The Mountain of Ice and Fire

"Your Majesty, we are trading partners with a long-standing relationship with Lord Hyman and Lord Elaine. We left sufficient paper money and did not engage in forced buying or selling," Kirk said.

The Mountain looked at Kirk and thought he wasn't as clever as he seemed.

Hyman and Elaine were right there. With just a word, the Mountain could have them deny any trade partnership with Kirk. They wouldn't even need to deny it; simply saying the goods were already sold to others would establish Kirk's guilt of forced buying.

Christine knelt down on both knees: "Your Majesty, we left the full amount of paper money at the original price agreed upon with Lord Hyman and Lord Elaine. We know that Lord Hyman and Lord Elaine's discounted sale of goods to other kind masters and merchants, at half the original price, will cause them a huge loss."

Christine's kneeling and explanation were much better than Kirk's.

The Mountain's face was grim: "Christine, what prompted you to change your mind about refusing to exchange paper money?"

Master Archer also knelt down on both knees: "Your Majesty, it was Lord Hyman and Lord Elaine's discounted sales that forced us to change our minds. If we continue to insist, we will lose priority in trading with Westeros, and other small masters and merchants will rise. In this way, we would offend both Your Majesty and the Queen, and also lose our trade channels with the outside world."

Archer's words made Daenerys and the others' eyes light up.

He was telling the truth.

In this situation, honesty was the most important thing.

Archer's words made Kirk and Christine's faces turn very ugly.

Small beads of sweat appeared on Kirk's forehead.

The Mountain looked at Archer: "Archer, you are the most honest of the three. You are granted amnesty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Archer said, relieved, his tense shoulders involuntarily relaxing.

"Archer, who was the first to change their mind?" The Mountain stared at Archer.

"It was Master Kirk. They persuaded us two to go to the docks to exchange paper money and resume trading with Lord Hyman and Lord Elaine."

"Oh! Master Kirk persuaded you two?" It seemed Master Kirk was just as Elaine had analyzed, putting profit above all else. As long as the price was reduced and new people were found to take over, Kirk would definitely not be able to sit still.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then what was your insistence on not going to the docks to exchange paper money for trade?"

"What insistence? Your Majesty."

"You needed Kirk to persuade you to exchange paper money. What reasons did you give Kirk for not exchanging paper money?"

"We were worried that other masters would send people to kill us," Archer said, prostrating himself.

"Other masters? Who are they?" The Mountain's tone became sharp.

Archer didn't dare to look up. Master Kirk never expected the most steadfast Archer to suddenly become a traitor who betrayed his own people. He looked at Archer in disbelief. He knew that Archer had been the most resolute in opposing the Mountain's policy of promoting paper money. He had even confronted the Mountain directly in the Queen's Hall, saying he refused to accept paper money and was not afraid of the Mountain beheading him. However, on that occasion, the Mountain did not order his head to be chopped off, but instead gave them time to understand and learn about paper money. There was an initial voluntary period for exchanging paper money before administrative orders would be gradually implemented.

The three made a bet with the Mountain during that conversation.

Kirk and Christine knelt on the ground, looking at the ground in front of them, not daring to look up. Archer's words had put them in an even more difficult situation.

Archer said: "Your Majesty, Queen Majesty, the masters who might threaten our lives are Gergyl, Goda, Tiffany, Yarvis, Tiffany, Gordon, Potter, Griffiths, and Frank."

"Archer, why are you framing those masters?" Kirk turned his head and glared fiercely at Archer.

Archer said: "Your Majesty, there is also one last name among these people: Kirk. He is threatening me now."

Kirk's face turned pale instantly.

Christine was terrified, closed her mouth tightly, and knelt on the ground in silence.

The Mountain looked at Jorah and Grey Worm: "You two have heard the names. What are you standing there for? Go and arrest them all."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jorah Mormont and Grey Worm agreed together, then turned around together. Outside the restaurant, the sound of horses' hooves, the clashing of swords and guns, whistles, and shouts quickly followed. The royal family's most elite guards rushed out of the palace.

"Someone, seize Kirk," the Mountain shouted.

