Chapter 117: Privilege!
Outside the tent, the boisterous roars and cheers of the reveling soldiers drifted in through the canvas, forming a sharp contrast to the silence within. Under the gaze of countless nobles, Egger's body began to tremble slightly—he hadn't expected Robert to bestow rewards in such a make a wish fashion, leaving him somewhat underprepared.
Your Majesty, please release me from my Night's Watch vows!
The words nearly escaped his lips, but reason grabbed Egger back at the last second.
To Robert, would such a request fall under the category of outrageous? Egger couldn't judge for certain, but he knew Robert had the power to make the decision. If the King declared that from this day forward Egger was a free man and a citizen of the Seven Kingdoms, Mormont would never dare to utter a single no in public.
But how would he pass Eddard Stark? As Hand of the King, Ned had the power to refute and strike down royal decrees. Legally speaking, a King has the power to legitimize a bastard, but he has no standing to absolve a Man of the Night's Watch from his black cloak—it had been so for a thousand years. If Ned insisted on following the rules, Robert wouldn't have a leg to stand on... and even if Royal Authority eventually triumphed over The Hand's Integrity, Egger would become a thorn in Ned's side. Could a citizen of the Seven Kingdoms have a good life after offending the Hand?
Furthermore, what would happen to the Night's Watch industries? As a free man, he would have no justification to handle or manage the fledgling manufacturing enterprise and financial empire. Mormont could simply send anyone to seize all assets branded under the name of the Watch, and Eddard Stark might even assist them to prevent Egger from siphoning assets!
Moreover, putting aside others' opinions and objective conditions, and speaking purely from personal subjectivity—Egger had begun to grow accustomed to his identity as a Watchman and had started enjoying the many privileges of being the Chief Logistics Officer. To say nothing else, the single rule of never having to go to the battlefield was enough to benefit him for a lifetime in an era where human life was as cheap as grass.
Governed by no power, swearing fealty to no man, taking orders from no one... A clever man could see the immense potential for growth in these rules. Clad in black, though burdened by an oath, the privileges he enjoyed were far beyond what a useless civilian status could replace. With his current unique status, he was the only person in the Seven Kingdoms who could truly climb the ladder of status and identity purely by his own merit.
(Throw away this advantage and start over as a commoner?)
Egger could hardly imagine the risks he would have to face or the effort required to stand once again among these actual rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, clinking glasses with knights and earls, or speaking face-to-face with the King.
"Well?" Robert grew impatient, but compared to his performance at the last war council, he was incredibly gentle toward the hero who had saved his pride. "If you haven't thought of it yet, go sit to the side for a while. Have some wine, eat some meat, and tell me when you've decided."
"No, Your Majesty, I have decided." Egger looked up, doing his best to suppress his excitement and tension. "You said I could have whatever I wanted; you didn't specify a limit on the number of things."
"Hmm... I didn't. But it can't be too outrageous. Let's set a limit: three things, provided they don't violate the law or your Night's Watch vows."
"I only ask for two things." Egger silently cheered his luck, resolving to retreat to advance. In truth, he only wanted one, but he needed the other as a setup and cover. "First, the Alchemists' Guild in the heart of King's Landing has long kept the wildfire left by the previous dynasty under your command. Such a substance is a hazard in the warm South, but it can be quite stable at the frozen Wall. I ask Your Majesty to order the Alchemists' Guild to seal away and process the wildfire hidden in the city as quickly as possible, leaving only assistants for management, while the masters familiar with its concoction—the pyromancers—head north to the Gift to produce and provide this weapon for the Night's Watch garrison."
"Note it down!" As long as it wasn't about money, Robert breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at a nearby squire. "And the second?"
"The hundred thousand wildlings beyond the Wall are restless, and the Night's Watch is in desperate need of support. However, the Iron Throne... is unable to help." Egger wanted to say "financial difficulties," but fearing Robert couldn't handle such a blunt reopening of a wound, he changed his tune. "The Night's Watch understands the difficulties Your Majesty faces and has decided to be self-reliant. The Logistics Department I established and manage is attempting to raise funds, purchase grain and supplies, and train recruits in King's Landing through its own efforts."
Most present were already familiar with the Night's Watch industries; even Robert had heard scattered news. After all, every book on the market, including the erotica, had a small line on the back cover identifying the producer. "Hmm—go on."
