The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 41
🕑 Added 2024-06-10 06:50:49 +0000 UTCChapter 41: Coalition
[Late Evening — Lounge of West Gate Brothel, King’s Landing]
{Petyr Baelish}
I do not fear a man who is full of rage, can kill a hundred men, or break a thousand gates.
I fear a man who remains calm even in the vilest of places and the most ghastly of situations.
"Certainly not the luxury I expected from the brothel owned by the kingdom’s Master of Coin." He sat with his legs crossed, wine swirling in his glass and his eyes focused on the blood-red color of the drink. "Except for two, the rest were disgusting to even look at."
"I would argue that Ros and Armeca take the fewest customers, while those you dismissed attract the majority of patrons." My words did not make him look at me. "Their beauty is something you will understand if you give them a chance."
"The first rule of any business is to be eye-catching, to gain interest within the first three seconds, and make the person want to try." He sighed, seemingly disappointed. "But you failed at the very first step."
"Yet those women have been getting a lot of customers."
This made him finally look at me, and it would be a massive lie to say that his words did not sting.
"When there is a scarcity of water, the thirsty man even shoves muddy water down his throat." He didn't drink the wine and instead pushed it back over the table. "It is not that they find your whores attractive; it is simply because there are no pretty ones around. The two, Ros and Armeca, cannot handle the hundred rabid dogs looking for a cunt every waking moment. So the men have to make do with whatever you provide for them."
He leaned back. "And tell me, Master of Coin, how many of your customers can afford Ros and Armeca?"
This made me take the glass of wine for myself.
"I guessed as much." He shook his head. "But I refuse to believe that it was not something you didn't already know of."
"I am just a simple man running a humble business." There was a reason he was confident enough to walk alone in King’s Landing after openly helping the Targaryens. Thus, I did not speak ill. "It is difficult to run this business when the prettiest of the women are taken by the kings and the nobles as their personal attendants."
"Fancy way of saying a personal whore."
Oh, it certainly was.
"It is." I had to agree with him. "There is no possibility of me going against those powerful men."
"True, going against men of power is the biggest mistake any businessman can make."
"So, you understand." A wizard who knows business is rare. "And this is why I also suffer losses and cannot afford to keep the most beautiful women around."
"Oh, but that is not the case, now is it?" His words made me pause. "It is not like you get no benefits out of it."
"I believe I do not understand what you mean."
I did, I just didn't want to think that a man who stepped foot into Westeros just hours ago would pry so deeply into the business model and politics.
"Oh, you know what I mean." He laughed. "Having your women inside the chambers of kings and nobles earns you more than just money."
This man… He knew too much.
"I take it you have some grounds to speak such dangerous words?"
"Your whores are not very tight-lipped, Lord Baelish." Armeca and Ros… But they are not ones to be so loose-lipped either?
Yet it would be idiotic to pry about it.
"Whores speak many lies to please their men."
But that didn't sway him.
"And whores work under you; those words are from your establishment." He looked straight at me. "You know what that means."
This man was difficult. But I could not just sit and watch.
"And a man who has helped the enemy of the king is not a trustworthy man."
This made him laugh. "Oh, I certainly am not trustworthy." But then his expression changed. "But I am not here for trust either. I am here to explore the world beyond the confines of Essos."
Obvious lies, yet I could not question.
"That, I believe, is still difficult." He will obviously not have the upper hand here. "You most certainly would appear as a threat to the king, no matter how truthful your words are."
"The king is twelve; he believes everything he hears." His expressions changed with every phrase. It was as if he was actively making it difficult to read him. "And you know what he hears, right?"
The whispers of the men next to him.
I didn't say it, but that was what he insinuated.
"Where are you going with this?"
I knew, but it wasn't wise to speak recklessly.
"Oh, you know very well." He wasn't planning on playing dumb. "The same reason you are here."
This made my eyebrows twitch a little, almost against my wishes.
"But I believe that I do not."
He laughed and shook his head. "You are here for a reason, Petyr Baelish."
He knew my name just moments after stepping foot into King’s Landing.
This man certainly had ideas, dangerous ideas.
