Over the next few days, Lynd directly transferred six thousand gold dragons from his guild in King's Landing to Tob Mott.
Then, he had his people stationed in King's Landing escort Tob Mott to pay off all his debts one by one.
Any remaining balance was temporarily covered by Lynd's guild and would be deducted once the blacksmith shop was sold.
Tob Mott's blacksmith shop was ideally located and the largest among the Steel Street blacksmith shops, having already gained a certain reputation in King's Landing.
The guild's appraisers estimated it could fetch a high price and would be easy to sell.
Perhaps due to being debt-free, Tob Mott's forging skills had recently become even more refined.
The Ice Dragon Runes necklaces he was tasked with making had a very high success rate.
In less than five days, with only eleven failures, all twenty-six Dragon Rune pendants were completed.
Lynd embedded these Dragon Rune pendants into twenty-six pre-made bronze plates and strung them together with rope, creating twenty-six necklaces suitable for Stone Giants to wear.
Afterward, he had the Stone Giant leader, Marg, test their effectiveness.
While not as effective as Lynd directly using the Ice Dragon Rune to cool them down, they could continuously make the Stone Giants feel a chill around their bodies.
However, the chill the Stone Giants felt would be fatal to ordinary people.
Lynd experimented with a rabbit; after putting on the Ice Dragon Rune necklace, the rabbit immediately froze into a block of ice, similar to Varys's servant.
This showed that Stone Giants had a certain resistance to cold, or to the magic of the Ice Dragon Rune.
After solving the Stone Giants' problem, Lynd also planned to leave King's Landing.
Although he had been very leisurely these past few days, either accompanying King Robert on hunts or attending various banquets, it was precisely because it was too leisurely that he found it extremely boring and had already started to miss his Summerhall Castle.
Although Summerhall Castle was currently just a foundation, for him, even sitting below the mountain where the castle was located, in the Council Chamber study in Redemption Town, watching Summerhall Castle being built little by little, was more meaningful than attending various banquets here.
So, one morning, he found an excuse to bid farewell to King Robert, planning to leave the next day.
Although King Robert also did not want Lynd to leave, he could see that the banquets that made him linger and the hunts that satisfied his desire for battle were simply too boring for Lynd.
Therefore, he did not try to keep Lynd, only asking him to come to King's Landing for a gathering when he had time.
"My Lord, the King's Hand wishes to see you." As Lynd was about to leave the Red Keep, a Red Keep servant stopped him and said.
Lynd was startled, feeling a bit confused, but he said nothing and followed the servant to the study in the Prime Minister's Tower.
As Lynd entered, Jon Arryn had just finished reviewing a document.
After signing it, he handed it to the waiting courtier and said, "Deliver this document immediately to Ser Pethorne, and have him execute the matters on it without any mistakes."
"Yes, My Lord." The courtier took the document, turned, saw Lynd, immediately bowed to Lynd, and then hurried out of the room.
However, the bow he performed was not a standard courtesy, but a worshipful bow of a Seven Gods believer.
"Baron Rube is a devout believer of the Seven Gods, and you, the Godsworn, hold almost the same status as the Archbishop in his heart." Jon Arryn said casually, then pointed to a chair nearby and said, "Please sit, Lord Linde.
With your current status, you shouldn't be standing to speak with me."
Lynd did not stand on ceremony and sat down in the chair in front of Jon Arryn.
Jon Arryn explained with a serious expression, "The order sent from the Prime Minister's residence to the City Watch was forged by one of my attendants.
He had some personal grudges with your Master of Crafts, and knowing that he might be going to your territory, he worried he wouldn't be able to retaliate against him later.
That's why he used my name to have the City Watch make things difficult for your Master of Crafts.
I was not aware of it."
Lynd paused, looking at Jon Arryn with a hint of doubt, wondering if these words were deliberately fabricated to conceal his wife, Lysa Tully's, involvement in the matter, or if he genuinely didn't know that the matter was actually related to Littlefinger.
Although he was suspicious of Jon Arryn's intentions, he still went along with his words, saying, "This is merely a personal grievance between subordinates, and it has already been resolved."
Jon Arryn nodded, then looked at Lynd, saying something startling, "I know you have connections with Varys, and have had connections for a very long time."
However, in the King's Hand's eyes, Lynd showed no surprise or other expressions, nor did he appear flustered; instead, he remained calm as usual.
