Wright and Robb walked slowly from the port into the city, just as Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbor had left with his eldest son.
This time, when Lord Wyman came, he brought a large shipment of potatoes from the North. On his return, he bought a lot of waterproof cloth and umbrellas, many of which he purchased on behalf of other regional lords. The coming winter would be very long, and the waterproof cloth from Tyrosh was of good quality and reasonably priced. The people of the North used it to protect food from moisture or for temporary repairs to homes.
The umbrellas were all the cheap variety made on Garlan Bloodstone Port. In Lord Wyman's words, the Northmen were rough men who didn't mind getting wet in the cold rain. Once the rain stopped, they would use the umbrellas to fight. High-quality umbrellas weren't practical for such purposes.
Wright and Robb walked side by side at the front of the group.
Behind them, the personal guards had already taken down Wright's banner and were carrying it on their shoulders. They knew that unless it was a formal occasion, Wright didn't like to draw attention.
The tall Captain of the Guard, Balon, in his pale golden armor, with a high antlered helmet and a half-cape of flaming stag over his left shoulder, followed Wright with a bored expression. This was the latest standard issue armor for the personal guard. Each of the hundred men wore this, with officers' armor varying in intricacy depending on rank. As the captain, Balon's armor was covered with intricate patterns.
Everyone envied his "safe" but idle position, but he was a traditional man from the Stormlands, always longing for the battlefield. He had requested several times to fight alongside Nymeria, but Wright had denied him every time.
The soldiers of the personal guard were also from the Tyroshian Navy and city defense army, selected for their loyalty, tall stature, good looks, and noble or common backgrounds. They weren't required to be skilled in combat. They enjoyed safety, high pay, and wore splendid armor and capes. Most had married and settled down in the city, staying in the castle when on duty and returning home to reunite with their wives during their time off. Some already had children.
The personal guard, often secretly called "The Displaying Peacocks" by soldiers from other armies, trained daily under Balon's leadership. The hundred-man unit had long since outgrown its role as a mere figurehead. They eagerly awaited an opportunity to prove themselves. But every time a chance to fight arose, it seemed the enemy was already blown to the skies by Wright's magic, or the enemy was something beyond their reach, like the massive plague dragons flying in the sky. It seemed like their chances were slim, but they enjoyed the challenge.
"Master, will this winter really be so long?" Robb had only experienced one winter in his life, but he was very young at the time and spent most of it inside Winterfell with the heated floors. He hadn't noticed much difference except for wearing a fur coat when going outside.
"Trust the scholars of the Citadel," Wright replied. "They've been predicting winters based on the length of summers for thousands of years, and they are very accurate."
Wright noticed a fruit stand by the side of the road selling oranges. He asked the price and bought the entire basket. He peeled one for himself, tossed one to Robb, and handed the rest to the guards to enjoy. Now that Wright had money, he was generous—craving one orange? He bought the whole basket.
"Food! Lord Eddard has already prepared food reserves, but it won't be enough! Once the Others from beyond the Wall march south, all the forests and pastures will become barren, even moss won't grow!"
"But if all the lords are buying grain, many of them in the North will go bankrupt!" Robb thought for a moment before speaking. In the end, he was still just a rich young man, unaware of the struggles of the peasantry or the logic behind their production.
Wright: "You are the future lord of the North. There's a lot you need to learn about sustainable practices! When you return, don't go directly back to the North. The Stonesteps Islands are developing finance, entertainment, manufacturing, and commerce. This model won't work for the North. I suggest you go see the Stormlands or the Riverlands."
"Wow, it's Robb! Come play with us!"
"It really is Robb! Come here, little brother, I won't charge you!"
"My sister and I are twins, double the fun!"
As they passed by an entertainment establishment, the women on the second and third floors, dressed in flamboyant clothes, excitedly called out to Robb, ignoring Wright. Some waved, others pulled open their collars, and some even lifted their skirts.
The future Lord of Winterfell, with his tall, muscular body, mysterious magic, and handsome face framed by shoulder-length hair, was very popular with the women in Tyrosh. "Is Robb married?" they whispered. His young wife hadn't even started her period yet, so the city's women felt he was fair game.
Robb seemed used to this attention, smiling at the women and waving back at them.
