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Bandy Island is situated in the southwestern part of the vast and tranquil Sea of Myrth. While Myr is closer in proximity, Bandy Island is located nearer to Tyrosh.
The island is roughly three to four times the size of Oak Island, providing ample space to accommodate tens of thousands of serfs who toil in its expansive fields.
Due to its fertile soil and high crop yield, as well as its favorable geographical location, Bandy Island has become more than just a granary for Myr; it also serves as a crucial food source for Tyrosh.
At this very moment, near the harbor on Bandy Island, groups of serfs, dressed in tattered clothing, sluggishly swung their tools, as though deliberately ensuring that everyone noticed their lack of effort.
Strangely, the overseers stood by, unbothered by the idleness, showing no inclination to use their whips to enforce discipline.
Inside the office of the town lord in Bandy Town, Archon Pachek paced back and forth, anxiety visible in his every step.
Unable to quell his worries, Archon Pachek turned to the magister who had patted him on the shoulder during the High Council meeting and asked, "Magister Aloma, something isn't right. Seven days ago, Jacaerys Velaryon's fleet left Bloodstone. According to the journey's calculations, they should have reached Bandy Island by now. Yet, they still haven't arrived. Could it be that they've turned back to the Bloodstone, or perhaps they've realized we've set a trap for them and retreated to attack Tyrosh instead?"
Magister Aloma, looking calm and unfazed, smiled faintly and shook his head. "Archon Pachek, you're overthinking it. Even if that demon turned back halfway to Bloodstone, by the time he returns, it will already be too late. Magister Bartos holds the fortress on the Bloodstone. He can hold out for at least a month."
"As for Tyrosh, you have a stronghold built from black dragonstone, a city with walls that were nearly untouched the last time the dragons attacked. The damage was minimal, and the only loss was some siege equipment and slave soldiers. The walls remain intact. With a single dragon and fewer than a thousand soldiers, how could they possibly breach the defenses of our three free cities?"
Archon Pachek let out a sigh of relief. "You're right, I feel much better hearing that. But do you think we can really catch or kill that dragon?"
At this, Magister Aloma grew even more confident. "This trap was set by Sharako himself. His tactical plans have never failed in all these years. He has proven his military genius time and time again."
When the name Sharako was mentioned, Archon Pachek immediately nodded in agreement. "Indeed, he is a remarkable man. On the surface, it might appear that he only withdrew a few large warships from the Sunset Sea. In truth, he secretly replaced them with nearly twenty large merchant ships, which he sent to lie in wait near Bandy Island."
"And he's brought in massive ballistae from other islands, now positioned all around Bandy Island's harbor. No matter how agile the dragon might be, it will surely be struck by an arrow and brought down. Once that's done, we'll have nearly ten thousand soldiers, disguised as serfs, ready to surround them. Even if we have to use our men as cannon fodder, we will overwhelm them."
Just as Magister Aloma was about to continue, there was a knock on the door of the office.
"Enter!"
The door opened, and the governor of Bandy Island entered, his expression respectful. "Magister Aloma, Archon Pachek, there's a word from Magister Bartos. He has successfully taken Bloodstone Island."
"Haha, wonderful!" Archon Pachek couldn't contain his joy at the news. He clapped his hands and grinned widely. After all, Jacaerys had not previously targeted Tyrosh, but now, with him setting the trap himself, if it failed, Tyrosh could expect a ruthless retaliation.
"But there's something strange about the situation on Bloodstone. Not a single soldier was left behind, and none of the gold, silver, treasures, or food supplies that were supposed to have been looted can be found," the messenger continued.
Upon hearing this, Archon Pachek's smile faltered, and his face darkened. He quickly asked, "What do you mean, they can't be found? The treasures looted from five islands alone are worth tens of thousands of gold dragons, and the food supplies should be enough to fill half of Bloodstone. How could so much disappear without a trace? Magister Aloma, do you think Magister Bartos is trying to keep everything for himself?"
Magister Aloma did not immediately respond to Archon Pachek. His brow furrowed in deep thought, and he muttered to himself, "They haven't come to Bandy Island, nor have they returned to Bloodstone Island. Then... where are they now?"
