Three Years

Viserys swept his gaze over the two ships without committing himself. Naturally, he saw Salladhor's unease and eagerness to please, but the man was still useful. Especially when it came to procuring supplies, a pirate captain who operated on both sides of the law could sometimes be more convenient than a "legitimate merchant."

"Remember your place, Salladhor," Viserys said slowly. "Still, you may continue your old raids. Make sure those two ships are seen often for a while. Later, I'll arrange for someone to take them over and operate under your flag. Understood?"

Viserys decided to use those two ships to purchase supplies from then on.

Salladhor froze for a moment, then was overcome with joy. This meant the king would not hold this apparent attempt at "interception" against him, though he really had only intended to see whether there was anything to be gained.

Moreover, he was even being allowed to continue his old way of life, with the possibility of closer cooperation. As for operating under his flag, didn't that amount to some form of "authorization"?

"Understood. Completely understood, my lord." Salladhor nodded hastily.

To thoroughly intimidate Salladhor, Viserys also demonstrated the Fireball Magic he had recently learned. Watching Viserys conjure a fireball out of thin air, Salladhor became noticeably more fearful than before.

Viserys said no more and let him return.

Ser Jon breathed a quiet sigh of relief and ordered the fleet to correct its course and sail on. He cast a long look at the distant pirate ships, which still dared not make a move, especially the stocky figure aboard who was still bowing and scraping. He had gained a new understanding of this young king.

Salladhor Saan watched the fleet sail away until it became a cluster of black specks on the horizon. Only then did he drop onto the deck and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Boss, just who was that...?" A recently recruited underling approached, still shaken.

"Someone we can't afford to cross." Salladhor panted, his eyes full of conflicting emotions. "Keep your eyes open from now on, all of you. And those two ships-give them a good overhaul. They'll be useful later." He pointed at the Flying Fish and the Surge.

The rest of the voyage passed without incident. Several weeks later, the fleet crossed the increasingly thin outer reaches of the Smoking Sea and, following the route familiar to Blackflame, safely reached the Kiss of Astapor at the southern tip of the Valyrian Peninsula.

The two black pillars of rock known as the Gate of Sighs still stood, though they looked somewhat less like harbingers of the apocalypse.

More surprising still, deep within the fjord, neat wooden docks and simple houses had appeared along what had once been a barren shore of black sand.

Since the Black Dragon had reached Satheryn Castle ahead of them, Ser Arthur Dayne was waiting on the shore with a group of men to welcome them. Among the crowd were not only the old soldiers, but many unfamiliar faces as well-the laborers purchased in Slaver's Bay.

The initial work of settling in was hectic and full of challenges. Later, when the newcomers truly came face-to-face with the Dragon for the first time, everyone was stunned once again.

Viserys quickly organized the people. Craftsmen and laborers with building experience were gathered together and began expanding the residential area around Satheryn Castle.

The castle itself was structurally sound and needed only cleaning and repairs. Most of their efforts went into building enough row houses, warehouses, workshops, and defenses to accommodate everyone.

Once everything was complete, he immediately summoned all his key personnel, along with the old scholar Marion, to the main hall of Satheryn Castle for New Valyria's first formal meeting.

"This will be the starting point of our new home." Viserys tapped the hand-drawn map spread before him. "Satheryn Castle occupies a strong defensive position, easy to defend and difficult to attack, with fresh water nearby. It is well suited to serve as our initial base. But our goal is not to remain confined to one corner."

His finger followed a winding line on the map. "This is a branch of the ancient Valyrian Road, connecting several important outposts along the peninsula's southern coast. Our task is to clear this route and ensure it remains safe and open. Blackflame will handle aerial reconnaissance and eliminate threats."

"And after it is cleared, Your Grace?" Ser Arthur asked.

"We build," Viserys said firmly. "We need more residential areas, farmland, and harbors. Valyria's blackstone is the finest building material."

He looked at the old scholar. "Maester Marion, do the texts we acquired contain any records of Valyrian building techniques, particularly Dragonfire Stone-Shaping?"

Marion nodded excitedly. "Yes, Your Grace. By using certain kinds of powdered volcanic rock as a binding agent, together with a Dragon's fire, we can melt and reshape obsidian. Once it solidifies, it becomes exceptionally strong. This is one of the secrets behind the grandeur and durability of Valyrian buildings."

"Excellent."

And so, besides standing guard, Blackflame gained another important job: construction Dragon.

The first batch of blackstone was shaped into uniform, elongated blocks and used to pave the main road from the docks to the castle terrace. Named the Dragonlord Road by Viserys, it was straight, smooth, and gleaming black. It became the new settlement's most striking landmark and made transporting supplies far easier.

Time flew, and another three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over those three years, a town had been completed around Satheryn Castle, with hundreds of stone houses, orderly streets, small squares, a workshop district, warehouses, and temples. Several smaller outposts had also been built.

For the time being, the temples here were dedicated to the Seven and the Valyrian Gods. King Ghidorah had sensed that these gods had likely ceased to exist long ago, so Viserys redirected the power of the faith offered to them into himself.

During this period, several more groups of people arrived, bringing the total population to nearly two thousand and giving it a more balanced composition. Many bedslaves were also purchased to increase the local birth rate.

The greatest change came from the world outside.

The Smoking Sea surrounding the Valyrian Peninsula thinned and dispersed at a rate visible to the naked eye. The former forbidden realm of death gradually revealed the landscape of a peninsula that was no longer wholly inaccessible.

This change inevitably drew the attention of the outside world.

Over those three years, no fewer than ten expeditions, some overt and others covert, attempted to land at various points along the Valyrian coast.

Some were reduced to charred remains on the sea by Blackflame's dragonfire. Others managed to land, only to be swiftly wiped out by patrols led by Ser Arthur.

Viserys deliberately used Blackflame to create terrifying legends, allowing a handful of survivors to escape "by accident" and spread word that "Valyria still harbors dreadful curses and monsters," delaying large-scale exploration by outsiders.

After three years of growth, however, King Ghidorah had already reached thirty meters in size, an astonishing rate of growth. Under Viserys's will and King Ghidorah's indirect guidance, Blackflame had also become increasingly powerful and docile.

That morning, Viserys stood atop the highest tower of Satheryn Castle, gazing east.

The once-dense, grayish-yellow Smoking Sea had dispersed. Standing here now, he could easily see the broken ridgelines in the distance. On clear days, he could even see the horizon of the Summer Sea.

But the barrier was gone.

The world would soon see a new Valyria-a Valyria belonging to the Targaryens.

The young Dragon that had once lain hidden in Valyria had now spread its scaled wings. It was time to announce to the world that the Dragons had returned.

In the council hall, figures filled the seats around the long table. Every eye turned toward the silver-haired king as he entered through the doors. His steps were steady, and a calm, resolute fire burned in his violet eyes.

"Everyone." Viserys took his seat at the head of the table. "The Smoking Sea has completely dispersed. Our barrier is gone. Now, it is time we discussed the future."