The next morning, Meereen had returned to its usual hustle and bustle. Some streets and buildings still bore traces of being washed, with the water not yet fully dried. To any newcomers to the city, it would have been impossible to tell that the night before had been filled with bloody slaughter.
All the enemies had been eliminated, and people on the streets were now greeting each other, as the survivors in the city stood united, supporting the rule of the Great Master.
Six of the twenty small pyramids were now empty. Several of the Great Masters had been killed, and the small slave Masters were vying for power. Today, prominent figures of Meereen had gathered in the Great Pyramid to discuss these issues, as well as external threats. Wright had been invited to the meeting.
The air-tight hall was lit by hundreds of candelabras. A circle of Slaver Masters sat in the center, engaged in a heated discussion. Wright, wearing a white toga, sat at one side of the hall, casually crossing his legs and grooming the hair on his legs, while three young serving girls stood by, holding bottles of wine, glasses, and fruit, occasionally offering him peeled fruit.
Wright wasn't interested in which family would replace the the position of Great Master. He was merely here as a witness in his capacity as Lord of Tyrosh.
The family to replace the Great Master had been chosen. The Slaver Masters were now debating how to deal with Hizdahr. Hizdahr wanted to become king, and though the factions supporting him in Meereen had disbanded, he still had relatives in Yunkai and Astapor and could raise an army to besiege Meereen. Daenerys, having been captured by Wright, and the Golden Company would also call their forces to arms.
They were now debating two options: the first was to defend Meereen to the last. The Slaver's Bay region suffered from drought and lacked the timber needed to build large siege weapons. They could rely on the towering walls of the city to hold off an army many times larger. The second option was to take advantage of this opportunity to strike Yunkai, kill the wise ruler, destroy the enemy alliance in advance, and perhaps even bring Yunkai under the joint rule of the Great Masters. Both sides had valid arguments, and neither could persuade the other.
The host of Wright when he arrived in Meereen was Oznak Zo Pahl. His family was the most prestigious among the Great Masters, and while his forebears were engaged in debate, he approached Wright, took a pure golden goblet from the serving girls, and spoke.
"Lord Wright, the payment for your leadership of the Harpy's Sons has already been sent to your room."
Wright clinked glasses with him. "Your Pahl family is very trustworthy; it's been a pleasant collaboration."
They couldn't borrow Wright's influence for free. Wright had set a price and, after negotiations, had sold his services for fifty thousand Meereenese gold coins.
Meereen was too far from Tyrosh, and even the straight-line distance was comparable to that between Sunspear and the Wall in the North. The culture, customs, religion, and language were incompatible with Westeros. Given the current levels of productivity and communication methods, ruling Meereen would be a thankless task. It was better to remain an ally, engage in trade, and not push further.
Oznak took a sip of wine. "Wright, when will you be leaving Meereen?"
"I and my retinue will return to Volantis today." While his retinue would indded leave, Wright intended to stay for a while longer.
Sending Daenerys back to King's Landing now would be like handing over a ticking time bomb. Her dragons could appear at any moment. Even a small dragon could fly, and there was no one in King's Landing who could deal with it. If they weren't careful, many people would die. Wright also needed more time to improve the magic formations and study Daenerys's body. Additionally, the Golden Company and the Dothraki were seeking revenge, and the battle couldn't take place in Volantis.
Oznak asked, "Could we hire you again, Lord Wright, to join our army in attacking Yunkai?"
Wright didn't immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "How are you so sure that you can take Yunkai? Do you plan on turning it into a wasteland?"
Oznak responded, "Yunkai's standing slave army only numbers five thousand. Their walls are not strong. Moreover, on the highest point of Yunkai's pyramid is a statue of a Harpy. Haha, our people have already infiltrated the city."
"No," Wright said, shaking his head. "If I leave, who will keep watch over Daenerys?"
