"Master Viscount, have you finally made up your mind?"
Just as Samwell was about to leave Highland City, Viscount Martin finally sent someone to invite him back to the castle.
In the sitting room, Viscount Martin did not answer right away. Instead, he took out another glass of red wine and said with a smile:
"This is a wine from Dorne. Care to try it?"
"Alright." Samwell accepted the glass cheerfully and took a sip.
It was rough and heavy, with strong tannins and a sharp, spicy bite.
Viscount Martin also took a sip and sighed:
"This is brewed from Shiraz grapes of the City of Grace. It has the same temperament as the Dornish—rugged and untamed. If it's your first time drinking it, you'd best be careful not to choke."
Samwell drained the wine in his glass with a smile and said:
"I happen to have a good appetite. No matter how strong the wine is, I can always swallow it down."
Viscount Martin chuckled. "I'm becoming more and more suspicious now—how did you ever earn a reputation as a waste in the past?"
"Young and ignorant," Samwell replied casually, then steered the topic back. "Master Viscount, you should have considered my earlier proposal by now, right?"
Viscount Martin restrained his smile. His expression turned serious as he said:
"I've made my decision. This matter concerns the thousand-year feud between the Reach and Dorne. Naturally, the Mullendall family cannot stand aside and watch. Therefore, I've decided to send all the craftsmen within my territory—including apprentices—a total of 275 people. I'll lease them to you for one year."
An uncontrollable look of delight appeared on Samwell's face, and he quickly expressed his thanks:
"Master Viscount, you truly are a generous lord and a wise investor! Believe me—this investment will certainly bring you rich returns!"
"Don't rush." Viscount Martin raised his right hand. "Just in case, I need a pledge."
"A pledge?"
"That's right. Robbing merchant ships is no easy task. If you're unable to repay the money in the future, I'll take the collateral as compensation."
Samwell rolled his eyes and said without hesitation:
"In that case, let's use the most important thing in my future territory—the pier—as collateral."
"The pier? Then the accompanying docking fees and taxes…"
"Will naturally all be yours."
Viscount Martin pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well."
In his view, whether it was Samwell's pirate plan or the Tyrell family's grand scheme to plot the western coast of Dorne, this crucial pier would inevitably be put to use.
Using it as collateral meant there was no way to lose money.
After settling the intent of cooperation, the two discussed various details. Once everything was agreed upon, they drafted a contract and signed it together.
"Happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!"
From this moment on, the Mullendall family of Highland City officially became one of Samwell's investors.
…
In order to wait for the craftsmen of Highland City to assemble, the pioneering group stayed on for another three days before setting out again.
This time, the original team of two hundred instantly doubled in size, appearing even more imposing.
As the leader of the group, Samwell couldn't help feeling a bit pleased with himself.
With such a team as support, the most difficult initial stage of development would surely pass smoothly.
As for the debt he owed, he didn't take it to heart at all.
As a businessman in his previous life, how could Samwell not understand the truth that those you owe money to are your uncles?
The more he owed now, the less willing those creditors would be to see him fail in his pioneering efforts.
He had even already planned that once construction in the new territory officially began, he would write another letter to Viscount Martin, asking him to send over some laborers to help with the manpower shortage.
He believed that the generous lord of Highland City would not refuse such a small request from a partner.
Otherwise, if after a year the pier was still not built, it would be the Mullendall family who lost out.
However, with more people came a sharp increase in the required food supplies.
For now, he could still barely rely on the relief provided by the Tyrell family, but in the future, he would likely have to find new investors.
That matter wasn't urgent for the time being. The most important thing right now was to hurry to the pioneering land.
It had already been nearly three months since they left Highgarden. Such a slow marching speed might well have set a record for slowness in the entire history of Westeros.
Moreover, as they gradually pushed deeper into the Crimson Mountains, the road ahead was bound to be even more arduous than before.
There was even the possibility of harassment by savages.
Thus, after entering the mountains, Samwell suspended routine military training in order to preserve the soldiers' strength for any unexpected incidents.
Unexpectedly, though the later stages of the march were difficult and dangerous, they were not disturbed in the slightest.
It seemed those savages were quite sensible. Seeing that this team had more than two hundred heavily armed soldiers, they knew it was a tough bone to chew and didn't dare bite down.
Instead, a few foolish wild beasts attacked the pioneering group. Naturally, all of them ended up on barbecue racks.
Nearly a month later, the pioneering team—having accelerated their pace—finally caught sight of the Summer Sea from afar.
The salty, humid sea breeze rushed toward them, blowing away the mists of the mountains and forests, making everyone feel an indescribable comfort rising from deep within.
Samwell was also in high spirits and couldn't help quickening his steps.
Continuing southward, the mountains gradually flattened, forming a rare valley that extended into a raised beach reaching toward the sea.
Todd Flowers said:
"Master Caesar, this is Yingzui Island, suitable to serve as your new territory."
Samwell looked around and nodded inwardly.
This place truly was excellent—mountains on both sides, the Summer Sea at its back, with only a narrow valley in the northwest serving as the sole entrance and exit.
The gentle valley in the center spanned tens of thousands of mu. Although it was all barren rock and soil where crops could not be grown, building a castle would be no problem at all, and the protruding beach was perfect for constructing a dock.
Judging from Todd Flowers' familiarity with the route when he had led the team earlier, it was obvious that the Tyrell family had already sent people to investigate this place.
It was just that, being deep within the Crimson Mountains, it was inconvenient to communicate with the outside world, and there was no fertile land suitable for farming. If a territory were to be established here, it would have to rely on constant blood transfusions from outside.
The Tyrell family had clearly been unable to make up their minds about opening this place up—until Samwell appeared.
Lady Olenna must have planned to let Todd Flowers control this cowardly pioneer knight, plundering passing merchant ships in his name to maintain the expenses of the territory.
Of course, today's Samwell would never accept such an arrangement.
Once something like piracy was exposed, he would never again be able to mingle in aristocratic circles.
He would probably have no choice but to flee across the Narrow Sea and seek refuge with the Dragon Queen, just like Jorah Mormont after being convicted of slave trading.
Hm?
Why do I suddenly feel like that path actually doesn't sound too bad…
Samwell immediately shook his head, dispelling that foolish thought.
Now that he had changed his name to Caesar, he naturally had no desire to be subordinate to a woman.
If he wanted to keep climbing upward in the coming chaotic world, he had to obtain his own territory and a direct army as soon as possible.
Yingzui Island—and the more than four hundred pioneers before him—were the starting point of all of it.
...
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Here are a few fan-fic titles that I've recently uploaded on my Patreon:
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(End Chapter)