The next morning, Wylis woke up early to start the day. He was in his primary bedchamber with Lyanna, having left Rhaella once she was asleep. He still felt very much at home with his northern she-wolf. She knew his deepest secrets, and she trusted him blindly.
Without disturbing his gorgeous wife, he leaned his face at the water basin. Yet another reminder that he needed to start working on the plumbing system. With Earthbending, hiding pipes was too easy. But making the said pipes first needed some mass production capabilities.
But let's deal with him first.
Wylis donned a simple lordly attire with a cape and headed out. With two guards riding behind him, he arrived at the largest and most respectable resthouse in the city. It was prepared to house special guests.
He honestly wanted Brandon with him. But the man was still asleep. So now, he hoped his titles, such as the Northern Sword and Tyrant's Games, and Quest Savior of House Manderly's reward would help.
In moments, he was welcomed inside the resthouse by the servants. It was nothing special. Just a simple building, a two-story house that was painted, polished, and furnished with new carpets, beds, and furniture. It also had two servants managing it.
Quickly, he was guided into the sizable sitting area near a warm hearth. He took a seat and waited for the fifth vice harbor master to arrive.
There, he just looked at the interior, wondering what he could do to improve. He hated the fact that he had to do everything. But the initial stage was meant to be the hardest. He wasn't cold-starting an old engine, but creating a new one entirely. It would take some time before he'd have enough craftsmen to make him whatever he wanted.
Best to focus on increasing the population first.
The easiest job that any of the smallfolk could do was construction. He was kickstarting the grand construction of the castle wall, then the city wall, and then the city itself; he was sure it'd invite plenty of men and women.
Should start digging out treasures as well.
Another fact was that he really didn't have any big income source. While all the treasure he dug from King's Landing, his Harrenhal winnings, and raiding Rhaegar's secret stash would keep him afloat, it wasn't enough to fund everything he had planned.
"You're very early, my Lord."
Wylis didn't stand up. There was no reason for him to coddle someone. If anything, he wanted to see how all his titles and Quest rewards worked on people. His lies should be more believable. He was supposed to enjoy greater influence across the North.
"Aye, if I don't lead by the light of dawn, I've no right to ask it of my men," Wylis replied and waited for the harbor master to take a seat. He didn't know anything about him but his name, Morgan.
Finally, Wylis took out a folded letter from his coat and handed it over. "This is for Lord Manderly to read."
"I'll ensure it reaches him."
"Good. Tell me then, are you aware of what Lord Manderly said in that letter you handed me yesterday?"
"Aye, I did."
"So the terms written there… are they what I must agree to if I'm to have the ships?"
Morgan frowned, shaking his head subtly. "Begging your pardon, my Lord. I've no word of that. I'm but a messenger, come to see the sale made proper. The talk of betrothal and squireship lies between yourself and Lord Mandery."
"Very well. Then I'll take it the letter has naught to do with the sale of the ships. When Lord Manderly was here, I asked to buy eight large cogs, three three-masted carracks, and ten more cogs to lease."
"Aye, I'm aware, my Lord," Morgan said and grabbed the booklet he'd brought along. "Lord Manderly was keen to see you well served. Soon as he returned, he called us together to make a full tally. He chose each ship himself. As it stands, we've only five large cogs for sale. Another five will be ready within two moons, and you may have three of those if you wish. We've one new carrack, seized from a merchant who failed his debts. The other two are older, but sound good enough. For those you mean to lease, there's plenty to choose from. You might take an entire merchant fleet if you wish. Their sailors sail well together, though the cost runs somewhat higher than individual leashed ships."
Wylis made some mental calculations while nodding.
He was willing to spend a substantial amount of money on a fleet of his own. The short-term profit-driven plan he had in mind for quick gold needed speed and scale. Hiring an entire merchant fleet made sense as he'd spend less on training the men. And if he didn't need them later, he could just find another merchant fleet. He wouldn't need to, as he planned to expand his personal fleet constantly.
If Tyrant's Squire was hungry, he was going to feed it.
"Aye, that sounds fair, harbor master. Let's settle the price, then. And I'd speak with those merchant fleets as well. Any with more than ten ships, send my way." Wylis concluded and started to negotiate the price. He sucked at it and almost bought a haggling mastery from the shop. But he held back; he had better, more important things to purchase.
