Money is Power [ASOIAF SI, System]

[Dissimilate]

Thanks for the chapter!

 

[Slipstream02]

Very nice

 

[Fanfictionlord]

Watching him grow out of all his earlier gloom, once again turning into the cheerful eldest son of House Lannister, Ronin couldn't help but laugh.

He shook his head, teasing in a playful tone, "You certainly look refreshed, Ser Lannister."

"What happened? Did Roose Bolton arrange some kind of 'full service' last night to help you regain your vigor?"

"I know there are a few well-known brothels in Harrenhal. I've been there before, and I must say, their skills are quite good."

He wasn't boasting. His predecessor really had been frugal enough to save money to visit Harrenhal twice just for that—though it had been the lowest tier…

But that's how men are: save where you can, spend where you must.

Even if you starve, you must spend money where it counts.

"No, no, no, my dear Ronin."

Jaime shook his head repeatedly, but the radiant smile on his face told another story. Last night was indeed not half bad.

His emerald eyes drifted toward Brienne, who looked embarrassed in her clothes. He winked slyly, then deliberately raised his voice, ensuring everyone on the training ground could hear.

"My experience was far more wonderful than any of those ordinary services!"

"Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sharing a truly unforgettable 'mandarin duck bath' with a certain high-born lady!"

"The feeling—tsk tsk~~~—was too wonderful to describe. It washed away all my exhaustion and bad luck from the journey!"

Hearing this, Ronin glanced at Brienne and immediately remembered that this scene had also occurred in the original story. But it was definitely not as vulgar as Jaime made it sound.

He was most likely teasing the taciturn woman from Tarth.

Sure enough, upon hearing his words, Brienne's face instantly flushed bright red.

"Shut your filthy mouth, Jaime!"

Furious and humiliated, she stepped forward and clenched her fists, ready to drag Jaime off his horse. What was surprising, however, was that she didn't call him "Kingslayer".

Only Iggo, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes. His huge hand tightened around his sword hilt as he stared at Jaime's smug, punchable face.

He seemed to be considering whether he should follow Dothraki tradition and challenge the blond bastard to a duel to the death to claim the tall woman for himself.

But after weighing the matter for a moment, he slowly released the sword hilt and shook his head.

Defeating a cripple wouldn't demonstrate the valor of a Dothraki warrior. It might even make the the tall and strong, bear-like woman look unfavorably upon him.

On his horse, Jaime saw Brienne's fierce expression and laughed even more proudly, as if he had already won a battle. He continued his shameless teasing.

Ronin couldn't hold back either, adding a few sarcastic comments from the side. The atmosphere in the training ground suddenly became relaxed and harmonious, and all the recent bloodshed, scheming, and tension faded away for a moment.

But this rare moment of harmony was quickly broken by loud shouts and curses.

"You damned bastard! You sewer rat! I finally caught you!"

"Drag him to the stables!"

"I'm going to cut off his filthy little thing, toss it into the feeding trough, and make him watch the warhorses chew up and swallow it!"

Turning to look, they saw Roose Bolton's guard captain—Walton—leading a group of grim-looking soldiers, roughly dragging a person across the training ground.

The man struggled desperately on the ground, letting out muffled cries, but with his hands and feet tightly bound by ropes, escaping was impossible.

Ronin frowned, instinctively wanting to turn his head away.

During wartime, especially in territory occupied by the Bolton family, these cruel and bloody displays could be seen every day; it was normal.

He didn't want to get involved, especially right before their departure. But just as he was about to turn away, he keenly caught the appearance of the man being dragged with his enhanced perception.

"Rorge!"

He blurted the name out.

"Rorge?"

Hearing this, Jaime and the other two, who had no intention of interfering either, looked more closely.

Sure enough, with his short, sturdy build and the faint black hair covering his body, who else could it be but Rorge?

"The survivor from the Brave Companions?"

Jaime leaned from his saddle and whispered into Ronin's ear, "Didn't you settle him in a room? How did Roose Bolton's men catch him?"

"Who knows?"

Ronin shrugged, a hint of gloom on his face. "This is their territory. They probably even count every hair in your underpants."

"Oh, speaking of which, do you wear underpants?"

"No proper man wears underpants—they're too restrictive!" Jaime scoffed dismissively, then continued to ask, "That's your spoils of war. What do you say? Should we try getting him back?"

Ronin narrowed his eyes, falling into thought. Rorge was indeed quite useful to him, but openly confronting Roose Bolton's men head-on right before their departure was simply too risky.

