Chương 728: Chapter 728: The Coup

The governors of Lys were in the midst of a raucous celebration, toasting to their recent victory in war, each one deep in their cups.

However, a sudden clamor from outside jolted everyone at the table, instantly sobering them up. For the young and dashing golden-haired Governor of Lys, also a key hero of this war, abruptly stood up and unsheathed his sword.

"Hey, boy! What do you think you're doing?"

Another governor, white-haired and frail, leaned on the table as he stood, his voice brimming with undisguised reprimand.

Though Humphrey Hightower had been instrumental in this war, having coordinated with the pirate Prince Salladhor Saan of Myr and personally led the battle, the other governors of Lys didn't hold him in high regard.

For one, he was too young. Secondly, the Hightower family had lost its footing, eradicated by the Iron Throne, and had fled to Lys to scrape by.

If the Emperor of Valyria ever demanded Humphrey's extradition, they would likely tie him up and hand him over without a second thought.

Thus, the other governors had taken advantage of Humphrey in business dealings, given his youth and lack of powerful allies.

However, the usually reserved young man with golden locks chose not to hold back this time. Humphrey Hightower, sword in hand, revealed a cold smirk.

"When a peripheral player rises, someone at the core of power must make way."

"It's a common occurrence."

"Whether willingly or not."

Though Humphrey Hightower was a newly appointed governor of Lys, his life there had been far from pleasant. The main reason was the unequal distribution of power among the governors; some were dominant, while others were decidedly less so.

Regrettably, as a foreigner, Humphrey Hightower faced much ostracization within the Council of Governors in Lys, and even his brother-in-law, Trystane Uller, couldn't offer much help.

In truth, all the governors present were well aware of this, so when Humphrey spoke, they instantly understood his meaning.

"So, you've conspired with that treacherous pirate to elevate yourself, an outsider?"

The white-haired governor, leaning on the table, spoke with a tone of mockery.

"Hmph, I've always said that pirate couldn't be trusted," chimed in another governor.

"Without those pirates, we wouldn't have won this war," Trystane Uller, Humphrey's brother-in-law, retorted with a smile.

Outside, the clamor of battle cries filled the air. Guards had already reported that the pirate Salladhor Saan was leading an attack on the Lysene military camp.

And what of the portly merchant governor, who seemed so harmless? Who would suspect this rotund man, who struggled even to walk?

Trystane's words were not wrong; without the pirates, the Lyseni would have lost the war, and perhaps the Tyroshi would have already unified the Three Daughters.

Yet, some governors couldn't stand the sight of Trystane Uller still wearing a smile.

They were in the midst of a battle, after all. While the pirates might not break through, they had a traitor among them—Humphrey Hightower, a young man who seemed to know no bounds.

"Trystane, how can you still manage to smile at a time like this?" one of the uneasy governors questioned. He had a bad feeling, his eyes darting between Humphrey, who had drawn his sword, and Trystane, who sat with a mysterious grin but had yet to stand.

Their relationship was a well-kept secret; no one knew that Trystane Uller was Humphrey Hightower's brother-in-law.

"We're all here; if that pirate decides to wipe us out..."

Because this decisive battle was crucial, at Trystane Uller's insistence, everyone had gathered to supervise from the rear. On the other side, the Tyroshi Archon was also present on the battlefield. This was a war neither side could afford to lose.

If the Tyroshi were to lose this war, they would forfeit their best chance in centuries to unify the Three Daughters, and their strength would be severely depleted. They had invested too much in this conflict to afford a loss.

The same was true for Lys and the rebuilt Myr; both had reasons they could not afford to lose. Myr had already been sacked by the Dothraki and was a city rebuilt upon ruins. The Tyroshi Archon had long been planning this, and the Lyseni were ill-prepared for war. If the allied forces of Lys and Myr were defeated, they would be directly annexed by the Tyroshi.

So, when the governors of Lys gathered, none could have suspected that a traitor lurked among them—a traitor who had allied with the pirate prince they so despised, intending to eliminate them all after winning the war.

"Your ambition truly gets the blood pumping, young man."

"Do you aspire to be the King of Lys?"

"Even with a pirate and your fallen foreign nobility, you can't rule Lys," said the white-haired governor, waving his hand dismissively after his sarcastic remarks.

"The noble-blooded Lyseni are not like the Westerosi; they won't fall for your lordly and noble tricks."

"And your pirate friend hasn't broken through yet. Even if he does, you'll likely die here first."

However, Humphrey Hightower, the subject of their mockery, was not angered.

The golden-haired young governor held his longsword, his guards tense and gripping their weapons. Yet, he himself seemed calm, showing no signs of being trapped.

"Yes, I could very well die before Salladhor Saan breaks through," Humphrey said, his face fearless and his tone tinged with a cold laugh.

"But I have no intention of becoming the King of Lys, nor do I desire it."

"Oh?" The elderly Lyseni governor paused, puzzled.

He couldn't understand why Humphrey Hightower would go to such lengths, pay such a high price, and even forsake his position as a governor to conspire with the notorious pirate Salladhor Saan. If not to ascend further and become the King of Lys, then for what purpose?