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A breeze stirred the windows of Viserysgrad, and the black-and-red dragon banners fluttered atop the castle spires and watchtowers.
A tall man and woman stood on the balcony of the royal palace, the 'White Keep'.
Viserys's royal castle had been renovated with a foundation of white marble; white represented holiness, so the castle was also called the White Keep.
Standing on the balcony carved from white stone was enough to overlook the vast scenery of the fortress.
The Black Pearl, Bellegere Otherys, held a cup of tart sour red wine from the Land of Andas, letting the mountain wind blow over her.
Viserysgrad felt a gentle breeze; this was not The Eyrie. The Eyrie, atop the mountain peaks, was filled with violent mountain winds, while the wind at Viserysgrad, situated on gentle hills, was mild.
"This wine is very sour, but sour wine is cheap; only the Andals like to drink it," the Black Pearl commented.
"A brand new fine wine will be coming out soon," Viserys said mysteriously.
Viserys had changed into a black vest with red agate buttons, making him look more like a knight.
Viserys had collected distillation apparatus from the fallen Greenvine Family for the purpose of making new fine spirits: Brandy, Whiskey, and Golden Rum. "The Viserys in my memory was no liar; I look forward to your success." The Black Pearl looked at Viserys's handsome face; kingship had draped a sacred veil over him.
"Of course, I'll need to rely on you to open up sales channels when the time comes," Viserys said, full of high spirits.
Viserys's temperament was now completely different from his time in Braavos. He was no longer the cautious, landless king living under the wings of others, but a restorationist making a comeback.
"That won't be a problem," the Black Pearl nodded. "As long as it's truly intoxicating fine wine, there's no need to worry about sales."
"You really seem to be short on money," the Black Pearl remarked.
"Of course I'm short on money. Feeding men and horses, including city construction and the army, are all massive drains on wealth. Relying purely on taxes is still not quite enough, and I don't have a navy yet," Viserys said, stating the facts.
Viserys's income came from taxes and the windfall of wealth collected from eliminating the Greenvine Family.
However, the economic level of the Andals was not high. Besides money, many commoners handed over grain, cloth, even fruit, wine, and other foods, as well as ancestral old armor.
The ships of the Andals were still at the level of longships, not the kind of great warships that dominated the seas.
"Unfortunately, the Iron Bank still won't open its arms to you," the Black Pearl said. "They are still waiting and watching."
"Is the Iron Bank afraid of a new war?" Viserys asked.
"Exactly," the Black Pearl nodded. "The dangers faced by the lenders of the Iron Bank are no less than those of knights during wartime. They still have doubts about this newborn nation in the Land of Andas. After all, if you fail in a single war, the Iron Bank's investment will go down the drain."
"It seems I must achieve some victories. Whether against the dothraki or other forces." Viserys held the finely carved railing and gazed into the distant sky.
Only through victory in war could the newborn nation in the Land of Andas be consolidated.
At the same time, situated in a land surrounded by potential conflict, the Land of Andas could not refuse a challenge.
"However, I will secretly continue to provide you with a financial base, but the speed at which you spend money is getting faster and faster, Viserys. You have to keep the money circulating."
"I will be grateful for this friendship," Viserys said to the Black Pearl.
In addition to the Black Pearl, Viserys also thought of making money through brewing.
There was also Pentos. Wealthy Pentos had the reputation of a 'money-delivery boy' among the Free Cities; after all, it was an undefended city, simply waiting to be squeezed for gold.
"This is quite good. My mother once invested in a crab catcher, but I am investing in a king," the Black Pearl laughed joyfully. "But the danger of you being a king is far greater than catching crabs on the sea."
"The more difficulties there are, the more glory I can gain. I am like a man climbing a high mountain, not daring to take a single step back, because I am already inside the colosseum of power." Viserys already had expectations for the coming wars.
"This time I've brought you money and some dragon bones, sea snails, Sea King Crabs, and so on. I believe you'll like these gifts."
"Much appreciated."
"Does my old friend, the Prestan family, still think of me?" Viserys asked.