He thought for about two or three seconds, ultimately deciding to concede.

Shaking his head, he spoke reluctantly. "Forget it, Jaime. We're leaving soon. It's best not to cause trouble…"

"Holy shit! I get it!"

Jaime suddenly interjected, shouting excitedly.

Not giving Ronin any chance to explain, he flashed a confident "leave it to me" smile and kicked the horse's flanks hard.

"Hah!"

The warhorse neighed loudly and charged across the training ground, its hooves kicking up mud as it raced toward Walton and his men!

Watching Jaime's disappearing figure, Ronin couldn't help but curse.

What the hell was this guy trying to do?! He didn't understand anything!

What did "I get it" even mean?!

But since Jaime had already charged ahead and forced the situation, could he really just stand by and abandon him?

Ronin made a quick decision, let out a frustrated sigh, and dashed after him.

Although Brienne and Iggo were equally confused, but seeing that both Ronin and Jaime had taken action, they quickly followed after them without hesitation.

Brienne, dressed in a gown, ran faster than both of them, even having the presence of mind to grab a rake from beside the stables before she sprinted.

'What a true warrior.'

Ronin, following closely behind her, couldn't help but admire her speed and silently quickened his own pace.

Clip-clop… clip-clop… The pounding of hooves grew louder.

Walton, who was busy shouting orders and kicking Rorge in the waist and stomach, heard the noise behind him and turned back impatiently.

Just one glance made his scalp tingle.

A massive horse, appearing almost out of nowhere, was charging rapidly at him, showing no signs of stopping!

On its back, the golden-haired Kingslayer wore a chilling, crazed grin, controlling the reins with one hand.

"Isn't that—my horse?!" The thought flashed by in his mind but vanished quickly as fear overwhelmed him.

Despite being a seasoned warrior, facing a warhorse galloping rapidly toward him, Walton's legs instinctively turned to jelly.

It was no joke; he could even smell the stench of animal sweat mixed with leather!

"Gods above!" Walton cried out in desperation and fell backward into the mud.

Just at that moment, Jaime on horseback let out a long whistle and sharply pulled back on the reins with his left hand!

The charging horse reared up, its front hooves slashing the air a few times. Then its hooves slammed into the ground half a meter from Walton's head, splattering mud all over his deathly pale face.

Walton stiffly lifted his head to see Jaime sitting proudly on the horse, looking down at him with a face full of playful mockery.

Raising an eyebrow, the golden-haired, green-eyed Lannister rested his elbow on the horse's neck, leaning slightly, and teased, "Yo!"

"Did I frighten you, my lady?"

Walton seemed to still be in a fearful state, not quite registering his words, only showing a dazed expression. After a few moments, he pulled himself back, his stiff gaze falling on the horse a few inches away from him

And he would swear on every god in existence: this damned horse was his. He'd had it for over ten years!

"You damned thief—you stole my horse!" he pointed at Jaime and shouted angrily.

Jaime straightened his back and retorted, "Mind your words, Captain Walton. I am a Lannister—my piss is gold."

"As for this horse, Lord Bolton clearly gave it to me." He said righteously, "If yours is gone, what does that have to do with me?"

His words made Walton even more furious. Wiping mud from his face, he was about to continue arguing, "You—"

When suddenly, a stream of hot liquid gushed out from between the horse's legs.

Fortunately, Walton reacted quickly and scrambled backward, narrowly avoiding being sprayed in the face.

The hot stream, carrying a strong, pungent odor, shot onto the muddy ground where he had just been sitting, almost grazing his nose.

That was close… too close. Walton scrambled away, getting up awkwardly and looking utterly disheveled and furious.

"You—" Just as he was about to start cursing again, Ronin and the others arrived, forcing Walton to swallow his words.

Brienne and Iggo, both experienced warriors, instinctively formed a half-circle with Ronin without needing any instructions.

However, Walton's side outnumbered them slightly, and soon the two sides entered a tense standoff.

Ronin didn't speak right away. Instead, his gaze first fell upon Rorge, who was tied up like a wild boar.

It must be said that this fellow had decent physical fitness. He had been unconscious when they arrived at Harrenhal yesterday, but now he was already wriggling on the ground.

Look! He was even glaring at them!

Although his wounds still oozed a little blood, he wasn't in any life-threatening danger.

Seeing that, Ronin heaved a sigh of relief and then turned to Walton.

