Jon watched the girl with a helpless but warm smile. "Ygritte, didn't I tell you to stay with the Free People's Legion in the rear? Why have you doubled back to my side again?"
"I don't want to ride in those bumpy trucks at the back," Ygritte replied, her fiery red hair catching the light. She leaned against the jeep, her face glowing with a mischievous grin. Her eyes locked onto Jon's with uncharacteristic softness. "I want to be with you. We're supposed to be together, aren't we?"
Jon felt his face flush at her bluntness, but his heart swelled. "Fine, you can stay. But you have to follow my lead. No running off on your own without permission."
Ygritte wrinkled her nose playfully. "I know, I know. Mance told me to listen to you, so I'll listen."
Jon shook his head, a chuckle escaping him. Even though the Free People had sworn fealty to King Jason, their wild, independent spirits remained a constant challenge for the modern staff officers to manage. This fiery girl had been captured by Jon during a skirmish over half a year ago. Through the long months of travel and survival, Jon had found himself falling for her straightforward, spirited nature. They were now a couple, planning to wed as soon as the fires of war were extinguished.
Observing from a distance, Jason found a strange sense of peace in their union. He had worried that by keeping Jon out of the Night's Watch, he might have prevented this meeting. Yet, fate had a way of weaving its own patterns. He preferred this for Jon; the tragic romance with Daenerys from the old tales was a burden Jon didn't need. Ygritte's warmth was exactly what the stoic Stark needed.
While Colonel Lucas and Jon led their respective hosts to the East and West, Jason moved his main force toward the coast. Accompanied by the Northern and Riverland nobility, they traveled by military convoy for three days before finally reaching White Harbor.
White Harbor was the seat of House Manderly. Lord Wyman Manderly—known as Earl William in the modern administrative records—warmly invited Jason and his entourage to stay within the New Castle. Jason politely declined. After entrusting Arya Stark to the watchful eye of Sir Rodrik, Jason headed straight for the docks. It was time to bring through the naval reinforcements prepared by the modern world.
Word had spread like wildfire that King Jason was going to summon steel leviathans from thin air. Curious nobles, battle-hardened officers, and thousands of White Harbor citizens flocked to the pier to witness the miracle. The crowds grew so dense that Jason had to deploy two legions just to maintain order and prevent a stampede.
General and the advisory group stood with Jason on a high wooden platform overlooking the harbor.
"I didn't expect the entire city to turn out," General remarked, glancing at the sea of expectant faces.
Professor Wang looked concerned. "We need to be careful. With this many people, a single panic could cause a disaster."
"The soldiers have it under control," Jason reassured him, though he felt the weight of the moment.
Below the platform, Stannis Baratheon stood with several Stormland lords. As the Master of Ships, Stannis had once crushed the Targaryen fleet to secure his brother Robert's throne. He was a man of the sea, yet he found it impossible to believe a warship could be made entirely of steel. Beside him, Davos Seaworth watched with equal parts skepticism and wonder.
Jason didn't keep his audience waiting. With a nod to his advisors, he activated his ability and vanished, returning to the modern world.
The Modern Shipyard
Jason appeared at the CSSC shipyard, where ten decommissioned Type 053 Jianghu-class frigates awaited him. The Navy had worked overtime to refurbish them, replacing the ancient electronics and power systems with reliable modern hardware and giving them a fresh coat of grey paint.
Each frigate was 103 meters long and 11 meters wide, with a full-load displacement of 1,990 tons. They could hit speeds of 26 knots—far faster than anything in Westeros—and had a massive cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles. The weapon systems were simplified for the mission: two 100mm main naval guns, four 37mm rapid-fire cannons, and rocket launchers.
President of the shipyard and Colonel Nathan, the Navy representative, walked Jason along the deck of the lead ship.
"Mr. Liu, we've ensured these are battle-ready," President of the shipyard said proudly. "They'll be invincible in the Narrow Sea."
Colonel Nathan grinned, his voice booming over the sound of the shipyard. "One shell from these 100mm guns and those wooden rowboats will turn into toothpicks. Ten of these frigates? You'll be unstoppable."
Jason nodded, impressed by the 100-meter steel hulls, but he felt something was missing. The ships were identical and efficient, but they lacked the "shock and awe" factor needed to break the spirit of his enemies at a glance.
"Colonel these are good," Jason said, looking out over the fleet. "But I need something bigger. Something that makes people's hearts stop the moment it appears on the horizon. I want a 'big guy'—something to truly calm the masses."
President and Colonel Nathan exchanged a knowing look, a flash of excitement in their eyes.
"If it's a 'big guy' you want, Mr. Liu, we have just the thing," President smiled. "We have a 10,000-ton destroyer that was recently retired. It's been meticulously maintained here. If you want it, she's yours."
"A 10,000-ton destroyer?" Jason's interest piqued. Aside from aircraft carriers, those were the undisputed kings of the ocean. "Take me to see it."