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Game of Thrones: Archer's Ordinary Life
Game of Thrones: Dragon Knight of Harrenhal
Game of Thrones: Archer's Ordinary Life
Game of Thrones: BLOODTHIRSTY BASTARD
Game of Thrones: House of Black Dragon
The grand coronation and wedding were set to take place in two days, and King's Landing was already teeming with nobles.
Lord Tywin Lannister had arrived at the Red Keep with his daughter Cersei long ago, taking residence in the most opulent tower, displaying the power and prestige of the future Queen's house. His son Tyrion naturally accompanied them, spending his days wandering between the city's bookshops and taverns.
From Dorne, the "Red Viper," Prince Oberyn, was more spontaneous. He had arrived over ten days early with his paramour, Ellaria Sand, renting the penthouse suite of a famous brothel on the Street of Silk. They had been indulging in pleasure there for days, bringing the extravagant and unrestrained style of Dorne to the capital.
The key figure from the Reach, the "Queen of Thorns," Lady Olenna Redwyne, was staying at the Redwyne manse in the city. Their trip was not just for the spectacle but carried clear political and economic objectives.
As the core proposer of forming the bank and reshaping trade, Euron Greyjoy naturally did not slack off.
On the second day after arriving in King's Landing, Euron sent invitations to these powers, planning to finalize this massive deal—one that would influence the future of the Seven Kingdoms and even the lands across the Narrow Sea—before the wedding began.
Euron set this crucial meeting in the "Blackwater Hall" within the Red Keep.
This magnificent banquet hall was located in the western wing of the keep, with the rushing Blackwater River flowing beneath its massive stone arched windows.
It offered ample space for a meeting while maintaining excellent privacy due to its relatively independent location. Its grandeur was understated, perfectly balancing ceremony with secrecy.
More importantly, because House Lannister was residing in the Red Keep for Cersei's wedding, it was entirely natural for key figures from various factions to visit the keep to pay respects or offer congratulations. Their gathering here would gain a seamless cover beneath the guise of social mingling.
---
The heavy oak doors of the Blackwater Hall closed slowly, shutting out the noise of the outside world.
Inside, representatives of the four powers had taken their seats.
For House Lannister, Lord Tywin sat at the head of one side, majestic as a lion, his golden eyes betraying no emotion. His youngest son, Tyrion, sat a bit further away. His mismatched eyes twinkled with curiosity and shrewdness, and upon seeing Euron, he even gave a wink.
Representing Highgarden was the "Queen of Thorns," Lady Olenna Redwyne. Her diminutive frame seemed to contain endless wisdom and strength. Her brother Adrian accompanied her.
Prince Oberyn of Dorne appeared the most casual, leaning back lazily in his chair. His paramour, Ellaria Sand, sat quietly behind him like an enchanting shadow.
Only the Iron Islands side had Euron Greyjoy attending alone.
His father, King Quellon, and his brother Balon had zero interest in commercial matters that required meticulous calculation—"counting coppers," as they saw it. However, they did not stop Euron.
In fact, this had long been a tacit rule within the Iron Islands—Euron's actions were often unconventional and seemingly rebellious, but the results proved him right time and again. His ability to seemingly turn stone into gold had led King Quellon to completely give up on restraining him.
"Let him be," the King of the Iron Islands once told his captains. "The Gold Dragons are his earnings anyway. However he wants to spend them, whatever he wants to tinker with, let him. If he earns, the Iron Islands benefit; if he loses, he loses... With his skills, are we afraid he can't earn (or reave) it back?"
Facing these scheming opponents and potential allies alone, a wave of helplessness rose in Euron's heart. He often sighed inwardly that he had too few truly capable strategists under his command who could understand and execute his vision independently.
---
When all participants were seated, Lord Tywin Lannister nodded slightly. Attendants waiting on the side quietly stepped forward, filling everyone's goblets with the uniquely golden-hued "Kraken Red" wine.
