The Ultimate Player Of The Game Of Thrones

After the successful subjugation of Iron Island King Robert I Baratheon, first of his name, King of Andals and Fist Men and Rhyonar, announced a tourney at Lannisport to celebrate the victory.

Rickard decided to attend the tourney because he knew who would win it. This was a god sent opportunity to make money and he was not going to waste it. Although official reasoning he gave his retainers was "Lot of influential lords would be attending this tourney. I could interact all of them casually here and it may turn out be beneficial to the house."

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Rickard selected few of his retainers to journey with him to Lannisport. He ordered rest of the army to head back to Flint's Finger immediately save for those who had tasks left in Iron Island such as Gerrard Trant.

Rickard and his retinue traveled to the Lannisport on a ship. It took roughly 4 days to arrive at the Lannisport. The town was decorated in lieu of upcoming tourney. Lannisport being biggest trading town on the whole western coast of westeros, its streets always packed full of people; more so now that a tourney had been announced.

The knights came from every corner of the south to here. The main reason was during Robert I Baratheon's reign you could bag tens of thousands of golden dragons even if you weren't the winner. They were here to test their luck.

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Rickard had made a friend after came to the city, Denis Plumm. Denis was of rather large build and reddish face. He hailed from one of the noble houses loyal to Lannisters. Denis was a textbook extrovert and could make friend of roadside stone. This helped Rickard immensely. As he was suffering from someone from Siberia would suffer if they dropped into busiest street in India and told to cope with it.

Over the fortnight interacting with Denis friendship between both of them deepened. Rickard met many of the lords of westerpands with the help of Dennis.

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Time for the tourney came. Rickard was waiting for this the whole time. Finally his moment make money came. There were always betting took place in any tourney. He had asked help from Denis to 'invest' his money wisely.

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The tourney came to an end after a thrilling victory of underdog Ser Jorah Mormont. He was a relatively unknown knight before the siege of pyke. Ser Jorah Mormont gained his knighthood after being first man to go through the first breach of pyke castle. With the glorious victory attained against Ser Jamie Lannister of the Kingsguard in the tourney of Lannisport raised his fame and his house's fame to unprecedented heights. Ser Jorah Mormont married a daughter of Lord of Hightower in the aftermath.

Meanwhile Rickard was on moon as he was able to turn all of his savings into two million gold dragons as his repeated betting on Ser Jorah Mormont paid off. He immediately sent word to Gerrard Trant that the funding for the merchant ship was secured.

While he now had the money to purchase a merchant ship he couldn't do so in Lannisport as all of their ships burned by Ironborn. So now he had to tracel to shield islands where hopefully they would have a ship for him to purchase.

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After another 3 days of journey on the ship Rickard arrived at one of the Shield Islands called Oakenshield. The harbor of the island is called Lord Hewett's Town. Obviously House Hewett ruled the island and town both.

Rickard entered the castle of the house Hewett, called Lord Hewett's castle, on the reason of having participated in quashing Ironborn rebellion. Rickard Hmeets lord of the house Hewett, Humfrey Hewett, in the great hall of the castle.

Rickard bows his head slightly in respectful manner while placing his right hand over his left breast. " Lord Hewett, I wish to purchase a merchant ship from you."

Humfrey looked intently at Rickard. Not knowing why if he wanted a ship would come here? and asked " What do you propose?" Humfrey thinking there was more to the seemingly plain request.

" Our Flint Conglomerategoing to need ships to haul our goods. As oakenshield is able to sell some merchant ships, we would like to buy it. But we can't buy all of them at once. So I want to reach an agreement with you, lord of house Hewett, on it." Rickard answered.

" One ship costs 50,000 dragons. If you want to purchase in bulk there could be some leeway in negotiation. " Humfrey clearly helped young lordling from the north.

"Flint Conglomerate will be soon selling both unscented and scented soap as our premium product. We can 500 of them each at discounted price every month."

Lord Hewett wasn't quite satisfied "How much are you asking for each soap?"

"We will be pricing it at 70 silver stags. But we can discount it to 60 stags for you. Also we are ready to give to selling rights, not an exclusive one, to you if you can buy more than 1,000 additional soaps. It would be sold to you at 68 stags as a friendly gesture. I would like you to return this good will by selling us 12 merchant ships for 350,000 dragons. " Rickard improved his proposal.

Lord Hewett still wasn't completely satisfied with it. Because accepting the deal as it is would mean loss to him. " I can't accept this. "

Rickard calmly upped his bid again. " I will not give you any exclusive selling rights. But I can sell first 500 of both scented and unscented soap for 50 stags and further soaps at 65 stags. And also for the next four years you will get any of our new product that will be sold in Reach 5% off of the original price."

This new deal was acceptable for Humfrey. " When do you want your ships? "

Rickard noticing the deal is done " I want to have one ship now, another two ships in the 5th month of next year, another four ships at end of next year, and another five ships six months after that." Humfrey nodded his head signaling his aproval; Rickard continued. " I also want us to sign a treaty additionally for cooperation between your great house and my own. "

Northmen were renowned for their loyalty and honoring their commitment. Besides such a vague word like cooperation could mean anything and nothing at the same time. This was not a problem for Humfrey Hewett. So he readily agreed.

" House Hewett wants 50,000 dragons as down payment for 12 ships. After you pay your first ship will be ready within a week."

Rickard thanked lord Humfrey Hewett. In turn lord Hewett offered to host Rickard and his retinue for the duration of their stay.

" Lord Hewett, we have already arranged our lodging. We thank you for your kind offer. "

" Then join me for dinner tonight. I will host a small private banquet after you get your first ship."

Rickard had no reasons to refuse this, So he accepted.