The night banquet at the Sealord's Palace had come to an end, but people were still enthusiastically discussing the luxury and clamor of the masquerade.
The hot topics were endless: the three great courtesans—the Lady Blade, the Nightingale, and the Black Pearl—singing the songs of the new artist "The Silver Traveler" on the same stage, and the mysterious knight sharing the first dance with multiple courtesans.
For a moment, this silver-haired young man was undoubtedly the talk of the town.
But for Viserys, the trouble was just beginning.
His alias, the "Silver Traveler," had garnered massive attention, but it had also drawn the gaze of the Prestayn family.
Viserys hadn't expected his first wave of adversaries to be local Braavosi elites rather than assassins sent by Robert Baratheon or Tywin Lannister.
By leveraging the Black Pearl's fame, he naturally had to accept the jealousy of the local young nobles.
The next day, in Viserys's study, he gathered with Syrio, Moro, and Roland Lake.
"Beauty brings trouble," Syrio joked, looking at the Myrish portraits in Viserys's hand.
The Prestayn family wanted to sign a genius songwriter like Viserys to boost the profile of their courtesan, the "Mermaid Queen."
Of course, the young Master Prestayn was also simply envious and hateful watching Viserys glide through the flowers.
The Myrish portraits were realistic, capturing Viserys dancing with the Black Pearl, her gown flowing beautifully.
In these paintings, the courtesan was the protagonist, and Viserys was the supporting character, but even so, he shone brightly enough.
"They are indeed beautiful," Ser Roland praised. The Myrish style was very elegant.
"When beauty and power mix, it becomes even more troublesome," Viserys said.
That was the case with Rhaegar. Taking Lyanna Stark was one of the fuses that lit the War of the Usurper.
Lyanna was said to have a wild, northern beauty, not the refined style of a typical highborn lady.
When Rhaegar crowned her the Queen of Love and Beauty, people said Robert laughed loudly, but those close to him knew that from that day on, Robert never forgave his cousin Rhaegar.
Not to mention that Lyanna Stark was already betrothed to Robert when Rhaegar took her.
Viserys couldn't say how much Robert truly loved Lyanna. The man whored, drank, gambled, and fathered bastards left and right, yet still considered himself a devoted, heartbroken lover.
In reality, the man before and after getting into bed were likely two different people.
Rhaegar's actions were even more catastrophically stupid because he already had a Dornish princess for a wife and an heir to boot.
That maneuver essentially rubbed the faces of several great houses into the dirt.
"We still have two princesses. The trouble will only grow in the future," Ser Roland reminded him gently.
"Right, those two," Viserys brushed back his hair. Although Rhaenys and Daenerys were still young, they were beginning to show their unearthly beauty.
Add in their unique dragonlord bloodline, and their attraction would far exceed that of any courtesan.
Beauty is a scarce resource in any era, equivalent to Viserys carrying priceless jewels on his person.
Without power and force to back it up, it would only lead to looting.
Since you can't guard against thieves every moment of every day, the only option is to show the world that Viserys is covered in thorns.
"Regardless, safety comes first. Let's wait and see how the Prestayn family moves," Viserys decided. stillness against motion was the best strategy.
He wasn't worried about Syrio. Even retired, Syrio commanded respect in Braavos's upper circles.
The troublesome ones were Ser Roland and Moro, his friends.
Roland was his guard and master-at-arms, while Moro was essentially on loan from the Lady Blade.
Viserys and the two girls didn't go out often, so the immediate risk was low.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"The Titan's Bastard, Mero. Have you heard of him, Syrio?" Viserys asked.
"He is a dangerous killer, but he loves wine as much as life, chases women constantly, and is always short of money. If you aren't mistaken, Mero is likely temporarily serving as a bodyguard for Yoro Prestayn," Syrio recalled his impression of the man.
"I understand," Viserys nodded. Knowing the enemy makes victory easier.
Mero, like Lyn Corbray, was always broke.
This Mero had a role later in the original timeline. He would likely leave Braavos and become the commander of the Second Sons.
He would drive the Second Sons' reputation into the mud, eventually get outsmarted by Daenerys's wine trick, and be killed by Ser Barristan during an assassination attempt, after which Brown Ben Plumm would take over.
