Madness or Greatness (Please Keep Reading)

"I find you very interesting," Black Pearl said.

"Why?" Viserys asked.

"I once thought you had nothing but a pretty face. I never expected you to possess such elegance within as well. But aside from elegance, I wonder what other remarkable qualities you have?"

"My ambition is beyond anything you can imagine," Viserys said calmly, a sharp gleam flashing in his violet eyes.

He toyed with the Valyrian steel dagger in his hand. Dark, smoky ripples ran across its blade, tempered a thousand times over and still sharp as new.

Only this ancient steel in the world was so light and so sharp.

Viserys played with it for a moment. This Valyrian steel dagger was not one of the Dragonlords' heirlooms. That more famous dagger was currently gathering dust in the royal armory of King's Landing.

When Aegon had been sent to Braavos by Baelor the Blessed as an envoy, he had still only been a prince and had no right to dispose of the family weapons.

This dagger was more likely something Aegon had acquired by chance on the Eastern Continent. Even so, it was exceedingly valuable.

The Unworthy King truly spared no expense when it came to courting women. After becoming king, he could even give away dragon eggs and Valyrian steel weapons like Blackfyre and Dark Sister.

I need to get myself a divine weapon too. Preferably a long Valyrian steel weapon.

That would not be easy. Limited-edition items like long Valyrian steel weapons were difficult to obtain. This was not something money alone could solve.

Valyrian steel longswords, Valyrian steel greatblades, and even the divine artifact that was Valyrian steel armor.

It seemed he could only rob someone or pick up lost relics in the future. Viserys did not want to spend money, yet he wanted equipment.

"This dagger counts as a divine artifact. Could it be that the Unworthy King also gave Black Pearl a dragon egg?" Viserys asked curiously.

"No dragon egg. Dragon eggs are extraordinarily precious. And do not forget, Aegon was only a prince at the time. He had no right to dispose of dragon eggs. He came to Braavos because Baelor the Blessed did not want Aegon to continue ruining the body of his wife, Naerys, so he sent him away." Black Pearl's beauty was indeed exceptional, and she was also highly learned.

Aegon had always coveted the Iron Throne, but he was already thirty-seven by the time he became king.

"That was a tragic love. Aegon's marriage caused both the Dragonknight and Naerys immense suffering."

Aegon the Unworthy hated his brother and sister, seizing every chance to publicly humiliate Naerys and Aemon.

"That was because Aegon met Black Pearl before he became king. Had he ascended the throne first, perhaps I could show you dragon eggs now."

"There will be a chance. Let us look at this book first."

"The Chronicle of Four Kings. This book is exceedingly precious. Even many learned men in Westeros have never read it." Viserys set down the dragonbone dagger and looked at the thick volume of The Chronicle of Four Kings in the box.

Among those brutish knights of Westeros, few enjoyed reading. The ones Viserys remembered most were the Imp and the Red Viper, perhaps also the scholars of the Iron Islands, Willas of Highgarden, and Leyton of House Hightower.

"Looks like you know what is inside." Black Pearl's eyes sparkled like stars. Skilled in swordsmanship and the arts alike, Viserys became even more attractive.

The main reason was that Viserys was handsome enough. If an ugly man had come talking about culture, Black Pearl would probably have someone throw him out.

"This is a history written by Archmaester Kaeth. It recounts the deeds of four kings: Daeron the Young Dragon, Baelor the Blessed, Aegon the Unworthy, and Daeron the Good," Viserys answered.

Madmen or geniuses—the Targaryen Dynasty had produced quite a few oddities in succession.

"This is a book every king should read, Your Grace." Black Pearl smiled.

"A good book. I will accept this gift."

"If you like it, I have many more books at my place." Black Pearl looked at Viserys. "Though they cannot compare to the great library of the Citadel, I do possess quite a few ancient volumes."

"That could not be better," Viserys said.

It was said that there were some unique copies across the Narrow Sea, books that even the Citadel did not possess.

"Then I will give you a gift as well." Viserys expressed his gratitude to Black Pearl and drew out a thin sheet of paper.

When You Are Old. Viserys had come prepared as well.

