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"Lothar, you beast! You killed your own father!
"You will be spat on by all of Westeros, and the old gods and the new will curse you forever as a kinslayer!"
Seeing Lothar kill Lord Walder first, a male Frey shouted in fury. Whether he hated the crippled man for acting before him or was truly loyal to Lord Walder, he reached for the crossbow beside him.
"Bloodwind, except for that man, kill the rest upstairs."
After Lord Walder's death, Robb suddenly found it somewhat dull. He raised a hand, pointed at Lothar, and gave the order to Bloodwind beside him.
Bang, bang, bang!
As soon as Robb finished speaking, Bloodwind, who seemed to enjoy slaughter more and more, leapt up and smashed into the second level of the feast hall, charging forward in a storm of killing.
The Frey women on the first floor heard the movement and screams above. Terrified, they hugged their heads and knelt on the ground.
"Crey, send the women of House Frey back to the North with the other prisoners, except for the family of the new lord.
"As for the captives outside, take Gendry and sort through them. Those loyal to the old lord are to be locked up with the other male Freys. I will behead them all together later."
The moment Bloodwind began moving, Robb turned and walked toward the hall entrance. When he passed Crey, he stopped and gave the order.
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Crey, who had basically taken over Sam's southern intelligence network, nodded and accepted the task. It was work he already knew well.
The work of screening three or four thousand Lannister captives and tens of thousands of commoners had also been carried out by him and his men.
When the Iron Fleet and the newly renamed Northern Fleet transported the wealth and people of the Westerlands, nearly four hundred captives fiercely loyal to the Lannisters plotted rebellion. Crey discovered it in advance and suppressed them directly.
Before all the remaining captives and commoners of Lannisport, Robb once again carried out the bloody spectacle of beheading nearly four hundred men with his own hands.
Because of that, in the hearts of Westerlands commoners, Robb was a contradictory king.
He was cruel and bloodthirsty. It was said that in Lannisport alone, he personally beheaded nearly a thousand men. That did not include the people eaten or killed by his terrifying giant wolf.
He was wise and merciful. He restrained his army so it could only plunder money and goods. Anyone who dared violate his military law and discipline, whether ironborn or northern soldier, was personally beheaded by him.
Of course, a tiny number of men who cleaned up after their crimes and were never discovered were exceptions.
He treated the old and children kindly. He did not kill them or abuse them simply because their labor was weaker.
Instead, he ordered his army to provide them a certain degree of help. Because of that, few Westerlands commoners died during the population transfer.
The Westerlands commoners had also heard that they, captives of the King in the North, might later be able to join the northern army. They could even rise through battle merit, with the highest rank reaching that of a landed knight.
If the rumor was true, then in Westeros, where the path upward was as solid as Valyrian steel, this was nothing short of world-changing.
The last time the Westerlands had created a landed knight was decades ago, when the founder of House Clegane sacrificed three black dogs and one leg to save Lord Tytos Lannister from a lion.
At present, tens of thousands of Westerlands commoners felt both fear and expectation toward Robb's reputation. They feared his killing and his giant wolf, but they hoped the rumor was true.
Robb had never expected these captured commoners to fall at his feet and recognize him in a short time. These things required time. As long as he made them into people with shared interests, gaining their recognition would not take too long.
However, the commoners did not know that because of Bloodwind's supernatural transformation, Robb desperately lacked blood pact points, so he had used a few small tricks.
At first, those nearly four hundred captives had never thought of rebellion. It was Crey, through captured soldiers willing to surrender, who constantly stirred them up until they contacted one another and plotted revolt.
In Westeros, moral legitimacy mattered greatly. Once a bad reputation for killing prisoners without reason spread, all your enemies would fight to the death. They would also use that point to attack you and destroy your name.
In Robb's previous life, when his political sense had been poor, he had even beheaded Lord Rickard for murdering prisoners while the man was eager to avenge his son.
Robb's entrapment might have been a little petty, but it was highly effective.
