The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Duke Tywin was lingering in Clegane's village, as he had several places he wanted to see: Clegane's gold mine won from a bet—Golden Tooth, Master Tobho Mott's noodle-making mechanical workshop in Clegane's smithy; the mountain land that Clegane had recruited vagrant paupers to set fire to and cultivate…

Meanwhile, in Lannisport, not far from Clegane's lands, it was a sunny morning with excellent light.

Earl Othell was beaming with joy as he stood beneath the newly built Othell Noodle House. A constant stream of people entered, the first group comprised entirely of his sworn vassals.

The Earl's fiefdom was not limited to Lannisport; vast tracts of land outside the city also belonged to him.

As the largest city in the Westerlands, boasting the largest population and the largest territory, it naturally had many lesser nobles and landed knights.

These nobles and knights had all come to congratulate their lord on the opening of his noodle house.

Grey Robe Scholar Bancroft and the Earl's master-at-arms and captain of the guard, Gnar Lannett, were responsible for welcoming guests at the entrance. Earl Othell, holding his daughter Rosamund Lannister's hand, accepted everyone's congratulations at the doorway.

The second group consisted of wealthy merchants residing in Lannisport.

As the largest port city in the Westerlands and the third largest in the entire kingdom, the city was home to many wealthy merchants. These tycoons engaged in extensive trade, both near—with the Riverlands, the North, the Reach, and Oldtown—and far—with island nations west of the Sunset Sea, island nations in the far south with skin as dark as night, and the nine Free Cities of Essos on the eastern continent. Even further afield, they engaged in trade with major cities in the East, dealing in goods such as fine wines and ivory.

Their business covered all aspects of life, including fabrics, silks, porcelain, gold and silver, carvings, grains, spices, rouge and powders, and pets such as kittens and puppies—everything imaginable.

A port city with a thousand years of history had no shortage of wealthy merchants with deep pockets.

In an era when industry, agriculture, and commerce held little status, merchants, despite their wealth and significant contributions to social progress and prosperity, were still looked down upon by nobles if they lacked noble titles. Receiving an invitation from Earl Othell was an unexpected honor for the wealthy merchants of Lannisport.

Thus, all the large and small merchants settled in Lannisport attended.

This was a golden opportunity to get close to Earl Othell.

Money was not omnipotent in this society; only the power in the hands of noble lords was.

After the two groups were seated, the multi-story noodle house was already packed.

People had not come to actually eat noodles; most had never even heard of them before. Those who had heard of them and were fortunate enough to have tasted them were only those lucky few who had encountered Clegane's men forcibly buying and selling noodles in the city for half a day.

People came mainly because they wanted to curry favor with Earl Othell.

Earl Othell was the city's great lord and the highest-ranking official in Lannisport. Whether they were knights or low-status merchants, everyone wanted to ingratiate themselves with Earl Othell.

The opening of Earl Othell's noodle house, and their reception of an invitation from the Earl, was their honor.

What the restaurant sold was irrelevant; if it sold stones, someone would buy a whole cartload to take home.

The several-story restaurant was full, but there were still many people outside.

The second batch of merchants had not all entered yet, and the third batch of captains, out-of-town bosses, and mercenary captains had not entered at all.

Earl Othell had set aside his true noble airs and was chatting outside with these merchants, out-of-town bosses, mercenary captains, and wandering knights who had not yet had a chance to enter.

The Earl was full of confidence, determined to spread Earl Othell's Noodle House throughout the Seven Kingdoms and win unparalleled fame for himself and his family.

The Earl's graciousness excited everyone who had been invited despite not possessing a title. Many found it very difficult to even catch a glimpse of Earl Othell usually, and some who had done business in Lannisport multiple times over the course of a decade had never had the opportunity to meet Earl Othell in person.

With the opening of the noodle house owned by Earl Othell himself, he sent out invitations widely, including all the commoners in the city who were particularly skilled or famous in some way.

Everyone surrounding Earl Othell spoke only words of flattery and respect.

In this civilization with its very rough and primitive dietary structure, the symbol of refined dietary civilization, noodles, made a grand debut.

With a shout, a squad of mercenaries came from the street, with four people walking in front, two by two, carrying a pair of three-meter-long chopsticks. The middle of the chopsticks was painted red, and the ends were black.

The paint was well done, gleaming brightly.

One chopstick was as thick as a lance and three meters long, requiring two mercenaries to carry each pair.

Three meters was about the height of an ordinary house's first floor.

The chopsticks had prominent family crests: a three-dog design. Next to the three-dog design was the family motto written in bright gold: Unmatched!

Behind the four soldiers carrying the chopsticks were four soldiers carrying two equally sized round, drum-shaped stone stools. The stone stools weighed over a hundred pounds each and had two identical round holes in the middle, the purpose of which was unknown.

Behind the eight mercenaries carrying the items were dozens of fierce-looking mercenaries wearing decent armor. One of them had a particularly large head with a horrifying scar on his forehead. He wore a longsword at his waist and carried a huge bull-headed helmet. The bull-headed helmet was entirely black and very well crafted, gleaming brightly.

