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Chapter 30: A New Idea for the Deal
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 15:21:04 +0000 UTCJosh neither knew nor cared about the unfortunate situation of those "good men" who had taken the fall for him.
As long as his own life was going well, that was all that mattered.
Each day he would sleep in until late in the morning, then spend his free time with Margaret, riding horses on a country farm, basking in the sun, or enjoying pastimes like golf or bowling.
Occasionally, they would take a boat ride on Lake Michigan, see a play or a movie at the theater.
They seemed like a honeymooning couple, completely inseparable because of their rich and varied entertainment.
But in the midst of spending so much time with Margaret, Josh didn't neglect his "business" - his interdimensional smuggling operation with Daenerys.
Though he spent most of his days glued to Margaret's side, he still found time here and there to visit Chicago's various gun shops, bookstores, and black markets to acquire items Daenerys had requested.
Every night at 7 p.m., regardless of his other activities, Josh would lock himself in his study for about half an hour to stay in touch with Daenerys and maintain their partnership.
Margaret, though a bit curious about Josh's peculiar habit of locking himself away every night, never poked her head into it.
She understood the importance of giving her partner personal space.
In addition, Josh still maintained his lifestyle from his previous life: no smoking, no excessive drinking, no gambling, and no visits to questionable establishments (not that he had the opportunity).
To Margaret, a man with such healthy habits was a rare treasure. She adored him and didn't see his occasional aloofness as a flaw - quite the opposite. In fact, she found his protectiveness quite charming.
With so many positives, why fuss over such a small, inconsequential issue?
That night at 7:00 p.m., Josh greeted Daenerys through the screen. She was dressed in an elegant, court-style gown.
"I have some new items for you, Daenerys," Josh said.
The gown Josh had sent her as a gift was an Elizabethan-style masterpiece - one Josh had commissioned at great expense.
To be clear, this was Queen Elizabeth I, not the future monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. After all, in 1943, the reigning British monarch was the stuttering King George VI, while the future queen was just an 18-year-old princess.
Daenerys' current attire, while considered luxurious in her world, would seem modest by 20th-century American standards-or even by the grandeur of 15th- and 16th-century European aristocratic fashion.
Still, the dress had captured Daenerys' heart. After all, no woman can resist looking beautiful, especially a queen who must maintain her regal presence in public.
"What is it this time?" Daenerys asked curiously.
"This!" Josh replied as he initiated a transaction.
After confirming the exchange, Daenerys discovered a collection of exquisite jewelry and tableware.
Her eyes lit up as she examined the items, much like the dress Josh had sent her earlier.
The craftsmanship of the jewelry and tableware was breathtaking. Though Daenerys was no stranger to wealth, the artistry behind these items left her speechless.
In terms of sheer wealth, Josh couldn't compare to Daenerys - her treasury far exceeded his. But wealth of raw materials isn't everything; craftsmanship can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
The pieces Josh sent featured intricate designs and delicate details, a stark contrast to the more crude styles of Westerosi jewelry. While handcrafted pieces have a unique charm, technological advances greatly enhance the result.
For example, diamonds, though abundant, were difficult to cut properly in pre-modern times due to their hardness and brittleness. One false move and a large, valuable diamond could shatter.
Then there were materials like aluminum. In modern times, it's common and inexpensive. But in Daenerys' world, where there were no mining processes, aluminum was practically unheard-of-as a mythical metal.
Josh had sent her a set of aluminum jewelry set with small diamonds, along with aluminum tableware.
These items, worth little in 20th-century America, would be considered priceless treasures in Daenerys's world-worthy of any royal collection.
"Such exquisite jewelry! What is this material? I thought it was silver at first, but it's so light!" Daenerys exclaimed as she admired the pieces.
"It's aluminum," Josh explained. "In my world, it's an abundant metal, but its extraction requires special techniques. In your world, producing even small amounts would be nearly impossible - unless your dragons could help, but even then the yield would be minimal."
Daenerys quickly understood the implications.
"Interesting. I see what you're getting at," she said with a smile. "That's a very intriguing idea, Josh. But tell me, is there nothing else you're after besides gold? At this rate, you're going to empty my treasury of all its gold!"
Josh chuckled. "Your Majesty, I'm sure your treasury is far from empty, especially with the items I'm providing. But speaking of which, I have a new idea for our transactions."
"Let's hear it," Daenerys replied.
"Raw materials," Josh said.
