Chapter 113: The Art of Counter-Manipulation
"They haven't finished?" Ian suddenly asked.
"Indeed," Illyrio replied, then continued, "Tell me what you discussed with Tarobyne. Everything you remember."
"Didn't you already discover it? It concerned the slave ship."
"Without alerting Tarobyne, I could only determine that you were speaking with him. Ser Ian, my 'little birds' aren't actual birds—they couldn't possibly have been within earshot of your conversation.
I only deduced that your discussion involved slave trading because you sent men to inquire about the 'Spearbreaker' afterward."
Gods be good! "So you were bluffing me?" Ian said with a wry smile.
"Merely standard practice. Because slave trading has occurred within my merchant guild, it has crossed a line I cannot tolerate. This could not only embroil me in Pentos's factional conflicts, but also provoke the wrath of Envoy Ornato of Braavos.
So, what's your decision? Tell me everything, or preserve your honor?" Illyrio chuckled, quite pleased with Ian's surprised expression.
"I would preserve my honor, but Tarobyne seems to have deceived me considerably." Ian shook his head and began recounting the details of his conversation with Tarobyne. "That's the whole of it. There are clearly many inconsistencies here, aren't there?
According to you, Tarobyne's involvement in slave trading should have crossed your threshold, meaning he should have been preparing to flee long ago!
My appearance was purely coincidental. When he asked for my help, he claimed he had no other means of dealing with the 'Spearbreaker,' but now his servants are packing his belongings, which means his decision to flee only came after he met me. That's exceedingly strange."
"Of course he didn't need to prepare his escape in advance. I checked—Tarobyne's last ship sank over a year ago. He doesn't own any vessels, so the slave ship he mentioned doesn't belong to him." Illyrio addressed Ian's confusion.
"Then the problem runs even deeper. If the slave ship matter can't be traced to him, why would he expose such a thing in the first place?" Ian shrugged. "Unless he wanted to create evidence of my killing the 'Spearbreaker,' and then use it to implicate you in the slave trade."
"Can you deduce more?" Illyrio asked with interest. Truthfully, Ian's ability to identify these inconsistencies had pleasantly surprised him. He hadn't encountered such a sharp young mind in some time, which stirred in him a certain appreciation for talent.
"Well..." Ian pondered for a while, then shook his head. "I cannot see it."
"You promised to help Tarobyne kill the 'Spearbreaker' who was threatening him after the feast, yet he chose to flee. Judging from the fact that his servants are packing his belongings, he actually planned to return after leaving Pentos. So when did he intend to flee?" Illyrio deliberately guided the discussion.
"After I killed the 'Spearbreaker'? The reason he planned to return was to ensure I could find him after the feast and wouldn't abandon the plan to eliminate the 'Spearbreaker.'" Ian appropriately accepted Illyrio's guidance.
"But why would he need to flee after you killed the Spearbreaker?" "I'd already solved his problem—unless my killing the Spearbreaker was his problem!" Ian suddenly exclaimed with apparent excitement, as if just realizing something. "He wanted everyone to believe I was sent by you to kill the Spearbreaker!"
Illyrio nodded with satisfaction.
"But... he still hasn't returned. Isn't he concerned that I'll abandon the operation because I cannot find him, thereby ruining his scheme?" Ian continued questioning.
"Keep thinking," Illyrio raised his hand. "What could have caused this outcome?"
"He was frightened? So he abandoned his plan and chose to flee entirely." Ian offered casually, wanting to demonstrate his 'potential' to Illyrio without appearing too clever. That was sufficient—he needed to leave Illyrio enough room to 'instruct' him.
"Well," Illyrio chuckled, realizing the question was too complex for a young Westerosi newcomer to Pentoshi politics. "You don't yet understand the current situation in Pentos, so it's natural you cannot deduce the truth."
"Clearly," Illyrio provided the answer, "either someone warned him, or someone is directing him. He left Pentos to meet with the mastermind because they couldn't arrange a meeting without my discovering it."
"Someone was manipulating Tarobyne? The Volantenes, perhaps? After all, framing you for slave trading could directly provoke conflict between you and House Hankoro, and also damage your standing with the Braavosi envoy." Ian offered the most straightforward guess, continuing to display his political inexperience.
"Volantis? That's certainly possible—after all, they're the most obvious beneficiaries," Illyrio nodded. "But what if Braavos orchestrated this to drive a wedge between me and Volantis?
And damaging my reputation with Envoy Ornato would also benefit Prince Hazan and his Braavosi faction, making them the Iron Bank's only viable partner."
Ian's mouth fell open, as if to say, 'Such things are possible?'
"Hahaha," Illyrio laughed heartily. "You and Daeron, as the first Westerosi nobles to join His Grace's cause, will certainly form the core of His Grace's council, but you have much yet to learn if you're to serve him well."
"Your Grace is willing to teach me?" Ian exclaimed with apparent delight.
"Ha, you're remarkably clever. Though you seem somewhat green, rash, and impetuous now, these are common traits of youth. Given time, you will become an invaluable asset to the restoration of House Targaryen.
And then, whatever you desire—the name, the honor, the lands, the wealth—will be yours for the taking." Illyrio deliberately used the phrase "restoration of House Targaryen" rather than "Viserys's restoration," laying groundwork for eventually bringing Aegon VI into prominence.
Ian knew he was now officially part of Illyrio's schemes.
Illyrio spoke in a guiding, mentoring tone, emphasizing his dominant position in their relationship.
He'd pointed out Ian's shortcomings while offering grand promises and implying Ian would reap rewards through Illyrio's patronage, thus cultivating Ian's eagerness to serve him.
Illyrio's rhetoric in the latter portion of their conversation was textbook manipulation—a genuine young man without a "player's perspective" would have been completely ensnared by it.
Having seen through Illyrio's tactics, Ian only needed to play along to leave the magister with the impression that he was already under Illyrio's control, thereby gaining the man's trust.
This was the art of counter-manipulation.
(End of Chapter)
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