"The tricks should end now!" Gendry nodded. It seemed this wave of operations in Gulltown would soon yield a rich harvest. All financial scams, no matter how well packaged, are ultimately just packaging. Littlefinger's scam relied entirely on his years of unyielding position and encountering an idle king.
Of course, Gendry still acknowledged Littlefinger's business acumen. His foresight in stocking up on grain during autumn and winter alone was a boldness many lacked.
"My Lord, according to my preliminary estimate, Littlefinger's personal savings are above a million golden eagles, and that doesn't include his real estate, fixed assets, Littlefinger's external creditors, or his properties in King's Landing. This is just us raiding Littlefinger's home; many of Littlefinger's minions also possess considerable wealth."
Ser Barristan's heart also tightened. It seemed Littlefinger was even more avaricious than they had imagined.
"Truly cunning methods." Earl Jellico handed Gendry some preliminary transcribed lists, and Gendry's eyes were somewhat opened. Gendry saw large numbers and accounts. Gulltown indeed lived up to its reputation as one of the five great cities, and Littlefinger had amassed a considerable fortune through his position in Gulltown and as master of coin.
Fraud, smuggling, selling offices, personal investments—he truly made a killing, leaving behind a huge deficit and numerous holes. However, all this gold would now belong to Gendry.
One can never have too many golden eagles; there are always places to spend money.
Perhaps this money could be used to purchase grain in small, frequent amounts, fearing that future days might be even harder.
"Millions of golden eagles, these people truly have audacious nerve," Gendry said, his voice filled with murderous intent. Once confiscated, this money would be considered part of the royal treasury.
When the cannons roar, gold flows in abundance. While the wealth obtained from such confiscation was somewhat brutal, the money came incredibly fast.
"Everyone else in Gulltown has been brought under control, only Littlefinger's smuggling fleet remains," Earl Jellico said.
"Torture Littlefinger severely. His less valuable accomplices should be dealt with directly. Besides the location of the smugglers' fleet, some people in the Vale were also involved in Littlefinger's conspiracy, such as the youngest son of Longbow Hall," Gendry said.
Littlefinger's organization was like an octopus; he was the brain, and the customs, brothels, and smugglers were his tentacles. Now that the brain was gone, the rest would quickly be resolved. Gendry suspected Littlefinger might also have some foreign connections, so further interrogation seemed necessary.
"In the name of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the first men, ruler of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm, I, as the legitimate heir of The late King, sentence them to death," Gendry said, looking at the list Jellico handed him, directly covering the first page.
Jellico had organized it well; all the traitors were listed in perfect order. The small number deeply involved in Littlefinger's treason, and the large number deeply involved in Littlefinger's embezzlement and smuggling, all faced a death sentence.
"Yes, My Lord!"
"Lord Jellico, Lord Essenba, before Littlefinger, who held these positions you mentioned?" Gendry asked.
"The harbormaster, tax collector, customs officers, wool agent, road toll collector, shipmaster, wine merchant, etc. These people should have been appointed by royal decree, but the master of coin had a great deal of influence," Earl Jellico said. With a king like Robert, these appointments were practically all recommended by Littlefinger. They were all connected, which made their apprehension quite easy.
"The power to judge now belongs to you, and these people should also be appointed by you," Essenba Arryn quickly said.
"The few of you draft a list later; I want to see it," Gendry commanded.
"Yes, My Lord," Essenba and Jellico replied cheerfully. They had not embezzled Littlefinger's property, but these positions originally had their recommendations, and even if the prominent royal positions were gone, smaller positions could be arranged for distant relatives known to the family.
"In my name, promote some smaller but reputable merchants with slightly less power. Although the market has fallen, the gaps need to be filled, and these people can claim royal loans. As for professional customs technical personnel, I suppose Gulltown is not lacking them?" Gendry looked at the two.
"It can be done," Earl Jellico nodded. After all, he was a port lord and had a well-trained management team, so filling the vacancies now would just mean a bit more work.
In addition to the positions, due to the market void, those smaller merchants lacking strength now also had the possibility of rising rapidly. Granaries, brothels—these businesses are always in constant flux.
"Prince Gendry, My Lords." Lothor and Ser Uther Shite entered the hall cheerfully at this moment. Lothor held a beautifully packaged sword in his hands.
"What is this?"
"You'll know when you see it," Lothor stepped forward and handed the longsword to Gendry.
Gendry opened the packaging. It was a jeweled sword with a ruby-decorated pommel, a long, subtly wavy hilt, and a blade like black smoke, with a dark sharpness.
"A valyrian steel sword."
"Yes, Your Highness. We found it in the secret chamber of a wealthy merchant who was eliminated. It should be the lost famous sword orphan-maker."
"orphan-maker, I didn't expect to encounter this one first." Gendry stood up, examining the sharp sword. He had, of course, thought about famous swords; he had experienced it when he fought Lyn. In narrow terrain, if an arakh was difficult to wield, a sword was more suitable.
Many valyrian steel swords had disappeared, and he hadn't expected this sword to reappear. This sword originally belonged to the now extinct House Rockton, and later to House Peake.
orphan-maker was also a renowned famous sword.
During the Dance of the Dragons civil war, Ser Jon Rockton, wielding this sword, fought for Aegon Targaryen II and the Greens. The fearless Jon killed Earl Orton, killed Earl Foote, cutting him in half. He then killed the Dragonrider Hugh the Iron Hammer, after which he was killed by Hugh's men in a battle where he was outnumbered ten to one.
After Jon's death, this sharp sword eventually fell into the hands of the great schemer, Earl Unwin Peake. Later, House Peake was implicated in treason, involved in the Blackfyre Rebellion and other messy affairs, and orphan-maker also disappeared.
"Lord Uther, Lord Lothor, you are truly stars of fortune," Gendry said to the two. While the act of confiscation was severe, the rewards were considerable.
"This is thanks to Lord Petyr's generosity," the golden eagle joked, and everyone laughed heartily.
On the third day, under a light drizzle, in a certain wilderness outside Gulltown, beneath the banner of House Grafton.
House Grafton's taxi soldiers brought out all of Littlefinger's loyalists—customs officials, brothel owners, and so on—after which there was a frenzy of killing.
Meanwhile, on another road, a group of Knights escorted several carriages towards The Eyrie, Littlefinger's final hour.
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