Chapter 96 Income Inventory
After escaping the Dragonpit, Ian sent most of the surviving mercenaries, Bronn included, to a house by the river to await his summons. He claimed he was going to the Red Keep to be honored for his service and would send for them once it was done.
It was a plausible excuse, and it allowed Ian to rid himself of them, keeping only the steadfastly loyal Dorian the Black Falcon and his two most trusted companions.
Originally, Ian had planned to take a large contingent of the Black Falcon mercenaries to Pentos, but that was a plan for when 'everything went well.' If the gold-robes had never attacked, he could have found plenty of reasons—bolstered by coin—to persuade them to follow him under a new identity.
But now they were fugitives. If he were to lose his "Lucian Lannister" persona on top of everything else, Ian couldn't guarantee what might happen.
Even Bronn was too much of a risk to keep close.
To accommodate Rohr's injury, Ian purchased a carriage in King's Landing. They left the city through the Lion Gate, a small, unassuming party. Dorian had questioned the new plan, but when Ian simply told him he had other purposes in mind, the man faithfully chose to obey.
The group traveled north along the Rosby Road, a direct route from King's Landing to Duskendale. It wasn't until nightfall that they reached the lands of House Rosby and its castle, which was hardly larger than a village. Given the darkness, they decided to make camp there for the night.
At last, Ian found a moment to take stock of his gains from the trip to King's Landing.
He logged into the system, his vision immediately filled with a list of new messages in his inbox.
He reviewed them in chronological order:
[Bounty Mission 2 'Treasure Hunt' Complete]
[Your subordinate successfully killed a player. You gain 2 points, seize 1 point, and gain 1 extra point of Mental Power.]
[Your subordinate successfully killed a player. You gain 2 points, seize 2 points, and gain 1 extra point of Strength.]
Judging from these two messages, it seemed that while the gold-robes were attacking him, Ser Grantham had successfully ambushed the players from Pentos, killing both of them.
Next was the previous night's settlement report:
[Settlement Report for Day 28. Current number of remaining players: 56]
Not that many had died in King's Landing. This data suggested that player conflicts had undoubtedly erupted in the other cities where treasure chests were located.
The final message was from that morning.
[You have successfully killed a player. You gain 4 points, seize 18 points, 3 skill points, 1 Basic Skill Scroll of your choice, and gain 4 extra points of Strength.]
This was clearly the reward for killing the gold-robed player. Because Ian had thrown the torch himself, igniting the wildfire that burned the man to death, the profits were not halved. The haul was substantial: skill points, a skill scroll, and a full eighteen points seized from his victim.
The gold-robed player had obviously completed the primary [Butcher] achievement by killing three players himself, and he clearly hadn't spent any points on clues.
This confirmed that Ian's deductions back in the cellar had been largely correct.
It made him wonder. If the gold-robed player had been willing to spend the coin and buy all four clues, would he have seen the tunnel in the Stranger's Temple and realized it might lead to the Dragonpit? Knowing the stories of the wildfire caches hidden there, he likely wouldn't have charged into the tunnel himself.
But there were no what-ifs. Everyone had their flaws.
Ian had been greedy. The gold-robe had been stingy. And they had both paid the price for their shortcomings.
Shaking his head, Ian dismissed the thoughts and began to review his updated information page. He had spent twenty points on a potion to save Rohr and another ten to expand his backpack that morning.
The final, updated stats were:
[Ian]
Strength: 32
Agility: 27
Mental Power: 7
Skills: Basic Etiquette, Basic Common Tongue Literacy, Advanced Swordsmanship, Advanced Horsemanship, Intermediate Lance
Attribute Points: 0
Skill Points: 6
Points: 26
Items: Basic Skill Scroll (Choice) x2
Beyond the data on the page, Ian's current wealth included 6,500 gold dragons in his system backpack, the "change" Case carried on his person, and a Valyrian steel greatsword.
His forces consisted of two powerful 'faith militant' warriors in Rohr and Case, the 'Dornishman' Denzel whom he had won over before ever setting foot in King's Landing, and the 'Black Falcon' Dorian, whom he was about to secure.
"Dorian, come here," Ian called, finishing his inventory. "I have something to tell you."
Ian had always been a good judge of character. He knew that by avenging Dorian's adoptive father, he had earned the man's unwavering loyalty.
***
After leaving the Dragonpit, Rebecca passed a dilapidated watchtower and started down a winding staircase descending Rhaenys's Hill. The buildings north of the pit were almost completely deserted, looking as if they hadn't been inhabited for a century.
After navigating the moss-covered steps, she re-entered a part of the city teeming with life. She slipped through two alleys before stopping in front of a three-story wooden building. Over the door hung a gorgeous oil lamp on a heavy chain, its light softened by a leaded, red glass lampshade.
"Shataya's," Rebecca muttered to herself. "Littlefinger's brothel." She pushed the door open and walked inside.
***
"Janos Slynt," Petyr Baelish announced with a strange smile as a man entered the council chamber. "The Commander of the City Watch has arrived."
At the name, Varys turned to look at the short, bald man who had just entered. "Do you know why we have summoned you?"
"The bloodbath in Flea Bottom?" Janos said angrily. He had known since the report of his annihilated platoon came in that he would eventually be called before the council.
"Very good," Varys nodded. "We are close."
"It's not that?" Janos looked at the bald eunuch in surprise.
"It is that matter, but not the matter itself," Petyr said, taking over. He produced an envelope from his sleeve. "This is a letter detailing your income from corruption and bribery over the years."
"Absurd!" Janos's frog-like face flushed red. "This is slander! Vicious slander!"
Petyr ignored his retort. "It lists, in detail, your practice of buying and selling official positions, as well as the bribes you've collected from junior officers. Furthermore, it mentions the truth behind the mysterious deaths of two witnesses found when Lord Arryn last brought charges against you."
"I said it was slander!" Janos repeated, his voice still loud, but the confidence he'd had a second ago had vanished.
---
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