Chapter 6:
Two weeks later.
On the Kingsroad leading to King's Landing, the carriage wheels rolled over the dry, hard ground with a monotonous creaking sound.
Although King Robert's royal procession cleared the way, the journey was still far from comfortable. Dust flew everywhere, and the ride was constantly bumpy.
Inside the Pompey family's black carriage — which had been temporarily reinforced by the Spartan warriors — the atmosphere was surprisingly warm, even carrying a hint of breathless tension.
"Ugh…"
Alice covered her chest, her face slightly pale. She dry-heaved into a silver basin for a while but nothing came out. She leaned weakly against the soft cushion, her eyes full of guilt. "I'm sorry, husband… It might be the bumpy road, or perhaps I caught a chill last night…"
Victor didn't blame her. Instead, his eyes lit up with excitement as he quickly took hold of her wrist.
He wasn't checking her pulse (he knew nothing about traditional medicine). He was silently calling the system.
[System Scan in Progress…] [Target: Alice Pompey] [Physical Condition: Early Pregnancy (Implanted 15 days ago)!]
The corner of Victor's mouth instantly curved into an exaggerated smile.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! House Pompey's first-generation heir has been successfully conceived!] [This is a perfect "opening victory"!] [Final potential evaluation underway based on mother's condition (A-rank · Post-marrow cleansing) and father's genes (System-enhanced)…] [Evaluation Complete: Offspring Potential — S-rank (Innate Divine Strength / Early Wisdom / Leadership Talent)!] [Issuing "First Child Confirmation" Super Gift Package!]
A series of pleasant system notifications exploded in his mind like the most beautiful symphony.
Victor suppressed the wild joy in his heart, gently pulled Alice into his arms, and softly placed his palm over her still-flat abdomen.
"Silly girl, you're not sick," Victor said softly, his voice filled with absolute certainty. "This is a gift from the gods to House Pompey. Alice… we're going to have a child."
"R-really?" Alice's eyes widened, and tears immediately spilled down her cheeks.
In this era, for a woman — especially a commoner married to a noble — a child was the foundation of her position, her very life.
"I swear it," Victor kissed her forehead. "When we reach King's Landing, I'll have the best maester take care of you. You will give House Pompey a little lion."
Alice was so moved that she sobbed uncontrollably, hugging her husband's waist tightly as if she were holding the entire world.
Meanwhile, in Victor's mind, he was already checking the "Super Gift Package":
[Reward 1: Family Deathsworn — "Shadow Guards" × 10!] (Description: Unlike the Spartan warriors who excel in direct frontal combat, Shadow Guards are elite assassins specialized in assassination, intelligence gathering, and infiltration. They have no faces — only absolute loyalty.)
[Reward 2: Basic Industrial Blueprint — "Perfume and Essential Oil Extraction Process"!] (Description: A weapon for conquering women, and a scythe for harvesting gold coins from the nobles of King's Landing.)
[Reward 3: Special Building Blueprint — "Level 1 Greenhouse"!] (Description: Allows cultivation of out-of-season crops in any climate. Fresh vegetables can be grown even during the harsh winters of the North — a vital strategic resource.)
Victor took a deep breath.
The Shadow Guards solved his intelligence weakness. Perfume solved his financial problems. The greenhouse solved his logistics issues.
This child hadn't even been born yet, and he was already a "lucky charm" bringing wealth!
…
Three days later, at noon.
A grand yet chaotic giant city finally appeared on the horizon.
King's Landing.
The heart of Westeros, the center of power, and the largest cesspit in the world.
Even before entering the city, a complex stench — a mix of excrement, rotting food, cheap perfume, and sea salt — assaulted their noses, nearly making the pregnant Alice faint again.
"Is this King's Landing?" Alice looked through the carriage window at the Red Keep standing atop Aegon's High Hill with its red walls and golden roofs. Her eyes were filled with shock, but she also felt uncomfortable with the filthy surroundings.
"Yes, this is King's Landing."
Victor gazed at the city with no disgust in his eyes — only greed.
"To others, this place reeks. But in my eyes, it's filled with gold that no one has bothered to pick up."
The procession slowly entered the Mud Gate.
Because the King's banners led the way, the gold cloaks at the gate didn't dare block them. Instead, they bowed and scraped, quickly letting them through.
Victor did not follow Robert to the Red Keep — that was the playground of the great nobles. He first needed to secure his own "base."
According to his memories, House Pompey still owned an old residence at the foot of Visenya's Hill. It was an ancestral property, but due to years of neglect and its proximity to Flea Bottom, it had long fallen into ruin.
"Young master… we've arrived."
The carriage stopped. Old steward Morsen looked at the dilapidated stone house covered in moss, with only half a door still hanging, and felt extremely embarrassed. "This… this will need quite a bit of cleaning before anyone can live here."
Around them, several ragged beggars and burly thugs were squatting by the wall, eyeing the expensive-looking carriage and the pretty maids with malicious intent.
In the slums of King's Landing, if an outsider looked like easy prey and didn't show some fangs, their bones would be picked clean.
"What are you looking at? Scram!"
One thug whistled and tried to step forward to demand "toll money."
However, the moment he took a step—
Swish!
A black shadow shot out from the carriage's shade like a ghost.
No one saw what happened clearly.
All they heard was a miserable scream. One of the thug's ears had already fallen to the ground, blood gushing out.
A Shadow Guard dressed in tight black clothes and wearing a black mask stood silently, holding a short dagger. His eyes were colder than a corpse's.
The surrounding beggars scattered in terror like frightened birds.
"Clean this place up," Victor said as he carried Alice down from the carriage. He didn't even glance at the severed ear on the ground. "Get rid of everything. Throw out the rats, the cockroaches, and any people who shouldn't be here."
"Yes, Master." The Shadow Guard's voice was hoarse and low.
Victor turned his head and looked toward the Red Keep in the distance.
By now, Robert was probably throwing a grand feast, Ned Stark was worrying over the mess, and Cersei should be waiting for his "token of loyalty."
"Morsen."
Victor called out to the old steward who was directing the servants to clean.
"My lord?"
"Go buy some fresh flowers — the most fragrant roses you can find. Also get some strong liquor and oils," Victor's eyes flashed with a sharp glint. "Tonight, I'm going to prepare a 'magic potion' for Her Grace the Queen that she won't be able to refuse."
In this stinking city, the first bottle of "Chanel No. 5 (modified version)" was about to be born.
It would become the first key to pry open the Lannister treasury.
"Also," Victor stroked his chin, "send a clever Shadow Guard to keep an eye on Littlefinger — Petyr Baelish's brothels. Since we've come to King's Landing, it's time for some 'businesses' to change owners."
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