"It is not that you came to meet a customer, but you came to meet a sorcerer." His smile turned calculative. "You came to meet the man who won a city for your enemy."
"What if I did?"
This didn't offend him; instead, it made him happy.
"Then I would be pleased, pleased to know that the men around here are not foolish."
It was difficult to read him.
It was far more difficult to understand him.
"Then I believe you have something you need me here for?" He knew I would come, and that could only mean one thing.
"Oh, I did."
He wanted my support.
"I am willing to help you with the things you have been eyeing."
A sorcerer is loyal to none.
"And in return, I hope you can introduce me to the queen, to the real ruler of the kingdom."
But to himself.
"Put in some nice words for me."
But if that meant it would win me some victories.
"And you will achieve what you want, with magic."
Then so be it.
…
…
[An Hour Later — Grounds of Red Keep]
Kingdoms are the mirror to a ruler’s vision.
“I had been awaiting your visit.”
And the disparity between this castle and the slums I crossed shows how poor the king’s vision is.
“I am Varys, a humble servant of the Kingdom.”
The kingdom had a great disparity between the rich, the poor, and the unfortunate.
The rich hid the poor from the eyes of visitors, but if you looked well enough, those countless poor children running around looking for food would never go unnoticed.
“I think you did, Lord Varys.”
My words caught the man by surprise, but I knew very well that he had been anticipating me.
“Your little spies have been watching my every step since I landed.”
The little slip in his fake smile confirmed whatever little doubt I had.
It was not Petyr because his words showed how unaware he was of my routes and actions upon landing here. If he knew, he would have been more thorough with his words.
It was a blind shot that I made here, and it landed on the mark.
“Of course,” he nodded, “there can be no secrets from the eyes of a sorcerer.”
He did not take offense to my accusations; instead, he made sure that I wasn't offended.
“But I believe you would not take what I did to heart. It was just a humble effort to ensure the kingdom's safety, and I do this for every visitor.”
If everyone in Westeros was as sly as these two, it would be rather amusing to stay here.
After all, the people in Qarth and Daenerys' group were anything but sly.
“I know better than to be offended by a man doing his duty, Lord Varys.”
The man laughed heartily, a fake scene that he made appear genuine.
“Then we should talk over some food and drinks.” Far better wordplay than what I experienced in Qarth. “You have traveled a long distance, and it is not our tradition to let a guest stay without food and entertainment.”
“I would certainly enjoy a talk, learning about these lands that I had never been to before.” I slowly turned to look at the man from earlier. “As for drinks and food, I must decline. Lord Baelish had already made me drink a lot.”
Petyr raised an eyebrow at that but stayed quiet.
I had not drunk a single drop of what he served, and he knew that well. Still, he said not a word against me.
Varys was a man who always kept a smile. Unlike Petyr, who held it only until you felt comfortable, Varys made sure to never rest his cheeks.
Just shows how well-versed he was in pleasing people.
But it was also why Qarth was only a city while Westeros was a kingdom woven of seven great lands.
And Varys was respectful. Taking me through a tour of the beautiful garden, he played it smart by showing only the pretty things while obviously hiding most of the places that the King’s Castle had to offer.
“This magnificent castle was built by Maegor the Cruel with the blood of hundreds of workers.” The man was a storyteller. “And it took years of effort to wash off these horrors and fill it with the laughter and joy of the citizens. Which was also done only after the death of the Mad King.”
A storyteller who twisted stories.
“I have heard of these stories.”
He nodded at my words, “Most certainly you have, but those stories are often twisted.”
And Petyr added to his words. “And for a girl who was a child when she fled, she would most certainly remember only the good tales.”
Everyone knew who he was talking about.
And even so, we did not bring Daenerys up.
“It is only when you hear the stories of both sides that you can discern the truth and lies.”
“Most certainly,” Varys agreed with me. “And given how smart you are, you would only believe the truth and not some fairytale dreamt by a little girl.”
“Of course, children often twist stories to put their loved ones as the heroes.” Not like these people were any different. “But truth does not change with fairytales.”
“And I believe that is why you are here.” He finally decided to speak on the topic. “It is not just exploration that you are after, but it is the truth that you want to experience beyond just the fairytales of a girl.”