"Captain Walton." He spoke softly, letting the aura of Majesty Lv2 emanate unrestrained.

His voice made Walton, who was still in a fit of rage, freeze slightly, feeling a tremor in his heart.

As if compelled by an invisible force, he involuntarily shifted his attention from Jaime to Ronin.

The aura around him gave Walton the same uneasy feeling he had when facing Roose Bolton. He felt like something bad would happen if he crossed this man.

But as a guard captain of House Bolton, he also had his own pride and was unwilling to back down. In the end, he swallowed the bullet and spoke up. "Lord Bolton ordered all remnants of the Brave Companions to be executed!"

"This bastard was sneaking around the castle like a rat, and I caught him myself. I am only obeying the Lord's orders!"

He emphasized Lord Roose Bolton's order, trying to stand his ground by relying on his name.

However, Ronin merely sneered. "Your logic is flawed, my lord."

"He is my captive, so he is naturally under my authority. In other words, he is my property, and Lord Bolton's order does not apply to him."

"Your property?" Walton spat. "Don't give me that!"

"This bastard dared to fight me over Wells, the top girl at the 'Red Hole,' just half a month ago! Even if the Seven Gods were standing here today, I'd still kill him!"

"Take him!" he ordered, and the surrounding Northern soldiers prepared to rush forward.

"Stop!" Ronin snapped, his gaze icy cold. The pressure of Majesty Lv2 intensified, becoming almost palpable.

Brienne and Iggo also stepped forward immediately, their presence adding to the pressure, momentarily intimidating Walton and the soldiers.

Seeing them come to a halt, Ronin sighed with relief. Harrenhal was, after all, the garrison for the Bolton army. Making a commotion here could attract unwanted attention, making the situation difficult to manage later.

"Very well, Captain Walton. If you insist on taking him, then let us talk business."

While Walton was hesitating whether to take further action, Ronin's voice rang out, changing the subject.

Under the other party's somewhat astonished gaze, Ronin raised his index finger. "One thousand gold dragons."

"According to Westerosi custom, if you wish to ransom him, then pay one thousand gold dragons."

"After that, the man is yours, and whatever you do with him is none of my concern."

"H-how much???" Hearing the price quoted by Ronin, Walton almost jumped in fright. The anger on his face faded instantly, replaced by disbelief.

"This bastard is worth a thousand gold dragons? Are you kidding me?"

"The Kingslayer's bounty is only a thousand!" he shouted, pointing at Jaime.

Ronin's expression remained unchanged in the face of his outburst. He merely tilted his head and explained patiently, "The accounts cannot be calculated that way, my lord."

"Ser Jaime's ransom is a one-time thing because he is of the Kingsguard and cannot marry or have children. But Rorge…"

Ronin nudged him lightly with his foot. "He is different."

"He will work for me and create value. Then he will marry and have children. His children will work for me, and their children will too… this cycle will never end."

"So, if you consider the lifetime value of him and all his descendants, isn't a thousand gold dragons fair?"

"This is already a discounted price. I'm giving it to you only out of respect for Lord Bolton."

Ronin shrugged, wearing an expression that said, "You've gotten a huge bargain."

Walton was absolutely dumbfounded, mouth agape, unable to speak for a long time.

What kind of reasoning was that? It almost sounded logical if he didn't think too hard. But upon closer inspection, it clearly treated him like a fool!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Walton's chest rose and fell violently, feeling a knot stuck there, making his face flush crimson.

Wasn't this just bullying an honest man?!

But just as Walton was struggling to refute Ronin's shameless logic—

Jaime spoke up at the perfect moment from atop his horse. "I suggest you seriously consider Ser Ronin's proposal, Captain Walton."

"You have only two choices: either pay the ransom, or release the man immediately."

Saying this, he leaned slightly, a hint of malice flashing in his emerald eyes as he stared down at Walton.

"Otherwise, when I return to King's Landing, I might casually mention to my father…"

"That Vargo Hoat ordered my hand to be cut off—and the man who swung the blade… was you."

The moment those words were spoken, Walton felt a chill run up his spine.

"Slander!"

Walton stomped his feet in panic, pointing at Jaime in horror. "You're slandering me!"

This accusation… it was too malicious! As expected from a man titled "Kingslayer." He was simply inhumane!

However, seeing his reaction, Jaime grew even more smug. Straightening proudly in the saddle, he looked down with a cold smile at the nearly collapsing Walton and said softly:

"Tell me, Northman…"

"Whose words do you think my father will believe? Yours or mine?"

