GOT: Chapter 152/153

Chapter 152

"You are not the first person who wants to overthrow Slynt." After a moment of silence, the captain of the Mud Gate garrison spoke. "But do you know who's behind him?"

"King Robert. I also know His Grace favors him because he follows orders without question, never talks back, and doesn't brag about it afterward. Isn't that right?"

"It seems you've done your research. But since you know that, what gives you the confidence to go after Slynt?" Ser Bywater shook his head. "You might as well just hire someone to kill him. That would be cleaner and more efficient, without leaving any loose ends."

The assassination of the commander of the City Watch of King's Landing was a serious matter. If Robert became enraged and decided to investigate, he could turn King's Landing upside down. That would be a last resort, but Aegor hadn't been pushed that far yet. He didn't continue that line of conversation, instead answering the earlier question: "My confidence lies in the fact that we're not trying to frame Slynt. He's already hopelessly corrupt." Just like Robert himself, perhaps because when the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones are bound to follow. The Night's Watch brother paused and added, "At the same time, we have a fair and strict Hand of the King—and I happen to be the swordsman sworn to his daughter, Arya Stark."

"Don't get cocky just because of that connection. The former Hand, Jon Arryn, was also fair and strict. He tried to dismiss Slynt a year ago and found two City Watch officers willing to testify against him but both of them died in 'accidents' not long after. Not long after that, Jon Arryn himself died." Bywater scoffed. "Though everyone believes Lysa poisoned him, who really knows the truth? Slynt might not be that capable, but when it comes to ruthlessness, none of us come close."

"The situation is different this time. When Jon Arryn tried to remove Slynt, he was acting in the open, while Slynt remained in the shadows. That plan failed once word got out. But this time, we're in the shadows, and Slynt is the one in the open." Aegor smiled with confidence and began to spin his lie. "My partner, Tyrion Lannister, is already speaking with the major powers in King's Landing—Lord Gyles Rosby, Lord Buckwell of Antlers, the son of Lord Lake who's stationed in the capital… the noble houses of the Crownlands, along with merchants and shopkeepers they support, will soon throw in their lot with us. When that happens, do you think Slynt will be able to kill them all?"

"Oh? If what you said is true, then I do believe you've prepared well. But how do I know you're not just bluffing, trying to trick me into taking the risk for you?"

"Of course it's a bluff. I'm not here to deceive you, Ser Bywater. I'm here to ask you to be the first to step forward. We're going to build momentum and expose the truth. All you need to do is testify, either yourself or have one of your soldiers do it—when Hand of the King Eddard starts his investigation. If you feel things aren't going well, you can pretend this meeting never happened. How does that sound?"

"Since Lord Aegor is being so direct, I'll give you a direct answer. I can help—but my condition is simple. For the sake of my own safety and that of my men, I won't act until I see real signs that those lords you mentioned are taking action. But once I see that your allies are moving, I'll cooperate without hesitation. How's that?"

…

…

"Alright." Aegor smiled. With this result, he could now go to the next officer and boldly claim that Ser Bywater had agreed to join the cause. "Now, let's talk about what kind of evidence your brothers in the Watch can provide for our fight."

…

Time passed. The conversation continued until the moon rose and stood beside the bloody red comet. Aegor realized he had gained far more than expected. Slynt's corruption was even deeper than he had imagined. His means of making money were so brazen, it was astonishing.

Tyrion had said that half of the City Watch in King's Landing had been appointed by the Crown and the major noble houses in the capital. This was confirmed by Ser Bywater. Aside from those officers who had powerful patrons, and a few like Bywater who had been promoted by Robert himself for their military merits, every other officer—from the gate captains down to the corporals—had bought their positions from Janos Slynt!

"If it was just a matter of selling posts in the Watch, that'd be one thing. But the disgusting part is, the brothers who bought their positions not only had to pay a bribe upfront, they also had to hand over half of their officer's salary to Slynt every month." Bywater spoke through clenched teeth. "As a result, officers don't make much more than common guards. Many promising young men have quit because of it. After a few years, the City Watch doesn't look like a military force anymore—it looks like Slynt's private pig farm. Aside from the ones with connections or who were promoted by the king himself, the rest are pigs fattened up for slaughter, handing over their pay to him every month!"

The Baratheon dynasty had only been established for a little over a decade, yet the capital's armed forces had already become this corrupt. Robert even said that whoever came next might be even worse. Aegor was finally seeing how absurd a ruler could be in governing a kingdom. "He's so reckless… have none of the Watch brothers ever considered resisting?"