"I know." Lynd also looked calmly at the old King's Hand, nodded, and said, "I knew long ago that you, My Lord, were aware of my connection with Varys.
However, my cooperation with him is open and aboveboard; there is nothing illicit, so there's no need to hide anything."
Lynd's honest admission of his connection with Varys truly surprised Jon Arryn.
He was stunned for a long time before he composed his surprised expression and asked, "Can you tell me what kind of cooperation you two have?"
Lynd did not answer directly, but pointed to the armor he was wearing.
"So he introduced Tob Mott to you." Jon Arryn nodded, then reminded him, "Although there's nothing wrong with your cooperation, I still think that someone like you shouldn't have too close a relationship with someone like Varys…"
"I understand what you mean, King's Hand." Lynd interrupted Jon Arryn, saying, "However, I must respectfully decline.
I see no issue in associating with Lord Varys."
Jon Arryn frowned and said, "Is that what you think?"
"Yes, My Lord." Lynd met Jon Arryn's gaze and said, "I believe, My Lord, you have never truly tried to understand Lord Varys, have you?
In your eyes, or rather, in the eyes of most nobles, Lord Varys is merely a eunuch, a castrate, even a freak.
Let alone understanding him, you might even feel that speaking an extra word to him defiles your spirit.
Am I right, King's Hand?"
Jon Arryn did not reply, only looked calmly at Lynd.
Lynd continued, "However, in my eyes, Lord Varys is nobler than most nobles, and more like a knight than most knights."
A hint of surprise appeared on Jon Arryn's face, and he said in astonishment, "You hold Varys in such high regard."
"With all due respect, King's Hand, you were born into nobility, and from childhood, you have stood on the shoulders of your ancestors, looking at this world.
This allows you to see further and perceive the world more clearly, but it also means that none of you have ever truly looked down at the people beneath your feet." Lynd bluntly accused, "In your eyes, the common folk are uncouth, foolish, and in need of taming.
Therefore, you are unwilling to devote too much attention to them.
You only wish to see people who are born noble like yourselves and share the same thoughts."
"But I am different.
I have risen from the bottom, and I can see both the lowest and the highest.
In my eyes, among the noble, there are no lack of foolish, ugly villains, and among the common folk, there are also noble, beautiful sages.
And in my eyes, our Lord Spider is such a sage.
I am honored to know him, and honored to be his friend."
After Lynd's words fell, the room grew quiet.
Jon Arryn seemed to be deep in thought, and Lynd did not disturb him.
After a while, Jon Arryn stopped thinking, looked at Lynd with a meaningful expression, and said, "Lord Linde Terra, perhaps you are right.
Sometimes I do forget that the people beneath our feet are the foundation.
Arrogance and habit can mislead our perceptions and make us miss many talents.
But I still must remind you, the Spider is not a suitable person to befriend." Saying this, he suddenly changed the subject and asked somewhat abruptly, "Where did you and Varys go after leaving the blacksmith shop that day?"
Lynd answered directly, "He took me to the Dragonpit to meet a friend from across Across the Narrow Sea."
"Why would he introduce you to a friend from across Across the Narrow Sea?" Jon Arryn asked gravely.
"Because I asked him to." Lynd replied truthfully.
"You asked him to?" Jon Arryn questioned, "Can you tell me why?"
"Of course, I can tell you, because this matter might also require your cooperation, King's Hand." Lynd said with a serious expression, "I sought out that person from across Across the Narrow Sea because I want his help in gathering detailed intelligence on Tyrosh, Myr, Lys, and the Stepstones.
Within these five years, I will completely control the Stepstones, bringing them under the Seven Kingdoms, and then I will lead my army eastward to attack Tyrosh, Myr, and Lys."
Lynd's words completely bewildered Jon Arryn.
He had summoned Lynd temporarily this time mainly because he had received intelligence that Lynd, introduced by Varys, had met a smuggler from across Across the Narrow Sea.
He felt something was amiss, so he brought Lynd in to test the waters.
But he never expected to hear such an astonishing plan from Lynd's mouth.
His first thought was whether Lynd had gone mad, to actually plan to wage war on Across the Narrow Sea.
"Are you mad?" Jon Arryn also subconsciously blurted out what he was thinking, though he seemed unaware of his own actions, still believing he was only having a thought in his mind.