Tywin wasted no time on pleasantries. His steady gaze swept the room, his voice carrying undeniable authority. "Since everyone is here, let us get straight to the point."
Euron nodded slightly and took over, his voice echoing clearly in the hall. "As Lord Tywin says. Westeros is vast and rich in resources, with increasingly frequent trade. Yet, for many reasons, there has never been a stable bank that truly belongs to Westeros. This is undoubtedly a significant flaw and constraint." His gaze slowly swept over Lady Olenna and Prince Oberyn. "I imagine everyone here has long reached a consensus and made plans regarding this. Now that the Seven Kingdoms are stabilizing, it is the perfect time to address it. I propose that our four parties jointly fund and establish a bank. What say you all?"
Tywin was the first to declare his stance, concise as always. "Agreed." He paused, adding with a tone of reflection, "In fact, I considered establishing a bank long ago. Unfortunately, during the Mad King's reign, the situation was turbulent and chaotic, preventing any action."
Lady Olenna tapped her fingertip lightly on the table, her voice not loud but exceptionally clear. "The Reach agrees." Her declaration was crisp, without any hesitation.
Prince Oberyn laughed lazily, his tone carrying his characteristic cynicism. "Dorne naturally agrees. Otherwise, why would my beauty and I sit here listening to you discuss boring numbers of Gold Dragons?"
A smile touched Euron's lips as he looked at everyone. "Since our goals align, let us clarify the issues from easiest to hardest." He paused briefly, throwing out the first and core question. "First, the investment amount."
His voice was steady as he clearly stated a number. "I estimate the initial capital required for the bank will total five million Gold Dragons." Immediately after, he defined the share structure. "Each share will be fifty thousand Gold Dragons."
Silence fell briefly in the Blackwater Hall. Only the faint sound of the Blackwater Rush flowing outside could be heard.
Fifty thousand Gold Dragons per share! Even for the wealthy families present, this was no small sum to throw around lightly. But on the other hand, to build a bank capable of operating stably, possessing stellar credit, and influencing the economy of the Seven Kingdoms, such a massive foundation of gold was indeed necessary to deter petty thieves and win trust.
After a brief silence, Lord Tywin spoke first, throwing the question back to the proposer. "Euron, you are the initiator. How many shares do you intend to subscribe?"
Euron's expression remained unchanged. He calmly extended a hand, spreading five fingers. "Fifty shares. Five million is the total capital pool; I'm taking half."
"I will take fifty percent of the total stake," Euron clarified.
This number made Lady Olenna raise a finely groomed eyebrow. She let out an ambiguous chuckle, her tone probing. "Oh? I didn't realize the Little Kraken's coffers were even deeper than the rumors suggest."
After a quick assessment and silent negotiation, the parties reached a preliminary consensus: Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Islands would hold fifty percent alone. The wealthy Lannisters of the West and the Redwynes of the bountiful Reach would each take twenty percent. The Martells of Dorne would subscribe to ten percent.
Euron looked around and continued the agenda. "Next is the division of operational regions. Westeros is vast. We need to define our respective areas of jurisdiction and development to avoid unnecessary internal friction and focus our strength on opening markets." He paused deliberately to let the weight of his words sink in. "Of course, the final overall profit will still be distributed strictly according to our shareholding ratios."
In truth, when Euron first proposed the bank, these factions had already weighed and deduced this internally. The current discussion was merely to formalize the tacit understanding, effectively dividing the economic map of Westeros into four spheres of influence based on strength, geography, and clout.
Euron clearly had a plan ready. Pointing to the simple map spread on the table, he spoke clearly. "All islands including the Iron Islands, coastal cities, and trade routes in the Narrow Sea and Stepstones." The lifeline of maritime trade was assigned to him. This was beyond dispute, and everyone agreed. After all, who on the sea dared to contend with the Kraken or refuse to pay debts?
