Chapter 28: Trade Request and Fall of Tyrosh
The sun had barely risen over the city of Pentos, and Alex was overseeing preparations for his next move. His thoughts were interrupted when a small delegation of merchants from Volantis entered the castle grounds, escorted by a couple of his Unsullied soldiers. They had traveled a long way, their faces lined with fatigue but their eyes sharp with business intent.
"Your Majesty, Alex," one of the lead merchants greeted with a respectful bow, his voice full of practiced politeness. "We come with a humble request for a trade discussion. We've heard of the weapons your city is now producing, and we would like to know if there's any possibility of acquiring some for Volantis."
Alex leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. He had expected this. Pentos had quickly gained a reputation for its advanced weaponry, and naturally, neighboring cities would be eager to capitalize on that. But he wasn't ready to make deals with merchants who had no understanding of the value of such powerful items.
"No," Alex answered simply, his voice firm.
The merchant blinked, clearly taken aback by the straightforward refusal. "But… my lord, we are willing to pay handsomely for your firearms. A city like ours would be glad to stockpile weapons for the future."
Alex's expression remained impassive. "Weapons are not for sale. Not yet. My city's security is paramount, and I will not trade weapons that could turn against me. You should understand this is not a negotiation I'm willing to entertain."
The merchant hesitated, trying to hide his disappointment. He knew that Alex's refusal was final, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet. After a brief pause, he attempted a different approach.
"Perhaps… we can offer a larger sum? More than you could ever imagine. We are prepared to be generous, my lord. Think of the possibilities trade deals with Volantis, with all of Essos. Weapons could bring you more than just protection. We could bring Valyrian steel for trade if you would like, from Your Highness once Ancestoral Land Valyria".
Alex looked at Daenerys as if she wanted it or not, "My ancestors are long gone, their empire, their rule, their kingdoms all of them are gone. Forgotten in the history, only remembered by their record of wars. I don't want anything Valyrian steel because what we are building will far surpass our ancestors" said Daenerys. She even surprised Alex a bit.
Alex face turned to Merchants, his tone cold. "Generosity doesn't change the situation. The answer is no."
The merchant sighed, clearly frustrated but also resigned. He had not expected Alex to be so resolute. But in the face of such refusal, he couldn't afford to leave empty-handed. As he turned to leave, Alex's voice stopped him.
"However," Alex continued, "If you happen to bring Wildfire into future negotiations, I might reconsider your request. It would be worth something to trade for. But until then, no weapons will leave Pentos."
The merchant's eyes widened. Wildfire. The volatile, dangerous substance was rumored to be hidden deep within the vaults of some of the most powerful cities in the Free Cities. If they could secure even a small amount of it, they could offer Alex a trade he couldn't refuse.
"Wildfire…" The merchant whispered the word, nodding slowly. "I will consider it, Lord Alex. You'll hear from us again."
With that, the delegation left, their heads filled with the possibilities of future deals. Alex knew that Wildfire would indeed be a key to leveraging more power in the future. But for now, he could wait.
Meanwhile, in the open sea, Mark and Victor were nearing Tyrosh with a carefully laid plan. They had been on the move for days, their eyes always scanning the horizon for signs of any approaching ships or potential threats.
"We'll be there by morning," Mark said, peering through the spyglass at the distant outline of the city. "Ready to make our move."
Victor nodded, adjusting his coat. "Everything is in place. The supplies, the men, the plans. It's just a matter of timing."
Both men knew the significance of what they were about to do. Tyrosh, ruled by Archon Vogan Nestoris, was a city rich with wealth and corruption, its power built on the backs of slaves. They were going to take it swiftly, decisively, and without mercy.
"The Archon's palace is our primary target," Mark said, folding the spyglass and stowing it away. "We take him and his inner circle out first. We can deal with the rest of the city later."
Victor grinned. "They'll never know what hit them."
But even as they spoke, the tension of the coming battle weighed heavily on them. They were on the verge of something huge, and their success would only serve to bring them closer to Alex's ultimate goal of freeing the cities and bringing order to this part of Essos.
