The afternoon sun spilled onto the streets of the City-State of Lys.
Compared to when Daenerys first arrived, the air here had lost some of its oppressive saltiness and despair, replaced by a bustling, hopeful vitality.
Along the streets, some of the dilapidated shops had already been repaired and hung with new signs.
Daenerys walked slowly, her silver-gold hair shimmering in the sunlight.
Even in the City-State of Lys, where Valyrian features were not uncommon, such a pure shade was striking enough to draw attention.
But even more striking was the light that erupted in the eyes of those who saw her.
Especially those who had once been slaves.
A female worker drying dyed cloth in front of a textile workshop by the street glanced up and caught sight of Daenerys.
The wet fabric in her hands dropped to the ground with a 'plop', but she didn't even notice; she just stared blankly, and then her eyes quickly filled with tears.
She seemed to want to rush over, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but she was stopped by the vigilant guards at Daenerys's side.
Daenerys raised her hand, signaling the guards not to be tense.
She stepped closer, looking gently at the worker who was too excited to speak, and then at the other faces in the workshop that had looked up at the sound, their expressions filled with gratitude and awe.
Most of them had darker skin, typical descendants of the Summer Isles or Ghiscari, who had once been the lowest form of property in this city.
"Live well," Daenerys said, her voice clear and calm, carrying a soothing power. "This is what you deserve."
The worker nodded vigorously, tears finally rolling down, and she bent down to pick up the fabric, her movements seemingly lighter.
Other former slaves nearby who recognized Daenerys also stopped their work, bowing from afar to silently express their gratitude.
They were grateful to this Princess.
That Prince Aegon who had conquered this place was powerful yet as cold as ice, awe-inspiring but difficult to approach.
But since his Western Expedition, it was Princess Daenerys who had taken over, and she had brought real change.
That decree declaring the restoration of their free status was like sunlight piercing through the heavy gloom of their lives.
Although life was still hard, the word 'freedom' was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.
Daenerys felt a warmth in her heart, her red lips curling into a beautiful arc, but she did not stay long.
Passing through the streets that were gradually regaining their vitality, she returned to the Princes Residence.
Just as she stepped into the front hall, a maid hurried over and curtsied: "Princess, Triarch Luciana requests that you go to the council chamber immediately; there is an urgent matter to discuss."
Daenerys frowned slightly; if Luciana was looking for her at this moment, it must be something unusual.
She gave a slight nod and quickened her pace through the corridor.
Inside the council chamber, the long table was already full of people.
Besides Luciana, who looked slightly solemn, there were several gorgeously dressed strangers.
There was a subtle tension in the air.
Seeing her enter, Luciana immediately stood up, pulled out the chair at the head of the table slightly, made a gesture of invitation to her, and then moved to sit on the left side of the main seat.
"Princess Daenerys," she said, her voice steady.
"Since Prince Aegon has authorized you to participate in government affairs, and you have strongly advocated for the abolition of the slave trade, this matter should be presided over by you."
She turned to the three visitors, her tone shifting to a polite introduction: "Everyone, this is Princess Daenerys Targaryen."
"Regarding the slave trade and all related matters, Princess Daenerys now has full authority to make decisions."
The gazes of several visitors fell squarely on Daenerys.
The look of amazement was hard to hide.
The otherworldly beauty of House Targaryen was impactful anytime, anywhere.
Daenerys calmly accepted the scrutiny, her violet eyes gazing back steadily, while she also quickly sized up the other party.
A middle-aged man sitting on the far right spoke first. He bowed with his hand on his chest, his posture elegant yet arrogant: "Respected Princess, I come from Volantis, representing the esteemed trade officials of the Elephant Party, to extend my greetings to you."
"Previously, we had... a pleasant interaction with Prince Aegon, and even had the honor of inviting him to serve as an honorary Triarch of our city, though unfortunately, it was politely declined."
He deliberately emphasized the parity between Volantis and Prince Aegon, implying that Volantis, as the eldest daughter of Valyria, was of the same origin and equal standing as the Targaryen Dynasty.
He paused, then continued: "I have heard that Princess Daenerys has resolutely closed the long-standing slave trade in the Three Cities of Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr."
"Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but this is by no means a wise move."
"The slave trade along the coast of the Sunset Sea is an ancient tradition and an economic lifeline that maintains the prosperity of many city-states; how can it be abolished so easily?"
"This move not only severely damages the interests of many Free Cities, but is also a heavy blow to the prosperity of these Three Cities themselves." His words seemed earnest, but the accusatory tone was obvious.
Daenerys remained unmoved, her gaze sweeping past him and landing on a figure who seemed somewhat out of place. That person was sitting with the envoys of these trade cities, yet there was a sense of distinct separation.
When hearing about the slave trade, he frowned deeply, as if suppressing dissatisfaction.
Daenerys guessed that the faction this person represented probably suffered the most from the termination of the slave trade.
At this moment, a man wearing many gemstone rings, dressed like a typical slave trader, spoke: "Princess, I come from Yunkai, representing the Wise Masters. We sincerely hope that you will reconsider opening the slave trade. This is the cornerstone of mutual cooperation."
He squeezed a smile onto his face, "To be honest, because you closed the trade, our major slave markets in Yunkai are now deserted, and even the supply of high-quality bed slaves has been cut off. This is certainly not something anyone wants to see."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a hint of temptation: "As long as you nod and restart the trade, Yunkai is willing to become your most reliable partner. Even..."
He clapped his hands, and two attendants behind him stepped forward, struggling to carry two heavy oak chests, which they opened in front of everyone.
In an instant, the council chamber seemed to brighten a little.
