Chapter 3: Violent Debt Collection
Chapter 3: Violent Debt Collection
According to the original plot, Viserys did not give up on his sister. The two of them spent several more years wandering until they were found by Illyrio Mopatis, a wealthy merchant of Pentos, who invited them to live in his mansion. Later, Illyrio arranged for Dany to marry the Horselord, Drogo. Following this pattern, the original Viserys would have chosen to stay.
Viserys analyzed the situation from his dream. There were four intruders: two young men of medium height and one tall, bald man. The bald man was about the same height as Viserys but much stronger, akin to comparing the strength of a thumb to a pinky.
In the dream, the bald man pinned him to the ground as the others took Dany away. Despite this, Viserys didn’t want to flee. Leaving the courtyard would mean a return to a life of wandering, with no home and no food. This was unacceptable.
Moreover, having foreseen the other party's tactics and being a master of combat, he believed he could handle them. These men were ordinary people, while he had extensive training and experience.
Viserys glanced at Dany, who was still sleeping. Quietly, he took his sword from under the bed and left the room.
...
“Be careful, don't hurt the little girl!
“Yes, sir.”
The three men responded in unison.
“As for that Viserys...” Helbo's eyes flashed with murderous intent. “Regis, break his leg.”
In those days, a broken bone often meant death due to poor medical conditions. Helbo believed that as long as he didn't kill Viserys on the spot, the people behind him would handle the rest.
“Don't worry.”
The bald man named Ghis replied in a deep voice, subconsciously clenching his fists, producing a crunching sound.
Helbo, having given his final instructions, was about to tell his servant to knock on the door. It was still dark, and they planned to take advantage of the situation to catch Viserys off guard.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Beggar King! Come out! Pay up!”
The voices of the men grew louder, drawing the attention of curious neighbors who peeked out of their windows and doors. When they first learned their neighbor was a former nobleman from Westeros, there was some talk. But after seeing Viserys’ true state, they lost interest. In Braavos, a commercial city, a nobleman without money was despicable. What status could a descendant of a former dynasty have?
As people woke up and prepared to watch the spectacle, Dany, who had been sleeping soundly with her face buried in Viserys' side, was awakened. Her purple eyes were full of unease.
“Brother.” Where is my brother?
Dany looked around but didn't see Viserys. She suddenly felt lost and helpless. She walked out of the room and saw Viserys standing in the courtyard.
“Brother...”
Before she could finish speaking, Viserys turned around and gestured for her to be silent, then motioned for her to go back into the room. Dany nervously retreated and peeked out of the window.
“What are you yelling about? I'm coming!” Viserys pretended to be impatient.
Seeing that his plan seemed to be working, Helbo was pleased. He could easily handle a rundown prince.
“Regis, when he opens the door, you hold him down! The rest of you come in with me and grab the little girl!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The large, bald-headed Ghis stood at the door, waiting to pounce as soon as Viserys unlocked it. The others listened carefully to Viserys’ footsteps and slowed their breathing.
“Beggar King! Open the door!” Helbo pretended to be in a hurry.
“What are you yelling about? Is your mother in my bed?!” Viserys shouted vulgarly to disorient his opponents, pulling the latch while shifting his weight backward to avoid any possible attack.
Viserys' cursing took Helbo by surprise. This was harsh. Is it really Viserys behind the door? But the voice was right.
'Hmph! I'll break both your legs and rip your mouth off!' Helbo thought viciously.
Regis, standing in front of the door, saw Viserys twitching the latch. He raised his thick arms like a bear, ready to pounce as soon as the door opened. Even the neighbors watching the spectacle knew what was about to happen. They held their breath, and Helbo's warning look made them even more afraid to make a sound.
Crack!
As soon as the old, mottled wooden door opened, Regis couldn’t wait to slam it shut. Bang! The impact sent the door crashing back into the frame, and Viserys saw only a huge black figure lunging at him. He swiftly sidestepped to the left, avoiding the attack from the bald Ghis. Then, he landed a precise hook on Ghis's chin.
The technique, speed, and precision were impeccable, but the punch lacked power. Ghis staggered, slightly dizzy but not knocked out. The three men outside the door had not yet reacted when Viserys threw two more hooks, one to the left and one to the right, knocking them off balance. The last two fell because they didn’t stand straight.
Viserys had the skills of a Combat Master, but his physical condition was lacking. After a brief moment of dizziness, the three men regained their footing and prepared to launch another attack. However, Viserys's sword was already at Helbo’s neck, making them afraid to move.
Helbo was the most frightened. As an experienced thug, he preferred recruiting 13- or 14-year-old boys. Boys that age could be deadly, and he always went for the real thing—a white knife going in and a red knife coming out. Facing such a young man, he was acutely aware of the potential danger.
If he couldn’t resolve this quickly, he’d be dead by the end of the day. Especially since he could smell the faint odor of alcohol on Viserys, indicating unpredictability. Helbo looked at Viserys, whose half-face was obscured by long silver hair, and stuttered:
“Calm down! Calm down! Give me the money, and I'll leave! I won't hurt you.”
The situation had escalated so rapidly that Helbo didn’t have time to organize his words. The neighbors watching from outside were equally shocked. They had seen Viserys before. He was tall but still thin, seemingly no match for the men confronting him. Yet, this sudden turn of events was unbelievable.
“You dare to sneak up on me? You want to die!” Viserys shouted angrily, his voice filled with fury. It seemed as though he might slit Helbo's throat at any moment.
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