Chapter 90

Gunpowder—more specifically, black powder—is a simple concoction: one part sulfur, two parts saltpeter, and three parts charcoal. The formula is easy to memorize and recite, and plenty of people know it. These proportions represent the chemical components required for the reaction, though there’s an optimized mass ratio—2:15:3—that Aegor recalled. Beyond remembering the recipe, he also understood that "sulfur" and "charcoal" referred to elemental sulfur and carbon, while "saltpeter" was potassium nitrate. Writing out the reaction equation was no challenge; it was basic knowledge anyone with a high school education could grasp.

But knowing the principles was one thing. Producing a practical quantity of usable gunpowder was an entirely different matter—especially when Aegor wasn’t a chemist or geologist and had never attempted to make the substance himself.

Even if he could produce it, he wouldn’t rush to do so.

The reasoning was simple: gunpowder was far too destructive. At present, Aegor was still under the protection of the Iron Throne—or more specifically, its official representative, Eddard Stark. Though Ned likely didn’t even realize it, this arrangement shielded Aegor in King’s Landing. That fact wouldn’t change simply because Aegor had insider knowledge of the storyline or had quietly "saved" Ned from behind the scenes.

Until Aegor had a force entirely loyal to him, creating gunpowder would be tantamount to handing a weapon to others. If word leaked, the ruling elites of this world would undoubtedly seize the new invention and use it in their wars. Explosions don’t discriminate; once the balance of power among the Seven Kingdoms was disrupted, warfare would inevitably spread. While Northern armies might show restraint, the other factions wouldn’t care that he was a "neutral" Night’s Watch officer or a supposed protector of humanity. If the chaos reached the Wall and the Night’s Watch suffered losses—or worse, if Aegor himself fell victim to the technology he introduced—it would be a cosmic joke of epic proportions.

As a transmigrator, Aegor wouldn’t turn down the company of beautiful women, but he had no interest in experiencing artillery duels firsthand. While the idea might sound like a "man’s romance," he’d rather not participate.
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The ideal future, as far as Aegor was concerned, was to establish his own power base and find a reliable backer—or better yet, become independent. Then, at the critical moment, he would unleash this devastating weapon. If the Seven Kingdoms avoided civil war, he’d use it against the White Walkers when they inevitably attacked. If war did break out, he’d seize the chaos to strike, allowing his enemies to experience firsthand the adage: "Yield is truth; range is justice." Crushing all opposition with overwhelming force, he would eliminate every threat before quickly shedding his Night’s Watch identity and reaching the pinnacle of power. Whether to enjoy life in this new world or seek a way back to his own would then be entirely up to him.

Aegor sighed. He couldn’t help but lament the typical "farming transmigrator" setup. If he’d been reincarnated as a prince with lands and vassals from the start, things wouldn’t be so complicated.
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For now, fantasizing and planning for such a distant future was meaningless. Aegor’s current efforts to befriend the pyromancers weren’t just about recruiting a few for his own use or ensuring their expertise could help him develop gunpowder. There was also a more immediate goal: contributing to the defense of the Wall. Wildfire, though extremely dangerous in the warmer south, could serve as a liquid explosive on the cold Wall if handled carefully.

While waiting for the Night’s Watch factory to be completed, Aegor experimented with the bottle of wildfire he’d purchased. He poured out a few milliliters at a time, testing its properties under various conditions.

“Don’t get too close,” he warned Arya, who was watching his experiments with eager curiosity. “If I catch fire, use that bucket of water to douse me.”

The girl giggled and agreed. To her, it was perfectly normal for her adventurous teacher to play with fire—literally.

Thanks to his precautions and careful measures, the experiments caused no injuries. Aegor quickly arrived at several conclusions:

First, wildfire was significantly less dense than water. This was no surprise—light oils are always lighter than water. Wildfire could float on water and even burn atop it, countering the cooling effects. This explained how Tyrion had been able to burn Stannis’s fleet in the original story.

Second, wildfire was hyper-flammable. While it couldn’t ignite from body heat, it was otherwise rarely "calm." A few drops left on sunlit ground would catch fire within seconds. Placing it under direct sunlight for thirty seconds was enough to ignite it. Even snapping fingers nearby—the friction-induced heat—was sufficient to set it ablaze. Without a thermometer, Aegor estimated that temperatures above 50°C would cause spontaneous combustion.

Finally, wildfire had extremely low surface tension, allowing it to seep into and saturate anything it touched. For a flammable liquid, this was an alarmingly dangerous trait.

It was a terrifying substance—but perfect for use against wights.
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When the pyromancer finally arrived to discuss a potential collaboration, Aegor invited him to serve the Night’s Watch in the North. The man refused outright.

The moment "Night’s Watch" was mentioned, the pyromancer’s mind filled with dreadful associations. For older individuals, these perceptions were deeply ingrained. No matter how much Aegor explained, the man wouldn’t budge. The matter was dropped—for now.

Aegor wasn’t discouraged. He was still just a minor Night’s Watch officer; it was unrealistic to expect everything to go smoothly. But once the Night’s Watch industries were up and running, and he had formed strong alliances with nobles in King’s Landing and the Crownlands, the combined power of wealth and influence would become an irresistible force. When that time came, Aegor would return to the pyromancers with an offer they couldn’t refuse.
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As the first investment was secured and the future seemed bright, an unexpected piece of news threw Aegor off balance. During a routine "bonding session" with Arya—essentially extracting information—she let slip a major development she’d overheard from her father and his advisors.
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In the Vale, prominent lords—including Yohn Royce of Runestone, Anya Waynwood of Ironoaks, and Ser Jeor Hunter of Longbow Hall—had secretly formed the League of Justice. Together, they rallied their most elite forces and launched a coup. Through careful planning and coordination, they seized the Bloody Gate with minimal losses and now had the Vale entirely under their control. They surrounded the Eyrie, demanding that Lysa Tully surrender Lord Robert Arryn, face trial for her alleged crimes, and allow the boy’s guardianship to be shared among the allied families.

The league’s declaration, signed at Runestone, had already been sent to King’s Landing. Arya, overhearing her father’s conversations, unwittingly shared the explosive news with Aegor, making him one of the first outside the royal court to learn of it.
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Damn. Bold. Truly bold. Wylis Royce, your father has outdone himself.

Aegor’s initial aim in spreading rumors had been to topple Littlefinger, but rumors, once released, were like Pandora’s box—impossible to control. The chaos had spilled from King’s Landing to the Vale, and now the region, which had remained neutral and untouched during the War of the Five Kings, was the first to descend into turmoil.

Emotionally, Aegor felt little sympathy for Lysa, that madwoman trapped in the Eyrie. But as someone now deeply entangled in the game of money—raising funds through financial schemes and leveraging technology for entrepreneurship—he knew that even the most isolated incidents could ripple across the realm, affecting his plans.

Would this rebellion in the Vale impact his ventures?

Only time would tell.