Janos Slynt’s rise to the position of Commander of the City Watch was, in truth, a product of compromise and negotiation among various factions in King’s Landing.
The City Watch, as the management force of the Seven Kingdoms’ largest city, was a position rife with opportunity and profit. The noble houses of the Crownlands, especially those based in King’s Landing, had long vied for control, so how could a butcher-born commoner rise to such a prestigious office?
For three...
“You’re not the first person who’s tried to bring down Slynt,” Ser Jacelyn Bywater said after a moment of silence. “But do you even know who’s behind him?”
“King Robert. And I know why His Grace favors him—because Slynt follows orders without question, never asks why, never boasts about it afterward. That’s correct, isn’t it?”
“Looks like you’ve done your homework. Since you’re aware of this, what makes you so confident you can take him down?” Byw...
Aegor understood that Tyrion wasn’t wrong—he really might be lacking a bit of ruthlessness these days. Since leaving the Wall, his role had gradually shifted from a Night’s Watch ranger to a merchant draped in black. The mission to quell the Vale rebellion had consumed too much of his time. He hadn’t yet developed the long-term vision, decisiveness, and ferocity of a true capitalist, and the sharpness of a soldier had been dulled by the repetitive grind of making deals and sweet-talki...
2025-01-28 22:34:04 +0000 UTC View Post"Arya just told me," Aegor reminded Tyrion, "Slynt was summoned by Robert last night."
"So what?" Tyrion gave Aegor an annoyed glance. "I’m targeting him precisely because he’s a fool who thinks he has the King’s backing. And you—aren’t you supposed to be the legendary White Walker Slayer? Could you try showing a bit more resolve? I’ve got a plan for dealing with Slynt. Just follow my lead."
"Alright, let’s hear it."
"I want in!" Arya interrupted, her excite...
"When I got home yesterday, I went to let my father know I was back—he always insists on knowing after my sword lessons," Arya began, trying to recall. "From a distance, I could already hear King Robert’s booming voice. As I got closer, I heard them talking about Varys... you know, the spymaster. My father seemed to be questioning, ‘Whose side is this eunuch really on?’" She frowned in thought. "When I entered the room to greet him, Father told me to leave. Later, at dinner... oh, I r...
2025-01-28 22:33:26 +0000 UTC View PostThe moment Tyrion entered, the entire Night's Watch office seemed to carry an air of authority. Aegor immediately felt a weight lifted from his shoulders, as if he finally had someone reliable to lean on. When it came to maneuvering in political battles, neither his scientific knowledge nor forward-thinking ideas held any advantage. In this arena, it was Tyrion, a man born into privilege and steeped in this world of intrigue since childhood, who truly excelled.
While the plan of action...
Aegor finally understood the saying, "It’s easier to deal with the Devil himself than with his minions." His original plan was simple: once Neil was released, he would visit the City Watch, offer an apology, admit some fault, and perhaps provide some benefits to smooth things over. But Janos Slynt showed no intention of resolving the conflict—instead, he escalated it without hesitation.
Reclaiming the property? Technically, as the Commander of the City Watch, Slynt did have the aut...
After receiving the bribe, the messenger was eager to answer Aegor’s questions, and he quickly learned the outcome of the Vale rebellion.
Lysa Tully, who had holed herself up in the Eyrie, ultimately came down from the mountains. But, to the surprise of many, she wasn’t subjected to the harsh punishment people had expected. Instead, she was simply sent back to her family’s home in Riverrun, while her son, “Sweetrobin,” was left behind in the Vale under the regency and care of...
"You’re the Hand of the King, aren’t you? Why are you asking me for answers? What’s the point of having you then?" Robert’s face was nearly purple with rage. If not for the fact that the man across from him was Eddard Stark—his dear friend and Warden of the North—Robert might have hurled something at his face by now. "Investigate! Ask questions! As long as you can figure out where and when that woman and her brother were together, how often, and for how long, you’ll be closer to...
2025-01-28 22:32:09 +0000 UTC View PostThe door to the Hand’s office was flung open without warning, and the guards outside didn’t even attempt to stop the intruder. Had their vigilance deteriorated, or had they simply abandoned their sense of duty?
