"Fifteen percent. This is a massive deal worth millions of Gold Dragons. Even the Iron Bank would find it difficult to take on a contract like this. Besides, I can always borrow money from Casterly Rock." Jaehaerys II attempted to project royal authority, though he knew lowering the interest rate and extending the repayment period with the Iron Bank would be difficult. But bargaining was necessary for the sake of the kingdom.
After speaking, Jaehaerys II adjusted the crown on his head. This crown, made of black iron and red gold, had golden horns atop it. It belonged to Maekar I, the King's ancestor, a brave warrior, but the warrior's descendants lacked strength.
"Great King, no one can escape the eyes and ears of the Iron Bank," Tycho Nestoris said slyly.
Before coming, he had gathered enough clues and materials to take on this single deal with immense returns. Every loan was a combination of wisdom, ambition, and courage, but the most important factor was information.
Tycho had gathered abundant information: the weak Dragonlords had launched a clumsy war and needed a large sum of money. Moreover, the Dragonlords' credit was decent; they had the Seven Kingdoms as collateral, and if all else failed, perhaps a few dragon eggs could be secured as payment—that would be an unexpected bonus.
Rhaegar looked at Tycho's face. There was a reason moneylenders had been hated since ancient times.
But compared to Braavos, the Dragonlord had very few cards left to play. The Targaryen knights were dead, and the Targaryen dragons had long been extinct.
"Borrowing from the Lannisters now will not be enough.
As far as I know, before the tragedy at Summer Hall, you had no intention of borrowing money. Prince Duncan even mocked that Nine Crowns were only worth nine copper pennies."
If Ser Duncan or Prince Duncan had led the army, their influence alone could have summoned enough hedge knights, second sons, and commoners to overwhelm Maris Blackfyre's Golden Company. But the tragedy at Summer Hall changed everything. For the Crown to summon a large number of regular troops, vast amounts of gold are needed.
Duke Tytos is indecisive. He cannot raise this much money in a short time. And King, the front lines are desperate; your military funds are needed right now. What are you waiting for?"
"Only we, the great Iron Bank, can satisfy your every need."
Jaehaerys II fell into a brief silence. What the envoy said was indeed accurate.
Everyone had been optimistic about the War of the Ninepenny King, believing it could be easily quelled. Unexpectedly, a great fire destroyed everything, and the kingdom no longer had a proper knight commander. There was no Prince Duncan, no Ser Duncan, and not even figures like Lord Bloodraven.
War cannot be solved by paper and pen alone. The growth of civilization still requires the protection of warriors.
After the fire at Summer Hall, this carefully planned war turned into a dragon devouring the treasury. Without gold, the war could not continue; armor, food, and medicine would run out. Without gold, angry Ironborn would sail directly toward the Westerlands or attack King's Landing. Without gold, the crippled veterans would become the most terrifying bandits, venting their rage upon the poor.
As for the Duke of Casterly Rock, The Laughing Lion, he is indecisive and guided by women, leaving his household affairs in chaos. Legend says that because he married his daughter to the upstart, second-rate House Frey, his son Tywin once slapped him. A man of such poor ability would be incapable of raising vast sums of gold quickly. Furthermore, The Laughing Lion cannot keep a secret; if the news of the King borrowing money from the Lion were exposed, it would damage the King's authority.
That left only the Iron Bank, which offered greater secrecy and strength.
"But what I don't understand is why you wouldn't choose to lend to Blackfyre?" Jaehaerys II asked. He was truly exhausted. Making this decision without the company of Lord Monder had left him mentally drained, as if crushed by the Ice Wall. He seemed to see the sneers of the Sealords, mocking him as an incompetent descendant of the Dragonlords. Nevertheless, the figure was acceptable and matched the calculations he and Lord Monder had made.
"Business is like war; we have weighed Maris's chances of victory, and they are negligible.
The previous Blackfyre Rebellions all failed, so how could this one succeed? It is merely a matter of time. Even if Daemon Blackfyre were resurrected, he would not be able to seize the iron throne.
Furthermore, Maris Blackfyre is wifeless and childless. A scoundrel like that cannot even find a guarantor.
You are different, King. You still possess the Seven Kingdoms, and you can have your sons and grandsons repay the loan.
We hate the Ninepenny Band just as much as you do. They have disrupted our order, making many of our loans difficult to recover," Tycho laughed.
Tycho was as happy as if he had drunk fine wine. Once this massive deal succeeded, he would not only receive a huge commission but his status within the Iron Bank would skyrocket. Moreover, pressuring a Dragonlord, even a weak one, was enough to bring him joy. Damn dragons, the days when you oppressed Braavos are long gone.
The loan contract was finally concluded with an interest rate of 20%, a principal of 2 million Iron Bank gold coins, and a repayment period of three years.
Tycho took out the prepared documents, which bore the shadowy image of the titan of braavos, brave and fearless.
The moment the King signed his name, Rhaegar felt as if he had aged several years.
"game of thrones (Small Player, congratulations on witnessing a grand historical scene. Player aptitude increased.)" The notification sounded. Rhaegar was surprised to find that his achievement column had made new progress.
The pact between Jaehaerys and the Iron Bank was also a part of the wheel of history.
Manipulating events and maneuvering strategically, the presence of the Braavosi Iron Bank was indispensable behind the conflicts of the continent.
This city-state was vaguely the maintainer of continental order.
They observed from the shadows, like a colossal beast hidden beneath the sea, only occasionally revealing its terrifying face.
They possessed the world's finest warships, the immensely wealthy Iron Bank, and the awe-inspiring Faceless Men.
The Targaryens controlled the land, while Braavos controlled the sea.
After the dragons died, who could possibly oppose them?
Blue Giants, Overlords of the Sea.
They enjoyed their current status and refused to be challenged.
The death of the legendary Lysandro, the great banker of Lys, might have the shadow of the Faceless Men behind it.
In Essos and Westeros, Braavos tolerated no challenges.
Braavos, Braavos.
Rhaegar muttered the name.
From a long-term perspective, precautions had to be taken against several city-states in Essos.
Lys produces poisons: Tears of Lys and The Strangler. Myr produces crossbows, the devil's weapons.
But the greatest threat was Braavos.
The machinations of Braavos had long hung over Westeros, especially the Targaryen Family.
Braavos, the Secret City, the City of the Sea, was originally built by slaves fleeing Valyria. Between them and the ancient Dragonlords, if not a blood feud, they were certainly bitter rivals.
After the Doom of Valyria, Braavos had become the foremost power on the continent.
The Targaryens might borrow from the Iron Bank, but a shadow of fear still lingered in their hearts.