The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Eleven households stood in the courtyard, trembling with fear and trepidation. To their left was Sweetmouth Ralph, and to their right was Mark, the unremarkable, black-haired little clerk of Clegane Keep.

When Gregor Clegane was in Casterly Rock, this little clerk Mark was in charge of everything here. Mark was essentially Lord Gregor's steward. Gregor's territory was small and his wealth meager, so calling Mark a little clerk was more appropriate than calling him a steward.

Mark always carried a small notebook in his pocket, filled with the daily trivial matters he handled, including the living expenses of the three people in the castle, in case Gregor Clegane suddenly wanted to check them.

The former Gregor Clegane could not read, but the current Gregor Clegane was secretly learning the language of this world. For someone from a highly civilized world, learning the language of this world was not difficult.

Each time, Gregor only needed to say what he wanted to know about what Mark had done on a certain day at a certain time, and Mark would take out his notebook and read it to Gregor Clegane.

Mark was therefore given a nickname: Notebook.

Notebook's notebook was indeed very useful, because when Lord Gregor suspected him of being lazy or falsely reporting income and expenses, he would take out his notebook and explain everything to Gregor Clegane in detail. Everything that could be verified was accurate.

To survive in the terrifying Clegane Keep without dying an 'accidental' death was a very skillful undertaking.

Gregor had gone through several clerks before finding such a clever, obedient, loyal, and literate young clerk.

Mark was not old, sixteen years old. Since becoming Gregor Clegane's family clerk at the age of fourteen, he had escaped death several times at the hands of Lord Gregor. Relying on his intelligence and quick wit, he finally gained the Lord's complete trust and established a solid foundation in Clegane Keep. Under Gregor's ferocity and reputation, Notebook also became fierce and cruel, and he became Lord Gregor's most loyal fan.

Gregor looked at the young man and knew that this young man had a fanatical admiration for him.

If he ordered this child to die, the child would not hesitate.

Gregor believed that Sweetmouth Ralph, Headsman Dunsen, loyalist Polliver, and the young Notebook, their mad admiration for him was mostly a psychological disorder, similar to the famous Stockholm syndrome.

This symptom was most obvious in the young Notebook.

Gregor clearly remembered that he had initially picked Mark up from the street to be a servant and abused him. Mark's journey with Gregor was: fear, hatred, terror, humiliation, submission, obedience, flattery, catering, love, admiration! It completely conformed to the characteristics of the Stockholm effect.

Stockholm syndrome refers to a complex in which victims develop feelings for their perpetrators, even helping and falling in love with them.

When the life and death of the weak are controlled by the strong, and the strong allow them to live or treat them a little better, they will be very grateful, and thus naturally develop a psychological dependence on the strong. This is the psychological basis of Stockholm syndrome.

In the Earth world he had transmigrated from, there were many similar cases: the victims turned against the abuser and shared the fate of the abductor, treating the abductor's future as their own and the abductor's safety as their own. They regarded the rescuers as enemies and the rapists as heroes. There was once a super criminal who had many female admirers in the outside world, and many girls were wholeheartedly waiting for that notorious guy to come out and marry him.

This is a very famous psychological disorder in Earth civilization.

Gregor Clegane was not sure if this world also had a definition for this disease, but he did not want to correct anything, nor could he do so. Regarding Stockholm syndrome, Gregor only knew the principle. He was not a psychologist. He only needed to correct his own cruelty and terror. Those who followed him would naturally change with his transformation.

Well, how does the saying go? The power of an idol's example is infinite!

Gregor stood on the steps, with Maester Harry beside him, and his subordinate officers Polliver and Dunsen behind him. Gregor only needed to glare at Maester Harry, and the young maester would be frightened.

Gregor felt that he should also have a maester by his side. His fierce image and infamous reputation throughout the Seven Kingdoms were actually a kind of power and capital. Being good at using it could bring him a lot of benefits.

A good person would explain the reason for doing something to others, while an evil person did not need to explain, just give orders; a good person would pay when buying things on the street, while an evil person would just take them. In terms of efficiency, evil people completely defeated good people.

Gregor decided to keep Maester Harry by his side as his personal physician. Based on experience, he estimated that this guy would probably develop Stockholm syndrome before long.

Psychological things... invisible and intangible... but aren't they a bit evil...?

Gregor suddenly realized that he was enjoying the evil fun of being a super villain. This... is this also... psychological... No, I need to pay attention to myself...

"Notebook!" Gregor said.

"Yes, Lord."

"Come, give each household a gold dragon."

"Yes, Lord!"

Notebook and everyone else suspected they had misheard and couldn't believe it, but his actions were very loyal. He quickly ran up and took the money bag from Dunsen's hand.

There were only seven gold dragons in the money bag, not enough to distribute.

The eleven households were all stunned. Notebook opened the money bag and handed out gold coins, one per household. This was a huge sum for ordinary civilians. They dared not accept it, but they dared not refuse. Gold dragons were generally something ordinary families would never have. They only had silver stags and copper stars.

One gold dragon was worth thirty silver stags, two hundred and ten copper stars, enough for a poor family to live comfortably for half a year.

Notebook handed out coins to the seventh household, and there were no more gold coins in the money bag.

There were only seven gold dragons, thirty silver stags, and fifteen copper stars in Gregor's money bag.

Notebook only glanced back at Lord Gregor and knew what to do. He gave the thirty silver stags to the eighth household.

The eight households held the coins in their hands, none daring to put them in their pockets. They didn't know what Lord Gregor wanted to play today, but one thing was certain, they would definitely not be able to take this money away. On the contrary, they would have to write down another tax IOU when they left.

Notebook shook the money bag, and the fifteen copper stars jingled.

There were still three households that had not received gold coins.

Notebook looked at Lord Gregor again and saw the answer to the problem in the Lord's eyes.

Notebook came to Maester Harry, held out his hand, and said, "Maester, lend me three gold dragons."

Maester Harry looked at Lord Gregor beside him. Gregor did not say a word, his face seemingly displeased.

"Okay!" Maester Harry took out three warm gold dragons from his pocket and placed them in Notebook's hand. His fair hand trembled very slightly.

"Notebook, keep a good account," Gregor's face softened, and he spoke.

"Yes, Lord."

"Maester, I will return them to you," Gregor said to Maester Harry.

"...No...No need...Lord..." Harry waved his hand quickly, his words sincere, his eyes genuine.

This is the benefit of being a great villain. You don't have to repay the money you borrow. But if you insist on repaying it, you will reap unexpected honor and gratitude.

Fierceness is a morally degraded power, but it is actually very powerful.