Chapter 103 - Arvinos (Patreon)

Valkorion knew that the Clan Ferros while being reached, had low direct combat prowess.

They lacked powerful Beyonders who were their direct members, the ones who were born into the Clan Ferros and not slaves or anything. Though even owning Mid Sequence Beyonder slaves was already pretty dangerous because they could break from control at any time. 

Nobody wanted to risk that, so only a few Pathways were suitable for such a purpose, and even though Clan Ferros was powerful, even for them, it was typically a deep dent in their pockets to procure such slaves.

Valkorion knew that Camille selected another approach, which was to become powerful Beoynder by herself, and even though her talent in this aspect was rather good, one could consider her a genius, but it wasn't enough.

He knew that with the impending Doom of the Valyrian Freehold and the migration of the Targaryens that were already warning everyone about the Doom that would come to the Valyrian Freehold, he must have left the elders in the Clan Ferros somewhat spooked.

In the end, the only thing that Clan Ferros had were money.

Money and wealth were good things.

That was for sure.

But without the power to protect them, it was useless.

Not to mention, it seemed that contrary to everyone else, the Clan Ferros were taking the warnings of the Targaryens rather seriously. It wasn't anything surprising, because contrary to the Valyrian Aristocratic Houses and Dragonlord Families, the Mercantile Clans were not really powerful in the aspect of the military might.

Unbeknownst to Valkorion, the Elders of the Clan Ferros have already decided to secretly relocate their assets to the Iron Bank of Braavos, together with some of their branch Clansmen. 

Some of them were dispatched to the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, some to the Underground Kingdoms of the Dwarves, and some to the Sothoryos or Westeros. In short, the Clan Ferros decided to believe the Targaryen prophecy because they didn't really have any other choice.

They didn't have the arrogance of the Dragonlord Families or other deep-rooted factions of the Valyrian Freehold that boasted by their strength. By having many High Sequence Beyonders, True Dragons, and other powerful Extraordinary Creatures.

The sole things that the Clan Ferros had were money and wealth, something that would be swiftly snatched away by others after the possible fall of the Valyrian Freehold, so the Clan Ferros was already making appropriate preparations.

Not only the Clan Ferros, but this also extended to the other Mercantile Clans of the Freehold and even to some weaker Valyrian Aristocratic Houses that didn't really have anything to lose.

Most of them relocated their assets and families to the Volantis, primarily followed by Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh.

Most of the people in the Freehold didn't really care about it and just let it happen, for many of these people were just fools who believed in the rubbish that the great Valyrian Freehold could actually perish.

Something that seemed to be totally unimaginable to the Valyrians right now.

As Valkorion was waiting for the Heiress Apparent of the Clan Ferros to return and pondering over his own speculations, Camille returned not long after and carried a carved stone box in both of her hands.

"Well, this is the egg of the Magma Drake. You should hatch it somewhere in the private; the instructions on hatching the egg are already included in the box."

She passed him the carved stone box as he eyed Camille cautiously because now it was clear that she wanted something, and it was becoming clearer and clearer with each passing moment that she had some sort of ulterior motive.

"So, what exactly do you want in return for all of these favors? Certainly, you didn't go all out on these weapons and armor just for mere promise or sentimentality, even though you are investing in the Trifarian Mercenary Company."

Valkorion asked as he took the carved stone box from her hands. He knew that she wouldn't really go all out as she went with all of these things for the Trifarian Mercenary Company, if she didn't want something from him back.

And it would be something really precious, judging by her choice of gifts and efforts.

"Ts... Yeah, there is something."

His smirk almost made her frown, but both of them understood each other very well.

"So with what the great Camille Ferros has a problem with? And what can the Trifarian Mercenary Company help you with?"

Despite his theatricality, he was geniue in his offer to help.

"I want the Trifarian Mercenary Company to escort several caravans of the Ferros Chamber of Commerce to the Cartharys; it contains supplies for the war efforts against the invasion of the Goblinoids. Another thing that I want the Trifarian Mercenary Company to do is to locate the secret base of the Arvino Clan and raid it. I don't care what you do with the loot from the Arvinos, aside from a list of the items that I will give you that you will develop to the Albus."

Hearing what Camille wanted made him cringe and almost dance in the excitement because Valkorion knew that this represented an opportunity to gather some more funds and money to grow the Trifarian Mercenary Company.

The Arvinos Clan was another Mercantile Clan that operated in the Valyrian Freehold, but not that much, actually. Their primary area of operation was around the three slave cities of Yunkai, Astapor, and Mereen, and they primarily dealt with the slaves.

"Though allow me to ask, what has the Arvinos Clan done to earn your ire?"

If there was one thing that both of them appreciated about each other, it was the decisiveness and determination to do everything to reach their goals. Camille, when she felt that there was a need to act, would be as ruthless as needed to achieve the desired results.

"They are expanding into the business area of the Clan Ferros and even daring enough to finance some bandit groups and brigands to attack affiliated merchant caravans of the Clan Ferros, something that is totally unacceptable. Our agents managed to locate one, if not the main base of the Arvinos Clan in the Painted Mountains, which is very well hidden and rather far from the Cartharys. The base is very well defended and has several hundred bandits and some slaves from the Arvinos and Ghiscari... but it's not anything that the Trifarian Mercenary Company, with their current numbers and gear, cannot handle."

Hearing her explanation made him sigh because the numbers were actually pretty high, as he would need to invest into the Healing Potions for the soldiers of the Trifarian Mercenary Company.

The last things that he wanted was deaths and crippling injuries, so he was determined to go and buy a few Lesser Healing Potions for every single member of the Trifarian Mercenary Company; that should be enough to prevent deaths.

And it was common knowledge that bandits and brigands were not any kind of threat to the professional combat force. So he wasn't really fearing that they would have losses, especially if there were not Mid Sequence Beoynders present. 

Which he was sure that there were not because the Arvinos Clan just overly ambitious Mercantile Clan that was being used by the Ghiscari as a pawn in their game with the Valyrians as they had deep-seethed hostility between them.