Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Euron Greyjoy's homecoming gift to his father, Corren Greyjoy, was not gold or jewels, but rather a dozen master blacksmiths carefully selected from Corhol and brought back across the ocean.

This gift precisely addresses the long-standing pain point of the Iron Islands—they possess abundant iron ore deposits, yet lack top-notch forging techniques, forcing them to export raw materials cheaply and purchase finished ironware at high prices, resulting in a profit margin that is regrettable.

Koren gazed at the silent, highly skilled craftsmen, his eyes gleaming with undisguised admiration and joy. He knew that these were the people who would make the steel of the Iron Islands truly "flow with gold."

Subsequently, a carefully designed strategy combining both soft and hard tactics was employed against the blacksmiths:

The "softness" was an extremely generous and accommodating gesture. The blacksmiths would not only receive far greater wages than before, but also a solemn promise—that they would soon be reunited with their families in Kohor. Furthermore, the Iron Islands' endless iron ore resources would be at their disposal, and they were encouraged to freely explore their technical ideas, which undoubtedly touched upon the core aspirations of every true craftsman.

The hard line was unambiguous. Euron and Coron clearly drew an inviolable red line: no one could be granted permission to leave until they had successfully trained a group of native blacksmiths for the Iron Islands capable of inheriting their skills and serving as important figures. This was not a request, but rather the Iron Islands' "hospitality," the inevitable return expected from this valuable "investment."

This combined strategy offers both compelling respect and a promising future, while also defining clear and unquestionable responsibilities and boundaries. Its sole purpose is to ensure that these treasures of Kohol willingly, yet with no other choice, dedicate their skills and dedication unreservedly to the Iron Islands.

Regardless of what these dozen or so master blacksmiths were thinking, they were already here, and leaving would be difficult. In any case, they had no choice but to serve the Iron Islands now.

Euron did not settle the blacksmiths from Corhol on the bustling main island, but instead carefully chose a remote, uninhabited island in the Iron Islands.

Surrounded by cliffs, this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack, keeping it away from prying eyes. Euron had long felt that the dozen or so uninhabited islets surrounding the Iron Islands should be put to use; accustomed to the preciousness of land, he couldn't stand seeing it wasted like this.

Now, just in time, the Iron Islands will have one more island—Iron Smoke Island—the island of blacksmiths!

Euron Greyjoy personally selected the site and participated in the design, building a secluded yet fully functional workshop village on a high seas by the sea. Solid basalt houses, like loyal guards, surrounded the enormous, ever-burning, deafening forge in the center. The sea breeze carried the salty smell and the scorching scent of iron filings throughout the air.

He stood before the group of blacksmiths, his voice clear and powerful, cutting through the sea breeze and the roar of the furnace: "Here, stone houses will shelter you from the wind and rain, endless iron ore will be at your disposal, and everything you need—tools, materials, food—will be provided in abundance." His gaze swept over each skeptical face. "Your skills will be absolutely respected here. They will no longer be a means of making a living, but a treasure worth passing down."

Then, he made his most weighty promise: "I swear in the name of Greyjoy, your families in Kohol will soon be safely brought to you and reunited with you here." These words struck the hearts of every blacksmith like a hammer blow. The arrival of their blood relatives would put the blacksmiths at ease, and their children, wives, and lovers would all be hostages, ensuring they wouldn't escape.

Euron Greyjoy officially announced the arrival of the Corhol blacksmiths to the island lords. When these lords, who ruled over hard reefs and icy waves, learned of this, they saw not a group of craftsmen leaving their homes, but a brand new path to wealth, gleaming with metallic luster, about to be opened.

Euron had already proven his ability to turn lead into gold with the astonishing profits from the "Platinum Sands" trade, and now no one doubted his ability to turn cold iron ore into gold as well.

Based on this established trust and expectation, Euron issued a decree for the Iron Islands. The order, originating from Pyke, quickly spread throughout the entire Iron Islands, reaching every fortress and every mine: from this day forward, not a single grain of iron ore mined within the Iron Islands may be sold to any other country.

Meanwhile, the Iron Islands launched an even more aggressive operation—the Greyjoy family began an unprecedented, open, and forceful acquisition of all available iron on the market.

The raven's message spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms: Iron for grain, anyone interested please contact me...

When the long, three-year winter finally receded from Westeros, what remained was a land utterly hollowed out. The Seven Kingdoms had just survived this catastrophe, only to find themselves utterly impoverished in their brief respite—the three years of harsh winter, like a greedy beast, had devoured the last grain of rice and exhausted the last reserves of every granary.

Although the ice and snow were gradually melting, the signs of spring brought little comfort. The fields remained barren, the granaries were emptied, and everything that could fill an empty stomach and everything edible could now be exchanged for resources three to five times higher than usual.

It was during this time of crisis that Euron Greyjoy's three ships slowly sailed back to the Iron Islands. Unlike ordinary merchant ships, their holds were not filled with rare treasures, but rather with various grains carefully acquired from the continent of Essos across the Narrow Sea—wheat, barley, oats, and storable beans. These ordinary goods became the most coveted wealth at this moment.

Euron's move to trade grain for iron immediately caused an unprecedented sensation. The news spread like wildfire throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and lords desperate to escape hunger offered their treasured iron ingots and ores. Many desperate rulers even removed their armor and surrendered their weapons in exchange for the life-saving provisions on Euron's ships. The docks of Greyjoy were bustling with activity day and night, as representatives from all over vied to buy the iron, fearing that falling behind would mean missing out on a lifeline.

This has long transcended a simple trade transaction; it is a strategic move that demonstrates foresight.

Euron not only amassed a mountain of iron, but also inadvertently depleted the military potential of his rivals—a hungry person cannot survive by eating swords and armor, while the food he provided truly saved countless fiefdoms and families on the verge of collapse.

This shipment of grain, arriving across the Narrow Sea, enabled many starving and impoverished people under the rule of various lords to survive their final, difficult times. Therefore, this trade not only brought tangible resources to the Iron Islands but also earned profound gratitude and friendship from lords throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

For those without iron ore, timber, gold dragons, and Euron are equally acceptable.

Meanwhile, the ports of the Iron Islands, once known for their longships and plunder, have transformed into the first harbors in all of Westeros to welcome such a large fleet of merchant ships after the winter's end. Masts stand like a forest, sails blot out the sun, and the sounds of voices and cargo horns mingle—this sea, once echoing only with the warships of the Ironborn, is quietly transforming into a new trading center.