Chapter 209: The Night Banquet

"The Cat Corps is nearing eight thousand members. Kid, do you understand what that means?" Danzo smiled meaningfully, then answered his own question, "It means they have the resolve to lose five thousand people. Three thousand members make up the Cat Corps' standard force. So, tell me, do you think you'll be one of those five thousand dead men?"

"Hmph, anyone can talk big, but your Windblown Corps isn't qualified to do so." A mercenary from the Cat Corps sneered. "Last time in Yunkai, out of your two thousand members, only a few dozen escaped with their lives. The remaining three hundred or so were ransomed back from the Dragon Queen. So, tell me, what was your casualty rate?"

"That's why we're experienced," Danzo remained unfazed, chuckling as he countered, "If we encounter the Mother of Dragons again, which of our mercenary groups do you think has a higher survival rate?"

"The strong will survive—not just survive, but return victorious!" The Cat Corps mercenary declared proudly.

Danzo shrugged and turned to Dorn, saying, "Now you understand which mercenary group to choose, right?"

"How about we join the Windblown Corps?" A black-haired man asked his companion.

"Why?" The burly bald man was confused. "Last time, the Windblown Corps was nearly wiped out."

"Which means that if there's another massacre next time, it will be some other mercenary group's turn." The blond man chuckled.

"Hey, what are you guys saying? Why assume a mercenary group must be annihilated? Why not an overwhelming victory for the allied forces?" The Cat Corps mercenary angrily rebuked.

"Such blind optimism is extremely dangerous." The blond man scoffed. "Last time, with just the strength of Astapor alone, the Dragon Queen utterly destroyed Ghis' hundred-thousand-strong army without suffering any losses. Now, with the combined forces of Meereen, Yunkai, and Astapor, the allied army might achieve a bitter victory, but never a complete one."

With that remark, he pulled his companions along and headed toward the Windblown Corps.

"Sorry, I'm late." At that moment, a woman in a floral dress jogged up to the massive elephant and, as if it were second nature, stepped onto the human stairway. Climbing up, she explained, "I didn't mean to delay everyone. When I received news of Lisbon's death, I spent the entire afternoon prophesying in my chamber. The result… sigh, it's very unclear."

Dany shifted slightly to the side, curious. "What were you trying to predict? The hatching of dragons?"

"Ha, something as miraculous as hatching dragons is far beyond me." The Moon Singer bitterly smiled. "I just don't want to end up like Lisbon. I was only trying to foresee if tonight's banquet would be dangerous."

"Smack!" Dany playfully slapped the Moon Singer's shoulder and laughed. "Why bother prophesying about something so simple? I can tell you the answer—just wear a layer of armor under your robes!"

"But armor would interfere with—"

"I know!" Dany waved her hand dismissively. "Wear your armor when you go out, and just take it off when you get home to perform your magic. Simple! Hmm, but sorcery has weak offensive power. You should learn a protective combat skill—not the kind that just helps you make a living, but real combat techniques, like those of an assassin or a knight."

"Wouldn't that be… too much?" The Moon Singer hesitated, struggling to put her thoughts into words.

Too undignified?

More undignified than using "protective techniques" to perform for a living?

Too difficult?

Harder than sorcery?

She glanced at the longsword by Dany's side, and a vision seemed to appear before her—a blue-robed Grand Sorcerer, swinging a greatsword to cut down foes while casting fire magic at the same time.

Could this actually work?

"You'd be better off making money and hiring a few trustworthy bodyguards." Shadowbinder Tamm spoke indifferently.

Now that was a solid plan.

No wonder she was one of the Three Giants.

Instantly, the Moon Singer dismissed the bizarre idea of becoming a "Greatsword Sorcerer" and began considering which rich fool she could use her "protective techniques" on.

Renting a house in the Inner Court was expensive, and she didn't even have enough money to hire bodyguards.

As the Moon Singer was deep in thought, the Shadowbinder handed Dany a small booklet. "This is the Demon and God Compendium. Since you wish to become a Shadowbinder, you will inevitably have to deal with demons."

Dany flipped to a page, where a three-headed black-scaled creature was drawn in a style resembling meticulous brushwork. Its lower body was a mass of twisted shadows.

Beside it, there was a note in Valyrian: "Askazaan Modsis—a demon whose magic amplifies humanity's most primal desires. In blood sorcery, desire is a source of power… To complete the sacrificial ritual, one must burn the liver of a red carp and the heart of a ram into ash, then apply it to the body to expel residual taint from the dark god."

"What's the use of this Lust Demon? I remember many alchemists can make aphrodisiac potions." Dany asked, puzzled.

"Potions can't activate the power in one's blood. Just like the blood sorcery I performed last night—before drawing blood, I had to use Green Desire to awaken the magic within the noble's veins."

"You keep emphasizing 'noble.' Can't ordinary people do it?"

"Here's a simple example—can the bloodline of the Dragon Queen be the same as that of a street mercenary?"

Dany nodded. This was a different world, where bloodlines truly held power.

"Rhaella, remember this." The Shadowbinder warned solemnly. "You may offer sacrifices to dark gods and borrow their power, but never worship them. That is the fundamental difference between a Shadowbinder and a priest or a sorceress."

Tamm's abilities were likely far inferior to Qai Xis', but she was much more approachable. She eagerly explained to Dany the basics of the supernatural world and some taboos of the Shadowbinders.

Aside from not directly teaching her witchcraft, Tam was almost fulfilling the duties of a mentor.

"We've arrived," the Moon Singer reminded.

