"Run!"
"Huff… huff… Everyone, quickly hide!"
"Wh-what's wrong… huff… huff…"
"The Blood Earl is back!"
"The Blood Earl is back?!"
"Quick! Run!"
"Quickly hide the children! Quick! Quick!"
"Little Jenny, quickly smear mud on your face… Yes… The dirtier the better! Quick!"
"The Blood Earl is here! Everyone, run!"
"Mommy… Wuwuwu…"
"Quickly kneel down, don't look up… Never look up…"
"Wuwuwu… Mommy…"
… … … …
Greene Kleber, riding through Seagull Town: "…"
First, there was chaos, then an eerie silence. This was the third time since he entered Seagull Town.
Greene Kleber pulled the reins, stopping his horse.
From the shouts of Seagull Town's people, Greene Kleber first confirmed that his secret departure from Seagull Town had become widely known.
Greene Kleber's brow furrowed imperceptibly… Counter-intelligence… He needed to arrange it as soon as possible.
Also… Greene Kleber surveyed the kneeling commoners by the roadside; he could sense that they were indeed afraid of him.
Seagull Town's heads rolling… At least before he left, many of Seagull Town's people adored him, and the title of Blood Earl was even a term of endearment for them.
Now, all he saw was fear.
Lord Green knew that events always had hidden reasons behind them; if something suddenly became abnormal, it meant someone was meddling.
Someone was deliberately guiding the public's panic?
Who instigated it? Whoever benefited was the one behind it… Vale Noble.
Who executed it? The nobles of Seagull Town definitely had a hand in it.
Greene Kleber sighed inwardly. Although he wished to shed as little blood as possible in the Vale, he hadn't forgotten his identity: he was a ruler.
He called out: "Rosso."
As Greene Kleber's voice fell, a burly and strong guard immediately spurred his horse to his side.
"Lord Green, Rosso Brun awaits your command."
Rosso Brun claimed to be a descendant of the Brun Family from Brown Hole Mountain on Crab Claw Peninsula, but they refused to acknowledge any blood relation with Rosso, and it was rumored that this concerned the inheritance of the Brun Family of Brown Hole Mountain.
According to the original plot, Rosso Brun would have joined Littlefinger, but due to the rise of the Kleber Family, he directly chose to join the Cleber Legion.
Rosso Brun became one of Greene Kleber's personal guards by virtue of his outstanding combat skills and accumulated military merits.
Rosso Brun was an excellent warrior, and he was also literate, which was very rare for the current Cleber Legion.
… … … …
Greene Kleber pulled the reins to adjust the horse's direction and said, "Rosso, what did you see?"
Rosso's appearance was ordinary; he had gray hair, a flat nose, and a square chin.
Suppressing his inner excitement, he quickly glanced at the kneeling commoners, thought for a moment, and said, "Lord Green, I saw fear."
Greene Kleber nodded slightly and said, "Abnormal fear."
Rosso licked his lips and said, "My Lord, are you suspecting… someone is deliberately guiding it?"
Greene Kleber's eyes flickered as he looked at Rosso, who was trying to suppress his excitement, and smiled slightly, saying, "My loyal warrior, can you dig out those people hiding in the shadows?"
Rosso promised, "I am confident… No, I am sure I can do it. I will arrest them all, my Lord."
Greene Kleber's voice was steady and calm: "In the name of the King, on charges of treason, bring the arrested criminals to the square and execute them directly."
"As you command, my Lord."
"Go."
After Rosso, with a flushed face, returned to the guards, the young guards from Crab Claw Peninsula noble families, such as the Boggus Family, the Brun Family of Brown Hole Mountain, the Brun Family of Fear Hole Fort, the Keifer, the Hardy Family, and the Payne Family, all looked at him.
Facing the various gazes focused on him, Rosso Brun straightened his chest, and incidentally "desperately" suppressed the constantly rising corners of his mouth.
… … … …
Three days later, Seagull Town's largest square was once again stained blood-red. It was said that after that day, many families in Seagull Town were directly removed from the rolls.
Lord Green once again solidified the "prestige" of the Blood Earl; for a time, no one even dared to mention this title.
The next day, the Seagull Town Governor's Office began hiring a large number of commoners to repair Seagull Town's walls and roads. The wages they received made them feel Lord Green's generosity and benevolence.
