There's an Arabic proverb: "We shouldn't get angry easily, because when we're angry, we show our true abilities. And then, others will know how bad you are."
This saying, reframed as "don't show your hand," actually suited Viserys very well. Viserys was, in fact, very afraid of a direct confrontation with Illyrio. He knew he simply didn't have the capital to reveal his hand in such a situation. In their relationship, Illyrio was the one who actually had the power to decide how the game was played.
So, when Viserys realized that Illyrio hadn't uncovered his true background through Varys, he knew his strategy of creating a smokescreen had worked. His actions might have already, in Illyrio's eyes, been backed by a certain power.
This meant that the conspiracy and intrigue of not showing their hand was still the game Illyrio was willing to play.
This form was excellent for Viserys. They could sit down and talk things over, and would be unlikely to resort to violence easily.
However, Viserys couldn't afford to be careless. Illyrio had been an assassin in his youth. He likely didn't take killing too seriously. Viserys just hoped that Illyrio's ambition was strong enough to keep him patient.
"In fact, Your Grace. I went to Westeros and happened to witness the Seven Kingdoms holding a jousting tournament for Prince Joffrey's nameday," Illyrio began to respond to Viserys. "I stayed in the harbor of King's Landing for several days. I watched with my own eyes as over a hundred tents were set up on the riverbank outside the city walls of King's Landing. Every day, I saw knights and free riders from all over Westeros arriving. Tens of thousands of commoners came to watch. Even for someone as well-traveled as I am, it was a rare spectacle. Countless ships and horses entered the city every day. They came from all seven kingdoms: the Crownlands, the Stormlands and the Reach, the Westerlands and the Vale, the Riverlands and the North, and even the Iron Islands and Dorne." He paused, looked at Viserys, and seeing no change in his expression, continued, "Countless noble knights, the heroes celebrated in hundreds of songs, were there. The knights wore enameled armor, brought horses and servants, and their cloaks were embroidered with different family crests. Unfortunately, I know very little about the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms. I could barely recognize the crowned stag of the Baratheons, the roaring lion of the Lannisters, the silver trout of the Tullys, the white moon and blue falcon of the Arryns, the direwolf of the Starks..."
Before Illyrio could finish describing the other great noble houses, he didn't even have a chance to save "the sun spear of Dorne" for last as a test. Viserys rudely cut him off: "The direwolf, you mean the Starks of the North are also there? Are you sure?"
Viserys's interruption made Illyrio vaguely aware of some unusual emotional fluctuations, but he couldn't figure out why. He asked, "Is there a problem?"
Viserys mumbled, "I heard the North is a long journey, and the Northerners have never been involved in the affairs of the South. I didn't expect the Starks to send someone all the way south to King's Landing to participate in Joffrey's nameday tournament. Did you inquire who represented the Stark family?"
Illyrio asked, "Your Grace seems very interested in the Stark family?"
"Just curious," Viserys said. "To be clear, Governor, I am not questioning your words, but as far as I know – perhaps it's just hearsay, and the information may not be accurate – the eldest son of the Stark family in the North is still young. If they were to come south, it would probably be the Duke of Winterfell himself."
So he suspects I'm lying, so he's ignoring my probing?
Illyrio suddenly realized, but this wasn't his fault: "Your Grace, I did see ships with the direwolf sigil of the Stark family entering the harbor in King's Landing."
"Oh," Viserys changed the subject, "I suppose the North sent gifts for the Crown Prince's nameday. After all, no matter how isolated, they still have to show respect to the royal court. The sea route from White Harbor in the North to King's Landing is convenient. Go on, Governor Illyrio, what else did you see?"
Viserys wasn't really suspicious of Illyrio. He just couldn't help but pay attention to news about the Stark family. Their situation was closely related to Viserys's speculation about the political situation in Westeros. The appearance of the Stark banner at the Crown Prince's tournament, which wasn't mentioned much in the original story, and which was believed to have happened before Robert went north, made him think.
"Where were we?" Illyrio asked, seeing Viserys had offered a way out. He assumed Viserys was already on guard, so he didn't dare bring up the topic of the Dornish knights he'd seen in King's Landing to probe Viserys's attitude. He continued, "Oh yes, the direwolf of the Starks. And the golden rose of the Tyrells, the golden kraken of the Iron Islands, the spear of Dorne—"
Seeing Illyrio listing the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms without getting to the point, Viserys couldn't help but ask again, "My dear Governor, didn't you go to King's Landing to inquire about the political situation? Why are you only talking about the Crown Prince's tournament?"
