Lynn naturally couldn't agree to Cersei's demands.
So he simply used the excuse of needing to think it over to send her away.
When Cersei left, her steps were slightly unsteady.
She kept her back straight, using all her strength to maintain the pride and dignity befitting a Queen.
But only she knew what kind of body, still trembling from total conquest, lay beneath that gorgeous facade.
Cersei didn't dare look back.
She was afraid to see Lynn's calm, all-knowing eyes.
Those eyes would remind her of everything that had happened in the room, of her shameful fall and submission.
When the heavy oak door closed behind her, cutting off the gaze that terrified yet inexplicably drew her, Cersei felt as if all her strength had been drained. She leaned against the cold stone wall, gasping for breath.
Her hands unconsciously went to her chest, but her mind quickly cleared.
She had come with the last pride of House Lannister, attempting to use her body and secrets as bargaining chips for an equal trade with Lynn.
But the result was a one-sided domination.
Cersei pulled herself together and headed toward the Red Keep.
Lynn felt no drowsiness.
He stood by the window, the night breeze blowing away the ambiguous scent of lust and power in the room.
Cersei was a smart woman and a qualified gambler.
After confirming she couldn't defeat her opponent, she decisively chose to place her bet.
Using Lannister wealth, the King's life, and the future heir's promise to buy a seat at the new table.
Lynn was satisfied.
He needed the grain and iron of House Lannister to arm his barren fiefdom.
He also needed Cersei as a pawn to stir up the muddy waters of King's Landing for him.
As for Robert's life or death...
It had nothing to do with Lynn; the man should have exited the stage long ago.
Lynn's gaze fell on Longclaw on the table.
The Valyrian steel sword flowed with cold light under the moon.
The duel in seven days.
The Mountain versus the Hound.
This wasn't just Petyr Baelish's trial; it was a grand gift he was preparing for Dorne.
Once the Mountain died, House Martell of Sunspear would inevitably favor him.
A potential and powerful ally.
Everything was proceeding perfectly according to his script.
Just then.
Knock, knock, knock.
Another round of knocking, neither light nor heavy, sounded.
Lynn frowned slightly.
Who could it be this late?
That little girl Arya?
Or a worried Ned?
"Come in."
The door was pushed open gently, but the people who walked in were not anyone he expected.
Leading the way was a thin old woman leaning on a carved cane.
She wore a dark green gown, the hem embroidered with a budding rose in gold thread.
Her silver-grey hair was combed meticulously, and on her wrinkled face, a pair of eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
The Queen of Thorns, Olenna Redwyne.
The true power behind House Tyrell.
And by her side followed a young woman as beautiful and moving as a spring rose.
She also wore a green dress, her long brown curly hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.
Her features were as exquisite as a painting, a perfect smile always playing on her lips.
In her brown eyes, there was the innocence of a maiden, but also a wisdom and insight far beyond her years.
Margaery Tyrell.
The Rose of Highgarden, a woman destined to bloom most brilliantly in this game of thrones.
A flicker of surprise passed through Lynn's eyes.
He hadn't expected the two mistresses of Highgarden to visit late at night.
"Forgive the intrusion at this late hour, Lord Lynn."
Lady Olenna spoke first.
Her voice was strong, carrying the authority of one long in power.
Her gaze swept quickly around the study, finally landing on Lynn.
There was undisguised scrutiny in those sharp eyes.
"It's fine."
Lynn nodded, gesturing for them to sit.
"I wonder what urgent matter brings you two here so late?"
"Young man, let's skip the pleasantries."
Lady Olenna waved her hand, sitting down in a chair and setting her cane aside.
"We are all smart people. circling around only wastes time."
She cut straight to the chase, direct to the point of rudeness.
"I came for the sugar."
Lynn smiled.
He knew that small bag of white powder couldn't escape the eyes of the Queen of Thorns.
"Grandmother is always so direct."
Margaery's soft voice chimed in.
Her voice was like a clear spring, easing the slightly tense atmosphere in the room.
She smiled gracefully at Lynn, a smile enough to make any man's heart flutter.
"Lord Lynn, the gift you presented to His Grace has amazed all of Highgarden."
"We have never seen something so pure, so sweet."
She walked to the table, curiously examining Lynn.
"Presumably, you have mastered its source or method of production, correct?"
"You could say that." Lynn was noncommittal.
He looked at the old and young pair before him.
One singing, one harmonizing, perfect coordination.
