That day, a fat youth arrived at White Stone Town following a rchant caravan.
He was truly fat… not just plump, but genuinely obese. His massive body sat atop a horse that looked like it was struggling under the weight, as if it might collapse at any mont.
He had dark hair and a huge round face with grey eyes that held a timidity and confusion completely at odds with his size.
His na was Samwell Tarly.
Eldest son and heir of Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill in the Reach.
However, the son took after neither the father.
Randyll Tarly was a famous warrior in the Seven Kingdoms — fierce, battle-hardened, and ruthless. Yet his eldest son was a timid, book-loving, non-martial fatty.
His father despised him and forced him to renounce his inheritance: either join the Night's Watch or get out of Horn Hill.
Sam did not choose the Wall, but he still secretly left Horn Hill…
He had long heard of a wondrous place on the south shore of the God's Eye.
There was a generous and benevolent noble lord who possessed magic.
There were all kinds of miraculous items and ideas. No matter one's background, anyone who went there could achieve sothing.
Farrs had land to till, vagrants had work and food, second sons and bastards could realize their value.
Wandering singers praised it as a land blessed by the Seven, the place closest to the gods.
There was a school that taught magical knowledge from the realm of the divine.
So Samwell ca.
Ever since entering White Ridge Pass, Sam had sensed that this place was different.
First was the road.
The smooth "cent road" was wider and firr than the King's Road. Even more peculiarly, the road was divided into two lanes, separated in the middle by flower pots. Signs on the roadside read: Keep Right.
Sam heard the concept of "one-way traffic" for the first ti.
The caravan driver told him it was a rule set by Lord Luke.
All carriages, ox carts, and pedestrians must keep to the right. The left lane was for the opposite direction. Violators would be fined.
Every fifty miles there was a post station called a "service area," where one could resupply food, water, and rest.
The service areas even had dedicated staff to inspect and maintain vehicles. Everything was orderly.
Upon entering White Stone Town, the first thing one saw was the line of carriages and horses waiting at the city gate.
The carriages were neatly queued, waiting to enter. Uniford guards checked and registered "vehicle permits."
A notice on the wall listed prices for "traffic and sanitation fees": one copper coin per horse for three days' stay, nine coppers for a month, ninety coppers for a year.
The guards wore bright, uniform armor that had been polished to a shine and glead in the sunlight. They stood tall and straight with sharp eyes, like heavenly soldiers.
Sam followed the crowd into the city.
Right after passing through the gate, he saw a richly dressed rchant wave toward the distance. A man imdiately ran over, pulling a very special-looking "cart" behind him.
The cart had two wheels, a clean seat, and a canopy for shade. The driver set the cart down and asked, "Where to, my lord?"
The rchant handed over five copper coins. "Number 45, Luke Street."
The driver replied loudly, "Got it! Sit tight, we'll be there soon!"
Then he pulled the cart and ran off lightly.
Sam stared in astonishnt.
Curious, he walked over to the drivers who were queuing for passengers.
The drivers wore uniform vests and sat beside their carts, chatting while they waited.
Seeing Sam, one driver stood up eagerly, thinking he wanted a ride.
Sam hurriedly waved his hands. "I don't need… I just want to know, what is this?"
The driver looked him up and down and smiled. "This is a rickshaw. We're all rickshaw pullers. You're a foreigner, right? Did you also co to Draco to make a living?"
Sam nodded.
The driver enthusiastically explained, "The inco for rickshaw pullers is pretty good. Although many people have entered the trade, there are lots of visiting lords in Draco who like taking rickshaws. Even many locals use them now — cheap and convenient. You can go wherever you want."
He glanced at Sam again and said with so regret, "Too bad you're too fat to be a rickshaw puller. You'd be too slow — no one would ride with you."
Sam scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
At that mont, a crisp ding-ling-ling sound rang out.
He turned his head and his eyes widened.
A three-wheeled vehicle was moving down the street.
It was pulled by neither horse nor ox… a person sat in front, pedaling with his feet, and the vehicle moved forward by itself.
Even more astonishingly, soone else rode past on a two-wheeled vehicle at high speed.
That vehicle had only two wheels and no support, yet it didn't fall over. The rider moved swiftly, clothes fluttering, looking extrely dashing.
Sam's mouth hung open.
"What… what is that?"
The driver looked over with envy in his eyes.
"That's a magical vehicle invented by Lord Luke. The two-wheeled one is a bicycle, the three-wheeled one is a tricycle. No need for oxen or horses — you just need to master the technique to ride it. It's quite fast and very stable."
He paused, his tone full of longing.
"Real noble lords love riding those. I'm saving up now. Next year I'll buy a bicycle to pull passengers or carry goods. My son is a mber of the lord's family guard, so I can buy one at half price."
Sam nodded thoughtfully.