 

[Mystero]

This reads far too much like a translation of chinese fics. Young master? lol

 

[xscraid]

This reads far too much like a translation of chinese fics. Young master? lol

Click to shrink...

It is a Chinese fic.

 

[Fanfictionlord]

Jaime's threat was the final straw that completely broke Walton's resolve.

He couldn't be blamed. If he allowed the Kingslayer to run to his father and pin every disaster that had taken place in the Riverlands onto him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just imagining what he might be dragged into made Walton's face turn pale, his body trembling uncontrollably!

He stared at Jaime and forced himself to retort stiffly, "Th-This… is Harrenhal. You are… challenging Lord Bolton's… authority!"

Although he tried to toughen his tone, the constant chattering of his teeth told another story.

The crack in his psychological defenses was immediately noticed by Ronin's keen eyes. He subtly patted Jaime's thigh, signaling him to stop pressing the matter.

The desired effect had largely been achieved. Pushing too hard now might be counterproductive and incite other parties desperate resistance.

Stepping forward, Ronin softened his tone, speaking as if genuinely trying to comfort him. "Captain Walton, I believe we are all honorable people here. There's no need to escalate this over some worthless fellow and a petty private grudge to the point of no return."

"Lord Bolton's authority is meant to eliminate threats and maintain order, not for you to settle private scores and fight over a prostitute."

"Wells is a male prostitute," Iggo suddenly interjected from the side.

Hearing that, Ronin looked at Walton in surprise. But seeing the man's expression remain completely unchanged, showing no signs of embarrassment or denial, he simply shrugged.

After all, such preferences were far from uncommon across Westeros. And, frankly, this world lacked the "toxic butts" of his previous life, which made the whole thing much safer… probably.

Deciding not to dwell on the matter, Ronin continued to coax the already wavering Walton.

"Think this through, Captain Walton."

He took another step forward, casually placing a hand on Walton's shoulder, speaking in a tone that suggested he was genuinely looking out for the man.

"If this matter reaches Lord Bolton's ears, what do you think he'll do? Praise your judgment or scold you for embarrassing him in front of an honored guest like the heir of Casterly Rock?"

These words were like a sharp dagger, completely piercing through Walton's defenses.

Lowering his head, he fell silent for a moment. He glanced around at the men behind him and took a deep breath. "All I know is loyalty to Lord Bolton and serving him diligently. The rest… I haven't considered!"

—Hah.

Ronin was dumbfounded by this sudden declaration.

This fellow wasn't dumb after all!

Seeing Walton straighten his back and adopt a righteous pose, Ronin was actually quite impressed by his presence of mind.

He understood that backing down too suddenly in front of his subordinates would lower his standing and embarrass him as a captain. So he decided to deliberately put on a show to save face.

But since all he needed was a way out, Ronin decided to pave the way for him with some money.

"As I said earlier, Captain Walton, we are all honorable people here."

Ronin tightened his grip slightly, pulling Walton into a half-embrace as he patted his shoulder. At the same time, he pushed his Majesty Lv2 aura to the maximum.

His tone softened, but the pressure emanating from him only grew stronger. "How about this? I'll give you a solution worthy of your status."

Saying this, he pointed to Rorge lying on the ground. "This man, I must take him with me."

"But since he has offended you, I will make him pay a price far harsher than anything you can imagine. After today, he will look upon you with nothing but fear—never again daring to covet anyone or anything that belongs to you."

Ronin's voice was powerful and clear, and something about the way he spoke compelled people to believe everything he said.

Then, changing the subject, he gestured toward the horse beneath Jaime. "As for this horse, I believe it's simply a misunderstanding."

"Perhaps Lord Bolton didn't specify which mount he intended to gift, or perhaps the stable boys made an error. But regardless, continuing to argue over the ownership of a horse is far too undignified for men of our standing."

He deliberately emphasized the word "undignified," letting it anchor itself in Walton's mind.

Then, without giving him a moment to react, he reached into his robe and pulled out a pouch of coins.

He weighed it once; the crisp clinking of the gold dragons rang out clearly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Here are thirty gold dragons."

Ronin decisively shoved the pouch into Walton's arms before continuing. "Consider this my personal compensation to you, as well as payment for the warhorse."

"Take it and lead your men to the best tavern in town and have a feast with the strongest wine you can find."

"And don't think it's too little."

Gulp!

As Ronin's voice faded, Walton stared at the heavy pouch in his hands and couldn't help but swallow hard.

