4

"Well, it was.....disappointing" To say it was a fight would be a big lie, massacre would be the right word, they were neither trained nor equipped to face us, imagine a bunch of puppies attacking a pack of wolves, and you'll get the whole idea of what just happened.

"Not surprising coming from pirate scum." Says Salazar, spitting on one of the many corpses littering the deck of the Black Pearl.

Honestly, I couldn't disagree with him, I was expecting something more...epic, at least I got to see a bit of where my combat level stands, however, I doubt that punks who can barely hold a sword properly would let me know.

"Me who was feeling excited about my first fight, well, throw the corpses overboard and plunder their ships quickly, I'm going back to my quarters, let me know if we get to Pentos." I say to Salazar before heading for my quarters, a little disappointed by the fight I've just had.

-

My eyelids flutter open at the sound of knocks banging on my cabin door, I rise from my bed and walk to the door, and open it to see a soldier standing before me.

"My lord, Captain Salazar sent me to tell you that we've docked."

I nod and dismiss him before heading out onto the deck myself, where Salazar is giving orders to the men to look after the ship.

I get off the ship and look around, still a little in awe of the new world I'm living in, this world may be completely out of whack, but one thing's for sure, it's beautiful.

With just one problem, no, there are thousands of problems where this world is concerned, but right now, there's one problem that bothers me and makes me want to turn back.

"This place stinks."

An inconvenience of having become superhuman, my senses are now too, and right now at this very moment, what captures my sense of smell is hurting me.

'Once I'm back home, I've got to install hygiene standards at all costs.'

While I'm deep in thought, a soldier approaches me.

"A man wishes to see you, he says he's a representative of Magister Illyrio." 

Well, that didn't take long. "Let him through."

The soldier nods and walks away for a few seconds before returning with a man.

"Good day, lord Harlow, we weren't expecting you so soon." He says in a voice a little too confident, the fact that I'm not a powerful house probably gives him quite a pair of balls to talk to me like that, but it doesn't matter.

"I have very good ships, is Magister Illyrio ready for our appointment?" I ask with a dangerous smile that immediately shatters his fragile confidence.

"Yes, if you'd like to follow me with your cargo." My smile widens as his much less confident voice reaches my ears as we begin our journey to the mansion of the fat mother...I mean Magister Illyrio.

Luckily for me, my father owns a raven, a very useful little thing given that I was able to use it to send a letter to the fat suc...

Coaxing him with letters on paper was very easy, and I sincerely doubt that coaxing him with words will be difficult, especially after he's tasted the nectar I've brought back.

My men load some of my wares into carts before we set off in the direction of the magister's mansion.

-

"Lord Harlow, delighted to meet you in person, I must say I was somewhat intrigued by your letter." Illyrio says to me in a confident, slightly contemptuous tone.

As with his manservant, he didn't take me seriously, but that's understandable, for the Westerosi and Essosi, Skagos is just a backwater full of degenerate cannibalistic savages. I could hardly contain myself from laughing at his surprise when he saw a clean-cut, well-spoken lord, the fat bastard probably expecting a dirty savage who couldn't even speak.

Honestly, I don't give a damn what Illyrio thinks, he's only useful to me now, once the other Free Cities and the cities of the Slave Bay have heard of my alcohol and tasted it, they'll all be knocking at my door and Illyrio will be of no use to me, so for the time being, I'll just put up with his blatant disregard for me. 

At least for now.

"Well, I knew that to attract someone of your stature, I'd have to get creative." I say in a humble voice, while I smile inwardly as I watch him puff out his chest with pride.

'Idiots.'

"Very well, very well, however I hope your alcohol is as good as you say it is, I'm a busy man." He's lying shamelessly, I can still smell the sex on him, I probably interrupted him while he was fucking a random maid, but again, I'll just play it nice, once he tastes the alcohol, he'll be dancing in my hands.

"I sincerely apologize for disturbing your work, dear magister, however, I think the drink I'm about to present to you is well worth it, especially for someone as refined as you." I say in a calm, warm tone that has no trouble charming Illyrio, who smiles proudly.

"Very well, let me taste your beverage." He says with a big smile as I signal one of my men to bring a bottle of whiskey. 

One of Illyrio's maids takes the bottle and pours it into a glass, which she hands to her master, and as the liquor slides down the idiot's gullet, I can see his eyes widen with pleasure at the taste of the drink.

'I got you'

"Hooo, this beverage is simply sumptuous." Said he as he finished his glass in one gulp and ordered the maid to give him the whole fucking bottle, good thing this world is run by alcoholics.

"How much?" Illyrio says straight into my eyes as I smile.

"Well, it's quite expensive, I'm sure someone of your stature can understand that not just anyone can buy such a beverage." 

"I can understand that, but money won't be a problem for me." He says a little vexed.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that, however, I was thinking of another arrangement that might benefit us both." I say in a calm, confident voice as I smile inwardly at him being glued to my lips like a child in front of a good story.

"You see, I'd like to do business with the other free cities, however, I have neither the money nor the connections for that, so I'd like to propose the following deal, use your reputation to deliver bottles to each of the free city leaders, so they can taste my brew."

"As well as a letter offering them possible sales, in exchange, I'll give you a whole cargo of Whiskey, what do you think? All you'll have to do is vouch for me and provide me with horses and wagons, while I'll do the rest." I finish my proposal and I can see the excitement in those eyes.

Illyrio is certainly easy to manipulate, but he's still a merchant, and he knows that this proposal is perfectly acceptable. For me, it's disadvantageous, because I lose an entire cargo, but once my alcohol has made the rounds of the free cities, these losses will be non-existent.

"Very well, I accept your proposal." He says cheerfully as we conclude our deal.

With nothing more to add, I get up and am about to leave when I'm stopped by Illyrio.

"Please lord Harlow stay then, what will people say if I let a lord sleep in a simple inn, you are at home here my friend."

'Friend? You fat goat-fucking bastard.' Of course, these insults were said in my head, on the outside, a calm smile is pasted on my face as I reply.

"I graciously accept this honor magister, now I must return to my ships to select men to escort the liquor to the free cities as well as to bring your liquor." I tell him in a charming tone that has no trouble convincing him.

With his permission, I leave and return to the port of Pentos with a big smile on my face, knowing that phase one of the plan is complete and that the gold coins will soon be raining down.

-

Sorry for the absence, I've been having trouble after trouble.

It was annoying and complicated, but I managed to sort out most of it, so I'll be posting more often.

Quick question, I've got an idea for the price of the drinks, but I'd like to hear your opinion on, how much I should sell the whiskey for?