Chapter 246: Auctioning the Naming Rights

Viserys's return was a surprise to everyone, but to Benerro, it was a shock. 'What... how... doesn't Nissa have to die?' he stammered in disbelief. Yet the reality was undeniable: despite being severely burned and losing all his hair, Viserys had survived.

To everyone else, this miraculous survival was met with unexpected acceptance. After all, if Dany could emerge unscathed from the flames, why couldn't Viserys? The nobles gathered for the celebration quickly recognized that every move Viserys made would influence the fate of the entire Free Cities.

Power was clearly in his grasp, and they eagerly extended their support.

What surprised them all, however, was Viserys's next announcement: he would be auctioning off the naming rights to the dragons, starting at 80,000 gold dragons. The room buzzed with confusion. Did Viserys need money? It didn't make sense. He was already the wealthiest man in the Free Cities, having recently plundered significant wealth during the "traitor incident," seizing much of the riches of Myr and Lys. He was now the undisputed master of the Disputed Lands. So why was he seeking more wealth in this manner?

Despite their puzzlement, Alios, one of the Triarchs of Volantis, quickly realized that he could gather the funds—after all, 100,000 gold dragons was within his reach if he pushed hard enough.

And he wouldn't have to foot the bill alone; he could always levy the entire city of Volantis for the money. The red dragon had hatched from the egg he had gifted to Viserys, and Alios was determined to win the naming rights. For a 'refiner of tiles' like him, the temptation was irresistible.

As a politician, Alios knew this was more than just an investment. By securing the naming rights, his house could forge a strong alliance with Viserys. "Lord Nyssos, that red dragon hatched from the egg I gave Prince Viserys. We must secure the naming rights to it!" Alios insisted.

"Yes, this is crucial for us!" Nyssos agreed, sensing Viserys's intentions. The dragon would one day grow into a formidable weapon, just as Aegon the Conqueror's Black Dread had spewed fire upon Volantis's army three centuries ago. Viserys, with this ultimate weapon at his disposal, could do the same.

If they could buy the naming rights, they reasoned, wouldn't that give them a claim to 'rent' the dragon when needed? Especially for Alios, who as the former owner of the red dragon egg, could closely associate his house with the dragon. When his heir ascended to power, they would gain even more influence and support.

The two men suddenly realized that Viserys had devised an ingenious business model.

Meanwhile, across the room, Roth were also speculating. Roth suspected that Viserys's goal wasn't simply about making money. He was playing a much larger game.

"He can't be unaware of what a dragon represents—it's a symbol of glory. No matter how much money he makes from it, selling a dragon's naming rights isn't cost-effective in the long run," Roth mused, his brow furrowed in concern. Viserys's approach seemed to diminish the dragons' status, and in Roth's view, Viserys wasn't a greedy man.

With seven young dragons, even if the naming rights for each were sold for a total of one million gold dragons, the long-term impact would be to undermine the dragons' sacred nature. Roth also knew that Viserys controlled the tobacco trade, which was immensely profitable. One or two million gold dragons would be merely three to five years of tobacco profits. Viserys didn't need to resort to this.

"So, should we buy the naming rights to a dragon?" Methys asked, posing the crucial question. She now regretted not handing over the purple dragon egg she possessed to Viserys—perhaps they could have had an additional purple dragon.

"Of course we should," Roth replied without hesitation. "What did Valyria use to rule the world? Magic and dragons. If we buy the naming rights to a young dragon, we can at least claim a connection to Viserys and leave a legacy for our descendants. Our House's position in Braavos would also be more secure."

In fact, Roth saw the auction for the naming rights as a shrewd move. Among the Nine Free Cities, excluding the "Kingdom of the Four Daughters" (since figures like Kambron Tregar had been eliminated, there was no need for the confederation to maintain its pretense), only five cities maintained true autonomy. With everyone getting a chance, and a starting price of 80,000 gold dragons, Roth estimated the final bids could easily reach several hundred thousand.

"Let's choose the naming rights for the young green dragon," he decided. "Viserys won that green dragon egg in Braavos."

"The naming rights to a dragon…" Mellario echoed, intrigued. She was a sharp woman, capable of seeing the same opportunities as anyone else. However, the vast sum of nearly 100,000 gold dragons wasn't something she could easily muster. Mellario considered her options and thought that perhaps it was time to reach out to the husband she hadn't seen in years—Prince Doran.

...

After the news broke, even Connington had some reservations about Viserys's decision to auction off the naming rights to the young dragons. However, once Viserys had made up his mind, Connington knew better than to stand in his way. After all, it was just the right to name the dragons, and in exchange for millions of gold dragons, it seemed like a very cost-effective deal.

With the Throne Hall burned and temporarily unusable, Viserys decided to hold the auction at Tyrosh's largest port, giving all the citizens of Tyrosh the opportunity to witness this unprecedented event.

"Are you saying that Prince Viserys and Daenerys hatched seven magical dragons? Is that even believable?" a man in the crowded tavern asked, his voice thick with skepticism.

"Believable? Just ask Kambron!" replied a vendor with bloodshot eyes, slamming his wooden wine glass onto the table. "That explosion the other day? It was Kambron's doing—we all know that."

"Yes," another merchant chimed in. "Kambron orchestrated the wildfire attack, hoping to kill Prince Viserys and Daenerys, and then lead the Golden Company in a coup. But he didn't expect the Prince would hatch dragons. When the Golden Company saw the dragons, they were paralyzed with fear, and Kambron and his lot were burned alive by dragon fire!"

"Ha! Serves them right! Prince Viserys and Daenerys are the best!" someone shouted, raising his glass.

Since Viserys had come to power in Tyrosh, he had reduced many taxes, earning the favor of the common people. The majority of them were thrilled that the Targaryens once again had dragons. They instinctively believed that with dragons in the mix, their safety would be assured.

The day of the auction for the naming rights arrived quickly. Tyrosh's largest port was packed with at least 50,000 to 60,000 people. Viserys had to deploy 2,000 troops just to maintain order, as everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the dragons.