Game of Thrones: I am Dothraki, not a barbarian

Chapter 124 The Iron Treasury Does Not Allow Delays

Pentos, the Speaker's residence.

Having finished most of his official business for the day, Leon Prestan stood in the lobby to greet the last visitor of the day.

“Lord Leon.” Techo Nestos entered, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed slightly. “Thank you for taking the time to see me.”

Leon returned to his chair and gestured for the servants to bring him some wine.

“Mr. Nestos, what brings the debt collector here? Please speak plainly.”

Two servants brought a silver pot, poured wine for them, and then retreated behind a pillar.

Taichu took a small sip and then put down the cup.

“Actually, I came here to discuss the issue between Lord Rahalo and the Iron Bank,” he said slowly. “His refusal to acknowledge the Iron Bank’s credibility is a very problematic attitude.”

Leon tapped the armrest of his chair. "Both of you have made your positions very clear. I don't think there's anything more to discuss."

“Our Iron Treasury holds the deed to Polin Kopta, that much is indisputable,” Tetsu said. “Rahalo’s refusal is a violation of that deed.”

“Those contracts you have, heh, anyone with eyes can see what they’re all about,” Leon sneered, stood up, walked to the niche containing a statue of the sea god, wiped the dust off the statue with velvet, and then turned to Techo, “So, you want me to persuade Laharo to give up the iron mine?”

Taichu raised his glass, smiling as he looked at Leon. "Lord Leon, you have inherited your father's wisdom."

You should know better than anyone the cost of opposing the Iron Bank. Pentos and Braavos have close trading ties; a conflict would benefit no one.

“I know Lajalo,” Leon said calmly. “He’s not one to give in easily. Once he’s made up his mind about something, no one can change it.”

Taichu took a letter with a wax seal from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Leon.

"Perhaps this will help you persuade him. This is a letter from Lord Thormo Frega himself."

The name Thormo Frega pierced Leon's heart like a thorn, and he said in a deep voice, "What right does he have to get involved in this?"

"Lord Thormo said that if Lord Leon wants to go home, he will allow you to restore the Frega surname."

Upon hearing this, Leon smirked coldly. He returned to his seat, placed his hands on the table, and stared directly at Taichu.

"Lord Taichu, do you know that I started from scratch in Pentos and it took me twenty years to achieve my current status?"

He listened to his concubine's slander and drove me out of the house, saying that I was not worthy to inherit Frega's bloodline.

My mother died of grief because of this. Less than a month after her death, he made his concubine his legal wife.

Now you want me to go back and restore my Frega surname?
"Heh, does he value me as a person, or my current status?"

“Family relationships are always complicated, and I don’t understand your family affairs.” Techu nodded in understanding, and then said, “Lord Tormo is the key keeper of the Iron Treasury. His support will be helpful to you, to Pentos, and even to Laharo.”

Leon snorted and swept the letter on the table aside. "His favorite youngest son, Liz, is a gambler and womanizer, but he has a scheming concubine mother."

Even if I earn everyone's respect, I am still worthless in his eyes.

Please tell Lord Tormo that Leon Prestan thanks him for his kindness, and that I have taken my mother's surname and will always be Prestan.

As for the matters concerning Lahalo and the iron ore, I will do my best to mediate, but I will never betray a friend.

Taichu picked up the letter again and shook it. "Lord Leon, I think you should read this letter. Perhaps it will change your mind?"

“No need,” Leon said firmly. “I know enough. He wouldn’t have considered my feelings before, and he won’t now.” “I understand how you feel,” Techo stood up, smoothing the wrinkles in his robes. “But please remember, the Iron Bank and the Frega family are not to be refused. If the conflict escalates, it will inevitably affect your business.”

Leon accompanied Taichu toward the gate, but stopped upon hearing this and let out a cold laugh.

"Lord Taichu, may I take this statement as a threat?"

Taichu casually tossed the letter to a slave by the door, then turned to Leon and smiled, "Sometimes, we must choose between dignity and interests. I hope you and Lahalo can make a wise decision."

...

Braavos, situated at the junction of the Narrow Sea and the Trembling Sea, sits atop a hundred islands and is the most powerful of the nine Free City-States.

The city was founded by slaves who had escaped Valyria. Canals crisscrossed the city instead of streets, and people traveled between the waterways in colorful moonboats.

If you do not wish to take a boat, you can walk on the stone bridges that span the waterways; those bridges are high enough for boats below to pass.

A perpetual fog shrouds Braavos year-round, especially at dawn and dusk.

In the fog, only the stone statue of the sea giant is clearly visible, guarding the city entrance and serving as a guide for all seafarers.

Ships had to pass between the giant's outstretched legs to enter the Braavos Lagoon.

Ironclad Bank is the core strength of Braavos and one of the world's richest banks. Their motto is:
"The Iron Treasury will not tolerate any delays in payment."

This statement is not only a promise, but also a warning.

As the saying goes, "The Iron Treasury always gets what it wants, and Braavos' fleet ensures that."

Although they proudly proclaimed that there was no slavery in Braavos, in reality, the Iron Treasury turned all debtors into slaves of money through high interest rates.

Tetsu stood in the study of Thormo Frega's mansion, a vast space filled with rare treasures from around the world: Valyrian artifacts, golden masks from the Yi region, and even the skeletons of Iban whales and Sosloth elephants.

Thormo sat behind a Sosloth ebony desk inlaid with pearls. He was lean and had bright, piercing eyes, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Leon.

"So," Thormo said expressionlessly, "that nobody refused?"

Taichu lowered his head, his arrogance vanishing as he faced Rahalo, his tone unusually humble: "My lord, Rahalo has challenged the authority of the Iron Treasury and disregarded your honor. I believe there is no need to continue this discussion."

Thormo scoffed, "I don't need your advice." He took a sip of his red wine. "We rule over money, and money rules the world."

The Iron Treasury could buy the entire mercenary group on the continent of Essos; his 30,000 cavalrymen were nothing.

Taichu observed Thormo's reaction and cautiously added fuel to the fire: "My lord, your son Leon Prestan has allied with him and even sent his daughter, the Braavos mermaid Leila, to serve him."

Thormo smirked coldly. "I gave him life, and he betrayed me for a barbarian."

He walked to the window and looked down at the water city below. "No one can defy the Iron Bank, not even the Targaryen dynasty has to curry favor with us."

Taichu remained respectful and silent, waiting for Thormo to continue.

"Then let them taste the wrath of the Iron Bank."

Thormo continued, “Cut off Pentos’s funding and recall every single penny of debt. Spread the word that anyone who does business with Lajalo will forever lose the Iron Treasury’s trust.”

No one can refuse Ironbank, no one!
Every one of our opponents, before they fall, believes themselves to be invincible.

(End of this chapter)