One aggressive, one gentle as water.
The Roses of Highgarden truly lived up to their reputation.
"Highgarden is the most fertile land in the Seven Kingdoms."
Lady Olenna took over the conversation again, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
"We have endless grain, endless wine, and an army enough to make any lord look sideways."
Her tone carried an undeniable pride.
"But your North, your Gift, is cold and poor."
"Your wildling subjects need to eat, your Unsullied Legion needs equipment."
"All of this requires money, lots and lots of money."
"The Lannisters are rich, but their money reeks of lion stench."
Lady Olenna's lips curled in disdain.
"And their grain cannot feed your hundreds of thousands of mouths crying for food."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
This old lady had pinpointed his biggest dilemma with a single sentence and accurately poked at the Lannisters' weakness.
Casterly Rock had gold mines, but not enough farmland.
And what Lynn lacked most was grain.
"So?"
Lynn looked at her, asking with interest.
"So, let's make a deal."
Shrewd light flashed in Lady Olenna's eyes.
"House Tyrell is willing to be your exclusive partner for the sugar trade in Westeros."
"Exclusive?"
Lynn repeated the word, his smile deepening.
"My Lady, you must know that His Grace the King is also very interested in my sugar."
"Robert?" Lady Olenna scoffed.
"He is only interested in wine and women."
"That bag of sugar in his hands would be eaten as a snack within three days."
"He is a warrior, not a merchant."
"As for the Lannisters..."
She glanced at Lynn.
"That foolish woman Cersei is probably thinking about how to swallow you whole right now. Would she cooperate with you?"
"Don't joke."
Lynn didn't refute her.
He knew the Queen of Thorns was speaking the truth.
At least, in everyone's eyes, it was the truth.
"Then what can House Tyrell give me?"
Lynn threw the question back.
"Anything you want."
This time, it was Margaery who spoke.
She stepped forward, her beautiful brown eyes looking seriously at Lynn.
"Grain. We can supply all the grain, fruit, and vegetables you need for the coming winter to your Gift at thirty percent below market price, unlimited quantity."
"And trade routes."
"House Tyrell controls all the ports and merchant ships in the Reach. We can open a golden route for you from Oldtown directly to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea."
"This route is not subject to any constraints from King's Landing or the Lannisters."
"The last point is alliance."
Margaery lowered her voice, carrying a startling allure.
"Highgarden will always stand behind you."
"Whether in the Small Council or on future battlefields."
"Of course, this is limited to you, unrelated to the rest of the North."
"Your enemies are Highgarden's enemies."
What a grand gesture.
Grain, trade routes, army.
House Tyrell had put almost all its core resources on the table.
In comparison, the "alliance" Cersei exchanged for her body and an empty check seemed rather petty.
"And the conditions?"
Lynn asked deeply.
There was no free lunch in the world.
"We want the full agency for Astapori white sugar in Westeros."
Lady Olenna said decisively.
"All sugar must be sold to the Seven Kingdoms through Highgarden."
"Profit split: we take seventy, you take thirty."
A lion's share indeed.
Lynn smiled.
"My Lady, did you forget?"
Lynn leaned back in his chair, looking at her leisurely.
"The sugar is mine."
"Production and transportation are also mine."
"You just move your lips and want to take seventy percent of the profit?"
"Young man, business isn't calculated like that."
Lady Olenna shook her head.
"You have sugar, but you have no sales channels."
"You have an army, but your army is far away in the North, beyond reach."
"And we have a network of relationships throughout the Seven Kingdoms and wealth that rivals the world."
"We can turn your sugar into real gold dragons in the shortest time."
"Sounds fair."
Lynn nodded, but then changed the subject abruptly.
"But what if I already have a partner?"
Lady Olenna and Margaery's expressions changed slightly at the same time.
"Lannister?"
Lady Olenna frowned.
"No."
Lynn shook his head.
He stood up, walked to the huge map of Westeros, and tapped his finger on Pentos.
"It is the Magister of Pentos, Illyrio Mopatis."
"He provided me with fleets and the first batch of supplies. In exchange, he has the exclusive trading rights for white sugar in Essos."
The room fell into a brief silence.
A trace of gravity flashed in Lady Olenna's eyes.
"It seems we all underestimated you, Lord Lynn."
Margaery sighed softly. Looking at Lynn's straight back, the appreciation in her eyes deepened.
This man was even more unfathomable than she imagined.