Too little?

Thirty gold dragons, and he said not to think it's too little?!

In the South, even during wartime when prices were soaring, a gold dragon held tremendous purchasing power.

It was even more so in the North, where resources were scarcer and most people lived on the brink of poverty.

Thirty gold dragons nearly equaled an entire month's expenditure for the Dreadfort itself!

"Ser Ronin… You… I… I truly… I…"

Looking up at Ronin's sincere expression, Walton found himself stammering, completely overwhelmed.

Though his unit had plundered a large sum during their southern campaign, under Roose Bolton's discreet orders, most of that wealth had gone straight into the lord's pockets.

Holding such a large sum personally was enough to make anyone tremble with excitement.

"Don't be sad, Captain Walton."

Ronin patted him warmly on the back, stepped back, and chuckled as his gaze swept over the Northern soldiers around them. "I know you suffered a loss, but sometimes, ensuring both sides suffer a small loss often means… everyone wins."

"See? By handling it this way, with just a few minor compromises, we've resolved this conflict peacefully and honorably. Isn't that far wiser than letting things spiral into something unsightly?"

Walton swallowed again. "How can I accept this…? That horse only cost ten gold dragons when I bought it."

Yet even as he said this, his hands moved with lightning speed, stuffing the gold into his pocket as if afraid Ronin would suddenly change his mind.

Watching his contradictory actions, Ronin sneered inwardly, but on the outside, he remained perfectly composed, giving Walton a polite nod.

"As I told you, we are all honorable men."

"Yes! Yes, of course!!!"

Clutching the gold, all of Walton's previous anger vanished, and a bright, almost blinding smile appeared on his face.

He looked at Ronin with the devotion of a man seeing a savior, enthusiastically stepping forward to embrace him and patting his shoulder.

"We are indeed honorable men, Ser Ronin. From today on, you are the greatest friend of 'Steelshanks Walton!'"

"Forget a mere Rorge—even if you asked for my wife, I'd wash her clean and lay her in your bed myself!"

"That won't be necessary…" Ronin quickly declined.

"In any case, if you need anything at all, just tell me. Everyone in the Dreadfort knows that Steelshanks Walton never goes back on his words!"

"Let's go! We're drinking to our hearts' content today!"

Jingling the gold pouch in his pocket, Walton waved magnanimously, ordering his soldiers to march off with him.

Though judging by his attitude, he had no intention of inviting Ronin and his group.

Watching them leave, Ronin turned to Iggo and instructed, "Gather everyone. We need to leave here quickly."

"Roose Bolton is not the kind of man who keeps his word. We must depart before he changes his mind."

Hearing this, Jaime nodded strongly in agreement.

Then, glancing at Rorge, who was carried by Iggo, he leaned closer and teased in a low voice, "You made a loss on that deal, Ronin. That man isn't worth thirty gold dragons."

"Is that so?"

Hearing his words, Ronin's lips curved into a meaningful smile.

"Lannister aren't the only one who knows how to do business in westeros, Jaime."

"Just watch. Ronin Graves never makes a losing deal either."

---

The chamber in Harrenhal was filled with the stale scent of old parchment mixed with faint traces of herbs and dust.

Walton stood trembling before a dark red desk, his head bowed so low it was almost buried in the collar of his chainmail.

A mud-streaked coin pouch rested on the polished tabletop. Its opening hung slightly open, revealing the faint golden gleam of the dragons within.

Roose Bolton did not touch the pouch. He didn't even spare it a glance.

"You accepted Ronin Graves' gold, and yet you allowed the man I intended to kill to walk away."

His voice was calm—far too calm—but every word made Walton tremble, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

While terrified, he frantically racked his brain, trying to figure out which son of a bitch under him had dared to betray him.

"Don't bother guessing, Walton."

Roose seemed to see right through him, his eyes appearing to know everything. "No one can hide anything from me in my territory—not in the Dreadfort, and not here."

Leaning back in his chair, he tapped the armrest lightly with his pale fingers.

Walton risked a sideways glance, his lips trembling as he tried to explain himself. "My Lord… I… I only—"

"Heh."

As soon as he spoke, Roose let out a soft chuckle, as if remembering something amusing.

"Since you took his money and did his bidding, Walton… then you shall go follow him."

"Ah?!"

Walton raised his head abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice even taking on a sobbing tone.

"My Lord! Forgive me! I-I never meant to keep anything from you!"