After each stage of the task was completed, the generous and benevolent Lord Green would also hold bonfire feasts in various squares in Seagull Town, including the "Bloody" Square.
Lord Green, busy preparing for war, would occasionally appear amidst the cheers of the commoners, sharing their joy and laughter.
… … … …
… … … …
Outside Seagull Town, Thorn Legion camp.
Inside the Legion Commander's tent, Greene Kleber examined the wooden stakes brought by his adjutant, Rena, and asked, "Has the training begun?"
Ser Aempa Thorness nodded slightly and said, "My Lord, as long as it's not a long march, everyone can carry one."
After a pause, she added, "If it's a distant expedition, it's best to transport them by carriage to ensure the combat effectiveness of the archers."
"Hmm, add this to your training content as well."
With that, Greene Kleber picked up a wooden stake. It was about 7 feet long and sharpened at both ends.
Rena's eyes were full of curiosity. Greene Kleber smiled and said, "This thing is the Thorn Legion's mobile wall. It can help you block the charge of the Vale cavalry…"
Saying that, Greene Kleber slanted one end of the sharpened stake into the ground and said, "Just like this."
Greene Kleber pointed to the exposed sharp end of the stake, then pointed to his waist, and said, "After one end is inserted into the ground, the other end reaches above this height, and each one is angled towards the enemy."
Impa looked at the stake, carefully replaying Greene Kleber's words, while Rena cheered, then suddenly stopped her movements.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Lord Green, I'm worried that the sisters won't have enough strength… Hmm… Hmm…"
Greene Kleber revealed a smile; he did not interrupt Rena's thinking.
"Maybe… perhaps…"
Impa's voice sounded at this moment: "You can use a wooden hammer."
Hearing this, Rena couldn't help but skip a little, excitedly saying, "Yes! A wooden hammer! The sisters can also help each other!"
Impa first glared at Rena, then looked at Greene Kleber.
Greene Kleber smiled and said, "That's a good idea. You only have one month to train your soldiers, so you need to become proficient quickly."
Impa bowed slightly and said, "As you command, my Lord."
Greene Kleber reached out and patted Impa's arm, saying, "Ser, prepare well."
As they left the tent, Brienne, following behind Greene Kleber, couldn't help but look back at Impa. Brienne's gaze met Impa's, so she stopped, performed a serious breast-patting salute, and then resumed walking.
… … … …
Seagull Town, Lord's Hall.
Greene Kleber pointed to a spot near Eyrie on the map and said, "You mean here, right?"
Sir Pell Pyrrhus nodded and said, "Yes, My Lord. After getting intelligence from the Seagull Town merchants, I sent people to verify it. They are not the Alliance of the Righteous army."
"They should be the army loyal to Lysa. Earl Petyr really won't stay put."
"My Lord, are you suspicious…"
"I think they also want to join the fun. As for his purpose…"
Saying that, Greene Kleber gazed at the map for a while, then continued, "He wants to profit from this duel, or rather, he wants to be the final 'reaper'."
Pel Pili asked doubtfully, "Reaper?"
Greene Kleber nodded slightly, patiently explaining, "I think the victor of the duel will become Earl Petyr's enemy, or for him, the best outcome is for us and the Alliance of the Righteous to perish together."
He pointed to the location of Seagull Town: "Next, he will personally retake the lost Seagull Town, and without the hindrance of the Alliance of the Righteous, he will become the hero of the Vale people. Then…"
His gaze moved to the location of Eyrie: "Young Lord Robert is young, and with the support of Lady Lysa (the news of her death has not yet spread), he will become the de facto ruler of the Vale."
After a moment of silence, Ser Pello still asked somewhat doubtfully, "My Lord, doesn't Earl Baelish worry about… our revenge?"
As a sworn sword of the Kleber Family, Ser Pello naturally knew more about his liege. He felt that if the final outcome truly became as his liege described, Earl Baelish would face the most insane revenge from Crab Claw Peninsula.
Eyrie is impregnable?! He suspected that by then, his liege would lead them to directly dismantle Eyrie.
Ser Pello couldn't help but puff out his chest; he was very certain.
… … … …
Greene Kleber said, "Earl Petyr doesn't understand what a warrior's honor and fury are, which is why he acts in ways that seem strange to you."
