Chapter 114: Salladhor Saan and the Wyverns
Summer Sea, Basilisk Isles, Tear Island
The Basilisk Isles are an archipelago located north of the continent of Sothoryos. Further north lies Slaver's Bay, the place where Daenerys Targaryen rose to power.
Compared to the Stepstones, this is the true paradise of pirates. The history of piracy here rivals even that of the Ironborn of the Iron Islands. After the Rhoynar were defeated by the Valyrian Freehold, Nymeria once led her people here to take refuge.
Had the Pirate Kings of these islands not been so greedy, the civilization of the Rhoynar might have taken root and flourished here. However, as the Valyrian Freehold continued to rise, even if they had settled, they likely would not have escaped the pursuit of the dragonlords.
Tear Island is the largest island among the Basilisk Isles, serving as the place where the Pirate Kings keep their slaves. Due to the archipelago's proximity to Slaver's Bay, the pirates often double as slave traders while conducting their raids.
After Jon finalized the plan for the "Dragon Creation Project," Salladhor Saan assembled a fleet of thirty transport ships and twenty war galleys.
To minimize personnel losses, Salladhor Saan selected crew members entirely from the "Chainbreakers" of the island of Naath. Naath is the closest island to Sothoryos, and its natives are similar in appearance to those of the Summer Isles.
The Naathi are an exceptionally peaceful people. It is precisely because of their peaceful nature that they have long suffered oppression from the peoples of Essos—from the Ghiscari Empire and the Valyrians to modern pirates.
This gentle race is almost absurdly kind; even birds dare to foul them without fear. Yet while they may seem naive, they are far from foolish.
After repeated oppression, many Naathi fled into the deep forests and mountains. Even so, every year, large numbers of them are still captured by slavers.
Today, Salladhor Saan appeared somewhat anxious, having lingered in the Basilisk Isles for three days.
During these three days, pirates had been watching him and his fleet like hawks. If not for the strength of the elite fighters among the "Chainbreakers"—and Salladhor Saan himself being one—they would likely have been devoured long ago.
"Screech—"
"Hmm!?"
At that moment, while inside a two-story wooden building, Salladhor Saan suddenly heard a familiar eagle's cry.
Before he could react, a swift figure landed like lightning atop a nearby coconut tree.
"Screech, screech..."
Recognizing Jon's trained golden eagle, Salladhor Saan immediately brought out fresh beef to feed this honored messenger.
For days, he had been preparing for the arrival of Jon's bird, waiting for orders.
(Salladhor, I have secured a pirate supply point at Pterodactyl Point. The eagle knows the route—follow it.)
After reading Jon's message, Salladhor Saan's mood brightened immediately. He had no desire to remain in this cursed place any longer.
Thinking back to when he had first left these islands, he felt increasingly fortunate. This was no place for civilized men—only chaos and savagery ruled here.
In Tyrosh, no one looked at Salladhor Saan like prey anymore. Now, he was a man of status. Wherever he went, people treated him with respect and admiration, not the contempt he once endured.
Though pirates seldom spoke of loyalty, Salladhor Saan found himself willing to swear fealty like a knight.
After all, Jon—whom he now called Aegon—had elevated him from a mere mortal into something greater.
"Pass down my orders—set sail! Our Lord Aegon has made all preparations!"
With that command, every "Chainbreaker" in the building sprang into action.
Three days later, Salladhor Saan finally led his fleet to Pterodactyl Point.
Guided by the golden eagle, they navigated treacherous reefs and arrived at full speed.
Jon had spent significant effort mapping this route, even controlling sea creatures to scout the waters. Through repeated exploration, he had carved out a safe path across dangerous seas.
"Screech—"
Hearing the eagle's cry, Salladhor Saan knew they had arrived.
On the distant shore, he saw the massive emblem of the "Chainbreakers."
He immediately ordered the fleet to anchor.
According to his intelligence, this place was known as Venomous Insect Bay.
The pirate who once controlled this supply point was a Summer Islander named Sang Qiu. Thinking of his former subordinate, Salladhor Saan couldn't help but feel a trace of pity.
Given the circumstances, there was only one conclusion—
Sang Qiu and his men were already dead, now serving under Jon's command.
About an hour later, Salladhor Saan finally saw Sang Qiu near the outer walls of a wooden pirate fortress.
"Tsk, tsk, Sang Qiu… I warned you. Staying here would end badly. But you never listened. Look at you now."
"My lord, stop joking around! This man is already a corpse. We should focus on completing Lord Aegon's task."
Salladhor Saan's first mate, Rayleigh, spoke helplessly.
This place had become a land of the dead.
Zombies wandered everywhere.
A plague like this had once appeared in Sothoryos—a horrifying disease that turned men into mindless husks.
But after receiving Jon's instructions, they understood—
This was no plague.
This was Jon's doing.
After obtaining a magical artifact known as the Staff of the Dead, Salladhor Saan gained control over these corpses.
Though slow and unintelligent, they were perfect laborers.
"I was only reminiscing. Lord Aegon's business is everything to us—I would never forget that."
Waving the staff, he ordered Sang Qiu's corpse to begin hauling cargo.
"You…"
"My lord! We've found what Lord Aegon left in the forest! Please come see—we don't know how to move them!"
A soldier's urgent report interrupted them.
"What do you mean?"
"My lord… I cannot describe it. You must see it yourself."
Among the "Chainbreakers," Aegon had already become a symbol of mystery and power. Everything he did seemed to carry hidden meaning.
"What… are these?"
When Salladhor Saan arrived, he was stunned.
Beyond the rainforest stood rows of massive stone figures.
Though born of a pirate lineage, Salladhor Saan had not spent much time in these regions. Still—
He recognized them.
Wyverns.
As a child, he had seen one preserved specimen in his father's collection. Though small, the memory remained vivid.
But these—
These were enormous.
And eerily lifelike.
"My lord, we feared touching them. We don't know if these are what Lord Aegon intended us to retrieve."
The soldier explained nervously.
"Thump… thump…"
Salladhor Saan tapped one of them.
The dull sound confirmed it—
These were not ordinary statues.
"Magic…?"
A flicker of curiosity lit his eyes.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
Rayleigh quickly reminded him.
"These must be what Lord Aegon left behind. Test how to move them—they are not mere stone."
"Understood…"
Rayleigh stepped forward, examining them more closely.
"Hiss… hiss…"
At that moment—
A strange, chilling sound echoed from the depths of the forest.
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