The Beginning of Everything

"Viscount, have you finally made up your mind?"

Just as Samwell was preparing to leave Highgarden, Viscount Martin finally sent someone to invite him back to the castle.

In the sitting room, Viscount Martin did not answer at once. Instead, he took out another bottle of red wine and said with a smile:

"This is wine from Dorne. Care to try some?"

"Certainly." Samwell gladly accepted the glass and took a small sip.

Robust and full-bodied, with powerful tannins and a rich, spicy kick.

Viscount Martin took a sip as well and remarked:

"It is made from Shiraz grapes grown in Godsgrace. Like the Dornish themselves, it is rough and untamed. If it is your first time drinking it, be careful not to choke on it."

Samwell chuckled and drained his glass in one gulp.

"I have a strong stomach. No matter how harsh the wine, I can swallow it."

Viscount Martin laughed too. "I am becoming more and more doubtful about how you ever gained a reputation as a good-for-nothing."

"I was young and foolish," Samwell replied casually, then steered the conversation back on track. "Viscount, you must have reached a decision regarding my earlier proposal, yes?"

Viscount Martin's smile faded, and his expression turned solemn.

"I have. This concerns the thousand-year feud between The Reach and Dorne. House Mullendore naturally cannot stand idly by. Therefore, I have decided to lease you every craftsman in my lands, apprentices included—a total of two hundred and seventy-five people—for one year."

Uncontainable delight appeared on Samwell's face, and he quickly thanked him.

"Viscount, you are truly a generous lord and a wise investor! Believe me, this investment will bring you handsome returns!"

"Not so fast." Viscount Martin raised his right hand. "As a precaution, I require collateral."

"Collateral?"

"Indeed. Raiding merchant ships is no easy matter. Should you fail to repay the money in the future, I will take the collateral as compensation."

Samwell's eyes shifted, and he immediately said:

"In that case, let the most important thing in my future territory—the dock—serve as collateral."

"The dock? Then the docking fees and taxes attached to it..."

"Will naturally be yours as well."

Viscount Martin considered it, then nodded. "Agreed."

In his view, whether it was Samwell's piracy scheme or House Tyrell's grand plan to seize western Dorne, both would require this vital dock.

Using it as collateral, he could not possibly lose out.

After settling their intent to cooperate, the two discussed several details. Once they had reached an agreement, they drafted a contract and signed it together.

"Pleasure doing business with you!"

"Likewise!"

Thus, House Mullendore of Highgarden officially became one of Samwell's investors.

To wait for Highgarden's craftsmen to assemble, the pioneering party remained there for another three days before setting out again.

This time, the original two-hundred-man pioneering party more than doubled in size, looking far more imposing than before.

As the leader of the group, Samwell could not help feeling pleased with himself.

With such a foundation supporting him, even the most difficult early stages of development would become smooth sailing.

As for the debts he had incurred, he did not take them to heart at all.

Having been a businessman in his previous life, how could Samwell not understand that the debtor was the one with the upper hand?

The more he owed now, the less likely those creditors would be to watch him fail in his venture.

He had even made plans already. Once construction on the new territory officially began, he would write Viscount Martin another letter, claiming he lacked manpower and asking him to send more laborers to help.

Surely the generous lord of Highgarden would not refuse such a small request from a business partner.

Otherwise, if the dock was not completed a year later, would it not be House Mullendore that suffered the loss?

But with more people under his command, the food and supplies they required would increase sharply as well.

For now, he could barely hold on through House Tyrell's relief, but in the future, he would likely need to find new investors.

Still, there was no need to worry about that yet. The most urgent matter was reaching their pioneering site.

They had been gone from Highgarden for nearly three months. At such a sluggish marching pace, they had probably set the record for the slowest expedition in Westeros history.

Moreover, as they gradually entered deeper into the Red Mountains, the road ahead was bound to become even more difficult than before.

They might even encounter harassment from Wildlings.

So once they entered the mountains, Samwell halted the regular military drills, allowing the soldiers to conserve their strength for any unexpected incidents.

Yet, contrary to expectations, though the road ahead was perilous, they suffered no attacks at all.

It seemed those Wildlings had some sense after all. Seeing more than two hundred fully armed soldiers in the party, they knew this was a hard bone to chew and did not dare take a bite.

A few foolish beasts did attack the pioneering party, of course, but without exception, they all ended up on the barbecue rack.

Nearly another month passed. After increasing their marching speed, the pioneering party finally caught sight of the Summer Sea in the distance.

The salty, hot, humid sea breeze rushed toward them, scattering the mist among the mountains and woods and filling everyone with a deep sense of comfort.

Samwell was especially delighted and could not help quickening his pace.

Heading south, the mountains gradually leveled out, forming a rare valley that extended toward the sea in a protruding stretch of shore.

Todd Flowers spoke up:

"Lord Caesar, this is Eagle's Beak. It is perfectly suited to become your new territory."

Samwell looked around and nodded to himself.

This place truly was not bad. Mountains enclosed it on two sides, with the Summer Sea at its back. Only a narrow mountain valley in the northwest allowed passage in or out.

The flat valley in the middle covered more than ten thousand acres. Though its barren rocky soil could not support crops, it would be more than suitable for building a castle. The protruding shore was also ideal for constructing a dock.

Judging by how familiar Todd Flowers had been while leading the way, House Tyrell had clearly sent people here to survey the area before.

But this place lay deep within the Red Mountains, making communication with the outside world inconvenient. It also had no fertile farmland suitable for cultivation. Establishing a territory here would require constant support from outside.

House Tyrell had clearly not made up its mind to develop this place until Samwell appeared.

Lady Olenna had likely intended for Todd Flowers to control this cowardly pioneering knight, then have him raid passing merchant ships in Samwell's name to maintain the territory's expenses.

Naturally, the present Samwell would never accept such an arrangement.

Once piracy was exposed, he could forget about remaining in noble circles.

He would probably only be able to flee across the Narrow Sea like Jorah Mormont, who had been condemned for selling slaves, and seek refuge with Daenerys.

Hmm?

Why did that path suddenly seem rather appealing too...

Samwell immediately shook his head, casting aside that foolish thought.

Since he had renamed himself Caesar, he naturally had no desire to serve beneath a woman.

If he wanted to keep climbing amid the chaos to come, he had to acquire a territory and a loyal army of his own as soon as possible.

The Eagle's Beak before him and the more than four hundred pioneers were the beginning of everything.