Gregor has an amazing appetite.
It is several times that of the average person.
He devoured a whole table of food—meat, bread, lettuce, pastries, and bacon soup, along with the most renowned wine from Tsing Ting Island.
He ate all four glass jars of honey used for spreading on bread. Although the jars weren't large, it would take the count more than seven days to finish one jar.
Golden honey can be eaten directly.
Gregor didn't treat the honey as honey, but rather as a dessert.
This world is full of primitive, rough, and backward things; but it's also full of wonderful things. The sky, the earth, and the water are all crystal clear, so there's no need to worry about smog. Both plant-based and animal-based vegetables are delicious. The honey is absolutely genuine, without any additives or adulteration, and since it's from the Earl's family, Gregorian indulges to his heart's content.
Count Ode noticed that Gregor was drinking less.
He was drinking, but not very frequently.
The Count was actually more at ease knowing that Gregor was not drinking the wine as if it were water.
He was afraid that Sir Gregor would get drunk and cause trouble.
This vicious dog can't be hit or scolded; you can only smile obsequiously, welcome it respectfully, and see it off politely, hoping everything will be fine.
Soon he became Tywin Lannister's son-in-law, and his relationship with Casterly Rock was the closest one to him besides blood. Recently, he had gained even more favor from Tywin, and in Lord Odd's eyes, he was practically family to Tywin Lannister.
Lord Odd was also a Lannister, albeit a branch, but his Lannister port could be taken away by Tywin Lannister with a single word. Lord Odd knew very well who he could mess with and who he couldn't.
Count Odd breathed a sigh of relief after finally finishing his meal with the Mountain without any major incident.
He peeked at Mo Shan. The Mo Shan, who was full, had no murderous intent in his eyes, and the rosy complexion on his face was not from the wine, but from eating too heartily and enthusiastically.
This put the Earl at ease.
He just liked the 'civilized' Demon Mountain.
Count Oder was a refined knight. The boorish Mountain was someone he always respected but absolutely kept his distance from. He felt comfortable with the Mountain who was well-fed, didn't burp, didn't glare, and didn't swear.
The light of the Seven Gods' favor is miraculous.
Count Odd had an absolute faith in the Seven Gods, just like other nobles in the West.
"Sir, would you like to take a walk in the garden? I have some tall mulberry trees transplanted from across the Narrow Sea. I paid a high price for them, and they are completely different from our local mulberry trees. The trees are already laden with mulberries, as beautiful as purple pearls. Would you like to take a look?" The Earl asked with great interest.
Mulberry trees also exist on the continent of Westeros, but they are very short and have pitifully small leaves, as worthless as grass, and unsuitable for raising silkworms. There is no silk on the continent either; all silk comes from the East, imported from the free trading city-state of Pentos across the Narrow Sea, via a maritime'Silk Road'.
"Mulberry tree?" Gregor's eyes lit up for a moment, then remained indifferent.
Okay, his hometown before he transmigrated was Mulberry Tree Brigade.
They are experts in mulberry planting and silkworm raising; every household is a master at it.
The eastern continent of Essos is home to several major silk-producing nations, whose specialty is silk, which is expensive and in high demand across Westeros. Silkworm breeding, textile production, silk weaving, and garment making are all highly integrated and mature commercial activities on Essos.
The 'priceless oriental mulberry tree' that Count Auder treasured like a precious gem held no appeal for Gregor. He had played in mulberry trees since he was a little kid before he transmigrated.
mulberry!
Going a step further, could we develop mulberry planting, silkworm breeding, and textile production? Could we open up another Silk Road?
Come on, don't think that STEM students are all-powerful. Growing mulberry trees is no problem, raising silkworms is barely acceptable, but textiles—Gregor had never even touched them in his previous life. To be honest, he knew absolutely nothing about the technology to have managed to create a textile industry under these agricultural conditions.
However, having read some history books, he knew of a great man in history who easily learned and quickly surpassed the textile industry that was booming in other countries. That method was ingenious and could be directly applied from Gregor's mind.
In such a favorable season as long summer, the Western Regions can become a small silkworm-raising country in just one year, and a large country in two years. Silk that is in high demand across the entire continent will appear in the Western Regions.
