I Became the Mother of Dragons

        Kadlik was not boasting. The Port of Volantis dominated the entire Rhoyne's mouth, and the harbor stretched as far as the eye could see, a bustling confluence for ships from every corner of the world.

The jetties, like protruding spines on a wild boar's hide, varied in length and density, each bustling with sea and river vessels. Battleships, whalers, merchant galleys, gondolas, and vast warships shared these docks. Ships from Oldtown, White Harbor, King's Landing, Lys, Tyrosh, and Pentos, as well as the gargantuan spice ships from Qarth, hailed from Yi Ti, Asshai, and Hyrkoon...

Even the cargo fleet snaking its way to the terminus extended for more than ten kilometers. Even after the last glimmer of crimson vanished beyond the western horizon, thousands upon thousands of shirtless slave laborers toiled under the torchlight, tirelessly loading and unloading goods.

High atop Hathay, Dany gazed upon the scene with a mix of emotions. The torches on the dark sea mirrored the stars above, the cacophonous shouts and raucous clamor reverberated through the night. The unmistakable scents of the salty sea, the pungency of fish, mingled with the reek of sweat, urine, and feces, carried by the wind, uninvited.

It was undoubtedly a world-class seaport, yet its prosperity was built upon the foundation of low-cost or even no-cost slave labor. Dockworkers, rowers, carriage drivers, porters, inn and tavern servers, streetwalkers, and even the farmers beyond the city's walls—all of them were slaves.

It was now clear to Dany why the Allies and the United Nations had taken their stance. Without the backbone of the slave labor force, the daily cost of living and doing business in the Free Cities would instantly skyrocket, possibly multiplying tenfold. The world's bustling maritime trade would wither in the absence of this labor.

Dany's mission wasn't only to dismantle the slave systems; it was also an act of throttling maritime commerce. If her objectives were realized, worldwide trade would be cut in half in an instant. With a transition to self-sufficient small-scale agrarian economies, much like the ancient Chinese dynasties, the people under her rule would cease to rely on foreign commodities.

The challenge China historically faced in developing maritime trade arose from the fact that successive dynasties had little need for foreign goods. Even when the Southern Song Dynasty lost a significant portion of its northern territory and had to rely on maritime trade for survival, they continued to import less than they exported. It is said that prior to the Song Dynasty, the Chinese emperor's title was often "ball leader," highlighting their focus on domestic resources and self-sufficiency.

"Unless there's something that can replace slaves and provide merchants with equally cheap labor," Dany mused, shaking her head with a wry smile. As a modern person, she was well aware of something even cheaper than a slave – machines.

As Hathay plodded forward, Dany shielded her nose with a silk scarf and leaned closer to the Knight beside her. "How many years has the Citadel been in existence?"

The older man furrowed his brow for a moment before shaking his head. "I can't say for sure. There were the First Men who claim to have arrived in Westeros 10,000 years ago, while some maesters believe the whole of Westeros is no more than 2,000 years old. Your Majesty could consider recruiting a few maesters from Oldtown. Scholars from Slaver's Bay may not be the best choice to learn about your homeland."

Dany pressed on, "Even if the Citadel was founded 2,000 years ago, do you think they could have invented the steam engine?"

The old Knight appeared baffled, "Steam engine?"

"Yes, have you seen a boiling kettle?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Well, can you imagine a Maester imitating a kettle and constructing a large iron contraption that can... that can..." Dany's face contorted in thought, and she finally added, "Rotate, and twist, with an iron wheel turning while blowing steam?"

The old man's response was unequivocal, "No."

Dany persisted, "Could it be that you're unaware of this?"

With a sigh, the old man conceded, "Your Majesty... um, my lord, though I may not fully comprehend your discourse, it sounds exceedingly intricate. Moreover, given Westeros' current level of smithing technology, it's highly improbable."

"Well then I'm afraid I'll have to make a journey to the Citadel myself," Dany remarked with a hint of resignation. There was no denying that after the fall of Valyria, the Citadel and Asshai had become the world's foremost repositories of knowledge and wisdom. The maesters possessed a profound spirit of exploration and curiosity and were well-versed in the realms of science, representing the pinnacle of intellectual achievement in their world.

Kadlik, perched on the elephant's back, turned his head and winked at Dany, a playful glint in his eye. "What is it?" she inquired, puzzled.

"You still haven't told me about that woman," the driver said with a hint of discontent.

Dany chuckled and responded, "I see."

"Arstan, did you hear? They say the Mother of Dragons hatched another Dragon in Yunkai," she declared loudly to the Knight beside her.

The Knight was taken aback for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "Ahem," he cleared his throat. Dany pointed to the driver atop the elephant's back, prompting the old man to chime in, "Well, you see, I heard someone mention it at the New Ghis wharf..."

The two of them then harmonized, recounting the highlights of their time in Slaver's Bay.

"Make way, make way for the esteemed Lady from Braavos!" Kadlik shouted to the sailors and slaves surrounding them in the local dialect, urging them to clear a path. He perked up, his ears attentive to the conversation of the two passengers behind him.

Witnessing his enthusiasm, it was evident that he was intrigued by their stories.

"Hey, Braavos folks, are you all mad? How could that wicked Mother of Dragons be praiseworthy?" an indignant voice called out from the side.

