Chapter 19: Braavos part 1

(1,200 words)

- Percival Bolton POV -

- Braavos - Free Cities - Essos - 276 A.D -

After winning the money from the tournament, I met up with my group and traveled without stopping to The Vale. Specifically to the city of Gulltown, a territory dominated by House Grafton, and one of the largest ports in Westeros. Place from where I traveled to the city where I am now. One of the Free Cities of Essos, the richest and most prosperous. Located in the northwest end of Essos, where Narrow Sea and Shivering Sea meet. Also known as "Secret City", "Braavos of the Hundred Isles", or "Bastard Daugher of Valyria". That is the city of Braavos.

The city of Braavos is the richest of all Essos, not only in money but also in the diversity of its population or even in its religion. Having temples of all types and all the gods. "Temple of Moonsingers", "Father of Waters", "Temple of the Lord of Light" or even a temple called "Sept Beyond the Sea". Made especially for the Westerosi who pray to Faith of the Seven. Besides being practically the only city in Essos that absolutely forbids slavery.

My goal is clearly to dominate the city completely and absolutely.To become Protector of the Realm, Braavos' version. But for that there are four obstacles. The first and most ambiguous are the merchants, who are concentrated mainly in the north of the city, specifically in Purple Harbor, a port intended for the exclusive use of the Braavosi.

Port that I am seeing right now after having crossed the main entrance of the city with my subordinates. Gate that is protected by "The Titan" a giant sculpture in the shape of a warrior, that if, I am not clear on who is based. Although, we will have to dock in Ragmans Harbor, we are not Braavosi after all.

But well, the important thing, after the merchants, who after all are not such a difficult problem with my knowledge of the world and the modern economy. The problem is the other three powers in this city.

First there is the real economic power, the Iron Bank, run by, according to my research, the Keyholders, who own the shares of the bank in question, forming a board where all the important decisions are made. Some names are known, but others are a secret, and not even other members know their identity.

The third great power of the city is the Sealord, who lives, naturally, in Sealord's Palace, a large building in front of Purple Harbor. He is the ruler of Braavos, and is a title democratically elected by the Magisters of Braavos and the Keyholders of the Iron Bank. Although only they vote, any citizen can run for Sealord. This is the weakest link along with the merchants, but at the same time it is a gateway for Iron Bank, since it should know the identity of all the Keyholders.

The fourth and last power of Braavos, and the only one that I know is impossible to get, but at least I can make a pact, is the group called Faceless Men, who serve Many Faced God, a group of assassins capable of modifying their faces. They are the most lethal assassins of all Planetos, and they are so elusive and dangerous that it is best to make a pact. Because controlling them is not possible in any way.

"The usual plan?" asked Qyburn beside me, looking at the huge city in front of us.

"Not for the moment, there will be time to open a big lab. The first thing is to make money and control the merchants and Magister. With that ready we will establish ourselves in a good way to then take control of the Sealord. And finally to the Iron Bank" I replied to my now faithful subordinate. That's also because thanks to experimenting with animals, I had gained a kind of empathic power, which allowed me to perceive people's emotions in a certain way. This is the only reason why Lisa is still alive, because with this ability I had proved that the girl was really loyal. Although it doesn't work for denials with other people, since I need to know a lot the mood of a person to be able to read their emotions, so it doesn't work with people I just met. They must be people with whom I have been together for a long time. Like my companions, and that's why I could discover that Lisa is very loyal to me, as well as Qyburn who is very grateful to me for the opportunity I gave them. In the cases of Silver and Copper, their loyalty is absolute, and they have devotion for me thanks to the brainwashing, although I knew that without the ability. On the side of the other 7 paid soldiers I had left, only one of them was truly loyal to me. The others, though loyal in part, if offered more money would change sides, though not before going through deep reflection.

We docked our ship in Ragmans Harbor, only to get off the ship the next moment. It was not ours, it was simply a merchant ship that we paid to travel aboard. Her sail was not purple, like those of the Braavos ships, meaning that her origin was not Braavosi, but a foreign ship. I believe she was originally from White Harbor of House Manderly, in The North.

We took a map and visualized our location as well as that of a good inn nearby, and found Inn of the Green Eel, quite close to our position, so we chose it as our choice. Inn in which we spent the night to wake up in the morning in a new and beautiful day, a day in which I would begin my conquest of Braavos.

The first thing I was thinking about was making vodka, a simple drink that doesn't require a lot of materials or great brewing skill. But there is a big problem with that, and that is that if I came to town as a new pigeon with a bright smile on my face to open my vodka factory. The first thing that will happen is that a bigger merchant will bribe my workers to get the recipe, and get all the money that should belong to me. So something like that is not possible. That would only be feasible when I have already established my position, and when my workers fear me from the deepest part of their bodies. Absolute fear, the most useful tool. Why do I know that? Because everything I do is out of fear, fear of going back to that place. So I know firsthand how potent that emotion is as fuel.

So the best thing to do is to play their game at the start, and slowly beat the traders and magisters at what they are best at, beat them at their game outright. Modern knowledge plus my magic and skills. With that, I plan to play this game, not "Game of Thrones", not yet, as with the Targaryen's warming the seat that game has yet to begin. But I am preparing myself so I can be ready when the time comes.