"You really found treasure in the Valyrian ruins?" That was the first thing Red Viper asked when he saw Lynd, referring to the announcement he'd just heard in the Town of Redemption.
Though news from elsewhere hadn't started coming in yet, the people of the Town of Redemption and the wider Summerhall territory were already abuzz with discussion. Everyone firmly believed that Lynd had uncovered another vast treasure left behind by the Valyrian Freehold—so great that even the gods would covet it. Otherwise, why would Lynd show such an intense desire to claim it?
After all, when Lynd returned from the Valyrian ruins last time, he hadn't shown the slightest intent to take control of the place. But now, barely back, he had rushed to release this announcement. That alone made it clear—there was something in the ruins that had truly shocked him.
"Yes," Lynd admitted without hesitation.
Red Viper warned him, "You can't stop the greedy ones. They'll find a way into the ruins."
"I know." Lynd swiftly reviewed a document, handed it to Jon beside him, and instructed him to carry it out at once. "I never intended to stop anyone from going in to look for treasure."
"Then why did you say in the announcement…" Red Viper looked at him, confused by the contradiction. He started to ask but suddenly stopped, as if something had clicked. His eyes widened as he looked at Lynd in surprise. "You did it on purpose! You deliberately used the announcement to let everyone know there's a treasure in the Valyrian ruins—one so tempting that even the Chosen would be moved. And with the example of you finding the Dragon's Horn there before, everyone who hears about it will be absolutely convinced the treasure is real. They'll rush in without a second thought—that was your goal all along."
"There really is treasure in the ruins. I didn't lie," Lynd replied, pulling out several Valyrian steel ornaments from a desk drawer and placing them on the table. "But whether they can actually make it in, find the treasure, and take it out—that's a different story."
Red Viper picked up one of the priceless pieces of Valyrian steel jewelry, examined it, and couldn't help but say, "Honestly, when I heard the news, I was tempted myself. I wanted to head straight for the ruins."
"I'd advise against it," Lynd said. "Only non-humans can survive in an environment like that."
Red Viper set the ornament down and asked, puzzled, "Then why are you doing this? It seems like you're hurting others without helping yourself."
"That's just your opinion," Lynd said as he handed over documents detailing his plan to build a military fortress and research base on an island near the ruins. These plans would eventually become public anyway, so there was no harm in letting someone like Red Viper see them early.
Red Viper looked through the documents carefully. "So you want to use those greedy fools to help with your experiments?"
Lynd nodded. "The Valyrian ruins hold far too many secrets. Even I couldn't uncover them all without at least ten or twenty years of focused study. But right now, I need to turn my attention to matters in the North. I can't just leave the ruins unattended, so I came up with this plan—using treasure hunters as scouts and research subjects."
Red Viper felt a strange chill creep into his chest as Lynd spoke so plainly about exploiting human greed, using people as test subjects without a second thought.
Lynd noticed the shift in Red Viper's gaze, but paid it no mind. "Of course, using treasure hunters is just part of the plan. More importantly, I want to use the lure of treasure to draw out Euron Greyjoy."
"Euron Greyjoy?" Red Viper raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised and a bit scornful. "Is a mangy dog like him really worth all this effort?"
"He is," Lynd said firmly.
Red Viper hesitated. "Why? Has something changed about Euron Greyjoy?"
Lynd nodded, then told him about the discoveries he'd made in the ruins—how Euron might now be in league with the White Walkers, capable of transporting wights south of the Wall, perhaps even controlling them. Hearing this, Red Viper's expression darkened.
"I'll have my people keep an eye on Euron Greyjoy as well," he said gravely.
Lynd didn't expect Red Viper to be able to locate Euron, but having another faction involved certainly worked in his favor.
"You didn't come here just for a casual chat, did you?" Lynd asked, glancing at Red Viper after finishing the last document.
Red Viper responded cautiously, "I came mainly to ask your thoughts on the current civil war in the Seven Kingdoms."
"I've already said I won't interfere," Lynd replied, studying him. "But you wouldn't come all this way just to ask me something I've already made public. Cut to the chase—I've got work to do, and no time for riddles."
Hearing that, Red Viper didn't hold back any longer and laid out House Martell's plans for revenge.
Lynd said calmly, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I have no objection—and you don't need my permission."
Red Viper spoke in a low voice, "But Myrcella…"
Lynd cut him off. "Myrcella is of House Baratheon, not House Lannister. Don't drag innocent people into this."
"I understand." Red Viper nodded, then asked, "Have you heard about Daenerys Targaryen?"
Lynd looked at him and said, "What you really want to ask is how I feel about Daenerys claiming the Iron Throne, isn't it?"
"Yes," Red Viper admitted.
"The Dothraki should stay in the Dothraki Sea," Lynd said, seemingly changing the subject entirely.
But Red Viper understood what he meant and pressed further, "And if the Dothraki land on Westeros…"
"No," Lynd interrupted. "They won't land in the Seven Kingdoms. In the end, they'll vanish into the sea."
"What about the Golden Company?" Red Viper asked.
Lynd let out a slight sigh, his expression turning serious. "I don't care whether Daenerys wants to claim the Iron Throne, or even who ends up sitting on it. All I care about is whether the war in the North against the White Walkers will be affected. Prince Oberyn, do you understand now?"
"Then what are your thoughts on the Iron Throne?" Red Viper asked, fixing his gaze on Lynd.
Lynd paused for a moment, locked eyes with him, and replied, "What's mine is mine."
...
As Lynd's announcement spread across the kingdoms and Free Cities on both sides of the Narrow Sea, the reactions were just as he'd predicted. Everyone instinctively assumed he had found an incredible treasure in the Valyrian ruins—why else would he make such a domineering declaration?