"Dorne," Euron looked at Oberyn, "will be responsible for Dorne proper, the Stormlands, and... the North." Dorne connected to the Stormlands, making management easy. As for the North... it was recognized as the vastest but poorest region, with a dislike for borrowing. But since Dorne held fewer shares, this "chicken rib" (tasteless but wasteful to discard) went to them.
"Highgarden," Euron turned to Lady Olenna, "will be responsible for the Reach, the Riverlands, and the Vale." This area was wealthy and connected all directions.
"Lannister," finally, Euron looked at Tywin, "will be responsible for the Westerlands and the Crownlands, including King's Landing."
Handing the financial business of the capital to the most powerful Lannisters was also a way of balance. This was also a request Tywin had made.
Lady Olenna's thin eyebrow arched slightly. Her gaze shot toward Tywin like a needle. Her voice maintained a noblewoman's elegance but carried undeniable sharpness. "King's Landing? We also hold a keen interest in the economic affairs of the capital."
Lord Tywin's expression didn't change, but the temperature of his voice seemed to drop a few degrees, carrying the cold pragmatism of the Warden of the West. "The Reach, the Riverlands, the Vale—the wealth and tax potential of these three combined are certainly more than just King's Landing. My Lady, you should know this." He paused, throwing out the key reason. "Furthermore, the final profit of our four parties is split equally by shares, not based on the regions we operate. Bickering over the jurisdiction of a single city has no practical meaning."
Hearing this, a meaningful smile appeared on Lady Olenna's face. She shook her head gently, her tone becoming sharp.
"Lord Tywin, you cannot say that. That is King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, the seat of the King, the center of power! Don't tell me you don't know what controlling the economic lifeline of King's Landing truly means."
Her words were like an exquisite dagger, piercing through the superficial argument about profit to point directly at the core—financial dominance in King's Landing brought invisible influence and political power far exceeding Gold Dragons.
Euron shook his head gently, breaking the rising tension between the two magnates. His voice was peaceful but carried undeniable planning authority.
"Allow me to clarify. No region will be solely and completely controlled by any one house. The so-called regional division merely means the designated manager advances the initial operating funds for that area to facilitate startup."
He added weight to his tone, emphasizing the core management mechanism.
"However, every branch established—whether in King's Landing, Oldtown, or Sunspear—will have four responsible officers, one from each of our four parties. Any significant lending business must receive the joint approval of at least three officers to take effect. If fewer than two agree, it cannot proceed."
He swept his gaze over Lady Olenna and Tywin, adding the crucial check-and-balance clause.
"And if a loan is forcibly pushed through with only two officers agreeing... then, should a loss occur, the entire loss will be jointly borne by the two officers who pushed the loan and the families behind them."
This meticulous arrangement dispersed absolute power, building a sturdy firewall with collective decision-making and joint liability for risks.
Lady Olenna pondered for a moment, the sharpness in her eyes softening. This mechanism indeed largely restricted any party (especially the one controlling King's Landing) from abusing power. She nodded slightly. "If it is such an arrangement... it is passable. Fair enough."
Euron then looked at Tywin, tossing the decision to him. "Lord Tywin, what do you think of this plan?"
Lord Tywin remained expressionless. Originally, he naturally wanted House Lannister to exclusively control the financial lifeline of the capital. Euron's "quadripartite management" mechanism undoubtedly dashed that plan. But taking a step back, the Lannisters would at least firmly hold a quarter of the say in King's Landing and every branch, and the system itself ensured his interests wouldn't be easily damaged by others.
Under the condition that exclusive control was impossible, this was a fairly favorable situation to secure. He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
Euron spoke again, continuing to the next topic of this crucial meeting. "There is another point fundamental to the bank's security and efficiency. We cannot imitate the Iron Bank of Braavos by storing all Gold Dragons in one place." He looked around sharply. "That is not only a huge risk but also detrimental to the development of trade everywhere. We should establish branches in the major regions we govern, allowing funds to flow where they are needed."
