Game Of Thrones : Merchant of Two Worlds

"Mom!" Lin Xiaohan's voice was full of exasperation, dragging her words as if to emphasize her frustration. "I'm trying to talk to you about work. Why are you asking me such things? Jason and I are just classmates and friends, nothing more! Don't get the wrong idea."

Her mother, however, seemed to be on an entirely different wavelength. "Is he reliable? What does his family do? Is he rich? Maybe the son of some wealthy businessman?" Her father chimed in as well, his protective instincts kicking in. "I just don't want our little girl to be taken advantage of," he said, glancing at Lin Xiaohan.

Lin Xiaohan sighed and decided to explain. "His family is from Zhou City, right here in our province. His parents are farmers, living in the countryside. Back in college, Jason was one of the hardest workers in our class. He didn't just excel in academics but also worked part-time jobs during every holiday.

"But in the last couple of years, he suddenly started making a lot of money. He used his savings to start a company, and now he's doing really well!"

She hesitated before continuing. In reality, Jason's success had only skyrocketed in the past few months, not years, but she didn't want to share the specifics. Her parents might worry about how sudden his success was.

Her father listened quietly, his brow furrowed in thought. When Lin Xiaohan finished, he nodded approvingly. "So he's one of those self-made young men. I respect that. Xiaohan, if you think this job is a good opportunity, you should go for it! A person like him, who can rise from nothing to build a successful company, must have a bright future. If you work with him, you'll surely learn a lot and grow too."

Her mother, however, had a different focus. "That's all fine, but let's talk about the real question. Does this Jason Liu like you?"

Lin Xiaohan's face turned red. She looked away, her voice dropping to a shy mumble. "Mom, how should I know? I think he's a decent guy, but we're just friends. He's never shown any interest in me that way."

Her mother wasn't one to let things go so easily. "But do you like him?" she pressed, leaning closer.

"Mom!" Lin Xiaohan exclaimed, flustered. After a pause, she admitted quietly, "I don't dislike him. He's been single ever since college, and from what I've heard, he's never had a girlfriend. But honestly, he's so clueless about romance that I wouldn't be surprised if he stays single forever!"

She couldn't help but grumble about Jason's awkwardness. "The last time we went out for a meal, Jason came up with some excuse to avoid shopping with us girls. He just ran off! Can you believe that?"

Her father chuckled, shaking his head. "Sounds like a straightforward and honest guy to me."

Her mother, however, lit up with excitement. "Honest is good! A rich, talented, and handsome young man who doesn't waste time partying or chasing after girls? That's a rare find! If he's interested in you and you don't dislike him, you should try to win him over!"

"Mom, stop!" Lin Xiaohan protested, covering her face with her hands. "We're just friends. He hasn't pursued me or anything. Besides, how can a girl take the initiative to chase after a guy? That's so embarrassing!"

Her mother gave her a knowing look. "Silly girl, good men are much harder to find than pretty girls. If you've come across someone like him, you should act before someone else does. If you wait too long, you might lose your chance and regret it later."

Her father, still protective, muttered, "Xiaohan is beautiful and capable. She doesn't need to chase after anyone."

"What do you know?" her mother shot back, her voice sharp. "Do you realize how picky your daughter is? We've introduced so many good matches to her, and she's rejected all of them. If she keeps waiting for the perfect man, do you want her to stay single until she's thirty?"

Lin Xiaohan sighed, knowing there was no winning against her mother. But she tried to steer the conversation back on track. "Can we stop talking about this? I'm asking for your opinion on the job, not my love life!"

Her mother waved off her complaints. "Of course, you should take the job! Being a financial manager sounds amazing, and the pay must be great. Plus, it's the perfect opportunity to spend more time with Jason. Who knows? Things might develop naturally between you two."

Lin Xiaohan sighed but nodded. "So you're okay with it, Mom? Dad?"

Her mother nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes! Go for it."

Her father opened his mouth as if to object but quickly closed it under his wife's glare. Reluctantly, he nodded too.

Early the next morning, Jason Liu received a call from the driver delivering the steel swords he had ordered.

"Boss Liu, I'm really sorry," the driver began, sounding apologetic. "There was an issue yesterday. Our van got stopped for inspection on the road, and the items we were transporting were flagged as irregular. To avoid trouble, I had to take a detour, which delayed the delivery."

Jason Liu, though tired, responded calmly. "It's fine. Safety comes first. Thank you for letting me know."

He drove to the warehouse, opened the doors, and helped guide the van inside. After the goods were unloaded, he thanked the driver and sent him on his way.

Jason opened one of the large cartons and pulled out a steel sword. The blade gleamed under the light, its surface smooth and polished. Made from modern stainless steel, it was far superior to the weapons produced in Westeros.

Each sword weighed about 1.4 kilograms, balanced perfectly for single-handed use and even better with two hands. They weren't sharpened yet—a precaution in case of inspections during transport—but Jason didn't mind. He decided it would be a good exercise for his soldiers to grind the edges themselves.

After locking up the warehouse, Jason teleported back to Westeros. He called McCann and a few soldiers to help carry the swords to the training grounds. Soon, all the soldiers were gathered in an open area.

Jon Snow stood among them, his eyes fixed on the weapons. He picked up one of the swords, examining it with a mix of awe and curiosity.

To Jon, the craftsmanship was extraordinary. The steel was smooth and dense, unlike anything he had seen before. The precision and quality of the blade hinted at a masterful blacksmith, one far beyond the skills of the smiths in Westeros.

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