"Of course, I haven't gone mad; my mind is perfectly clear right now." Lynd looked at the King's Hand in surprise; he also hadn't expected Jon Arryn to make such an impolite remark.
"Ah?" Jon Arryn was still wondering why Lynd knew what he was thinking, but soon he realized that he seemed to have involuntarily spoken what was on his mind.
After a moment of awkwardness, Jon Arryn looked at Lynd with a feigned serious expression and asked, "Why do you want to attack members of the Free City States Alliance to the east?
Do you know the consequences of doing so?"
"Of course, I know what the consequences of doing so are." Lynd said seriously, "King's Hand, I have seen the Others Beyond the Wall, and I know how powerful they are.
If the Others truly find a way to break through the Wall, then the Seven Kingdoms to the south will have great difficulty resisting the Corpse Ghoul Army's attack.
We need to think of a retreat route in advance.
And the retreat route I have thought of is to escape to the Essos continent via the Stepstones."
"You are too pessimistic, Lord Linde!" Jon Arryn frowned and said gravely.
"No, you are too optimistic, King's Hand." Lynd retorted pointedly, "You haven't seen what the Others' army is like, and you don't know how terrifying they truly are, which is why you appear so calm.
If you had seen those legendary beings, you wouldn't be questioning my decision like this."
Jon Arryn was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are the Others really that terrifying, that powerful?"
Lynd nodded and said, "More terrifying, more powerful than you can currently imagine."
Jon Arryn clearly understood how powerful Lynd was; it would be no exaggeration to describe him as a one-man army.
And now, even Lynd felt such strong fear towards the Others, considering a retreat route after defeat instead of direct confrontation.
This was already enough to indicate how powerful and terrifying the Others truly were.
Thinking of this, Jon Arryn made a decision and asked gravely, "Is there anything I can help you with in this matter?"
When Lynd heard Jon Arryn say this, he knew his careful performance had succeeded, so he said without hesitation, "I know the Iron Throne controls a portion of the Stepstones.
I hope that portion of the Stepstones can temporarily be placed under my command.
I need these islands as forward bases to take control of the entire Stepstones.
Additionally, I also need Greenstone in the Stormlands as my logistics base to provide logistical support for my forward fleet, so I need you, King's Hand, to send a letter to the Earl of Greenstone."
Jon Arryn paused, realizing that Lynd's requests were not too many, but far fewer than anticipated, so he asked, "Is that all you ask for? No need for financial or military aid?"
Lynd shook his head and said, "I still have plenty of money on hand, so I don't need assistance.
As for troops, my own people are sufficient.
Perhaps when attacking Tyrosh five years from now, I might need the Iron Throne to send some people over, but to ask the Iron Throne for support to deal with the pirates of the Stepstones would be giving them too much credit."
Jon Arryn was silent for a moment and said, "I will bring up the matter of the Stepstones in the Small Council.
I believe it shouldn't be difficult to pass.
As for your attack on Tyrosh, the Iron Throne will not interfere; you will bear the final consequences yourself." Saying this, he paused and added, "However, at that time, I will have the Gulltown fleet join your fleet for logistical transport.
That will be an action of the Vale, unrelated to the Iron Throne."
"Thank you, Duke Arryn." Lynd expressed his gratitude.
"You may leave now." Jon Arryn seemed a bit tired, rubbing his forehead, signaling Lynd to depart.
Since he had already gained the benefits, Lynd naturally had no intention of lingering further and stood up to leave.
"Among Tob Mott's apprentices, the one named Gendry, please take good care of him for me." Jon Arryn suddenly spoke again.
Lynd stopped, turned his head slightly to look at Jon Arryn, and said, "He is King Robert's bastard, isn't he?" Saying this, he paused, and deliberately emphasized, "He looks very much like him, all with black hair."
After speaking, he did not look at Jon Arryn's reaction again and left the study.
The King's Hand clearly did not understand the hint in Lynd's last sentence, because he was now thinking about another matter.
"Arrogance and habit can mislead our perceptions and make us miss many talents." Jon Arryn mumbled the words he had just spoken, seemingly having made a decision.
He took out a piece of paper, quickly wrote some content, and then sealed it with the King's Hand's wax seal.
Then he rang a bell, summoned the attendant from outside the door, handed the order to the attendant, and instructed, "Immediately send someone to deliver this transfer order to the tax collector Petyr Baelish in Gulltown."
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