He talked sweet. Most would be swayed by his subtle praises, and I could not blame most of those people.
“A sorcerer chases after the truth of the world, Lord Varys. And the closer we are to the truth, the closer we are to magic.”
“Then you will be moving closer to magic faster than you might expect.”
“Perhaps.” The lack of enthusiasm that I showed made him quickly change his words.
“Knowledge can be achieved in many ways, and I believe you know of it better than anyone else.” So, he wants to reveal his cards now, huh?
“I agree with you on that.”
“And knowledge is often hidden behind the pages of the books and the people who are not found by the masses.”
I believe I know what he is trying.
“The books of magic and history, and of the blood of the magicians.”
That was his trump.
“Most of which is forgotten by the world, even by the kings.” He did not insinuate the previous kings here. “And known by only a few people that are still alive.”
“You are a man with quite a lot to bargain with, Lord Varys.”
“Barely.” Varys laughed. “But it is still one thing that I have. And I believe it should still be enough for you to help us out a little.”
“I hope the price for it is worth it.”
He nodded, “Even the king is unaware of those books of the past, the magic of the past, and the history of the dragons. None of us can understand or use them, but to you, a sorcerer, they are no less than treasure.”
“Then I believe the price must be hefty.”
“Oh, certainly not.” He laughed, “We—” He looked at Petyr, “merely want you to help us out a little. Not the king, not the queen, and not the queen mother.”
“Us,” Petyr added, walking forward. “Given you did not stay with the Targaryen girl even after acquiring her an entire city, neither did you guide her beyond that when she needed guidance the most.”
“You did not help her because you supported her, but because you also gained something from it.” Varys was smarter than Daenerys and her group. “And we promise you that whatever she gave you, we can give much more and of much higher quality.”
“Knowledge and magic are hidden in the Seven Kingdoms, and acquiring it with the help of a little girl will not be easy.” Petyr chimed. “It would be much easier for you here, in the land where the Targaryens lived and dwelled in magic, and in the libraries that are still kept safe and contain more knowledge than anything that the girl could provide you with.”
“You two… certainly are convincing.”
“And we of the crown respect sorcerers.” Varys kept a respectful face. “The brother of the deceased king, Stannis, also has the support of a sorceress and so we know how great the help of a sorcerer can be. Stannis is the blood of the late king, and just like him, we too share the view of respecting the wielder of magic.”
“We will help you acquire the things you are looking for in Westeros, and all we want in return is your support.” Petyr’s smile spoke of lies and deceit, but he masked it with his sweet words.
“Your life will be luxurious here.” Varys promised, “More than anything Daenerys Targaryen could provide.”
“Magic, knowledge, luxury, and respect.” Their words made me smile, “You certainly make a tempting offer.”
“And we believe you will enjoy these greatly by supporting us with just a little of your skills.”
“So far I have liked what I have seen.” I most certainly did. Their plots the moment I stepped foot here and their schemes to have me work with them filled with empty promises. They drew more than my interest. “As long as the kingdom does not mind a curious sorcerer walking the streets freely, I do not mind supporting you a little.”
This made them pause a little.
Walking the streets freely did not mean just looking around; it meant a lot more. And they were smart enough to catch onto it.
“The king and the queen-mother might not like it.” Petyr frowned a little and looked at Varys. “But I believe we can convince her, can we not? Lord Varys?”
Varys kept his smile, “Of course, we can. That is the least we can do for the support we are receiving.”
“Then I will be more than happy to help your cause, Lord Baelish and Lord Varys.”
Because unknown to them, it wasn't the magical books and knowledge I sought—it was the freedom to wander the city without restriction.
For what good are ancient tomes of magic if I cannot wield their power?
Yet, the ability to walk the streets unrestrained would yield far more than they could ever imagine.
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[A/N: I am still abroad and will only be back on the thirteenth. So, updates will resume to normal from the 14th.
And I could not edit this chapter since I am on the road, so do list out the errors you see and I will fix them on the 14th. (Posted this without edit because I didn’t want to starve you for a week without a single update.)
]
