Commercial expansion plan

The North, Sea Dragon Point Peninsula, Crystal's Scar Castle.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Eddard's magic academy (knowledge hall) had been scheduled for that afternoon. As soon as Eddard and Masse T finished signing their preliminary trade agreement, Eddard suggested attending the ceremony first.

Eddard had already signed numerous trade agreements with Masse T concerning high-end products. From then on, whenever Eddard had any high-end products available, Masse T's Fur Traders' Guild would have priority access to information and trading rights. Dragonglass Glassware, Ice Silk Clothing, quality weapons, and ice and fire dragonglass would all bring Eddard considerable wealth in the near future.

In exchange, Masse T had to establish dedicated trading posts and shops at Flint's Finger. He also had to secretly sell some slaves who spoke the Common Tongue to Flint's Finger.

Although the Iron Throne had always explicitly forbidden the slave trade, nobles throughout the Seven Kingdoms had continued to engage in the wicked business in private. The laborers employed in many of their private mines were also slaves and homeless people from all over the world.

Developing the territory required a large workforce, but with the North's climate, no one would willingly move there. Eddard could therefore only turn his attention to slaves. As long as they agreed on the numbers and quality, Masse T would not cram slaves into a ship's hold and suffocate them alive just to buy a few more people.

Soon, Eddard and his party left the castle and arrived at a nearby area. It was an open stretch of land northwest of the castle, part of the outer town.

Because of certain earlier regulations, a gap of roughly a hundred meters still separated House Flint's castle from the outer town. Apart from highlighting the distinction between lord and commoner, this arrangement also improved the castle's security. Should an enemy attack the castle, this completely exposed stretch would become a place where they bled and died.

Now, however, Eddard intended to bring the outer town under his administration as well, and this empty stretch happened to be suitable for building his magic academy. Practical considerations meant that, for the time being, the school could only be built with a flat roof.

Most of the townspeople had never watched anything like this before, so they were all very excited. Eddard, Masse T, and the others used shovels tied with red cloth to symbolically turn a little soil at the foundations. No such blessing-like ceremony existed among the customs of Westeros, so most of the townspeople found it quite novel.

In truth, Eddard was only doing this to put on a little "show." Appearing more approachable would make many of his policies easier to implement. To draw a crowd, he had even arranged a lottery. Those attending could claim prizes using their special Dragonglass number tags, with a top prize of a thousand copper pennies.

After offering a few words of encouragement as a formality, Eddard led everyone toward the Alchemy Workshop outside town. Along the way, many people voluntarily stopped when they saw him and bowed in his direction. Unlike before, when they had done it because they had to, these people now genuinely admired Eddard.

The Alchemy Workshop had doubled in size and was now about as large as a football field. Huge crucibles coated with Valyrian steel, crushers, forging presses, conveying pipes, and lime kilns made up Eddard's steel production line. Eddard and Maester Albert had developed these machines through constant experimentation. In truth, without Maester Albert's help, Eddard would never have managed to build them.

These machines could be said to have completely exhausted Eddard's stock of Valyrian steel ornaments. And in this trade agreement,

Valyrian steel ornaments, like slaves, were important-extremely important-commodities. After everyone entered the steel production line, Ralf "Eel," who was in charge there, came straight over. Long exposure to this high-temperature environment had caused Ralf "Eel's" Demon Child bloodline to awaken very quickly. Demon scales had even begun growing in places. Had Eddard not been constantly suppressing it with Ice Dragonglass, he would probably have long since become something half human and half demon.

"Lord Eddard! Urgh..."

Ralf "Eel" walked straight over when he saw Eddard, but after greeting him, his body began to tremble violently. His skin bulged repeatedly, as though something beneath it was stirring.

Seeing that Ralf "Eel's" power was about to run wild, Eddard hurriedly activated the Golden Eye and suppressed the increasingly powerful demon soul inside his body. The last place Ralf "Eel" had looked happened to be where the Red Priestess Sinvara was standing.

When Eddard looked at her suspiciously, the beautiful priestess gave him a meaningful smile. Clearly, she too had noticed Ralf "Eel's" problem.

After examining Ralf "Eel's" body, Eddard found that he had not been subjected to any unknown methods. Nor did this seem to be Sinvara's doing, since Eddard had been watching the beautiful priestess all along through tendrils split off from the Golden Eye.

Ralf "Eel's" power had run wild entirely because the Demon Child Soul inside him had awakened. Sinvara's presence seemed to have provoked a response from the Demon Child hidden within his body.

After Eddard inserted a piece of Ice Dragonglass into Ralf "Eel's" body, his condition seemed to ease considerably. Eddard then ordered the factory workers to take him away to rest. Ralf "Eel" was currently in a very delicate state of balance. The Demon Child Soul was merging with his own soul too slowly, which was why he had still not fully mastered his own power.

After this incident involving Sinvara, the problem had instead become much simpler. Now Ralf "Eel" only needed to defeat the Demon Child Soul in the Dream World and "eat" it.

After leaving the problem to the White Holy Tree, Eddard led everyone on a tour of the machines housed in the Alchemy Workshop. They were all rather amazed by the molten iron pouring out of the alloy crucibles, since there were no blast furnaces or anything of the sort here.

When he saw the smiths skillfully using the machines to forge steel, Masse T nearly jumped with excitement. He hurriedly turned to Eddard and asked:

"Lord Eddard, you truly are remarkable. May I ask whether these machines could be converted into siege engines? If they really could, I imagine even the Red Keep in King's Landing would collapse beneath battering rams made with these machines."

"Hahaha, Masse T, you really are amusing. I built this specifically for production, not for war. King's Landing is just like Oldtown-a city piled up out of shit. I don't like it at all!

