission... the first step was complete.
She thought to herself, the sensation of that cold sword tip from two days ago still seemed to linger at her throat.
The black-armored, silver-haired Dragon King had only one requirement for her: "Bring them to Lys, bring them to the Governors Mansion, and you shall live. Furthermore, there will be a new position for you."
She had no doubt that if she failed or showed any weakness, what awaited her would not just be a cold sword blade, but also the thunder of that terrifying beast.
She had no choice.
Moreover... having witnessed true power and how that Dragon King crushed the old order with an unstoppable force, the fire of an opportunist within Sa Melis's heart was ignited once more.
Loyalty to a puppet, or loyalty to a true king who rides a dragon—which had a better future? The answer was self-evident.
Now, only the last step remained.
Once she brought them into the Governors Mansion and handed them over to that Dragon King, her mission would be complete.
The party left the eerily silent dock and walked onto the wide street leading to the Governors Mansion.
Both sides of the street were typical Lysene architecture, brightly colored and elaborately decorated, with flowers hanging from the balconies.
However, just like the silence at the dock, the street was also empty.
All the shops had their doors and windows tightly shut; there were no vendors, no pedestrians, not even a stray cat to be seen.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed on the empty street, carrying an unsettling resonance.
Xiao Griffin's deep blue eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharply scanning the closed doors and windows and the deep alley entrances on both sides.
This clearing of the area... was a bit too thorough. Even for safety's sake, was it necessary to purge the entire main road so cleanly?
He slowed his pace and walked alongside Sa Melis, asking in a low, seemingly casual voice: "Miss Sa Melis, is this street... also arranged by the Governor for safety?"
Sa Melis's heart skipped a beat, but the smile on her face was flawless as she slightly turned her head and said softly: "Indeed. The Governor places extreme importance on the safety of you both."
"In the previous unrest, it was inevitable that some remnants would hide. To ensure everything is foolproof, he ordered the main roads leading to the Governors Mansion to be temporarily cleared."
"I apologize to Your Highness for the poor impression. Lys this time... is truly a bit jittery because of those rebels."
The reason was sufficient, the attitude respectful.
Xiao Griffin nodded and didn't ask further, only exchanging a look with Jon Clinton walking beside him.
Jon nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, indicating he was also on guard, but since they were already here, they could only act as the situation required.
His hand gripping the sword tightened further.
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