It had been over a month since Arthur had reached an agreement with Sabel Kaffi.
The contact point Sabel Kaffi provided was a very fine mansion near the Ragman's Harbor.
The residence was a four-story, square building. Fresh water was piped directly from the Sweetwater River, allowing Arthur to experience the lifestyle of a wealthy Braavosi.
The mansion boasted rare front and back courtyards. The back had a stable, a small garden, and a fountain—a very pleasant environment.
Finally, Arthur's beloved Shadow didn't have to live in the hold of the Storm.
The front courtyard was being converted into a smithy according to Arthur's specifications. Several Braavosi craftsmen were working on it, estimating completion in about a month.
The rapid progress was thanks to Braavos's renowned construction industry. Whether it was the Sweetwater aqueduct bringing fresh water from the mainland, the Palace of Truth, or the Temple of the Moonsingers, all were testaments to their engineering prowess.
The tools and raw materials for the smithy were also being procured. The mainland near Braavos was rich in iron, tin, and lead mines, so everything was readily available.
Meanwhile, Victar used the payout from Sabel Kaffi to buy a newly built, medium-sized three-masted ship with purple sails, which he named the Reefbreaker.
He planned to load it with local Braavosi textiles to sell in White Harbor.
Speaking of textiles, the Braavosi had discovered a type of sea snail among the local shellfish whose secretions produced a deep purple dye.
This discovery had fueled the development of Braavos's textile industry.
"My hold is full. I plan to sail soon," Zaren Borrell said, finding Arthur on the fourth floor of the mansion with a few of his men.
"I'll leave a few men here. They will listen to you."
"They listen to whores and singers more than they listen to me," Arthur said testily, glancing at the five staggering Sistermen behind Zaren.
"I just hope when they're drunk, they don't stumble into the wrong house—like a bravo's home. Then they can see if they're faster than a water dancer's blade."
Stuck on the Three Sisters for so long, the sailors had spent the last month thoroughly exploring Braavos's entertainment industry.
The language barrier didn't hinder their "learning" and "exchange."
By now, the Braavosi words these Sistermen knew best were "Wine" and "Fuck"—truly self-taught scholars.
"My lord, we come from small places," Zaren scratched his head in embarrassment, waving the five men away.
"A little indulgence is inevitable. I've already told them to keep it in their breeches."
"This is the intelligence from Sabel Kaffi." Arthur didn't dwell on it. He picked up a document from the table listing ships leaving Braavos for White Harbor in the near future.
The information was incredibly detailed—times, crew manifests, and in some cases, even the contents of their contracts.
Arthur had to admit, Sabel Kaffi's intelligence network was impressive, even intimidating. The one-eyed fat man reminded him of Varys, the Master of Whisperers in King's Landing.
In Arthur's eyes, Varys's ability to gather secrets was indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur translated the document into the Common Tongue and handed it to Zaren.
"Since you're returning, take this to your uncle, Lord Godric. This fulfills my agreement with him."
"I'll have Victar sail with you. Once you reach Sweetsister, release the hostages."
Zaren flipped through the pages. "If we give him the hostages, will he stop listening to us?"
"He listens to me. He is trustworthy. We will need his ship to transport people back to Braavos in the future," Arthur instructed.
"This is a long-term partnership, not a one-off deal. We need mutual trust."
Arthur called Victar in, arranged the departure details, and set a time.
Besides the five drunken Sistermen, Arthur asked Zaren to leave Cauliflower Ear behind as the captain of the Sistermen guard at the mansion.
Cauliflower Ear had been training with Arthur recently and rarely went out carousing with the others. He was the best of a bad bunch.
Arthur also kept "Ledger" Pate to manage the household affairs—logging supplies, recruiting staff, and purchasing necessities.
He also hired three Braavosi sailors and oarsmen who didn't want to go back to sea, placing them under Pate's command.
That evening, Arthur hosted a dinner as usual.
This time, he invited Pate and Cauliflower Ear, representing the Braavosi and Sistermen factions respectively.
The meal was simple: minced meat with onions, spicy scallops and oysters, square-cut fruit bread, mushroom and fish stew, and plenty of ale.
"My lord, we're strangers here. We can't speak the language, and we have nothing to do," Cauliflower Ear complained as he cut a piece of fruit bread.
"The boys don't really want to drink and whore all day, but what else is there?"
"Guard duty at the mansion. Watch for thieves and intruders. We're new here; we need to be cautious about everything," Arthur said, sipping the creamy fish stew. It was delicious.
"Later, when the smithy opens, you can learn to forge if you're interested. But interested or not, you must learn Braavosi. Including you, Cauliflower Ear."
"Ah? Me too?" Cauliflower Ear put down his bread in protest.
"Ask me to beat someone, kill someone, fine. Just don't ask me to learn this bird language."
"This isn't a negotiation. Zaren will likely keep you six stationed in Braavos permanently. If you don't speak the language, sending you out on an errand will mean you getting lost," Arthur dipped his bread in the minced meat sauce.
"Pate, you teach them. Start with common phrases."
Pate smiled bitterly as he shucked an oyster. "They don't listen to me."
"Cauliflower Ear, tell them they must learn five words a day. If they don't, they spar with me the next morning."
Arthur shot a glare at Cauliflower Ear, who was trying to intimidate Pate with his eyes. "Tell them I'll spot-check them. Don't try any funny business."
"Yes, my lord." Cauliflower Ear gulped down some ale and lowered his head in defeat.
Pate then reported on various purchasing matters.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation naturally turned to the women of Braavos.
Arthur had read in travelogues that the courtesans of Braavos were world-famous.
Mentioning them, Pate's memory kicked in, and he listed them off like treasures:
"The Veiled Lady, the Merling Queen, Moonshadow, the Daughter of the Dusk, the Nightingale, the Poetess, and the four Black Pearls."
"Braavosi courtesans are famed throughout the world. Unlike common whores, they enjoy extremely high status."
"Every courtesan has her own barge and servants. Their beauty often inspires songs."
"Goldsmiths and craftsmen shower them with gifts, hoping for their patronage."
"Nobles and wealthy merchants pay vast sums just to have them accompany them to events."
"And as everyone knows, bravos kill each other in their names."
Listening to Pate, Arthur was impressed. Braavosi courtesans provided not just technical value but emotional value as well.
This gave him an idea. Later, he could gift swords he forged to these courtesans to build a reputation for his smithy.
Arthur swore to himself—even if he was big for his age, he was still just a ten-year-old boy. He only wanted to gift swords for marketing purposes. Absolutely no other reason.