In the end, he still got into the driver's rickshaw.
The driver was simply too enthusiastic and insisted on giving him a tour.
The rickshaw moved slowly through the streets of White Stone Town.
Sam sat in the seat, curiously observing his surroundings.
This was a very unusual town.
It was clean and tidy, with not a speck of garbage or filth in sight.
There was none of the familiar stench — the horse manure, garbage, and urine sll that lingered in every Westerosi town.
Here there was only fresh air, occasionally mixed with the aroma of food.
Every so often along the streets stood two strange iron boxes labeled "Garbage Bin."
People pushed small carts, sweeping the streets. Sam saw soone pick up fruit peels and throw them into a bin.
"Those are sanitation workers," the driver explained. "They're responsible for cleaning the streets and removing garbage and horse dung. There's a rule here — whoever dirties the street gets fined. So everyone is careful not to litter."
He also saw "public toilets."
They were clean little buildings with signs on the doors.
People went in and ca out. The driver said they were free for travelers and cleaned every day.
What surprised Sam the most were the dazzling "signboards" and "posters" lining the streets.
They were more exquisite than anything he had ever seen.
The characters were clear, colorful, and incredibly beautiful.
The images looked almost real… more realistic than even the greatest painter could achieve.
Photos of delicious food made one's mouth water; posters of beautiful won were charming and alluring; posters of knights looked heroic and imposing.
They seed to grow on the walls, ready to leap out at any mont.
The driver explained, "Those are shop signs. Those are recruitnt posters. They all co from Draco's 'Magical Advertising Design and Printing Shop.' I heard they have a magical machine that can print any pattern on anything."
Sam listened in fascination.
He also saw many banners stretched across the streets with various slogans:
"Jaqenion — Rule with Virtue." "To Get Rich, Build Roads First." "Environntal Hygiene Is Everyone's Responsibility." "One Person Joins the Army, the Whole Family Is Honored." "Tax Evasion Is Illegal and Will Be Punished by the Gods." "Everything for Lord Luke!" "Lord Luke's Will Is Our Principle!"
These words were printed on red cloth using that miraculous magical printing technique, making them especially eye-catching.
Suddenly, beautiful music drifted over.
Sam looked toward the sound — it ca from the entrance of a shop.
A giant snow-white mascot was dancing at the door, and beside it was a black box from which the music played.
"You love , I love you, Mixue Ice Cream and Tea is sweet…"
The lody was simple yet catchy, repeating over and over.
Sam was shocked to realize the music wasn't being sung by a person… the black box was singing by itself.
"That's a magical sound box," the driver said. "It can play beautiful music without anyone singing. That shop is Mixue Ice Cream and Tea — they sell milk tea and candies. Children under 14 can buy candies at half price. I plan to take my wife and son there this weekend for a cup."
Sam looked at the shop. A long line stretched out the door, mostly parents with children.
The driver pointed into the distance. "That's Wanxiang Plaza. There are lots of fun and delicious things inside. They're building an even bigger one in Draco — I heard it will be dozens of tis larger, five stories tall, and take up half the size of White Stone Town. I can't imagine how grand it will be."
Sam followed his finger and vaguely saw a large construction site in the distance. Countless workers were busy, and the tall buildings were already taking shape.
The rickshaw continued forward.
Sam's gaze swept over the pedestrians on both sides of the street.
He noticed that every resident here was dressed "neatly."
Even those who looked like commoners wore clean, tidy clothes.
So wore coarse cloth, but it was washed spotless with no patches.
Others wore "work uniforms," but they were crisp and orderly.
Everyone looked "clean."
There were no common stains on their faces, no thick black dirt on their hands. Their hair was combed neatly, and their nails were trimd.
More importantly, every face glowed with happiness.
The smallfolk here were not numb like those in other lords' lands.
Their eyes weren't dull with only exhaustion and despair. Here, people's eyes shone… whether adults or children, their faces carried smiles, their voices were full of energy, and their steps were light and strong.
Sam heard them chatting:
"Pork is on sale at the supermarket today. I bought two pounds!" "My husband has worked six months at the construction site. Next month we can apply to buy a house!" "My son got into school. Maybe one day he'll beco a governnt official!" "Thank you, Lord Luke!" "Thank you, Lord Luke!"
He heard that phrase countless tis.
Sam sat in the rickshaw, taking it all in, a complex emotion rising in his heart.
This place was truly different.
The people here were truly happy.
The driver turned and asked, "Young brother, where do you want to go?"
Sam thought for a mont.
"I want to go… to that school," he said. "The one that teaches magical knowledge."
The driver smiled.
"Jaqenion Academy? Got it! Hold on tight!"
The rickshaw picked up speed, heading toward Draco.
Sam leaned back in his seat, gazing at the new city under construction ahead.
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