"So, I cannot accept a seventy-thirty split."
Lynn turned around and sat down again.
The smile on Margaery's face froze slightly.
And Lady Olenna's sharp eyes narrowed into slits.
"Young man, greed is not a good quality."
The Queen of Thorns' voice turned cold.
"You may have sugar, but without Highgarden, your sugar will only rot in warehouses."
"My Lady, you misunderstand."
Lynn shook his head.
"Business is never charity from one side to another."
His finger drew an invisible line on the map.
"First, Magister Illyrio of Pentos has exclusive rights in Essos."
"That part of the profit is used to pay for the fleets, supplies, and the cost of opening trade routes between East and West."
Lynn's finger moved, landing on King's Landing.
"Second, His Grace King Robert."
"King Robert favors me greatly. He not only granted me lands and released me from my vows but also intends to marry Princess Myrcella to me."
"In return, I must ensure the Baratheon royal family gets their due share from this business."
"This is both a promise and protection money."
"I think, My Lady, you understand this better than I do."
Lady Olenna didn't speak, but her tightly furrowed brow said it all.
Lynn's finger finally landed heavily on the vast land north of the Wall called "The Gift."
"Finally, and most importantly."
"My people."
"Hundreds of thousands of wildlings need food, clothes, and weapons to fight against the coming Long Night."
"Most of the profits generated by the sugar business will be invested here. To buy grain, reclaim wasteland, and build towns."
Lynn turned around, meeting Lady Olenna's increasingly solemn eyes.
"My Lady, now tell me, how much of this cake, divided three times already, is left to be worth House Tyrell betting its entire fortune on?"
"I am considering this for your sake, My Lady."
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Margaery looked at Lynn.
She and her grandmother only saw the shining mountain of gold behind the sugar.
But the man before them had already planned the use of every gold brick in that mountain.
Illyrio was his sword to pry open the Essos market.
King Robert was his shield to block open and secret arrows from the Seven Kingdoms.
And he himself was the guardian of the barren Gift, using this wealth to irrigate a brand new Northern kingdom.
"So, you told us all that just to toy with us?"
Lady Olenna's voice now carried a hint of anger.
She felt like a clever merchant rushing to discuss a big deal, only to find the other party's shelves empty, having been stalled with non-existent goods for half the day.
"No, I never toy with my friends."
Lynn sat back down.
"On the contrary, I have prepared a bigger gift for House Tyrell."
"Oh?"
Lady Olenna raised an eyebrow, the anger on her face replaced by curiosity.
"Let's hear it. What gift could be more tempting than white sugar?"
"Of course there is."
A mysterious smile curved Lynn's lips.
"For example, a gift capable of changing the future of all Westeros."
Looking at the skeptical Olenna and the thoughtful Margaery, he spoke slowly.
"My Lady, what do you think is most precious in Westeros?"
"Gold? Power? Or armies?"
"It is grain."
Before Olenna could answer, Margaery spoke softly, hitting the mark.
"Correct." Lynn gave her an approving look.
"Especially when winter is coming."
"Highgarden is the breadbasket of Westeros, that is beyond doubt."
"But your grain is also subject to seasons and climate."
"More importantly, fresh food cannot be stored for long."
"Once a winter lasting years arrives, even wealthy Highgarden must tighten its belt."
"Not to mention other places; everyone will starve, no exceptions."
"And I have a way to solve this problem."
Lynn's words set off monstrous waves in the hearts of Olenna and Margaery.
Solve the problem of grain storage?
How was that possible!
For thousands of years, neither Maesters of the Citadel nor the most experienced farmers could solve this problem.
Drying, salting, smoking...
These methods could extend shelf life, but taste and nutrition would be greatly compromised.
And the cost was high, impossible to popularize on a large scale.
"Are you joking?"
Lady Olenna's voice held an imperceptible tremor.
If what Lynn said was true, the significance behind it would far exceed sugar.
It meant whoever controlled this technology controlled the lifeline of the entire Seven Kingdoms!
Imagine, when everyone was starving, you brought out mountains of food.
Those starving people would agree to any demand!
Even supporting you to sit on the Iron Throne!
"I never joke about such things."
Lynn took a piece of parchment from his tunic and pushed it to the center of the table.
"This is a brand new method of food preservation."
"I call it... canning."
Margaery picked up the parchment and leaned in with her grandmother to examine it carefully.
On the parchment, simple lines drew a container they had never seen before.