Euron wasn't just throwing out questions; he had answers ready. His long finger tapped precisely on the map. "Based on the Seven Kingdoms' most important trade nodes and power centers, I suggest establishing nine initial branches: Sunspear in Dorne, Storm's End in the Stormlands, Highgarden in the Reach, King's Landing in the Crownlands, Casterly Rock in the Westerlands, Pyke in the Iron Islands, Riverrun in the Riverlands, the Eyrie in the Vale, and Winterfell in the North."
As soon as he finished, Lady Olenna chimed in, precisely adding two crucial trade ports. "Oldtown and Gulltown. These two major ports have massive capital throughput and are indispensable."
Oberyn toyed with his wine cup, adding lazily but incisively, "White Harbor in the North. It is the North's only sea outlet."
Lord Tywin, who had been silent, also proposed a strategic location in a deep voice. "Harrenhal in the Riverlands. It is centrally located and radiates widely."
Euron accepted the suggestions readily, nodding. "Very good. Including these four, that makes a total of thirteen branches. We can decide later whether to close or add more based on business volume." He quickly clarified ownership, moving his finger on the map:
"Sunspear, Storm's End, Winterfell, White Harbor—Dorne is responsible."
"King's Landing, Casterly Rock, Harrenhal—Lannister controls."
"Highgarden, the Eyrie, Oldtown, Gulltown—fall under Highgarden's scope."
"And I," he pointed finally to the Iron Islands, "am responsible for the Iron Islands proper. Beyond that..." He paused, revealing his core advantage. "The allocation and transport of liquid funds between all branches will be the full responsibility of my fleet. After all, I hold the most shares and bear the ultimate liability. Whether it is Oldtown, Gulltown, White Harbor, Lannisport, or King's Landing... my longships can transport the Gold Dragons you need safely to any location with the greatest speed."
This arrangement clarified everyone's base while keeping the vital lifeline of cash flow in his own hands, convincing the group with his majority share and absolute maritime superiority. The leaders present pondered briefly, then nodded in succession, reaching this far-reaching consensus.
Euron nodded slightly, pushing the agenda to the more practical operational level. "Next, the core of maintaining the bank's lifeblood—lending methods, and liability for losses."
Before anyone else could speak, Tyrion Lannister, sitting in the shadows, took over with his unique voice, tinged with teasing and sobriety.
"The Iron Bank of Braavos's way—supporting opposition to overthrow regimes if kings default, blockading ports if cities breach contracts, forcibly transferring debt to relatives or allies for clients..." Tyrion swirled his wine. "For our nascent bank, these methods based on power politics are not practical and make too many enemies."
Tyrion put down his cup, tapping his fingers gently on the table, articulating his vision clearly. "We need a set of rules more refined and grounded in law and asset security."
"First, formal contracts. For every loan, both parties must sign a rigorous contract with legal effect, clearly stating in black and white the interest rate, repayment term, installment amounts, and... unmistakably clear consequences for default."
"Second, collateral. Borrowers must provide sufficient and easily liquidatable assets as collateral. This can be precious antiques, shares in functioning merchant guilds, charters for lucrative trade routes, or even unique artifacts of recognized value."
"Finally, the ultimate guarantee—fixed assets." Tyrion's voice carried a hint of cold hardness. "When the above collateral is insufficient or fails, we will directly step into a more fundamental realm: using future tax revenues of their fiefs, land under their name, castles, or even mining rights as the final guarantee for debt repayment."
Finally, he added a crucial link. "Furthermore, we must establish a risk rating system. Based on factors like the borrower's repayment ability, collateral value, and loan purpose, we assign different risk grades and set differentiated interest rates and loan terms accordingly. This is not only a necessary means to control risk but also the key to maximizing our returns."
---
It seemed Tyrion had done his homework thoroughly during this time. His speech was logical and his analysis reasonable, earning unanimous praise from everyone present.
Next, Euron pulled the meeting back to the most realistic and cruel issue—security. He looked around, his voice steady and powerful. "The cornerstone of the bank's survival—security issues."