However, Gregor did not move despite the Earl's 'enthusiasm', nor did he have any interest in getting involved in the textile industry.
You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time.
I'm too lazy to get involved in the textile industry now.
Earl Odd enthusiastically invited Gregor to taste mulberries and admire his Oriental mulberry trees, but Gregor merely glanced at the Earl without any reaction before closing his eyes. He had eaten too much, let out a burp, and needed to rest to catch his breath.
The Mountain's crudeness and absolute arrogance embarrassed Count Oder.
He's still the same arrogant Demon Mountain as before. He doesn't even bother to answer my invitation, just glancing at me as a response. That's incredibly rude.
In terms of rank, an earl is higher than Gregor.
But before Gregor, all titles and ranks were worthless. Their social standing seemed to have been reversed.
Earl Odd decided to suggest another thing that might interest Gregor. It was rare for Gregor to be so 'civilized' today, and this was a good opportunity to win his favor and also curry favor with Duke Tywin.
Earl Odd was doing his best to implement Duke Tywin's decree to replace iron with wood, and it would be beneficial if Gregor could inadvertently let slip a word about it in front of Tywin.
"Sir, I recently purchased two fine swords from Master Tob Mort's weapon shop in King's Landing. Would you like to take a look? If you like them, I'll give you one. You may not be suited to it, but you can bestow it upon a meritorious subordinate. Master Tob Mort's swords are truly masterpieces. I waited in line for over half a year to acquire both of them, and they were quite expensive!" Earl Odd knew that the Mountain loved swords, especially Master Tob Mort's weapons. This struck a chord with the Mountain, and he hoped to win his favor.
Master Tob Motte?
This time, Gregor didn't even open his eyes, but grunted in response through his nostrils.
With Tob Mort already in Clegane, The Mountain won't lack truly good weapons from the Master, not just commercial ones.
From now on, let the Earl come to Clegane eagerly to ask the Mountain for good armor, a good helmet, and a good sword.
Gendry, the stubborn blacksmith apprentice, was truly an honest and good man. As long as he was given a hammer, iron ore, and a blacksmith shop, he would be full of energy and work hard, as if he had forgotten that he had been carried there by the Mountain.
With iron as his foundation, his heart remained steadfast. The Demon Mountain also promised him a golden dragon a month later, something impossible for his master; even the thought of it was a pipe dream.
For the past ten days or so, Gendry has been working with great enthusiasm in the blacksmith's shop in Clegane, forging weapons and armor. The Mountain has even started considering finding him an apprentice.
What a fine blacksmith with royal blood!
As for Master Tob Mort, he entered the role the Mountain had assigned him even earlier than Gendry. The Master was the steward and administrator of the blacksmith's weapons shop and the noodle-making machine. A week ago, the Mountain promised that if Tob agreed to bring his wife and children to the Mountain and swear allegiance to him in the sanctuary, he would consider granting him knighthood.
Tob Mott didn't even bother to pretend to think about it for a moment; he agreed immediately.
In a while, Tob Mott and his family will be settled down in Clegane, with their wife and kids. The King's Landing kidnapping? That didn't even happen!
The Mountain is willing to go to great lengths to bestow upon exceptionally talented individuals the honor of knighthood, which is more precious than life itself. For example, the increasingly obedient Gendry is not only being considered for knighthood, but also for the surname Clegane.
The Mountain, with his hearty body and broad mind, closed his eyes and began to snore. Faced with the Mountain's rudeness, Count Ode chuckled dryly and left.
An hour later, hurried footsteps came from the garden toward the Demon Mountain. Perhaps because he had done too many heinous and bloody things, the Demon Mountain was extremely alert even in his sleep, as if it were an animal's instinct.
When the Mountain opened his eyes, he saw several centurions with bruised and swollen faces and a few of his vicious and ruthless subordinates.
The leader was Dunson Clegane, the most capable executioner.
This kid's style has been starting to resemble Polliver's lately, which isn't a good sign.
"Sir, I am very grateful for the leniency of the centurions. Everything has been taken care of." Dunsen was extremely respectful to Gregor, just like a serious primary school student facing his homeroom teacher.
"Everything is done."
"Yes, sir, it's all taken care of."
"Okay, let's go back."
"My lord, shall we not bid farewell to Count Ode?"
"Need not!"