"I have followed you faithfully for over ten years, and my father served House Bolton all his life—please, take that into account—!"

"I said…"

Roose raised his voice slightly, cutting off Walton's desperate rambling. He spoke in a tone that allowed for no refusal.

"You are going to follow him."

---

"So… you really came to follow me?"

Ronin, sitting on the back of a docile-looking horse, raised an eyebrow. His unsteady riding made him bounce slightly in the saddle, and he couldn't resist teasing.

By the shores of the God's Eye, the autumn sunlight scattered across the lake's surface in glittering shards, reflecting Walton's contorted face, which looked as if he were suffering from constipation.

At Ronin's remark, his expression turned even uglier. He tightened his grip on the reins of his horse and replied curtly, "This is Lord Bolton's order."

"I am to escort you safely to King's Landing. And… collect the promised payment."

"Payment?"

Ronin tugged gently on the reins, slowing his horse. A flicker of confusion stirred in his eyes.

The agreement between him and Roose Bolton was mostly based on mutual understanding and potential future benefits. They had not agreed upon any specific "payment."

"What payment?"

Ronin asked curiously, but Walton simply shook his head, his brows tightly furrowed. "My Lord did not specify."

"He only instructed me to go straight to Duke Tywin once we reach King's Landing."

The vagueness of the answer made Ronin narrow his eyes. Knowing Walton's temperament, he doubted the man was lying. Which made the situation even more intriguing.

What was Roose Bolton planning? Sending a trusted retainer after them… was it for surveillance?

Or… was he using this opportunity to establish a more direct link to Tywin Lannister by personally escorting Jaime back?

There was too little information to figure anything out.

Walton, standing nearby, gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, "Damn it, if I find out which bastard drank my wine, took my money, and still dared to stab me in the back, I swear I'll strip him naked and hang him on the walls of the Dreadfort when I come back, letting the crows peck out his eyes!"

At his righteous indignation, a meaningful curve played on Ronin's lips.

This kind of thing was actually easy to deduce: whoever gained the most benefit from this matter, or eliminated potential trouble, was most likely responsible.

But he had no intention of enlightening Walton. Let this muscle-headed Northerner figure it out slowly on his own. After all, he still had many unanswered questions himself.

"Keep an eye on him."

Shaking his head, he whispered to Iggo, who was riding beside him.

"And don't let that fellow die," he added, pointing at the unconscious Rorge, who was tied horizontally across Iggo's horse, bouncing like a sack of goods as the horse moved.

"My greatest business deal still needs him as a stepping stone!"

"Yes, my lord!" Iggo responded in a deep voice, reaching out to loosen Rorge's ropes a bit and give him some breathing space.

However, just at this moment—

Woooooooooooo—

A long, deep horn blast echoed from the tree-lined road to their left!

Immediately after came a dense thunder of hooves, rapidly approaching them.

Rumble—rumble—rumble—

Judging from the sound alone, it was a large group—large enough that even the ground beneath them seemed to tremble faintly.

Ronin's pupils tightened. Without a second thought, he shouted sharply, "Prepare for combat!"

Despite having lost his right hand, Jaime reacted the fastest. In one smooth motion, he drew his longsword.

Brienne spurred her horse and rode straight into position, interposing herself between Ronin and the incoming threat. The ridiculous dress she was wearing earlier had long since been replaced by her armor.

Iggo followed right after her, drawing his longsword, and let out a low, animalistic growl from his throat.

Even Walton instinctively drew his weapon, looking nervously toward the source of the sound. With practiced efficiency, he maneuvered into position with Brienne and Iggo, forming a rough but effective triangular defense around Ronin.

Their quick response showed that although this temporary group was small, every single member was an elite.

Everyone looked out in vigilance, staring intently in the direction of the road.

Within a few breaths, a cavalry unit emerged from the depths of the forest, as if materializing out of thin air.

There were about twenty to thirty men, all on horseback. They weren't at a full charge, but their pace was by no means slow.

Hooves struck the ground in perfect rhythm, sending an almost palpable wave of pressure as they advanced straight toward Ronin and the others.

Ronin's hand reached into his chest, fingers closing over the travel permit with Roose Bolton's emblem. He had no idea if this group was enemy or ally.

As the distance closed, his pupils suddenly contracted sharply!

At the very front of their formation, a tall banner fiercely tore at the air in the autumn wind, flapping loudly.

Against a pitch-black background, like the bottomless cold night, was embroidered an incredibly striking white sunburst, emitting a sharp brilliance!