"Every branch will hold significant liquid funds daily. In case of large loans, massive amounts of Gold Dragons will need to be urgently transferred from neighboring branches." Euron threw out the core difficulty. "How do we ensure the absolute safety of these Gold Dragons during storage and transport?"
Euron first stated the Iron Islands' attitude and responsibility, breaking the silence. "On the sea, and for all funds arriving at port cities via maritime transport, the Iron Islands take full responsibility and bear all accidental losses." This promise was based on House Greyjoy's absolute control over sea routes.
Immediately, he pointed the problem to the more complex inland. "Highgarden, Sunspear, Casterly Rock—these are your core heartlands, naturally impregnable. But what about other places? Riverrun, the Eyrie, Winterfell, Storm's End... Facing mountains of Gold Dragons, there will be no shortage of those willing to take risks. How do we guarantee the safety of these branches?"
This problem was indeed the thorniest and most realistic. The hall fell into contemplation.
At this moment, Tyrion's voice, tinged with cunning, sounded again. He proposed a clever "profit-sharing" strategy.
"Simple. Turn the ruling families of these places into our allies of interest." He spoke with assurance. "The branch at Riverrun cannot do without House Tully's support; the Eyrie branch naturally needs House Arryn's permission; Winterfell needs the Starks' care; Storm's End cannot bypass House Baratheon. Obtaining their families' promise of protection provides the most fundamental security guarantee. Of course, the price we need to pay is—ceding a portion of the profits from the relevant branches to them."
Lord Tywin nodded slightly, expressing explicit approval for the first time. "A necessary cost. It is proper." But he immediately pointed out a loophole. "Then, what about branches in port cities not directly controlled by major families? Such as Gulltown, Oldtown, White Harbor?"
Tyrion grinned, clearly having thought this through.
"As for those key port city branches... we can simply make them 'exquisite shells'." He looked at Euron. "After all, we have Lord Greyjoy's fleet as backing. In these port branches, we only store a small amount of Gold Dragons to maintain daily operations. Once there is a demand for a large loan, relying on the speed of Greyjoy longships, we can safely transport the required gold from the nearest vault before the approval process is even finished. Want to borrow money? You have to give us a few days to 'raise' it, right?"
This plan cleverly utilized the Iron Islands' maritime mobility and the time lag of loan approval, turning the highest-risk port branches into low-risk outposts.
Euron looked satisfied, nodding in praise. "A good idea. Combining the void with the solid, binding with interests. Thus, security is settled."
Euron threw out the last practical issue concerning the bank's smooth operation. "Finally, personnel. Thirteen branches mean we need thirteen managers whose ability and loyalty are sufficient for the trust. If we establish a headquarters to coordinate the overall situation, that makes fourteen key positions." He looked around. "Do you have suitable candidates in mind?"
The response was a brief silence and unanimous head-shaking. Even the most calculating Tywin and Lady Olenna couldn't give an answer immediately. Euron himself gave a helpless, bitter smile; talents proficient in finance and absolutely reliable were indeed hard to come by.
Lord Tywin looked at the darkening sky outside the window and broke the silence steadily. "Suitable candidates cannot be decided in a day. What we discussed today is already a bountiful harvest." His voice carried an unquestionable tone of conclusion. "Why don't we all think deeply again and see if there are any details to add? As for this final step of personnel..." He paused perfectly, steering the topic toward the upcoming event. "Let us shelve it for now. We will decide after my daughter's wedding ceremony."
This proposal was reasonable.
Everyone understood that such important personnel appointments indeed required more time for deliberation rather than a hasty decision. The group nodded in agreement.
With that, this secret meeting in the Blackwater Hall, enough to influence the future pattern of the Seven Kingdoms, came to a temporary close.
The fire in the hearth still danced, illuminating the people who had just laid the foundation for a future financial empire. The more specific, longer chapter of construction would officially begin after the King's wedding.