Three days later, Crab Claw Peninsula.
The first to receive the news was Maester Al, who managed the Klaeb Territory's ravens.
"Earl of Whispers…" Maester Al grinned, revealing his sparse teeth, and with trembling hands, handed the letter to Calaia, who was visibly excited.
"Child, go immediately and give it to Herschel the steward."
"Maester Al, I'll go right away."
Having given the instructions, Maester Al shakily moved to the table and sat down.
The diligent Maester Al needed to record it, so he opened the book detailing the House Clebber's history and solemnly picked up his quill.
Maester Al, as if several years younger, pondered for a moment, then let out a slight smile, and with a flurry of strokes, wielded his quill.
In 297 AC, the young lord ushered in a new chapter for House Clebber.
… … … …
Mason Baker and Pel Pili, who were discussing matters together, simultaneously received news from Herschel the steward.
As sworn knights, Mason and Pel's gazes met, sparks flying.
After settling their excited emotions, both of them simultaneously stared at the map laid out on the long table.
Mason and Pel thought the same thing: I need more military merits!
… … … …
Inside the Thorn Legion's main tent, Impa pushed away Lena, who was practically hanging on her, with a look of disgust.
Inside the Thorn Legion's camp, the cheers of the Thorn Legion soldiers rose and fell, as if they would pierce the sky.
… … … …
Herschel, who had automatically been promoted to Earl's steward, tucked in his large belly and puffed out his chest.
Herschel, enduring the heartache, faithfully carried out Green's orders, and with a wave of his fat hand, opened the treasury gates wide.
The Klaeb Territory temporarily put away its swords and held a grand celebration.
[Klaeb Territory Morale +1]
[Klaeb Territory Progress +1]
[Klaeb Territory Renown +1]
… …
[Klaeb Territory Cohesion +1]
[Klaeb Territory Loyalty +1]
[Klaeb Territory Wealth -1]
… … … …
… … … …
Outside King's Landing, Klay勃 Manor.
For days, the clever Dick had never endured such a barrage of punches and kicks.
When he was first brought in by the Survey Corps, Dick could still bravely shout a few times, but now he had been tormented into nothing but fear.
Upon Green's arrival, Dick, who had been confined to the basement, was dragged over by Survey Corps soldiers and thrown onto the cold stone slab with a thud.
Dick couldn't help but cry out in pain.
"Dick Cleboe?"
Hearing this, Dick suddenly looked up in the direction of the voice, and first saw Green sitting upright, followed by the swamp marigold sigil on Green's clothes.
Dick's pupils constricted, and his body trembled.
Green chuckled softly and said, "It seems you understand the laws of the realm."
Dick looked at Green in terror, opened his mouth, and said, "I… I am your kin."
Although Dick's face was filled with terror, his eyes kept darting around.
While such details were not easy for others to notice, they did not escape Green's eyes.
Green frowned slightly, his eyes moved, and he spoke to Jeffrey, who stood beside him: "Why can I still see deception in him? Was he not cared for diligently?"
[Jeffrey, Head of the Survey Corps in King's Landing]
Jeffrey first bowed in apology, then said, "My Lord, please allow me to bleed him."
Green nodded slightly, and with a clang, Jeffrey drew his sword and stepped towards Dick.
Jeffrey grabbed Dick's hair with one hand and pulled him up, the cold glint of the longsword pressed against his neck.
The cold steel sword completely shattered Dick's last shred of hope, and he even peed himself in fear.
Smelling the foul odor, Jeffrey frowned tightly and looked up at Green.
Green waved Jeffrey away and said, "Dick, your birth father is the second son of a branch family of House Clebber, am I right? Dick Wei Shui?"
Dick nodded blankly and pleaded, "I beg your forgiveness for my offense, I was for…"
Green directly interrupted, "Shanni? Or Yulia Wei Shui?"
"My sister… she… she…"
"She is safe for now. Whether she lives or dies depends on you."
In mortal danger, Dick lowered his face, his eyes darting around again.
At this moment, Dick was filled with endless remorse; he had, after all, implicated his poor sister.
Dick's hair was already soaked with cold sweat, but he did not give up, nor did he dare to give up.
"My esteemed Lord, for the sake of… please give us humble ones a chance."
Green scoffed, saying, "I will naturally give you a chance."
Just as the clever Dick was about to express his profuse gratitude, Green continued, "I don't want to stain my hands with your blood. You do it yourself. Exchange your life for your sister's safety."
Having said that, Green glanced at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey nodded, pulled out the dagger from his waist, and with a clang, threw it in front of Dick.
