Chapter 80: Quhuru Mo
"We beat and tortured them, and learned that the rebels had actually dispersed at the crossroads. Some remained nearby, while those carrying the Valyrian steel sword headed south.
So the Laughing Lion's first mate and I decided to split up. I led our men to the crossroads to eliminate the remaining rebels, while he headed to King's Landing to track down the other group.
A week ago, I received word from the first mate that he had found a lead on the other group. The rebels might be hiding in Flea Bottom in King's Landing."
"So where is the first mate?" Ser Grantham asked.
"I don't know. He should have been waiting for me here. Perhaps something unexpected happened, but fortunately, his letter to me mentioned some leads."
"Then why didn't you go to the Red Keep to ask for help? Isn't Her Grace a Lannister?" Grantham asked, puzzled.
The next day after breakfast, Ian finally met the person he had hoped to see.
A group of about six or seven sailors arrived at Ian's lodging house, and Ian invited the leader and his ship's first and second mates into his hall.
Once inside, the leader removed his hood, revealing a dark-skinned face with kind eyes. His ebony features marked him as a Summer Islander.
"Ser Lucien Lannister, son of Ser Gerion Lannister," Ian introduced himself, then pointed to Grantham beside him. "This is Ser Grantham, my captain of the guard."
"Quhuru Mo, captain of the Cinnamon Wind. This is my first mate, Kojja, and this is Second Mate Boris. I assume you already know him, since it was he who sent word for me to see you." Quhuru looked at Ian. "I heard you need our help?"
"Please sit down, friends. I have good wine for you. It's a long tale."
For the next while, Ian recounted the story he had told Grantham earlier.
In fact, the reason Ian had told Grantham first was so that he could question it and help fill in the gaps in the story.
After all, he and Grantham already had a solid employment relationship. Even if his story had flaws with him, it wouldn't affect his service. However, the version of the story presented to Quhuru and the others had to be perfect.
"So," Ian finished his tale, "if you can assist me in suppressing the rebellion, I will pay you a reward of 200 gold dragons."
"200 gold dragons? Forgive me, I didn't hear that clearly," Boris exclaimed in shock. The figure was beyond his imagination.
Although he was currently engaged in the most lucrative sea trade of the era, even for a voyage from Westeros to the city of Yi Ti on the coast of the Jade Sea, a sailor would only earn two or three gold dragons at most. Even as the second mate, he would only earn less than 20 gold dragons for a voyage of nearly a year.
"200 gold dragons, and if your ultimate contribution is significant enough, that figure can be increased," Ian said confidently.
"How long do you need our service?" Boris continued. If it wasn't long, then this would be an excellent deal.
"It depends on how quickly we find the traitors. Perhaps a week, perhaps a fortnight, but it will probably not take more than two weeks," Ian promised.
According to his plan, if he couldn't find a clear lead within three days, he would buy the fourth clue from the marketplace, because delaying would affect his upcoming voyage to Pentos.
"But why us?" This time it was Captain Quhuru who asked, his question almost identical to Grantham's. "Why don't you go directly to the Red Keep to request troops? Aren't you a Lannister?"
"Because my father died in the previous mutiny, and my father and mother were secretly wed. My mother is a commoner, unrecognized by House Lannister. I need the Valyrian steel sword. Only by finding it will Uncle Tywin recognize my worth, allowing me to claim my true Lannister identity.
If I go to the Red Keep empty-handed, I'll only earn Ser Jaime's mockery. He told me before we set sail that we couldn't recover the sword. And if I simply go to him and ask him to take the household guards to retrieve the Valyrian steel sword, then all this will become irrelevant to me. The glory will belong to him, and I will always be an unrecognized bastard who lost his father."
"You mean Jaime the 'Kingslayer'? Oh, forgive me, I have no doubt offended you."
"Yes, he is my cousin."
"He may have left King's Landing and followed the king's party. They departed early this morning and are said to be heading for Winterfell. Well, of course, that's not important. What's important is that we accept your request and we will fight for you, ser. I hope that when you achieve success, you will not forget the friendship we formed when you were in need."
"How many men can you provide?"
"The 22 veteran sailors on the Cinnamon Wind, and some other men who are not skilled at fighting, probably about that number, if you need them." Quhuru replied.
"I only need warriors, and if there are no complications, I should not need your other men." Ian smiled. These men were a complete windfall for him.
Then Ian deployed everyone. He divided the newly recruited sailors into two groups. One group was still commanded by Captain Quhuru himself. They rented a house next to Ian's lodging and were ready to support Ian's operations at any time.
The other group was led by the first mate and temporarily commanded by Ser Grantham the turncoat. They entered the harbor together with Grantham's sellswords.
In view of the fact that the number of remaining players had reached 69, most of the players should have discovered the problem with starting equipment. Ian used two strategies to cast a wide net in King's Landing's harbor.
The first was naturally the same fishing as at the crossroads inn. He had a sellsword wear the conspicuous starting equipment of the sellsword knight and wander around the docks. Perhaps this wouldn't catch fish directly as before, but as long as it attracted the attention of other players, it could always lure them into making a move.
The second plan was to focus on the ships from Pentos. If anyone on those ships disembarked and entered the city heading toward Flea Bottom, they would look for an opportunity to strike.
To support plan two, Ian asked the Dornishman Denzel's lieutenant "Foul Jester" to take Denzel's sellsword company to Flea Bottom. Similarly, his men set a "hired knight" trap in Flea Bottom.
In addition, Ian summoned Dorian who had completed the task of "sending Simon off," and the 20 good men he'd brought to King's Landing. Half of these men were dispersed by Ian to various locations in King's Landing to gather information, and the other half lived in Ian's house, responsible for Ian's safety.
(End of Chapter)
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