[Chapter Size: 3000 Words.]
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Thrid Person POV
Essos, 296 AC.
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The Artis were quickly greeted by a group of 12 men at the entrance, surrounded by guards, all very well-dressed, who awaited them with a certain elegance of Essos, but not as much as those sve leaders who were so fond of jewels and earrings with pincers.
As Jon approached, the man at the front of the 12 stepped forward. He bowed his head and looked at Jon carefully.
"Wele to the Iron Bank, King of Artica," the man said, as soon as Jon was close enough, before tinuing. "It is an honor to meet you and see you at our prestigious bank, Jon Artica. My name is Tyestoris. I am a representative of the Iron Bank and I am here to wele you. These are our 12 magnifit men, known as the Keyholders. They take care of the entire Iron Bank and make the biggest decisions. And they are here to greet you with all due respect," he spoke.
It was obvious that they were afraid of Jon, especially sidering he had 500 ships anchored outside in the sea. They preferred to treat him with respect rather than make him an enemy.
Jon was not surprised by the information about the 12 Keyholders; it was something he already knew very well through green sight studying how the ey of the known world worked. They were the most iial and powerful men in Braavos; they trolled several local trade panies ahose who made the biggest decisions in the bank, such as whom to charge higher or lower i rates, or whether to lend or not.
Jon cracked a respectful smile at them. "Well, I'm impressed with the reception. o meet you too, who along with the Sealord, are the most powerful lords of Braavos," Jon said calmly, while everyone nodded.
"Let me introduce all the Keyholders, King of Artica," Tycho said, pying the role of ector betweewo groups and began introdug each of the 12. They responded with a nod to Jon, and some even with a slight wave.
"Now that introdus are over, I'm sure a private room would be more suitable for su importaing," Tyestoris tinued speaking after they had greeted each other. "Bring bread and salt for King Artica, so we make him fortable in our humble bank," he said in a calm tone, while another Braavosi man brought the bread and salt.
After the guest ritual was pleted, they began to ehe bank. "There are some courtesans present. I'm sure your wife and sister will be quite fortable apanying them," the Sealord said.
"Please, I want them to stay only with uards," Jon spoke, after all, he didn't want his family mingling with the city's luxury prostitutes.
"That's fine, King of Artica, it won't be a problem..." The Lord of Braavos nodded, respeg Jon's decision.
"They will be led to a pleasant pce where they wait while we finish the meeting," one of the Keyholders spoke as Jon nodded.
The group began to separate, while guards along with Ygritte and Arya and 10 royal guards moved to one side, and Jon along with his ministers and another 15 royal guards moved along with the Sealord and his guard with the 12 Keyholders, Tycho, and the bank guards.
Jon wouldn't put Arya in this moment to iate with these men, as this was the most importaiation he would have on his journey since he started moving from Artica to Westeros, and doubted another would surpass it, so he didn't want to offend these men.
"So these men help yahe powerful and mysterious Artica?" the Sealord looked at the two men behind Jon.
"After all, they will represent Artica through me. It's good that you already know them, for I am sure we bear good fruit from this iation," Jon spoke.
"I am Gavron, minister of ah of the kingdom," the man introduced himself to the Sealord while the Keyholders looked on with i, as this man trolled the finances of the new kingdom rising in this world, with great financial power.
"This beside me is Junly, minister of trade," Gavron introduced his colleague soon after while the mentioned minister o everyone.
"It's a pleasure to meet you..." the Sealord said with a respectful tone.
"You all know each other very well, due to the good business everyone beed from today," Jon did not miss the opportunity to speak a few words at the introdu.
"Of course, King of Artica. As your words suggest, we derive good iations," one of the Keyholders said, as the group followed him further into a room with an opeo the sea, yet pletely isoted from any other location.
"The guards will wait outside." A Keyholder spoke as both the Braavosi guards and the First Sword of Braavos, along with the Arti guards, waited, the tter carrying a box to be called upon.
Joered and quickly surveyed the area using some animals he entered along the way and even his eagles that flew outside. It was clear that there were some people attempting to eavesdrop, and Joified someone below them and another person hanging outside. The Iron Bank would not allow ao spy on them, especially during such a high-caliber meeting with all the Keyholders present, so they were pced there on purpose.
A stoable was situated in the middle of the room. The 12 Keyholders sat on one side with the Sealord, while Jon and his two ministers sat oher, with the Minister of erd the Minister of bringing bags with dots while Jon remaihere in his armor.