It was two chests full of beautifully minted gold coins, shimmering with an alluring and cold light in the rays of light filtering in from the high windows.
"...This is a small token of sincerity from our Wise Masters, for the Princess's consideration." The Yunkai envoy's smile deepened.
Everyone's gaze, including Luciana's, turned to Daenerys, waiting for her reaction.
Daenerys's gaze fell on the two chests of gold, her jewel-like violet eyes reflecting the golden light, but they were bottomless, revealing no emotion.
She remained silent for a moment, and just when the Yunkai envoy's eyes lit up with joy, thinking that the money offensive had worked, she gently raised her hand.
Two Targaryen guards stepped forward, expressionlessly closing the two chests of gold and carrying them to Daenerys's side.
The smile on the Yunkai envoy's face grew wider, and the Envoy from Volantis also smiled.
However, Daenerys's next words made their smiles instantly freeze.
"I appreciate the good intentions of the Wise Masters," her voice was clear and calm, yet carried undeniable firmness. "But regarding the slave trade, my position will not change."
"It is resolutely abolished, and there is absolutely no possibility of restarting it."
She scanned the group, her gaze pausing for a moment on the face of the Envoy from Volantis, who claimed to be the eldest daughter of Valyria: "You must understand that Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr are no longer the free trade city-states of the past."
"They are now territories under the rule of the rightful heir to the iron throne, the heir apparent of the Seven Kingdoms... Prince Aegon Targaryen, and belong to the Targaryen Dynasty."
"And under the laws and rule of the Targaryen Dynasty, there is not, and will never be, any slave trade."
As her words fell, the council chamber fell into dead silence.
The expression of the Envoy from Volantis became extremely ugly; Daenerys's words were equivalent to slapping the eldest daughter of Valyria loudly in public.
The third visitor, who had been silent all along, spoke slowly at this moment.
"Princess, I come from Astapor, representing the Good Masters," his voice was not loud, but very cold and hard. "We came with goodwill and a desire for cooperation."
"But if the Princess insists on cutting off the trade tradition of a thousand years, damaging the very foundation of our city-states..." He leaned forward slightly. "The Unsullied legion of Astapor is well-trained and invincible."
"At that time, I am afraid we will have to use another way to maintain our traditions and interests."
A naked threat.
Daenerys's expression turned completely cold.
She stood up, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, her violet eyes full of coldness: "The will of Targaryen is unquestionable, and even less susceptible to threats. Show them out!"
"You...!" The Yunkai envoy stood up abruptly, his face flushed, his eyes fixed on the two large chests of gold placed aside by the guards.
"The Princess accepted our generous gift but refused to fulfill the agreement; is this the upbringing of the Targaryen royal family? If you are unwilling to open the slave trade, you should return the gift."
The Yunkai envoy's words even became presumptuous due to his anger.
The atmosphere in the hall tightened instantly, and the Targaryen guards on both sides moved in unison, their hands all resting on the hilts of their swords, the sharp blades slightly unsheathed by half an inch.
The Yunkai envoy felt a chill in his heart at the sight, and his previous arrogance immediately diminished by more than half.
The Envoy from Volantis looked grim, and the Astapor envoy also fell silent, knowing full well that this was a place under Targaryen control, and continuing to be tough would get them no benefit.
After weighing the pros and cons, even though the Yunkai envoy was full of grievance and reluctance, he dared not clamor any further.
The three of them had ugly expressions, snorted angrily, and in the end, could only leave with full of resentment, leading their followers away with heavy steps.
The hall quieted down for a moment.
Luciana looked at Daenerys, her eyes filled with a trace of worry, but mostly support.
Daenerys was about to speak when her gaze suddenly froze.
At the end of the long table, there was still one person sitting.
It was that figure who seemed "out of place" and "distinct".
He was currently sitting there composedly, as if the fierce confrontation just now had nothing to do with him.
"This gentleman," Daenerys sat back down, her tone carrying scrutiny, "I don't know who you represent? Why are you lingering here, and what is the matter?"
"Respected Princess..."
The man spoke, his voice seeming to carry a hint of disdain: "Please allow me to introduce myself. I come from Braavos, representing the Iron Bank."
"I am not traveling with those... slave-trading gentlemen from just now; it just so happened that we arrived in the City-State of Lys at the same time and were invited here together."
Braavos. The Iron Bank.
Daenerys's heart skipped a beat.
She had spent a fairly decent childhood in Braavos, and naturally, she had heard of this renowned Iron Bank.
"An envoy from the Iron Bank?" Daenerys remained calm, her violet eyes staring intently at the other party. "I don't know what you have come here for?"
The envoy from the Iron Bank took out a scroll of contract from his bosom and slowly spread it out on the table.
"Your Prince Aegon Targaryen..." the envoy from the Iron Bank said in a serious tone.
"Once personally went to Braavos and, in the name of the Lord of Myr, Tyrosh, and the City-State of Lys, took out a loan from the Iron Bank."
"Now, the deadline for repayment and interest payment has arrived."
He looked up, his gaze calmly meeting Daenerys's stunned violet eyes.
"And in the mortgage contract signed by the Prince at that time, the collateral explicitly listed was..."
His finger gently pointed to the ground beneath their feet.
"This City-State of Lys, along with all its tax rights, Port rights, and affiliated interests."
"My trip here is to represent the Iron Bank, to verify the accounts, and to collect the due payments."
Daenerys was stunned, her violet eyes filled with disbelief.
Her ears were buzzing, as if she hadn't heard the other party clearly, or perhaps, she hoped she had misheard.
Aegon... used the City-State of Lys... as collateral for a massive debt?
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn luffy1898