As they conversed with Tam, the elephant crossed the long bridge into the eastern city, soon passing through the Black Wall's gate. It then walked along the ancient black stone streets for about ten minutes before finally arriving at the entrance of a towering black stone tower on the southern side of the Black Wall.

Unnoticed, the golden-red sunset dimmed, and torches and lanterns began to light up in the surrounding area.

In the elephant enclosure, seven or eight white elephants stood still, while over a hundred ornate palanquins were neatly arranged on the lawn in front of the Black Tower. It was clear that the three of them were not the first guests to arrive.

Dany fastened her longsword to her waist and was the first to climb down the rope ladder. Shadowbinder and the Moon Singer followed, stepping steadily off the elephant's back with the help of a human ladder.

At the entrance, an elderly butler with silver hair and emerald eyes awaited them. His face was meticulously groomed, and his well-tailored purple suit, combined with his meticulous demeanor, exuded an air of ancient solemnity.

"Grand Sorcerer Tam, the master has been waiting for quite some time at the top of the tower."

"Apologies for our delay," the Shadowbinder offered a slight bow.

The butler nodded and signaled to a golden-haired youth dressed in a pure white robe. The young man immediately stepped forward and respectfully saluted the three mages. "Honored guests, please follow me."

With that, he took the lead, guiding them toward the staircase on the side of the grand hall.

The owner of this towering structure had adhered strictly to the traditions of ancient Valyria—the higher the floor, the more prestigious the occupant.

The ground-floor hall was spacious, spanning at least 500 square meters, but it served only as a storage area, filled with elegantly crafted barrels of wine. The second floor housed grain stores with rice and flour, the third was a kitchen, the fourth held the servants' quarters, and the fifth was for the upper servants. The sixth and seventh floors were designated for Valyrian household retainers. From the eighth floor onward, the levels included an opera hall, a library, a fencing hall, a bonfire hall, and a dining room.

The Megarya family's tower had a total of twenty stories, with Maracho's bedroom located on the very top floor. However, he did not reside there permanently.

Nearby, a cluster of villas with lush gardens served as the daily residence.

After all, even during the Valyrian era, the nobles of Volantis did not have dragons. The Black Tower was built solely to welcome visiting Dragonlords.

At this moment, the top of the tower had been covered with a colorful glass dome, transforming it into a grand banquet hall.

Exquisite colored lanterns hung in clusters beneath the dome, casting multicolored glows beneath the night sky. The lights reflected off the stained glass, turning the entire venue into a dreamlike stage.

Beneath the dome, there were no additional structures—only a circular fountain pool at the center, about 20 square meters in size. As the lanterns swayed gently, the umbrella-shaped crystalline water curtain shimmered in different hues, so mesmerizing that one could lose themselves in its beauty.

The top-level platform was more expansive than the building's foundation, covering nearly 800 square meters. At this moment, over 300 guests had gathered—silhouettes intertwined, fine garments brushed against each other, and the clinking of goblets resonated in the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

Most guests had silver or golden-blonde hair, with purple or blue eyes, dressed in exquisite, classical Valyrian silk robes. Aside from those who were elderly or overweight, every man and woman among them was strikingly attractive.

To the north, near the glass wall, an arched stage had been set up, covered in a warm-toned green carpet. Over twenty musicians played soft yet lively melodies upon it.

With such an enchanting setting, such strikingly beautiful people, and such delightful music, one might feel as if they had stepped into a paradise on earth.

The Shadowbinder and the Moon Singer appeared slightly reserved, but Dany, on the other hand, scanned the surroundings, even tiptoeing to get a better view. After surveying the scene, she muttered, "The lights are so dazzling—this place is only good for a dance party."

"Grand Sorcerer Tam, over here!" Someone waved toward them.

In a dimly lit corner, where a knight's suit of armor stood, six bizarrely dressed figures gathered—yes, just as strange as the three of them.

"That's Bu Cheng and Corbett," Tam whispered to Dany before leading the way over.

On the journey here, the Shadowbinder had already explained to Dany about the other two major figures—Bu Cheng, a necromancer from the Eastern Lands, and Corbett, a Black Goat priest from Qohor.

Each had brought along two trusted mages.

Bu Cheng's attire and demeanor left Dany astounded—square-faced with a purplish complexion, wearing a tall scholar's hat and a broad robe in deep red. A long beard cascaded down his chest, and a short sword was fastened at his waist. He was the very image of a "Westernized" Ming dynasty scholar-official.

Moreover, he wore dark-golden shoulder guards, a golden-threaded vest, and the short sword at his waist.

Without the armor, vest, and sword, he could walk straight onto the set of Ming Dynasty Elegance and fit right in.

Among the nine practitioners of unconventional magic gathered here, Bu Cheng's refined presence seemed out of place. Yet, his profession was even more terrifying than that of the Shadowbinder.

A necromancer!

Except for Dany, the other eight had long been acquainted. Thus, Tam introduced Dany before briefly presenting the others to her.

"After the incident in Lisbon, I expected Priestess Leila to choose the path of a fire mage, but I didn't expect her to become a Shadowbinder instead," Bu Cheng commented curiously, stroking his beard.

The four subordinates accompanying the two great figures consisted of three fire mages and one alchemist.

Interestingly, that alchemist was Dany's compatriot—hailing from the Alchemist's Guild in King's Landing, Westeros.

However, while they were formally called alchemists, a more accurate term for them would be "pyromancers."

They were the ones who helped the Mad King Aerys burn Lord Stark alive.

They were also the ones who had buried wildfire beneath King's Landing, preparing to turn the city into an inferno.

(End of Chapter)

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