Littlefinger felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. Unlike the fools Cersei and Joffrey, Tyrion Lannister was dangerously competent. The acting Hand had King's Landing firmly in his grip, and Littlefinger had to tread carefully, lest his own private schemes be exposed. Tyrion was still hunting for the source of the rumors about Cersei and Jaime, and Littlefinger worried that the trail might lead back to him. With Tyrion in command of the city's forces, being discovered meant a swift and certain execution.
For his own survival, and to seize the immense opportunities this chaos presented, Littlefinger had been plotting his escape from the capital. Now, Tyrion was offering him a way out on a silver platter. It was the perfect chance. His sharp mind immediately analyzed the situation, seeking the most profitable path. Still, he couldn't appear too eager. To avoid suspicion and extract more concessions, he put on a troubled expression.
"You are right, Lord Tyrion, my friendship with Lady Lysa is deep," he began, his voice laced with feigned concern. "But the roads are so dangerous now. With war everywhere, I worry I may not even reach the Vale alive."
Tyrion wasn't fooled for a second. The fact that Littlefinger hadn't refused outright meant he was willing to go; he just wanted a higher price. Tyrion, having anticipated this, was prepared. He produced a royal decree, stamped with Joffrey's seal.
"To reward your loyal service, Lord Baelish, His Majesty has seen fit to name you the Lord of Harrenhal. The castle and all its lands will be yours." Tyrion slid the parchment across the table, a faint smirk on his lips. "How does that suit you, my lord? Are you satisfied with this reward?"
Littlefinger was genuinely surprised. The offer was incredibly generous. He was currently just the Master of Coin and a minor lord of the Fingers. To be elevated to Lord Paramount of the Riverlands and given the legendary castle of Harrenhal was a staggering leap, making him one of the most powerful dignitaries in Westeros.
But he was also keenly aware of the catch. Harrenhal was in the heart of the war-torn Riverlands. To take possession of his new seat, he would have to wait for Lord Tywin to crush the northern and riverland armies. For now, the title was purely symbolic. He certainly couldn't march into a warzone to claim his fiefdom.
Still, he had achieved his goal and secured a magnificent prize. A broad, happy smile spread across Littlefinger's face. "My eternal thanks to His Majesty!" he declared. "Consider it done. I will leave for the Vale at once to persuade Lady Lysa. I will do my utmost for the king!"
Tyrion simply nodded, ignoring the man's false sincerity. He then moved on to his next plan: marrying his niece, Princess Myrcella, to a son of House Martell. He hoped to use the marriage alliance to bring Dorne and its formidable army to Joffrey's side.
Despite his contempt for the dwarf's appearance, Littlefinger had to admire his political cunning. In a few masterful strokes, Tyrion was on the verge of securing the loyalty of both the Reach and Dorne. If he succeeded, the boy-king Joffrey might actually manage to keep his throne.
Littlefinger, of course, could not allow that. As one of Westeros's primary architects of chaos, he firmly believed that chaos was a ladder. Only a realm consumed by war would allow a man like him to climb to the very top. As this thought crossed his mind, his gaze drifted hungrily toward the empty Iron Throne.
From across the table, Varys saw the look in Littlefinger's eyes and followed his gaze. A slight, knowing curve touched the Spider's lips. He knew that the current state of the realm—four kings vying for power—was largely his and Littlefinger's handiwork.
But unlike Littlefinger, who craved the throne for himself, Varys had a different endgame. He stoked the fires of war to create an opening for the last Targaryens, waiting across the Narrow Sea, to return and reclaim their birthright. He wanted to help a Targaryen sit the Iron Throne once more, and then, as the hero who restored the dynasty, he would guide the realm his own way. In his view, both the Mad King and Robert Baratheon had been terrible rulers. Westeros needed a fresh start.
While spiders spun their webs in the south, a different kind of ambition was taking shape in the North. After returning to Starfire City, Jason was busy with the monumental task of resettling nearly 300,000 refugees from the Riverlands. He had to provide them with food, housing, and, most importantly, jobs to ensure the stability of his rapidly growing domain.
Fortunately, the common folk of Westeros had been conditioned by centuries of feudal rule. They were obedient, accustomed to accepting the authority of a noble lord without question. For them, switching allegiance from one lord to another was a simple matter. As long as Jason could provide food, work, and a safe place to live, he knew these people would become his most loyal subjects.
With this vast new labor force, Jason began expanding his industries. He enlarged his paper mill and started construction on an even bigger glassworks.
His fishing fleet was also proving to be a massive success. Benefiting from the primitive fishing techniques of Westeros, Jason's modern-style nets brought in thousands of tons of fish from the Narrow Sea and the Shivering Sea on every voyage. The surplus catch, far more than could be eaten fresh, was smoked or preserved in cans for long-term storage. The current fleet of ten small wooden ships was already bringing in staggering harvests; he could only imagine what a modern, ten-thousand-ton fishing trawler could do. The thought was tempting, but operating such a vessel in this world was impossible—no one had the skills, and there was no fuel.
Still, the ancient, untouched oceans were unbelievably rich in resources. In most of Westeros, people living inland never tasted sea fish due to the difficulty of preservation and transport. The annual catch of the entire continent was a drop in the bucket compared to the ocean's true bounty.
For days on end, Jason and his household feasted on an endless variety of fish, lobster, and crab, until they grew tired of it. He even had crates of fresh lobster and fish sent through the portal to his family and Lin Xiaohan in the modern world. Compared to modern seafood, everything caught here was pure, wild, and completely pollution-free. It was a resource of incredible value.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse