King's Landing, the Red Keep, Tower of the Hand
This is the Tower of the Hand located in the Red Keep in King's Landing. After court sessions end, any emergency meetings are usually held here.
And today, in this temporary Small Council meeting, King Joffrey Baratheon, seated at the head, and Tywin Lannister, seated in the Hand of the King's chair, were staring furiously at Cersei Lannister.
"Bang…"
After slamming the table hard, Joffrey looked at his mother and sharply demanded:
"My dear mother, because of your actions, our gates are now blocked. Now tell me, what exactly should we do?"
Cersei did not know how to respond to her son's interrogation; she could only lower her head, clutching her skirt, remaining silent.
Compared to her son's anger, Cersei was more afraid of her father, because at this moment, the famous Duke Tywin was watching her with cold eyes.
"It's meaningless to talk about this now. What are we supposed to do? Father!"
After enduring that piercing gaze for a long time, Cersei finally couldn't bear it anymore.
"This was my fault, but surely it's impossible, right? To hand over gold dragons to those despicable commoners, right? My Father!"
After Cersei finished speaking, the eyes of everyone present focused on Duke Tywin.
"Hmph!"
After glancing at his daughter, Duke Tywin immediately let out a cold snort.
After looking at the people around him, Duke Tywin immediately spoke:
"First, bring in the envoys of the Faith and ask them why they broke the rules. Also, send out a raven message and have the troops outside the city prepare!"
After the lands surrounding King's Landing fell, Duke Tywin deployed troops to the north and west. Since the south was protected by Blackwater Bay, Duke Tywin only set up over one hundred catapults there.
Soon, as the order was passed down, the Faith quickly dispatched one Archsepton and two monks to enter the Red Keep.
Beside the main gate of the Red Keep, there were several smaller mechanical doors that were very easy to operate. After the soldiers confirmed there were no issues, these three representatives of the Faith entered the Red Keep.
"Our demand is actually very simple: hand over Cersei Lannister and return all debts owed to the Faith—remember, all debts!"
"You despicable rebels, who allowed you to do this?"
Joffrey, sitting high on the Iron Throne, immediately cursed after hearing the High Septon's words.
His kingdom was currently in dire straits, yet these fellows dared to kick him while he was down.
"Where are my Kingsguard? Your King has been insulted! Kill them for me!"
"Clang, clang, clang…"
Several Kingsguard wearing armor immediately drew their weapons and stepped forward after hearing Joffrey's words.
However, they were quickly stopped by Duke Tywin. After glancing at the unknown Archsepton, Duke Tywin immediately asked:
"What exactly do you want to do? You violated the previous agreement, and now you want us to repay the money? That is impossible!"
Duke Tywin's voice carried a hint of displeasure. Unlike Joffrey's rage, Duke Tywin gave everyone the feeling of the calm before a storm.
"Because our followers are starving to death!"
The speaker was the High Sparrow, the Archsepton representing the blacksmiths. After the Shepherd appeared, this ambitious fellow had to submit to a subordinate position. He volunteered to come out and negotiate this time just to prove himself.
"What do those cheap lives have to do with us? Haven't you lived comfortably enough? Why insist on associating with those dirt-scratchers!"
Cersei asked directly. She was very familiar with these people from the Faith; they were accustomed to comfortable lives and would absolutely never associate with common folk.
This was also why Cersei had sought cooperation with the Fat High Septon previously. In her view, these high-ranking members of the Faith were much like them, the nobles. However, the current claims of these people left her completely confused as to why.
"Our ideals are different from yours. The Faith of the Seven taught us many things, while you will forever only live amidst wine and delicacies, completely failing to understand the true meaning of this world!"
The High Sparrow grew more agitated as he spoke, unconsciously raising his hands. In his view, his current performance demonstrated his noble existence. Only after showing off in front of these nobles would they recognize his greatness.
"A foolish idealist!"
Duke Tywin's icy words quickly shattered the High Sparrow's illusion.
The well-informed Duke Tywin was very clear about the thoughts of the person before him. During this time in King's Landing, he had been constantly investigating the movements of these members of the Faith.
It was the previous cooperation plan that made Duke Tywin pay attention to the colossal entity that was the Faith. He didn't know until he investigated, and the investigation was shocking.
