Chapter 376

This sense of déjà vu was unmistakable. After a brief reflection, Aegor realized this was the second time this place had left him astonished. Back when King Robert had forcibly conscripted him as part of the Night’s Watch for the royal campaign in the Vale, Aegor had experienced a similar shock upon returning to King’s Landing—seeing this industrial compound emerge from nothing, as if it had fallen from the sky. Yet now, years later, the same location had once again left him in awe.

On closer thought, however, Aegor realized his reaction was somewhat exaggerated. Compared to the radical transformations in the Gift, the industrial compound’s growth wasn’t as monumental as it seemed. The real shock came from the contrast between what he had last seen over a year ago and its current bustling prosperity—much like a parent returning home after years away to find their child seemingly unrecognizable. The changes weren’t inherently extraordinary; they simply appeared that way due to his absence.

Still, the difference between the Gift and the industrial compound was stark. The former’s transformation had been fueled by patchwork loans and external aid, a house of cards that would collapse under its own weight once the war against the White Walkers ended, creditors like the Iron Bank began demanding repayment, and the Lannisters came to collect their debts. By contrast, the industrial compound represented sustainable, organic growth, rooted in genuine productivity.

Unfortunately, this flourishing money tree no longer entirely belonged to the Night’s Watch. Their stake in the enterprise had dropped below 50%, though they remained the largest shareholder and retained operational control.

The arrival of the Blackbird quickly drew attention from the dockworkers at the compound. With war clouds hanging over the region, the usual steady flow of merchant ships had dried up, leaving Aegor’s small warship as the only vessel approaching the docks. It docked without issue, receiving what could almost be described as VIP service. After confirming the identities of the newcomers, a runner was immediately dispatched to the black castle looming over the compound to deliver the news. Before long, Nina, the industrious young woman who oversaw operations here, arrived at the docks with a small entourage in tow.

Her face was a mixture of surprise, joy, and relief. “My lord, are you clairvoyant? We were just trying every means to contact you, and here you are already!”

Aegor nodded in acknowledgment, his tone concerned. “Where are the ravens? If I hadn’t happened to hear about this from Winterfell, I wouldn’t have known the Mother of Dragons might burn this place to the ground.”

Nina’s expression turned somber as she sighed and began leading him toward the castle. “It’s a long story. The compound originally had five ravens trained to fly to the Gift. A minor outbreak of illness killed two of them not long ago. As for the remaining three… they were all sent out to deliver updates on saltpeter collection and production progress when the Targaryen queen suddenly appeared and took Dragonstone. There might still be ravens in the Red Keep capable of reaching Castle Black, but given the chaos of the war, we didn’t dare trouble the king to use royal ravens for industrial reports.”

The ravens of Westeros, larger, stronger, and far smarter than pigeons, could be trained to travel between multiple fixed locations. However, they were not without limitations. The long distance between King’s Landing and the Gift stretched their capabilities, and without expert guidance from the Citadel, the Night’s Watch had to rely on semi-trained apprentices. While internal communications between the Gift and the Wall’s fortresses were reliable, the north-south raven lines between the industrial compound and the Gift were sparse and only capable of one-way communication. This meant that a raven sent south would need to be physically transported back north to be reused—an inefficient and cumbersome process.

“Alright,” Aegor said after a moment of thought, dismissing the topic with a wave of his hand. “Reach out to the Citadel and prioritize increasing the raven supply. Now, about that castle—did King Stannis order its construction to protect the compound?”

Nina glanced at the dark structure looming ahead and shook her head. “Oh, that? No, it has nothing to do with His Majesty. As the compound expanded, so did the need to protect its valuable assets, raw materials, and sensitive research. About six months ago, the shareholders held a major meeting and voted to allocate funds from the expansion budget to build a wall around the core areas—warehouses, research facilities, and other critical infrastructure—to guard against bandits and rebels. The wall was constructed using dark materials wherever possible, with black dye and banners used to fill the gaps, creating what you see now. It’s not truly a castle, but people in King’s Landing and the surrounding area have started calling it ‘Blackwall Keep.’”

“Blackwall Keep? How fitting.” Aegor chuckled, remembering a report he’d seen months ago mentioning plans for a wall. He’d approved the funding at the time, though he had assumed it would be a simple enclosure for the entire compound, not a fortified core zone. No wonder the budget had seemed unusually high.

Still, despite its impressive appearance, Blackwall Keep wasn’t truly a fortress. Up close, it became clear that the black walls, though tall, were thin—barely three meters thick at the base, narrowing to under two meters at the top. It could withstand bandits or small raids but wouldn’t hold against siege weapons or a determined army. Within the walls, the structures were clearly civilian—offices, dormitories, warehouses—only reinforced and painted black to maintain the illusion of a fortress.

While slightly disappointed, Aegor was relieved. If the Iron Throne had funded the construction, it would have compromised the compound’s neutrality, creating political complications he couldn’t afford. This improvised defense was a better solution, reinforcing the compound’s symbolic neutrality while conserving resources for more important projects.

“Originally, Lord Buckwell suggested installing scorpion ballistae on the walls to deter dragon attacks, but I rejected the idea,” Nina explained as they climbed the steps to the wall’s top. “Such a move would be an open provocation, completely contrary to the Night’s Watch’s neutral stance. Instead, I relocated all dragon-hunting weapons to the Red Keep and focused on ensuring the compound’s neutrality was as visible as possible. We’ve even repainted rooftops in dark hues to distinguish the compound from King’s Landing when viewed from above.”

“Well done,” Aegor said approvingly. Despite the challenges of remote management, Nina had made all the right decisions, balancing defense with diplomacy. The compound couldn’t hope to withstand an all-out assault, especially from Daenerys’s forces or her dragons, but these measures maximized its chances of survival.

However, one concern lingered in Aegor’s mind—the cost. “This entire setup must’ve been expensive,” he said, probing gently. “I don’t recall approving such a large sum. Where did the extra funds come from?”

Nina’s response was swift and reassuring. “There weren’t any extra funds, my lord. While the project did slightly exceed the original budget, it was nowhere near as costly as you might think. Once you see the interior, you’ll understand.”

Following Nina into the keep, Aegor quickly realized why the expenses hadn’t been exorbitant. The imposing walls and dark facade were largely superficial. The interior structures were simple and functional, with minimal enhancements beyond their appearance. It was a cost-effective illusion—enough to deter opportunistic threats without draining resources needed for critical projects.

Aegor felt a measure of relief but turned his attention to the real reason for his visit. “Enough about the walls. What’s the status of the saltpeter project?”

“Wait here, my lord,” Nina said. “Vice Dean Cobain oversees the saltpeter project. I’ll summon him to report directly.”

“Who?” Aegor’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Did you just say… Cobain?”

...