Viserys knew what Illyrio was probing at. He was subtly hinting at the immense power the Seven Kingdoms possessed now, like a pot of boiling oil, and the attitude of the great lords towards the royal court. He didn't want Illyrio to steer the conversation towards a specific territory or the topic of raising an army.
Illyrio, interrupted for the second time, showed no sign of displeasure. Instead, he asked with a gentle smile, "What would Your Grace like to hear?"
"The political situation in King's Landing, of course," Viserys replied matter-of-factly.
Wasn't Illyrio talking about the Crown Prince's tournament precisely to talk about the political situation? Viserys understood this, of course, but sometimes he needed to ask some silly, pointless questions to deflect the increasingly blatant probing in the other man's words.
"The political situation. Of course," Illyrio was momentarily thrown off by the broad topic of "political situation." Fortunately, he was prepared. He glanced around, using his eyes to dismiss the steward in the dining hall, and then looked at Daenerys, as if confirming there were no others present, before continuing, "Pardon my merchant background, Your Grace, my understanding of politics is somewhat lacking. I must be frank, this trip, I may not be able to verify your claims. My trip happened to coincide with the grand tournament of the Crown Prince's name day, and I saw the support of the great lords of the Seven Kingdoms for the royal family. I also saw the countless people in King's Landing who love the king—forgive me for using the word 'love,' Your Grace, if I have offended you, then I apologize to you. But that is what I saw. King Robert's reputation is very high in King's Landing, and his two brothers also love him and are devoted to him. That's what the people say."
"Oh, really, is that what you think, Governor?" Viserys wore a mysterious smile. "If that's the case, why are you still willing to support me?" Frankly, Viserys had thought that by trying to change the subject, he would be met with increasingly aggressive probing from Illyrio, but he hadn't expected it to be so forceful.
"Because I'm not certain, Your Grace," Illyrio said. "I've also been told that during The War of the Usurper, the noble lords and houses all rose up to serve the king. The Greyjoys and other houses defied the royal court, and the Dornish in the south are filled with rage, wanting to avenge Princess Elia and her children. In the Seven Kingdoms, there are not a few who secretly sew the Dragon Banner, waiting for the day you lead your army across the sea."
Illyrio's words this time were particularly sincere, as if from the heart, and extremely seductive. Daenerys, who had been listening quietly with her head bowed, couldn't help but look up and glance at the fat governor. Daenerys had no subordinates and didn't know what people on the other side of the Narrow Sea were thinking or doing, but she instinctively didn't trust Illyrio, nor did she believe his sweet talk. But she couldn't help but worry about her brother, Viserys, and lowered her head again.
Viserys's face was showing a look of smugness, with a slight smile on his lips. He was in high spirits, as if because of Illyrio's attitude, he had spoken without thinking. "They say—cough, cough," he said, immediately trying to cover something up with a strange cough, then quickly recovered his high spirits, as if nothing had happened, and continued, "I mean, there are rumors that the Tyrells of Highgarden and Duke Renly of Storm's End are very close. Hasn't Governor Illyrio heard a little wind, seen a little sign, in Westeros?"
Illyrio had posed a choice, and his words showed that he was more inclined to Viserys.
Viserys vaguely felt that as long as he answered appropriately and gave a seemingly insightful analysis, Illyrio would take advantage of the situation and immediately change his attitude, then give him more resources, and even possibly adopt a posture of allegiance.
This was Illyrio probing his attitude, Viserys knew, Illyrio was doing this to quickly find out his bottom line.
Viserys was very clear that he couldn't accept Illyrio's false offer of allegiance, because he had nothing at all. Being too close to Illyrio or too distant from him wasn't a good thing right now.
After much thought, Viserys decided to choose "playing dumb" from his many prepared strategies. This didn't fit the persona he had originally intended to portray, but it fit the persona of the body itself. Ambitious but impatient, confident but ignorant, with some means but impractical. He decided to act like a boastful, political novice with a set of hearsay theories, but knew nothing about practical matters.
Viserys then threw out a new lure, changing the subject.
Illyrio pretended not to notice Viserys's exaggerated attempt to cover up his slip of the tongue, adopting a posture of attentive listening: "Your Grace, what kind of rumors, what kind of signs?"
Illyrio had already prepared himself, curious to see what kind of words Viserys would use, similar to what he had said when they observed the Dothraki together.
However, Viserys's reaction was strange. He maintained an excited expression and asked, as if it were only natural: "Shouldn't you be the one telling me?"
"Your Grace?" Illyrio was momentarily confused, looking at Viserys with a puzzled expression.
The excitement on Viserys's face gradually faded, and an expression of surprise gradually became apparent. He seemed to be scrambling to cover up: "There must be some signs, right?"
