Coming out of the Dragonpit, Skaði still had tear stains on her face, while Aegon looked speechless.
Just now, Skaði had explained something to him.
It would have been better if she hadn't explained; the more she explained, the more speechless Aegon became.
He had expected Skaði to be moved.
He had even expected Skaði to be so moved that she would kneel to him and express her loyalty.
But no matter how much he calculated, he ultimately missed the most important point, which was that besides her professional knowledge, Skaði's mental state was actually not fully developed.
And he finally swallowed the bitter fruit himself, almost being 'hug-killed' by Skaði!
Her terrifying strength could even rival Hugh's, but Hugh was in his prime, while Skaði was not yet fourteen, she was a minor!
"Skaði, do you want to become a knight and fight for me?" Aegon suddenly asked.
Admittedly, Skaði's skill, if nothing went wrong, was indeed precious.
But skills can be taught.
Aegon felt that if Skaði was properly trained, she would become a powerful knight in the future, no less than Hugh.
She might even be stronger than Hugh, the kind who could hit whatever she aimed at.
"I don't want to be a knight, I just want to forge, but if Your Highness needs me, I will become a gladiator and fight for Your Highness on the battlefield!"
"A gladiator?" Aegon was dumbfounded, "Why a gladiator?"
"Because gladiators are very strong, but even the strongest gladiator in Tyrosh is no match for me. I once crushed the head of a gladiator champion with one hand."
"I was terrified at the time, and I couldn't stop crying, but I had to fight, because if I didn't go, I would be punished by not being allowed to eat for three days."
Skaði had a look of lingering fear as she recounted the situation at the time.
About a year ago, Skaði's owner made a bet with a competitor to compete for the market.
Both sides would find a gladiator for a death match, and the winning side would take over the market.
As a result, before the fight began, Skaði's owner's gladiator suddenly died.
For the sake of his reputation and the huge market, Skaði was sent into the gladiator arena.
That day, the stands were packed with spectators, and the overwhelming shouts scared Skaði stiff, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
It wasn't until her owner threatened her with three days' worth of food that Skaði, crying all the while, crushed her opponent's skull with her bare hands.
After listening to Skaði's account, Aegon took a deep breath.
Crying while crushing the head of a gladiator champion with her bare hands?
He wondered what the gladiator champion thought in his final moments, seeing Skaði crying while crushing his skull.
The seventh month of 120 AC.
In six more days, Aegon and Helena would be officially engaged.
Round Table Meeting Room.
Aegon was reviewing recent government affairs.
Loren brought back a total of eighty-six thousand people from Tyrosh Island.
Now there are over ninety thousand people on Dragonstone.
Responsible for the clothing, food, housing, and transportation of nearly one hundred thousand people, Aegon's pressure instantly maxed out.
The piled-up supplies in the warehouse also began to be cleared at a visible speed.
Even the twenty cargo ships provided by the Lannister Family were of no help.
Nearly one hundred thousand poor and hungry people; let alone allocating farming tools, the food consumed every day was an astonishing astronomical figure.
Looking at the terrifying speed of material consumption every day, Aegon rubbed his face.
He had to admit that he underestimated the speed at which these people consumed supplies.
This was different from his calculation results.
The supplies on Dragonstone should have lasted for about a month, but in the end, they only lasted for less than half a month.
"The plan has to be moved up again, sigh," Aegon said helplessly.
Half an hour later, Alec finally arrived at the Round Table Meeting Room.
"Sorry, Your Highness, I'm late," Alec sat down, panting.
"I understand, don't work too hard, take care of your body, you don't want to be the first White Knight in history to die from exhaustion, do you?"
Aegon's joke instantly livened up the atmosphere.
"Enough with the jokes, let's talk about serious matters."
"The Stepstones are on the right track, and Tyrosh is being closely watched, unable to move.
Therefore, I have decided to release information to the outside world, purchasing fifty thousand gold dragons worth of grain, farming tools, ships, and livestock young."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kraken immediately frowned.
"Your Highness, our port has not been completed yet, and with the current capacity of the port, I'm afraid it's not appropriate.
Moreover, although we have blockaded Tyrosh, we have not suppressed Myr and Lys, as well as the Disputed Lands.
If we relax controls, there will definitely be ill-intentioned people taking advantage of the opportunity to create chaos, giving Tyrosh a A breathing space (breathing room).
The Triarchy will not give up this opportunity, and there will not only be people from the Triarchy, but also Dornishmen, and from King's Landing..."
Kraken did not finish the last sentence.
But the meaning he wanted to express was already self-evident.
Throughout the Seven Kingdoms, too many people wanted to see Aegon make a fool of himself.
Back then, Daemon and Corlys together failed to take the Stepstones, how could Aegon?
If Aegon successfully took the Stepstones and subdued the Triarchy and Dorne.
Wouldn't that be a heavy blow to the reputation of several important figures in the Black Party?
Kraken always speculated on human nature based on the worst-case scenario.
And in reality, it is not impossible for the Black Party to secretly cause trouble.
Especially Daemon Targaryen, what wouldn't that lunatic do?
"Kraken is right, but the port must be opened, because our supplies are almost gone."
Aegon spread his hands, saying helplessly.
"Your Highness, we are currently in a critical period and need stability.
According to Your Highness's request, we arranged for ten thousand people to open up land on Grey Gallows Isle.
If it's just a lack of supplies, we can rent cargo ships and go out to purchase supplies.
After all, we are only short of supplies, not gold dragons."
Alec's idea was consistent with Kraken's, not recommending to open the Dragonstone port in advance.
But Aegon still insisted on his idea.
"Dragonstone must open its port."
"And renting ships is too low in cost-effectiveness, and there's no time to rent ships."
"It's better to release information to attract surrounding merchants to dock at True Dragon Port."
"Only merchant ships from Braavos and the Seven Kingdoms are allowed to dock, and arrange more guards for patrols."
"I will have Hugh keep a close eye on Tyrosh, and Sunfyre will also be on alert at the port."
"A bunch of rats in the gutter, they can't make much of a splash."
"It's settled then, after my engagement feast, I will personally go to Braavos."
"The ships there are of excellent quality. Order fifty cargo ships and thirty warships first."
Aegon quickly made arrangements.
"Your Highness, you want to order fifty cargo ships and thirty warships first?"
Kraken looked surprised, and at the same time a little confused,
"This is not a small sum, Your Highness.
We have to buy supplies, pay wages, and provide interest-free loans.
Your Highness, the gold dragons we have won't last long, we will soon be out of money."
Facing Kraken's doubts, Aegon waved his hand.
"Who said we're going to be out of money? We are very rich!"
"Isn't the ready-made Tyrosh right there on the table?"
"Yes, I don't have enough manpower and energy to occupy Tyrosh now, but that doesn't stop me from plundering Tyrosh!"
If Aegon wanted to build Dragonstone as quickly as possible, he could only invest money and manpower crazily.
As for how to obtain money and manpower, Aegon could only say that they were ready-made!
To put it bluntly, isn't it just primitive capital accumulation?
He didn't dare to say how proficient he was, but he had at least learned some basics in history class.
Isn't Tyrosh the ready-made fat meat on the chopping block that can produce gold coins and population?