"But one thing is truly frustrating." This matter was of grave importance, so Egger had to use plenty of fluff to mask his true intent. "All commercial activities providing logistical support for the Night's Watch are actually taxed by the Iron Throne like ordinary merchants. It should be the Iron Throne supporting the Watch against the Others; now it is the reverse. The money we work so hard to earn actually feeds back into the Throne instead of being fully converted into supplies for the Wall..."
"Enough. Night's Watch purchases of grain, armaments... sigh... fine. All activities conducted by the Night's Watch within the Seven Kingdoms shall be tax-exempt!"
Robert was more reasonable than expected, but as the words left his mouth—amidst a unified gasp and intake of breath from the surrounding nobles—the King, not yet fully drunk, finally sensed something was off. "Wait... no using the name as a front. Only activities personally handled by true, sworn men of the Night's Watch who have seen the Wall... can be tax-exempt!"
"Your Majesty!" A Kingsguard has the duty to advise the King against absurd actions. Barristan, standing nearby, grew anxious. "Rules are made to be circumvented; the restrictions you added are useless. Swear an oath, stay at the Wall for two days to rest, and from then on every activity that person conducts is tax-free? In less than ten years, Your Majesty's subjects will all have become Men of the Night's Watch!"
Robert also realized there was a problem with his words, but he was a man. And as long as a man boasts and makes a promise, he faces the dilemma of "saving face while suffering the consequences." He couldn't take back his words. "Enough! Other-Slayer! Only activities personally managed and operated by you shall be tax-exempt!"
"Your Majesty!" The old Kingsguard was caught between laughter and tears. This restriction seemed strict, but it was actually still useless. The outcome would simply be that in ten years, everyone in the Seven Kingdoms would become a Watchman under Egger's command. Total tax-exempt status simply shouldn't exist in the feudal system of Westeros!
"Enough, I said!" Westeros' number one irritable brother snapped again. He slammed his wine cup down once more, splashing wine everywhere. "Other-Slayer, I warn you now: this privilege is for you alone. You are not permitted to appoint or allow others to enjoy it by proxy! If you play it too outrageously, I will revoke it!"
Setting a vague bottom line—like a final right of interpretation. Regardless, it was finally a useful restriction. Barristan sighed and stopped crossing the already angry Robert.
"Fine, leave us." Robert seemed a bit displeased, but today was a good day after all. He finished the rest of his wine, the alcohol quickly numbing the annoyance in his chest. "Next, Robb—what do you want? Don't be as slow as the fellow before you!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Egger suppressed his wild joy and returned to his seat. He had originally only wanted to fight for tax exemption for the factories under the Night's Watch industries, but the harvest was far greater—a personal tax-exempt privilege. With this in hand, as long as Mormont remained sane, Egger would never have to worry about being sidelined or recalled! As for the restrictions: in the future, he would likely have to run around everywhere to personally bless the expanding Night's Watch industries with the tax-exempt buff!
He might not quickly become one of the most powerful men in the Seven Kingdoms, but he would certainly rank among those with the highest appearance fees.
Returning to his seat, a beautiful girl raised a cup to him—Margaery Tyrell, being a woman, naturally hadn't attended the war council and hadn't witnessed Egger's strategy firsthand. But this victory feast was a different matter. "The Chief Logistics Officer is truly formidable. I am deeply impressed."
"Likewise. Compared to tax exemption, those like the Tyrells who collect the taxes are the true winners." Egger couldn't hide his smugness. He knew that as long as he didn't use the privilege excessively, Robert's temper meant that even if he regretted it later, he would never swallow his spoken words.
The only person in the great tent without a noble birth had now become the center of attention for the nobility of the Seven Kingdoms. Those who spend money don't know how hard it is to earn; compared to a hands-off manager like Robert who liked to dump everything on the Master of Coin, the heads of other Houses and the leaders of other nations... anyone who had ever managed taxes knew exactly what tax exemption meant.
Though they weren't yet green with envy—this little Watchman's methods were truly something.
So many people were focused on Egger that when Robb Stark walked to the center of the tent to tell Robert his desired reward, few people were actually listening to the Young Wolf.
But the young man from the North, the future Lord Stark, still managed to instantly pull everyone's attention back with a single sentence.
The tent erupted into noise again—some were cheering and hooting, some were filled with shock and doubt. Even Egger spat out the mouthful of wine he had just toasted to the Little Rose. He had previously thought Cersei was the biggest winner of this war; just moments ago, he thought he was. But now he realized it was someone else.
Robb Stark knelt on one knee before Robert, looked up, took a deep breath, and said: "I have fallen in love at first sight with Roslin Frey, daughter of Lord Walder Frey. I ask Your Majesty to grant us your blessing for marriage!"
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