Lord Greene had already prepared a reasonable excuse: "I trust Lord Stannis, but after my port was attacked, I had to be wary of those with ill intentions."
The golden dragon in his hand was lightly tossed upwards... and with a clap, Greene accurately caught it as it fell.
He spoke, "My original intention was to monitor unusual movements of certain ships, but gold makes people honest, so I unintentionally overheard some other information."
Melisandre chuckled, saying, "Very reasonable, I believe your sincerity."
Greene smiled, held up two fingers, and said, "I have prepared two King's Bloods for you (Chapter 274)."
Melisandre stared at Greene for a while, then slowly said, "Everyone in the world has something they desire. What is Count Greene's desire?"
Greene spread his hands and said directly, "Dragonstone."
After a moment of silence, Melisandre seemed to be confirming: "Dragonstone?"
Lord Greene was full of sincerity: "Two for one, Lady Melisandre."
The mysterious Red Priestess laughed: "I do feel Count Greene's sincerity, but King Stannis will not agree."
"That's right."
Greene nodded in agreement, saying, "Therefore, I invited you, Lady Melisandre."
Melisandre's voice was low and husky: "Compared to most mortals, Count Greene knows more things."
She seemed very certain, but Greene was momentarily stunned, musing, "Thank you for your compliment, but... I still want to be honest with you, I'm actually not interested in most things."
Melisandre remained silent, and Greene continued, "It was also by chance that I overheard Lord Stannis preparing to go north. After learning this, with my limited knowledge, I truly couldn't understand why he, who is always so wise, would make such a choice..."
Greene gestured, and Brienne glanced at Melisandre, bowed, and then walked away.
By the bonfire, only Greene and Melisandre remained.
Tapping his knee with slender fingers, Greene continued, "I can't guess Lord Stannis's true purpose for going north, but that doesn't prevent my admiration for his character. For my family, I cannot support him openly, but that doesn't prevent me from supporting him privately."
"Besides the King's Blood..."
Greene held up one finger and said, "There is also Wildfire (Chapter 237), which can burn everything to ash."
Melisandre's lips curled upwards, and she said, "Count Greene's tongue seems capable of melting pure iron."
Greene shrugged: "The Lannisters will eventually land on Dragonstone. I think Lord Stannis will make a wise choice. The Lannisters are his sworn enemies, but Crabb is not."
If things went smoothly, Lord Greene would still need to operate carefully to legitimately control Dragonstone, and incidentally... mine.
To avoid affecting other arrangements, he also needed to find a reliable merchant who could "trade" Wildfire with Stannis's forces on his behalf—the micro-management of the ultimate strategist, Greene.
The use and improvement of Wildfire in extremely cold regions... and Dragonglass... Ahem, as the future Commander of the Alliance of the Living, Lord Greene was very concerned about the vanguard army of the Alliance of the Living.
While thinking about other matters, Greene said, "Lady Melisandre, are you interested in my proposal?"
Melisandre let out an alluring laugh, her ample bosom trembling slightly as she did, and Greene silently admired her.
The bonfire crackled.
"Count Greene, the Lord of Light has arranged everything." Melisandre rose from the folding chair.
Her steps moved gracefully, her beautiful figure slowly approaching: "Count Greene, Stannis is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai; he carries the fate of the entire world."
Melisandre leaned in, their faces only a palm's distance apart. In Greene's vision, she was as fair and smooth as fresh milk.
"The Lord of Light is guiding you, Greene Crabb, to assist the Son of Fire amidst grave dangers."
Greene: "..."
With a slight smile, she gracefully sat on one of Greene's thighs. She was like a flame, yet a warm and comfortably hot one.
"Let me feel your flame."
Without needing the consent of the man before her, the Lord of Light's servant on earth, the Priestess, wrapped her arms around Greene's neck, lowered her head, and kissed him.
For the greater good, Lord Greene had no choice but to... passively, clumsily, and awkwardly respond.
Separating, Melisandre's hands, like a soft breeze, gently cupped Greene's face, as if cherishing some precious treasure.