"Who would lead them?" Bywater gave a bitter smile. "Slynt's not stupid. He doesn't touch the half of the officers who have good backing. As for the others—most got their positions through deals with him. If he's brought down, won't those who bribed their way in be implicated too? And he's raised a group of loyal cronies—he never docks pay or mistreats the soldiers stationed in the East Camp. Those hundred or so men are grateful just to be paid properly and are fiercely loyal to Slynt. It's pathetic. On top of that, word is he regularly sends gifts to Lord Renly, the Master of Laws. That's how he's managed to get away with everything for so long."

So Renly and Slynt were in league as well… As Robert's brother and Lord of Storm's End, Aegor didn't believe Renly had accepted Slynt's bribes to act as his protector. But Renly Baratheon was a schemer like Margaery Tyrell. His guiding principle was to make more friends and fewer enemies. He was always thinking about how to appear kind and charming to the world. He was suited for diplomacy—but appointing him as Master of Laws was a joke. Expecting Renly, a man uninterested in women, to deal fairly with his brother's men was wishful thinking. Aegor and Tyrion had never considered going through the Master of Laws—they went straight to the Hand of the King. That now seemed like a wise decision.

The capital's military and legal systems were in complete disarray. How could the Baratheon dynasty survive like this? The Night's Watch brother sighed and asked, "Anything else?"

"Yes. You must've heard that Slynt doesn't care for his first wife. Her family has no power or influence, and they can't control him now that he's Commander of the City Watch." Ser Bywater gave a sly smile. "After giving him four children, he grew tired of her, called her a yellow-faced hag, and bought several houses in King's Landing. He's keeping three young, beautiful girls—two of them have already borne him bastards."

…

If the rebellion in the Vale hadn't been quelled in time, and if he hadn't rushed back to King's Landing, Nina might have become the fourth. Aegor felt a chill. Without protection, how helpless must a common girl feel in the face of a powerful commander's threats and promises? He could picture it clearly. "How do you know such private matters in such detail? Have you already investigated him?"

"Private? It's only private if Slynt keeps it quiet! That bastard has the king as his backer and the Master of Laws turns a blind eye, so he acts without restraint!" Bywater's face twisted with anger. "His methods of acquiring those girls were dishonorable, but once he succeeded, he didn't abandon them. He treats them as concubines—gives them living expenses and pocket money, regularly sends City Watch soldiers to deliver daily supplies, move furniture, clean their homes. Sometimes they even go outside the city to help the girls' families with farm work! Since I don't get along with him, my men at the Mud Gate end up doing most of this dirty work. It's his way of showing off to me!"

"Such arrogance… this is perfect. We'll have no trouble finding evidence to bring him down. Heh… Ser Bywater, can you gather the names and addresses of Slynt's lovers and bastards and give them to me?"

"Not yet. I haven't collected that information myself. Only my brothers know those details. If I start digging, they'll immediately realize I'm turning against Slynt. Many men in the Watch owe their ranks to him—mine included. Once word gets out, there'll be trouble. Slynt is the kind of man who can operate in both the criminal underworld and the courts." Bywater shook his head. "But I can promise you—if the Hand of the King really launches an investigation, I'll be able to hand over all the evidence quickly."

Aegor had been cautious enough, but he hadn't expected to meet someone even more cautious. He almost laughed, but he understood. So he nodded. "That's fine. Then let's consider this an agreement?"

"I always keep my word." Bywater tapped the table with the iron hand on his right arm. "But you and your friends—be careful in the next couple of days. When Slynt gets angry, he stops caring about consequences."

Aegor and Tyrion were reporting directly to the Hand of the King. He didn't believe Eddard Stark would leak their identities. Still, to be safe, he'd brought Jaqen with him. "Thank you for the warning. Well then, goodbye. The operation will begin in a day or two—please remember that, Ser."

"Ever since I lost this arm, my memory's been excellent. I won't be forgetting."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 153

The fact that Janos Slynt became commander of the City Watch was actually the result of an accidental compromise among multiple factions.

The City Watch of King's Landing serves as the administrative and enforcement force in the largest city of the Seven Kingdoms. It is an incredibly lucrative position. The royal lords, especially those with local influence in King's Landing, all competed fiercely to gain control. How could they possibly allow a lowborn butcher's son to become its commander?

During the 300-year history of the Targaryen dynasty, the City Watch traditionally maintained a structure where "half were appointed by the king, and the other half deployed by various noble houses." The commander was usually a member of the royal family. The royal faction, being the king's direct vassals, naturally aligned their interests with the Iron Throne. Although this arrangement appeared to undermine the king's authority, it never posed a threat to the stability of the realm.

