Chapter 155: The Chaos of King's Landing Begins
Before his displacement, Egger had been neither a corporate titan nor a national leader. Until he experienced it firsthand, he truly could not have imagined how terrifying the power of capital could be. Tyrion likened the Night's Watch industries—a commercial entity less than half a year old—to his own daughter. And yet, as this "infant" threw her very first punch, the scales of victory tipped almost entirely in her favor.
The second day had not even concluded before the most ill-informed shopkeepers and street merchants began whispering mysteriously to their families over dinner: "Janos Slynt is in for a world of trouble."
Tyrion's boast of taking the man down within three days now seemed well within reach.
...
Through briefings with his partners, Egger learned that every faction in King's Landing with a stake in the Night's Watch industries had nodded their approval of Tyrion's decision to replace the Commander of the City Watch. Even those who hadn't joined the venture expressed that they would neither leak word nor interfere, after Tyrion's men paid them a visit. The Crownlands lords had even begun organizing meetings between their representatives to decide on a successor. Having learned their lesson, they had no intention of leaving such a critical position to an unrelated citizen of King's Landing again.
Now, all they needed was for the Hand to act, and all of Egger's preparations would come into play.
(This is likely what they call the trend of the times, or to put it more bluntly, everyone pushing a falling wall,) Egger thought as he walked out of the Iron Gate garrison, feeling pleased with the additional evidence of Slynt's malpractice he had secured.
The enemy's fall was predestined. The final and only factor determining whether Tyrion's name would be turned upside down was when Eddard Stark would formally decide to dismiss and arrest Slynt for investigation.
Lannister spelled backward... it would be Retsinnal? Amused by the thought, Egger untied his horse from the post outside the Iron Gate garrison, swung into the saddle, and set off toward home in the gathering twilight.
There were still half the officers on his potential allies list left to see, but there was no longer any need to visit them. The black materials currently in his possession were enough to have the Commander's head lopped off ten times over. Dealing with an enemy, it seemed, did not always require steel.
"You've worked hard running around these past two days," Egger said to his companion. "Tomorrow, the entire office will take a holiday. We'll head out to the Night's Watch industrial park outside the city to avoid any fallout. Who knows if a mad dog like Slynt will try to leap over the wall when cornered? We'll return once he's in custody."
The "Night's Watch Logistics and Security Team" now numbered over a hundred, and combined with the large staff, they wouldn't fear Slynt even if he brought his henchmen for a desperate last stand.
"Yes," Jaqen replied, as sparing with his words as ever.
"Let's go. Home, then sleep."
Night had just fallen, but King's Landing had not yet gone to sleep. Though the pedestrians were fewer, sounds still drifted from every direction: cats fighting in the alleys, dogs barking at their doors, laughter spilling from taverns, and occasional snatches of song and shouting. Amidst the noisy background of the Seven Kingdoms' greatest city, the two men rode through the bustling main streets toward their residential district, silhouetted against the last glow of the western sky.
Turning right into a side street, they were only a few hundred meters from home when Jaqen suddenly spoke: "Stop!"
"Hmm?" With the power struggle nearing its climax, Egger's nerves were pulled taut. He reined in his horse immediately. "What is it?"
"A rope."
Using the last bit of atmospheric scattering in the sky, Egger soon saw the rope Jaqen mentioned. It lay limp across the ground, its ends disappearing into the houses on either side of the road. It looked inconspicuous, but it was easy to imagine: had they ridden forward unaware, the rope would have snapped taut, tripping the horses and flinging them from their mounts. If they were unlucky enough to be crushed by the horses, they would be dead or severely injured.
They're coming for me! Egger guessed the answer instantly. In this war without swords, he had gained an overwhelming advantage, waiting only for the fruit of victory to ripen. But his opponent must have received word from somewhere. While an accident happening to him wouldn't change the outcome of the struggle, one only has one life. If he were dead, what would the brilliant victory of the Night's Watch industries matter to him?
With such a massive coordination between high and low, involving the chemistry of money and power, it was impossible to keep the rumors completely silent. Egger just hadn't expected his opponent to move so quickly. There was no time to wonder where the leak occurred; he reached for his waist. The cold hilt of his sword provided a modicum of security. This time, he wasn't just armed; he had a Faceless Man—nominally his subordinate—by his side. He was far from defenseless.
Once they stopped, every surrounding sound became vivid and clear. Egger stood on high alert, debating whether to turn back or push forward, when Jaqen, on the horse to his right, suddenly raised his left leg and kicked him without warning. Under the force of the blow, Egger lost his balance and tumbled from his saddle.
Unprepared for an attack from his own side and unable to process the situation, Egger twisted his ankles as he fell, slipping them out of the stirrups. He narrowly avoided the risk of landing on his head or being dragged by the horse. He rolled once on the ground, stood firm, and instantly drew his sword with a sharp shing.
Why would Jaqen suddenly attack him? Egger fell into a fighting stance, his heart sinking. If this Faceless Man from the House of Black and White meant him harm, his prospects tonight were grim.
"Crossbowmen on the roof! Into the alley!"
Jaqen did not draw a weapon and charge Egger as expected. Instead, using the recoil of the kick, he tumbled off his own horse and stayed low, scurrying past Egger.
It all happened too fast. Egger's brain finally caught up, realizing where the two whistling sounds he'd heard near his ear had come from at the moment he was kicked. If Jaqen hadn't kicked him at the critical moment, he would likely have been bolted.
Without another thought, Egger also stayed low. Taking advantage of the time the enemies needed to reload, he followed Jaqen into a gap between two roadside buildings.
The sky was now completely black. Between the buildings, it was so dark he could barely see the path. The sound of pursuing footsteps echoed behind him, and a sharp pain flared in his right shoulder. Egger reached up; his hand came away wet and slick. He hadn't completely evaded the bolt meant for him; the head had grazed his shoulder, leaving a bleeding wound.
Ahead, four figures hidden by the roadside jumped out, their short swords and long daggers reflecting what little light remained. In an instant, the two running men were forced to a halt.
"Hey, boy, where do you think you're running!"
"You dared offend someone you shouldn't have, and you still think you can wander the city?"
Egger did not dignify their shouting with a response. In a brief two-second standoff, he sized up the strength of the four men before him: untrained thugs, nothing more. In a real fight, they would likely be inferior to even the wildlings beyond the Wall. Though it was two against four, as long as Jaqen was willing to exert effort equal to his own, they were no threat.
But the pursuers from behind made the situation complicated. With no time for hesitation and no desire to be caught in a pincer maneuver, Egger ignored the pain in his shoulder, raised his weapon, and swung. His steel sword whistled through the air as he launched his attack.
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