"Seven Hells, is that foolish woman mad?"
Gods, this truly is the most vexing day of my life. At the Small Council meeting, King Robert slammed his goblet onto the table, fuming.
Just moments ago, he had made a rare appearance at the Small Council. After all, his Hand had just passed away, but the meeting still had to be held. Yet, the moment his royal ass touched the chair, his Master of Whisperers delivered bad news.
The former Hand's wife, Lysa Tully, had fled the capital with her and Jon's son, little Robert Arryn.
What was she worried about? Did she think someone in the court was out to get her?
Varys sat in his seat with hooded eyes. Since delivering the news, he hadn't said a word, quietly waiting for the King to finish venting.
When the King finally calmed down and ordered men to bring Lysa Tully and her son back, Varys finally looked up.
"I propose that I succeed as Hand of the King," said Stannis Baratheon, the Master of Ships and the King's brother, looking at the King as if it were the only logical choice.
"Hah!" Robert had so many troubles on his mind that hearing his brother's words actually made him laugh out loud.
"I refuse. Being Master of Ships is enough for you, Stannis!"
Looking at his brother, who was fat as a mountain of meat, Stannis fell silent.
After glancing at Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingsguard who stood behind the King with a perpetual smirk, the hard-as-stone stag fell silent again, just like Varys had.
"The realm cannot be without a Hand for even a day. But as everyone knows, my brother is unfit for this vital role!" The King's words left the gathered council members speechless.
Fortunately, the King didn't force them to nod in agreement. He simply continued:
"Make preparations. I will take the entire royal family north to see Lord Stark."
With these words, everyone present understood the King's choice for the new Hand.
The man who had fought side by side with the King, fostered by the same man—the current Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Eddard Stark!
"Lord Petyr, I leave the preparations for this journey to you." A royal procession naturally required grandeur, and grandeur required money.
Littlefinger bowed to the King. He would handle everything.
---
"It's real. It's all real!"
The moment he put on the virtual helmet, Xia Zhang's pupils dilated.
Watching the incredibly realistic cutscenes, Xia Zhang was so excited he was on the verge of tears.
[ Will you pledge your loyalty to your King, Viserys III? Will you use your sword to expand the realm for House Targaryen? ]
"I will! As long as I can be a normal person again, as long as I don't have to be half a man, I'll call him Daddy if I have to!" Xia Zhang shouted anxiously.
---
The same courtyard. Veteran players now jokingly called this place the "Respawn Fountain" or "Novice Village."
Xia Zhang, whose in-game ID was Iron_Legs_Float, looked at a player not far away who was even more excited than him—prostrate on the ground, thanking everyone from the Jade Emperor to the Old Gods and the New. He couldn't help but shake his head.
He was fine now. After all, no matter how excited he was, ten minutes was enough for him to calm down.
The player Jump_Off_Train_Halfway slowly stood up, thumped his chest hard, and smiled with satisfaction.
Viserys was the same as always, wearing his flashy armor, standing before the hundred new players.
His Kingsguard, Ser Jorah the Bear, stood behind him. Jorah couldn't figure out when these people had moved into the courtyard.
It was as if they had just popped out of thin air.
Just as Viserys was about to deliver a passionate speech—different from the one the veteran players had heard—a player with red eyes slowly approached him.
"Hm?"
Seeing that this person's emotions were a bit off, Viserys immediately prepared to ban him. Not that he was paranoid, but this guy had the vibe of a lunatic about to snap.
Thud.
The next second, Viserys stared blankly as the player knelt before him like a knight receiving an honor. He was confused.
"I don't play games often. I don't understand these things like young people do. I don't even know if you're an AI. But this game tells me I need to pledge loyalty to you.
"I don't know if the person controlling you can see this, but whether in reality or in the game, just give the order. There is nothing I won't do."
Train's zealous demeanor stunned not only Viserys but also the new players and the veteran onlookers from the Brotherhood and the Grenadier Corps.
Bro, it's just a game. Just because it's realistic doesn't mean you have to take it this seriously.
"You..." Viserys started to say something.
But then, four or five more players stepped out from the crowd.
They all knelt on one knee before Viserys, drew their starter longswords, and held them across their chests:
"I, Lancelot / Roland / Bors... hereby stand before the Gods and the Realm as witness. To you, King Viserys III of House Targaryen, I pledge my lifelong loyalty.
"I will defend your throne and glory with the sword in my hand, and guard your people and lands with the hot blood in my chest.
"Your enemies shall be my enemies. This enmity runs deeper than blood and shall never be forgiven.
"I will obey your lawful commands. I will not shy away from mountains of blades or seas of fire, nor will I fear the slander of traitors..."
Looking at the players with burning eyes pledging loyalty to him, Viserys was initially confused, but now he understood.
Ah, that's the flavor. I was wondering who it was. It turns out my reinforcements from the West have arrived!
"I accept your loyalty. Use your blades, use your courage, and prove your oaths are true. On the day you achieve merit, I shall knight you as my sworn swords."
King Viserys spoke thus.
The kneeling players stood up with hearts full of joy at Viserys's command.
When we get back, we must tell everyone in the circle.
The hardcore chivalry enthusiasts thought to themselves.
Player Train cast a strange glance at the group who were huddled together, weeping with excitement. Are they also tormented by illness in reality?
Shaking his head, he left the area. He wanted to find a quiet place to bask in the sun. It would be even better if he could have a drink. He wondered if the wine in the game had any taste, or if he could even drink it at all.
"Holy crap, are those guys Western players?"
"They look like rednecks. You know, make America great again types. They love this stuff."
"Totally. When I was studying abroad in the West, whenever they played Hearts of Iron IV, they always went down the monarchist path."
"Hey, that's different. The monarchist path in HOI4 is a classic, you have to try it..."
Watching the "Knights," both new and old players buzzed with discussion. Most treated it as a joke.
Of course, some were secretly pondering: Is this a hidden quest to increase favorability with Viserys? But what's the use of favorability anyway?
Viserys's passionate speech soon answered their questions.
The remaining players didn't care about the whole "Liege and Vassal" shtick. But when they heard that besides system rewards, players with high favorability had a chance to receive land grants from Viserys upon completing his orders...
Many players instantly cheered.
Talk about honor and duty all you want, that's just hot air. But tell these players they can be landlords in the game? Now you're speaking their language.
"In reality, I curse the rich. In the game, I am the rich! Peasants, get to work for your Lord!"
read more inpat***
CaveLeather
lots of story Game of Thrones