The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Ser Gregor!” Duke Hoster said, his voice a little weak, “The Riverlands are willing to do snow salt business with the Westerlands. Come, Ser, let’s talk about a long-term partnership.” Duke Hoster deliberately emphasized the word 'long-term'.

“No!” The Mountain said, “Ser Edmure, to redeem your father, how many gold dragons will you give?”

Edmure was speechless.

“If you don’t pay the ransom, I will take your father with me when I leave.” The Mountain said with certainty.

Edmure's weakness was 'filial piety'. As long as he aimed a few harsh words at Duke Hoster, this kid would obediently submit. The cruel and bloody reputation left by the old Mountain was the biggest readily redeemable wealth card inherited by the transmigrated Mountain.

Everyone would think that the Mountain would do what he said!

Duke Hoster, Maester Vyman, and Lord Edmure all saw that the Mountain was serious.

Duke Hoster knew very well that perhaps the Mountain had planned the ransom long ago. Whether there was a snow salt business or not, the Mountain would probably demand a ransom, it was just a matter of timing.

The Mountain is the Mountain!

Edmure sneered: “Mountain, you planned on the ransom all along, didn't you?”

“There is no early or late. According to the rules of noble conflict, it is an ancient tradition to pay a ransom to release people. It is a matter of course.”

This was also a tacit rule between nobles, and a disguised privilege of the noble class. Non-nobles would be killed with a single slash. But demanding a ransom from someone in their own home to redeem themselves was more like: robbery!

“Alright, how much ransom do you want?” Edmure wasn't stupid. A slash sooner or later was still a slash, so let's get on with it.

“If you want me to name a price, there will be no room for bargaining.” The Mountain said coldly, his words containing a threat, “Duke Hoster is of noble status, two thousand gold dragons is befitting his status.”

For the wealthy Riverlands, and with the strong foundation of Riverrun, they could naturally produce two thousand gold dragons. However, this also set a new record for ransoms among nobles. The ransom for a typical knight was between three hundred and five hundred, with the highest being eight hundred gold dragons. Hoster's two thousand gold dragons created a new highest standard for ransoms. However, a duke's status was also the noblest among knights!

Duke Hoster, having been ill for three years, had become a severely shrunken version of a duke. The weight of two thousand gold dragons exceeded the duke's own weight.

“Good!” Before Edmure could speak, Duke Hoster agreed.

Maester Vyman and Edmure both looked at the duke himself.

The duke said calmly: “Ser Gregor asks for two thousand gold dragons to redeem me, I think it’s very fair. Maester, go and ask the finance manager, Fralan, to get the money.”

“Yes, Your Grace!” Maester Vyman left.

Soon, two thousand gold dragons were packed into two baskets, the baskets covered with embroidery.

“Ser Gregor, please check the gold dragons.” Maester Vyman said politely.

“No need.” The Mountain waved his hand, and Bern and four bandits carried the gold dragons into their guardroom. The Mountain's bandits lived in the guardroom that originally housed Duke Hoster's personal guards.

The Mountain secretly admired Duke Hoster's decisiveness. Indeed, in the current situation, encountering a terrifying and invincible figure like the Mountain, the best way was to pay up to avoid trouble.

Edmure's petty cleverness was far inferior to Duke Hoster's great wisdom that appeared foolish.

“Duke Hoster, you are free!” The Mountain said.

The two bandits beside Hoster left the duke and stood behind the Mountain.

However, what was the difference between this freedom and unfreedom?

Of course, there was no difference at all!

The only difference was that the Mountain had obtained a ransom of two thousand gold dragons.

In the eyes of the Clegane bandits, the Mountain became even taller and more glorious. The power of an idol to make money penetrated the deepest parts of the bandits' hearts.

“Duke Hoster, you wouldn’t want me to take Lord Edmure with me when I leave, would you!” The Mountain decided to strike while the iron was hot. Dealing with people like Duke Hoster, who knew how to advance and retreat and knew what to give up, was quick and satisfying.

Edmure glared at the Mountain!

Maester Vyman looked at the Mountain!

Finance Manager Fralan, who hadn't left yet, was stunned!

Duke Hoster said: “Ser Gregor, Adon Sharp's ransom was one thousand gold dragons, Edmure Tully's ransom should also be one thousand gold dragons, what do you think?”

“Good!” The Mountain was extremely happy with a duke who was willing to cooperate.

Soon, another thousand gold dragons were carried into the guardroom where the Clegane bandits lived under Bern's command.

In a short time, three thousand gold dragons were obtained.

Even for nobles, this was a huge sum!

Bern looked at his lord, the Mountain, with stars in his eyes. His admiration for the Mountain was catching up with Sweetmouth Ralph, the Executioner, and the neurotic Polliver.

Despite Bern's arrogance in following the Mountain, if Bern were to go out on the street alone now, he wouldn't dare in Riverrun!

Bern still had a dreamlike feeling. The people in front of him were Duke Hoster and Lord Edmure, the great lords of the Riverlands, high in power and one of the greatest nobles of the time. But in front of the Mountain Lord, Duke Hoster was as weak as the sick old man next door to Alex's village. And the arrogant Lord Edmure, hehe, had no energy or noble dignity!

The Mountain gave his new follower Bern an unparalleled illusion.

These illusions allowed Bern and his like to maintain a morbid worship of the Mountain, and this worship of the Mountain quickly and invisibly evolved into a very high-quality trait: loyalty. Finally, this loyalty would be strengthened when following the Mountain in doing evil, and then loyalty would evolve into faith!

The Mountain said: “Lord Edmure, you are also free.”

So, the two bandits behind Edmure also stood beside Gregor.

Four knives that didn't blink when killing people left Hoster and Edmure.

Hoster and Edmure breathed a sigh of relief without realizing it.

The feeling of having two bandits standing behind them staring at their necks was really uncomfortable.

The Mountain glanced at Maester Vyman and smiled maliciously.

Maester Vyman's heart skipped a beat. Behind him were still two bandits, and within Riverrun, the heads or heirs of many large and small nobles who had been imprisoned were being watched closely by six sharp knives.

“Duke Hoster, Lord Edmure, Maester Vyman, I won’t calculate the ransom for the many nobles in the city separately. A flat price, how many gold dragons will the Tully family pay to redeem Riverrun!” The Mountain said.

Maester Vyman couldn't believe what he heard, his surprised eyes already explaining everything.

Edmure was stunned!

Manager Fralan looked at the Mountain with the astonishment of looking at a madman!

Even the pale face of the always calm and experienced Duke Hoster flushed with a faint purple.

Bern and a total of six bandits looked at their idol in surprise, they all suspected they had misheard.

The Mountain Lord casually asked Duke Hoster and Lord Edmure to pay to redeem Riverrun, how much money would that take!

This ransom was so shameless but Bern and the bandits felt so excited!

The Mountain smiled: “Duke Hoster, don’t worry, I am a reasonable person. Riverrun is in my hands, I think you certainly wouldn’t want to see me burn Riverrun to the ground, right? I don't want the ransom for the citizens in the city, the common people have no money, but shouldn't the nobles in the city each pay a sum of money to redeem their heads? The nobles' ransom, I will count in the total price for the Duke to redeem Riverrun, Duke, I believe in your fairness and justice, you offer a reasonable price, and if it's not a loss for me, I will return Riverrun to you, no bargaining.”