Trouble Comes Knocking

The painters from Myr were creating portraits in the distance. It was rare for so many Braavosi courtesans to appear at once.

Myrish painting was lifelike, tending toward a more realistic style.

Viserys was also drawing plenty of attention. Wherever there was excitement, he was there.

Even in the courtesans' portraits, Viserys could be seen.

Viserys danced in succession with courtesans such as Black Pearl, Lady of Darkness, Moonshadow, and Nightingale, drawing countless sidelong glances from the Braavosi, who wondered just who this silver-haired guest in a silver mask was.

Viserys noticed many eyes fixed on him—some resentful, some dissatisfied, some jealous.

He certainly enjoyed himself, but he had also genuinely angered quite a few promising young men.

That was the treatment one received for standing out like a tree above the forest, a crane among chickens.

Still, Viserys could not be bothered with their stares. That was the price of fame; mediocrities would always envy it.

Viserys had relied entirely on his looks and talent, without using the slightest bit of trickery.

"Silver hair—the Silver Traveler." Someone quickly deduced Viserys's identity.

"No wonder." Some Braavosi were relieved. Such a genius creator was naturally held in high regard, though the courtesans had certainly shown him an extraordinary amount of favor.

Nightingale and Moonshadow returned to dancing with others on the dance floor. As courtesans, it was one of their means of socializing.

Black Pearl had vanished somewhere, perhaps chatting and laughing with someone else.

For a time, all the lovely women on the dance floor were overshadowed by their radiance and color.

"Why aren't you going?" Viserys asked Lady of Darkness beside him curiously.

"I don't like it," Lady of Darkness replied. "My patience is limited."

"Oh." Viserys felt that this cold beauty in black was also a person of true temperament. He wanted to ask whether Lady of Darkness had trained in the Faceless Art as well, but held himself back.

Everyone had their secrets. One should not ask what ought not to be asked.

The two found a table and drank together for a while as they chatted.

"A lot of people enjoy joining in the excitement, but I'm not particularly fond of it," Lady of Darkness said.

"Same here." Viserys did not reply further, merely nodding.

"You seem quite fond of excitement. You caused quite a sensation today; your reputation is soaring," Lady of Darkness said, glancing at Viserys.

Viserys looked at Lady of Darkness and set down his cup. "I was passive in all this. Black Pearl invited me."

"You looked very proactive to me. But gain and loss are part of the same cycle. You made a name for yourself, and now you have quite a few people who resent you." Lady of Darkness's words carried an implicit warning.

"Then why did you keep dancing with me, putting me on display? I had originally only offended Black Pearl's admirers, but now I've offended all of them." Viserys rolled his eyes at Lady of Darkness.

"That is none of my concern. Anyone Black Pearl appreciates is someone I need to observe carefully as well."

"There are many things about me worth observing. Do you want to inspect my body too?"

"If I invited you, would you dare come? I'm afraid you couldn't afford what I'd demand."

"Since you are Lady of Darkness, do you have any particular specialties?" Viserys asked curiously.

Any courtesan had to have a few special tricks.

"Of course I do." Lady of Darkness snorted coldly, then looked into her cup. "Wine from a good area is still the best, just like Braavos's food. The fish and shellfish around Braavos carry too strong a sea smell. Only the mudflats crossed by rivers, and food from the deep sea, are somewhat better. Remember your place, Silver Traveler."

Yet the leader of the House of Black and White, the Kindly Man, seemed to have said something similar about such food. Viserys did not know whether it was coincidence or not.

"Thank you for your advice." Viserys felt that Lady of Darkness was quite thoughtful, and her grasp of the bigger picture might not be inferior to Black Pearl's.

While Viserys and Lady of Darkness chatted quietly, an unwelcome guest had already arrived without a sound.

"Silver-haired Silver Traveler?" The brown-haired man appeared opposite Viserys.

"I am," Viserys replied.

Hearing someone call out his alias, Viserys saw that the man was actually from the Preston family.

"Lady of Darkness is here as well?" The brown-haired young man greeted Lady of Darkness, though the jealousy and dissatisfaction in his heart only grew stronger.

Why? Why did this insignificant foreigner receive the favor of so many courtesans? He was merely some pretentious man who played with words and ink.

Lady of Darkness nodded. "Today is Braavos's grand festival."

Insight. Viserys watched the newcomer, catching the subtle changes in his expression. This man had come with ill intent.

Behind the young master of the Preston family stood a tall guard. Though he wore a mask, Viserys could see his pale green eyes and the thick red-gold beard that reached his waist.

"Isn't that Titan's Bastard?" Viserys examined the guard's appearance and immediately remembered who he was: a Braavosi, a brutish man with a huge beard.

Later, Mero would become the captain of the Second Sons and be killed by Ser Barristan Selmy while attempting to assassinate Daenerys.

Unexpectedly, Mero had worked for the Preston family in his youth.

Still, that was perfectly normal. Mercenaries were always changing allegiances, and joining a sellsword company when one ran out of money was nothing unusual.

"You are friends with Black Pearl and Lady of Darkness?" the brown-haired masked man said. "Then you are qualified to become a friend of Preston as well."

"This is truly a tremendous honor," Viserys said, though he did not think much of it inwardly.

These courtesans all represented wealth, connections, and intelligence. This young nobleman of the Preston family did not appear particularly attractive by comparison.

Besides, judging by Mermaid Queen's usual methods, the Preston family was hardly benevolent.

"Forgive my presumptuousness, but I have never heard of the Silver Traveler before. May I ask where you come from?" Preston asked, his words carrying a hint of arrogance.

"Of course, from a distant place. I am merely a traveler." Viserys shrugged.

"Oh, then it seems you are Black Pearl's honored guest."

"I am her guest, but we are also friends." Viserys looked at Preston.

Listening to Viserys's reply, Preston understood several things at once.

The silver-haired man in the silver mask was Black Pearl's friend, but not her subordinate. In other words, he was not under her protection.

Such a talented foreigner, with no one to shelter him, naturally looked like a juicy piece of meat.

"Silver Traveler, your great name already resounds throughout the Secret City. I would like to invite you to Preston Tower. Would you be willing?"

"Banquets are my favorite, but I do not like signing contracts. I come as I please and leave as I please. I am only an ordinary traveler," Viserys said. "But I have heard that the Preston family has great wealth and influence. Are there courtesans dancing, along with fine food and wine of every kind?"

Viserys had already anticipated Preston's intentions. It seemed he wanted Viserys to help promote Mermaid Queen, while also binding him with some sort of economic contract.

Lady of Darkness watched the scene in silence. This was the road Viserys had chosen.

If he did not attach himself to a major power, then he could only resolve his troubles himself. Lady of Darkness was not in a position to speak up either.

"No matter, no matter. We shall speak only of feasting, not of anything else." Preston's masked guest looked at Viserys, feeling that the boy did not know what was good for him.

"Foreigner, do not fail to appreciate kindness. Preston wishes to be your friend. Just listen to him." Titan's Bastard snorted coldly, his muscles visible beneath his clothes. He was a bloodthirsty, savage warrior.

"My dance partner is already waiting for me," Preston said. "Goodbye, Lady of Darkness. Goodbye, Silver Traveler."

"This is my invitation. I trust you will consider it carefully." Preston turned and left with Titan's Bastard.

"Your trouble has arrived?" Lady of Darkness said. "The Prestons are not among the foremost great families at present, but they are not to be underestimated. If you want peace and quiet, perhaps you could seek out Black Pearl."

"Trouble has indeed arrived, but I will let him know that I am trouble of the highest order as well." Light and resolve gleamed in Viserys's violet eyes.

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