"They probably do. The better you develop, the more jealousy, fear, and hatred there is," the Black Pearl said with a sweet smile. "But if you hate someone, you don't necessarily have to ask personally."
However, Viserys felt that Preston, or even the Archon of Tyrosh, didn't need to act personally.
They only needed to tell the iron throne that a Targaryen remnant had restored his kingdom on the opposite shore, or tell the dothraki that the Andalos were secretly building a city, to trigger a war.
"Did you really come up with those Seven Decrees?" the Black Pearl asked Viserys.
"Of course it was me," Viserys said.
The Black Pearl looked Viserys over carefully. "I have never believed in geniuses, but you truly have the vision of a king."
"A king is not an honor, but a heavy burden. For me, my life is not for myself, but for those who have been trampled—the Andals, the rhoynar, and the persecuted."
"Kiss my finger, King. May you soon become a carefree king, rather than appearing like an old politician."
Viserys did not kiss the Black Pearl's finger, but her lips.
The Black Pearl was young and lovely; at this moment, there was a hint of anger on her face.
"You are not one to return favors with gratitude, but a beast, Viserys—a savage, cunning beast," the Black Pearl said with dissatisfaction, her chest heaving.
"I told you, I am still a young man, and young men are sometimes beasts," Viserys said dismissively.
"Besides, I am a man who could go to the battlefield at any time, facing a narrow escape from death."
"I believe you will keep winning, Viserys."
Meetings are always short; better to take the opportunity to plunder.
Until the figures of the Black Pearl and Quilo had faded into the distance and left Viserysgrad, Viserys felt as if that fragrance still lingered around him.
"You kissed her, didn't you?" Rhaenys leaned in close to Viserys and said with dissatisfaction.
"Yes," Viserys nodded.
"It seems the King has quite a lot on his mind—not just the game of thrones, but the game of love as well," Rhaenys asked.
"Don't overthink it, Rhaenys." Viserys ruffled the young girl's hair.
After all, his focus was on his career, not chasing girls everywhere in Braavos.
As for the Black Pearl, the two of them shared a mutual appreciation.
"The Black Pearl and I are good friends, but we—Rhaenys, you, Daenerys—we are family."
"Mm," Rhaenys nodded.
"If you marry her, will she become our family?" Rhaenys asked.
"That's not for me to say." Viserys did not continue answering; the Black Pearl had her own career and was not his appendage.
Rhaenys curled her lip.
But in her heart, Rhaenys felt that the Black Pearl was a great threat.
A budding young girl, Rhaenys had beautiful long brown hair, and her dark eyes were as lovely as a doe's.
But the girl was still a child, while the Black Pearl was a renowned Courtesan.
Illyrio's party left Pentos through the Sunrise Gate, heading toward the Land of Andas.
Illyrio sat in a large palanquin; in his youth, he had been an excellent warrior, but now he was so fat he could hardly manage a spirited horse.
The palanquin was suspended by heavy leather straps between eight tall horses, with four eunuch warriors flanking it for protection, and more warriors following behind to guard the baggage train.
A train of mules followed the palanquin, carrying chests, barrels of all sizes, and baskets of food to satisfy the cheese monger Illyrio's voracious appetite.
"Viserys, what kind of person are you exactly?" Illyrio murmured to himself.
According to Varys's intelligence, Viserys was just a spoiled prince.
He was only eight years old when the kingdom fell, completely useless.
At that time, Illyrio and Varys did not treat Viserys as a figure of importance; an exiled prince was no different from a kitten or a puppy, not worth noting.
But now, the situation had changed abruptly. This exiled prince had shown incomparable talent, even relying on blood and fire to re-establish a nation in the Land of Andas...
once again.
In Illyrio's original plan, Viserys had not been a key link; he and Varys shared secret intelligence exchanges.
Varys's secret intelligence regarding the court at King's Landing—such as the incestuous relationship between the Kingslayer and his sister, and Littlefinger's ambition—had made him decide to act cautiously and wait for the right opportunity.
However, now a variable had appeared.
The nation of Andas was already a country with a certain military force, and war with the iron throne would inevitably break out.
And he, Illyrio, was going to meet this Viserys who was stirring up the storm at this very time.
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