"The Black Pearl arranged for a captain from the Rum Association to help you. The Prestayn family shouldn't take such a risk," Syrio evaluated. "This is a clever move. The crabbers of the Rum Association have their own conflicts with the Prestayn family."
"Conflicts?" Moro and Ser Roland were unaware of these internal disputes.
"Correct," Syrio nodded. "There is a profession in Braavos called the insurance broker. They make contracts with captains. If a captain's ship is lost in a storm or taken by pirates, they guarantee full payment for the value of the ship and cargo. It's essentially insurance."
"Sounds like gambling," Ser Roland said.
"It is like gambling, but every captain hopes to lose," Syrio said. "The sea is a cruel mistress, cold and indifferent. When captains lose their ships, they often lose their lives too. The sea is dangerous, especially in autumn."
Viserys felt a chill. "Even if these captains truly encounter a storm, the insurance brokers will use every excuse to deny payment or delay it. The captains' families are left in poverty."
"Exactly," Syrio nodded. "Every great family has its own industry—banking, fishing, or trade. The Prestayn family is in insurance."
Insurance brokers were all the same, using flashy clauses to restrict rights.
Arya Stark's first kill as an apprentice was a greedy insurance broker.
"Some captains are easy to talk to, others are not. Crabbers have the highest mortality rate among fishermen, so their premiums are the highest. To teach these brokers a lesson, the crabbers smashed up some of the Prestayn family's insurance offices and beat their men."
Viserys realized the relationships in Braavos were intricate, but at least he now grasped some of the threads.
The waters of Braavos flowed as they pleased. On a gloomy, rainy day, Viserys met the Black Pearl and the guest she brought.
The head of the "Rum Association," the leader of the crabbers, Ringo.
"Ringo Kames. I am the best crabber in Braavos. I only catch the fiercest Sealord's Crabs," the middle-aged, medium-built crabber introduced himself. He smelled of smoke, salt, and fish—a seasoned old captain.
He had gray hair and a sturdy build; judging by his strength, he was also a dangerous fighter.
Viserys was curious if these crabbers, who sailed to the far north, had ever seen White Walkers, wights, or ice dragons.
"Viserys," Viserys said. "The Silver Traveler, the Violet Swordsman."
"Your fame rings throughout Braavos, you flashy and dangerous young man," Ringo laughed heartily.
"My trouble comes from that fame."
"I've long found those money-grubbing insurance brokers an eyesore. We fought the Prestayns once before. Not to mention, the previous Black Pearl did me a kindness."
"It was a win-win, a small favor," the Black Pearl smiled faintly.
"Not a small favor. When my ship capsized, your mother lent me a low-interest loan so I could buy a new one," Ringo recalled.
The Black Pearl's family spanned four generations; their network and legacy were unmatched by any other courtesan.
"Have a drink," Viserys offered.
"I brought my own," Ringo said. "Black rum, the sailor's favorite. I wonder if a descendant of Dragonlords can handle it."
"Is it that hard?" Viserys smiled. Rum was actually his next business venture. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
"Good." "Crab Tycoon" Ringo appreciated his frankness; sailors hated pretentious noble airs.
The cups clinked together, and the smell of rum filled the air.
Pitch-black rum wasn't expensive, but it was beloved by sailors.
It had a peculiar taste and hit hard; sweet on entry, but with a fierce aftertaste that burned the tongue.
"I've wanted to meet the Silver Traveler for a long time. 'Five Hundred Miles' is my favorite song. Sailors always miss home. I didn't expect a crab monger like me to drink with a Dragon King," Ringo said.
"Like a sailor, I am a traveler," Viserys said, feeling like a drifting sailor himself.
"I told you he was a man of many talents, not an ordinary dragon," the Black Pearl laughed.
"Having drunk the black tar wine, you are a friend of us crabbers, Your Grace Viserys. And those insurance peddlers at Prestayn were never my friends anyway," Ringo said, admiring Viserys. "You do have a charming charisma."
"To friendship."
"To friendship."
The canals of Braavos wound and twisted, the alleys even stranger. Within this fog lay the crisscrossing stage of the courtesans.
Viserys had gained a strong ally in the Crab Tycoon, but that didn't mean the story would proceed smoothly.
Not long after, dark news reached Viserys.
His first Water Dancer instructor, Moro, was dead.