Stephen Baratheon POV
'It couldn't have been that easy, right?' He thought to himself in disbelief as he checked his company device while flying back home.
But despite his apparent disbelief at what happened in the Red Keep, the screen of his Company Device remained unchanged.
For in the Retinue section, below his and Melisandre's name, was the name of a third person.
Lysa Arryn. Tier 2. Captured.
Capture reward: 2 points.
2 entire points.
It might not seem like much to anyone else. But to him, it was as if he was lost in a dry desert for the longest time, thirsty for water, until a woman suddenly appeared in front of him and handed him a wineskin full of it.
Change the Water in that analogy with Points and that's exactly how he was feeling.
He felt like he was floating in the seven heavens. It was an unreal feeling.
Especially since he now only needed 3 more points in order to buy the option that'll allow him to eventually leave this world and go to the next one.
He whooped in joy in the middle of the sky and did a few barrel rolls before he continued flying.
The truth of the matter was that he hadn't expected her to fall for him that quickly. Sure he had been playing around with Oxytocin, Dopamine, Serotonin, and a few other hormones when he was with Lysa, but the capture still came as a huge surprise to him. After all, he's only been in Kings Landing for about a week.
He doubted that Cersei, Margaery, Arianne, or any other girl would fall for him this quickly.
Okay, maybe Sansa would fall for him that quickly. But... Sansa was Sansa. So that didn't really count.
Regardless, he was still very happy with the Capture and flew through the night sky in a joyous state until he eventually arrived at Dragonstone.
There, he went to Create ID, broke through his door and entered his room before he used Escape ID and appear back in his room, with his door still intact. ID skill was handy like that.
Only to freeze as he found a completely unexpected sight in front of him.
Because Rather than a dimly lit room, his chamber was illuminated by flickering candlelight. Furthermore, instead of an unoccupied bed, it was occupied by Mel, who was donning a seductive lingerie that wouldn't have looked out of place on a whore from Lys.
Mel noticed his presence turned to look at him with a naughty smile, the rest of her body twisting to give him the best view of her ass and curves.
"I foresaw your arrival my lord." Mel said with a smile as she slipped her bra to the side, fleshing him her perky pink nipples. "And thought I might prepare a gift for you."
He smiled as his cock hardened in its confines and moved forward to give her the most passionate kiss of her life.
They would not sleep for hours into the night.
Would definitely recommend having a Seer in the harem. 10/10.
—
Next Day.
Discreetly going back to the Port early at dawn and making a show of entering the Island via a ship was annoying, but it needed to be done. A quarter hour long ride brought him back to the castle though and he could then continue with his day to day activities thereafter.
"I knew that this might come to bite me on the ass one day. But this is still unexpected." He said as he walked through the halls of Dragonstone. His destination being the meeting room where his guests were waiting for him.
"They're not here to bite you in the ass my lord." Mel said with a huge, content smile on her face, looking like a woman who has been well and properly fucked the night before. "They're only here to serve you. Though I suspect that they might want to have proof of your… identity as Azor Ahai."
"I don't want to give them a proof. I don't want even want to talk with them. Do you know how badly the Faith will react if they found out that I'm hosting half a dozen Red Priests in my castle?"
"You fear the Faith?" Mel asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
"I fear the influence they have over the Smallfolk. And if the Faith decided to take a stand against me, then they can do unrepairable damage to my reputation. Moreover, I just don't want to take part in a needless fight when I can simply sidestep the problem."
"The Faith did unrepairable damage to the Targaryens due King Aenys and King Maegor's reign. And the Targaryens still ruled for 250 more years after that." Mel pointed out.
"Perhaps. But both Aenys', and Maegor's reigns were filled with small scale rebellions that erupted across the entire Westeros. It was only when Jaeherys came to power and made peace with the Faith did all the Smallfolk finally calmed down." He said as he paused and turned to look at Mel. "You may not like the Faith of the Seven Mel, but do not make the mistake of underestimating them."
Mel frowned but gave a nod before they continued on their way.