After a pause, his gaze narrowed slightly, and he added, "Perhaps he has already prepared for subsequent countermeasures."
Tapping his finger on the edge of the table, Greene Kleber's gaze shifted to the location of Red Keep.
After a moment, Greene Kleber looked up at Ser Pello and asked, "Pel, how many strong oxen do you have on your side now?"
Hearing this, Ser Pello replied, "My Lord, there are about 2000 oxen. Ser Mason's son is taking good care of them."
Greene Kleber left the long table, saying as he walked, "Hmm, take good care of those oxen. They are your dinner after the war."
Ser Pello silently followed behind his liege. Although he was a little confused, he wasn't curious. The rule of a sworn sword was to obey all orders from his liege.
… … … …
… … … …
Red Keep, Maegors Holdfast.
"If my sister tells you that her obedient little brother needs to stay overnight at Maegors Holdfast because he's drunk… Bronn, Pod, you two absolutely must not believe her. That must be the Lioness's lie."
"As you command, My Lord. What should we do then, please instruct us."
Tyrion pondered, pinching his chin, and said, "Pod, you come in with me. As for you…"
He turned his head to examine Bronn's lewd face. He unfastened the money pouch from his waist and tossed it over directly.
"My captain of the guard, your appearance always makes me uneasy."
Bronn weighed the money pouch in his hand and said with a grin, "My esteemed noble lord, thanks to it, I've made a lot recently."
"I trust you a little again."
With that, he walked towards the Maegors Holdfast gate with his hands behind his back, saying as he went, "Stay outside and guard well."
Bronn gave Tyrion's retreating back a very sincere deep bow, saying, "As you command, my esteemed Lord."
… … … …
Inside the dining room, Tyrion respectfully bowed and said, "Sister Cersei, you truly are dazzling tonight."
Tonight, his Queen Regent sister looked exceptionally charming.
Cersei Lannister wore a deep green velvet low-cut gown that matched the color of her eyes, her golden hair cascaded over her bare shoulders, and a woven belt inlaid with deep green gems was tied around her waist.
Although Tyrion disliked Cersei, he had to admit her beauty.
Queen Regent Cersei responded with a cold snort.
Tyrion didn't mind Queen Regent Cersei's attitude in the slightest. He limped over and climbed onto a chair.
Once seated, he glanced at the delicacies his charming sister had prepared for him… cream of chestnut soup… crispy hot bread and a vegetable salad with apples and pine nuts… eel pie… honeyed ham… buttered carrots… white beans and bacon… roasted swan stuffed with mushrooms and oysters… It was too lavish!
How could Cersei deliberately treat him so lavishly?! Tyrion heightened his inner vigilance.
Would she poison him like he did her? Hmm, what he gave his sister wasn't really poison; it just made Cersei fall asleep easily.
Thinking this, Tyrion waved away the servants who were serving dishes at the table. He very humbly offered the best parts of each dish to his sister and only began to eat after she had partaken.
Queen Regent Cersei naturally accepted the personal service of the Dwarf Hand. She forked a piece of apple and said, "Tyrion, I find you very suited for this."
Tyrion smiled and nodded in thanks. He didn't truly believe Cersei would poison him, but it didn't hurt to be careful.
Cersei suddenly covered her mouth. Tyrion saw a tiny sparkle appear in the Lioness's eye corner; it was time for her to sleep as he had arranged.
Seeing Tyrion staring at her, Cersei said coldly, "Return to your seat. I don't need your service."
Tyrion obediently walked towards his chair, casually saying, "This is just a trivial concern."
Cersei frowned, a hint of confusion mixed in her charming voice: "I've been getting sleepy very easily lately."
Before he even reached his chair, Tyrion's mouth moved faster than his brain: "Dear sister, please don't tell me you're pregnant. Robert can't help you with that."
"Tyrion!"
First, a roar from the Lioness, then… *whoosh*, Tyrion ducked, narrowly dodging the fork Cersei threw at her. pray!
The Little Devil Hand immediately scurried to the back of the chair, hiding his body. He knew… only such a cowardly and timid action could quickly appease the Lioness's anger.
The Little Devil Hand couldn't help but lightly slap his own mouth. How did it accidentally get ahead of his brain? His head ached.
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