Chapter 322: Various Calculations
Had the protagonist of these events not been Tywin, Egger might have thought he was listening to the story of another transmigrator. Without the meddling of a foolish daughter and a spiteful sister, these two Lannister men had joined forces to pull off a feat so earth-shattering and far-reaching.
Egger wondered if such a bold and ahead-of-its-time gamble was a plan the Old Lion had harbored all along, or if it was a spark of inspiration Tyrion had gained from Egger and indirectly passed to his father.
Regardless, for Tyrion to maintain such a firm grip on a key department like the Bank—despite Tywin's habitual contempt for him—suggested he had played a pivotal role in this great transformation, carving out his status and influence through sheer action.
Whether it was King Stannis and Young Aegon, currently locked in a fierce struggle, or Euron Greyjoy, gleefully stirring the pot, none of them likely suspected that the very bedrock they sat upon—the social structure of the entire continent of Westeros—was already beginning to crack, silently heading toward collapse.
Of course, the subtle shifts in social systems were of little direct concern to Egger for now. What mattered to him was whether Tyrion's voice carried enough weight within the Lannister Bank. If the answer was yes, would this old acquaintance be willing to lend him the massive sum he required?
"There is a good chance we can secure this loan from the Lannister Bank. However, the round trip from Queenscrown to Lannisport takes weeks. Right now, every day could be the last before the White Walkers attack; as Lord Commander, it's simply not appropriate for me to be away on a long journey at this juncture." Egger glanced at Nina and realized he was incredibly lucky. The girl before him shared a bond of mentorship with Tyrion. Her representing him would be no less effective than him showing up in person. "Since you've already settled things in King's Landing, don't be in a hurry to go back. When the time comes, take a trip to Lannisport for me... and borrow as much as you can."
"Borrowing money?" Nina's face immediately crumpled into a look of hardship. "I'm only good at collecting money; I'm not very practiced at this... besides, I'm his student. If I go to see my master after two years only to open my mouth for gold, what will Lord Tyrion think of me?"
It was a reasonable concern, but Egger truly couldn't find anyone else suitable. "I've made things difficult for you, but I'll write a letter in advance to give him some mental preparation. The Night's Watch is currently engaged in the grand task of saving the world. To raise funds against the White Walkers and gather people of conviction, we must use any means necessary... Once you reach Lannisport, investigate and find out who truly runs the Lannister Bank—Tywin or Tyrion. If it's Tyrion, everything will be easy. But if it's Tywin... he likely already knows I've become Lord Commander. You need only tell him that I've promoted Jaime to First Ranger of Queenscrown and am undertaking a series of major reforms. As for the future—'everything is possible.' He will certainly take my meaning."
"Mmm, I understand." Seeing Egger's mind was made up, Nina stopped demurring. "So, when do I depart?"
"Depart? There's no rush for that. The time to actually spend the money is still a ways off. We're just chatting privately now. Before you leave, I'll give you the mission list and specific requirements. Besides the gold from the Northern lords and the Lannister Bank, don't overlook the wealth of the King's Landing elite—those bonds we were gradually phasing out should be picked up again."
Once the Industries had stabilized and begun generating steady profit, Egger had ordered an end to the expedient game of robbing Peter to pay Paul for the sake of long-term development. But at this moment, as long as there was enough to pay the interest, who had the leisure to worry about how the principal would be repaid in the future?
"Understood, I've noted it down."
"Aside from the funding issue, I have many other things I need your help with, Nina. Your family was originally in the weaving trade; do you have any experience with tailoring or clothing design?"
"Designing clothes?" Nina shook her head in confusion. "I only know how to make the standard types of common clothing my mother taught me. Designing clothes... isn't that something only professionals who custom-make outfits for nobles can do? I... I'm afraid I'm not capable. What kind of clothes do you want, my Lord?"
"For a long time, the Night's Watch has worn whatever the nobles donate, dyed black and called a uniform. There is no unified, fixed military dress. I want to start with the next batch of recruits and gradually change that. This isn't urgent either; you can take my requirements and ideas back to King's Landing, discuss them with the professionals, and then finalize a plan."
To ensure the Night's Watch exerted their maximum combat effectiveness and kept the White Walkers out of the Seven Kingdoms, preparations were needed on every front. Aside from sufficient supplies and training, awakening and strengthening the soldiers' sense of honor was a vital component. On this point, besides keeping them well-fed, warm, and respected, a uniform distinctly different from commoners—and ideally a bit comfortable and dashing—would serve to remind the wearers of their heavy responsibilities and help attract young recruits. It might not be the deciding factor, but sometimes the difference between victory and defeat is just a single nail in a horseshoe.
There were many instructions to give. Based on what was currently in Egger's mind, there were two more:
First, to find or create a stable, high-quality source of saltpeter. Given that Night's Watch Industries heavily encouraged and supported inventions in King's Landing and had gathered many clever minds, this problem would likely be solved eventually.
Second, he was currently using the pretense of searching for a way to counter the Others to let the pyromancers conduct chemical research on the island in the middle of the lake. However, with Iron Bank observers present in the Gift and at the Wall, the Night's Watch needed a hidden, secure location. They needed a place to conduct the trial-and-error necessary to move firearms from theory to practicality under conditions of absolute secrecy, lest this ultimate weapon fall into the hands of rival powers or syndicates prematurely.
All of this should have been relayed to Nina in a letter, but face-to-face was naturally better. However, Egger soon felt something was amiss and halted his continuous planning and directing.
"Ah, what am I doing! My dear Nana has traveled so far to get here, and I start barking orders the moment we meet? Let's put these things aside for now... Come, my quarters are over there. You've had a weary journey; take a good rest. When you've recovered your strength, I'll take you to see the Wall and enjoy the scenery of the North."
Nina was completely defenseless against the lethality of that intimate nickname. Her face instantly filled with a mix of joy and shyness as she shook her head. "I spent the whole journey in a carriage; it wasn't that tiring. If you are short-handed anywhere, I can go help right now."
Short-handed? Of course he was. The idea of pushing gunpowder weapons onto the stage of history was already in motion, but even putting the gunpowder aside, the process of casting barrels had only just begun with smelting metal. He was still 99% away from establishing a complete industrial system and sweeping the world with firearms.
Egger needed at least a battalion's worth of experts and insiders from every walk of life, full of knowledge and passion. He either had to recruit them or train them! If a genie appeared before him now to grant one wish, Egger would definitely roar: "Give me the 'Five Hundred starter pack!"
On this point, though Nina was brilliant and utterly loyal, she truly couldn't help.
"We aren't short-handed anywhere," Egger said, telling a white lie as he shook his head. "Do you really not need to rest?"
"I really don't," the girl replied with a serious expression, looking like someone ready to work wherever she was needed.
"Very well." Egger adopted a lecherous look. "Official business is over. Come, let's go discuss some 'private business.'"
"Huh? But... it's not even dark yet."
"It's much more interesting during the day!"
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