Tycho had apahem inside, before taking his leave. "I will be waiting outside for auality," Tycho spoke, before leaving the room.
As soon as he left, one of the Keyholders was the first to speak. "King of Artica, we have been told that you are ied iablishing trade with Braavos, bringing your famous products from Artica."
"Ah, yes, that sounds great," another Keyholder said. "We have heard much about your products, and it seems that Dorill maintains the trade you established." He said with i.
"Yes, I am willing to sell many things to Braavos, and I am sure that you would be ied in my products as a new source of revenue for you," Jon said with a small smile.
"Iing. Might Braavos be the only city you iate with in Essos?" another Keyholder spoke, implying that Jon would only sell to Braavos. But Jon shook his head.
"Braavos is the first city we visited in Essos, but that does not mean we won't visit others. After all, we want to create a maritime trade work with all the port cities on this ti," Jon responded.
"Well, that's a bit disheartening," a fourth Keyholder spoke. "I'm sure we think more about this," he hio Jon.
It was obvious that they wao monopolize the products of Artica. Jon uood their side, after all, they are merts and want the highest profit possible. But they should also uand Jon's side, as merts and, primarily, as bankers, who also aim for profit.
"That is out of the question," Jon said, and the Keyholders exged gnces as they seemed to be unig among themselves and with the Sealord, a kind of teique for their decisions in front of third parties. His ministers remained silent with Jon watg them. After exging looks and signals among themselves. Everyone's attentiouro Jon.
"Well, I believe you are a determined man and there is no point in insisting on this. But Braavos is ied in trade with Artid we would love to see your products here, especially the ice. After all, we are in an arid nd, and ever since you began supplying ice to Dorne many moons ago, it has bee a craze in the kingdom as we've heard and we know they are looking for more after their stoded there. I'm sure they are quite excited about the idea of you delivering a new shipment," one of the Keyholders spoke.
"Lucky for them that you won't be iating with anyone else ieros after what happened..." another cautiously added.
"Speaking of the flict, do we have any guarahat we won't be attacked either?" Another Keyholder spoke, with a more questioning tohahers. "Don't take me wrong, King of Artica, but there is a fleet of 500 ships, far more than what you used to attack Westeros. We just want to ehat nothing will happen to us."
Jon merely smiled at that moment. "It depends. What led me to attack Westeros was the folly of the maesters. They put me in a room, tried to intimidate me, renounce my own gods and even my own family. So, I killed every one of them without any pity. But rest assured, gentlemen Keyholders, I only attack when necessary, and I hope it stays that way. After all, I see that mao the window and another below us. I pity that this might ge if they suddenly do more than just listen to our versation..." Jon spoke, his tone being less pleasant as he g each of the bankers, each feeling a chill.
"My lord," one of the Keyholders stood up. "I apologize if we have offended. We have no iion of attag you. After all, we have important information at this meeting, we just keep everything for them to pass on the recorded reports. But I'm sure they are already leaving," the Keyholder spoke. The moment, they heard a spsh of water, as if the man really had jumped into the water, while Jon observed through the eagles outside and also noticed what was below them disappear.
"As I said, gentlemen, Artica is open for business. As long as there is no aggression on your part, we will be good friends," Jon decred, opening up his too be more friendly while smiling.
"Yes, King of Artica," many of them quickly resporying to rectify their previous error.
"I don't mean to be offensive, but as one of the Keyholders, there are some issues I want to firm with yarding our trade..." The same Keyholder with a questioning tone spoke again. " we t on you, King of Artica? After all, once we start our businesses, we will probably need weekly restocks from Artica. But what s us is your war with Westeros. We've heard about a whole group ing north to attack your kingdom," he ented.
"Just a little more than 15,000 melemen. These men will be decimated by half even before they get to see the kingdom. And if they arrive, they will be easily destroyed against the Arti forces. We trol the greatest power north of the Wall, and my people easily know how to fight on that hostile terrain. If Westeros really desires a war with us..." Jon spoke with an indifferent tone and tinued. "...know that Artica has no enemies," he said, as all the Keyholders nodded.
"Moreover, if this is a for you, I would like to deposit a sum of money in this bank," Jon cluded, and this immediately raised all eyebrows.
"You want to do this, King of Artica? How much are we talking about?" One of them asked, surprised like his colleagues.
"Minister of , hand over the papers," Jon ordered his minister.
