The bloodied Jorah finally rejoined Viserys. But what astonished Viserys the most was Regis, who, despite having seven or eight arrows lodged in his chest, was still standing and eager for more. After confirming that Regis wasn't on the verge of death, Viserys allowed himself a sigh of relief.
"Lord, we've taken control of the entire palace, and the reinforcements are now our prisoners," Jorah reported.
"Yes," Viserys acknowledged, then turned to Conwyra. "You and Regis stay here and guard the palace."
"Understood, my lord," Conwyra replied without hesitation.
"My lord, let me go with you!" Regis said eagerly.
"Execute the order," Viserys commanded in a stern tone. Regis, deflated, was about to argue further, but Viserys softened slightly. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I'm going to make the final move, and I can't afford for anything to go wrong."
"Understood!" Regis responded with renewed determination, as did the others. They then prepared to set off.
Kambron, who had been standing nearby, watched Viserys with a mixture of fear and disbelief. Just two months ago, this mercenary had been on his side, slicing through enemies. Now, he stood victorious, having turned the tide and even mobilized the city's slaves to take Kambron's own palace.
Kambron felt as though he had lost unfairly, but the spark of cunning still flickered in his eyes. "How do you plan to rule Tyrosh?" he asked Viserys, testing him.
"Joint rule. That's what we and our allies agreed on from the start," Viserys replied.
Kambron's eyes brightened with hope. "That sounds reasonable, but have you thought about how to protect your own interests?"
A playful smile crossed Viserys's face as he realized he had underestimated Kambron. Despite being on the brink of destruction, Kambron was still scheming, trying to find a way to maintain his power.
"Say what you're really thinking. Don't hold back," Viserys said.
Seeing that his intentions were laid bare, Kambron decided to be blunt. "Since you can mobilize slaves, Prince, you should use them as your power base after the war. Tyrosh has fewer than 300,000 people, but 250,000 of them are slaves. If you order their emancipation, Tyrosh will be yours."
Jorah, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. After all, it was the slaves who had helped Viserys win the war, and Kambron's suggestion seemed entirely feasible.
Viserys suddenly stopped and turned to face Kambron. Seeing this, Kambron thought he had won Viserys over and eagerly awaited his response.
"What a great idea!" Viserys exclaimed, as if just realizing the potential.
Kambron's heart soared with hope, but it was short-lived.
"If I abolish slavery in Tyrosh, Myr and even Volantis will declare war on me," Viserys continued, his tone growing sharper with each word. "That would give you the perfect opportunity to strike back and kill me. Is that your brilliant plan?"
Viserys punctuated each word with a backhanded slap across Kambron's face. With each blow, Kambron's heart sank deeper into despair.
"No, Prince! No!" Kambron pleaded, but Viserys was unmoved.
"I didn't want to kill you," Viserys said with mock regret. "I wanted to use you. But it seems you can't let go of your identity as Archon. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're buried with your crown."
As Viserys's words sunk in, Kambron's legs gave out beneath him. He realized too late that his own cunning had sealed his fate. If only he hadn't tried to be clever, perhaps he would have survived. But now, facing this young man who was far more dangerous than he had anticipated, Kambron could only feel bitter regret.
"Prince, please, it's a misunderstanding. I was only making a suggestion!" Kambron howled in desperation, his voice cracking as he tried to convince Viserys of his sincerity. The fear in his eyes was palpable, yet if Viserys hadn't seen through his facade, he might have almost believed him.
In truth, Viserys still hadn't made up his mind to kill Kambron. With his Dragon Dreams, he could foresee and prevent most dangers before they became a threat. However, the ambition and cunning Kambron had displayed made it clear that subduing him would be a daunting task.
After taking Tyrosh, Viserys needed a stable foothold. Rebuilding after the war would require experienced bureaucrats, and killing them all would make it nearly impossible to maintain control over the city. The fate of the original Mother of Dragons was a stark reminder of the dangers of eliminating too many local rulers. Tyrosh could potentially support an army of 20,000 men, and if Viserys could secure the disputed territories, that number might even rise to 50,000. But this depended on his ability to establish effective governance.
Yet Kambron's relentless scheming and resilience were deeply unsettling. For someone who had gone from being a powerful Archon to a captive in such a short time, Kambron's quick recovery from shock was unnerving. It was clear that keeping someone as dangerous as Kambron around was a significant risk.
"Prince, I'm willing to give you everything I own. Please, spare my life!" Kambron pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.
Viserys leaned in closer, his tone cold and menacing. "In a moment, you will persuade the soldiers outside to surrender. If you do, I'll make your death quick."
Kambron flinched as Viserys's words cut through him. "You'll know what it's like to survive a disaster," Viserys added ominously. "And then, you'll be obedient."
As this tense exchange unfolded, the fleet from Sunspear had already begun landing. However, Tyrosh's fierce counterattack had inflicted significant losses. Toland, who was overseeing the command, couldn't understand why the defenders had suddenly intensified their efforts, but he had no choice but to hold his ground.
Just as Toland was about to lead his guards to the front lines to rally his troops, a subordinate rushed over, breathless.
"Lord, the Archon has been captured."
"What?!" Toland's world spun as if he'd been struck in the back of the head. Dizzy and disoriented, he had to grab an adjutant to keep from collapsing.
He quickly led his men down from the city walls, and in the growing light of dawn, he saw two familiar figures—Kambron and Viserys.
Beside them, dozens of men shouted in unison, "Listen up! Your Archon has been captured. Lay down your weapons, and we guarantee your safety! Lay down your weapons!"
Toland's legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground. He knew then that the game was over.