"Are you listening?" Wright's tone was a little sharper. It wasn't out of jealousy for Robb's popularity, but he was worried Robb wasn't paying attention.
"I've got it all in my mind," Robb replied, his face calm and his heart steady.
Meanwhile, his direwolf Greywind, whenever encountering such scenes, would run to the entrance of the establishment, waiting for the ladies to pet him and give him a few bits of meat.
The direwolf was smart and still a magically imbued low-magic creature, highly sensitive to hostility and even more so to scents. It knew these women had no ill intentions and could sense their heavy scent of desire.
Wright looked at the large Greywind, enjoying the women's attention, and then glanced back at the straight-faced Robb walking beside him. A sudden glow of magic lit up his hand, and he placed his fingers on Robb's collarbone, his right hand going around Robb's shoulder.
"You're shapeshifting with Greywind! Gotcha, you little rascal!"
"Ah!" Robb snapped back to his senses as he broke out of the shapeshifting state. Greywind was now weaving through the women, making its way to the chef who was holding some scraps of meat. "Master, don't tell Seran!"
"Don't worry, I understand!" Wright withdrew his magic and patted Robb on the shoulder.
Robb was at the peak of his youthful vitality and no longer a novice; he even had an illegitimate child. He genuinely liked Seran, because she was young and had kept her distance after their marriage, leaving him with nowhere to channel his desires. In this world, such things were entirely reasonable, and the entertainment industry in Tyrosh was one of the economic pillars. After arriving here, Robb was dazzled, but his father's teachings made him conflicted and self-restrained.
"Listen to me. I've got an idea for you!" Wright feared Robb might end up making more impulsive decisions or creating another illegitimate child.
"What should I do?" Robb turned to look at Wright, his eyes filled with desire, but also tinged with a hint of fear and confusion. Wright recognized the expression all too well; it felt like a moment from his previous life.
Wright decided to help him clear his mind: "Your behavior right now is very similar to your father's."
Robb nodded. "Yes, he taught me to uphold the knight's code and remain faithful to the Old Gods."
Wright chuckled. "What was King Robert's attitude toward women?"
Everyone in the kingdom knew Robert's attitude, but Robb didn't answer, raising an eyebrow instead—an unspoken understanding passed between them.
Wright continued, "Your father and Robert grew up together. They were basically like brothers, so..."
"I didn't realize he was like that!" Robb made some connections in his mind.
Wright thought to himself: "I haven't said anything, just stating some universally accepted facts. Everything else is Robb's own imagination."
"Tonight, I'll have Tyene take you and Seran to a place of entertainment. Since you respect your wife, don't avoid her. Go with her openly. Tyrosh has many entertainment venues that offer options suitable for women, not just the more risqué ones."
"Is that really okay?" Robb looked hopeful.
Wright called out to the group behind him, "Balon, tonight you're in charge of arranging everything for Robb. The expenses are on me."
Balon, holding his helmet and wearing a stern expression, walked over. "Ha ha! I'm most familiar with the entertainment spots in the city. If Robb speaks up, I can find any type he wants!"
That night, Tyene and the little rose, Margery, led the group—Robb, Seran, Sansa, Jon, and Balon—on their way to one of Tyene's favorite places. At first, Seran and Sansa were a bit reserved, but soon they were swept up by the excellent singing and dancing, each of them now accompanied by a beautiful woman as they began drinking. Seran, being understanding, left with Tyene after a few performances, leaving the three men to continue their revelry.
In this world, no religion or law declared these activities illegal. The entertainment industry had existed in the nine great trading cities for thousands of years, with Tyrosh and Lys excelling in it from the start. After Wright took over, he transformed it into a more regulated, industrialized, and upscale model. The food, lodging, security, and healthcare systems all matched the standards, and there were specialized agencies overseeing women's rights and providing certifications. As long as there was no coercion or trafficking, Wright supported the industry.
Now, the industry had grown immensely, with a complete supply chain from high-end to supporting services. The top-tier entertainers were now performing in Wright's grand theater, with a few women who had striking looks and beautiful voices already gaining celebrity status, receiving cheers wherever they went. Wealthy merchants and nobles even took pride in being able to invite them to their homes for the night.
