With Grey Worm appointed as the commander of the Supreme Shadows, Freydron spotted a very happy and satisfied smile on his face. It his cock had not been severed, Jon might have thought that Freydron was Grey Worm's father.
With the same satisfied smile on his face, Freydron proceeded to report on the military situation of his army.
"My lord," Freydron said, "initially, you acquired 6200 Unsullied along with 3000 trainees."
"After you took control of the city, an additional 1,500 Unsullied who were in service and or for sale with different good masters joined the army."
"This bolstered our number over 10500," he continued.
"Now, as per your instructions, we have begun recruiting additional soldiers. In the past three months, we have already recruited close to 2,500 men."
"As you had ordered," he said, "in the initial phase, we are focusing on the quality of the soldiers, not the quantity."
"All these 2,500 men are of young age and I am confident that all of them would be forged into brilliant soldiers."
Jon nodded in satisfaction. More than 12500 men. But he needed to increase his army numbers. And fast.
"Currently," Freydron informed further, "we have begun their training and every one of them is undergoing through intense training."
"In a couple of months, they will have decent fighting capabilities. Though not as good as the Unsullied, they will be no less in abilities of an average soldier."
Jon acknowledged this with a nod. He was aware of all these things.
"Good job, Freydron," he said.
Freydron smiled with a tint of pride on his face, then went on.
"My lord, we also have considerable progress with the two special companies. The company for the assassins and the company for the spies & secret services."
"Their training is in advanced phases, and soon they will be ready for deployment in various cities and towns."
Jon nodded again. The earlier these two companies were ready, the better it would be for Jon and his plans.
"Freydron," Jon instructed. "I want you to speed up the recruitment process of the soldiers. Now, we are no longer financially constrained as much as we were 3 months earlier."
"In the next couple of months, I want you take the number of the soldiers to above 20000 men."
Almost a shocked look appeared on Freydron's face. But he recovered quickly.
"Yes, my lord," Freydron replied.
Jon nodded in satisfaction and this was cue for his dismissal.
The next day, Jon Snow had a visitor early in the morning. He was a middle-aged man with a bulging belly, draped in expensive, colourful silk robes.
His face was clean-shaven, and his small eyes seemed to disappear into his fat cheeks. He was one of the old, wealthy merchants of Astapor. Ark Van Haos.
He acted as a kind of informal leader among the merchants and was one of the few people who could have direct access to Lord Aeos.
Now, with many merchants killed during Jon's takeover of Astapor, Van Haos' influence had grown even further. Even before Jon seized the city, Ark Van Haos had a good and clean reputation, unlike the cruel, barbaric image of most other rich merchants. He had treated his slaves relatively well and was among the first to surrender to Jon.
With a knack for making money, he also possessed a sharp and cunning mind.
"My lord," Ark Van Haos said as he bowed in greeting.
"Van Haos," Jon nodded, gesturing for him to sit.
They were seated in a lush garden. A small round table stood between them, already set with a sumptuous breakfast.
Van Haos smiled and took his seat. Without hesitation, he picked up a sandwich a new dish invented by Lord Aeos served only at his household.
How the lord came up with it was beyond Van Haos' understanding. It was simple enough bread filled with various stuffings of your choice but undeniably unique.
And the bread itself was marvelous. White in color and so soft in texture. He had been able to deduce that the bread was made from wheat itself but how? He had no idea. He sometimes wondered if he could sell such a product, he would be so much richer.
After savouring a few bites, he set the plate down and turned serious.
"Sorry for my manners, my lord," he smiled awkwardly. Jon merely smiled in response.
"My lord," he continued in a serious tone, "I have confirmed the news. Illyrio Mopatis undoubtedly has three dragon eggs."
Jon nodded. This was something he had already been certain of.
Van Haos continued, "And he is willing to part with them…"
"But there's a 'but,'" Jon finished for him.
"Yes, my lord," Van Haos replied. "He is asking for something nearly impossible. A very steep and unfair price if I may say."
"What is it?" Jon asked, raising an eyebrow.
In the show, he freely gifted them to Daenerys. Now he wants a high price? Jon wondered. Perhaps that greedy bastard only did so out of blind hope that Daenerys would hatch the eggs and set Varys' plans for the realm in motion.
"My lord," Van Haos said, hesitating slightly, "his price for the eggs is five years of an exclusive contract for all the alcohol you brew, solely for the city of Pentos."
"He wants to be the only seller of your beverages in Pentos."
Jon scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain. "Does he think he is selling me three living dragons?"
Even Van Haos let out a chuckle. What Illyrio was asking was, at best, laughable.
"One year of unobstructed supply of whatever he demands, but at market price," Jon countered. "No exclusivity. I would not prohibit other merchants from selling alcohol in Pentos."
Van Haos nodded in agreement. He understood well that what Lord Aeos offered was an excellent deal.
Traders were already hard-pressed to meet demand. The drinks were in short supply compared to how eagerly people wanted them. Merchants were willing to pay even above market price to secure them.
Now Illyrio, with a guaranteed year-long supply at market rates, would earn a fortune. It was certainly more than the value of three stone-turned eggs which were nothing more than collector's items to Illyrio.
Van Haos took it as merely one of Lord Aeos' hobbies.
"I will relay the message to him, my lord," said Van Haos. "I will try my best to secure a final deal."
"I assume this is the maximum you are willing to offer?" He probed.
Jon simply nodded. "I am not a trader Van Haos. Illyrio might have expected a long and hassle full negotiations but I am in no such nod. You can handle the negotiations as per you wish but I have already stated the maximum I would offer."
"Ok, my lord," Van Haos replied as he rose to leave.
He was about to turn the corner when Jon's icy voice cut through the air.
"I am offering Illyrio more than a fair price. He would do well to appreciate it."
"Tell him that if he tries to play games of twists and turns with me, he would better be prepared to have his insides twisted by my sword. I want the deal to be done fast. I want it to be done within the next month," Jon declared.
Ark Van Haos stammered an incoherent reply and hurried away. He could feel the pressure radiating off Jon Snow and knew without a doubt that Lord Aeos was deadly serious. He would make sure to complete the deal anyhow.
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