Eddard Stark barely had time to feel either confusion or anger. He looked up, only to rise from his chair in shock. "Your Grace... you’re back already? This morning, I was told the earliest you’d arrive would be tomorrow."
"Don’t get me started. I’ve been ridi...
When Commander Mormont initially decided to separate Aegor's hired helpers from the "legitimate members of the Night's Watch," Aegor had been briefly frustrated, suspecting that his infiltration plan had been uncovered. However, as the Night's Watch industries began to flourish exponentially, his perspective began to shift.
The few hundred professional soldiers of the Watch were indeed a formidable force, but the overall quality of the recruits was too mixed. In truth, only the rangers...
Robert had not yet returned to King’s Landing, but the orders he issued had already been delivered to the capital of the Seven Kingdoms by his messengers. Much like how Aegor had been appointed to join the royal army two months ago, the King might forget what he had said or commanded, but those who heard the orders, transmitted them, and especially those who received them, could not afford to let them slip their minds.
Robert’s decisions regarding the Guild of Pyromancers had alrea...
"How can someone act like this?!" Arya exploded as soon as she heard the embellished account from the messenger, carefully guided and exaggerated under Aegor's instruction. "Just because Sister Nina refused to eat with him, he holds a grudge and arrests her brother?"
"That's an abuse of power. It's despicable." Margaery chimed in, feigning righteous indignation with a perfectly innocent yet meaningful glance at Aegor. She didn’t believe this incident was a mere coincidence. Something...
Winter has come, but in the warm South, things are still running, albeit not smoothly, yet with a semblance of stability.
As a "proper" Night's Watchman who has sworn his oath, guarded the Wall, and even slain White Walkers, the First Logistics Officer had no idea what thrilling adventures his brothers were engaged in beyond the Wall amidst hordes of wildlings and all manner of monsters. He, on the other hand, was stuck in the safety of King's Landing, in the Night's Watch First Office...
Amidst the neighing of horses, the barking of hounds, and the chaotic cacophony of noise, rangers tasked with luring wights rode past in scattered groups, galloping through the snow. The rest of the waiting Night’s Watch members hastily mounted their horses, leaving behind many supplies in their rush to escape. There was no time to retrieve anything; at the urging of the First Ranger, every man spurred his mount forward, following the hounds along their predetermined route.
Wooo—wo...
Winter is here.
The sky was dark, the air damp and cold, and the biting chill crept silently into every crack of clothing and armor, leaving men shivering to the bone. The lands beyond the Wall had never known summer, but even by their standards, the temperature had dropped drastically over the past few months.
Snow fell incessantly, blanketing the ground in a pristine white layer that concealed any footprints left behind. Everywhere the eye could see was an endless expanse of s...
Arya undeniably possessed exceptional talent for swordsmanship, but there were some skills that could not be acquired through intelligence or a short period of training on the practice field. Aegor could hold his own against the Red Viper for a few seconds because of his extensive experience sparring with countless brothers of the Night’s Watch and wildlings beyond the Wall. While his skill level wasn’t extraordinary, he had enough practical experience and instinct to recognize the immens...
2025-01-28 22:29:42 +0000 UTC View PostHuh… what just happened?
Aegor had just finalized two deals worth 2,000 gold dragons each and was beginning to think about how best to invest the 4,000 dragons he was about to receive. He relaxed for less than a minute—and in that brief moment, his beloved apprentice… had been stolen right before his eyes!
Margaery’s live demonstration of her ability to “turn strangers into friends” was absolutely jaw-dropping. The seamless transition from a sharp and relentless nego...
If the story of A Song of Ice and Fire were turned into a role-playing game, Margaery Tyrell would be one of those characters with virtually zero combat ability, yet incredibly high charisma and intelligence. On top of that, she’d have a unique passive trait, cultivated under the tutelage of the Queen of Thorns herself: unwavering willpower, rendering her immune to verbal tricks.
Aegor prided himself on his ability to present facts and reason convincingly, spinning a web of seven par...
Nina quickly slipped away to fetch cups and drinks while Aegor personally pulled out chairs for the two guests as a gesture of respect. Just as he turned back, he noticed a third figure entering the room: a mature woman who, while not conventionally beautiful, exuded charm and an exotic allure.
“Let me introduce my paramour, Ellaria Sand,” said the Red Viper, clasping the woman’s hand and presenting her with the air of a devoted husband introducing his wife. “Darling, this is t...
