The Coming Storm

Lady of Darkness saw Black Pearl make her way through the crowd and return to where they were. She had no idea who Black Pearl had been chatting with just now.

"Your savior is here," Lady of Darkness said to Viserys.

"I paid for it. A true dragon never forgets." Viserys sampled the slightly tart lemonade. He disliked wines mixed with spices; they were too impure.

When Black Pearl arrived, Lady of Darkness stopped talking.

"Plestan came looking for you?" Black Pearl Bellegere asked.

"Yes. That young master wants to host a banquet for me. He made it sound very nice," Viserys replied.

Though Viserys had not seen Plestan's face clearly, he did not seem particularly old.

"Plestan." Black Pearl murmured the name of his family. "You refused?"

"I can go to the meal. I refused anything beyond that," Viserys answered.

"Then your troubles have arrived." Black Pearl sighed. "I did not expect House Prestayn to be so unconcerned with appearances. Still, that only proves you are valuable enough. A first-rate singer, an artist."

Like the Pentoshi and Lyseni, the Braavosi were fond of ballads, and they were always generous toward talented singers.

These city-states also seemed fond of artworks. It was said that ancient statues of the Seven could fetch excellent prices in Pentos.

"Thanks to you," Viserys said. "My reputation..."

People feared fame as pigs feared fat, in every age and every land. This arena of fame and profit was also a battlefield.

Before this, the Female Swordswoman and Nightingale had only caused small ripples. But now Black Pearl, the foremost socialite, was singing the Silver Traveler's songs. That was tremendous honor and publicity.

After the masquerade banquet and the socialites' performance, it felt as though no one anywhere could fail to recognize him.

Black Pearl had raised Viserys's fame, but she had also condemned him to walk amid turmoil.

"Is there any way to resolve this trouble?" Viserys asked.

"It is simple. Sign an agreement with me, and I will be your boss," Black Pearl said. "In Braavos, my words still carry some weight."

"Then forget it. Could you choose another path for me?" Viserys shook his head.

He was already considering fleeing Braavos, and he did not want to become too deeply entangled with any side.

Besides, House Prestayn looked like a gang of heartless capitalists. Could they possibly offer more than Black Pearl?

"I will introduce you to a captain. He may be able to solve your trouble." Black Pearl thought for a moment. "Though he does not know you, he knows your songs. Sailors all love 'Five Hundred Miles from Home.'"

"A captain?"

"That is right. He is the leader of the crabbers and the head of the Rum Association." Black Pearl nodded.

The Ice Sea Crabbers were among the most tightly united and wildest fishermen. Even in Braavos, they carried considerable influence.

"Why do fishermen have a Rum Association?"

"That rum, black as tar, is loved most by sailors," Black Pearl explained.

Black rum was like tar. It was mainly a drink for seamen, allowing them to get thoroughly drunk with fellow enthusiasts when their ships made port.

To stand together, merchants organized themselves in the form of guilds. The guild of crab-boat captains was the Rum Association.

Qarth, for example, also had three major guilds.

"You really are sparing no effort for him." There was a hint of sourness in Lady of Darkness's voice.

Viserys suddenly wondered whether Lady of Darkness was being a little cold, or whether she had some unusual feelings toward Black Pearl.

"I merely fear that my investment will come to nothing." Black Pearl lazily stretched. "Is that not right, mysterious knight?"

"I hope so too. But what if the Preston family refuses to back down?" Viserys asked. "Then I can only move forward."

Perhaps the matter could be smoothed over, but there was also the possibility of meeting blades.

"House Prestayn is not easy to provoke, and Titan's Bastard is also a vicious assassin mercenary." Lady of Darkness looked at Viserys in surprise, as though she admired such courage.

Viserys looked like nothing more than an artist. She had not expected him to possess such spirit and bravery.

"What do you intend to do?" Black Pearl looked at Viserys.

"I am an apprentice Water Dancer. Perhaps I must act according to the ways of Water Dancing. I have heard the rules of Water Dancing: if a Water Dancer shrinks back before a challenge, he will retreat again and again. The enemy will demand his cloak, then demand his boots. Before long, the weakling will be left naked." Viserys's words carried a chilling edge.

Violence was not the best answer, but it was always an available answer.

Viserys had not expected to encounter trouble with the Braavosi before meeting the assassins of Westeros.

Simply put, once he had entered the arena of power, he was destined to be unable to escape these schemes and struggles.

"I hope it does not come to that." Black Pearl looked at Viserys. Warriors could not leave behind blood and fire. There was no persuading them otherwise.

"Water Dancer?" Lady of Darkness looked at Viserys. "Purple eyes... are you the Violet Swordsman?"

If someone saw Viserys's silver hair and purple eyes, it would be easy to connect the Silver Traveler with the Violet Swordsman.

"Shh." Viserys raised a finger in warning. He did have rather too many identities.

Anyone with enough interest could still connect the dots.

"To success." Viserys raised his cup.

"It will succeed." Black Pearl remained fairly confident.

In a private room on the third floor of Sealord's Palace, the Sealord sat in his small chamber.

Sealord Ferrego had suffered from an illness since childhood, so he disliked noise and preferred to be alone in peace and quiet.

Though he appeared healthy on the surface, only those close to him knew that he had a weak side as well.

"Yoko Plestan of House Prestayn went to see Viserys Targaryen," Chief Swordsman Kui Luo said.

"Yoko is House Prestayn's heir. He truly is eager. He wants to recruit the Silver Traveler, add luster to the Mermaid Queen, and enhance his family's prestige," Ferrego said softly.

Braavos also had its struggles for power. Many families rose and fell, while only the three greatest families at the very top remained stable.

Those outside the three great families had to pay far more if they wished to stand out.

"He may not care about Viserys's identity. He simply wants to bring the Silver Traveler over to his side."

"That boy only has a cooperative relationship with Black Pearl. Would he so easily allow Preston to command him?" Ferrego said disdainfully.

"Should we give House Prestayn a warning? They truly are being too bold," Kui Luo suggested. "And Viserys is someone you have been watching."

"No need." Ferrego waved a hand. "The art of power lies in balance. I will restore that balance at the proper time."

"A wise answer, my lord Sealord. But what if Viserys is too weak, and House Prestayn strikes at him ruthlessly?"

"If that happens, it will mean he is not suited to the arena of power. Everyone who rises to prominence should have a beast within their heart. The kings of Westeros are like that, and so am I..."

The chief swordsman seemed to understand, yet not understand.

"This Viserys truly is a storm. In such a short time, he has already become famous. I am quite curious to see how he handles it," Ferrego said with feeling.

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