The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Mountain raised his wine glass and gently touched Daenerys' glass, the glasses chiming softly. "Daenerys, I want to know why I don't see vigilance or hostility in your eyes. You've hidden them, but I know they're still in your heart."

"Nothing is immutable. In the short time I've been here, I've seen a lot, heard a lot, and experienced a lot," Daenerys said elegantly.

"Oh, although I will let you leave after Sansa's wedding, I still hope to gain your submission, to avoid bloodshed in the future."

"Are you determined to conquer Essos?" Daenerys asked solemnly, her expression serious. Her words were straightforward, but Missandei believed that in front of the Mountain, the more direct the words, the more powerful they were.

The Mountain looked at Missandei, then at Daenerys, and smiled. "Tell me, Daenerys, why did you invite me here tonight? What do you want?"

The Mountain didn't think this was a dinner of friendship and goodwill. Daenerys was direct, and he was even more so.

"Let Jorah Mormont return to my side and continue as my captain of the guard; if possible, let me attend the Small Council meetings every day. I hope to learn from you and Hand Jon how to handle political affairs."

The Mountain's eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at Daenerys, and Daenerys looked back at him frankly.

"For one dinner, your demands are too many," the Mountain said faintly, taking the honey-glazed boar that Missandei offered.

"Not many, if Slaver's Bay is willing to submit," Daenerys said slowly.

"Are you willing to submit?"

"I have always been in awe of the will of the gods. The Mountain, the dragon cannons you designed yesterday, originated from the will of the gods and are super weapons that Slaver's Bay cannot resist," Daenerys said solemnly. Of course, these were formal words. There was one more sentence Daenerys didn't say: the Mountain's eyes were full of fantasy and hunger for her. As a queen who had experienced the world, she could naturally see this.

In fact, if the Mountain wanted Daenerys after capturing her, Daenerys could only submit. But the Mountain didn't force her, and even hypocritically maintained the etiquette of a knight and the honor of a lord. Since Daenerys had decided to take the initiative to invite the Mountain to meet here, she was prepared to help the Mountain tear off this fig leaf.

Once a beautiful woman decides to achieve a certain goal with a man, her courage will exceed the man's initiative.

"Daenerys, you said you can't resist the power of the dragon cannons, so you decided to submit? That's one reason, but your sincerity is not enough."

"The gunpowder formula you are still researching, with stability exceeding wildfire, also makes me fear. You can produce the design drawings of the dragon cannons while still researching the gunpowder that matches the dragon cannons. I think this is the gods' favor to you. I can't defeat you with the gods' favor, so I might as well go with you."

The Mountain looked at Daenerys' beautiful face and was silent for a moment. "Daenerys, the sincerity of this reason is not enough. I killed the Night King in Winterfell in the North, which has already proved that I am the chosen one. Lady Melisandre willingly follows me because she believes I am Azor Ahai reborn, I am the bringer of light, and this is beyond doubt."

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth. I either rule others and reclaim the Iron Throne; if I can't, I will submit to the truly stronger and go with him. Your amazing invention of dragon cannons and gunpowder is a powerful blow that has convinced me. I couldn't sleep all night last night. If I don't submit to you, I really have no way to go."

The Mountain slowly revealed a smile. He slowly said, word by word, "Daenerys, your reasons are very sufficient, and I see your sincerity, but I still know that you are not truly submitting to me. You are being so humble; what do you want to get from me?"

Daenerys and Missandei both felt a thud in their hearts. From what point did the Mountain judge that their surrender was not sincere?!

Was it Melisandre's prophecy? Or the blood witch's bewitchment?

Daenerys decided to test him!

"The Mountain, I know you have thoughts about me in your heart. As long as you are willing, you can stay here tonight," Daenerys put down her wine glass, her eyes overflowing with confidence and strength. She was the confident and powerful Mother of Dragons. "My beauty is always yours."

Missandei was shocked, but she couldn't stop Daenerys. What happened to Her Majesty the Queen? So quickly, she surrendered to the Mountain and no longer had any bargaining chips. These were definitely not words that should be said at this time. The Mountain wanted Daenerys' beauty, that was true, so she should let him get it under difficult circumstances to cherish it, instead of being like the women in the women's courtyard, disregarding her queen's status and taking the initiative to undress.

