GOT: Chapter 320/321

Chapter 320: The Troublemaker and the Savior

Aegor had many things he wanted to accomplish, but stopping the White Walkers' invasion was undoubtedly the top priority, the prerequisite for all other work and plans.

Melisandre had confirmed that she could sense the magic within the Wall. Aegor guessed it likely came from an unknown number of giant weirwood trees growing beneath the ice, their presence keeping the White Walkers and the army of the dead from launching a direct assault at will.

But while the magic within the Wall was vast and majestic, it was dispersed across a range at least a hundred leagues long, of unknown height and width. Its power was greatly diluted by the sheer scale, and its intensity seemed to remain constant. The Night's Watch had no way to control or strengthen this power.

However, the force the Red Priestess called "R'hllor's nemesis," the aura of ice magic permeating the world, was growing stronger as the temperature fell, and the pace of change showed no sign of slowing. This undoubtedly meant the White Walkers themselves were growing stronger, and the effect could extend to the wights as well. Eventually, the Wall's deterrent would no longer be enough to restrain the White Walkers' determination to march south.

The most troubling part was that no one knew when that day would come.


---

Ranger patrols had long since ceased, but the Night's Watch now had skinchangers capable of controlling birds. Immediately after taking office as Lord Commander, Aegor summoned them to the Wall to carry out aerial reconnaissance beyond it.

Not long after his return to Crown Town, reports from various strongholds began to arrive.

Yohn Royce's risky mission to deliver messages beyond the Wall half a month ago had not been a coincidence. The skinchangers did their best to control animals to scout far afield, but within nearly ten miles of the Wall—their effective range—there was no sign of the dead or the White Walkers.

Either they were buried under the snow, or they truly were not near the Wall.

What exactly were the White Walkers waiting for?

Or perhaps there was another possibility. They were not waiting at all, but instead preparing some larger action beyond the Night's Watch's sight.

The connection between the Land of Always Winter and the Seven Kingdoms was mostly blocked by the Wall, but at its westernmost end lay the Great Gorge and the mouth of the Milkwater River, which cut through the Frostfangs.

Such obvious "loopholes" could not be ignored. Aegor ordered the Shadow Tower to carry out high-density patrols south of the Great Gorge. This required a great deal of manpower. So while Crown Town strained to push forward its construction, he also had to find ways to increase troop strength to support the Wall's western end.

Yet reality kept him from giving his full attention to the task. Crown Town had become a gathering place for all manner of unusual individuals in the Gift, full of troublemakers and vexing situations.


---

First was Melisandre.

The Red Priestess had moved here with her followers under the pretense of assisting the Lord Commander.

Her presence was reassuring in some ways, but her constant murmuring about the Long Night, prophecy, heroes born from boiling seas, and dragons hatched from stone was maddening. Worse, she took advantage of Crown Town's dense population to preach, causing small but real disruptions to the Logistics Department. After testing his tolerance several times, she had grown adept at pushing boundaries.

Then there were Jaime and Cersei's two bastard sons.

By the rules of the game among nobles, Robert's two "sons" had to take the black to survive. Tommen was relatively obedient, but Joffrey was entirely unruly. From prince to recruit, he spent his days venting endless resentment at everyone and everything around him. Were it not for Jaime, Aegor could have dealt with him more harshly. But as the new Lord Commander, he needed the Kingslayer's loyalty, along with that of the Westermen who followed him, and had to give some face to Tywin, still alive in the Westerlands. He could neither beat nor berate Joffrey, and it took considerable effort to find a barely acceptable way to handle him.

Finally, there was the Warden of the North's foster brother, Theon Greyjoy.

The young Ironborn had not yet committed the foolish, vile acts he would in another life. Feeling wronged and resentful, convinced that despite his loyalty to House Stark he had been sent to the Wall unfairly, he sulked and complained. Aegor spent time speaking with him, made a few attractive but empty promises, and gave him the post of Crown Town Archery Instructor to keep him occupied. That seemed to settle him, for now.


---

Those figures could at least be kept out of sight and out of mind once arrangements were made. But the greatest headache was a certain girl who refused to go home no matter what.

The capital of the Gift, thriving under favorable policies, became the playground of the Stark family's second daughter. Using the snow-blocked roads as an excuse to avoid returning home, she spent her days dashing around Crown Town. One moment she would be at the industrial park watching workers burn charcoal and smelt copper, getting covered in ash. The next she would slip into the school and, relying on her natural talent and the training of famous masters, "bully" the Wildling children on the training ground with a wooden sword. Then she would head to the warehouse to take dragonglass, claiming she wanted to help in the war between the living and the dead. Inevitably, she would spend half a day causing trouble and then leave the mess for others to clean up.

Aegor found, to his dismay, that perhaps because he had not acted as her teacher or given her real discipline for too long, the authority he had once held over Arya in King's Landing had vanished. "Master" had shifted from a respectful title to an affectionate nickname for a friend. She had even begun to play with it.