The city had women from the local area, from Lys, Volantis, Dorne, and the Seven Kingdoms. Each culture was different, but everyone respected each other's customs and even openly discussed religion and traditions on the streets. Tyrosh was now the most open and inclusive city. Women in the entertainment industry were not discriminated against; businesses even sponsored them, provided their products, and displayed beautiful portraits of them at their shops.
Following trends was a subconscious habit that naturally developed once people began living in groups. Whether influenced by Wright and Nymeria, Tyrosh had seen not only men frequent the entertainment venues but women as well.
Though society deemed it wrong for two men to be together, two women were considered very beautiful together. As such, female patrons and employees at these venues played even wilder, and husbands would often bring their wives along.
With their luxurious attire, expensive jewelry, exquisite and beautiful makeup, and a variety of daily goods, the fashion trend spread from the nobility and women to the entire city. Merchants drove this trend, and Wright subtly guided it from behind. Whatever was popular in Tyrosh was sure to sell well!
The pursuit of beauty brought Wright unexpected benefits, as art saw a major boom.
Painting, sculpture, and music. Music, of course, was inseparable from the entertainment industry, and these individuals were the first to integrate into Tyrosh.
There were many wealthy people in Tyrosh who needed these things to decorate their homes and shops, showcasing their unique and sophisticated tastes. With the support of merchants and nobles, painters and craftsmen who had once barely gotten by with a business or two a year on Westeros and Essos, now brought their apprentices and flooded into Tyrosh.
The most popular trend this year was various forms of human sculpture and painting. Painters and craftsmen began to compete intensely, with new schools of thought emerging in the city, and the more lifelike the creations, the higher the price.
There were clothed figures, nude ones, some with weapons and armor as per requests, and even nobles who wanted to bring their dreamscapes to life. Wright's policies were quite lenient, as long as the creations didn't mimic the beheadings of the Baratheon family.
Conservative nobles traveling to Tyrosh, upon seeing this, tried to criticize the city's indulgence in desire and its decadence, suggesting that it had gone too far.
Wright responded directly, "Did seeing those paintings make you want to have children? Then it's working! Tyrosh needs people, so you should breed more! If you can't afford it, I'll take care of them, because now we have money. This is the highest policy for population development!"
He shut the conservative nobles up completely.
With its white walls and red roofs, Tyrosh was decorated with green coconut palms and palm trees. During the day, people were busy with their work, and those engaging in entertainment were mostly outsiders. In the evenings, when work ended, the locals flocked to taverns or entertainment venues—some upscale, some affordable for everyone. Every person could find their place in Tyrosh.
Recently, a large number of artists gathered in Tyrosh, adding a new color to the city. Mansions around the city were adorned with various small sculptures, while flowerbeds along the streets were sponsored by merchants and replaced with white floral stone fences. Shops that didn't hang up a few paintings were embarrassed to open for business.
Wright had also commissioned a painting of himself, Nymeria, and Tyene. The painting hung in the drawing room, depicting Wright standing on top of a lighthouse, looking down on the entire city of Tyrosh. Nymeria and Tyene were at his sides, their arms around his waist, with a massive dragon flying in the distance. The painting captured Wright's heroic, majestic image.
Pocket watches, jewelry, weapons, and umbrellas were all slowly evolving according to Wright's designs. The arrival of artists greatly advanced these industries. Now, pocket watch casings, jewelry, and weapon styles were constantly being updated. New umbrella designs were released every month, with Tyene and Margery being two of the most dedicated collectors, despite the fact they were all locally made. Every time a new umbrella came out, they insisted on having one for their homes.
The most skilled and famous painters and sculptors made a fortune and had already bought houses and married beautiful dancers in the city. Seeing the magic school, they were tempted and, after discussing it among themselves, approached Wright with the idea of opening an art school to consolidate all the different styles and techniques. Wright of course agreed, offering them a plot of land in the south at a low rental rate, only charging one gold dragon a year as long as they did not alter the purpose of the school.
Wright's gains from the artists didn't stop there, though some benefits would take time to fully manifest. There was one particular aspect that Wright valued greatly.
As painters flocked to Tyrosh to make money, merchants chasing profit naturally followed. They brought with them pigments from all over the world.
Most pigments at this time were made from natural minerals, with only a few derived from plants or animals. By tracking and analyzing the origins of these pigments, Wright indirectly gained insight into the distribution of mineral resources across the two continents, which pointed to the direction for his next phase of expansion.