The man quickly opened his bag and took out some dots, handing them to the Keyholder, who quickly read them, raising his eyebrows as he passed them on to the . sequently, all the Keyholders and the Sealord began to read the dots, oer the other, until they unicated with each other with their eyes again.
"You want to deposit all these thousands of gold dragons i in our bank...?" They asked, stunned, as the amount was immense, also being surprised that Jon was richer than they had thought... even after all the trade with thousands he had done ieros. "This would make you a shareholder like us."
"Exactly, gentlemen. You have never had a number of Keyholders; it has always varied from time to time. Why not have a 13th Keyholder at the Iron Bank?" Jon decred with a calm tone.
They looked at each other once more. "Well... this is uedly... not an easy decision, Jon Artica, especially for a fn kingdom," one of them ented. After all, they did not expect such a proposal like this, and allowing Jon to i so much money was almost as if he was starting to take over Braavos through the ey. This was something they did not want, but there were also many bes they could gain from this situation. However, it was still not a decision to be taken lightly.
"King of Artica, we deal with this ter. After all, this is not something we discuss superficially. Therefore, we would like you to give us some time," one of the Keyholders requested.
"That's fine. After all, I'm aware of something like this, so let's stay a few days in Braavos..." Jon said.
Although such a discussion would normally take weeks, Jon o travel to an unknown world on this trip aurn to Artica as quickly as possible. After all, he had children and a kingdom still to manage.
"Very well, sir. We will discuss a bit and give you an answer. But, if you wish, we already start trading," another Keyholder said, as Jon nodded.
His Minister of erce also took some dots from his bag, pg them oable befoing to open the duards brought in the rge boxes they had brought ihe bank.
Jon quickly began to iate all his products along with his ministers, presenting them to the men who eagerly looked and sampled.
Jon maintaihe same trading style he had iated in Dorne and the Reach, establishing a prig policy for the Keyholders to work with, even allowing the on people access to some of his products, mainly id some cheaper drinks. After all, Jon would have a much better turnover, and the "factories" in Artica were ready to meet this demand, even if it o serve all the coastal cities of Essos and eveeros, if that were possible in time.
In the end, they made progress in the iations, but nothing was finalized yet, as the men wao insist on prices and Jon remained firm, already aced to dealing with such people as he had done ieros.
In the end, they reached a good initial sensus while they ate and drank Arti food and touched his silk and other exotic products along with cigars.
"There is also a rade that I did not do with the south of Westeros, after all, they do not and after ht... I do not care much what they think," Jon began in a calm tohe Reach, besides not fulfilling their agreement after he had paid them, Jon could screw them over in a way that no one else did.
"What would that be?" The Sealord asked curiously, after all, all the known products of Artica were exactly there.
"It is nothihan food, fruits, aables," Jon decred, making them look surprised.
" Artica supply products to Braavos?" One of them asked, astonished.
"Yes... you don't think that just because we e from beyond the Wall, we ot reproduce our food... and I assure you, my friends, you will receive so much food that you will no longer need Westeros with high prices, moreover, you could eveo the North, which may be smaller than the Read the Rivernds sell to the kingdom, making a rge profit. That is until you manage tracts with the North itself," Jon decred.
Braavos, like all the cities of Essos, o import food from Westeros due to their arid nds, besides a product even cheaper thaeros delivers, this would be a blow to the Read the Rivernds, who supply outside of Westeros, and if Braavos mao resell to the North, because Jon believed it would be very difficult for him to sell himself, it would be a final blow to these kingdoms and the loss would be catastrophi their high profit margins.
"That certainly catches attention! we see your products that you grow in your fields?" They asked and Jon nodded.
"We left them on the ships, but we will bring them over these 3 days."
"That's great, the's clude our meeting for today, I'm sure we have already aplished a lot and are starting our future and solid, ercial partnership," one of the Keyholders spoke with great satisfa.
"Let's go then... keep these samples and taste as much as you want," Jon spoke while the Keyholders were delighting themselves with the drinks mixed with ice, enjoying the pleasure of drinking something cold in that heat.
"King of Artica, may I invite you to my mansion? I'm sure it will be a good pce for you and your family to stay in the ing days, my family and I will treat you with the respect befitting your position," the Sealord offered, being an opportunity to solidify his retionship with someone so powerful.
"Very well, Sealord, we will be apanying you," Jon spoke at the end as the man nodded and they left the room with the Keyholders having a big meeting at this moment to decide what to do after everything they had heard.
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