For example, "Master, Master, Master!" repeated several times in quick, lively tones usually meant she had discovered something new or had a good idea to share.

But if it was a long, drawn-out "Ma-aster" in a lazy tone, it usually meant she was bored and wanted him to think of something to amuse her.

The most absurd moments were exchanges like this:

"Master, oh, Master."

"What is it now?!"

"Nothing, just calling you, hehe."

He could not send her away, nor could he be harsh with her. After only a few days of this, the word "Master" was enough to make his scalp prickle.

Thankfully, an unexpected savior arrived just in time.


---

A few weeks after his election as Lord Commander, another team arrived from the industrial park in King's Landing, bringing a fresh shipment of supplies and new helpers for the Night's Watch. The leader of the group was someone who genuinely surprised him.

Hurrying to the unloading square at Crown Town's main gate, Aegor spotted her at once, a figure smaller than everyone else in the crowd. After a year apart, the once-green girl seemed to have grown fully into her role as the Southern Head of the Night's Watch Industry. Dressed in a warm black trench coat that still showed her slender figure, her pretty face lightly powdered and lips painted, the "black-robed woman" had just pulled down her hood. She stood calmly in the square, directing the unloading of supplies, showing no sign of being new to Crown Town.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 321: Savior

"Nina!" Aegor did not hide his emotions, striding toward her with a genuine smile.

"Lord Aegor."

Nina turned her head, a flash of joy in her eyes before she composed herself and curtsied, ready to greet him formally like any subordinate. But the man showed no intention of keeping their relationship hidden. He walked straight over, pulled her into a bear hug, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Startled, she quickly turned her head so that Aegor's lips brushed her cheek instead.

"Don't do that... so many people are watching."

"What are you afraid of? Who would dare say anything?"

Aegor smiled and glanced around. Everyone quickly pretended to see nothing and continued their work.

In this world, if one were to rank those who had helped Aegor the most, Tyrion Lannister's first place was unshakable. The Stark family might take second place, and following close behind would be this clever girl. She had inherited much from the Imp, managing the Night's Watch Industry in King's Landing since his departure and ensuring he never had to worry about funding for the Wall.

The steady supply of resources from the Night's Watch Industry could easily be taken for granted, but Aegor never forgot that someone worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it happen.

For such a great contributor and capable aide, he had to show his appreciation clearly, so that her loyalty and dedication would never feel overlooked simply because she asked for nothing in return.

Here in Crown Town, surrounded by his own people, even in Castle Black, Shadow Tower, or Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Aegor would have welcomed Nina openly. Who could stop him? Use it as an excuse to rebel? Report to Robb Stark that he was keeping a woman? Let them see whether the Warden of the North would care about such a trivial matter when life and death hung in the balance.

On this, Aegor allowed himself some arrogance. He had the means to back it.

---

Nina's strong, commanding air from moments ago was gone. Her face flushed, her body felt weak, and she seemed ready to melt in his arms. Flustered, she struggled for a long while before finally freeing herself and standing steadily again.

Seeing her blushing face, Aegor did not push further. He turned, slipped an arm around her, and led her toward the inner part of Crown Town.

"Alright, you've had a hard journey. Come, let's talk as we walk."

Leaving the main gate under many watching eyes, they walked side by side beneath the eaves between large warehouses and dormitories, quietly listening to each other's breathing. A few guards followed several paces behind.

By now, Aegor would not waste breath on awkward, meaningless questions like, "Why are you here?" If he had nothing to say yet, he kept silent. As they walked, he studied the young woman beside him. The initial panic and shyness from his sudden embrace had faded. Though the blush on her cheeks lingered, the confidence and composure of a manager and entrepreneur emerged. She looked more like a noble lady than many noblewomen, making it hard to believe she was born a commoner with neither rank nor title.

The air and charm Nina carried, rare in this male-dominated age were enough to stir any man's desire to possess. And most satisfying of all, this extraordinary woman, regal as a young queen, was entirely his, in every sense.

Once again, Aegor felt grateful to have Tyrion as a friend. The man had not only found this pearl in the sand but had polished her to brilliance before handing her to him. A year later, she seemed to shine even brighter.

Eventually, he spoke. "Has your work in King's Landing gone smoothly?"

"Thanks to you and King Stannis, quite smoothly," Nina replied easily. She was no longer the timid girl who stammered and froze under his gaze. Though the joy of reunion was clear in her eyes, her tone was steady. "The Iron Throne punished the Crownlands lords who hesitated and supported King Renly. The Industry used the chance to reclaim almost all its holdings. With ample funds and a sound system, it's running well and has strong momentum for growth.

"Speaking of which, I must say, the business strategy and operating model you and Lord Tyrion devised are truly remarkable. I hardly have to intervene. As long as I fill in the gaps and keep watch, the Night's Watch Industry runs on its own, as if it were alive. Especially the clause on 'venture capital for promising inventions and creations'—it's the only way for us to grow in a limited market. Over the past year we've invested in several projects. Most should prove profitable, and even if we lose on some, it won't hurt us."

