The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Mountain stared at Illyrio, interrupting his rambling, and said, "Polliver, which part of Lord Governor Illyrio's body do you think is the most perfect, suitable for turning into a work of art?"

Illyrio didn't understand the meaning behind the Mountain's words, forcing a smile as he said, "Lord Earl, Illyrio is a friend worth making. I believe you will definitely not regret it."

Polliver walked to Illyrio's side, swiftly drawing the short knife from his waist. His gleaming eyes stared at Illyrio's golden beard. His right cheek twitched, causing his right eye to blink incessantly, making him look extremely unsettling. "Lord Mountain, this fellow's beard, hair, eyeballs, lips, ears, hands, are all very good. I hope you will agree to let me cut them off and soak them in wine to make them into works of art."

"I agree!" the Mountain said.

Polliver was overjoyed. His eyes slowly scanned from Illyrio's hair to his hands, his face revealing an extremely delighted smile. This smile, in Illyrio's eyes, was neurotic and bizarre.

Illyrio's face turned pale. He could tell that this crazy guy was serious, and with the next heartbeat, he would make his move.

"Lord Earl, Illyrio is willing… to give… everything, please don't hurt me."

"Everything?" the Mountain asked.

"Yes, everything!"

Polliver walked behind Illyrio. Illyrio felt the sharpness and coldness of the short knife behind him.

"Polliver, wait a moment," the Mountain said.

"Yes, Lord!"

Illyrio's spine tingled. He felt the neurotic guy behind him still admiring his body 'parts' with the eyes of an 'artist'. If it weren't for decades of weathering storms, Illyrio felt he would faint.

Being stared at in the head, neck, ears, back, and hands by a neurotic person wielding a sharp knife behind him, no one could remain calm and composed. An ordinary person would feel much better.

"Illyrio, are you really sincere?"

"Absolutely sincere, Lord. I swear in the name of the gods of the sky, earth, and sea, I will become your most loyal friend."

The faith of Pentos is in the gods of the sky, earth, and sea. Whether it is military defeat, poor harvests, or trade collapse, they will sacrifice virgins and princes to the gods of the sky, earth, and sea.

"Well, I believe in your sincerity. Hand over the fifty well-trained little birds you brought from across the Narrow Sea," the Mountain said indifferently.

The fifty well-trained little birds were what Illyrio had brought from across the Narrow Sea for Varys.

To train a little bird proficient in ledgers, able to read letters, good at writing and arithmetic, good at concealment, and able to track, takes a lot of time and effort. These little birds sent from across the Narrow Sea have another advantage: they can understand the languages of many peoples across the Narrow Sea. Many people from the nine Free Cities on the other side of the Narrow Sea make a living in this country, such as the most notorious mercenary, the captain of the Company of the Rose, who comes from Qohor, which worships the Black Goat, and whose members are basically mercenaries from across the sea, as well as the Dothraki, who are excellent horsemen and use arakhs.

And the fifty little birds were also orphans from various ethnic groups across the Narrow Sea.

Lord Governor Illyrio has an institution in Pentos similar to the orphanage in King's Landing, specializing in adopting homeless children from various places, and then selecting smart and quick-witted children to train into little birds.

Illyrio was shocked and looked at Varys, who was wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his fat hand.

The Mountain seemed to know everything. Who exactly is the blood mage behind him? It's too powerful!

"As you wish, Lord," Illyrio just wanted to get away as soon as possible. Next time, he would definitely not cross the sea again. Varys's intelligence system had not detected any of the Mountain's actions, which was terrifying.

Illyrio completely collapsed internally.

"Bernie, would you like to become a knight and also get my Clegane surname?"

"Very willing, Lord Mountain."

"Then go to the Flea Bottom orphanage to take over these fifty little birds."

Bernie's ventriloquism talent is unmatched, and his ability to learn languages is also unparalleled, making him suitable for managing little birds from different ethnic groups.

"No, no, no!" Bernie jumped out, shaking his hands wildly. "Lord, you all go back to the Westerlands, and I'll be killed if I stay in King's Landing alone. I refuse to go to the orphanage to take over these fifty little birds." Bernie stuttered as he spoke, looking panicked.

Polliver, Anguy, and Julie all smiled.

"Are you really not going?" The Mountain glared.

Bernie closed his eyes immediately, his body trembling. "Lord, kill me first. I'm going to die sooner or later anyway." Bernie was so scared that he shrank his neck, speaking very stubbornly.

"Then how many people do you need?" the Mountain asked.

Bernie's eyes opened immediately, and his body stopped trembling, as if there was a switch. "At least ten people, living with me in the orphanage, on the same floor I live on. No one else can live there, at most, at most, the head of the orphanage can live with us."

The head of the orphanage is an old woman. She was Varys's history teacher and indeed can't beat anyone, nor would she be Bernie's opponent.

"I'll give you ten people," the Mountain said. "Lord Varys, you see, I need a total of eleven people to enter your orphanage, but I also need them to not be noticed. What should they do in the orphanage?"

The cold sweat on Varys's fat face streamed down. He no longer concealed it. Sometimes, showing weakness can make people lower their guard. "Lord Earl, they can be doorkeepers, sweepers, manage money and food, be responsible for the children's diet, and accept donations. The orphanage has always been short of staff, there is no doubt about that. The orphanage is in the dirty, chaotic, and poor Flea Bottom, and the city watch usually doesn't go there. Your Lordship's brothers will be very safe in the orphanage."

The Mountain looked at Bernie. "You see, the problem is solved."

Bernie walked to the Mountain's side, had the Mountain lean over, and whispered, "Can I turn Varys's four teachers into tasters? I want to see them eat every day and be okay before I eat."

He was really afraid of death.

Originally, following the Mountain, he was fearless. Bernie thought this happy life could last a long time.

Good times never last!

The Mountain whispered, "The orphanage is your territory. You can do whatever you want. Do I need to say more? You idiot!"

Bernie stepped back. "Then, Lord, the fifty little birds will report the bad things in King's Landing to me every day. Who should I report these bad things to?"

"Of course, Lord Varys," the Mountain said. "Lord Varys, we are allies, just the two of us, aren't we?"

"Of course!" Varys felt relieved. He was sure he wouldn't die.

"I am very happy to reach a consensus with Lord Varys on cooperation. Then, for Lord Varys's sake, Lord Illyrio, I won't kill you. Let's talk about the price. How many gold dragons do you think your hair, beard, two eyes, two ears, and one pair of hands are worth?"