"If most of the people under me died fighting, who would accept my rule? Who would help me farm the land? I won't use it for military purposes. Of course, if you insist on taking it and modifying it, I won't mind. But I believe a man of your experience should know where this thing would be more valuable."

Magic Energy Number One was good in every respect except that it could not start and stop instantly like modern machinery. Moreover, once the Ice Dragonglass and Fire Dragonglass were activated, they would keep releasing energy. For now, however, that problem would have to wait until later. By then, the forces under Eddard would probably have gradually grown, and he could simply leave the problem to them.

"Lord Eddard, I'd like to know how this set of machines is operated and how you intend to sell it. Great Lord of Light, this is nothing less than its supreme blessing!"

After looking over all the machines, Masse T eagerly questioned Eddard.

"Even if I sold you this set of machines, you wouldn't be able to use it. But I have another, similar machine. It can burn firewood, charcoal, or coal. I'm sure you'll like it too. When the time comes, I'll find someone to teach you how to operate it."

After hearing Masse T's question, Eddard explained this to him with some helplessness. Masse T was initially a little disappointed, but when he heard that there was another kind of machine, he grew excited again.

The machine Eddard wanted to sell Masse T was also the flagship product of this trade deal: the Steam Engine that he and Maester Albert had modified. After working on the Magic Stirling Engine, Eddard had become thoroughly familiar with modifying the Steam Engine.

The boiler, cylinder, connecting rods, speed governor, steam valves, safety valve, and flywheel were all built to the simplest possible designs. If they were too complicated, the buyer would be unable to operate or maintain them. Besides, even the lowest-powered Steam Engine was far, far more powerful than windmills or watermills.

As his flagship product, Eddard had put a great deal of effort into the Steam Engine. He had personally coated many of its components. Even if someone wanted to copy it, they would need at least a decade or more to succeed. Unless their industry and handicrafts reached a certain level, all subsequent upkeep and maintenance would also depend on support from House Flint's Alchemy Workshop.

Later, when he could export machine tools or large machinery, the buyers would become even more dependent on Eddard. He had encountered such problems while working in a factory in his previous life. Many issues with large precision machine tools and machinery had to be handled in person by the manufacturer's engineers. When that happened, no matter how large the factory or enterprise, it had to keep them well fed and comfortably looked after.

Later on, Eddard would be able to use such commercial activities to gradually eat into every trade and industry in the other party's territory. Just imagine how much power and deterrence that Iron Throne in King's Landing's Red Keep would still hold when Eddard controlled all the goods in the Seven Kingdoms, including agricultural produce.

The Steam Engine and ice silk were only the first step. As Eddard gradually established his system of magic, all manner of strange and unusual things would be sold throughout Westeros, and even to Essos in the east, through the Sunset Sea shipping routes.

The Sea Dragon Point Peninsula where Eddard lived was naturally higher in the west and lower in the east. The Western Mountains were the best barrier protecting his territory. With Ironborn Bay to the south, Brightflame Bay to the north, and the Neck to the east, any future enemy wishing to attack him would have only one route: the sea.

As long as Eddard followed the example of Eagle House on Blue Star and developed his navy and air force to their utmost, this world would be nothing more than something he could take from as he pleased. The road to supremacy did not necessarily have to involve fighting and killing.

Eagle House on Blue Star had done very well in this regard. It fanned the flames everywhere and profited from wars, while making countries around the world shoulder its financial risks. Whenever it had nothing else to do, it could fleece them a little too.

Moreover, once Eddard's overall strength developed to a certain level, he could begin raising people from afar, turning people elsewhere into his subjects in spirit.

Just imagine: when everyone in the Seven Kingdoms longed to become Eddard's subjects and praised the sweet air of Crystal's Scar, what difference would there be between him and a king?

When all the knowledgeable and talented people in the Seven Kingdoms longed to join House Flint, even the strongest of the houses holding wardenships would have to act at Eddard's pleasure.

Finally, under Eddard's guidance, Masse T at last saw the marvelous machine he had been longing for. Then, as the workers assembled it, he saw the complete Steam Engine.

Throughout this process, Eddard very considerately explained certain precautions concerning the Steam Engine to Masse T. To ensure the safety of the boiler and cylinder, Eddard had specially modified a simple pressure-valve device. When the pressure inside reached a certain level, steam would be released.

However, as his Valyrian steel ornaments were gradually consumed, Eddard's production of certain precision items would inevitably be affected to some extent. Developing a material as useful as Valyrian steel was not very realistic, so he could only turn his attention to Masse T.

Masse T had spent so many years making his way through Westeros and Essos that he surely held a certain quantity of Valyrian steel ornaments. Failing that, Eddard would simply have to spend money to buy them.

There were simply too many things Eddard needed to research. Perhaps later, once he thoroughly understood the Demon's Magic Runes, these problems would resolve themselves. For now, however, he still had to make the necessary investments. Earning the money first was what mattered.

After witnessing the Steam Engine's capabilities, Masse T happily signed the subsequent trade agreement with Eddard. The Steam Engine would sell for a thousand gold dragons. Once a market had been established, Masse T would also have to be the supplier given priority. Since he had not brought enough gold dragons this time, he would use slaves and some Valyrian steel ornaments to settle the debt.

"Here's to a pleasant partnership, Masse T. I hope our trade can continue indefinitely. Also, sorry for the trouble of carrying that message concerning the Iron Islands. Some things still have to be done through messengers."

When Masse T saw Eddard extend his hand, he happily clasped it. He was so excited now that his entire body was trembling.

"Rest assured, my dear Lord Eddard. I'll work hard to complete my task. Those Ironborn aren't all despicable, uncouth people. Some of them can still see the situation clearly, and in the future, those people will become our partners and protect our trade routes!"