"Hah, you don't need to give all the credit to me and Tyrion. No system is perfect. For the Industry to function, the manager is indispensable." Aegor shook his head with a smile. Nina spoke lightly, but he knew from experience that managing such a vast enterprise was no easy matter. "You didn't come all this way just to bring good news. Why not tell me the 'but' straight away?"

---

It was Lord Aegor, after all. Nina's heart warmed at his perception. She felt, once again, that he was the man she both admired and loved. Since her face was already red, her embarrassment did not show. After a moment's pause, she gathered her thoughts and continued.

"But the old families of the Crownlands are recovering, and the lords of the Narrow Sea who supported the new king have quickly gained a foothold in King's Landing. They soon began coveting the Night's Watch Industry's profits, seeking a share. With Stannis's strict rule pressing them from above, the situation is still manageable, but with Aegon's rebellion not yet crushed, the King cannot watch over the Night's Watch Industry to shield us. The nobles don't dare seize by force, but they use every trick to get in. While investing in new projects, many nobles have insisted on joining."

"The South has been at war, so the Night's Watch Industry's market can't expand much. It shouldn't need large amounts of financing, right?" Aegor guessed the truth. "But people keep forcing money on you, demanding you acknowledge them as shareholders and give them a share of the profits."

"Exactly. The projects we've invested in aren't highly profitable, but all the nobles have their eyes on paper, books, and dragonglass. We must pay them dividends, and they cannot be too small, or they accuse us of pocketing the rest. The result is that while the Industry's total profits are steadily rising, the Night's Watch share is shrinking, and the amount we actually keep is stagnating or even falling." Nina pressed her lips together. "Our current monthly profit is close to three thousand gold dragons, but after paying dividends, keeping some for operations, and spending a little to maintain relationships, the Night's Watch is left with barely one thousand."

So that was it. Before leaving King's Landing, Aegor had dealt with the greedy City Watch commander and befriended his successor. He had also brought Yarar Deem under his control, securing dominance in both the underworld and the public sphere, creating a favorable environment for business. But such influence was enough only for dealing with thugs, not for the noble game. No one could stop titled lords from taking their share.

If they were not given enough profit, they would turn into competitors. It was wishful thinking to appeal to them with talk of "needing the money to fight the White Walkers." Aegor himself had once intended to make everyone rich together. The Industry's current predicament was simply a return to the normal state after the rare luxury of keeping all the revenue.

As long as he kept things in check and did not allow the Industry to become a tool for others' enrichment, he had no desire to fight a second front, playing court games in King's Landing while preparing for war against the White Walkers.

He was about to reassure Nina that this was inevitable and not her fault when she lowered her head, bit her lip, and said softly, "That's not the worst. Some nobles, especially a certain Florent, have set their sights on me... wanting both me and the wealth."

The Florents? Seven hells, was there anyone more troublesome than the Queen's kin? Even without soldiers in King's Landing, they were far more formidable than the late Janos Slynt. Aegor rubbed his temples, feeling a headache. Worrying about the money was one thing, but he first asked, "Did they do anything to you?"

"Would they dare? People in King's Landing still remember what happened to your rivals." Nina's eyes warmed at his unspoken concern. With a man like Stannis on the throne, no one dared try to take a common-born girl by force. She added playfully, "It's just that the constant harassment became unbearable, so I left things to my deputy and came north to seek refuge with you, my Lord Aegor."

Deputy? Is he reliable?

Aegor wondered but did not ask. He slipped an arm around her shoulders, already thinking of how to resolve the problem, when a voice that made his scalp prickle called out.

"Master—"

Arya came running up, breathless. He had not seen her so flustered in a long time.

"What's wrong?"

"You ask what's wrong!" the girl cried angrily, clearly ready to say more. But she glanced at Nina, thought better of it, and instead stamped her foot in frustration. "How could you be like this! Hmph!"

Like what? Both Aegor and Nina looked puzzled. Before either could speak, Arya turned and bolted as quickly as she had arrived, vanishing from sight. Watching her run as though her backside were aflame, Aegor almost thought the White Walkers had attacked Crown Town.

"What did she mean to say? And why run off?" Aegor was baffled. "Aren't you on good terms? Did you upset her?"

"No, I haven't even met Lady Stark yet." Nina looked equally innocent, but then recalled something. "Oh... I forgot to tell you. I had planned to sail to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, but a storm in White Harbor forced me to travel by the King's Road instead. While staying in Winterfell, the Stark family's Maester asked me to bring you a female prisoner from House Greyjoy for safekeeping, and Lady Stark sent two soldiers north with us to urge Arya to come home."

Aegor already knew about Asha and had made preparations. But the latter news delighted him. "That's great... Wait, someone! Close the gates of Crown Town's inner keep, and call on the idle men to assist the Stark soldiers... in bringing their second daughter home! And don't say it was my order!"

(To be continued.)