Chapter 147: Finish Him!
Egger finally understood the meaning of the saying, "The King of Hell is easy to see, but the little imps are hard to deal with." His original plan was to wait for Neil's release and then personally visit the City Watch, offer an apology, play humble, and grease a few palms to resolve the friction. Who would have thought the other party had zero intention of de-escalating? Without even pausing for breath, Slynt had already made his next move.
Reclaiming the building? Theoretically, as long as the City Watch had a legitimate reason, Slynt did have that authority as Commander. But did he think that move would scare Egger?
The house belonged to the City Watch, but the City Watch was merely using assets belonging to the Iron Throne. Therefore, at the end of the day, the property belonged to the King. And whether it was the King or the Hand who exercised the King's power, Egger knew them both.
"You watch the office today. I'm going to the Red Keep to find someone who can help us buy the title deed to this property at a price above market value. Let's see what he does then."
Nina looked deeply worried. "My lord, while that might solve the problem temporarily, being so confrontational with the City Watch... is it wise?"
It certainly wasn't ideal. While Slynt was a nobody in the grand scheme of things, he was still the Commander of the City Watch with real power in his hands. Egger's side was a commercial organization operating under the banner of the Night's Watch, while the opponent was the official apparatus of violence controlling King's Landing. One wanted to make money, the other lived off the crown. If they kept trading blows like this, the one to suffer in the long run would undoubtedly be Egger and the Night's Watch industries.
But that was a long-term problem. With Robert returning to King's Landing, it was a question whether the Night's Watch industries could even operate in a peaceful environment next week. Egger didn't have the luxury of time to worry about how to pacify Slynt.
"If I move out obediently, do you think he'll stop?" A mountain of troubles had collided all at once, making it hard to decide which to tackle first. Egger sighed. "More importantly, if you go out on the streets of King's Landing right now and ask where the Night's Watch office is, anyone will tell you it's 'opposite the East Barracks of the City Watch.' Moving elsewhere at this critical juncture—do you know how much trouble that would cause for our clients and recruits?"
Nina admired Egger most of all; since he put it that way, she couldn't argue. She looked utterly dejected. "It's all my fault..."
"Enough. Where is your fault? If dressing oneself up is a crime, then the whole world is at fault." Egger waved her off. "Has there been no word from Tyrion? What's his suggestion?"
"Not yet—"
The door slammed open with a bang, startling both of them. For a second, Egger thought the City Watch had come to arrest him, but as he focused, he saw that speak of the devil—Tyrion himself had arrived.
"What is going on with Slynt? Is it not settled yet!" Egger had never seen his partner looking so furious. Tyrion walked straight to the desk, pulled out a chair, and hopped onto it. "This morning, dozens of City Watch soldiers swarmed the factory to cause trouble, claiming they were searching for contraband. I had to step in personally and exert a great deal of effort just to keep the security team from a direct confrontation with them!"
"They went to the Industrial Park? And nearly clashed with the security team!" Egger's heart skipped a beat. Subtle maneuvering was personal, but if the security team and the City Watch started a fight, the nature of the situation would change completely. Charges of resisting the law or intent to rebel would be leveled, and no one would be able to save him. Even if he kept his head, being kicked back to the Wall would be a certainty.
He had just been amused by Slynt's petty trick of reclaiming the house, only to realize he had narrowly avoided a massive crisis. What a poisonous tactic!
"That's not all. Right now, every wagon transporting Night's Watch goods into the city is being held up at the King's Gate. The Gold Cloaks at the gate claim our printed books are guilty of tax evasion and say they won't let them in until they 'investigate.' No one knows how long that 'investigation' will take. Every day delayed costs dozens of Gold Dragons. If we can't settle this, our clients will think we're a joke, understand?"
Tax evasion? Egger frowned. He pulled open a drawer and placed the tax-exemption certificate that had arrived just yesterday afternoon onto the desk.
"Hm... well, this came at the right time." Tyrion picked up the certificate and looked it over, his expression softening considerably. "Jack! Take this certificate to the King's Gate immediately and get our wagons into the city!"
"Yes, my lord." Jack took the certificate and turned to leave.
"I've been out of the city these past few days and wasn't clear on the specifics." Tyrion tapped the table with a displeased expression, glancing at Nina. "Tell me what happened."
Egger recounted the events: the City Watch arresting Neil yesterday, how he used Renly's influence to get him out that night, Slynt's order for the office to relocate, and his own strategy to buy the property.
"I have to admit, your responses have been effective, but don't you feel like something is wrong?" Tyrion stared at Egger with displeasure. "Do you think this is a tournament? He makes a move, you counter it? Yes, you haven't lost out so far, but after slapping his face time and time again, do you think he's just going to swallow his pride? He'll keep finding new ways to screw with you!"
"Then what can I do?"
"If a mad dog is chasing you and trying to bite you, what is the best way to handle it?" A fierce glint flashed in Tyrion's eyes. "Is it to play tit-for-tat like you're doing?"
A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through Egger's mind, and everything became clear. These past few days, he had spent too much energy thinking about how to deal with the rumors spread by Littlefinger. Failing to find a solution there, he had walked into a stupid mental dead-end regarding Slynt. Dealing with an opponent who clings to you like a parasite—thinking only of how to counter his moves solves nothing; it might even end up training your own gravedigger. The correct approach was to deal with the person himself!
"With a mad dog, the best solution is to kill it with one blow."
"I'm glad you've realized it. If he continues to cause trouble like this, then finish him!"
"Finish him?" Nina gasped in shock.
"What are you thinking? That I'll hire someone to assassinate him?" Tyrion rolled his eyes at her. "What did I tell you? We are merchants. Merchants have merchant methods. The Night's Watch industries are tied to massive interests and now hold the most extensive network of contacts in King's Landing. When I say 'finish him,' I mean through maneuvering—kick Slynt out of his position as Commander of the City Watch! I tell you, how can two clever people together not even think of that?"
Egger was speechless. He had been away for two months and hadn't quite adapted to the shift in identity from a Night's Watch logistics officer to one of the major merchants of King's Landing, not to mention he had his mind elsewhere. As for Nina—a commoner girl who had never experienced high-stakes power plays—how could she have imagined such a method?
This wasn't a question of intelligence, but a difference in mindset.
...
Looking at the serious, slightly ruthless expression on his dwarf friend's face, Egger suddenly realized—he was no longer facing the friendly, amusing, idle noble from six months ago. This was Tyrion Lannister, the rising capitalist, a high noble who viewed the Night's Watch industries as his career. And capitalists have two primary natures:
First, greed; second, ruthlessness.
Egger had already sensed the former while visiting the Night's Watch Industrial Park, and the latter was finally manifesting.
In this world, the last people you wanted to offend were capitalists who controlled resources—and someone like Tyrion, who was also born into a powerful Great House, was even more dangerous. If you infringe upon the interests of a grand corporation, they'd assassinate a President for you, let alone a petty Commander of the City Watch in Westeros.
Fortunately, he and Tyrion were on the same side.
"Of course, taking down a Commander of the City Watch... sounds easy, but it'll take some effort. If possible, it's best not to reach that stage." Tyrion, completely unaware that he had inadvertently inspired a sense of awe in Egger, shook his leg and thought for a moment before making a decision. "Egger, sign a promissory note for a hundred Gold Dragons. I'll go talk to Slynt. It's best if he's sensible enough to take the money and stop. If he's looking for a grave, he can't blame me for being unkind."
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