---
In the center of the Sea of Myrth, situated between Bandy Island and the city of Myr, lay Lanark Island.
At this very moment, the outer city of Lanark Town was filled with the sounds of shouting and slaughter, as countless slaves and common folk fled in every direction.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Arrows, dense as rain, rained down from the three-headed dragon warships, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
The slaves and commoners gathered in large groups collapsed in droves, falling like crops under the scythe.
The governor of Lanark was a pragmatic man, fully aware of the importance of preserving the core of his city.
Without hesitation, he ordered the abandonment of the outer town. The remaining soldiers—no more than a few hundred—were to be concentrated in the inner city for a unified defense.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
With no obstacles left to block their path, over a thousand soldiers from the Bloodstone fleet surged ashore.
The majority of the soldiers charge straight towards the gates of the inner city to continue their siege. A smaller group, however, split off to ransack the outer town, seizing whatever valuables they could find.
Tearing, ripping!
Leading a group of loyal subordinates, Coleman hacked down two Bloodstone soldiers who were busy plundering treasure.
He then roars, "Damn it! His Majesty the King specifically ordered that today's priority is to break through the inner city! Anyone who dares to delay this mission will feel the edge of my blade!"
With Coleman overseeing the troops, the soldiers who had initially focused on looting are suddenly frightened into rushing towards the inner city gates.
On the walls of Lanark Town's inner city, the governor watches in a stunned surprise as the enemy soldiers swarm towards the gates.
For a moment, his heart sinks. Just over two weeks ago, the magister had forcefully requisitioned all of Lanark's defensive crossbows and half of the slave soldiers.
Yet, as he watches the approaching soldiers, he realizes that the enemy forces are not equipped with siege weapons—no battering rams or trebuchets, and not even the most basic siege ladders. Could they possibly intend to fly into the inner city?
Suddenly, a wind whooshes past, and a heavy thud shakes the air behind him.
CRACK! CRACK!
As the governor turns to look, he sees a massive, snarling dragon's head appear just a meter from him, snatching up one of his personal guards.
The dragon chews with casual ease, swallowing the soldier as though eating peanuts.
DRIP! DRIP!
Warm liquid trickled down the governor's legs as the terror of the moment overwhelmed him, causing him to lose control of his bladder.
This was a natural response when facing a top-tier predator. After all, even a large tiger could instill such fear in an ordinary person, let alone a massive dragon.
CLANG!
The captain of the personal guard draws his sword, stepping in front of the governor and shouting loudly, "Archers, fire!"
DING, DING, DING!
Ordinary arrows strike the dragon's body, but they have no effect—they cannot pierce its scales. The only purpose they serve is to draw the creature's attention.
Having just devoured a second soldier, the dragon opens its massive jaws, flames flickering within its throat.
It's over!
Seeing this, the governer's face turns ashen, and the memories of rumors he had heard about dragons burning entire cities flash through his mind.
But just as he braces for the worst, the firelight suddenly vanishes. The dragon's mouth closes once more, and it raises its tail high into the air.
WHOOSH!
With a powerful roar, the dragon's tail crashes into the inner side of the city gate with tremendous force.
The wooden bar behind the inner city gate cracks and groans under the blow.
BAAAANNG!!!
The second lash of the dragon's tail strikes with equal force, and the already fractured bar shatters into countless splinters.
"Kill them!"
With a roar, the thousand soldiers from the Bloodstone surge through the shattered gates, flooding into the inner city.
The brave captain of the guard had intended to lead his slave soldiers in a final stand, but just as he prepared to make his move, the governor, who had regained his composure, reached out and stopped him.
"There's no use," the mayor said, his voice heavy. "Surrender. The fact that the dragon hasn't used its flame to burn us alive means we still have value to them."
With a clatter, the governor gave the order. The hundreds of slave soldiers within the inner city dropped their weapons without hesitation, surrendering to the inevitable.
The surrender was swift, but the silence that followed was heavy with the weight of defeat. The town, once bustling with life and hope, was now on the cusp of a grim fate, caught in the jaws of war and terror.
The governor's decision was the last flicker of hope for his people, but the dragon's presence ensured that no resistance could save them.
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[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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