Wright was considering the situation. Once Meereen's army reached Yunkai, it would be easy enough for him to create a breach in the walls or storm the pyramid and capture the wise ruler. The task seemed profitable. However, he also wanted to remain neutral. Meereen wasn't his territory, and a unified Slaver's Bay wouldn't benefit him much. It was best to let them balance each other out.
Oznak raised an eyebrow. "We can chain Daenerys in the basement of the Great Pyramid!"
"And her dragons will burn Meereen to the ground! By the time you return, your homes will be gone." Wright sipped his wine, knowing exactly what Oznak was trying to do—keep him around as a powerful asset.
"Here's my proposal. I can help you defend Meereen, which will allow you to deploy more troops to attack Yunkai and finish the battle quickly."
Oznak nodded eagerly. "Please wait, Lord Wright. I will consult with the Great Masters."
"Take your time. There's still plenty of daylight." Wright replied indifferently. Oznak wasn't going to consult with the Great Masters; he was just going to get them to pay. He didn't want to bear the cost alone.
The outcome of the discussion was quickly decided. Wright and the Great Masters signed a contract. Wright would help defend Meereen, with a deposit of fifty thousand gold coins, and an additional hundred thousand gold coins for each successful defense.
After the meeting, Wright returned to his quarters at the top of the pyramid and found Berricio.
"Take the ten gold coins and go back to Volantis with the merchant convoy, along with the three young girls."
Berricio asked, "Lord Wright, don't you need our help?"
Wright took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. "The 100,000 gold coins are my personal funds. After you return to Volantis, use the details on this note to purchase the goods and have them shipped to Tyrosh as soon as possible."
Berricio took the note and saw it listed various strange plants and animal organs. "Alchemical materials?"
Wright patted his shoulder. "Yes, these are all materials for making Might potions. Sales have been booming for the past six months. Arrange for your family's people to buy them quickly. Consider it a reward for your work over this period."
Berricio replied, "Then we'll depart tonight. The three girls will head to Tyrosh as soon as I return to Volantis."
"Do as you see fit, but leave here as soon as possible. The war is inevitable. I must resolve things in Meereen. I can't let the flames of war reach Volantis!" The sunlight shone through the window, casting a slightly sacred glow on Wright.
"What about your safety, Wright?" Berricio asked, his expression serious at the sight.
Wright clenched his right fist. "Even among ten thousand soldiers, I can take the enemy's head. Once I decide to leave, no one in this world can stop me!"
Berricio suddenly raised both hands and shouted loudly, "Archmage Wright, boundless magic! Conquer of islands, Lord of the sky!"
Bang!
Wright slammed his hand on the table, feeling embarrassed inside and wanting to sink into the ground, but outwardly pretending to be angry. "Where did you learn that from?"
Berricio froze, unsure why Wright was angry. "Huh? This is the recent holy proclamation issued by Grand Archbishop Andrew Estermont of the Dragon Cult. It's the sacred slogan for the Son of God, Wright."
"Get back to Volantis and arrange the purchase of supplies." Wright rubbed his forehead.
"Understood!" Berricio quickly ran out.
"Andrew! I'll rip your skin off when I return!"
The slogan had been something Wright came up with himself when he went to Braavos to collect a debt, and now it felt humiliating to remember. Worse, it had somehow made its way to Andrew's ears, who had appropriated it for the Dragon Cult. Berricio in Meereen knew about it, so it was likely spreading among the followers of the Dragon Faith everywhere.
"Damn it!"
Wright walked into the reception room, still feeling disgruntled.
The Bloodskal Blade was on the weapon rack against the wall, and nearby, a mannequin stood dressed in Dragonbone Armor. Daenerys was examining it, studying the armor carefully.
The scorching Dragonbone arm armor in her hands felt temperatureless, and she was carefully inspecting it.
"Not afraid of the heat? Is your nephew Aegon also like this?" Wright asked, drawing a magic circle while speaking to Daenerys.
Daenerys shot him a glare. "Trying to get intel on my nephew?"
