Without having to do it himself, the two girls washed his face with their soft and smooth hands.
In his heart, he secretly cursed himself for being corrupt and degenerate.
But his body honestly accepted the service of Lena and Bella.
When he first came to Westeros, who was it that said he wasn't used to being served by others?
Well... Jason Liu said that his memory wasn't very good—he forgot!
Dispelling the sweet dreams from last night that still lingered in his mind—punching the Night King, kicking the dragon—he reminded himself it was all fake, just an illusion!
How much had he drunk to become so arrogant?
He was just an ordinary man. All he ever hoped for was to make a little money, monopolize the entire Game of Thrones world trade scene...
Was that really too much to ask?
After all, he was a man with the ability to travel between two worlds!
Setting himself the "small" goal of monopolizing world trade, Jason Liu finished his breakfast full of energy and then took the guards to Winterfell in high spirits.
Also just after breakfast, Lady Catelyn was sitting beside her son Robb.
Robb and Theon were discussing the recent robber raid on a village that had been dealt with not long ago, and Robb was surprised to hear that Lord Jason had come to visit.
Didn't he just come here a few days ago?
Robb spoke to his mother and then asked the guards to invite Lord Jason in.
Theon was standing next to Robb's seat, looking every bit like Robb's confidant.
Yesterday, he had heard from Robb that the Earl of Starfire City had sent Winterfell the payment for the first month of selling logs. The exact amount wasn't revealed.
But judging from Robb's excited expression, Theon guessed it was a lot of money.
He laughed inwardly, thinking Jason must be a fool. Otherwise, why would he pay such a high price for trees everywhere?
In Theon's eyes, this foreign aristocrat was truly odd.
Not only did he employ illegitimate children—despised throughout Westeros—but he also paid them high wages and provided free food and lodging.
Those bastards would've competed for work just for some brown bread, and yet this fool spent so much money on farmers!
However, ever since Jon Snow, that illegitimate child, had left Winterfell, Theon had felt much more comfortable—at least he didn't have to see that ice-faced bastard every day.
Theon believed that without Jon around, he was now Robb's closest companion. No one else could compete for Robb's favor.
Having been a hostage in Winterfell for nearly ten years, Theon had long made up his mind—he had to cling to Robb's coattails. Robb would surely become Warden of the North and Duke of Winterfell in the future.
When Lord Eddard Stark grew old and Robb truly took charge, Theon, as Robb's best brother and friend, could finally shed his hostage status.
He might even, with Robb's backing, return to the Iron Islands, drive his father off the Salt Throne, and become the Duke of the Iron Islands!
By then, the entire Iron Islands would answer to him, and no one would dare look down on Theon Greyjoy again!
Thinking of his grand plan, Theon couldn't help but smile smugly.
When Jason Liu walked into the Stark family's living room, just as he was about to bow to Lady Catelyn and greet Robb, he happened to see Theon smirking smugly.
Jason didn't know what the kid was grinning about, nor did he care. As soon as he sat down, he directly proposed renting the wasteland near Lake Saylor, part of the Stark family's territory.
Lady Catelyn and Robb were extremely surprised. They hadn't expected Lord Jason to still be renting land. Was he addicted to leasing property?
"Lake Saylor? Where's that?" Robb looked at his mother, Catelyn, suspiciously. He didn't recall the name of the lake.
Lady Catelyn couldn't remember either, so Jason Liu asked Kent to spread the map of the North that he had brought with him on the table.
Jason pointed to the place where two tributaries of the White Knife River met. There was a lake, several thousand acres in size—that was Lake Saylor.
Lake Saylor lay almost midway between Winterfell and White Harbor, about 400 kilometers from Winterfell. The surrounding land was rocky and barren, overgrown with weeds, and had no agricultural value.
Lady Catelyn and Robb didn't know much about the terrain around Lake Saylor, so they summoned Maester Luwin for confirmation.
Maester Luwin examined the map and ultimately gave the same answer as Jason Liu.
Of course—Boris had already told Jason about this earlier.
Before being recruited by Jason, Boris had served at Winterfell alongside Maester Luwin for several years.
Naturally, he was very familiar with the northern territories.
After confirming that Lake Saylor was indeed wasteland, Lady Catelyn thought for a moment. She looked at Jason with her sharp blue eyes and asked seriously, "Lord Jason, what do you intend to do with the land near Lake Saylor?"
"You see, my lady," Jason began sincerely, "because the town of Winterfell is inland, most merchants from Westeros and beyond the Narrow Sea must disembark at White Harbor and then travel overland to reach Winterfell.
"The journey from White Harbor to Winterfell spans over 800 kilometers. For many, this land journey takes even longer than their voyage by sea."
Wearing a genuine expression of concern for those merchants, Jason continued, "If I build a port beside Lake Saylor and dredge the White Knife River from Lake Saylor to White Harbor, then merchants can save significant time by sailing directly to the lake to trade."
"Moreover, I want to use river shipping to bring more goods for sale. In short, this is extremely important to me. I hope you'll agree to lease the lakeside wasteland near Lake Saylor to me—for a fair price."
After finishing his speech, Jason Liu looked earnestly at Lady Catelyn and Robb, awaiting their response.
Robb was a bit moved. Renting out the wasteland near Lake Saylor to Lord Jason meant more profit for them.
But Lady Catelyn hesitated, uncertain whether she should agree to the request of the Earl of Starfire City.
After all, building a port along Lake Saylor for trade would inevitably attract merchants from across the realm because of the East family's magical products. The port could eventually grow into a city.
It might even become as prosperous a port city as White Harbor.
This meant an additional city under Stark control in the North—but also potential disputes over who held real authority over that city.
Perhaps this Lord Jason East, like House Manderly in White Harbor, would eventually become a Stark vassal?
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