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The banquet in Winterfell was quite lively.
Even though a few people still carried grief in their hearts, on the day everyone had raised Robb as King in the North, the general mood was above all one of joy and excitement.
Robb had never particularly liked these typical northern banquets, centered around big brutes competing to see who could drink the most ale.
But now, as king, he had to force himself to smile and shout praise for the winners of the drinking rounds.
Even so, he could at least console himself with food inspired by the cuisine of his own world, improved by him personally.
Sometimes, Robb even found himself curious about those luxurious banquets of the great southern nobles, full of beautiful women.
The feast only ended late into the night.
For someone whose physical constitution had increased so much, this kind of ale simply could not get him drunk.
The lords who had collapsed from drinking too much were carried back to their chambers by the servants attending nearby.
Robb left the banquet hall and, accompanied by Bloodwind, who had been lying at the door with his belly full, returned to the inner keep.
As soon as they returned to the keep, the wolf ran straight to the room he occupied in the corner of the first floor.
Rooo...
Walking right behind him, Robb suddenly heard his friend stop at the door of his room and let out a low growl, clearly meant as a threat.
Robb quickened his pace and soon saw the reason.
Nymeria and Lady had taken over his room as if they owned the place and were lying comfortably in the direwolf's den.
After Bloodwind had accompanied Robb south, and with neither Arya nor Sansa there to care for them, the two had been temporarily left in his room.
Unable to hold back his laughter, Robb turned to the wolf and mentally told him that, the next day, he would have another room prepared for them.
But as he stared at Bloodwind, Robb suddenly noticed that the blood-red words in his field of vision had changed.
Name: Bloodwind
Contractor: Robb Stark
Constitution: 30
Speed: 30
Strength: 30
Race: Spiritual Direwolf (6)
Pack: wolf-soldier: Nymeria +, wolf-servant: Lady +
Blood Pact Points: 67
Beside the names of Nymeria and Lady, a "+" symbol had appeared, just like the symbols beside the attributes.
The discovery thrilled Robb.
With 67 blood pact points stored in his body and already dangerously close to losing control, he immediately tried selecting the plus sign beside Nymeria's name.
A small portion of red mist emerged from Robb's body, entered the wolf, and after passing through him, came out again before plunging into Nymeria's body.
Robb distinctly sensed that, after this transfer process, the red mist had become much weaker than before.
Although he could not see Nymeria's or Lady's attributes, since the blood pact had changed in this way, and at such a critical moment, Robb simply invested another thirty points into each of them.
After that, only seven blood pact points remained in his body.
Immediately, he felt his head clear and his entire body become much lighter.
As for the problem of the giant wolf increasing his attributes again in the future and perhaps lacking enough blood pact points...
With a great army about to march south, Robb was not even slightly worried about how to obtain more.
While he was solving this hidden problem and in excellent spirits, Crey brought him the servant who had fed Bloodwind since he was a pup.
"Was it you who cared for Nymeria and Lady over the past month or so?"
While stroking Lady's soft back, who now no longer resisted his touch and even seemed affectionate because of the blood pact transfer, Robb asked calmly.
"Yes, Your Grace. Since I already had experience caring for Bloodwind, Lady Catelyn ordered me to look after them as well."
Hearing the question, the servant answered respectfully.
"I remember you. You were the one who cared for him since he was little. That must have been a lot of work.
Did you know Torrhen?"
Robb nodded, first thanking him, and then changed the subject without warning.
"Torrhen, my lord? He came to the inner keep quite often. I saw him from time to time, but how could a servant like me have the privilege of knowing him?"
The servant was caught off guard, but answered in a completely natural manner.
"Not a single flaw. You really do have talent.
But precisely because of that... your reaction was far too calm."
Seeing the servant's flawless answer, Robb sent a mental order to the giant wolf beside him.
Auu!
At the animal's growl, Nymeria and Lady immediately jumped up, surrounded the servant, bared their teeth, and growled low in warning.
"If you don't want to end up feeding the two of them one last time, then tell me what I want to know."
Robb spoke in a calm tone, but his words carried a brutal threat.
"If I answer honestly, will Your Grace spare me?"
The servant looked at the situation, already understanding that his identity had been discovered. He gave a bitter smile, but remained as calm as before.
"That depends on your answer. If I am satisfied, not only will you stay alive, you may even receive a job from me.
By the way, what is your name?"
"Harrol, Your Grace."
After introducing himself, the man, who had served House Stark for years and knew the honor of the Starks very well, began to speak.
"At first, my job was to gather information about House Stark and leave it at agreed-upon locations. The stablemaster, whom you have already captured, was responsible for passing it along.
Later, I received orders to become the point of contact with Torrhen Karstark.
From the day you awakened, he began passing information to me. I then passed it on through a spy in the maester's tower."
"So that means the spy in the maester's tower must know where that information was being sent?"
"Yes."
"Were you able to obtain the information from today's military meeting?"
"No. I had no chance to get close, Your Grace."
"Very well. Then I will tell you myself what was discussed. And you will pass that information along."
...
The next day, in White Harbor, inside the New Castle...
Old Maester Theomore hunched his aged body as he hurried toward the lord's study, a raven message in hand.
When he pushed open the door to the study, he found not only Lord Wyman inside, but also several heavily armed guards, as well as Ser Marlon Manderly, commander of White Harbor's guard.
"Lord Wyman, a raven has arrived from Winterfell. As soon as I received it, I brought it to you immediately."
Without giving it much thought, the old maester raised the letter and stepped forward, ready to hand it over.
"No need to hand it to me. You have certainly already read it. Just read it aloud."
With a stern expression, Lord Wyman shook his head, indicating that he did not need to take it from him.
"This letter is very strange. It contains only one word... 'yes.'"
The maester looked quite confused as he said this.
Lord Wyman nodded, then suddenly asked:
"Maester Theomore, how many years have you been in White Harbor?"
"About thirty years, my lord."
The old man thought for a moment before answering.
Hearing that, a flicker of reminiscence appeared in Wyman's eyes, and he spoke with some regret.
"It has already been that long? Time passes far too quickly...
That makes sense. After all, I already have two adorable granddaughters.
So, in consideration of the many years you have served our House, I will grant you a merciful death."
"M-my lord... what do you mean by that?"
The maester trembled from head to toe and asked in a wavering voice.
"We are all people of some standing. At this point, there is no need to keep pretending.
Two days ago, King Robb secretly told me that there was a network of Lannister spies inside the North and asked whether I had any clues.
At the time, I told him that you were highly suspicious.
And the raven message in your hands is precisely the final confirmation of your identity."
"Heh... so in the end, Lord Wyman... you never truly trusted me."
Hearing this, Theomore slowly straightened his back, setting aside his usual hunched posture. When he spoke again, his voice no longer trembled.
"There is nothing to be done. You were born in Lannisport. I have never liked the Lannisters very much."
"Marlon, from here on, I leave this in your hands."
"At your command, Lord Wyman."
Theomore calmly watched the soldiers of White Harbor approach.
Even so, he had the small fortune of having already sent that final piece of information by raven before everything came to an end.
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