The Golden Fleece

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At Luca's invitation, the two entered the tavern, intending to have a drink. Gavin also planned to gather some information about the situation outside to help him make future plans.

After a few simple greetings and pleasantries, Gavin directly inquired about the situation in Essos to determine which city-state he should head to.

Luca explained that he had not kept up with the news from the Essos continent lately, as ever since Gavin had healed him, he had remained in Oldtown, recovering at the port.

However, having spent so much time by the port, Luka was well aware of the situation on the Narrow Sea. He advised Gavin against heading to Essos at this time.

Gavin, eager for details, pressed further, and Luca explained the current chaos on the Narrow Sea.

The situation in the Narrow Sea had become dangerous. The Saan family, once powerful pirate lords, had been unexpectedly defeated by a new pirate king, Black Shark "Erl," who had risen to power.

Forced into retreat, the Saan family had withdrawn their remaining fleet back to Lys.

Meanwhile, Black Shark "Erl" was relentlessly eradicating the remnants of the Saan family's influence on the Stepstones, plunging the region into even greater turmoil.

Merchant ships, which once only needed to pay a toll to pass safely, were now subject to random attacks, and the merchants were living in constant fear. The trade routes around the Stepstones have become increasingly unstable.

To make matters worse, the ambitious Black Shark "Erl" had clashed with the Dornish over control of the western part of the Stepstones.

The two sides had engaged in multiple skirmishes, and any ship attempting to pass through the region risked being sunk. The conflict was ongoing, and it seemed unlikely that it would be resolved anytime soon.

Due to the ongoing war around the Stepstones, ships leaving Oldtown for Essos had become scarce, and traveling the route was incredibly dangerous.

Luca recommended that if Gavin insisted on going to Essos, the best option would be to head to King's Landing first. From there, he could take a ship to Pentos, thus avoiding the conflict altogether.

King's Landing, as the capital of Westeros, had a much busier port with frequent ship traffic. Additionally, the royal fleet patrolled the area, making the route to Pentos much safer and more stable.

After hearing Luca's explanation, Gavin fell into thought. The journey from Oldtown to King's Landing would take nearly two months, while traveling directly from Oldtown to the nearest city in Essos, Tyrosh, would also take about two months.

This meant that if Gavin chose to go to King's Landing first and then travel to Essos, the route would be not only longer but would require more time and energy.

Furrowing his brow, Gavin silently weighed the pros and cons of both routes in his mind.

Soon, Gavin made his decision. He looked at Luca and asked, "Although there are few ships leaving from Oldtown, there are still some. Can you help me contact any ships that are about to depart?" As he spoke, he swiftly pulled a few gold dragons from his pocket and placed them neatly on the table with a soft "clink".

"Yes, of course. With the chaos in the Stepstones, any ship that manages to deliver goods across the continent is earning ten times the usual profit. Naturally, there are plenty of reckless individuals willing to take the risk," Luca replied excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed as he pocketed the gold dragons.

Gavin then asked the waiter for paper and a pen, quickly writing down the address of the inn where he was staying. He handed it to Luka and said, "Come here to find me when you have any news. If I'm not here, leave a message with the innkeeper. I'll pay you a sum once the matter is settled."

"Rest assured, Gavin, I will bring you good news soon." Luca said excitedly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. His eyes were filled with an eager impatience to get started.

Upon returning to the inn, Gavin began preparing the materials. To his surprise, he saw Luca the very next morning.

Luca was beaming with joy and said excitedly, "I've found a merchant ship that's willing to depart. However, their destination is Lys, and they won't set sail until five days from now. What do you think? If it suits you, I can take you to meet the owner of the merchant ship."

Gavin silently calculated the time. He would have about three or four days to complete all the preparations in advance.

He agreed immediately, saying, "That works. I won't meet with them, but you go ahead and handle the negotiations. There are two of us in total, and I require a private cabin. I'm willing to pay extra for this." After sending Luca on his way, Gavin immediately returned to his room to continue his work.

Five days later, Gavin and the Blood Dragon Guard boarded a merchant ship named "Golden Fleece."

Considering the sea journey, both Gavin and the Blood Dragon Guard wore light leather armor, detailed and exquisite in design, which gleamed softly in the sunlight.

Each of them carried a sword, with Gavin's sword hilt inlaid with gems and the scabbard adorned with intricate carvings.

In addition to the sword, Gavin carried a quiver of arrows, prepared with five hardened bows in case of battle or emergency needs.

Standing on the deck, Gavin's gaze remained fixed, his mind deeply reflecting on the distant silhouette of Oldtown.

The Blood Dragon Guard, behind him, carried a large chest, filled with carefully prepared potions and ritual materials.

At this moment, Oldtown appeared calm and mysterious in the early morning sunlight. The golden rays bathed the ancient buildings and twisting streets, casting a mesmerizing play of light and shadows.

The distant hills rolled gracefully, merging with the deep blue sky, like a grand painting. A gentle sea breeze carried a salty scent, and the sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull filled the air.

The merchant ship slowly set sail. Gavin took one last look at Oldtown, then turned and walked towards the cabin, only to meet the ship's owner at the door.

"To my surprise, it is you, Ser Gavin," said a middle-aged man, dressed in a fine robe. The emerald buttons glimmered in the sunlight, and a large gemstone ring adorned his finger, signaling his considerable wealth. A perfectly polite smile played at his lips as he introduced himself, "I am Frank Brown, the owner of this ship."

Upon hearing his name, Gavin was curious and bowed slightly in greeting. "Greetings, Mr. Brown. It seems you know me?"

Frank laughed heartily and said, "Yes, Ser Gavin. I had the honor of watching your duel at the Highgarden, and later I heard you were knighted. It is truly my honor to have you aboard my ship. With such a skilled warrior like yourself accompanying us, I need not worry about the safety of this journey. Might I have the honor of inviting you to lunch later?"

Gavin smiled and replied, "I am honored by your invitation, Mr. Brown. Please allow me to settle my belongings in my cabin first. I will be sure to join you for lunch at noon."

Frank nodded, saying, "Of course, Ser Gavin. I will be waiting for you in the captain's quarters."

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