It solved his urgent need for blood pact points and gave him a proper reason to remove unstable elements among the captives. It achieved two goals at once.
Moreover, he truly still kept the bottom line in his heart. He did not directly kill thousands of captives simply because he lacked blood pact points.
The facts proved that most captives did not develop thoughts they should not have had. Otherwise, this wave alone would have been enough to greatly increase Bloodwind's Magic attribute.
Before the battle of the Twins began, his Magic had already reached fifteen points. Apart from breathing stronger and farther ice breath, his whole body could now continuously release bitterly cold white mist.
Anyone who touched that mist would become stiff and slow in an instant. It was the equivalent of a battle enhancement for Bloodwind and could already be used in real combat.
For the battle of the Twins, Robb had disguised himself and changed his appearance in order to harvest the blood pact points from the fight.
While Bloodwind slaughtered more than a hundred guards in the southern castle, Robb kept adding points to him as the battle went on. His Magic had now reached nineteen points.
After leaving the feast hall, Robb saw Lord Jason standing silently before the second-floor lord's chamber, axe in hand.
"Your Grace, old Walder kept House Frey's wealth in his chamber. The gold and gems you brought were also collected inside.
"I have been guarding this place. No one has entered."
The moment Robb approached, Lord Jason straightened, saluted, and reported.
Robb glanced at the blood on the ground and the obvious traces of fighting. In his heart, he secretly praised Lord Jason for not claiming credit for himself. "The first merit in taking the Twins so easily should belong to you, Lord Jason."
"Your Grace, I did nothing. The credit belongs to your giant wolf and the brave warriors hidden inside the sculpture."
Lord Jason immediately waved his hand and refused, saying the credit was not his.
"Haha. All of you have the first merit. Do not worry. Punishment will not be overlooked, and neither will merit.
"Lord Jason, come with me and let us see House Frey's wealth."
After spending time with him, Robb greatly admired this Lord of Seagard, who had not been famous in his previous life. He invited him with a smile.
"Of course, Your Grace. After you."
Lord Jason nodded and pushed open the lord's chamber, making an inviting gesture.
The lord's chamber was a suite. The first room was a formal receiving study. On the left side was a wooden door, likely leading to the inner bedroom. Robb went straight over and pushed it open.
The moment he entered the inner room, he swept his eyes around and was stunned into silence.
Lord Walder's inner bedroom was full of...
The sort of toys adults liked.
Wooden horses of various designs, swings, whips. Beside the large bed in the inner room stood bottle after bottle of medicine and liquid. Judging from the labels, they were all kinds of stimulating tonics.
'No wonder he wore out seven wives. Old Walder truly knew how to enjoy himself.'
Robb silently praised Lord Walder for keeping such youthful appetites at his age, then walked toward a black wall that looked especially conspicuous in this pleasure room.
Crash!
Robb smashed the black wall open by force. Gold, gold dragons, and gems poured out from behind it like a landslide.
Robb had nimbly jumped aside at the start, avoiding being buried by the avalanche of wealth.
After the baptism of Lannisport and Casterly Rock, Robb was no longer an ignorant northern country boy who had never seen the world. He roughly estimated that the value of House Frey's wealth was around five hundred thousand gold dragons.
And that included the two hundred thousand gold dragons Robb had taken out as bait.
Overall, even one of the richest families along the Trident could not compare to House Lannister, which monopolized the Westerlands' gold mines and Lannisport.
House Lannister had also stored so many weapons, suits of armor, grain, and supplies. Of course, because the long winter was coming, the Twins also had sufficient grain stored. It simply had not been counted yet.
"Lord Jason, if there is anything in this room you like, take it. Mm, those toys are available too."
Having gained another enormous fortune and completed the goal in his heart, Robb joked with Lord Jason in a light mood.
Lord Jason gave Robb an awkward smile and shook his head without speaking. His eyes passed over the tempting pile of wealth, but showed little attachment.
Robb saw all of it and turned toward the door. The wealth in the lord's chamber would naturally be handled by the soldiers guarding outside once the logistics officers arrived to count it.