A cylindrical jar, completely sealed at the top.
Beside it was a detailed production process.
Put processed food into the jar, add high sugar or salt, then heat to exhaust the air inside, and finally seal it.
Just that simple?
"This... this really works?"
Margaery's tone was full of doubt.
"Air?"
Lady Olenna keenly grasped the key point.
"You mean, it is air that makes food spoil?"
"You could understand it that way."
Lynn nodded.
People of this era didn't understand microorganisms.
Explaining it with air was the simplest and most direct way.
There were usually four methods of sealing.
Water Displacement Method. Using water to displace air; modern household short-term preservation, items cannot be water-sensitive. Ruled out first.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction Method. Using the expansion and contraction of air. Homemade canning, dry goods long-term storage. Risk of burns, requires heat-resistant containers. Also, jars and lids couldn't be mass-produced yet, so it couldn't be applied in this era. Ruled out.
Combustion Oxygen Consumption Method. Consuming oxygen by burning to lower pressure. Produces smoke, might contaminate the container, and the vacuum is limited by the amount of fuel and oxygen content. Ruled out.
Displacement Method. Using heavy gases like carbon dioxide to displace air. Can preserve grain against oxidation, requires a CO2 source.
Lynn decided to use the displacement method to seal food.
The principle was that some gases were denser than air, like carbon dioxide.
Injecting them into a container or a windless deep pit would make the gas settle at the bottom, squeezing the air out from the top.
There were usually two common and most efficient ways.
One was baking soda and vinegar.
Two was dry ice to produce carbon dioxide.
But baking soda required soda ash solution to absorb carbon dioxide, which was impossible to achieve in this era.
So he needed to prepare rubber, sugar, organic fruits without wax like grapes, apples, or blueberries, flour, clay...
Sugar production was no longer a problem.
As long as he could get these things on a large scale, sealing grain would be no problem!
Of course, making metal cans was a story for later.
"This kind of canning can extend the shelf life of food to two years, or even longer, enough to last a whole winter."
"Stored in a low-temperature environment, its effect is even better."
"Imagine, My Ladies."
Lynn's voice held a hint of seduction.
"When all of Westeros falls into a long and cold winter, and everyone can only gnaw on hard, dry bread and salted meat so salty it's bitter, your table will have fruits as fresh and juicy as if just picked in summer, and meat soup stewed with delicious chunks of meat."
"Imagine, when the King's army marches, and soldiers complain about insufficient supplies, your army can enjoy steaming hot meat anytime, anywhere."
"This is the true mountain of gold."
"A true mountain of gold enough to make House Tyrell stand above all other houses."
Lady Olenna's breathing became rapid.
Her wrinkled face flushed an unnatural red from extreme excitement.
She stared fixedly at the parchment.
As if it weren't a piece of paper, but the key to the pinnacle of power.
Margaery was equally shocked by the blueprint Lynn painted.
She looked up at the calm man before her, her beautiful eyes shining with strange light.
She realized she had still underestimated him.
This man's ambition and wisdom were far more terrifying than the dragon and army he possessed.
"What do you want?"
After a long time, Lady Olenna found her voice.
Her voice was filled with unprecedented gravity.
The price to pay for a technology capable of changing the entire situation of the Seven Kingdoms would definitely be unimaginable.
"I provide the technology and the Northern market."
Lynn held up two fingers.
"House Tyrell provides capital, raw materials, and production workshops in the Reach."
"We establish a brand new trading company specifically responsible for the production and sales of canned goods."
"As for profits..."
Lynn smiled.
"We split fifty-fifty."
Fifty-fifty.
This time, Lady Olenna didn't hesitate at all.
"Deal!"
She said decisively.
Compared to a mountain of gold capable of changing the world, fifty percent profit was already a generous figure she couldn't refuse.
"Pleasure doing business." Lynn held out his hand.
Lady Olenna looked at his hand but didn't shake it.
She just gave Lynn a deep look, then picked up her cane and stood up.
"I will have Margaery discuss the specific details with you."
With that, she walked out of the room without looking back.
The Queen of Thorns, shrewd all her life, needed some time to digest everything that happened tonight.
In the room, only Lynn and Margaery remained.
The atmosphere became somewhat subtle.
"Lord Lynn, you always bring surprises."
Margaery walked up to Lynn.
In those beautiful eyes, there was curiosity, appreciation, and a trace of scrutiny even she couldn't quite define.