Wright smirked. "Do you think Aegon will come to save you?"
"He'll definitely come to save me!"
"Not necessarily. If you die, those dragons will become wild. He might even sell them or leave them to his own descendants!" Wright finished drawing the magic circle.
Daenerys, enraged, snapped, "He's not like that! Don't try to sow discord between us!"
"Anger! Yes, that's it!" Wright smiled wickedly, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up.
Daenerys struggled helplessly in his grip. "Wright! You demon! One day, the gods will punish you! You'll die with no place to be buried!"
"No! Your nephew will sell you off. Every time he does, he'll gain an army, and your price will just keep going up!" Wright taunted, trying to push her further into rage.
"Just wait, Wright! You'll be despised by everyone in the Seven Kingdoms when you die!"
Wright placed her into the magic circle, activating the newly improved array. His goal was to study her and the dragons' magical connection, needing her to experience strong emotional fluctuations. Last time it was pain, and now, Wright was trying to provoke anger. It was hard to find a suitable subject for his research, so he needed to test every possible emotion.
Her four handmaidens stood by, angered but too afraid to speak, watching as Wright, the evil mage, did as he pleased.
The magic didn't have the desired effect, so Wright dispelled the array, letting Daenerys regain her freedom. Her handmaidens immediately rushed over to check on her, ensuring she hadn't been harmed.
Daenerys knew herself that Wright hadn't harmed her, only using her for magical experiments, but as a Targaryen princess, being manipulated so casually by Wright was the greatest insult to her.
Wright picked up the Dragonbone arm armor that had fallen to the ground and walked over to the mannequin to put it back on. "Daenerys, this was just an examination. It didn't harm you, so there's no need for you to scream like that."
Daenerys pointed at Wright and shouted, "It's my body! You should have asked my permission before conducting any examination. Did you get my consent?"
"Here, have a fruit!" Wright threw a pear at her from the table.
"Eat it yourself!" Daenerys caught the pear and threw it back at Wright's head.
"Heh, you won't eat it, but I will." Wright raised his head to catch the pear, eating it as he walked out of the room. He thought he would calm her down for now, then improve the magic circle later in the evening. Tomorrow, Daenerys would need to be in a good mood.
Over the next few days, Daenerys was subjected to extreme emotional stimuli such as joy and sadness, but Wright still didn't gain any useful information about the magical connection between humans and dragons.
When magnified by magic, the mental torture was far more cruel than physical pain. Now, just seeing Wright's face made Daenerys tremble with fear. Missandei constantly wanted to rescue Daenerys from this magical hell, but with the four handmaidens guarding the pyramid, there was nothing they could do.
Wright sat alone atop the pyramid and pulled out a book from a long-unused space to read. The world of the Elder Scrolls was deep, and he only had the broken system. There was still much to delve into, and he needed to explore deeper things.
The crows's nest in Meereen was always sending him information from Westeros, though its timeliness was uncertain—better than being left in the dark.
Wright's handmaidens had left, and with no one to help him write, he had to do it himself.
Tyrosh, Lys, and Volantis had divided the disputed lands. Tyrosh's border had been pushed up to the edge of Myr, and their only freshwater river even taken away.
This insult was too much for Myr to bear. Because of the power of a dragon, they dared not openly declare war. Instead, they sent troops to build forts along the river, expanding their occupied territory, and repeatedly sent envoys to Tyrosh to protest.
It was just a city-state, and Wright had plenty of ways to deal with them. The letter he was writing to Nymeria was part of the plan.
He arranged for Nymeria to anonymously open a bank in Tyrosh, offering loans with an annual interest rate of 50%, and had Tereny use special alchemical ink to create parchment receipts. Each month, the interest would increase by 5%. For example, the first loan had an annual interest rate of 50%, but by the seventh issue, the rate would reach 80%, and it would only go higher after that!
