The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Varys stared at the Mountain with wide eyes, knowing he was unlike anyone else; what the Mountain said, he did.

The Mountain, a synonym for brutality and terror!

Killing someone was far too simple for the worst villain in the Seven Kingdoms; did he now enjoy twisted torture?!

For the Mountain, this wasn't surprising at all.

Very normal!

"Mountain, I won't regret my decision. If I could do it again, I'd still suggest Queen Daenerys kill you. You're a true villain, capable of any evil. You should have died long ago. It's only the gods dozing in the heavens that gave you the chance to live on."

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Varys' bald head, his face slightly flushed, and his breathing became unsteady. His hands were hidden in his wide sleeves, which trembled slightly.

Varys was already fearful, but his words were as hard as could be!

The Mountain calmly looked at Varys: "Very well, agitated Lord Varys, would you like me to safely escort you back to Daenerys' side again?"

This turn of events was a bit abrupt—especially coming from the Mountain!

Varys was momentarily at a loss, unaccustomed to it. If these words had come from Littlefinger, Varys wouldn't have felt such a stark contrast.

Varys didn't answer, his breathing becoming more rapid. Although he tried to remain calm, the pressure from the Mountain was unlike anything else. He feared the Mountain, and that couldn't be concealed.

The Mountain suddenly wanted to let him go?

Was that possible?

Varys didn't know.

He felt he couldn't understand the Mountain at all. His sharp eyes could see through many people and things, but he couldn't fathom the Mountain's intentions.

"Varys, I have a way for you to withdraw completely unscathed. Do you want to hear it, or do you refuse?" the Mountain said, his eyes playful, his tone casual, his expression completely indifferent.

At that moment, Varys realized he was just a small ant under the Mountain's foot. The Mountain could crush him with a casual step, or with a light lift of his foot, he could quickly crawl away and hide in the anthill.

"Tell me about it, Lord Mountain!" Varys tried to make his tone light. Why did he see Petyr Baelish's shadow faintly appearing behind the Mountain? Had Littlefinger come up with some vicious scheme to 'incite' the Mountain?

The brutal Mountain, a brawny brute with muscles all over, was playing politics in front of Varys, and Varys couldn't even understand it, which gave Varys a terrible sense of frustration.

If the Mountain wasn't being guided by Littlefinger behind the scenes, but had truly become clever and gained extraordinary intelligence on his own, that would be truly terrifying.

The Mountain looked calmly at Varys, who was in a tense state. Varys was also a super talent, full of endless schemes and tricks, a master of disguise and lies, but in front of a menacing villain, this guy still showed fear.

Varys might not be too afraid of death, but the Mountain was a monster more terrifying than death, without a doubt.

The Mountain looked at Varys, famous for his cunning and treachery, and he enjoyed this feeling of leading Varys by the nose!

This feeling was deep within his heart, satisfying and enjoyable, but the Mountain remained calm and serene on the surface.

"Varys, a multiple-choice question: either Lord Mace Tyrell or you must die a miserable death. Do you choose Mace to die, or yourself?"

This multiple-choice question didn't seem difficult!

But Varys remained silent for a good while. He was a qualified and cautious student answering the question.

"Mountain, you want to get rid of Lord Mace Tyrell?"

"Don't put it so harshly. Lord Mace's ancestor was a gardener for the King of the Reach, and he became a lord by betraying his king. That's the glorious history of the Tyrell family. Of course, Lord Varys, you can also choose to die yourself, using your life to save Lord Mace and allow him to continue being the Lord of the Reach. Someone as kind and upright as you, I believe, would choose to sacrifice yourself to save others. You are very noble."

Varys suddenly felt relaxed.

It seemed the Mountain only wanted to use his life as leverage to get rid of Lord Mace. If this wasn't a trap, then he might really be able to live.

Varys didn't care about the Mountain's praise, he automatically filtered out the Mountain's appreciation of his noble character. He looked at the Mountain, and he certainly understood that even if he died, the Mountain wouldn't let Mace go.

The Mountain was just using him to eliminate Mace, a political enemy. The Reach, the Seven Kingdoms' granary—was the Mountain eyeing that wealthy land?

The Mountain's ambition was not small.

By controlling the granary, plus the Clegane army, the Mountain would basically control the lifeline of the kingdom.