"Your Majesty, Queen Majesty, I was the first to exchange paper money at the docks. I firmly support and implement Your Majesty's paper money plan."

"You threatened Archer. We all saw it just now," the Mountain waved his hand.

Two Unsullied soldiers strode forward, lifted Kirk up, and dragged him out.

"Queen Majesty, I was the first to exchange paper money at the docks, and I persuaded Christine and Archer to exchange paper money together. Spare my life, and I can help Your Majesty promote paper money." The last shout came from around the corner, and finally the voice faded away, eventually becoming completely inaudible.

"Christine, do you know your guilt?" the Mountain said lightly.

"Your Majesty, spare my life, and I will abide by the national laws and wholeheartedly promote paper money for Your Majesty," Christine kowtowed on the ground, banging her head.

"There is only one way to spare your life, and that is to stand up with Archer and accuse Gergyl, Goda, Tiffany, Yarvis, Gordon, Potter, Griffiths, and Frank of being the leaders of the Sons of the Harpy."

"…"

"You refuse?" The Mountain's words were like a whip. The feeling of terror was unbearable.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to stand up and testify."

"Good. General Rhaenys, take Archer and Christine to the underground black prison to see Kirk, and persuade him to stand up and accuse Gergyl, Goda, Tiffany, Yarvis, Gordon, Potter, Griffiths, and Frank. I will spare you from death and give you official jurisdiction over trade with the Eastern cities, Sothoryos, and Westeros. Slaver's Bay has only recently been established as a country, and Her Majesty and I need more of our own people."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Christine said.

In fact, when using masters to do things, the Mountain mostly sees them as dogs. Dogs are very loyal, but can these masters eventually become loyal?

Christine glanced at Archer. Archer's sudden words and actions surprised him too much. He felt very uncomfortable in his heart. He thought: The Mountain can remember all the names Archer said after hearing them once. His memory is too amazing. Unless, the Mountain already knew these people's names. Or perhaps, Archer had already defected to the Mountain and was the Mountain's man. He dared to confront the Mountain in the Great Hall, which may have been a performance. The purpose was to show Kirk and Christine. In this way, when Archer went out, he would be regarded by the masters as the most resolute opponent of the Mountain in their team. Archer quickly became the core figure of the masters who opposed the Mountain.

Christine followed behind General Rhaenys. He felt the Mountain's gaze piercing his back like an awl. Christine finally felt that the situation was over and decided to join Archer in becoming a dog loyal to the Mountain and the Queen. The Mountain and the Queen have dragons. In the past month or so, they have gained the love and loyalty of the commoners and Unsullied soldiers. As long as the Queen does not leave, the masters of Astapor will have no chance. And the Queen has promised her commoners and Unsullied soldiers that she will never leave Astapor again. Slaver's Bay is her home.

*

The great master Gergyl was enjoying the gentle touch of the water in the pool inside the pyramid when he heard a loud bang. The door was smashed open by something heavy, followed by the sound of swords clashing and screams. Gergyl was shocked and jumped ashore. The maids quickly put a robe on him. The mercenaries in the courtyard heard the sound of fighting and drew their swords, rushing towards the door. For a time, the sound of dogs barking, footsteps, women screaming, children crying, swords clashing, screams, shouts, and shouts rang out together.

Gergyl ran barefoot towards the back door of the courtyard. Two captains followed closely behind him, protecting him as he fled towards the back door.

Boom!

With a loud noise, the back door was smashed to pieces by something, and wood chips flew up.

A general stood outside the door with a long sword in his hand, followed by a dense formation of Unsullied soldiers, shields and spears, bronze armor and spiked helmets.

The leading general was Jorah Mormont.

"Lord Gergyl, His Majesty the King invites you," Jorah said politely.

Gergyl stopped, opened his mouth, but could not make a sound.

He was trembling all over.

Jorah Mormont walked in. The two captains protecting Gergyl drew their swords and pointed them at Jorah. They were only pointing at Jorah, not rushing up to really attack. The two mercenary captains were waiting for Lord Gergyl's order.

"General Jorah, what does His Majesty the King want with me?"

"You have been informed of treason," Jorah said. "Lord Gergyl, please order your mercenaries not to resist, and no one will die."