This big-headed fellow was Chiswyck, famous in Lannisport. He used to be the boss of all the hooligans in the east, south, and north of the city. Later, he formed the Warblade Mercenary Company, transforming himself into the commander of the Warblade Company. Those closely surrounding him were all the leaders of the hooligans who had risen up with him from the streets.

The team consisted of about fifty people in total, with a tall banner in the center, the roaring three-dog banner of House Clegane. Underneath the large banner was a small banner, the Warblade Company's flag: a blood-dripping kitchen knife on a black background. The hoodlums who rose from the bottom could not afford good swords, and kitchen knives were essential weapons that everyone used.

Many people lined the streets to watch the spectacle, and residents of the houses watched the somewhat unsettling procession from their windows and doorways.

The two pairs of giant chopsticks carried by the four soldiers attracted people's attention.

Because Duke Tywin had ordered 'wood instead of iron,' every household had to replace all 'iron pots, iron plates, cutlery, iron crafts, knives, forks, and even spoons' with wooden ones within six months. Chopsticks, as people's eating utensils, had entered people's lives. Although people did not fully use chopsticks yet, they were no longer unfamiliar with them. Especially the families of knights and lords, because they wanted to set an example of reform, those with status, position, and money were the first to learn to use chopsticks.

But it was the first time people had seen three-meter-long chopsticks.

Could chopsticks actually be made so long? This also made it difficult for everyone to believe!

Earl Othell's Noodle House opening naturally included an invitation to the Mountain, but because Duke Tywin was at the Mountain's village of Clegane, the Mountain sent Chiswyck, the big-headed fellow in Lannisport, to deliver the gift in his place.

There was another reason the Mountain did not come: his reputation was terrible, and he did not want to scare the guests.

Earl Othell stood still; as an Earl, he did not need to give Chiswyck face. The Earl did not welcome Chiswyck and his men; they looked unkind, fierce, and murderous, and the twenty or so men around Chiswyck were all death row inmates he had recently released.

Captain of the Guard Gnar Lannett quickly stepped forward to greet Chiswyck and his men.

Chiswyck raised his hand, and the brothers behind him stopped together, appearing truly well-trained.

Seeing these bandit-like fellows stop, Earl Othell breathed a sigh of relief.

He was opening this noodle shop to make money, and it was best if these bandit soldiers did not come to 'harass' him.

Chiswyck and Stinkmouth, leading eight soldiers carrying stone stools and giant chopsticks, came forward, and people made way.

The two drum-shaped stone stools were placed on the left and right sides of the noodle house's gate, and the two three-meter-long giant chopsticks were inserted into the two round holes in the middle of the stone stools, fitting perfectly.

As soon as they were placed, people applauded and cheered.

Such giant chopsticks as a facade were truly amazing! Earl Othell himself was both surprised and delighted.

"Earl Othell, the stone stools and chopsticks are a gift from Lord Mountain to celebrate the opening of your noodle house," Chiswyck said. He unceremoniously referred to his lord by his vulgar name.

"Thank you, Ser Gregor!" Earl Othell said with a smile.

"Earl, there is also a pair of chopsticks here, a gift from Lady Jeyne to the Earl," Chiswyck gestured, and Stinkmouth took out a beautifully packaged box. Opening it, Stinkmouth took out a pair of chopsticks and said, "Earl, these are the Golden Jade Fortune Chopsticks. The front end of the chopsticks is green jade, the middle is gold, and the tail end is also jade. The chopsticks are also engraved with your name and family crest, symbolizing that your noodle house business will be prosperous and full of gold and jade."

That chopsticks could be made into such elegant objects with such auspicious meanings was something that all the onlookers and Earl Othell himself had never imagined.

It turned out that chopsticks could not only be made three meters long as a signboard decoration, but also be made of gold and jade; they were not only tableware but also works of art.

These Golden Jade Fortune Chopsticks were exquisitely crafted, polished smooth and bright, shining brightly in the sunlight. The gold and green complemented each other, elegant and perfect.

The jade and gold materials were noble and refined. Engraved with Earl Othell's name and family crest, they immediately became a treasure that could be passed down through generations.

The exquisite inlaying technique and exquisite workmanship were all amazing and admirable.

Among the onlookers were many extremely wealthy merchants, and upon seeing such exquisite and noble chopsticks, they all felt their eyes open. Their limited thinking that chopsticks were merely small tableware for daily life was suddenly broadened. Compared to the things they had sent, these Golden Jade Fortune Chopsticks were ingenious, showed great craftsmanship, and were unique among all the gifts.

Chiswyck, having delivered the gifts on behalf of the Mountain couple, was about to politely take his leave when, on the third floor, filled with nobles and knights, bowls of steaming noodles were brought to the tables like flowing water.

Next to each bowl of noodles was a bowl of specially made noodle broth.

The aroma of the vegetables in the specially made broth, separated from the noodles, immediately filled the floor.