Then, the Mountain's next target would inevitably be the Iron Throne!

Were these plans the Mountain's own schemes, or was there a mastermind behind him, or a think tank?

Tyrion once told Varys that the Mountain had been blessed by an evil god and suddenly possessed a very shrewd mind. At the time, Varys didn't fully believe it, but now he did.

The Seven Kingdoms' granary had two locations: the Reach and the Riverlands. In comparison, the Reach's wealth completely crushed the Riverlands. When it came to the richest person in the Seven Kingdoms, it was of course the Lannisters; but when it came to the abundance of food, the density of population, and the fertility of the land and suitability of the climate, there was only one place: the Reach.

"Lord Mountain, you want to get the Reach's granary?"

"Dead Mace Tyrell or dead you, tell me the answer," the Mountain said calmly.

"Dead Mace Tyrell."

"Are you sure that's the correct answer?"

"I'm very sure."

"Good, do as I instruct, and I'll spare your life."

"I will do as you instruct, my lord."

"Truly and sincerely?"

"Truly and sincerely!"

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill Mace and then kill you to silence you?"

"I am afraid!"

"You want to take a gamble?"

"I violated my oath, and now it's time to pay the debt. Even if you kill me to silence me, I'll deserve it."

The Mountain smiled inwardly.

Varys was indeed very clever.

He originally wanted to leave safely and didn't want to die. But he didn't kneel down and beg, nor did he ask the Mountain to swear by his family's honor and the name of the gods. Instead, he said that if he was killed to silence him, he would deserve it.

Eunuchs were eunuchs, lacking a man's root but having a person's heart.

The Mountain was very satisfied with Varys' answer.

Varys gave him a feeling of complete control, and this feeling made the Mountain feel very comfortable.

Varys respectfully walked to the Mountain, humbly extending his hand: "I'm very pleased to be of service to you, Lord Mountain."

The Mountain didn't shake his hand: "Tomorrow, I will convene a meeting of the Small Council. Let me tell you now what to do then."

"Yes, Lord Mountain."

To have the Mountain guide him on how to frame others gave Varys a rather strange feeling. For decades, Varys had been framing others, probing their secrets, and manipulating them at his whim. This time, in front of the Mountain, it was his turn. And he didn't have the slightest room to resist.

A small ant on the ground couldn't resist the Mountain's foot!

If he wanted, the Mountain could crush Varys at any time.

The Mountain walked out of the dungeon. At the entrance, he saw Daario Naharis.

"Aren't you leaving yet?" The Mountain frowned slightly.

"Lord Mountain, please return my arakh and longsword."

"Who took your arakh and longsword?"

At the dungeon entrance, there were many people waiting for the Mountain, including the Master of Whisperers, Berne Clegane.

"Lord Mountain, Daario Naharis' arakh and longsword are in my room."

"Go get them for him."

"Yes, my lord." Berne nodded to the guards beside him, and one guard quickly left.

The Mountain didn't look at Daario Naharis again, and walked towards Maegor's Holdfast.

In Maegor's Holdfast, there was his pregnant wife, Jeyne Westerling, and Arya Stark, the Faceless Girl. The Mountain had many things to discuss with them. More than 30,000 Vale and Clegane soldiers were returning from the Kingsroad, including many of the Mountain's most needed helpers: Melisandre, Lady Donella Hornwood, Littlefinger Petyr Baelish, Onion Knight Davos Seaworth…

The royal courtiers and generals immediately followed the Mountain.

Most of them were almost jogging.

Daario Naharis was left alone at the dungeon entrance.

He watched the Mountain leave, surrounded by a large group of knights and generals, and suddenly chased after him: "Lord Mountain, I am willing to be a guard by your side, I can fight and kill enemies for you, but you need to release Lord Varys."

"Get out!" The Mountain didn't stop.

Daario Naharis wanted to say more, but he heard the sound of swords being drawn, and many swords were pointed at his chest, back, and various vital points.

The Mountain stopped, looking coldly at Daario Naharis: "If you dare say another word about releasing Varys, I will cut out your tongue."

Daario Naharis slowly raised his hands, stepping back, away from the seven or eight swords: "Lord Mountain, does the agreement in the dungeon still count?"

"You dare question my words?" The Mountain said in a deep voice.

"Then good, I request to formally become one of your guards."

