Chapter 377

"Vice Dean Cobain?" Nina, puzzled by Aegor's expression as if he had seen a ghost, repeated herself. "One of the three vice deans of the Night’s Watch Industrial Research Institute. Is there a problem?"

Aegor composed himself, hiding his astonishment. "The dragon-hunting ballistae that were supplied to the King’s Landing garrison—was Cobain the one behind their development?"

"Indeed. The dragon-hunting ballistae were part of a military order placed by King Stannis through the Treasury Minister about a year ago. Initially, Vice Dean Daewin was assigned to oversee the project, but Mr. Cobain voluntarily joined after hearing about it, offering numerous valuable suggestions. Eventually, at Daewin’s proposal, the two collaborated on the project and successfully completed the improved model before the deadline, which was approved by the Hand of the King and went into mass production, equipping King’s Landing’s walls." Nina explained matter-of-factly, tilting her head in curiosity. "My lord… do you know him?"

"Not exactly. I’ve only heard of him," Aegor replied cryptically. "Do you know his background?"

"More or less. As per your instructions, we conduct as thorough a background check as possible on anyone joining the management of the Night’s Watch industries. Before joining us, Mr. Cobain was a physician for the mercenary group ‘Brave Companions.’ Many rumors say he practices dark magic and was expelled from the Citadel for dabbling in necromancy. However, our investigators found that these claims likely stem from his history of experimenting on living subjects during his time as a maester. Admittedly, his past is grim, but our deeper inquiries revealed that his test subjects were his patients, not random victims. The Citadel punished him for his actions, and we feel a crime already punished should not be condemned twice. Besides, he has no involvement with medicine in our research institute. What’s there to worry about?" Nina explained in detail. "In fact, since joining, Mr. Cobain has demonstrated extraordinary talent and creativity. He became one of the first members of the institute upon its founding and was soon promoted to vice dean based on his achievements."

So it really was that "Maester Qyburn." Aegor’s expression turned strange for a moment. The man who had experimented on living subjects, who was supposed to treat Jaime Lannister’s severed hand, and who had turned the poisoned Mountain into a monstrous abomination, was now unknowingly working under him. A villainous mastermind, a quintessential mad scientist in another timeline, now quietly served the Night’s Watch industries.

It felt almost too good to be true, like pulling a legendary card from a beginner’s loot box.

Though Qyburn’s character in the original timeline was far from heroic, his brilliance was undeniable. Now, as part of Aegor’s team, with his power and resources entirely dependent on Aegor’s discretion, Qyburn had potential as a highly valuable subordinate—as long as he could be kept in check.

Suppressing his excitement, Aegor nodded approvingly. "Very well. Since you’ve already conducted a thorough investigation, make good use of him. Assign him two reliable ‘assistants.’ If he focuses on legitimate research, give him full support. But if he starts dabbling in dangerous experiments, stop him immediately. We can’t afford unnecessary trouble."

"Understood."
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One topic concluded, Aegor’s mind wandered to another question. If someone like Qyburn is only a vice dean, then how impressive must the head of the research institute be?

Unfortunately, there was no surprise awaiting him. Nina’s next explanation was underwhelming: the institute’s dean was her brother, Neal—one half of the original paper-making duo whom Aegor had already met. The other two vice deans were Blaire, who had devised the method to solidify wildfire and transported barrels of the volatile substance from the Alchemist’s Guild to the Wall, and Daewin, a skilled craftsman originally from King’s Landing.

Aegor had some impression of Neal: while likely less capable than Qyburn or even the other vice deans, Neal was an open-minded and flexible young man. His primary role as dean was to oversee operations, ensure the institute remained aligned with Aegor’s broader goals, and prevent issues like embezzlement or off-track projects. Aegor didn’t fault Nina for nepotism—reliable management was critical in an era rife with corruption and political scheming.

Still, Aegor sternly reminded Nina to keep an eye on her brother and ensure he didn’t meddle in areas beyond his expertise. Only then did he feel reassured enough to follow her down from the imposing black walls of Blackwall Keep, across the courtyard, and out the eastern gate toward the saltpeter experimentation site.

"The search for saltpeter deposits has been challenging," Nina explained as they walked. "We only know about the existence of saltpeter because you mentioned it, but no one here had seen or identified it before. The research institute had to spend considerable time developing identification methods, which were then taught to exploration teams. Even so, progress has been limited. We’ve discovered traces of saltpeter in the mountains bordering the Riverlands and the Westerlands, as well as in the saline flats near Dorne’s frontier. However, these areas are controlled by lords who do not support King Stannis. With war raging across those regions, we’ve only been able to conduct exploratory surveys under the guise of the Night’s Watch’s neutral status. Large-scale mining and quality testing have been impossible. Realizing this limitation, we’ve redirected more resources into finding methods to manufacture saltpeter instead."

The Night’s Watch couriers, known as “wandering crows,” had long traveled across the Seven Kingdoms, gathering recruits and supplies. With the wildlings now settled in the Gift and manpower no longer a pressing issue, Aegor had closed the pipeline for common criminals to join the Watch. Yet, the wandering crows’ familiarity with the realm made them invaluable as scouts for the new exploration teams.

The plan itself was sound, but Aegor had overlooked one problem: even if they found saltpeter deposits, they couldn’t exploit them like the obsidian and sulfur mines on Dragonstone. Political and logistical barriers made large-scale extraction impractical.

As they walked, the faint stench of ammonia began to waft through the air, growing stronger with each step. For Aegor and his entourage, accustomed to the crisp, cold air of the Wall, the odor was stifling. It didn’t take long for Aegor to realize the source of the smell: a small cluster of workshops encircled by an earthen wall, situated far from the industrial compound’s core.

Awaiting them at the entrance was a group of researchers led by a familiar figure. The man bowed slightly as Nina introduced him.

"My lord, this is Vice Dean Cobain, the lead supervisor of the saltpeter project."

Standing before Aegor was a tall, slightly hunched older man with striking blue eyes, surrounded by deep wrinkles. His gray hair was streaked with white, and his constant smile gave him the appearance of a kindly, sprightly grandfather. There wasn’t the faintest trace of the "mad scientist" persona he had been expecting.

"My lord," Qyburn greeted, bowing politely. "Your name precedes you. It’s an honor to meet you at last."

"The honor is mine, Mr. Cobain," Aegor replied smoothly, his expression neutral. "Nina has spoken highly of your talents. With the saltpeter project in your capable hands, I’m reassured. Now, why don’t you show us what you’ve been working on?"

...