Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 118 Wine Supply - Free

The atmosphere inside the stone chamber quickly shifted from the immersive experience of appreciating the product to the calm demeanor of business negotiations.

The family steward took a deep breath and asked the most crucial question: "What are their prices?"

Euron didn't answer directly. He leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly on the back of his chair, a calculating glint in his eyes, and instead tossed the question back: "Since deciding to enter the wine business, the Iron Islands have invested heavily and devoted themselves to winemaking for many years, yet they have never sold a single glass or barrel. You are all experts, well-traveled and knowledgeable—in your opinion, what would be a suitable price?"

When the family steward heard Euron say "it has been brewed with great care for many years," the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. He could only forcefully suppress a bitter smile that was a mixture of absurdity and helplessness.

He vividly remembered that shortly after the Battle of Green Hill, Olenna Redwyn, the "Queen of Thorns," had sent a scathing and indignant letter of condemnation throughout the Seven Kingdoms, harshly accusing the Iron Islands of kidnapping all their finest brewers through piracy. King Coron's response at the time was merely a dismissive, almost shameless, "all lost in battle," thus glossing over this shocking theft.

Today, the origins of these "Sea Monster" vintages flowing in our glasses, some even surpassing the original in quality, are self-evident—they were born thanks to the skill and dedication of those "battle-worn" masters.

"Ha, what a fine 'dedicated brewing for many years'." The manager's mind was as clear as a mirror. This so-called "many years" probably started counting from the ruins of Qingting Island.

But his expression remained perfectly controlled, without the slightest fluctuation. He knew very well that in this situation, knowing the truth or not made no difference, and delving into the root cause was the most foolish thing to do. His task was simply to buy the best wine for Harrenhal; whether that wine was tainted with grape juice or blood and fire, what did it matter to a mere steward? What did it matter to the feast of the Hean family?

He downed the dazzling "golden sea monster" in his glass in one gulp, letting the luxurious taste wash over all his useless thoughts.

Some truths, like anchors sunk to the deep sea, are best left unmentioned.

The family steward pondered for a moment, his mind racing with market calculations and value, before quickly offering a professional assessment: "Using the 'Blue Monster,' which best captures the classic flavor of Qingting Island, as a benchmark, its price should be on par with Qingting Island's former top-tier red wines. The 'White Monster,' with its unique taste but lower purity, can be priced at half the cost of the 'Blue.' The 'Purple Monster,' with its superior quality and complex flavor, can be priced 30% higher. As for the 'Golden Monster,'" he paused, his tone certain, "its exceptional quality is unparalleled, and its price could be priced at the same level as the 'Blue'..."

Even at twice the price, or even more, it's absolutely worth the money.

"A very fair valuation." Euron nodded in approval. But then, his tone suddenly shifted—

Then, he made a suggestion that surprised everyone: "But—this time, I don't intend to sell them to you."

The family steward froze, his professional expression instantly turning into one of bewilderment and confusion:

? "

Euron's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he slowly revealed his true intentions: "I have decided to use the 'Sea Monster' series to provide all the wine needed for the upcoming Harrenhal Tournament free of charge."

The manager fell into an even longer silence, his mind struggling to process the immense amount of information in the proposal:

"—?"

Euron gave him no chance to catch his breath, clearly stating his conditions: "On the condition that during the Harrenhal Conference, only the 'Golden Kraken' wine from the Iron Islands will be served at all banquets, in tents, and in public or private settings. Secondly," he emphasized, his eyes gleaming with undeniable authority, "the Riveran family must solemnly introduce and explain to every noble, knight, and even distinguished guest present that all the fine wines for this grand event are provided by the Greyjoy family of the Iron Islands, especially this 'Golden Kraken,' ensuring its name resounds throughout every corner of Harrenhal."

The family steward finally recovered from his shock, his face showing difficulty. Such conditions were far beyond his authority. "Lord Euren, your proposal is of profound significance. But I really cannot make such a decision on this matter. I must immediately consult Earl He'an."

“Of course,” Euron said, appearing quite understanding. He stood up, gesturing to see them off. “You can rest for the night in Pike City and enjoy the hospitality of the Iron Islands. I will have Lisa prepare comfortable rooms and more ‘Kraken’ wine for you. I will await the Earl of Riveran’s return.”

Before the purchasing caravan arrived, Euron told his father and brother about his plans.

Everything was fine until Euron offered to provide the "Sea Monster" wine, worth tens of thousands of gold dragons, free of charge to the Harrenhal tournament. King Coron and Baron, who had never inquired about the specific details of the business, were instantly enraged.

"Free?!" King Coron's roar was like thunder, shaking the Seastone Palace. He abruptly rose from his throne, his eyes blazing with unbelievable fury. He looked at Euron as if he were a complete madman, wanting nothing more than to devour this spendthrift son alive. "Do you know what you're saying? Do you know how many golden dragons that is? That's enough gold to fill half a dock!"

Baron reacted just as fiercely, almost lunging at his brother to grab him by the collar, veins bulging on his forehead: "Are you insane! Euron! We won the war, we seized men and technology, not for you to just give away like this! How much steel? How many warships could that wine buy?"

Despite the almost palpable rage of his father and brother, Euron remained remarkably calm. He even gave a slight smile, a smile that appeared exceptionally composed against the backdrop of their fury.

"The wine provided this time is indeed plentiful, and its value is indeed comparable to a small gold mine." Euron acknowledged that his father and brother were right, but then his tone shifted, his voice clear and penetrating, "However, Father, Brother, you must broaden your horizons from the docks of Pyke's Isle to the whole of Westeros! Even to the future across the Narrow Sea!"

He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with ambition, as if he could already see the tournament in his mind: "Imagine, at the grandest ceremony of the tournament, before all the nobles, knights, and wealthy men of the seven kingdoms, the host proclaims: 'All the banquet and drinks for this Harrenhal Tournament are generously sponsored by the Greyjoy family of the Iron Islands! White, blue, purple, gold—there's bound to be a sea monster to suit your esteemed status!'"

Euron opened his arms, envisioning the future: "Think about it! From that moment on, the golden grapes of 'Greening Isle' will be a thing of the past, forgotten by all! Every person who attends the feast, their tongue, their memory, will only remember the name and taste of us 'Sea Monsters'! We'll only pay with some wine, but we'll buy the taste buds of Westeros for the next hundred years! Isn't that more valuable than tens of thousands of golden dragons?"

Euron's words struck the heart of the matter like the most precise harpoon.

The anger of King Coron and Balon gradually subsided, replaced by a slow-growing contemplation, a shock at Euron's immense ambition.

For the first time, they truly realized that Euron's ambitions went far beyond the profits of a business deal—it was about complete replacement!