The Mountain glanced at Daario Naharis, then turned and left. The knights and generals sheathed their swords and quickly followed. Daario Naharis also joined the team, walking beside Berne Clegane, and extending a friendly hand to the well-dressed dwarf.

"Lord Berne Clegane, I am Daario Naharis," Daario said with a smile.

"I am Varys, Daario. You are a despicable traitor, and I am deeply saddened that Queen Daenerys has someone like you as a subordinate," Berne said.

Daario Naharis stopped for a moment.

Berne's voice was exactly the same as Varys', indistinguishable. The tone, the slight teasing and playful flavor in the voice, were exactly the same.

A dragon's roar came from the sky, Daario Naharis looked up and saw his familiar white dragon, Viserion. His eyes widened, completely stunned—on Viserion's back, riding a woman, but judging from the figure, it was definitely not Daenerys.

What was going on?

Viserion suddenly recognized a master?

He had his own dragon rider?

Daario was a general under Daenerys who tamed dragons, but unfortunately, none of them had been recognized by Rhaegal or Viserion.

The white dragon glided freely, passing lightly through the sky, flying towards Maegor's Holdfast, and landing on the top of Maegor's Holdfast.

"Who is that?" Daario Naharis asked in a shocked voice. He quickly caught up with Berne Clegane.

"Princess Arianne Martell."

"The Princess of Dorne?"

"Yes!"

"How did she get one of Queen Daenerys' dragons?"

"Daenerys lost the naval battle and reached a reconciliation with Lord Mountain. She compensated us with a dragon and fifty thousand warhorses in exchange for the chance to lead her army back across the Narrow Sea alive."

Daario Naharis was completely stunned!

He hadn't been in the dungeon for long, but the entire situation outside had undergone such earth-shattering changes.

"You won the naval battle? How is that possible?"

"Lord Mountain's dragon didn't die, you were all fooled. Varys' intelligence is no longer effective here. His little birds are already my little brothers."

"Lord Mountain's dragon is still alive?"

"A stronger body than in the past, more invincible combat power, the dragonfire destroyed more than two thousand of Daenerys' warships, all your warships and merchant ships were burned at sea."

"The entire navy was wiped out?"

"Of course!" Berne told lies more convincingly than the truth.

Daario Naharis couldn't believe it!

"Let me tell you a secret, why Lord Mountain didn't kill Daenerys, but chose to let her go back."

"Why?" Daario Naharis was full of bitterness.

"Lord Mountain took a fancy to Daenerys' beauty, just like you took a fancy to Arianne Martell. And Daenerys has a more noble status, and she is also the Unburnt."

"Nonsense."

"What I'm saying is true, Daario Naharis, believe it or not. Otherwise, give me a reason why the Mountain wouldn't kill Daenerys? Her three little dragons? They are no match for the Mountain's dragon. Use your stupid head and think about it, why would Daenerys give a dragon to Lord Mountain?"

Berne lowered his voice: "This can only show one thing, Daenerys is infatuated with Lord Mountain, Lord Mountain is not an ordinary man, he is equal to ten strong men. Hehe, if Lady Jeyne wasn't about to give birth, Lord Mountain would probably have been having fun with Daenerys on Dragonstone long ago. Who among great nobles, great heroes, and great dignitaries like the Mountain doesn't have ten or eight lovers? Daenerys won't have fewer men either, I know you are one of them, oh my Daario."

'Oh my Daario' was what Daenerys called Daario when they reached the peak of pleasure, and the soldiers around Daenerys all knew this flavorful title.

"You are a despicable, lying, ugly dwarf full of nonsense, and one day I will cut off your cocks and stuff them down your throat," Daario Naharis said with contempt and gnashing teeth.

"Spare me, Daario Naharis. My little birds are all around you. I know all about you. You're just one of Daenerys' little pets, and Daenerys is about to become one of our Mountain's little pets. Want to bet on it? A hundred gold dragons. I bet Daenerys will become our Mountain's little pet."

"Get lost!" Daario Naharis quickly shook off Burnie Clegane and caught up with the Mountain's party ahead. Burnie Clegane's vulgarity and shamelessness disgusted him. Daario unceremoniously squeezed in next to the Mountain.

Behind him, Burnie Clegane's giggling laughter still drilled into Daario Naharis' ears, extremely grating and irritating.