Pentos.
The mansion of Magister Illyrio Mopatis was as lavish as ever.
Yet the mountainously fat man was behaving quite unlike himself.
Instead of reclining on his couch, he was pacing anxiously through his study.
His expensive silk robe clung to his sweat-soaked body, outlining his enormous belly.
"My lord magister, you have been pacing for almost an hour."
A servant at his side offered the reminder cautiously.
Since Lynn seemed deeply opposed to slavery, Illyrio had dismissed every slave in his mansion overnight upon hearing the news, terrified of angering him.
"Shut up!"
Illyrio waved a hand impatiently.
Only one word whirled madly through his mind.
Sugar.
White sugar.
When a travel-worn Jorah Mormont had appeared before him and placed that little silk pouch on his desk, he had initially dismissed it.
But when he put the powder, whiter than snow, into his mouth, the magister who had sampled countless delicacies utterly lost his composure.
It was an exquisite sweetness that could make the very soul tremble.
Pure, refined, without the slightest trace of impurities.
He instantly understood the staggering value it represented.
The nobles of Westeros would wage wars over it!
No, not just Westeros!
Essos, all of Essos-the entire world would go mad for it!
"My lord, Lord Lynn has given his terms."
Jorah's voice had been calm and confident.
"He is willing to grant you exclusive trading rights to this white sugar in exchange for chartering all your merchant ships."
Illyrio's heart had skipped a beat.
He knew this was a deal that could change the balance of power in the world.
But he also knew it meant breaking openly with Meereen and Yunkai.
The fleets of those two city-states had already blockaded all of Slaver's Bay.
Yet it was just as Lynn had anticipated.
No