Seeing everyone finish their reports and look to him, Arthur asked Ledger Pate, "Pate, how long have I been in Braavos?"
Pate answered without hesitation, "Seven months, my lord."
"Seven months," Arthur sighed. "The gods be praised. Who could have imagined we'd reach this point in just seven months?"
"It's all due to your leadership, my lord," Zaren praised sincerely. "Otherwise, I would never have made it to Braavos. I might have rotted on Sweetsister all my life."
"I can't do it alone," Arthur shook his head.
"Zaren, you were a captain. You know that for a ship to brave the waves, it needs more than just a captain. Sailors, oarsmen, mates, cooks, surgeons, fighters—none are dispensable."
"My lord, I..." Zaren tried to explain, but Arthur waved his hand, signaling him to listen.
"If a captain exiles his crew without reason just because food is short, the ship is doomed." Arthur nodded approvingly at the Summer Islander.
"Kojja Mo is right. We should open new trade routes."
"Vickon, tell your father to take the two large Sistermen ships and one purple-sailed ship from the fleet. Send men he trusts to pioneer new routes."
"Yes. Which cities specifically?" Vickon agreed and suggested, "The cities near the Stepstones practice slavery. Pirates are rampant there, storms are frequent... too many uncertainties."
"Gulltown, Pentos, King's Landing," Arthur thought for a moment and instructed.
"Start with Gulltown. Nearest to farthest, one by one, don't rush. Just like before—learn the channels, currents, climate, monsoons. Record detailed charts and logs."
"Yes."
"My lord, why not ask the Manderlys to contribute ships?" Zaren frowned, puzzled. "Even if not all, surely one would be fine!"
"This is compensation."
"Compensation?"
"The Three Sisters lie between White Harbor and Braavos. Lord Godric's wrecking operations affect not just unlucky captains, but White Harbor as well." Arthur glanced at Zaren, who was dressed in black silk like a Braavosi lord.
"If I hadn't tied House Manderly to us with profit from the start, letting them taste the sweetness, perhaps you'd be at the Wall right now, wearing black wool instead of black silk."
Zaren shrank back and fell silent.
"Speaking of wrecking, what do you think of the insurance merchant, Sabel Kaffi?"
Vickon answered first, "My father says Sabel Kaffi is a greedy fat man who values gold above all else."
Zaren looked up. "He is capable. In terms of intelligence gathering, I learned much from him in Braavos."
'Ledger' Pate was succinct. "He is our partner. He provides intelligence."
"Indeed, a partner," Arthur licked his lips unconsciously, a faint smile playing on his lips. "A temporary partner."
"Temporary?" Zaren was confused.
"Have you thought about how he views us?" Arthur seemed to ask himself. "Temporary partners."
"Our cooperation began with profit, and it will end with profit." Arthur said with certainty. "I think you should be mentally prepared. It might get ugly when that time comes."
"When the one-eyed fat man... truly controls the entire insurance market share for trade between Braavos and White Harbor..." Pate's eyes lit up, understanding Arthur's point.
"By then... he truly won't need us anymore. And he won't provide valuable intelligence anymore either."
"What should we do?" Zaren started, sweat beading on his forehead. He clearly realized the danger. "Should I write to my uncle to reduce the wrecking operations now?"
"The point isn't about wrecking more or less," Arthur signaled for him to stay calm.
"I mean that as long as the cooperation continues, it will eventually end. We should think about what to do then.
"As for the other insurance merchants discovering our repatriation of crews with Sabel Kaffi, the one who should worry most is Sabel Kaffi."
"The Three Sisters are far across the Narrow Sea. Luring ships onto reefs is immoral, a grey industry indeed." Zaren grasped at straws, explaining hurriedly.
"But my uncle repatriates everyone politely and doesn't mistreat them. It shouldn't draw too much hatred, except from those insurance merchants."
Vickon agreed with Arthur. "The other merchants have united, meaning they won't exit quietly. They will take action, likely against Sabel Kaffi."
"Whether they succeed or fail, it's bad for us," Pate put down his quill, analyzing seriously.
"If they succeed, we lose Sabel Kaffi's intelligence. If they fail, Sabel Kaffi consolidates the market and parts ways with us."
"I think the insurance business and the associated wrecking operations bring us no return, only risk," Vickon, representing the Braavosi perspective, hated wrecking. He proposed:
"We should cut that part off and focus on shipping and the smithy."
"Absolutely not," Zaren shouted in opposition. "We came here because of the insurance business. How can we..."
Vickon didn't back down. "What we do in the Sisters is unsustainable. It's the perfect time to stop."
"Enough. Everyone out," Arthur stopped the argument. "Zaren, stay. Vickon, wait for me in the side hall."
Only Zaren remained in the hall. Arthur poured him a full cup of peach wine. "Remember our first tour of Braavos?"
"I won't forget," Zaren's eyes shimmered, his voice choking slightly. "You taught me what insurance was, and what to do."
Facilitating the partnership between Zaren and the merchant had allowed Arthur to establish a foothold in Braavos.
Repatriating the wrecked captains later brought Arthur some fame, allowing him to recruit skilled sailors and captains to expand the fleet.
Measured by profit, Arthur's costs and risks far outweighed the gains. He did it mostly to fulfill his promise to Lord Godric.
Arthur's voice was low. "You said yourself that wrecking is immoral. Now we must look forward."
"But my lord, what else can the Three Sisters do besides smuggling and wrecking?" Zaren said bitterly. "Fishing? Crabbing? Is that the future of the Sistermen?"
"Actually... you can also collect tariffs," Arthur patted Zaren's shoulder.
"Have you ever thought about replacing Sabel Kaffi? For the future of the Three Sisters!"
"My lord... huh?" Zaren lifted his head in shock, processing the words slowly. "What... what did you say?"
Arthur: "Replace the one-eyed fat man. We will dominate the insurance industry for shipping between White Harbor and Braavos. Isn't that just another form of collecting tariffs?"
Zaren: "But we don't have the intelligence channels."
"Insurance is an industry," Arthur said noncommittally, signaling Zaren to raise his glass. "The other merchants do."
Zaren: "You want to partner with them?"
"No. I want to work with Sabel Kaffi to crush them, to kick them all out of the game." Arthur downed his wine in one gulp.
"Dealing with one merchant is easier than dealing with a group.
"If we succeed, every ship sailing from Braavos to White Harbor will pay us a 'tariff'."
Zaren downed his wine as well, his expression more serious than ever before. "In the name of the Lady of the Waves and the Lord of the Skies, I swear to follow you in everything from this day forth."