Compared to Cersei and Jaime Lannister, Janos Slynt wasn’t much of a threat. His interest in Nina felt trivial compared to the suffocating pressure brought by the rumors circulating in King’s Landing. The Night’s Watch enterprises had already entwined themselves with many factions in the capital and didn’t fear a glorified city watch captain. Aegor set the matter aside for now. After dinner, he cleaned up, lay on the bed, and tried to come up with strategies to counter the rumors. Whe...
2025-01-28 22:28:29 +0000 UTC View Post"Being pretty isn’t always a good thing for a common girl," Tyrion had remarked just over an hour ago. Was his tongue blessed with foresight? How else could his words come true so quickly? Was he a natural jinx, or had he heard something beforehand and deliberately used their earlier conversation to warn Aegor?
The trope of “abducting a maiden” isn’t just a fabricated drama device to depict villains. Throughout history, men of power and status have used coercion or outright for...
Most of the employees at the office were natives of King’s Landing, and since they could go home after work, only Jaqen, Neil, and Nina lived there. Including Aegor and Casey, that made five people total. Even with each person having their own room, less than a quarter of the building’s rooms were in use—space was plentiful.
It was about dinner time. Before leaving King’s Landing, Aegor had relied on the albatross innkeeper to handle his meals. Now that he’d moved out, it was...
The two leaned against the railing and continued chatting for a while, with Aegor recounting his experiences in the allied army’s camp over the past two months. He began by describing Robert’s seemingly impressive but ultimately fruitless assault on the Bloody Gate, then moved on to the grand matchmaking affair among the six kingdoms’ nobles. Naturally, he mentioned securing several investment prospects and reminded Tyrion to have all departments prepared for upcoming receptions.
The watchtower wasn’t particularly tall, but with the surrounding land flat and no taller structures nearby, their view was almost completely unobstructed. Even from this vantage point, the farthest reaches of the fenced perimeter to the west were barely visible, just a faint line on the horizon.
“How much land did you enclose?” Aegor asked.
“As much as the Hand approved,” Tyrion replied with a shrug. “I drew the boundary up to the edge of inhabited areas—couldn’...
Aegor felt as if he’d just been slapped hard across the face.
Moments ago, he had been brimming with confidence, planning the future of the Night’s Watch industries and the logistics security division. His grand vision of building a peaceful enterprise in this chaotic world, borrowing inspiration from the Knights Templar to achieve wealth and power, seemed well within reach. But in an instant, reality hit him like a hammer.
He should’ve known better—this was the world of...
Chairman Mao once said, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Aegor agreed wholeheartedly. While he had no immediate plans for rebellion or revolution, he couldn’t ignore the profound truth in this statement. Remove the phrase “political power,” and the blank could be filled with countless possibilities. In this chaotic and backward world, the value of armed forces was immeasurable. Building his own army had been on Aegor’s mind from the beginning—he had a plan and...
2025-01-28 22:26:39 +0000 UTC View PostDuring the European Middle Ages, the Knights Templar became wealthy beyond imagination by engaging in banking and commerce, rivaling the treasuries of kings and dukes. They were the largest creditors to countless rulers and nobles but ultimately met their downfall at the hands of their biggest client—King Philip IV of France. The king issued a nationwide arrest warrant that obliterated the Templars, and their attempt to seek refuge through the Church failed. They became casualties of the po...
2025-01-28 22:26:20 +0000 UTC View PostFrom a distance, Aegor could already see the scale of his enterprise.
It was impossible to miss. The factory, a result of assembly line production requiring substantial space and relying on the Blackwater Rush for water power, dictated the orientation and layout of the buildings, and thus their location. The structure was a rectangular behemoth, fifty to sixty meters long, thirty to forty meters wide, and seven to eight meters high—a massive brick-like building perched beside the Bla...
"Get ready, we're going to the factory."
Nina froze. "Right now?"
"Yes." Aegor wasn’t one to fight unprepared battles. He had secured many deals in the allied army's camp, and with nobles like Margaery and others from the Six Kingdoms potentially visiting the office to discuss investments, they might request a tour of the industrial park. As the boss, if he were caught off guard by his own factory’s rapid development, it would be embarrassing. He liked having everything firm...