After Robert's Rebellion, Robert Baratheon took the Iron Throne from House Targaryen, and the houses of the Crownlands became his vassals. Scarred by the war, these families had no thoughts of vengeance or restoration for the Targaryens. To consolidate his rule, ease the nerves of the former Targaryen loyalists, and save himself the trouble of major reform, Robert did not tamper with the "traditions" of the previous regime. Instead, he turned a blind eye to the City Watch's existing structure.

The new king was "forthright and easygoing," but the royal lords were full of guilt and "judged others by their own standards." Instead of fighting overtly and covertly over the command of the Watch, as they had done for over two centuries—moves that might have unsettled Robert—they decided to perform a show of loyalty. Representatives were sent to Jon Arryn, declaring that the lords would not interfere with the appointment of the next Commander of the Watch, and that the candidate would not come from any noble house, but instead from the ranks of commoners born in King's Landing—someone who would be directly loyal to the new king.

According to custom, the commander was chosen from the captains of the seven gate garrisons. Of the seven, only two were commoners, and one had died in battle when the Lannisters stormed the city. Thus, Janos Slynt, the sole surviving gate captain who fit the criteria, became the only viable candidate. Once in office, he quickly gained favor with his new master by doing the royal family's dirty work and cleaning up their messes, thus beginning his rapid rise.

Janos Slynt often claimed he had "many friends at court," but Tyrion's simple description exposed his true nature perfectly: merely a dog of Robert's. If not for the king's favor, what noble would even glance at such a crude man born to a butcher's family? Now that he had unknowingly offended a rising interest group, those "friends" who had once helped him climb to the top had, under Tyrion's persuasion and increased "dividends," turned into his gravediggers overnight. With their approval—and even cooperation—the entire city began to stir beneath the surface… and the garrison commander who had run rampant in King's Landing for over a decade was finally standing at the eye of the storm, with his days numbered.


---

While the campaign to remove the City Watch commander surged forward, another struggle between the high lords was unfolding within the stone walls of the Red Keep. Both sides quietly began mobilizing their forces. The Starks' cooks, stewards, and soldiers began to take control of the kitchens, storerooms, and major gates of the Red Keep. The Kingsguard, accompanied by a small group of Red Keep guards, were ordered to remain near the royal chambers to protect the king. Though Cersei was queen, she held no authority while Robert lived. She could only remain by her children's side day and night, refusing to return to her own chambers, hoping her children could serve as both shield and talisman. At her request, the Lannister red cloaks stood guard over the princes and princesses…

…

…

Under the surface, unrest simmered throughout King's Landing. Those with a keen sense could already smell the coming change. And as if guided by fate, the twin conflicts, one among the nobility and one among the common folk—both converged on the king's "hound."

…

"Robert, what sort of man is this commander of yours?" Eddard sighed in the Hand's Tower and tossed a stack of documents onto the table in front of the king. "Take a look at what he's done."

"What, someone wants to get rid of him?" Robert was drinking less these days than he had in the past ten years. His face was no longer red, and he carried himself with a rare air of dignity. "Don't worry, it must be that woman Cersei's doing. She's brought over a hundred red cloaks to her side. If she had nothing to hide, why would she need to do that? We're outnumbered in the Red Keep, and her soldiers are well-trained. If the City Watch turns against us right now, we'll be out of options."

"Oh, Your Grace, you believe the queen orchestrated these reports? I disagree. I've gone through the contents—every report is signed with a real name. The complainants range from common folk and merchants in King's Landing to nobles from the Crownlands. Even the Night's Watch is involved. If the Lannisters could control all these people from afar, then I might as well pack up and return to Winterfell for good." Eddard's expression didn't change as he continued, "And I can tell you plainly, after a full day of preliminary investigation, every one of these accusations is well-substantiated and doesn't appear fabricated. One of the attempted assaults was even witnessed by Arya. Do you think my daughter would lie to me?"

"Assault? You always exaggerate… That fool Slynt might've flirted with girls on the street, taken some gifts from his men, maybe skimmed a bit off the top from merchants—oh, fine, let me see…" Robert snatched the documents, pulled them close, and began to read.

Though he claimed disbelief, Robert's expression slowly darkened as he flipped through the letters Eddard had given him. The initial sneer on his fat face faded, replaced by unease. After reading five or six of them, his surprise and annoyance turned into anger. He stopped reading and slammed the stack down on the table. "This is outrageous. Is this King's Landing mine or his? I'd say Slynt's career has just come to an end!"

