NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 29: The Themed Brothel
Viserys's Dragon Dreams were not yet strong enough to be directly targeted. This time, the information he obtained through a passive Dragon Dream was not entirely accurate. However, while his magical abilities might be limited, his reasoning skills were not.
Although Braavos is vast, certain key locations serve as transportation hubs and gathering points. By process of elimination, he could narrow down the possibilities.
First, Purple Harbor, the largest seaport in Braavos, only allows local ships to dock. Its taverns and inns cater exclusively to locals unless someone particularly wealthy or powerful arrives. Given that the assassin had been at sea for more than ten days, it was unlikely he would be found there. Thus, Purple Harbor was ruled out.
The most likely place was Ragman's Harbor, adjacent to Purple Harbor, which specializes in receiving outsiders. Among the inns there was the "Inn of the Green Eel." In the original story, Sam, Jon Snow's good friend, had once visited it, as had Arya Stark.
The inn was known for its diversity, with foreigners speaking various languages. It seemed the perfect hiding spot for an assassin who had come to kill Viserys and his sister.
Viserys chartered an inconspicuous boat with a silver moon coin to take him to the vicinity of Ragman's Harbor. He was determined to go straight to the Inn of the Green Eel. As a bustling commercial city, Braavos had no concept of a 'curfew.' The docks were always active, with porters working night shifts to earn more.
Upon arriving at the docks, Viserys observed a group of porters hauling cargo ships. They shouted in unison, straining against the weight in the dark waters. From a distance, they seemed to be swallowed by the black sea.
Viserys stepped ashore to the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. Near Ragman's Harbor was a place called the Cattery. Despite its name, it was not a house for cats but a brothel with a feline theme. The 'employees' wore fake cat ears and imitated the sounds of female cats' mating calls to lure in passersby. Their voices could make a man's bones melt.
Viserys quickly rubbed his face and left the area, muttering, "Normal reaction, normal reaction." He took several deep breaths of the sea air to calm himself before entering the Inn of the Green Eel.
The Inn of the Green Eel was the largest inn in the area, with a spacious interior. Each pillar was adorned with two or three candlesticks, and the inn used whale oil candles, making it exceptionally bright. Most areas were clearly visible, and five or six female waitresses served wine. Some guests, notably the rascals, pinched them on the buttocks, but the waitresses did not resist, knowing such guests gave more tips.
Viserys surveyed the bustling inn, noting the diverse crowd of at least a hundred people. The clientele was a mix of locals, Westerosi, and even two Dothraki with curved swords at their backs. Judging by their short braids, the Dothraki appeared to have lost more battles than they had won, indicating they were far from the fearsome warriors typically associated with their kind.
Finding the assassin in such a crowd would be no easy task. Viserys noticed three main groups of people engaged in conversation: one speaking the common tongue and two speaking Valyrian. Dressed as a sailor with a brown turban, Viserys blended in well and did not attract much attention.
He first approached the group speaking the common tongue. They were discussing the rebellion in the Iron Islands a few years ago, a topic unlikely to interest an assassin from Westeros. He then moved to the two groups speaking Valyrian, but they were engrossed in discussions about the upcoming 10-day celebration.
Realizing the assassin would not be among those discussing local gossip, Viserys ordered a glass of wine and found a vantage point where he could observe the inn. He systematically evaluated the patrons, trying to identify anyone suspicious.
Two men dressed in flamboyant clothes, like roosters in a chicken coop, were clearly local water dancers and could be ruled out. Several vendors with large packages seemed equally unlikely to be assassins, given their demeanor and habits.
Viserys quickly realized this method of identification was inefficient. A skilled assassin would be adept at camouflage. Deciding on a bolder approach, he chose to lure the snake out of its hole. Anyone showing an interest in the 'Beggar King' would be highly suspicious.
Viserys beckoned to a waitress, a girl of about seventeen. She had a slightly plumper figure than average and wore a knowing smile. Viserys took her hand, and though she pretended to pull away, he slipped her a handful of gold dragons.
"Please buy everyone a drink," he said in a flirty tone. "Tell them it's a treat from the sailor Sinbad, who wants to hear stories about the Beggar King. The rest is yours."
The waitress's heartbeat quickened at the sight of the little yellow treasures in her hand. She took another look at the "sailor Sinbad" and found the facial features behind his beard quite handsome. Her resistance melted away. She nodded, slipping a gold dragon into her sleeve, and made her way to the bar.
The innkeeper, a bald man in his forties with a prominent double chin from years of indulgent drinking, lingered behind the bar. Seeing someone pay for a round of drinks brought a gleam to his eye; it meant higher turnover. He took out a golden-colored copper cup and tapped it with a spoon.
Ding-ding-ding-ding—
The spoon hitting the cup created a crisp sound, and the inn immediately fell silent as everyone turned their attention to the bar.
The innkeeper pointed in Viserys's direction and announced, "Everyone, our sailor, Lord Sinbad, would like to offer everyone a drink. Let's raise our glasses to him! To Sinbad!"
"To Sinbad!" The patrons cheered. It was always good to drink for free, and they raised their glasses in the direction indicated by the innkeeper. Viserys nodded in acknowledgment.
The innkeeper continued, "Lord Sinbad would like to know something about the Beggar King. I wonder if anyone can tell us about him."