Black Pearl accepted Viserys's gift and pondered every word. "With these lyrics, I will no longer let Nightingale have all the glory. Sometimes, I truly feel that you are not a teenager. You have an ancient soul."

"The feeling is mutual," Viserys said. "You are more mature than your age as well. Hardship is never wealth unless you overcome it."

Black Pearl might not necessarily sing the song herself, but she would never allow herself to be anything less than Braavos's most dazzling courtesan. She would also remember the outstanding figures of Secret City.

"A singer will soon sing this song. Oh, as praise for me from the Silver Traveler," Black Pearl said. "The Silver Traveler's reputation will spread throughout Braavos. Tell me, what else do you want?"

"Money," Viserys said. "I need a large sum of capital to get my cause off the ground."

"A cause? The cause you speak of is overthrowing the Usurper's rule. That will require a vast fortune." Black Pearl studied Viserys, trying to persuade him to abandon this mad idea. "If you served Black Pearl, Black Pearl would grant you plenty of gold. You would live luxuriously, with many young courtesans begging to see you."

"We are partners. I am not your dependent."

"The Usurper has House Lannister's gold, as well as the manpower of House Arryn, House Tully, and House Stark. How will you take revenge? You must have heard of the recent Greyjoy rebellion. Those Ironborn bastards were beaten to pieces."

"Where there is a will, there is a way," Viserys said calmly.

"You could abandon this life: the slaughter of blood and fire, this savage existence. With your talent, Viserys, you could live very well and spend your life in comfort." Black Pearl tried to persuade him for the second time.

"I swear that I will reach for that crown with my blood and fire, overthrow the Baratheon Dynasty, and I believe I can do it." Though Viserys was young, his voice was resolute.

Viserys had advance knowledge: the incest between the lion siblings, the division within House Baratheon, Varys and Littlefinger fanning the flames, the coming of the Red Comet, and the inevitable arrival of the Long Winter.

Along with his cheat, he could not claim absolute certainty, but restoring his kingdom was far from hopeless.

But in the eyes of others, he was plainly dreaming an impossible dream.

"The risk is too great." Black Pearl shook her head. "Though I invest in many people, I cannot invest at a loss."

"If you invest in singers, playwrights, or goldsmiths, you can only make fivefold or tenfold returns. But if you invest in power, you can gain a hundredfold return. Now you have an excellent partner before you: me, King Viserys III of House Targaryen."

"A hundredfold return comes with a hundredfold risk. Black Pearl has never involved herself too deeply."

"You are a complete madman, yet also a brilliant genius." Black Pearl spoke regretfully, her fingertips brushing across Viserys's cheek. "Thinking of that lovely little face on a bloody battlefield truly makes it hard to bear."

"You should show me more respect. If I ascend the Iron Throne someday, no one will dare treat the king so lightly." Viserys seized Black Pearl's hand and brought it to his lips, biting one of her fingers.

"Do you know that if I gave the word, countless people would want to kill you? My female guards are outside right now. Syrio admires you, but he would not dare offend me." Black Pearl's chest rose and fell.

Even aboard this pleasure barge, the exile showed such boldness—charming and dangerous.

"I guess you do not dare, because you know I have value." Viserys released Black Pearl's hand. "For the sake of my cause, taking risks is inevitable."

"Madman. You truly are a madman," Black Pearl muttered. "I have never seen anyone restore a kingdom with only three people."

"We are not merely three people. We are three true dragons."

"Three true dragons? One half-grown boy and two little girls." Black Pearl burst into laughter. "Whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin into the air and choose between madness and greatness. I think you possess both madness and greatness."

"So you acknowledge my value?"

"I do not support your restoration. I know nothing of this plan. I am merely lending you money, without asking its purpose. Black Pearl lends money to handsome young men. What is wrong with that?"

"Pleasure doing business with you!" Viserys raised his cup.

"Let me see what you are made of—greatness or madness."

"You will know soon enough."

Black Pearl watched Viserys beneath the lamplight. At that moment, the silver-haired youth truly possessed something of a king's bearing.

But Black Pearl soon fell silent and reconsidered. Could this ambitious young man truly bring more excitement to the world?