Chapter 160: Ian's layout: (Part 1)
"I don't understand," Celia said, looking at Ian with frank disbelief. "I thought you were a rational man. Compared to my plan, does yours truly offer a significant improvement in benefits?"
"The benefits may not increase by much, but the troubles it reduces are immense," Ian replied, shaking his head. "Your appearance was a stark warning to me. It is far easier to rudely destroy the plot than it is to maintain it."
He continued, his voice calm and measured. "If you can plan to kill Illyrio here, what's to stop someone else from going to Lhazar to kill the witch who is fated to cause Khal Drogo's death? If Drogo doesn't die, where does that leave us?"
"Or, consider this: what if there is a player who knows he cannot get close to Daenerys through Illyrio, and so he simply starts the game among the Dothraki, waiting for us in the Khal's own khalasar?"
"If so, it's entirely possible he has already achieved a high status. After all, there are no complex rules and regulations among the horselords. So long as you can ride, shoot an arrow, and wield an arakh, you can gain their approval. A player would only need to increase their combat value to make a name for themselves. It wouldn't be difficult."
"If we were to follow the original route, we would not only have to worry about someone altering Drogo's fated death, but we would also have to be wary of potential rivals already embedded within the Dothraki. The entire endeavor would be fraught with complications."
"Of course," he added with a thin smile, "I wouldn't mind fighting them if I had no other choice. But as it happens, I have a much better choice now, don't I?"
"Let us be the ones to rudely destroy the plot. Doing so will ensure that any player who plans to use the Dragon Mother's storyline for their own ends will see their hopes turn to ash. It harms our rivals and benefits us. Why would we not do it?"
"That seems right, does it?" Celia sneered. "Fine. I will take care of it. I will find the ship you want, and I will give Hazan the warning, just as you said. But is that all? Is that enough?"
"It is. Leave the rest to me," Ian nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the way, I brought you a gift."
"A gift?" Celia looked at him strangely. "Is it some trinket to make a little girl happy?" The expression on her face made her thoughts clear: *If you're the kind of pervert who can talk business in the middle of this, then I'll kill you for your foolishness.*
"A cat."
"A cat?" Her expression grew even more bizarre. "Do you think I need a pet?"
"I want you to keep it with you," Ian said, ignoring her question and stating his command. "No matter what you are doing, never let it leave your sight."
"That cat… it's you, isn't it?" Celia realized in a flash. The creature would be one controlled by his consciousness, a familiar through which he could watch her every move. "You don't trust me?"
"We will have a long time to build trust in the future," Ian said, gently combing his fingers through her smooth brown hair. "But for now, I hope you will remain under my sight. This shouldn't be too much to ask, should it?"
"I suddenly want to know," she said, her voice tight, "what position do I occupy in your future plans?"
"Secretary."
"You're a fucking genius."
***
"I have something urgent to discuss with His Excellency, Magister Illyrio! It is very, very urgent!" Ian announced, rushing toward the entrance of Illyrio's private residence within the manse.
The captain of the Unsullied guard saw Ian's panicked state and knew not to delay. He immediately turned and ran inside to report. Less than twenty seconds later, he reappeared and beckoned Ian in.
Ian didn't hesitate for a moment, striding through the corridor, brightly lit by candlelight, and heading straight for the living room. Seeing it empty, he threw open a door on the right and burst into Illyrio's study.
When Illyrio Mopatis saw Ian enter with such impertinence, his first instinct was to scold him. But when he looked up and saw Ian's pale face, slick with sweat, his words changed. "What is it? What's wrong? I was just preparing to go out. Are you unwell?"
"Something terrible has happened, Your Excellency," Ian said, his voice low but filled with an impatience that was impossible to miss. "Prince Hazan plans to move against you!"
"Hazan plans to move against me?" Illyrio was stunned for a moment, then managed a smile. "I have received no such reports. Besides, Hazan is in a great deal of trouble himself. With what army would he use to deal with me?"
"Hazan and Governor Tetrus have formed an alliance!" Ian dropped the bombshell. "Tomorrow's tournament is nothing but a sham, a deception to mask their conspiracy!"
"What did you say?" Illyrio stood up so abruptly that the fat on his body swayed. Ian had never seen the Magister so utterly undone.
Ian then laid out the detailed plan he and Celia had concocted, carefully omitting any mention of players or their true motives. With every word, Illyrio's face grew more and more grave.
"That is the shape of it," Ian concluded. "When I went to the Red Temple this afternoon, I agreed to his sister's request for marriage. Afterward, they shared their entire plan with me."
"Thank you, Ian. Thank you for your loyalty," Illyrio said, pulling Ian into a hug that nearly squeezed the air from his lungs. "I knew I was right about you. Go now, gather your things. Get the King and the Princess. We must escape at once."
"Escape?"
"What else? Their army is ready, while I am almost entirely unprepared. I have no confidence I can win such a battle. We will leave the city first. Drogo's khalasar is camped outside the walls. I will make those shameless bastards pay the price!" Illyrio vowed, his fists clenched in rage.
"You mean to lure the Dothraki into the city?" Ian shook his head, feigning disbelief. "Those savages won't care about your purpose. Once they are inside the walls, they will plunder all of Pentos! This is *your* city!"
"What else can I do?" Illyrio despaired. "If I had noticed their plot a month ago, or even two weeks ago, I would have had countless ways to deal with them. But they move tomorrow! Aside from the Dothraki, where can I find an army to fight them?"
"I have just thought of an idea, Lord Magister," Ian said quickly. "In fact, while Hazan's sister shared their plan with me, she also asked me to do something for them."
"Oh? No wonder they would share their plans with you in advance. They want your help?"
"Prince Hazan is worried that after they attack you, your subordinates, like Steward Mills, will detain the King and Princess in the manse. He fears they will threaten them with the lives of the royal siblings."
"Drogo's khalasar is just outside the city," Ian continued. "If anything were to happen to the Princess, Drogo would be furious. The threat would be very effective. So, Hazan's sister hopes that I will remove Her Highness from your manse before they make their move. She wants me to steal her away and take her to the mountaintop temple for refuge."
"The temple is easy to defend and difficult to attack. They need only deploy fifty crossbowmen there to ensure your forces cannot recapture the princess before their operation is over. That way, they cannot be threatened."
"And what exactly is your point?" Illyrio asked, his mind racing.
"Before I succeed in taking the princess," Ian said, leaning in, "Hazan and the others will not take action. This gives us a buffer. It gives you time to do certain things in the Palace of Magisters."
---
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