Illyrio was very familiar with this expression and these words. It was the ignorant expression of those who talked big but couldn't answer specific, practical questions. It meant that Viserys had no understanding of the actual situation, had only heard this saying from others, and thus believed it, using it to try to persuade Illyrio.
Viserys's expression was as exaggerated as ever, making it difficult for Illyrio to discern its truth. Illyrio asked seriously: "Rumors, you said just now. Didn't the rumors you heard specify what they were like, Your Grace?"
Viserys struggled to cover up: "'The Tyrells of Highgarden and Duke Renly of Storm's End are getting close,' they—I mean, the rumors say so. Isn't that an obvious, well-known fact?"
Illyrio struggled to control his expression, asking seriously, "So, this 'obvious, well-known fact,' as you say, how should I verify it?"
"There must be some sign!" Viserys forced a smile. "Didn't you hear anything in King's Landing, Governor?"
Hearing this, even Daenerys couldn't help but glance up at Viserys in surprise.
The embarrassment on his face was truly exquisite; it even gave Daenerys goosebumps.
Illyrio hadn't expected things to develop like this, to the point where he momentarily doubted whether he had misjudged Viserys. Could it be that Viserys wasn't so clever, and was indeed just a boastful fool with no understanding of concrete matters?
Illyrio hesitated, considered for a moment, and finally gave Viserys a way out: "Speaking of which, I heard that Renly and the Knight of Flowers are very close, and have a good relationship. Does that count as a sign?"
Viserys immediately seized the opportunity: "Of course, Renly and the Knight of Flowers, of course."
"But even so, the Knight of Flowers is not the heir to Highgarden," Illyrio continued to ask. "I'm afraid that is not enough to prove the 'fact' you mentioned, is it?"
"What, the heir to Highgarden? Oh, the Knight of Flowers is from House Tyrell of Highgarden?" Viserys muttered softly, trying to maintain a smile.
Illyrio naturally heard his mutterings and couldn't help but feel speechless: He doesn't even know who the Knight of Flowers is?
But soon, under Illyrio's gaze, Viserys swallowed hard, his face gradually taking on a determined expression. He said, "No, Your Excellency, that's not necessarily the case. You know, Eddard Stark of The North wasn't the heir to Winterfell, but he was close to King Robert the Usurper, and they usurped the Iron Throne together."
Illyrio had to admit that even though Viserys was flamboyant and affected, the attitude he displayed was truly one of someone with certain skills. At the very least, his ability to change his expression and be shameless was truly top-notch. Thinking back, Viserys used the story of the gardener family of Highgarden to try and win over Illyrio, and he had the same determined look then.
Was his certainty true or false?
Without giving Illyrio time to continue dwelling on the so-called "facts," Viserys quickly moved on from the topic. He clasped his hands together slightly, subconsciously using the small gesture to rub the dragon bone pendant wrapped around his right hand, and asked Illyrio, "Ahem, Your Excellency, I remember I asked you about dragon bones and dragon eggs before you left."
Illyrio's face was expressionless as he looked at Viserys seriously.
Viserys looked at Illyrio with a slightly nervous expression, "I remember you're a dragon bone merchant. Dragon eggs are rare in the world, and I'm afraid they won't be easy to obtain. But I think dragon bones must be simple for you. Could I trouble you to send, uh, lend, lend me some? There must be quite a few in your warehouse, and I have a use for them."
Hearing Viserys suddenly change the subject and make concessions on his previous demands, yet still request dragon bones, Illyrio couldn't help but be intrigued. "May I be so bold as to ask what you intend to use these dragon bones for?"
"I'm sorry, Governor, but I cannot tell you that. However, rest assured, I will repay you in the future." Viserys fixed his gaze on Illyrio, as if to gauge his reaction. Seeing no change in Illyrio's expression, Viserys composed himself and said, "A king keeps his word."
This promise offered no guarantee, and the previous probing questions regarding Viserys's answers were frankly terrible, yet Viserys was still brazenly demanding the dragon bones. Illyrio fell silent.
The silence in the dining room was such that a pin could have been heard dropping for several breaths. Finally, Illyrio asked, "How many do you require?"
"You agree, Governor?" Viserys visibly relaxed. Then, without answering Illyrio's question, he quickly took off the dragon bone pendant from his hand. "Actually, there's something else I need you to do." He placed the blackened silver-chained dragon bone pendant on the table in front of Illyrio. "I want you to sell this pendant in your shop, in a prominent location. The price should be nineteen gold and eight silver, plus fourteen copper coins, in Pentos currency."
Illyrio, without changing his expression, responded in a normal tone, "This pendant is overpriced; it's unlikely to sell. If you urgently need money, I can--"
"No," Viserys interrupted again.
....
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