NEXT DAY
The sun began to rise over the horizon, casting an orange glow on the calm waters. Mark and Victor stood on the deck of their lead ship, their faces resolute as Tyrosh loomed closer. Behind them, the ships carrying their squads were ready to disembark. The carefully disguised vessels, posing as merchant ships, had sailed undetected into the port.
Victor turned to Mark. "The moment we step foot on that dock, there's no turning back."
Mark nodded. "Good. Let's remind these people why King Alex chose us for this mission."
As their ships docked, the bustling port of Tyrosh came into view. Slaves unloaded goods under the watchful eyes of overseers, while merchants argued over prices. The air was filled with the hum of activity, blissfully unaware of the storm about to hit.
The soldiers disembarked in small groups, blending in with the merchants and laborers. Their weapons, concealed in crates marked as trade goods, were swiftly distributed as they regrouped near the edge of the city.
Mark addressed the squads in a low voice. "You all know the plan. No hesitation, no mercy. Move fast, strike hard, and take control of key locations. The palace is our main target. The Archon cannot escape."
Victor grinned, holding his rifle close. "Let's show them what real power looks like".
The assault began just before noon. The first wave of squads infiltrated the slave markets and trade offices, taking out guards silently before securing the areas. Within minutes, chaos erupted as gunfire echoed through the streets. The unsuspecting Tyroshi guards, armed with swords and spears, stood no chance against the deadly efficiency of Alex's firearms. They were too shocked but even after they realised that their city is under attack. They tried to resist and kill the intruders but to their surprise, the long range, fast speed and destructiveness of their weapons were far beyond of that anything they have seen in their life. They were like demons reaping the souls of mortals.
It was a total one sided massacre. Tyroshi soldiers stood no chance in resistance.
Victor led a team to secure the docks, ensuring no ships could escape. "Cover every exit!" he barked. "If anyone tries to run, take them out."
Meanwhile, Mark's team stormed the Archon's palace. The lavish estate, filled with riches and guarded by a modest contingent of soldiers, was quickly overwhelmed. The defenders were confused, unable to comprehend the power of the weapons they faced.
As the squads moved through the city, they freed slaves and offered them weapons to join the fight. The weapons of the tyroshi soldiers that they killed. The sight of armed slaves rising against their masters fueled the chaos, and Tyrosh quickly descended into pandemonium.
Mark and his team burst into the throne room of the Archon's palace. Archon Vogan Nestoris, a corpulent man draped in silks and jewels, cowered behind his guards.
"Who dares attack Tyrosh?" he bellowed, his voice shaking.
Mark stepped forward, raising his rifle. "Your time is up, Nestoris. Tyrosh belongs to King Alex now."
The Archon's guards lunged forward, but they were shot down in seconds. The Archon, trembling and drenched in sweat, fell to his knees.
"Please, have mercy!" he pleaded. "I'll give you gold, ships, anything you want. Just spare me!"
After watching the deadly power of their weapons, Vogan was in panic and started begging for his life. He just wanted to survive once, he could always start his business again from another city, if he survives here....IF.
Mark sneered. "Mercy? Did you show mercy to the slaves you chained and sold?"
Before the Archon could respond, Mark pulled the trigger, ending his reign and life with a single shot.
By nightfall, Tyrosh was under Alex's control. The city's leadership had been eliminated, and the remaining guards had either surrendered or fled. Slaves were freed and brought to safety, while the wealth of the city was seized for redistribution.
Victor stood by Mark at the palace gates, surveying the city. Fires burned in the distance as the last pockets of resistance were extinguished.
"Tyrosh is ours," Victor said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Mark nodded. "One city down, two to go."
2 DAYS LATER
Back in Pentos, Alex and Daenerys were having breakfast when a messenger arrived with news of the victory. The message detailed the swift and decisive fall of Tyrosh and the liberation of its slaves.
Alex leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good. Mark and Victor have done well."
Alex already knew that because he heard the system alert but he waited to get the rewards later, once he settled the chaos in Tyosh city.
Alex turned to her, his expression serious. "And one step closer to consolidating our power. This is just the beginning."