Not long after, word came from Volantis. Hundreds of warships from the Miracle Fleet were seen heading toward the coast. The Miracle Merchant Guild began hiring large numbers of laborers in Volantis, Tolos, and even Mantarys, transporting them to nearby coastal islands to build fortresses and bases.
Apparently still unsatisfied with the manpower, they placed massive orders with Slaver's Bay to purchase slaves as additional labor.
The Miracle Merchant Guild also bought vast quantities of building materials from neighboring Free Cities and shipped them to the islands off the coast near the Valyrian ruins.
Ships passing through those waters reported seeing several islands where foundations had already been laid. Construction had begun on ports, housing, and other facilities. Patrol vessels from the Miracle Fleet had also started cruising around the waters near the Valyrian ruins.
...
In a tavern in Tolos, a ten-man treasure-hunting party sat huddled in a corner, silently drinking. They had just returned from the ruins of Valyria.
Like many others who had rushed there after hearing the rumors, they too had come back empty-handed. But unlike the rest—those who had been intercepted by patrol ships of the Miracle Fleet—they had managed to slip past, entering the Smoking Sea. They had even gotten close enough to reach the landmass of the Valyrian ruins.
Yet when they saw the towering cliffs rising skyward along the coastline, all they could do was sigh in frustration and turn back empty-handed.
"You'd need a dragon to get into that cursed place," one of the mercenaries said, draining his cup in one gulp.
The others around him nodded in agreement.
The leader of the group, the one who had brought them together, shook his head. "It can't all be sheer cliffs. There must be some lower shores where we can land. We just haven't found them yet."
"So what if there are?" someone said with a shudder. "Are we supposed to sail around the entire coastline of the ruins? Don't forget that thing we saw on our way out. If we hadn't thrown down that offering just in time—and if that gust of wind hadn't carried our ship at full speed—we'd have been eaten alive by that monster."
At his words, silence fell over the group. Even the leader's face turned pale. The memory of their escape from the Smoking Sea still left their nerves rattled.
"Agh… agh…" A harsh coughing fit broke the silence. One of their companions—ghostly pale and looking gravely ill—clutched at his chest, struggling to speak. "Monsters are easy. Just bring more offerings. What really matters is finding a place to land."
"Jappa, are you alright? You should be resting at the inn—or better yet, go to the temple of the God of Calamity. You look like you've been cursed by the ghosts of Valyria," the leader said with deep concern.
Just days ago, this man had been the strongest among them. But ever since returning from the Smoking Sea, he'd fallen violently ill, coughing constantly. Even the apothecary's herbs hadn't helped. In barely a day, he looked like he was on the verge of death.
"I'm fine," the mercenary growled through clenched teeth. "Don't think about leaving me behind. Even if I die, I'll die chasing the Valyrian treasure."
No one said anything after that.
At that moment, a man dressed like a mercenary stood up from a nearby table and walked over to them.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "I overheard your conversation. You said you managed to get past the coast and reach the shoreline of the Valyrian ruins, right?"
The entire group immediately tensed up, eyes narrowing. Their hands moved instinctively to their weapons.
"We don't know what you're talking about," the leader said coldly.
"Easy, easy!" the mercenary quickly raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "I just want to team up with you for a treasure hunt, that's all."
"A treasure hunt?" The leader gave the mercenary's shabby gear a disdainful once-over. "And what makes you think you qualify to partner with us?"
The mercenary smiled. "What if I told you I know exactly where to land on the shores of the Valyrian ruins?"
The group hesitated for a moment. The leader narrowed his eyes at the mercenary. "Are you being serious?"
The mercenary leaned in and quietly described specific features of the Valyrian coastline—details that couldn't be picked up from rumors or stories. Only someone who had seen the cliffs up close and approached the land could know those things.
The members of the treasure-hunting crew exchanged glances, then all eyes turned toward the mercenary.
The leader made a quick decision. "Alright, we'll cooperate. Tomorrow, you lead the way, and we'll—"
"No. That's not the kind of cooperation I'm offering." The mercenary shook his head. "I'll give you the exact location where you can land. You go ashore and explore the ruins on your own. Whatever treasure you find, I get a share."
The leader frowned and shook his head. "That doesn't sound fair to us. We take all the risks going into the ruins, and you get a cut without lifting a finger? That's—"
Before he could finish, the mercenary shrugged. "Then just forget I said anything."
He turned, ready to walk away.
But the leader stood up and grabbed his arm. "Wait, we can still talk this through."
With that, he and the others sat the mercenary down and began haggling with him like merchants at a market stall. Eventually, they settled on terms: the mercenary would receive half a share of whatever treasure they found.
"Aren't you worried we might go back on the deal once we get the treasure?" one of the treasure hunters asked suspiciously.
"Of course I'm worried," the mercenary replied bluntly. "That's why we're going to the Temple of the God of Calamity. A Calamity Priest will witness and seal the contract. If you break the deal, the God of Calamity will see to your punishment."
The group fell silent at that. Their expressions soured—every one of them had lived through the Great Spring Sickness, and most held some degree of faith in the God of Calamity. Still, no one objected. In fact, they all felt it was a sensible precaution.
So, after leaving the tavern, the group headed straight for the Temple of the God of Calamity in Tolos.
...
At the same time, in Volantis, Meereen, Yunkai, Astapor, and across the cities of both Essos and Westeros, people were selling information on how to land on the shores of the Valyrian ruins. Fueled by whispers and opportunists, a wave of treasure-hunting fervor was rapidly spreading.