Being a top-tier spoiled billionaire in his past life, haggling wasn't his best talent. But what he did know was how to spoil other men into giving him a good deal. Just a hint dropped to Morgan, telling him that he'd get a commission for any ship he brought over for sale, and instantly, the man willingly offered better prices.
In the end, the total bill came to slightly over seventeen thousand Gold Dragons. An insane amount, and also Wylis's biggest purchase. But he had over a hundred thousand, and this investment alone was going to bring him tens of thousands once his plans took shape.
No money changed hands at that point, however. Morgan would have to bring a small fleet of ships with a war galley or two to escort the chest of gold. Also, money would only be transferred once Wylis had seen and inspected each ship.
With that, he walked with Morgan to the docks where the merman-flagged ship awaited.
"More ships to purchase?" Morgan exclaimed, amused. "I see, my Lord has a large appetite."
"Just like my neighbor," Wylis joked.
"Hah! Aye, true that." Morgan chuckled and pondered deeply. "You might try your luck with House Redwyn. They've the greatest fleet in the realm: near two hundred warships, and a thousand merchant carracks besides. Wine cogs, trading galleys, even whalers. A fearsome count, that."
And Tyrant's Squire wants me to beat that. That's one tall order.
"Aye, I'll give it a try. But I've no great hopes for it. House Redwyn stood with the Targaryens, and I dealt quite the damage to them. If they still hold a grudge, they won't be eager to lend a hand."
"If they're keen to leave their past behind, they'll lend their aid readily, my Lord."
"That's why it's worth finding them at least once."
Finally, they arrived at the ship that Morgan had arrived on.
"I'll listen for word of any ship in need of a new master, my Lord."
"I'll wait to hear word of it." Wylis waved and left since moving a ship out of the docks wasn't a quick thing. And it was awkward just standing there.
Instead, Wylis went into town, passed by some smallfolk who merrily waved at him. He then arrived at a house with its doors open. He walked inside and saw a wet nurse. He spoke with the woman and then entered a room with a closed door.
"Anna."
He called for her. The woman was on the bed, tucked under warm blankets, with two babies tightly by her side, her arms wrapped around them.
"My Lord!"
"Stay in bed." Wylis approached her bedside and softly caressed her hair. Having children with noblewomen was different from smallfolk. Nobles had an entire lineup of maids to aid them, but smallfolk didn't. He was glad he had called her and the other women to Ramsgate for this.
More than that, he was shocked by how Anna carried two of his kids, both boys. She was a rather short woman, even shorter than Lyanna. And she'd given birth to two very solid babies. Both were identical twins, boys, and even their life point status was the same.
[Strength - 4/10
Dexterity - 1/10
Intelligence - 1/10
Charisma - 4/10
Vitality - 2/10]
Both of them had the same numbers. And this was just the proof of how fertile and birth-ready smallfolk women were. Unlike noblewomen, who were pampered since birth.
Quickly, Wylis distributed the points to the boys. He kept them identical since they were going to grow that way. It was best if they were evenly matched so they wouldn't fight each other.
[Strength - 4+2/10
Dexterity - 1+2/10
Intelligence - 1+1/10
Charisma - 4+2/10
Vitality - 2+3/10]
He gave more points to Vitality because they were going to be raised by Anna. While he was going to foot the bill for food, health, and education, they would still be raised outside the castle. Hence, better Vitality would help. Charisma didn't need any explanation. Dexterity helped them learn things faster, and Strength… he already saw the two lads growing to be tall and overpowered.
Could prove to be trusted knights at Magnus' side. Or something else. No child of mine will be forced into a career.
"Have you named them?" he asked.
Anna smiled fondly and nodded. "I apologize, I named them without seeking you."
"Nothing to be sorry for, Anna. You've given me two fine sons. Their names are yours to choose."
"Alric and Alden, that's what I named them."
"Alric and Alden, fine names," he muttered under his breath, remembering them. "We should fasten a colored thread to their little ankles so we can tell one from the other."
Anna chuckled. "Just what I was wondering, my Lord. I can already imagine them tricking their mother."
Wylis laughed and sat beside her, giving her the attention she deserved. He didn't know how she saw him. But he knew her past; A young window. Now she was a mother without a husband. He couldn't be there for her all the time. But he wanted to ensure she was never going to be alone in her life's journey.
Her sons were destined for greatness. And he was going to be there to guide them.
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