Game of Thrones, Ice and Fire, I hatched the Black Death.

Continue listening to Chapter 19

"Hmph, easy for you to say," the scarred man muttered. "Haven't you seen how many more groups of people have come these past few days? And those scholars dressed like crows, always whispering amongst themselves with blueprints and compasses—I bet they know more than we do!"

"What's the use of knowing so much?" the shrewd man scoffed. "This 'Shipwreck Hill' has a complex terrain, full of rubble and abandoned mine tunnels. The Morrison family used this secluded and complex terrain to hide their valuables. Without an accurate map or someone in the know, digging around aimlessly will only exhaust you. Besides..."

He lowered his voice, "I heard that the Morrison family offended someone they shouldn't have back then, and their downfall was suspicious. This treasure... might be stained with blood."

"Blood?" The scarred man scoffed. "People in our line of work, are we afraid of blood? If there's real treasure, I'd dig it up even if it's stained with demonic shit!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" The shrewd man glanced around warily. "You know nothing! I'm not just talking about human lives. Some old sailors say that the Morrison family eventually escaped here, and they might have hidden something else... Otherwise, why do you think the governor's mansion in Pentos has been turning a blind eye to this place, yet secretly sending people to keep an eye on it? Gold and silver alone wouldn't attract so many people, and those mysterious fellows too."

The scarred man seemed persuaded, and his voice lowered: "You mean... magical things? Or... dragons?"

He spoke the last two words very softly, but Will heard them clearly, and his heart skipped a beat.

The shrewd man didn't answer directly, but smiled meaningfully and took a bite of the grilled fish: "Who knows? Anyway, this is a dangerous place to wade into. But since we're here, we might as well try our luck. Tomorrow I'll explore that rocky ravine to the east again; I heard there used to be an abandoned spice warehouse there..."

The two then discussed in hushed tones the specific investigation plan and possible clues.

Will obtained crucial information:

The Shipwreck Hill, the suspected treasure trove of the Silver Sail Morrison family, has attracted a large number of treasure hunters, who may be uncovering secrets beyond ordinary wealth, and perhaps even...

Could it be related to the legend of the "dragon"?

The Pentos authorities have adopted an ambiguous stance.

He quietly retreated to his hiding place and whispered the information he had overheard to Daenerys.

"The Morrisons?" Daenerys frowned, trying to recall. "I remember... Mother mentioned once that their fleet once roamed the Narrow Sea, even trading with Volantis and Qarth. But they later seemed to get involved in the power struggle in Pentos, or... the Iron Treasury's debts? I can't remember. If their treasure is really here, it must be amazing."

A glimmer of light flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry. "But there are so many people... and Pentos's men are watching us... what about us..."

Will's gaze fell on the strange rock formation known as "Shipwreck Hill".

The jagged rocks cast long, ghostly shadows in the setting sun.

There is wealth hidden there, but danger must also be hidden there.

But this is also an opportunity—an opportunity to potentially gain access to much-needed resources, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the world's power structure and potential threats.

More importantly, the area is a melting pot of people and has a high turnover rate, which may be more suitable for them to temporarily hide their tracks than a completely deserted mountain forest—provided they are careful enough.

“We’re not after treasure,” Will said softly, “but there are a lot of people and information circulating here. We can try to sneak in, get some supplies, gather information, and see if there’s anything Shadowflame can use. Besides…”

He glanced at Shadowflame lying beside him. Little Dragon seemed to have some interest in the strange rock area as well. His dark golden vertical pupils narrowed slightly, and his nostrils twitched slightly, as if he were catching some faint scent in the air. "Shadowflame seems to be reacting to that place."

Daenerys followed his gaze to Shadowflame, then to the hills that appeared even more mysterious and eerie in the twilight, and nodded: "Okay. I'll do as you say."

Will began planning.

They couldn't enter the camp as they were—a boy with a silver-haired girl was too conspicuous, especially given Daenerys's Targaryen features.

They need to disguise themselves.

He had Daenerys mix dark mud with wood ash from the collected materials and apply it to her face, neck, and arms to cover her overly pale skin and striking silver hair—he trimmed her short hair even shorter and messier with a knife, then covered it with a dirty gray headscarf.

He did something similar to himself, and found some old, coarse cloth that he had picked up from the abandoned shacks to replace his even more tattered clothes.

Shadowflame is a big problem. It cannot be seen by anyone.

Through the contract, Will conveyed to Shadowflame the instructions that it needed to temporarily stay away from people, operate alone in a secluded place in the nearby mountains or coast, and only contact and assist it through the contract at night or in case of emergency.

Shadowflame seemed somewhat reluctant, letting out a few low growls, but under Will's unwavering will, it finally submitted.

It spread its wings and silently glided into the deepening twilight, disappearing into the more precipitous cliffs behind the shipwreck hill.

Contract Dragon: Shadowflame.

Satiety level: 63%.

Body length: approximately 1.05 meters.

Wingspan: Approximately 2.3 meters.

Growth stage: Young dragon stage.

Intimacy level: 68/100.

Status Note: Executing stealth commands.

As the shadow flames disappeared, Will felt a slight tightness in his chest, but this was a necessary risk control measure.

After making preparations, taking advantage of the time when it was just before dark, when the camp was filled with smoke and the noise was at its loudest, Will, along with Daenerys in disguise, like two inconspicuous wandering teenagers who had come to try their luck, with their heads down and shoulders hunched, blended into the huge and noisy temporary camp on the outskirts of Shipwreck Hill.

A variety of smells wafted towards me:

The stench of sweat, fish, cheap liquor, burning damp wood, charred meat...

A variety of sounds filled my ears: vulgar shouts, drunken singing, hushed negotiations, the clanging of tools striking stones...

Countless pairs of eyes, some shrewd, some greedy, some apathetic, and some fierce, swept over them, but quickly lost interest.

There are far too many down-on-their-luck people here who come with a glimmer of hope.

Will pulled Daenerys along and found a relatively quiet corner near the edge of the camp. Using a few stones and some scrap wood they found, they managed to build a makeshift shelter that was just big enough to take in.

They didn't light a fire; instead, they took out a few dry, hard strips of meat that they carried with them and ate them silently, using the little water left in their leather bags.

As night fell completely, campfires were lit in the campsite.

The commotion did not subside; instead, fueled by alcohol and ambition, it became even more agitated.

Will leaned against the cold stone, his gaze piercing through the cracks in the shack, looking towards the distant shipwreck hill that lay like a giant beast in the darkness.

There, a light, seemingly dimmer than that of a campfire, flickered and disappeared between the cracks in the rocks.

Meanwhile, Shadowflame, his loyal and powerful partner, is currently soaring alone in the nearby night sky or lurking beneath a cliff, protecting them and waiting for a possible opportunity.