"Didn't Your Grace say before, 'I know him better than you do'?" Eddard folded his arms and looked at Robert, completely unfazed. "It seems your understanding of the people around you isn't as thorough as you thought. Maybe Janos Slynt really was a fool sixteen years ago, but so many years have passed. People change, especially when they hold power and command troops in a city like this."

"Alright, I admit it. Slynt's problem is more serious than I thought. I was fooled by his honest face in front of me." Robert's fury subsided, replaced by suspicion. "But don't you think the timing is too convenient? Why would all these reports surface just when I need the Watch the most?"

"Are you blaming me? Isn't this supposed to be the responsibility of your brother, the Master of Laws? If he had done his duty sooner, people wouldn't be coming to the new Hand to bypass him and report directly to me." Eddard shot back without hesitation and sighed. "That said, I can guess why these complaints all ended up on my desk, Night's Watch Industries. You remember granting its founder tax exemption not long ago, don't you?"

"Yes… I remember. I was a little drunk when I agreed to that." Robert looked annoyed. "But I already said it, and there's no taking it back. What's the harm in letting him keep a few coins?"

"You always act this way. But this time, I think your decision was sound. The Night's Watch is in dire straits, and it's good they're trying to solve their own problems. The Iron Throne already fails to provide them proper support. Waiving a bit of tax isn't too much to ask. But your commander is so greedy he tried to squeeze money from an industry you don't even tax. That's madness… The Night's Watch isn't under my jurisdiction, but when trouble comes, they still turn to me first. It breaks protocol, I admit, but the North has always been the first beneficiary of the Night's Watch. I know many of them personally, including that boy, Aegor West. As long as he tells others I, Eddard Stark, am willing to get involved, every report that had nowhere to go before naturally found its way to me."

Robert muttered gloomily, "That bastard Slynt. I'll give him a good thrashing when I get back."

"A good thrashing?" Eddard was genuinely surprised this time, his voice rising. "Didn't you read the letter I just handed you? You actually want to keep the man who turned King's Landing into a cesspit?"

Robert looked guilty and didn't reply. "Even if we do deal with him, we should wait until we've handled Cersei and her brother first, right?"

"What gives you the confidence to say, 'He's rotten, but loyal to me'?" Eddard would not back down. "A man with no principles can't be trusted with anything. Only by giving command of the Watch to someone loyal and reliable can we safely carry out the next phase of our plan."

"You're always fighting me! Do you believe that if I order the Watch to storm the Red Keep and arrest Cersei and Jaime now, there'd be no problems afterward? Then you can appoint whoever you like as commander—even Arya, if you wish. Why do you always have to oppose me?"

"You want to arrest Cersei now? Because of some rumor that she's having an affair?" Eddard couldn't believe Robert was abandoning their plan. "And because nothing's happened yet? If Lord Tywin leads the most ruthless, elite sellswords and armies in Westeros against you, will you still call that 'nothing happened'?"

"If he dares raise an army, I'll destroy the Lannisters the way I destroyed the Targaryens!"

"Robert, you're not a boy anymore. Stop talking nonsense!" Eddard finally lost his temper. "You just used your feudal rights in the Vale. For a whole year, your bannermen have no obligation to fight again! So how will you pay an army? Or are you just so desperate to divorce Cersei and marry that Tyrell girl who's been parading around the Red Keep lately?"

"Watch your tongue. You're speaking to your king!" Robert roared out of habit. "I told Margaery Tyrell to leave me alone and go find Robb. It was your son who begged me to arrange a marriage with the Freys!"

"Yes, yes, I didn't raise my son properly. Let's not talk about that. You are the king, and it's your right to make the final decision. But I must remind Your Grace—rumors are still just rumors. Without proof, they're meaningless!" The hair color of the prince and princess was certainly suspicious, but Eddard had always been cautious. Had he uncovered the truth himself, he would have believed it. But now, this "evidence" had been forced into his ears by Littlefinger through gossip. Driven by distrust, Eddard felt uneasy. "If Your Grace insists on acting, I won't oppose it but allow me to resign first, and then you may carry out your 'swift and decisive' plan."

"Fine, fine!" Robert slammed the table in frustration, but there was nothing he could do against someone immune to his wrath. "Go ahead and investigate this damned Slynt. But remember, the next commander of the Watch must be ours… ah, you damned northerner! You don't know what it's like, just thinking about the rumors out there makes me sick. How can I even imagine having another child with Cersei? If I die before you uncover the truth, it'll be your fault. And I'll come back from the grave to haunt you, remember that!"

(To be continued.)