"An interesting riddle."
After hearing Littlefinger's explanation, Tyrion gave his evaluation thoughtfully.
"How about we also take a guess?"
Tyrion looked at the two on his left, "Uncle Kevan, Jaime."
Joffrey watched the little interlude below with interest and didn't say anything to stop it. It seemed he was happy to see it unfold.
Ser Jaime, the Master of War, was an old acquaintance.
Joffrey's gaze was mainly focused on Kevan. The Master of Ships, Kevan Lannister, who commanded the twenty thousand allied troops.
This brother of Duke Tywin had a very easygoing temperament.
His face was plump, his head was mostly bald, his beard was trimmed very short, his shoulders were rounded, his waist was thick, his skin was delicate, his hair and beard were golden, and he looked like a loyal and honest man who had lived a life of ease.
If he were a lion, he would be a good lion that guarded the house and was never rebellious.
Especially to his brother Tywin.
Fortunately, Duke Tywin's support was quite firm, and Kevan also completely obeyed the Royal Family's arrangements.
Kevan did not reveal the slightest intention of seizing control of the Fleet. The twenty-five thousand men he brought also successfully accepted the implantation of the Divine Grace Core, and five thousand cavalry were assigned to the Ministry of War.
This lion was very docile, and King's Landing was able to accommodate it relatively easily, gaining powerful assistance.
Currently, within King's Landing alone, there were twenty thousand allied troops commanded by Kevan, eighteen thousand men under Jaime, and five thousand men in the Investigation Team managed by Tyrion, totaling forty-three thousand armed forces.
This did not include other scattered guards, attendants, or personnel not belonging to the military structure.
Wasn't such a vast force a bit wasteful if only used for defense? Moreover, the enemy was close at hand. The twenty thousand men from the Reach were stationed in Rising Stone Town, more than two hundred kilometers from King's Landing, which cavalry could reach in just one or two days.
The question was, who should go?
Joffrey looked at the people below and decided to listen to their answers.
"I think," Tyrion focused on the riddle and didn't intend to mix in anything else, "it depends on the mercenary. After all, he holds a sharp sword in his hand, while in the riddle, the other three only have identities and no power."
Joffrey nodded slightly and looked at Kevan Lannister.
Kevan hesitated for a moment, then bowed and replied, "If the mercenary is smart, he will definitely obey the King and kill the other two. If he is greedy and foolish, he might be tempted by the Rich Merchant's money and cause a great disaster."
It was no different from Tyrion's answer, just phrased differently.
"Uncle Jaime, what do you think?"
Ser Jaime, the "Kingslayer," dressed in his splendid White Armor, smiled lightly, "In my opinion, the mercenary, the Monk, and the Rich Merchant will all die."
The eyes of several people simultaneously looked at Jaime.
Jaime raised his head and met the King's gaze, "Can the mercenary's sword withstand the Divine Power the King received from The Gods? A mercenary who thinks he controls everything will naturally only meet with destruction."
Joffrey nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Tyrion, however, pouted. It was indeed a complicated riddle. What mercenary, what King? Didn't it just mean that Renly's army was not as good as the Holy War Army? Boring.
Kevan frowned.
Varys thought silently, perhaps the mercenary not only referred to Renly but also represented more enemies, and potential enemies...
But Joffrey did not immediately announce the result. Instead, he looked at Littlefinger again.
"Only you haven't answered."
Littlefinger respectfully responded, using this time to quickly recall everything that had just happened, the answers of the few people, and the King's reaction.
What was the answer?
Did someone get it right? Was the answer unique?
Pardon, pardon, pard...
His eyes suddenly burst with brilliant light, and then his body swayed.
Pat... thud...
Littlefinger fell forward, face down, and the wooden box collapsed backward, hitting the stone slab.
"Your Majesty, no one will die!"
Littlefinger remained in a prostrate position: "The three did indeed offend the King, but would the great and selfless King care about this insignificant disturbance? The King's heart holds the entire Kingdom!"
Tyrion immediately turned his head to look at Joffrey on the Iron Throne. The King's expression was unreadable.
Littlefinger's voice became increasingly firm, "The Monk can appease the people for the King, the Rich Merchant can make the Kingdom prosperous and provide Wealth, and the Mercenary can fight for the King and deal with various enemies. They can all be the Kingdom's Wealth."
"So, my answer is: the King will forgive their sins and order them to offer their loyalty and serve the country. Of course, there is only one chance."
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Littlefinger was banging his head against the hard stone slab like a madman. The scarlet floor tiles seemed to become even redder.
"I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance!"
"I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"
"Your Majesty! I am willing to be your Mercenary, Rich Merchant, Monk, Farmer, Messenger, Attendant, anything! I only beg for one pardon!"
Varys stared blankly at the sudden change in the scene, and only now did he finally realize!
"Your Majesty~" Varys threw himself to the ground with a mournful cry, mimicking Littlefinger and repeatedly begging for mercy, "Please forgive this humble servant just once, Varys will never dare again!"
"..."
Their pleas echoed continuously in the empty hall, each one louder and more intense than the last, determined to outdo the other and win the King's favor.
The three Lannisters beside them didn't know how to react for a moment. Wasn't today supposed to be a war council?
"Stop it, both of you," Joffrey said softly, stopping them.
They immediately fell silent, lying motionless on the ground, awaiting the King's judgment.
Joffrey sighed.
"Actually, neither of your answers was good enough."
Littlefinger and Varys immediately felt dizzy, despair and pain assailing them simultaneously, causing them to close their eyes tightly, nearly fainting.
"King, monk, rich merchant, mercenary."
Joffrey smiled, "These are just different facets of the same person, just as the unified Seven Gods have seven manifestations, or even more."
Magic has revived, and great power returns to the individual.
Power, worship, wealth, and martial force, who says these cannot be concentrated in one person?
Joffrey scanned the group.
"Tell me, am I a king? A mercenary? Or which identity?"
No one could answer immediately.
He then answered his own question, "I am me. Being a king is not my only facet, nor is it the most important. My soul is my true self."
Facing the "prosthetic body" on the Iron Throne, no one could refute him.
"Back to the riddle," Joffrey provided the answer, "As manifestations of equal status, of course none of them will die. It's just a game."
"Petyr."
Littlefinger managed to squirm a little, showing his respect.
"Your answer was the closest. Although the subsequent explanation wasn't correct. However..."
Littlefinger's eyes widened, hope rekindled.
"You are pardoned."
The light words quickly dissipated into the air.
But Littlefinger's face was already streaked with tears, and he heavily kowtowed to the ground, his lips trembling incessantly: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Varys completely collapsed, as if he were already a corpse.
Joffrey made his decision, "Lord Kevan, Ser Jaime, you will each lead six thousand cavalry, carrying three hundred artillery chips, and raid Rising Stone Town!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the two lions, one large and one small, responded in unison.
"Petyr will go with you."
"Remember, forgiveness, but only once..."
The drawn-out final syllable gradually faded.
A few people looked up to see that the King on the Iron Throne had quietly closed his eyes.
Forgiveness.
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read 777+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------