Dick looked at the dagger in front of him in terror, and couldn't help but wipe the sweat that covered his face.
Seeing that Dick still dared not pick up the dagger, Green patiently advised, "Alas, Seven Hells, but law is law, Dick. Of you two siblings, I will only take one."
Dick, his face ashen, murmured, "I'm sorry, brother is sorry for you."
Dick cried, tears and sweat mixing together, blurring his vision.
Dick tremblingly raised his hand and suddenly grabbed the dagger.
"I hope you…"
Green's cold snort interrupted Dick's words.
His last shred of courage before death, the warning words Dick had painstakingly brewed, were swallowed back in fear.
"Do not try to test my patience, Dick Wei Shui."
Dick screamed in his heart: If you don't keep your word, I won't let you go even if I become a wight!
Dick trembled as he straightened his upper body, gripping the dagger hilt tightly with both hands, the point aimed at himself.
"Mother!" Dick cried out, closing his eyes tightly, and heavily plunged the dagger into his chest.
Clang!
Jeffrey's longsword accurately knocked away Dick's dagger.
Jeffrey put away his longsword, paused, and said to Green, "My Lord, the force was sufficient. If I hadn't blocked it, the dagger would certainly have taken his life. He has…"
Dick, his eyes hollow, first looked at his hand, then at Jeffrey who was speaking, closed his eyes, and fainted.
Jeffrey glanced at Dick, who was slumped on the ground, and continued, "At most half courage."
Green looked up at the upper floor of the hall, where Survey Corps soldiers had been "accompanying" Yulia, witnessing the entire process.
She didn't know when it started, but Yulia began to dislike Dick, sometimes even loathing him.
Today, Yulia watched the usually timid Dick, willing to sacrifice his life for her, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
He repeatedly said he would take her away from there; those were not empty words.
The brother who was full of nonsense and known as clever Dick, it turned out, was only ever honest with her.
Yulia suddenly broke into a tearful smile.
Now, only the image of that tall brother remained in her memory… the Dick who had been her sole reliance since childhood, on whom she had always depended.
When Yulia was brought before Green, she had already composed her fluctuating emotions and could greet Green with a calm expression.
Green raised an eyebrow and said, "Yulia Wei Shui, I can give you two a chance, or rather, give your brother a chance."
Yulia nodded in gratitude: "My Lord, we understand our deep sins, and we thank you for your mercy. We will forever remember your kindness."
"Dick needs to complete a task. During the task period, I will take care of your living arrangements. Once the task is completed, I will give you your reward."
Yulia moved her lips; she wanted to ask what kind of task the frail Dick would be assigned, and if it would be dangerous.
Yulia had already realized that her and her brother's lives were in the hands of the person before her, and she dared not overestimate Green's patience.
Dick was at least temporarily out of mortal danger; now Yulia could only pray to the gods in her heart.
Green spoke to Jeffrey, "Jeffrey, he's yours."
Starting tomorrow, Jeffrey would be responsible for teaching Dick various combat skills, including Jeffrey's most proficient skill, the dagger.
Everything else Jeffrey would arrange according to the actual situation, Green only made one special request: he demanded that Dick's target for dagger practice be… Jeffrey no longer thought about it.
The Survey Corps needed no doubt, only to offer… loyalty.
… … … …
… … … …
The 'King of Competition' Green returned to King's Landing near dusk and finally received an audience with Queen Cersei.
Green looked at the darkening sky, felt the armor he had been wearing constantly lately, and rode his horse towards the Red Keep with his guards.
Arriving at the Red Keep gate, Green left his guards nearby, taking only Mondon Wei Shui and Matier Baker into the Red Keep.
Outside Maegor's Holdfast, Green saw Jaime Lannister, one hand on his sword hilt.
His snow-white cloak fluttered in the wind, and Jaime still looked golden-haired and spirited.
Before Green could greet him, Jaime playfully said, "Good evening, My Lord Earl."
Green spread his hand: "Good evening, Ser, this unexpected enfeoffment has kept me restless lately."
Jaime's smile was strange: "Loyalty knows no fear of testing."
Green rolled his eyes inwardly. I'm not a Lannister; I don't have inherent trust, let alone with Boss Cersei.
Green confirmed again that he and Jaime were incompatible; he had misjudged.
Jaime was actually a bit sarcastic because he later learned about Green teaching Myrcella horsemanship and couldn't help but feel angry.
Green and Jaime always seemed to fall into misunderstandings, always on different wavelengths, which indeed meant they were incompatible.
