Regarding House Flint, Lynn knew very little. He only knew that the Countess had a young son who was currently following Robb's northern expeditionary army, serving as a personal guard.
While waiting for the noblewoman to answer—
Lynn lowered his head in thought as well, his mind spinning rapidly.
The situation was getting worse and worse.
For him, compared to the Others and wights trapped on the sea vessel, the Ironborn hiding in the mangrove forests were just as great a threat.
He had ambushed their merchant ships and killed over a hundred of their Ironborn brothers. By now, they were probably nursing a bone-deep hatred toward him.
Sensing the awkward predicament he was in, Lynn's heart wavered slightly.
He began to reflect on whether he had been too hasty.
Too many things had been thought of too simply.
In truth, his territory had not yet fallen into famine. With the wealth taken from the Three Sisters islands, Lynn was fully qualified to choose a steadier path of development—such as going to White Harbor to buy grain, hiring refugees displaced by the war in the Riverlands, and opening up farmland of his own to produce food.
After all, the current fishing village port was nothing more than a small settlement. What was the point of explosively raising troops? Even if he really pulled together an army of a thousand men, what could he do with it?
Join the war between North and South?
No. That would be stupid.
Aside from drawing attention to himself and pushing himself under the spotlight, it wouldn't really change the overall situation.
The great houses of the Westeros continent had foundations not to be underestimated. Though he sympathized with the Starks in his heart, rashly trying to change anything would be no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot. His weight simply wasn't enough.
"Endurance and development… are they really my only choice right now?"
Lynn opened his eyes and gave a bitter smile.
At the same time, the Countess of Flint fell silent as well. She was hesitating over whether she should trust the young lord before her.
Although she had seen with her own eyes at sea how impressive Lynn's forces were, they were still far too weak.
Seeing the woman sink into silence, Lynn frowned slightly. He didn't have time to waste here.
He slowly rose to his feet, preparing to have Old Hill see the guest out.
But the Countess suddenly revealed a brilliant smile and said, "The Iron Islands detoured to the eastern coast this time to purchase grain in secret. Now that something has gone wrong, House Flint—as the largest family on the eastern coast of the North—will be blamed by them whether we were involved or not. As long as it concerns your attack on their fleet, given the temperament of the Iron Islands, they'll dump the blame squarely on us."
Lynn sat back down and nodded, expressing his agreement.
But then again, are you thinking of blackmailing me over this?
That said, if the Iron Islands really do dump the blame on you, it's not entirely unjust.
After all, in the current situation, this really can't be separated from your Flint family.
Others came to buy grain, you sold grain—by all accounts a win-win deal. Yet your Flint people directly led the Others onto someone else's merchant ships.
Such a vicious arrangement—doesn't that count as screwing others over?
The Countess noticed the disdain in Lynn's eyes.
She explained, "The matter of the Others climbing onto the Ironborn merchant ships happened after the grain was already loaded. It was sudden and not something my Flint family deliberately arranged."
Lynn waved his hand. "There's no need for you to explain anything to me, madam. Your ship chose to enter my port—surely it wasn't simply to avoid the storm at sea, was it?"
The beautiful woman lifted her alluring eyes, laying the cards on the table.
"That's right. You're very smart. After seeing the strength of your forces at sea, I had the idea of seeking your help."
"You mean… having my men escort you back to Widow's Watch?"
"Yes. The blue-eyed monsters have blocked the port of Widow's Watch. The people around me aren't enough. If you send men to escort me back to the castle, once it's done, I will remember your assistance."
Lynn nodded slowly and said expressionlessly, "For House Flint and for you, Countess, Fishing Village Port holds you in the highest respect and is very willing to help. However, there is still a group of Ironborn remnants hiding in the mangrove forests along the northern coast. If I send my troops with you, this place will become dangerous."
Glancing at the female swordsman beside the Countess, Lynn continued, "Moreover, there's still a group of blue-eyed monsters eyeing us from the stranded sea vessel."
That female swordsman couldn't hold back again and cut in, "I think Your Excellency simply doesn't want to help. Madam, let's just go to White Harbor and seek Lord Manderly."
