Greensight.
The moment the thought flashed through Lynn's mind—
—the world lost its color.
The study's burning candles. Stacked ledgers. King's Landing's clamor outside.
Everything became countless tangled gray threads.
Lynn's consciousness—an invisible eagle—
—broke free of his body.
Soared high above the sleeping city.
He locked onto the man called Donnar.
A guest room in the Red Keep.
His awareness pierced the thick stone walls.
He saw the man.
Donnar sat cross-legged on the bed. Eyes closed. Breathing steady.
Meditating.
But Lynn saw more.
Rewind.
Time's river flowed backward at Lynn's will.
Donnar's face twisted, blurred in the racing images—
—froze on a completely unfamiliar boy's face.
Conversations with Berryth.
Thoughts drifting again...
Across the Narrow Sea.
The Free Cities.
Braavos.
A black-and-white temple rose through gray mist.
Appeared abruptly in Lynn's vision.
The House of Black and White.
The Faceless Men's lair.
Lynn's "sight" followed the boy into the cold temple.
He watched the boy scrub floors day after day.
Learning to abandon his name. His past.
How to become utterly "no one."
He saw the boy in dim chambers—
—learning to identify, mix hundreds of colorless, tasteless poisons.
The scene shifted.
The boy stood beside a cold corpse.
A sharp knife in hand.
With near-artistic precision—
—he carefully peeled the dead man's face.
Practiced. Precise.
He'd done this a thousand times.
Then Lynn saw the boy before a pool.
Constantly changing his voice.
Mimicking different ages, identities.
Even a woman's voice.
Finally, Lynn saw his favorite weapon.
Needles thin as ox hair. Dipped in lethal poison.
Hidden in clothing seams. Shoe heels. Sword hilts.
One scratch—instant death.
[DING! Through Greensight, you are analyzing "Faceless Man" techniques...]
[Analysis successful! You have learned 'Disguise (Beginner)'—includes human skin mask crafting, voice mimicry, etc.]
[Analysis successful! You have learned 'Hidden Weapon (Beginner)'—includes poison needles, throwing knives, etc.]
[Analysis successful! You have learned 'Toxicology (Beginner)'—you can craft common and rare poisons.]
[Learning Toxicology has greatly increased your Herbalism experience.]
A cascade of system notifications rang in Lynn's mind.
A massive information stream flooded his memory.
As if he himself had lived through those sunless apprentice years in the House of Black and White.
Disguise. Poisoning. Assassination.
These dark, deadly skills—now part of his skill panel.
Lynn's consciousness slowly withdrew from the rewind.
Refocused on the cross-legged man in the guest room.
A top-tier assassin.
A "loyal subject" willing to risk his life for the king's "honor."
What a performance.
Great skills too.
Shame I saw the script.
And stole the skills.
Lynn's lips curled into a playful arc.
I didn't expect Lord Berryth to prepare such a surprise.
Calling in an old favor to hire a Faceless Man to kill me.
What a grand gesture!
"But these little tricks don't work on me, Lord Mouse."
Lynn chuckled to himself.
Skinchanger activated.
In the guest room, Donnar still meditated.
Adjusting his state for tomorrow's fate-deciding duel.
Suddenly—
—an irresistible, icy will shattered his mental defenses without warning!
His body jerked.
His closed eyes opened involuntarily.
But the gaze was hollow. Blank.
He stood. Movements stiff as a puppet.
Under Lynn's will, "Donnar" began searching his own body.
From his boot's hidden layer—three poison needles glinting blue.
From his collar's seams—five more.
Finally, he pried open his sword hilt. Extracted the last two.
The most lethal.
Ten poison needles total.
His "surprise" for Lynn tomorrow.
"Donnar" walked to the window.
Outside—several Gold Cloaks leaned lazily against the wall.
Guarding Donnar. Ensuring he'd appear at tomorrow's trial. Preventing escape.
He reached out.
Silently dropped the ten needles into the manure pile below the windowsill.
Task complete.
"Donnar" returned to the bed. Sat cross-legged. Closed his eyes.
As if nothing had happened.
Donnar's Awakening
Moments later.
Donnar jolted awake!
Gasping. Forehead drenched in cold sweat.
What happened?
Just now... a nightmare?
No! Not a dream!
A powerful feeling of violation—of being watched—
—surged from his soul's depths!
He instinctively reached for his boot.
The hidden layer—empty!
His face turned deathly pale!
He frantically checked his collar. His weapons.
All gone!
Every poison needle. His fangs. Vanished!
Impossible!
This is the Red Keep!
Gold Cloaks guard the door!
No one entered!
Terror filled Donnar's eyes.
He rushed to the door. Tried to leave.
Two crossed spears blocked him.
"Ser. The Hand's orders—you cannot leave this room until the duel."
The Gold Cloak's expressionless face looked like a demon from the Seven Hells.
He was trapped.
A snake with its fangs pulled.
Lynn's Study
Lynn's pale face slowly opened his eyes.
Greensight and skinchanging in succession—heavy mental toll.
But the goal is achieved.
Donnar's main weapon—those unstoppable hidden needles.
Lynn felt his control over his body—his use of power—
—had deepened.
An assassin's instinct.
The Faceless Men.
Truly terrifying.
Shame he met a more unreasonable cheat.
Lynn stood. Walked to the window. Gazed at the Red Keep's towering silhouette.
Tomorrow's duel is no longer a duel.
It's a performance.
A fangless assassin is no threat.
How should I stage this show—
—to satisfy every audience member?
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