Chapter 105: The Fewer Enemies, the Better

Since dealing with Euron, the supply lines to the excavation camp had returned to normal. The excavation had now reached a depth of approximately 130 meters, but the increasing difficulty of digging had slowed progress.

One misty morning, as dawn broke and fog crept through the mountain valleys, Wright emerged from his luxurious red tent. Bare-chested and wearing only shorts, he stood on the slope with his hands on his hips, twisting his waist as part of his morning stretches. "I've been feeling a little hot-tempered lately," he muttered, glancing at the nearby wooden crates stacked with over a thousand bottles of "Might".

The alchemical practice of turning silver coins into gold with transmutation spells had its advantages, but when the magical effect faded, the gold would revert to silver. This peculiar phenomenon had sent Volantene nobles into a frenzy, desperately investigating who had "stolen" their gold. Knowing the excavation would take much longer, Wright understood that without a legitimate enterprise to explain his growing wealth, suspicions would arise. Selling Might provided a convenient cover story and a visible source of income.

In the camp's forge area, a workstation had been modified to Wright's specifications, ready for him to begin smelting and forging equipment.

As two slave handmaidens brought breakfast, Wright and his companions had just finished eating when a commotion broke out near the camp's entrance — the merchants arriving to purchase Might had come.

Wright wiped his mouth with a cloth, changed into proper clothing inside his tent, and descended the slope to greet his affluent customers.

High-ranking Volantenes rarely walked anywhere, believing such actions beneath their dignity. Nobles traveled in palanquins, and even commoners often rode in carriages pulled by dwarf elephants. The sheer number of people who arrived this time exceeded Wright's expectations.

A large group of soldiers with tiger-face tattoos began securing the camp's perimeter, while slaves carried several ornate palanquins to the front of Wright's tent. Among the arrivals were the camp's slave master, merchants seeking to buy Might, and a striking red-robed woman.

The slave master, who was well-acquainted with Wright, made introductions. "This is Dofas Pennymion, one of the three Triarchs of Volantis from the Elephant Party. And this," he said with a flourish, "is Wright Baratheon, younger brother to King Robert of House Baratheon in Westeros."

The camp lacked the facilities to host such distinguished guests, but the nobles had come prepared, bringing everything they needed. Slaves immediately began constructing a luxurious new tent beside Wright's red one, while tables, chairs, and benches were set up in an open area. They even laid out fresh fruits and fine wines, ensuring their comfort during their stay.

"Hahaha, young man, you're truly impressive!"

"And you as well, Triarch," Wright replied.

In the wilderness, there was no need for elaborate etiquette. At Dofas' invitation, everyone took their seats.

Over time, Wright had developed a network of informants in Volantis, thanks to Varys and his "little birds". This gave him a fair understanding of the city's upper echelons. Volantis was ruled by three Triarchs, elected annually. Every free citizen and landowning Volantene, except slaves and foreigners, had the right to vote. Candidates required not only powerful connections but also pure Valyrian blood.

Dofas Pennymion, representing the Elephant Party, was over forty, with platinum-blonde hair and violet eyes that reflected his untainted Valyrian lineage. However, his re-election as Triarch faced challenges.

The Tiger Party, comprised of Volantis' old nobility and warriors, advocated for world domination through military conquest. The Elephant Party, dominated by merchants and lenders, preferred to achieve this goal through trade. Dofas, knowing Wright's immense wealth could bring significant trade opportunities to Volantis, had risked crossing the Smoking Sea with his escort to meet him.

Wright, well-versed in trade negotiations, opened confidently:

"Triarch, I'm sure you've done your research. I am the Realm's Archmage and the most skilled merchant in Westeros."

As he spoke, a crackling bolt of lightning sparked to life in his palm, glowing with blue and white energy.

Nymeria and Tyene continued sipping their wine, while the onlookers were stunned. They had seen weapons ignited with fire — common among the followers of R'hllor, whose largest temple was in Volantis — but holding lightning in one's hand was unheard of. None doubted Wright's identity after witnessing this display.

The red-robed woman, Melisandre, kept her composure, but her captivating eyes sparkled as they lingered on Wright. While acknowledging her beauty, Wright quickly dismissed her from his thoughts, recalling her true nature. He gave her a brief nod before turning his focus back to Dofas.

After dispersing the lightning, Wright continued:

"You're surely aware of my brothers' positions. We've long sought to establish trade relations with Volantis, but merchant ships can't make the journey."

Dofas tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "The pirates of the Stepstones are indeed a problem."

A faint white glow surrounded Wright's hand as he cast a silencing spell, ensuring no one could overhear their conversation.