Melisandre's smile was like the warm sun in winter, warming Greene's heart; her red eyes shone with a gentle light, as if they could see through his eyes to his deepest desires; with a captivating fragrance, she showed him a unique kind of love.
In this moment, time seemed to freeze, and the whole world was left with only him and her.
Melisandre's lips curved slightly upwards, forming an alluring arc. Just as she was about to make her next move... the man, deeply in love, suddenly his eyelids fluttered.
Then, Lord Greene smiled slightly: "It's truly a beauty beyond words. Thank you for your kiss."
His gaze swept over the ruby at her throat, and the heat within his body rapidly receded.
A flicker of surprise crossed Melisandre's eyes, then she smiled softly: "Next, I will bring you unprecedented pleasure."
One of Greene's hands was wrapped around Melisandre's soft waist, while his other hand, almost touching the hilt of the "Lady Forlorn" sword, slowly rubbed his thumb against his index finger.
Greene's smile remained undiminished: "So, captivating Lady Melisandre, have you agreed to my trade?"
The smile on his face deepened slightly: "You wouldn't want to delay Lord Stannis's northern journey, would you?"
Gazing at Greene for a moment, Melisandre chuckled, her fingertips gently touching him, sending a delicate sensation through Greene.
Slowly stroking Greene's face, examining him closely, she softly said, "You are very contradictory; justice and evil... seem to coexist within you, making me incredibly curious."
After speaking, she gracefully moved away from Greene's body.
"As you wish."
After a light kiss on Greene's forehead, she turned and departed.
Her voice drifted from afar: "The night is dark... and full of terrors... I await you in the North..."
Greene brought his fingers to his nose, sniffing carefully. Was it perfume or powder?
Under a certain tree in Duskendale.
Tyrion took a sip of wine and grinned: "The rest is Lord Tywin's performance, known throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
Jaime's face became very grim. He first took a large gulp of wine, then shook his head slightly, saying, "The situation is irreversible. I begged King Aerys to negotiate with our father. My men told me that the King and Rossart are together, and they do not intend to surrender."
His gaze sharpened: "I first went to find the Pyromancer Rossart. When I found him, he had changed into Gold Cloaks clothes and was hastily trying to slip out of a side door. I slew him with one sword. To prevent King Aerys from sending out orders through someone else, I then went to the Throne Room and killed him."
He exhaled, then continued, "Compared to Wildfire, swords are undoubtedly a mercy. In the days after the city fell, I ran through the entire city, killing all those who participated."
Tyrion pinched his chin and said, "Jaime, when Lord Eddard rode into the Throne Room, why didn't you explain to him properly the reason for your kingslaying?"
"The Kingsguard swear to protect the king's secrets. Drawing my sword and stabbing the king's body... was my limit. I could not bring myself to break my oath again." A trace of pain appeared on Jaime's face.
The atmosphere was a bit heavy, and Tyrion tried to joke: "Perhaps I truly don't have a knight's heart. If it were me, I would cling tightly to the Direwolf's leg, crying and begging him to listen to me."
After a pause, Jaime suddenly gave a sarcastic laugh: "The Duke of Winterfell would not listen to my powerless explanation. The first moment he saw me, he judged me guilty. It is rumored throughout the Seven Kingdoms that he values honor above all else; that is the funniest joke I have ever heard."
"He didn't even ask!" The silver goblet, stained with specks of dirt, was once again smashed to the ground by Jaime.
"What right does the Direwolf have to directly judge the Lion? What right does he have?!"
It seemed he had finally vented, or perhaps the intoxication was too strong, for Jaime soon fell into a deep sleep in his chair.
Tyrion shrugged and walked away, intending to go to the inn to get a few people to carry his drunken older brother back.
As he reached the inn's entrance, he happened to meet Greene, who had just dismounted his horse.
"Hey, Greene... um, why do you look like... um, someone abandoned halfway by a beauty... um... Hey! Don't leave! Wait for me!"
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