From Oldtown to King's Landing, starting a few years ago, people possessing miraculous abilities have been active in the major cities of the Seven Kingdoms, secretly gathering followers under the guise of mercenaries.
"It seems you can't endure it any longer, can you?"
Duke Tywin's words startled the High Sparrow, who seemed completely unprepared for Duke Tywin to speak like this.
Although their plan had been exposed immediately, the High Sparrow still had to keep up appearances.
"What are you talking about? Respected Duke Tywin, we are here to discuss the royal debts!"
"Enough. I already said before, 'A Lannister always pays his debts.' You violated the agreement, and you must pay the price for breaking the agreement."
Duke Tywin was extremely displeased with these members of the Faith who dared to break their covenant with him. After he spoke those words, the Kingsguard, who had remained still until then, immediately stepped forward.
"Tear out their tongues! I don't want to hear them speak again!"
After Duke Tywin issued the command, the High Sparrow was instantly terrified into silence.
"No… you can't do this!"
"You fellow who deserves to go to the Seven Hells!"
"The Seven Gods will punish you!"
Ignoring the curses and pleas of the three men, Duke Tywin waved his hand and had them taken away. Before long, a Kingsguard walked back up, carrying three bloody tongues on a tray.
"Since they want war, then we shall give them war. These fellows have forgotten who is in charge!"
Looking at Duke Tywin giving the orders and the three tongues on the tray, a trace of morbid excitement flashed in Joffrey's eyes. In that moment, he desperately wanted to personally tear out those three men's tongues, or personally order the slaughter of those blocking the gates outside.
And where Joffrey couldn't see, Margaery Tyrell looked at her fiancé with a sense of dread, seemingly making a certain decision in her heart.
---
King's Landing, Outside the Red Keep
Watching the sun rapidly sinking toward the horizon, the Shepherd grew increasingly nervous. He knew very well that the High Sparrow and the others were likely to meet a bad end, but for the future of the Faith, he had to make sacrifices.
The High Sparrow was fine in every respect, except for being a bit too ambitious. Perhaps a lesson would do him some good.
The Shepherd never believed his subordinates would be in mortal danger, but Duke Tywin would certainly make them suffer, and he could conveniently use this pretext to carry out his own plan.
"Look quickly!"
"The Seven Gods above!"
…Just as the Shepherd was thinking about what to do next, the side gate of the Red Keep was quickly opened. Immediately afterward, three listless figures were tossed directly down the steps.
"The Seven Gods will punish them!"
"These damned nobles!"
"They are blaspheming the gods!"
"Ahhh…"
…The High Sparrow's miserable state quickly spread through the crowd. These fanatical followers were enraged; they wished they could rush into the Red Keep right now and return everything that had happened to the three monks to the nobles inside the Red Keep.
"Whinny…"
"Quiet! My brothers and sisters, now is not the time for us to be angry. First, take these three brothers down to rest. We must replan; the enemy has arrived."
Just as the crowd's emotions were about to erupt, a huge horse whinny quickly drew their attention.
Immediately after, these fanatical followers gathered here heard the Shepherd's words.
"Ah! What should we do then?"
"Those despicable nobles!"
"They are the demons who crawled out of the Seven Hells!"
…Watching the crowd instantly become flustered again, the Shepherd had a plan. These people were easy to incite but also very prone to morale collapse. Therefore, what he needed to do now was bring them a victory so he could continue with the rest of his plan.
"Alright! Now is the time for us to awaken those ordinary and diligently devoted Warriors of the Gods! Sons of the Warrior and Starry Warriors, now is the time for you to give everything for the gods!"
"Long live!"
"Hoo-ha!"
As the Shepherd's resonant voice fell silent, shouts rose and fell throughout the crowd.
Thus, under the astonished gazes of these fanatical followers, armed followers holding weapons stepped out from the crowd one after another.
Among these people, many were dressed as mercenaries, and some were not initially present here; they only walked out of nearby buildings after hearing the Shepherd's call.
"The Great Seven Gods are watching us from the heavens. Under the witness of the Rainbow Unicorn, we shall achieve final victory, and those who betray us and harm us shall fall into the Seven Hells!"
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