Chapter 17

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

Just as Samwell was about to leave Upland City, Viscount Martyn finally sent someone to invite him back to the castle.

In the living room, Viscount Martyn did not answer right away but took out another bottle of red wine and said with a smile, "This is wine from Dorne. Would you like to try it?"

"Okay," Samwell happily took the wine glass and took a sip.

It was rugged and thick, with strong tannins and a rich spiciness. Viscount Martyn also took a sip and sighed. "This is brewed from Shiraz grapes from the City of Grace, and it has the same personality as the Dornish people. If you're drinking it for the first time, be careful not to choke on it."

Samwell drank the wine in the glass with a smile and said, "I have a good appetite. No matter how strong the wine is, I can get it down my throat."

Viscount Martyn also laughed. "I am doubting more and more how you had the reputation of being trash before."

" young and ignorant," Samwell responded casually and then brought the topic back. "Master Viscount, regarding my previous proposal, have you figured it out?"

Viscount Martyn withdrew his smile, his face became serious, and said, "I've figured it out. This matter is related to the thousand-year feud between Reach and Dorne. Of course, the Mullendore family should not stand by. Therefore, I've decided to lease all the craftsmen in the territory, including apprentices, a total of 275 people, to you for one year."

Samwell showed uncontrollable surprise on his face and quickly thanked him. "Master Viscount, you are really a generous person. Your lord is also a wise investor! Believe me, this investment will definitely bring you rich returns!"

"Don't worry," Viscount Martyn raised his right hand and said. "Just in case, collateral is required."

"Collateral?"

"That's right. Looting merchant ships is not an easy task. In case you can't pay back the money in the future, I will take away the collateral as compensation." Samwell rolled his eyes and said immediately, "In that case, let's use the most important thing in my future territory—the pier—as collateral."

"Pier? Then the accompanying docking fees and taxes..."

"Of course, they're all yours."

Viscount Martyn thought for a while, nodded, and said, "Yes."

In his opinion, whether it is Samwell's pirate plan or the Tyrell family's grand plan to plot against the west of Dorne, this crucial pier will be used.

"If I use it as collateral, I will never lose money."

After finalizing the cooperation intention, the two discussed some details. After reaching an agreement, they also drew up a contract and signed it together.

"Happy cooperation!"

"Happy cooperation!"

So far, the Mullendore family of Upland City has officially become one of Samwell's investors.

In order to wait for the artisans of Upland City to gather, the development team stayed for another three days before setting off again.

This time, the original 200-member pioneering team doubled in size in an instant and seemed even more imposing.

As the leader of the team, Samwell couldn't help feeling complacent. With such a team as support, the most difficult initial stage of development would be smooth.

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? The more he owes now, the less likely those creditors will see him fail in pioneering.

He has even planned that when the construction of the new territory officially starts, he will write another letter to Viscount Martyn, asking him to send some laborers to help because of the lack of manpower.

I believe that the generous lord of Upland City will not refuse the small request of the partner. Otherwise, if the pier is not built a year later, the Mullendore family will lose. But with more people, the food supplies needed will also increase sharply.

He can still rely on the relief of the Tyrell family to barely support him, and he may have to find new investors in the future. However, this matter is not urgent for the time being; the most important thing now is to rush to the pioneering land.

It has been almost three months since they left Highgarden. Such a slow marching speed may have set the slowest record in the history of Westeros.

Moreover, due to the gradual climbing of the Red Mountains, the next journey can be expected to be more difficult than before. There is even a possibility of being harassed by savages.

So after entering the mountain, Samwell stopped the routine military training to keep the soldiers strong enough to deal with possible accidents.

However, unexpectedly, although the march was difficult and dangerous, it was not disturbed in any way. It seemed that those savages were quite sensible.

Seeing that there were more than 200 heavily armed soldiers in this team, they knew that this was a tough bone, and they didn't dare to bite hard.

Instead, some blind beasts attacked the pioneering team. Of course, all of them ended up in barbecue grills.

Nearly a month later, the pioneering team that accelerated their march finally saw the Sea of Summer from a distance.

The salty and humid sea breeze blew towards their faces, blowing away the mist in the mountains and forests, making everyone feel a sense of comfort from the bottom of their hearts.

Samwell was also overjoyed and couldn't help speeding up his pace.

All the way to the south, the mountains gradually flattened, forming a rare valley and extending a raised beach to the sea.

Todd Flower said, "Master Caesar, this is Bleak Island, which is suitable as your new territory."

Samwell looked around and nodded in agreement. This place was really good, surrounded by mountains on both sides and backed by the Summer Sea. Only a narrow valley in the northwest could be used as an entrance and exit. The gentle valley in the middle had tens of thousands of acres. Although it was all barren rock and soil where crops could not be grown, it will certainly not a problem to build a castle. The protruding beach is suitable for building a dock.

Judging from the way Todd Flower was familiar with the road when he led the team before, it was obvious that the Tyrell family had already sent someone to investigate here. However, it was located in the depths of the Red Mountains and was inconvenient to communicate with the outside world. There was no good land suitable for farming. If they wanted to establish a territory, they had to rely on blood transfusions from the outside world. The Tyrell family obviously didn't make up their minds to open up here until the appearance of Samwell.

Madam Olenna should have planned to let Todd Flower control this cowardly pioneer knight and plunder passing merchant ships in his name to maintain the expenses of the territory. Of course, today's Samwell would definitely not accept such an arrangement. Once things like piracy were exposed, he would never be able to hang out in the aristocratic circle. It was estimated that he could only flee to the other side of the Narrow Sea and seek refuge from Daenerys, just like Jorah Mormont, who was convicted of slave trading.

Samwell suddenly thought that road doesn't seem so bad. But he immediately shook his head, shaking off the stupid idea.

Now that he had changed his name to Caesar, he naturally didn't want to be subservient to a woman.

If he wanted to keep climbing in the coming chaotic world, he must have his own territory and direct army as soon as possible. The Bleak Island and more than 400 pioneers in front of him were the starting point for all of this.

[END]