This was a big mistake!

Missandei's face changed slightly!

The Mountain looked at Daenerys' warrior-like eyes and laughed. "Daenerys, you have indeed made up your mind to change the relationship between us. Okay, I admit you saw my desire and fantasy for you. Even so, your words still surprised me. But, I still know very clearly that you are showing me goodwill, but you are not really submitting. You have other purposes for me!"

Daenerys felt a chill in her heart. The Mountain's cunning exceeded her expectations. Was this a guy who could see through people's hearts? When did he also have talent in this area? Daenerys felt hot in her heart, feeling that her words had humiliated herself. She raised her snow-white neck, and the expression on her beautiful face quickly became cold. "The Mountain, since you can't trust me after all, please go back. I take back what I just said. Unless you force me with force, don't even think about getting my beauty."

"I really want to get your beauty, Daenerys, but if you are not sincerely submitting, I will never touch you."

The Mountain's words that he would never touch Daenerys didn't make Daenerys feel embarrassed. Instead, her mood relaxed a lot. She was horrified to find that after a long period of psychological construction, she still couldn't hide her true thoughts. As long as she didn't sincerely submit, the Mountain wouldn't touch her, which was exactly what she deeply hoped for in her heart.

Her heart and soul did not agree with the Mountain touching her. Although she said that as long as the Mountain was willing, he could stay, and her beauty belonged to the Mountain, the meaning of the words and her inner expectations were completely opposite.

The Mountain smiled slightly. He saw that Daenerys' tense body had relaxed, her cold eyes had softened, and the coldness on her beautiful face had faded. He knew that Daenerys was actually very nervous, and the nervousness stemmed from the Mountain staying and sharing time with her. Her words were very moving, and her beauty belonged to the Mountain, but her body's reaction was also very honest: she didn't want the Mountain to touch her at all!

The Mountain slowly picked up a small knife. The seafood had been removed. The Mountain didn't like to eat seafood. He preferred to eat grilled meat, so the dishes that were served now were all kinds of grilled meat.

The Mountain cut a grilled rabbit in front of him into two pieces, forked a piece with a knife and fork onto his plate, then used a knife to cut the rabbit meat, which was oozing yellow oil, into thin slices, dipped it in the special seasoning dish he brought, forked it up with a knife and fork, and placed it on Daenerys' plate in front of her. "Daenerys, I can tell you how to make dragon cannons, how to make gunpowder..."

"You haven't researched the gunpowder formula yet. How could you suspect that we would have such intentions?" Daenerys' heart jumped, and she immediately interrupted the Mountain's words coldly. She instantly completed her defense, and indifference and disdain were her solid armor to protect her true inner secrets.

Categorical denial!

Missandei was also startled. The Mountain saw through their thoughts? The Mountain knew Daenerys' purpose for getting close to him? They did hope to get the drawings of the dragon cannons and the gunpowder formula!

Was the Mountain so shrewd?

"Daenerys, I have already researched the gunpowder formula," the Mountain said with a smile, carefully arranging the cut grilled rabbit meat into a neat row on Daenerys' plate in front of her.

"Oh?" Daenerys and Missandei were both shocked.

The Mountain had already researched the highly stable gunpowder?! But when he was in the Alchemists' Guild, he said he was researching the proportions of the formula. He deceived everyone present, why?!

"If I take out the drawings of the dragon cannons and the gunpowder formula at the same time, I'm afraid it will disturb the Great Scholars and you. I don't want everyone to be too surprised."

"Miracles are already amazing miracles. On the contrary, you are too suspicious," Daenerys said indifferently, but the coldness in her tone had disappeared. Greatly moved, she finally couldn't calm down.

"The real use of dragon cannons, besides attacking cities, is to be installed on warships."

"Navy?"

"Yes, the instability of wildfire bombs can easily cause self-detonation at sea, but gunpowder bombs will not. They will only explode when launched. Currently, the most powerful naval warship in the world can be blown to pieces with just a few shells under the attack of dragon cannons. Moreover, the range is far beyond that of archers."

Missandei and Daenerys were speechless. It wasn't that they didn't want to doubt the Mountain's words, but yesterday's shock had already dispelled their doubts about the Mountain's invention. They just knew that what the Mountain said was true.