When he came to the second-floor terrace of the northern castle, a cool river wind blew against him, making Robb feel incomparably comfortable.
Looking at the many torches moving in the southern castle and the northern soldiers cleaning the battlefield below the northern castle, Robb felt some of the urgency that had pressed on him since he came to this world ease slightly.
"Lord Jason, do you know? After taking the Twins, my foundation is now as solid as iron. In this war, I have already won a small half."
In the comfortable river wind, Robb, who had always kept his thoughts from Theon and the others, suddenly wanted to speak with Lord Jason.
"Foundation? Your Grace, your words are too profound. I do not quite understand."
Standing silently behind Robb, Lord Jason answered respectfully.
Realizing he had spoken a word from his previous life, Robb rested both hands on the stone railing of the terrace and explained without turning back. "Mm. You can understand the foundation I speak of as the root that must be made firmer in order to seek long-term growth.
"From the beginning, I never expected to rely on the North's thirty thousand soldiers to conquer all of Westeros.
"Over these two months, I have used every method and every tool I could to win battles.
"Even so, the northern army's casualties have already reached roughly one sixth.
"Compared with the other kingdoms, the North has too few people.
"Now, after taking the Twins, we have opened a line from the North to Moat Cailin, to the Twins, and to Riverrun.
"Now we can truly say that we can advance to attack and retreat to defend.
"Finally, once we digest this enormous gain, the next time we send out troops, we will not avoid the Lannister army. We will defeat them head-on and take King's Landing."
"Mm, that is indeed so. Although Your Grace used the squids... used the flexibility of the ironborn fleet to launch surprise attacks,
"In the end, defeating the enemy in the open and occupying every important castle is the only way to win the Iron Throne."
Hearing Robb speak with such military insight, Lord Jason agreed deeply and echoed him.
"Lord Jason, I will rebuild the Wolfguard. I want to train Patrek and have him command them."
After observing Lord Jason for some time, Robb truly wanted to draw him into his direct forces. A previous idea flashed through his mind, and he immediately turned to Lord Jason.
"Wolfguard? Your Grace, I have heard people speak of your Wolfguard. They were not only brave and skilled in battle, but could also command troops.
"What do you mean by rebuilding them? And such an important position may be beyond my son's ability."
Seeing Robb turn to him, Lord Jason lowered his head respectfully and answered.
"Heh. The previous Wolfguard was only a nickname commoners gave them at random.
"But this new Wolfguard will truly match the name."
When Robb finished, Lord Jason frowned in confusion, completely unable to understand what the King in the North meant.
Bloodwind, having finished his hunt, came running from the northern castle covered in blood. Once he reached the gate, he turned and sat obediently, staring at Robb and Lord Jason on the terrace.
Feeling Bloodwind in his heart, Robb turned to look at him, and the blood pact data appeared before his eyes.
Name: Bloodwind. Contractor: Robb Stark.
Physique: 35. Magic: 19.
Species: Frost Direwolf (1).
Pack: Soldier wolf: Nymeria (blood kin: 6). Servant wolf: Lady (blood kin: 7).
Blood pact points: 51.
During Robb's continuous campaigns, the blood pact had changed again.
Although he did not yet know Winterfell's exact situation, according to the blood pact, after blood pact points had been poured into them, Nymeria and Lady, who had gone into heat, seemed to have already given birth to their own blood-kin pups. Bloodwind's pack had expanded again.
And the idea Robb had mentioned to Lord Jason was to rebuild the Wolfguard into a new kind of unit: human and wolf partners who fought together.
Five days later, in the Westerlands army camp that still surrounded Riverrun.
Inside the command tent, Tywin was reading a raven letter with a relaxed expression. Its contents should have counted as the only good news he had received recently.
"Lord Tywin, Stevron Frey requests to see you."
While Tywin read the letter and considered how to use this good news, a guard at the entrance entered and reported.
"Let him in."
