Managing businesses, practicing swordplay, forging, and using [Creation].
Six months flew by. Arthur's life in Braavos was incredibly full, his energy drained daily by a multitude of tasks.
Calculating the days, his eleventh nameday had long since passed.
The businesses Arthur established in Braavos had weathered their initial difficulties and were now stabilizing and growing.
Shipping: This was primarily managed by Victar.
The fleet had become intimately familiar with the route between White Harbor and Braavos. A steady stream of lumber and peach wine flowed from the North to Braavos.
In return, unique Braavosi goods were shipped to White Harbor. Warm clothing, in particular, was widely welcomed by the Northmen.
Besides cargo, the fleet also fulfilled the contract by transporting the unlucky captains and crews who wrecked on the Three Sisters. This act of rescuing and returning people from the notorious islands without demanding ransom unexpectedly spread Victar's—and Arthur's—fame among captains.
Of course, this reputation was a mix of good and bad.
Knowing the risks of the sea, Victar left his eldest son, Vickon, in Braavos by Arthur's side. Vickon now handled Arthur's dealings with the Arsenal and the shipyards.
The stable supply of high-quality Northern lumber allowed Arthur to capture a significant share of the raw material supply for Braavos's military and commercial shipbuilders.
This also allowed Arthur to purchase ships at a discount.
Currently, counting the ships from White Harbor and the Three Sisters, the fleet consisted of:
4 large three-masted galleys
5 medium purple-sailed ships
6 flat-bottomed two-masted galleys
Total: 15 ocean-going vessels.
White Harbor provided 2 large galleys and 4 flat-bottomed galleys.
The three lords of the Sisters provided 2 large galleys and 2 flat-bottomed galleys.
Victar and Arthur owned the 5 medium purple-sailed ships.
Regarding the invitation to House Manderly, Arthur himself hadn't been sure why he wrote to Wynafryd at the time.
To his surprise, Wynafryd trusted him completely, committing six ocean-capable vessels immediately.
This was no small investment. Ocean-going ships required large crews—nearly a hundred for a large galley, forty or fifty for a medium one.
This forced Arthur to reassess Wynafryd's influence within House Manderly. He made sure to send her novel Braavosi crafts regularly as gifts.
Smithing: This was managed by the Summer Islander, Kojja Mo.
Currently, including Kojja, the 'Snow & Peach' smithy had 3 smiths capable of forging a Black Mamba sword.
Additionally, there were 8 journeyman smiths and 13 apprentices.
Arthur's front courtyard could no longer accommodate the operation, even with shift work.
On Kojja's advice, Arthur rented a storefront and several attached buildings in a less crowded area near the mainland side of Braavos to expand the smithy.
The original smithy was kept for Arthur and the master smiths for teaching and specialized forging.
The smithy now produced three tiers of Braavosi rapiers: Snowflake-mark, Peach-mark, and Black Mamba.
Lightweight, gleaming chainmail was also highly popular among the fashion-conscious bravos and assassins.
Standardized nails, tools, and fishing gear were also well-received by craftsmen and fishermen.
Arthur had tried to forge the [Vine Armor] unlocked earlier but failed at the enchantment stage, ruining the prototypes.
He handed the project to Kojja, who knew the weaving techniques, to research further. However, the scarcity of suitable vines and the ban on logging in Braavos made progress slow.
Insurance: This was managed by Zaren Borrell.
Zaren, a former captain, had management skills and was extremely pragmatic.
Sensing Zaren's desire for the Braavosi lifestyle, Arthur had proactively written to Lord Godric to poach him.
Arthur hadn't misjudged him. Back in Braavos, the pragmatic Zaren fell in with the insurance merchant Sabel Kaffi.
Learning from the one-eyed fat man, Zaren showed a knack for intelligence gathering and processing.
He now managed the connection between the insurance merchant and the Sistermen lords, establishing multiple secure communication channels across the Narrow Sea.
With Arthur's financial backing, he also maintained a network of informants in Braavos and White Harbor, collecting rumors and market prices.
Naturally, the frequent shipping traffic facilitated the flow of information.
Due to the Sistermen lords' precision "salvage" and safe return service over the past six months, other Braavosi insurance merchants had either hiked their premiums or stopped insuring ships bound for White Harbor altogether.
"Standard report. What's happening?"
Arthur sat at the head of the table in the mansion's hall. A single cup of peach wine sat on the table beside him.
To those sitting or standing in the hall, Arthur appeared tall and robust. His grey-brown hair was neatly groomed, and a thin layer of stubble covered his chin. His violet eyes were deep and spirited.
Though still a minor with a somewhat youthful face, no one in the room dared to slight him.
"According to Captain Victar, the cargo volume between the North and Braavos is nearing saturation. The profit per voyage is decreasing." 'Ledger' Pate spoke first, standing to Arthur's left, writing in a notebook as he spoke.
"My records confirm this. Fleet revenue is dropping with each trip."
"We could reduce the number of ships. White Harbor's vessels take up half our capacity." Zaren Borrell leaned back in his chair, habitually rubbing the armrest with his webbed hand.
"I don't understand why the Manderly fat mermen get a share when they contribute nothing."
"White Harbor provides us with tariff exemptions and free warehousing," Vickon, sitting furthest from Zaren, objected.
"They bear the shipping risks just as we do. They deserve their return."
Kojja Mo, the dark-skinned smith, suggested, "Perhaps we could open new trade routes." Summer Islanders were natural explorers and traders.
"Then let the fat mermen's ships open the new routes," Zaren announced with a mocking smile. "May the Lady of the Waves and Lord of the Skies ensure they never sink."
"Anything else?" Arthur stroked the stubble on his chin with the back of his hand, expressing neither approval nor disapproval.
"Our partnership with the one-eyed fat man might have been... detected by the other insurance merchants." A flash of panic crossed Zaren's eyes as he took a sip of wine.
"Rumor has it they are banding together. They might take measures. We need to be careful."
"People aren't fools. Five or six captains returning safely from wrecks in six months? Exposure was inevitable," Arthur said calmly, his expression unchanging.
"This is actually much later than I expected."
"You anticipated this?" Seeing Arthur's calm, Zaren felt slightly reassured. "How do we respond?"
"Do you have other matters?" Arthur ignored the question, scanning the room—Kojja Mo, Vickon, and 'Shorty' Weiss, who stood silently behind him like a shadow.
"Forgive my boldness, my lord, but I wish to report to you privately," Vickon bowed. "It is a personal matter."
"Fine. Wait until the end." Arthur clapped his hands and sipped his wine. "No need for such formality."
Kojja Mo shrugged. "The new smithy construction is stable. No issues, thanks to Pate's hard work."
Although Pate didn't handle specific business operations, he acted as a general manager, saving Arthur a lot of trouble.
Finally, 'Shorty' Weiss reported, stammering slightly:
"I... as you ordered... recruited swordsmen to form a... squad loyal to you. After my screening... we have 5 Black Mamba swordsmen and 15 Peach-mark swordsmen."