Daenerys' hand holding the knife and fork was suspended in the air, with a piece of rabbit meat stuck on the knife and fork.

"In fact, current warships are not suitable for installing dragon cannons. I have already ordered the nationwide recruitment of carpenters to be stationed in the Kingswood to build new dragon cannon warships. Ships equipped with dragon cannons must have at least three decks. All the longships of the Iron Islands warships and the warships of the Stepstones pirates that are conducive to turning and raiding cannot be equipped with dragon cannons."

Daenerys subconsciously put the rabbit meat into her mouth, only to find it dry and astringent, tasteless.

The Mountain not only came up with dragon cannons and gunpowder, but he had also already thought about subsequent military plans. When the new dragon cannon warships appear on the sea, who can resist them?

"...These...new warship plans...you have all thought about them..." Daenerys said subconsciously.

"Of course, dragon cannons and gunpowder are just the most basic science. I already have more new invention ideas. Thanks to the gods, they are stuffing new miracles into my brain every night. But I don't think the world's scientific development should be too fast, which will lead to various infrastructures not being able to keep up, and too fast is not a good thing. My first plan is to build a legion of thousands of dragon cannon warships."

"A thousand cannon warships?!" Daenerys' voice couldn't hide her surprise. She had personally witnessed the explosive power of wildfire bombs the size of eggs, and the wildfire bombs of cannons were more than ten times larger than the current wildfire bombs.

Daenerys felt a pain in her stomach. Many invisible crabs came out and desperately pinched her stomach. Her beautiful face twisted slightly.

The Mountain looked at Daenerys' slightly frowned eyebrows. He was in high spirits. He kept cutting the grilled meat into thin slices and placing them on Daenerys' plate, while smiling and saying, "Daenerys, the surroundings of Westeros are all seas, and the surroundings of Essos are also surrounded by seas. As long as I build a thousand dragon cannon warships, I can control any sea area, thereby easily controlling the two continents. The eastern giant city of Qarth is extremely prosperous, and the Thirteen are relying on maritime trade. The Nine Free Cities across the Narrow Sea are powerful, with many mercenaries, rich and powerful, and they also rely on maritime trade. Whoever can dominate the sea is the real king."

"...The Mountain...the world is very big...there are too many ethnic groups...the idea of controlling the whole world...may not be advisable...you will encounter stubborn resistance from every place..." Daenerys said subconsciously.

"Yes, Daenerys, you are right. Controlling the whole world by force is just the lowest level of means. The real high-level means are not force, but civilization."

"Civilization?"

The Mountain leaned his huge body against the back of the tall chair. He tapped the plate lightly with the dining knife, making a melodious sound. "Let me put it simply, the civilization that other countries need most is to allow slaves to gain freedom, and to allow poor people who lack food and clothing to have wine to drink, food to eat, clothes to wear, and houses to live in."

"This is difficult to do."

"With the help of the gods, it's not difficult at all," the Mountain said with certainty. His words were unquestionable and irrefutable, like an oracle, a truth. The Mountain was too strong.

"............" Daenerys opened her mouth, but found that she didn't make a sound.

"Daenerys, you will understand everything when you go to the Westerlands."

"Go to the Westerlands?"

"Yes. When you go to the Westerlands and see Clegane's new village, Castamere, and Tarbeck Hall, you will understand the civilization I am talking about. Cannons plus civilization can become the king of the world."

"............"

The Mountain turned to look at Missandei. "Missandei, go out. I will serve Her Majesty the Queen to enjoy the food."

Missandei glanced at Daenerys. Daenerys nodded imperceptibly. She lowered her head and obeyed. "Yes, Your Majesty the King." Missandei retreated a few steps, left the room, and closed the door silently.

"Daenerys, I know your submission does not have true sincerity. Do you want to know why I know?"

"............"

"If you want to know, I will tell you; if you don't want to know, I still have to tell you." The Mountain stretched out his giant hand, reached across the table, grabbed Daenerys' shoulder and lifted her up gently, lifting Daenerys across the table and placing her on the soft chair next to him.

He said that if Daenerys didn't sincerely submit, he would never touch her!

However, the credibility of that statement may not be very high!