With Tywin's permission, Stevron, aged in appearance and bearing some resemblance to Lord Walder, hurried into the tent anxiously.
The moment he saw Tywin, he immediately said, "Lord Tywin, five days ago, Robb Stark used Jason Mallister of Seagard to trick open the gates of the Twins.
"They attacked that night and occupied the Twins. My grandson took the chance to escape. He only reached Riverrun today and told me the news!"
Tywin's mood, which had just eased somewhat, instantly turned heavy at the bad news. He tore the letter in his hand to pieces.
Throwing the fragments into the brazier inside the command tent, Tywin asked with anger, "Hmph. They let someone trick open the gates of the Twins so easily? Lord Walder lived more than ninety years for nothing.
"Does your grandson know roughly how many troops the wolf pup has? Have they moved toward Riverrun?"
"He said the northern cavalry were numerous, but because it was night, he could not see the exact number.
"Right, their cavalry were heavy cavalry, and they had an enormous white giant wolf.
"When he set out, the northern army was still at the Twins and had not advanced toward Riverrun. They rode with two horses per man. Even if the northern army set out at that moment, it should still take them at least five days or more to arrive."
Hearing Tywin's question, Stevron immediately poured out everything he had learned from Black Walder.
"No. Your grandson came from the kingsroad to the river road. Since the northern army has taken the Twins, they can ride straight toward Riverrun through Seagard and Fairmarket. It will not take them that long at all."
Tywin shook his head and directly rejected Stevron's judgment. After pondering briefly, he continued,
"Stevron, divide House Frey's one thousand cavalry into two groups. Scout in the direction of Fairmarket and the river road separately.
"If you discover the northern army, report back at once."
"Yes... Lord Tywin, when do we retake the Twins?"
Hearing Tywin's order, Stevron first nodded, then asked with some hesitation.
"After I take Riverrun, I will help you retake the Twins. Do not worry. That little wolf pup has the same character as his father. He must only have imprisoned the members of House Frey. He will never harm them. I can guarantee it."
Tywin immediately comforted Stevron and gave a serious assurance.
"Then... all right. I will gather the cavalry now."
"Mm. On your way, find Kevan for me. Tell him to come here."
"Yes, Lord Tywin!"
Stevron answered and hurried out of the command tent to carry out Tywin's instructions.
'The little wolf pup directly abandoned Casterly Rock, which he had only just taken, landed at Seagard, and turned to attack the Twins? In that case, the cavalry led by Addam must have rushed into empty air.'
'Right now, most of my side is infantry. We have only a little over three thousand cavalry in total. If the wolf pup leads northern cavalry to harass me, I have no good answer to him.'
'He has taken the Twins. The whole North and Riverrun in the Riverlands are now linked together. He can attack and retreat at any time.'
'Mm? This situation is somewhat like when I set the ambush at the Twins.'
"Lord Tywin, you sent for me?"
While Tywin murmured to himself, Kevan hurried into the command tent and asked softly.
"Kevan, have all the Westerlands houses prepare to withdraw."
"Withdraw?"
Hearing Tywin's order, Kevan looked stunned.
The Westerlands army had been determined to take Riverrun. To withdraw now was to lose thousands of Westerlands soldiers for nothing.
"That little wolf pup is not in the Westerlands at all. He landed from Seagard and took the Twins five days ago."
Tywin had already expected this reaction from Kevan. Very calmly, he told him the news that Robb had taken the Twins.
"What?"
Kevan was full of shock and confusion. He could not understand Robb's true purpose at all. He was simply shocked that the young king had appeared and taken the Twins like a ghost.
"We underestimated him. He is no wolf pup at all. He is a terrifying giant wolf that eats men."
Tywin patted Kevan on the shoulder, first admitting his own mistake, then revealed the true reason he had called him.
"Begin preparing the withdrawal. We must let House Tully see us fleeing in haste. Then, for the next two days, stop blocking ravens. Let them fly into Riverrun and bring House Tully the news.
"Since that giant wolf has taken a hard bite from us, we will bite him back in the same way."
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