Lannisport.
The main castle of Lord Auren, in the audience hall.
A long table.
Lord Auren stood before the table. Between them stood Auren's precious daughter, Rosamund Lannister, her big eyes blinking with curiosity as she watched Jeyne Westerling use a quill to sketch a strange diagram on a piece of parchment.
The S-Trap.
This was a secret that Ser Gregor had never publicly revealed.
A few days ago, when Lord Auren traveled to Clegane's Keep to sign a noodle shop cooperation agreement with Ser Gregor, he had stepped away to use the privy, and noticed something remarkable.
The privy at Clegane's Keep had no foul odor.
He examined everything carefully but found no hidden trick.
The hole flushed water down, remaining pitch dark, yet there was no unpleasant smell pushing back up through the pipes.
At Lord Auren's own castle, the privy always smelled foul no matter how much they tried to clear it.
Any privy, even at Casterly Rock, where Lord Tywin's was decorated with gold and grandeur, still had a noticeable stench.
This was because the sewage pipes were connected to the building's airspace, so air circulation inevitably carried odors.
But Clegane's Keep's privy was different.
The window was open, scented candles burned in the corner, and the air felt faintly fresh.
The smell had simply vanished.
He was amazed.
He had asked Ser Gregor about it at Clegane's Keep, but Gregor ignored the question and switched to other unrelated topics.
Today, Ser Gregor was escorting Lady Jeyne and Lord Gawen to Casterly Rock to prepare for their wedding, just five days away, hosted by Tywin as Jeyne's father.
Since their route passed through Lannisport, they stopped by to visit Lord Auren.
The main guests enjoyed warm conversations, and at the table, Lord Auren once again asked about the secret to eliminating the privy's odor.
This time, Ser Gregor suggested asking Jeyne, the inventor herself, and she agreed to reveal the secret.
Jeyne fetched pen and parchment and drew a partial schematic of the sewage pipes beneath the privy: the S-trap.
Before Jeyne could finish labeling the drawing, Maester Barlow already understood fully.
The structure was simple, a straight pipe with a bend in the middle.
The principle was even simpler: the bend holds water, which blocks airflow between the pipes above and below, trapping foul odors beneath the curve so they cannot enter the room.
Once explained, it was obvious.
Simple, straightforward.
But the true challenge was thinking of it in the first place.
That tiny leap of thought, thinner than a sheet of paper, separates geniuses from ordinary people.
A principle so simple that once seen, it's undeniable, yet so easily overlooked because no one thought to imagine it.
Barlow's surprise and admiration overflowed.
"Lady Jeyne, you are the cleverest young lady I've ever met. If this S-trap were introduced at The Citadel, it would surely win the award for brilliant innovation in basic architecture."
The Citadel was the continent's sole institution for training maester.
It was an entire city devoted to all fields of scientific research, astronomy, geography, mechanics, agriculture, all purely scientific, with no ties to mysticism.
Though it included studies of wizards and faith, these were only to complete The Citadel's range of disciplines and mostly focused on the history and evolution of religion.
Jeyne modestly replied, "The structure and principle of the S-trap are something everyone understands. I was just a bit lucky to conceive it first and try to build it. maester, please don't praise me too much."
Lord Auren's eyes gleamed. "maester, if this S-trap invention were promoted at The Citadel and awarded, how much reward could it earn?"
"The prize depends on the invention's value. A hundred gold dragons is the minimum for recognized new inventions. If The Citadel sells the design to the royal family for nationwide promotion, Lady Jeyne could receive between five hundred to a thousand gold dragons. Besides money, there is everlasting honor, Jeyne Westerling's name would be recorded among The Citadel's great innovators in basic architecture, remembered and celebrated by generations of maesters and apprentices."
Ser Gregor asked, "Lady Jeyne, would you be willing to disclose the S-trap invention publicly and let The Citadel promote it nationwide?"
Jeyne answered, "Since Clegane's Keep already has it, and Lord Auren now knows of it, I'm willing to hand the invention over to The Citadel and push for nationwide adoption. But before that, I want to consult my father, Lord Tywin, for his opinion."
Lord Auren, Maester Barlow, Ser Gregor, Lord Gawen, and Maester Harry all nodded in agreement.
Down seven steps, Big Ironhead Chiswick shifted anxiously, growing restless.
Ser Gregor, the "Mountain", had promised to come to Lord Auren to help rescue the brothers locked in Lannisport's underground dungeon.
But despite the length of their visit, Ser Gregor seemed to have forgotten the real purpose.
First, they chatted aimlessly.
Then they drew diagrams of S-traps.
Now they were talking about nationwide promotion.
Chiswick was growing impatient.
Near him, knights like Polliver quietly stood without complaint.
Lord Auren's captain of the guard, Bard Lannys, Barlow, and others held their patience, silently watching the lords discuss the mysterious benefits of the S-trap, things they couldn't understand.
At some point, the discussion shifted from S-traps to the problem of pirates in Lannisport's waters.
Ser Gregor said, "My lord, I have a plan to add two more warships to your navy to fight the pirates."
Lord Auren beamed, "Ser Gregor, please tell me how."
Gregor looked down at Chiswick and smiled. "Before, Chiswick's had two warships used for maritime escort missions. After Chiswick and his brothers were captured, those men took the ships and turned pirate. If you release those brothers from the dungeon, let Chiswick lead them to persuade his former Battle Blade comrades to surrender and rejoin your navy, you'll gain two ships and reduce the pirate threat."
Lord Auren chuckled, "Good idea. But I wonder if Chiswick would be willing to take on that difficult task?"
Chiswick eagerly replied, "If Ser Gregor commands, I will dedicate myself fully for the lord and guarantee that those crews on the two ships will agree to reform and become part of your navy's strength."
"Good, then it's settled. Ser Gregor, you've given me the secret of the S-trap and helped add two warships. Tell me what I can do for you, I'll do everything I can!"
Gregor answered, "My lord, the ships and their crews belong to you. But Chiswick and his dozen or so brothers remain under my command."
Jeyne smiled. "My lord, Clegane's Keep Hundred Cavalry still lacks a dozen men. Although Ser Gregor's lands have grown, his population is small, and it's hard even to fill one hundred cavalry to protect his territory."
Lord Auren smiled warmly. "Lady Jeyne, Ser Gregor, if Chiswick fails to recruit those pirates, I will personally fill the hundred cavalry gap for Clegane's Keep. Since you have your elite guards, you'll need a cavalry reserve. After the wedding, Ser Gregor, come to Lannisport and recruit a reserve cavalry of up to fifty, I'll provide them."
Gregor knew well that once Chiswick and his brothers set out, the two pirate crews would surrender.
His words were generous and sincere, but he had gained a great advantage.
Gregor understood he couldn't develop a navy on his own, he had no port, and growing forces too fast would stir envy and suspicion.
"Quality over quantity!
First seek excellence! Perfect every step!"
"Alright my lord, it's settled." Gregor gave the final word.
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