Despite having great love and loyalty for him. Mel still retained some of the attachment that she once held for the Religion of R'hollor. Understandable, considering that she served under that Religion for over 400 years.
He just hoped that the small bit of loyalty she still had for the Red Religion won't cause him problems in the future.
They eventually arrived at the meeting room, and as the guard opened the door for him, he was met with the sight of a dozen Red Priests and Priestesses waiting for inside the room, sitting across a large table.
He entered the room with Mel, the guard closing the door behind him and all of them got up to greet him.
"Before we get started... May I know your names, as well as the reason why you've come to Dragonstone?" He asked as he took the main seat at the head of the table, gesturing for them to sit as well.
The Red Priest closest to him got up at his question and spoke. "My name is Moqorro, your grace. And I'm here to be of service to you."
While the man was speaking, he used Observe to study his profile, and learned that Moqorro was over 200 years old and got occasional visions in the fire from his god as well.
Then the next Priest stood up, a frail looking man with a fanatic look in his eyes. "My name is Benerro. And I'm here to test your claims of being the Azor Ahai!" The man announced, the flame in the torches flaring up with each of his words as the man glared at him with distrust and slight hostility.
The third one in the seat, a beautiful woman, pushed Benerro down on his seat and gave him a charming smile. "My name is Selori, my lord." The woman spoke in High Velaryon, his Observe telling him that she was only 29 years old, even though she held a high position in the Temple of R'hollor in Tyrosh. "I am here to ascertain the truth behind some of Lady Melisandre's claims."
He side glanced at Mel who remained perfectly composed as he gestured for the next one to continue.
And so they did. Excluding Mel, there were 14 more Red Priests and Priestess under his halls. And they had all came for different, yet similar reasons.
To see if he was really Azor Ahai, and not some imposter.
Only two of them actually believed that he was someone important and had come to serve him with no conditions attached.
"Before we start. Let me assure you that I have never claimed to be this Azor Ahai. Nor do I believe that I am the champion you're looking for" He said and he could see the surprise and suspicion flare up in some of their eyes. "Just as I've never claimed to be the champion of the Warrior, as the Stepons and Septas have been proclaiming through the Crownlands."
"Let us not bring those false heathens to our talk, your grace." An old priest said with a mocking smile. "After all, at the end of the day, there is only one true god. Only his clergies should have any say in what is true and what is false. The rest of… inconsequential."
Yeah. He'll definitely have to send this guy away from Dragonstone before he causes any problems. Along with a few others.
There was a brief silence as the old man's declaration before one of the Priestesses spoke up. "Is it true that you used a shining sword in the Battle of Kings Landing?"
At her words, he removed the sword belt from around his waist and put it on the table. Then he removed the Valyrian Sword from within its confines and showed it to them.
"As you can see, it is not shining." He said before he put the sword back into its sheath.
"But did it shone when you fought those Ironborn heathens?" The woman asked and he held a back a grimace.
He really didn't want these fanatics in his shores but he did not want to lie either.
"It did." He said with a shrug.
"Lies!" Benerro shouted as he jumped from his seat, the fire in the torches flaring up once again. "Lightbringer's shine cannot be doused and reignited like it was some sort of candle. It burns FOREVER under the power of our god R'hollor. You're lying you barbaric heathen. I'll have you-"
A giant shadow hand rose from the ground and grabbed Benerro by his throat before raising up in the air, cutting him midrant. The man chocked as he kicked and clawed at the hand to no avail as the shadowy hand kept him suspended in mid air, while the rest of the Priests and Priestesses looked on in shock.
At the same time, Mel turned to look at the torch fire that been going out of control around the room and they calmed down at once.
She smiled at the rest of the Priests and Priestess, and then with a gesture, the shadowy hand brought the flailing form of Benerro in front of her. Her smile had no warmth in it as she gently caressed his quickly reddening face.