… … … …
Regardless of his inner thoughts, Green approached Jaime, glanced at Maegor's Holdfast, and lowered his voice: "Is she angry?"
Jaime raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Who is she?"
Green rolled his eyes outwardly this time and expressed his dissatisfaction with Jaime by remaining silent.
Jaime smiled and said, "Earl, you get nervous too?"
Green shrugged and said, "Ser Jaime, are you not afraid of Her Grace the Queen?"
Jaime disliked word games because he wasn't good at them: "I tried my best, but the effect wasn't obvious, Earl Green. Now you can only rely on yourself…"
He paused, seemingly organizing his words: "Queen Cersei, you should also have some understanding of her character. Loyalty knows no fear of testing."
Through Jaime's words, Green could already confirm that Queen Cersei's attitude had not deviated from his expected outcome.
Green sighed softly: "Ser Jaime, it is precisely because I understand Her Grace the Queen that I am at a loss. That old… Duke, his methods this time were clever enough, and with King Robert involved, it's hard for Queen Cersei not to misunderstand."
Jaime patted Green, comforting him: "I'm glad you think that way. Let's go in together."
At this moment, they heard relatively uniform footsteps.
More than ten Lannister red cloaks appeared in their line of sight, divided into three groups, subtly forming a circle around Green.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Martial nervously gripped his sword hilt.
Mondon looked at Martial with a simple-minded expression, silently reaching for the warhammer at his waist.
Martial glanced at the honest-looking Mondon, and his tense mood gradually calmed. Mondon was a reliable fat man.
Martial's heart grew excited again; glory was within reach.
New calves don't fear tigers. Martial had no doubt about their combat strength; he and Mondon were enough to protect their lord's safety.
Martial, descendant of a sworn knight and Earl's squire, lifted his chin, looking at the red cloaks with great disdain.
… … … …
Green expressionlessly looked around; it was indeed Boss Cersei's style.
Jaime frowned tightly, staring at the leading red cloak: "Get back. Who told you to come here?"
Besides him, who else in the Red Keep could directly command the Lannister red cloaks? The answer was obvious. Jaime asked a rhetorical question that wasn't entirely pointless.
The red cloak leader replied, "Ser Jaime, we received orders from Her Grace the Queen."
Jaime said coldly, "What orders from Her Grace the Queen?"
The red cloak hesitated and was about to speak but was interrupted by Green.
Green shook his head slightly and said, "Ser Jaime, please take me to see Queen Cersei."
Green had no choice but to interrupt.
The red cloaks were all carefully trained Lannister guards. Asking them to wield swords was no problem, but asking them to understand subtle expressions was asking too much of them.
Jaime was the true leader of the Lannister red cloaks in the Red Keep. Under his interrogation, the red cloaks would only tell the truth.
Looking at the red cloaks' current posture, the answer was pretty clear. Green dared not hope that Boss Cersei had issued any gentle orders.
Saying it and not saying it could turn into two completely different things.
Control, at least, don't let things get out of hand.
… … … …
So, Green proactively interrupted their subsequent words.
Jaime, too, had been momentarily flustered by Cersei's "surprise." Seeing Green's calm expression, he quickly regained his composure.
Green added, "Ser, loyalty knows no fear of testing."
Jaime nodded slightly and took the first step.
Tap, tap, tap… In the empty Maegor's Holdfast, only Green and Jaime's footsteps could be heard.
At this moment, Jaime had already made his decision. Jaime glanced at Green without a change in expression, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightening gradually.
For his beloved, he had secretly increased his vigilance towards Green.
… … … …
Third floor of Maegor's Holdfast.
Green and Jaime stopped almost simultaneously, looking at a room door.
This room was where Green was first summoned privately by Queen Cersei during his first attendance at the Council meeting.
Green's strongest impression of this room was that it was exceptionally soundproof, keeping secret how he would deal with the Queen's Quarter.
The door opened, and Green found Cersei standing by the window, her back to them.
Jaime stepped forward, as usual, standing guard beside Cersei with his sword.
Green bowed with his hand on his chest: "Good evening, Your Grace the Queen."
Cersei turned her face slightly and spoke coldly: "Why didn't you refuse that drunkard's enfeoffment?"
Jaime looked at Green, who was momentarily speechless, and advised, "Queen Cersei, he is King Robert's vassal. If he refused…"
Cersei interrupted loudly, "Jaime, loyalty knows no fear!"
"Cersei…"
"Jaime, I don't want to hear any more weak excuses. Get out!"