Hearing this, Lynn sneered.
Most of House Manderly's forces in White Harbor had already been drawn away to Robb. Where would reinforcements come from?
Just as Lynn had thought—
House Flint and House Manderly were both bannermen of House Stark. The Countess of Flint knew White Harbor's current situation like the back of her hand.
She ignored the female swordsman beside her, lifted her head, her delicate brows stirring slightly, and smiled at Lynn. "What if I can help you lure out the Ironborn sailors hiding in the mangrove forests?"
"Ahem! That could be considered," Lynn replied after pretending to ponder for a moment.
In his heart, however, he couldn't help but complain—I was waiting for you to say that. You could've said it earlier!
The female swordsman grew anxious upon hearing this. "Madam, the Iron Islands are allied with us—"
"Enough!" The Countess seemed genuinely angry. She shot the woman a fierce glare. "You've said enough today. In front of the northern nobility, do not disgrace the etiquette of House Flint."
"Just a small lord," the female swordsman muttered under her breath, pouting when she saw the Countess was truly angry.
Although Lynn didn't hear clearly what the female knight was muttering, it certainly wasn't anything nice. In an era where social hierarchy was so rigid, an ordinary knightly family could never have raised a woman so lacking in decorum. To be spoiled into such a state—she had to be born into a great noble house.
He took in the expressions of both women. To say they were merely mistress and servant—only a fool would believe that.
After that, Lynn and the Countess of Flint briefly discussed the specific plan.
The meeting soon came to an end.
This matter couldn't be delayed. It was best to settle it before nightfall, to avoid complications later.
Watching the Countess and the female swordsman drive off in their carriage, disappearing into the curtain of rain,
Lynn summoned a patrol trooper from the Xiao Qi Tuan cavalry.
"Go notify Rodat and Harry Kane at the port. Once they see people dispatched from a Flint family ship and heading toward the mangrove forests, immediately lead the port's Xiao Qi Tuan to find an ambush point on the northern slope outside the city. The moment a horn sounds inside the city, bring your men to encircle them outside the gate. Remember—not a single Ironborn is to be let go."
"Yes, my lord!"
The Xiao Qi Tuan messenger accepted the order and left.
Lynn then called over a duty servant from the manor.
"Go inform Hood. The fifty-plus Xiao Qi Tuan archer squads in the city are to be placed under his command. If Ironborn sailors attack the city, shoot to kill. But if they're wearing the uniforms of House Flint's guard, don't loose arrows recklessly."
The servant acknowledged and departed.
Lynn sat back down and thought it over carefully. Seeing that nothing seemed to have been overlooked, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
House Flint had just done business with the Iron Islands. Although the matter of the Others had indeed screwed over the Ironborn merchant fleet, it had happened for a reason.
Those Iron Islands bastards were now hiding in the mangrove forests, their minds probably muddled by the torrential rain. They likely wouldn't expect that this time, House Flint truly intended to screw them to death.
Heh.
Lynn gave a smug grin.
Old Maester Hill, standing to the side, noticed something of the scheme. He didn't disturb the young lord's good mood and quietly left, holding his record book.
Counting the wounded, Lynn's Xiao Qi Tuan now numbered only around one hundred seventy or eighty men.
After the two battles against the Biting Bay pirate band and the Ironborn sailors, the original three hundred system-spawned troops had suffered nearly half in losses.
The good news, however, was that the troop-spawning system had upgraded to level two, and the entire Xiao Qi Tuan had advanced into level-two soldiers.
He still had over two hundred points of experience on hand, plus an entire chest of plundered pirate treasure that had yet to be used.
His territory had expanded several times over, newly adding a group of bay islands outside the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of the North—the Three Sisters islands.
From the appearance of the troop-spawning system until today, only a little over ten days had passed at most.
Given his current achievements, Lynn had every reason to feel a small sense of pride in his heart.
Lynn planned to deal with the lingering threat of the Iron Islands merchant fleet, as well as the troublesome matter of the Others.
After that, he would slow down the pace of development.
Fields still had to be planted. Fighting and killing all day long—before one's foundation was solid—made it all too easy to flip the cart.
...
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(End Chapter)