This operation was classified. Among the officials of Tyrosh, only Intelligence officer Andrew and Finance Officer Gunthor Hightower were involved. The loans would be distributed separately in each city, and only people from Myr would be able to purchase the loans there. Andrew would also organize his people in Lys and Volantis to sell fake loans, confusing the people of Myr.
The loans would be repaid monthly. Wright emphasized that the payments must be made as agreed for the first few months. When the people of Myr couldn't afford to buy any more, he would begin delaying the interest payments. After two months of delay, Myr would be thrown into chaos due to internal loan disputes. Then, Wright would shut down the bank, and the fake staff would change identities, taking all the money for himself.
The goal was to empty Myr's coffers in six months to a year. Wright would then swoop in as the savior, rescuing the collapsed economy of Myr. A classic Ponzi scheme—there was no law in these times to regulate such things; whoever had the biggest fists and the most money made the rules.
After finishing the first letter, Wright began the second one, aimed at the Golden Company.
The Golden Company had been secretly causing him trouble. After gathering all the intelligence, Wright confirmed that the Golden Company and Aegon were behind the scheming. Now that he knew who the culprits were, Wright wouldn't hold back.
He instructed Nymeria, under the name of the Lord of Tyrosh, to issue a bounty on the Golden Company. The Golden Company was the most famous mercenary group in Essos, and except for the hidden identity of Aegon, everyone in the group was eager to raise their profile. The more famous a mercenary was, the higher their hiring fees. So, finding the higher-ups in the Golden Company was easy.
From the 10,000 gold dragons reward for the leader to the 100 gold dragons reward for the blacksmith, Wright wrote down over a hundred names on the letter, including all of the Golden Company's notable members, except for the common soldiers.
Before, bounty fugitives from both continents could run and hide. Wright intended for the bounty in Essos to be released, making it impossible for the Golden Company to flee to Westeros.
Though Wright couldn't find their heads yet, he would continue to annoy them for now. To keep greedy assassins and bounty hunters in check, one had to pay at least double or even triple the bounty price. And every now and then, Wright would increase the bounty.
All the text was inscribed onto parchment with magical lightning. Daenerys and the others watched, coveting the sight: "Can you teach me magic?"
"What? Are you out of your mind?"
Wright rolled up the letter, grabbed a piece of red wax, and a faint flame ignited in his hand. After the wax melted, he gently pressed the seal onto it.
"You've examined my body; shouldn't you give me something in return?"
It wouldn't cost her anything to ask, and if Wright agreed, then it would be a win. That's how Daenerys thought. She was trapped by Wright and couldn't leave. Since Wright wouldn't kill her immediately, she had to be alert for any chance to escape and cause him some trouble.
"Mind your place, captive lady! Whether in Westeros or here, every part of your body belongs to me, and I can dispose of your life at will! You have no right to make demands!" Wright said, then grabbed the letter and prepared to head to the crow's nest.
"I'm from the Targaryen family." Before Daenerys could finish, Wright paused at the door, turned back, and said to her, "The freedom I gave you is your reward! If you make any more demands, I'll lock you in the dungeon."
"You devil!" Daenerys shuddered at the thought of the dark dungeon, her lips turning pale with fear.
Wright still had much to do. After taking on the task of defending Meereen, there were several things he needed to accomplish.
Riding his skeletal Arvak along the city walls of Meereen, he set up magical traps at the damaged spots. He also arranged traps near the city gates, especially within the gatehouse. There, he placed continuous freezing traps; once triggered, they would all explode, and the ice would instantly seal the gatehouse shut.
The traps on the walls were all illusionary ones. Wright had considered using fire or lightning for direct damage. Though powerful, they could only be used once. On the other hand, the illusionary traps, after being improved, could simply disorient and last much longer. On the city walls, they could be deadly. When attackers climbed the stairs and were about to reach the top, they would suddenly find that the directions had reversed, and left and right were mixed up. All they would face would be arrows from the defenders.