Chapter 19: First Move
Jon and Slyvia, in a carriage, travelled a few miles from the town of Astapor. Arriving at a secluded place, they stopped their carriages.
Jon got out and retrieved two chests of gold from his storage bracelet, placing one in each carriage. After loading the coins, Jon and Slyvia turned back and began their journey to Astapor.
By the time they entered the city, it was almost noon. They arrived at Kraznys mo Nakloz's mansion and were guided to a nearby plaza by one of the slaves.
At one end of the plaza, on a raised platform, Kraznys mo Nakloz and the other Good Masters sat on comfortable chairs, their faces smug with irritating smiles.
In the open area of the plaza, 6,200 Unsullied stood in a precise formation, showcasing their discipline. Some distance behind them, around 3,000 younger boys, the trainees, also stood in proper formation.
Jon smiled in satisfaction and guided his carriage towards the raised platform. He stepped down from the carriage and climbed onto the platform.
"I have brought the gold," Jon said with an emotionless voice.
The same old lady translated for Kraznys mo Nakloz, who nodded his head. Two slaves walked towards the carriage.
Very soon, they unloaded both chests, and one of the Good Masters got up and opened them.
The sight of gold filling the chests widened the smiles on the faces of the Good Masters.
"It seems the gold is more than you need to pay," one of the Good Masters said.
"Yes," Jon chuckled. "You can count and take the exact amount I need to pay. Leave the rest in the chest."
The other Good Masters laughed in amusement, and two of them stepped forward to count the coins.
Meanwhile, Kraznys mo Nakloz nodded his head, and another Good Master got up, bringing a scourge on a large tray towards Jon.
"Control of Unsullied," he announced.
Jon picked up the scourge and turned towards the Unsullied.
"Step Forward," Jon commanded in Valyrian.
Jon speaking Valyrian took Kraznys mo Nakloz by surprise, but he did not pay it much attention, keeping his focus on the Good Masters counting the coins.
"When I made the deal to buy you all, your Good Master asked me my purpose," Jon's heavy voice boomed. This announcement drew the attention of all the Good Masters, and they even stopped counting the gold.
Jon continued, "I have a grand purpose. And for that grand purpose, I need a grand army. For my purpose, I need dedicated and resolute soldiers and warriors, not a slave army."
"Do you want to know my purpose?" Jon asked in a loud voice. With every word that came from his mouth, the tension in the air thickened.
No sound came in response, but Jon continued, "My purpose is to build the greatest empire this world has ever seen. An empire greater than Valyria, or the old Ghiscari empire, or the Targaryen empire."
"An empire where even the poor feel safe and happy. An empire where a servant is treated fairly and no slavery exists. And to achieve that dream, you will be the army I need."
It did not matter if Jon himself believed in what he said. What mattered was his ability to convince the Unsullied that he was standing up for their cause. That though they would serve him, they would not be his slaves, but would serve Jon out of their own will.
Jon declared, his voice echoing across the plaza, "From this moment onwards, I free you all from the chains of slavery."
Jon threw the scourge in his hand. "If you wish to leave, you are free to leave. But if you wish to join, you can join me."
"If you wish to join me, then help me take over this city. I am going to begin the path of my dream from this city. Join me in my cause," declared Jon.
Based on what he had seen in his previous life, Jon was taking a huge risk. He did not know if things would play out as they did for Daenerys. She had had three dragons with her after all. And that must have had played a huge physiological impact on everybody.
But he had an alternative prepared to escape if things got out of hand. He had a plan to escape from the city.
During the three days he had idled around the city, Jon had marked every animal possible. Horses, dogs, sheep, birds, rats. Every animal possible.
With a command from him, thousands of animals would flood the plaza and provide a chance for Jon to escape along with Slyvia. The chaos would be his cover. He marked exit points from where he would simply disappear.
As for the gold, he could take it back in his storage. The plan was not full proof but Jon would have worked with that.
The next few moments after Jon's declaration were met with complete silence. No one reacted.
Kraznys mo Nakloz finally snapped in attention.
He roared, breaking the silence, "Kill him! Kill the bastard!"
The guards of the Good Masters present below and on the raised platform marched towards Jon. Slyvia drew her sword and looked around her. Men were surrounding them from all directions. Jon stood still, his gaze fixed on the Unsullied. He was waiting for the first Unsullied to take action.
But to everyone's shock, the first commotion did not happen below the plaza but on the raised platform. From the corner of his eyes, Jon caught a maid with a collar around her neck make a swift motion and forcefully snatch a spear from one of the guards who was marching towards Jon.
Taken by surprise, the guard had no chance to react, and the girl plunged the spear into his eyes.
Before anyone could understand, she let out a wild scream and leaped towards one of the Good Masters, stabbing the spear into his chest. She did not stop there and stabbed her spear multiple times into the body of the dead Good Master, even after he died. Her wild screams of rage and the splattering of flesh as the spear pierced it echoed in the plaza.
Her action provided the spark needed for the fire. Her action was what, Daenerys' burning of good master had done. It ignited the fire.
A few of the Unsullied banged their spears on the ground, and in no time, dozens of guards were killed. Finally, seeing the Unsullied take action, Jon sighed in relief, and his tensed shoulders relaxed a bit. Slyvia also felt relieved and, with a smile, jumped towards the remaining guards. She engaged in battle and went on a rampage of slaughter.
Jon turned around and walked towards Kraznys mo Nakloz.
He gritted his teeth, "You bastard…"
"You should feel happy that I told you my purpose," Jon chuckled.
Jon swung his sword, beheading Kraznys mo Nakloz, but not before saying, "And I am the Monarch."
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