Fierce fighting sounds rang out in all parts of the pyramid. The cries and shouts of women and children were heartbreaking. The sounds of various things being knocked over and smashed were constant.

"Lord Master, give the order, and we will kill this guy," one of the mercenary captains said fiercely.

"Put down your swords, Gibran," Gergyl said.

The two captains glared at Jorah Mormont and slowly put away their swords.

"Gibran, go and order the soldiers to put down their weapons," Jorah Mormont said lightly.

"No need, Lord Gergyl, all your soldiers have been killed," a general rode over on horseback, looking cold, with a bloody head in his hand.

Behind him, Unsullied soldiers with spears and shields poured in, quickly filling the courtyard and passage.

The general who rode in on horseback from the front gate, slashing and killing people, was Grey Worm.

Whoosh!

A harpy's mask was thrown over and landed at Gergyl's feet. It was a golden mask, and the embossed pattern on the mask was the harpy. This was the mask worn by the Sons of the Harpy warriors when they went out to kill people, one for each person.

"Gergyl, what else do you have to say?" Grey Worm shouted. He looked at the master's eyes like the tip of a spear.

"Just this one mask? Can you determine that I am a Son of the Harpy?"

"Bring it out," Grey Worm shouted.

The team split in the middle, and several Unsullied soldiers carried out two large wooden boxes.

As soon as these two large wooden boxes appeared, Gergyl's face turned black.

Grey Worm jumped off his horse, slashed open the wooden boxes with his sword, and dozens or hundreds of masks of the Sons of the Harpy scattered on the ground with a crash.

"Gergyl, you are the leader and commander of the Sons of the Harpy," Grey Worm said.

Gergyl was dumbfounded and speechless.

There were very secret secret passages in the pyramid, which were places to escape and hide secrets. If it weren't for being too late, Gergyl would not have been able to escape into the bedroom. Otherwise, he would not have escaped through the back door, but would have gone into the bedroom and left from the secret passage. The speed of the soldiers led by Grey Worm was too fast. As soon as they broke through the gate, the soldiers poured into the pyramid and slashed and smashed things everywhere. But even so, if he hadn't known in advance, Grey Worm wouldn't have been able to find the wooden boxes of masks of the Sons of the Harpy hidden underground so quickly.

Someone betrayed him!

*

"General Jorah, who betrayed me?"

Jorah did not answer, but suddenly struck, and the long sword in his hand pierced Gibran's body, piercing his abdomen and coming out of his back.

The long sword was pulled out, and Gibran crashed down.

The other mercenary captain was frightened and pale.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. I had to kill him just now because he said he wanted to kill me. I have never liked killing people, but I especially don't like being threatened, especially by an extremely stupid person." Jorah wiped the blood on the sword on Gibran's body before slowly returning the sword to its sheath.

"General Jorah, please spare my family."

"Sir, if you have anything to say, go and plead with His Majesty the King. Don't talk to me."

*

The following half day, Jorah Mormont and Grey Worm led the Unsullied Legion and continued their actions, sweeping through the pyramids of the seven great masters Goda, Yarvis, Tiffany, Gordon, Potter, Griffiths, and Frank. Without exception, they found a large number of masks of the Sons of the Harpy in the pyramids. The evidence was conclusive. These masters were arrested and sent to the palace, where they were locked in the underground black prison.

*

The next day, the largest square in Astapor was crowded with people. The eight great masters of Astapor, Gergyl, Goda, Tiffany, Yarvis, Gordon, Potter, Griffiths, and Frank, were escorted to the bottom of the high platform in the square. On the high platform stood the Mountain, Daenerys, Arianne, Doctor Emily, Scholar Claude, Mrs. Shirley, and Missandei.

Generals and soldiers stood under the stage.

A thousand Unsullied Legion members formed ten squares, arranged on only the left and right sides of the square.

The Mountain and Daenerys publicly tried the leaders of the eight Sons of the Harpy. Dozens of boxes of masks of the Sons of the Harpy were placed on the high platform. This was the evidence. Of course, there were also master witnesses Kirk, Christine, and Archer.