"Let me share a secret," Wright began. "Westeros is preparing to send troops to completely conquer the Stepstones."

Dofas, visibly shocked, took a moment to process this. "Is that true? When will they act?"

Wright leaned back slightly. "Preparations have been underway for some time. This isn't just another raid — we intend to colonize the Stepstones permanently, turning them into a part of the realm."

Dofas began calculating the implications. Volantis had long-standing territorial disputes with the nearby Free Cities of Tyrosh, Myr, and Lys. While popular sentiment favored conquering these cities, northern threats from Qohor and Norvos made a two-front war untenable. If Westeros truly planned to conquer the Stepstones, it would remove a significant enemy from Volantis' list.

Lowering his voice, Dofas asked, "After the Seven Kingdoms deal with Tyrosh, where will their forces stop? Lys lies between the Stepstones and Volantis, and pirates from there are quite active."

Dofas was subtly suggesting that Westeros' victory was inevitable, flattering Wright in the process.

Unmoved by the flattery, Wright aimed to involve Volantis further. "The Seven Kingdoms aren't proficient in naval warfare. Conquering the Stepstones will push us to our limits."

Though disappointed, Dofas didn't let it show. Meanwhile, the others in the tent watched Wright and Dofas converse silently, intrigued by the magic but hesitant to investigate for fear of being rude. Instead, they turned their attention to praising Nymeria and Tyene.

"But," Wright added, catching Dofas' attention immediately.

"I am one of Volantis' Triarchs, the head of the Pennymion family, and a respected figure in the Elephant Party. You, on the other hand, wield considerable influence in Westeros," Dofas said, gesturing around them. "Your magic is remarkable — they can't hear us even though we're so close. Let's speak openly, then."

Wright laid out his terms. "During the Seven Kingdoms' campaign against the Stepstones, if Volantis deploys a fleet to attack Lys, Westeros will recognize the disputed territories as part of Volantis after the conquest is complete."

Dofas hesitated. "If we move against Lys, the other Free Cities might seize the opportunity to attack Volantis. It's not worth the risk."

"You don't need to engage in a full-scale battle — just deploy a fleet to pin down Lys' navy and prevent them from aiding the Stepstones."

Dofas considered this compromise before nodding. "That's acceptable. And what about Myr? How will the Seven Kingdoms handle them?"

Feigning ignorance, Wright replied, "I wouldn't know. I've been traveling across Essos for quite some time."

He shifted the conversation, adding, "Once the Seven Kingdoms secure the Stepstones, Stormlands alone will require a substantial amount of glass. Isn't that a specialty of Volantis?"

Dofas: "Haha, the glass we produce in Volantis is the finest in all of Essos, far superior to the glass from Myr by several measures!"

Wright: "Yet for so long, merchants from Westeros could only purchase Myrish glass. Your products have never made it past the Stepstones. Conquering the Stepstones benefits us both, Triarch. My proposal is quite advantageous — we can each eliminate an enemy at virtually no cost."

Dofas, now addressing Wright with added respect: "Lord Wright, might I suggest that once the Seven Kingdoms achieve victory, we formally announce an alliance between our two nations?"

Wright: "That decision isn't mine to make. I will write a sealed letter to my brother, King Robert, and include my support for the alliance in my recommendation. However, the final agreement will be determined by the Small Council and the king himself."

This marked their first collaboration, sealed with a clandestine agreement benefiting both sides. For Volantis, surrounded by hostile Free Cities, deploying a fleet to patrol the sea and contain Lys' navy would reduce one enemy and potentially gain a powerful ally. Given Westeros' limited naval power and logistical constraints, it was unlikely they could campaign further after conquering the Stepstones.

For Westeros, acknowledging Volantis' claim to a disputed territory cost nothing and removed a strong potential adversary. Such an easy concession, requiring only a declaration, aligned perfectly with the traditions of Westerosi nobility, who never hesitated to make deals that enhanced their standing with minimal effort.

However, everything depended on Westeros' victory in the Stepstones campaign.

While Tyrosh appeared to be the main target, the conquest would inevitably provoke Lys and Myr, who will inevitably send troops to resist, after all, historically, these three Free Cities had united under the Triarchy, also known as the Kingdom of the Three Daughters. Though later fractured by internal strife, any outside attempt to dominate the region would threaten their shared interests and likely prompt a temporary alliance.

Wright: "Our campaign is inevitable, Triarch. You should begin preparations without delay."

Dofas: "Rest assured, Lord Wright. Securing approval for this initiative will not be a problem."

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