Dany and Barristan, of course, didn't engage in disparaging talk about themselves. While they didn't promote the notion that the "Mother of Dragons had descended to save all living beings," they instead focused on discussing her policies and their impact on the newly liberated commoners.

The street was not overly crowded, but the elephant and Hathay were imposing in size. They moved in close formation, the elephant's bulk nearly touching its companion, their wheels aligned closely and occasionally brushing against one another with a grating "ga zhi" sound. Hathay lacked a roof, resembling a chair atop a trolley, with seats open on all sides.

Amidst this commotion, a white elephant adorned in vibrant brocade marched to Dany's left, its passenger a portly man with blonde hair. He donned a resplendent purple silk shirt with golden thread embroidery on the cuffs and collar, featuring intricate dragon motifs.

"Have you been to Slaver's Bay?" the rotund man inquired with skepticism, his squinted eyes casting doubt.

"I'd like to visit, but there were no merchant ships headed for Slaver's Bay from New Ghis or Qarth," Dany replied nonchalantly, her tone casual.

The corpulent man chuckled heartily, "Haha, you haven't been there, yet you're prattling on! I've been there, and I've seen that woman. Let me tell you, that woman has such a large... " He made exaggerated gestures, patting his own pregnant-looking belly.

"How can that be possible?"

Before he could continue, an incredulous voice arose from a Hathay on Dany's right, bearing an accent foreign to the region. "I heard the Mother of Dragons is only fifteen...sixteen years old, a young and beautiful girl. House Targaryen doesn't produce ugly individuals. How could she be fat?"

This Hathay also had two passengers, both young men of the same age. One was tall and well-proportioned, exuding a striking and dashing aura. He boasted a pair of blue eyes and a head of sandy hair laced with golden threads. The other had black hair and eyes, with a broad forehead, prominent cheekbones, and a sturdy, stocky build. Though slightly shorter in stature, he stood sturdy alongside Dany.

It was the latter who had shouted out, his face marked with astonishment and disbelief. "Why is it impossible?" the portly man with the pig-like visage turned to the younger man earnestly and inquired, "Are you aware of her victory over the Ghiscari coalition?"

"I've heard about it. She fought valiantly and led her forces like a hardened General, defeating a combined army of hundreds of thousands of sellswords, slave soldiers, and Ghiscari with minimal losses. What's even more astonishing is that no one knows the full extent of her tactics during that battle," the young man with black hair replied, his expression a complex mixture of emotions.

"That's not right!" exclaimed the man from Volantis, clapping his hands for emphasis. He shouted, "You think without a brain, how can you support a ten-foot height and a ten-foot waist? Without a burly ten-foot body, how can you charge into battle with courage?"

The black-haired youth was taken aback, uncertain how to respond to this unique logic.

Dany's lips twitched, and she interjected, "She has a Dragon."

"It's just a young Dragon, less than two years old," the man from Valyria solemnly asserted. "Our ancestors, the noble Dragonlords of Valyria, know more about Dragons than that woman. And the sellswords who've returned from the front lines have said that her Dragon has barely killed anyone, aside from tossing kerosene bombs on ships."

He gestured with his hands, looked down at Dany, and then turned his gaze back to the two young men. He asked loudly, "A Dragon that throws incendiary barrels is, at most, equivalent to a trebuchet. Let me ask you, are trebuchets terrifying?"

Dany found herself momentarily at a loss for words. In theory, the firebombs thrown by a Dragon might not be as effective as a trebuchet. The process of a Dragon taking off and reloading took too long. Did a trebuchet match the precision and range of a Dragon's attack?

"So, the woman who defeated the Ghiscari Alliance must be ten feet tall, with bulging muscles, resembling a Giant," declared the man from Volantis, his triumphant demeanor continuing. "Too terrifying. I always thought she was a role model for a female Knight, and I wanted to see her in action."

The group of young people remained stunned by the bizarre tale.

Big took this as an opportunity to add, "Not only that, anyone who has been to Slaver's Bay knows that the woman is cruel and bloodthirsty, and even nobles are executed by her for minor offenses."

The blond young man couldn't believe it. "Nobles didn't receive preferential treatment?"

"Hehe," Big laughed, "you think exterminating entire noble families is preferential treatment? That woman has a man under her named Cleon Chainbreaker. In order to secure the title of Lord, his family slaughtered countless members of the Royal Family, the nobility, not ordinary nobles."

The blond youth continued to stare in disbelief, muttering, "Unimaginable... madness."

He wasn't finished. "She's still a witch, feeding her Dragons with the flesh of newborn babies. She's an oathbreaker who disrespects the Gods, breaches treaties, deceives envoys, and punishes the innocent. She burns with lust, engaging in promiscuity with men, women, and eunuchs. She even seeks satisfaction with dogs and children, and the fate of her weary partners is extremely gruesome."

In a solemn tone, he concluded, "That woman consumes a man's soul through intercourse."

Dany spoke softly but resolutely in Barristan's ear, "I must capture the city."

She continued with determination, "I also aim to produce high-quality paper as quickly as possible. The printing process is straightforward, and the Ghiscari are skilled in brick-making, but we will need to refine the paper pulp method gradually."

With a hint of humor, she added, "We already have paper for more mundane purposes, such as for the restroom, but we are still far from having enough for books. Once we have both paper and the means to print, we can produce history books on a grand scale."