"Do Not. Ever. Disrespect my Lord. In my Presence. Or I'll send you back to Essos in pieces." Mel said with a calm and gentle voice before she made a dismissive gesture and the shadow hand dragged Benerro back to his place and deposited him on his seat. The hand merged back into the shadows and vanished, as if it was never there in the first place.
"Let this serve as a warning." Mel said as she looked at the rest of the Priests and Priestess, some of whom flinched under her gaze. "The next time someone disrespects my lord within his halls, I'll be not let you go with a simple warning."
With that, she came to his side and stood in silence, like she'd done previously.
The rest of the Red Priests and Priestesses looked at her with a healthy dose of fear and apprehension. There was an oppressive silence in the room before, all of a sudden, the Priest named Moqorro started laughing.
And he laughed, and laughed and laughed for what seemed like an entire minute before he finally calmed down.
"And what is so funny Moqorro?" One of the Priestess asked testily, her nerves still frayed from Melisandre's show of power. "Care to share with the rest of us."
Moqorro looked at his fellow Red Clergy and smiled serenely. "Unlike the rest of you, lord R'hollor was generous with me, and allowed me to get a brief glimpse of the battle that took place in Kings Landing." Then the man turned to look at him with a reverant look in his eyes. "There, I saw a young man, leading his ragtag army against these so called Ironborns… with a shining blade in his hands."
Commotion broke out in the room at those words and he held back a sigh.
Yes, this was definitely going to be a long and tiring meeting. There was no doubt about that.
—
He slumped on his chair as the last of the Red clergy finally vacated the room. A thousand yard stare on his face as he stared out at the oceanic horizon visible through the balcony of the room.
"You do not need to look so morose my lord. I believe the meeting went as well as it could have." Mel said as she came and sat on his lap, her fingers threading through his hair and she gave him a slow and gentle massage.
He sighed and stared at Melisandre. "I do not trust them, even the ones I allowed to stay in Dragonstone. I don't trust them not to cause or attract trouble."
"You do not need to worry about them my lord. Just give them a task and leave them to it. I'll handle the rest."
"Somehow, your words do not fill me with confidence as they usually do." He said as he caressed her beautiful face. "What did you even tell those priestesses that they came all the way to Dragonstone?"
"Oh." Mel gave a mischievous smile. "I may or may not have revealed that your blessings have turned me back into a young woman once again. Most did not believe me. But the few that did are here."
"I see." He said with a mild chuckle. "So the old ones are here because the want to be young once again, and the young ones are here because they don't want to grow old."
"Yes my lord. I thought that you would appreciate having more Red Priestess under your command. To win over your friends and seduce your enemies."
He thought on her words for a moment before he shook his head. "I'm not happy with this Mel. But I suppose that I should've expected something like this when I used a shining sword in that battle."
"That you should have my lord." Mel smiled as she pressed her breasts closed to him and her hips gyrated over his lap, stimulating his dick. "Now, how about I make you forget this meeting ever happened, my lord?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "Down girl. As much as I would like to bend you over this table right here and now, we do have other things to do. Other guests to meet."
Mel let out a dejected sigh at his words. "As you say my lord." She said before she took out a parchment from in between her cleavage. "The next person you need to meet, is a rich and influential Magister from Myr."
—
"Greetings, Prince Stephen." The Magister spoke in a bastardised low Valyrian language. The kind that's used in the Triarchy. "Please come. Help my daughter."
He gave the magister a nod as he took a look around the dark room and at the sleeping figure on the bed. A young 15 year old girl.
He walked over to the young woman and touched her feverish face. And his Shaper power immediately told what was wrong with the girl and why this Magister was here.
Her immune system was weak. Very weak. It was weak to the point that he was wondering how she had ever survived up to her adulthood.
Maybe the immune system was stronger when she was young but grew weaker with age?
He could also see where the problem laid. And how easy it'll be for him to heal her…
But he couldn't. Not for free.
"I can indeed help your daughter Magister Torakko. But my Blessing with have a price."
"A price?" Magister Torakko asked, looking confused and a bit offended. "But I've heard from your guards and sailors that you give them your blessings for free. Why would I have to pay a price when others are getting it for free?"
"Because they're from Westeros." He said as they moved out of the room in order to not disturb the young woman. "I am a prince of the Kingdom, so I have a duty to my people. But you are not from Westeros, are you?"
"No. But I assure you that if you bless my daughter, then you'll have my goodwill and the goodwill of all of Myr. Come to the city and you'll receive the best hospitality you'll ever receive."
"I'm afraid I can't do that Magister."
"Why?" The Magister asked, getting a bit desperate. "Is your servant, the Red Priestess, not from Essos as well?"
"She is. But as you just said, she is my servant. Plus, she is not a slaver."
"What does my owning slaves have to do with anything?"
"Everything." He replied. "Your ownership of slaves of slaves have to do with everything. Blessing a small folk is one thing. Blessing the daughter of a Slaver from Essos, is another thing altogether. If I do what you just asked me to do, and the rumours got out, then I'll be seen as someone who helps Slavers, and that'll do great damage to my reputation."
"Reputation!? My daughter is dying!"
"And I sympathise with that Magister, I truly do. No father should have to see his child die before him. And I do want to help you, but not at my own expense."
The Magister looked at him with anger for a long moment before he sighed. "It seems that I should have expected this. What is it you want in exchange for Blessing my child, your grace."
'Now you're talking in my language' He thought as he hid a smile and told the Magister the price for his services.
—
"a hundred thirty and three thousand Lysene gold coins." Mel said as she stared at the promissory note. "That's a lot of gold coins. Do you not fear that you'll bankrupt the good Magister with such a price."
"Not really. Observe gave me a rough estimation of how much that guy earns. And while giving this much gold away will be a setback for him, his finances should recover within a year or two."
"And what if the Magister refuses to pay after you've healed his daughter?"
"His daughter will remain in Dragonstone until he can send the necessary gold coins to us." He said with a shrug. "If he fails to pay, then that debt would fall upon his daughter. And she'll serve as a maid in Dragonstone for the rest of her life trying to repay that debt. Though considering how much he loves his daughter, I doubt that he'll renege on this deal"
Mel hummed as she stared at the note.
"Why a hundred thirty and three thousand Lysene gold coins though. That seems like a strangely specific number to settle on."
"I'm glad you asked. It is because Lysene gold coin is 3/4th as heavy as a Gold Dragon. So if you convert these Lysese gold coins to the Westerosi currency, then you get a hundred thousand gold dragons."
"Oh… I see." Mel said with a nod as she looked at him. "I assume that you are going to ask for the same amount of gold for any Essossi Magister, or noble that comes for your 'blessings' in the future."
"I am."
"It… seems a bit expensive. But with how rich these Essossi magisters are, you shouldn't have too much problem with getting that amount from them." Mel said "And even if we only gained one customer a year, that'll still be a hundred thousand gold dragons per year. That's over ten times more than what Dragonstone used to generate in taxes per year before you came along."
"You're correct, my dear." He said as he thought about all the projects that he'd started in the past two years, and all the projects that he he could start once he gets this gold.
It's not like he was lacking in gold either. In fact, their treasury was practically overflowing thanks to all the hand-made products they were selling in Essos. But the future projects that he'd planned for Dragonstone were going to be very expensive indeed.
A couple of large buildings to house the hundreds, if not thousands of orphans and abused children from Kings Landing.
A Hospital and the staff that'll be needed to be trained to run it.
A Glass Factory.
Steel making Factory on an industrial scale.
Another factory to turn that steel into steel products.
A Paper Producing Factory.
A Printing Press House.
A larger Trade Fleet.
Large scale Penicillin production Lab (shouldn't be hard with Shaper).
And a dozen other major and minor projects.
All in all, the future was going to be expensive. But if even half of his investments pan out, then Dragonstone will eventually turn into a giant export hub for Westeros. Selling products at a huge discount that no one else will be able to complete with.
Though for now… he'll have to find a way to spread news about his healing to the people in Essos. All in the name of profits.