Stephen Baratheon POV
"That's… a shi' lot of men." Yoren said, his gaze fixed on the chained men being led up the gang plank of the ship. "Soft men, by tha' looks of it. What did all o' them do?"
"Stealing from the crown, accepting bribes, neglecting their duties... And that's just the start of a long list of crimes for some of them." He said and smiled in satisfaction as the last of Baelish's close supports were finally led into the ship. Kings Landing would be a better place without corrupt immoral men like them.
It has taken some time but he finally managed to oust all of Baelish's men from their influential positions in Kings Landing. He allowed the good ones to remain, but there were so few of them that it made little difference.
Getting rid of the corrupt Gold Cloak captains proved to be a more challenging task, so he resorted to an "indirect" method. People died in tavern brawls all the time after all. So in an unfortunate coincidence, all five of the dishonest captains happened to be present in a tavern when a massive brawl erupted, resulting in their demise.
The mere thought of what might have been if Baelish had been allowed to remain in the city for another six years, as per the canon timeline, sent a shiver down his spine. One could only imagine the extent of the wealth, manpower, connections, and influence that Baelish would have amassed during that time.
As things stood, filling those important posts with men who are both capable and loyal to him will take time and effort but he was sure that it'll eventually be worth it.
"A sorry lot." Yoren said as he spat to the side, his teeth stained red due to chewing too much sourleaf. "But the Wall will toughn' them up. It always does."
"I sure hope so. Judging by the rumours I've heard, your order is in sorry state these days."
Yoren snorted at his words. "No rumours. Simple truth. The Wall was an honourable place, once. Now it's little better than a den o' thieves and murderers."
He hummed. "I have other gifts for your order." He said and Yoren raised a quizzical eyebrow before he motioned for some of his men to step forward.
They did, carrying a small chest in with them. Upon opening it, the glimmer of gold was revealed, causing Yoren's eyes to widen in astonishment as he smirked.
"Ten thousand gold dragons," he announced, "enough to sustain your order for several years. I have also dispatched a dozen barrels of brandy, a few hundred sets of clothing, sufficient steel to equip a hundred soldiers, and several chests filled with Dragonglass." He continued, "While not the most formidable melee weapons, Dragonglass can serve as adequate arrowheads. I trust they will prove useful at the Wall."
"This…" Yoren said, his jaw dropping open at the announcement.
He swiftly closed the chest and gestured for his men to load it up onto the ship.
"Rest assured that none of the supplies will be stolen. My men are fiercely loyal, and I compensate them generously for it," he assured Yoren, who closed his mouth and cast him an uncertain glance.
"That's... mighty kind o' you, my lord," Yoren remarked, visibly taken aback by the substantial amount of gold and supplies. "This will certainly sustain us for tha' next few years, and possibly even a decade if the commander is stingy with the gold." He then bowed deeply and added, "On behalf o' the Night's Watch, I extend my deepest gratitude to you, my lord."
"That's a prince you're speaking to. Not some mere lord." One of knights rebuked and he held himself back from rolling his eyes. Some of his new knights were really too prideful for their own good. Too much pride only leads to one's downfall.
"I doubt it really matters to the brothers of the Nights Watch about who is the King and who is the peasant as long as they keep supplying them with gold and food." He said with some amusement while Yoren grimaced.
"My deepest apologies, your grace." Yoren said with another deep bow and he shrugged.
"Pay it no mind. Just continue to do your utmost to safeguard the realm from the threats beyond the wall." He reassured Yoren, giving him a pat on the shoulder before they shook hands and Yoren made his way aboard the ship.
The ship departed shortly thereafter, and he was about to leave when he noticed a crowd gathering around him. He suppressed a frown, knowing what was to come next.
The impromptu blessing ceremony that ensued ended up delaying him for three long hours.
He really needed to be more careful when coming down to the city.
Although the fervour for him had subsided a bit during his absence in the past few moons, people still flocked to him as soon as he left the Red Keep and entered the city.
Oh well, that's the price of being a famous healer, he supposed.
—
"So all those men have been sent to Nights Watch?" Lord Arryn asked and he nodded.
"Were all of them criminals?" Jon Arryn asked.
"Indeed. But even if they were weren't, does it truly matter?" he replied. "All of them were in Baelish's employment and either suspected or were aware of his illegal activities. Yet, they chose to remain silent. Hence, they were complicit in some way or the other."
"I suspected Baelish of stealing from the crown, and yet I did nothing as well," John Arryn said, letting out a deep sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "To think that he stole that much gold from the crown, and I remained blind to it all."
"Betrayal often comes from those you know and trust, my lord," he said, and Jon Arryn nodded morosely. The old man then turned to gaze at the city beyond his balcony.
They sat in silence for the next few moments before Jon spoke up.
"What's the progress on retrieving Baelish's wealth?" he inquired.
"It's going well enough. I've already dispatched trusted men to talk with the representatives of the Iron Bank and retrieve the gold he had stashed away there. His business are and properties are taking a while to sell, but most of his brothels have already found interested buyers. By my own estimates, the crown will be free of any debt by the end of this year."
"Your efforts and help are greatly appreciated by the crown," Jon said with a slight nod. "Without your assistance, who knows how long it would've taken me to uncover Petyr's embezzlement."
'Never.' He thought with mild amusement but nodded outwardly before softly inquiring, "How is Lady Arryn faring, my lord?"
Jon grimaced at his question and took a sip from his cup of wine. "Poorly." He said "She hasn't left her room since she heard about Petyr's execution. I fear she'll fall back into her depression if she continues like this."
"You have my sympathies Lord Arryn." He said softly before he decided to change the subject. "Have you decided on the next Master of Coins?"
Jon inclined his head in response. "Not yet. But I'm leaning toward your suggestion of Lord Wyman Manderly. You were right in saying that we haven't rewarded North despite their contributions in Robert's Rebellion and the Greyjoy's Folly. Perhaps having a voice in the Small Council will help with that."
He nodded and they sat in silence for another moment before he asked. "If that is all my lord. I do need to check out my new properties in the city and ensure that everything is in order."
"Your new properties?" Jon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"A dozen warehouses, a mansion, two shipyards, all of Baelish' Taverns and inns along with a few other minor stuff." He said, "And before you ask, yes, I've paid fair price for all of them."
"I wasn't about ask you anything, but I'm relieved to hear that you're not embezzling from the crown as well." Jon said with a tired smile as he massaged his own shoulders and let out a groan. "And no, there is nothing else, Ser Stephen. You may go."
He nodded and left the Hand's tower. He planned to return to the city (under a disguise this time) and ensure that all his recently acquired properties were in good condition.
—
"I hate you!" Lynalle said as she threw a cushion at him.
He let the cushion hit him on the chest and smiled at his Spy Mistress. "Good evening to you too, my dear."
"Don't you dare call me 'my dear'! Do you have any idea just how much additional work you've piled on me!" Lynalle said as she picked up another cushion to throw at him.
He caught her arm before she could do so and pushed her against the wall. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into a deep, searing kiss.
Lynalle was hesitant for only a brief moment before she gave in and started kissing him back.
After relishing her lips for a full minute, he released her, causing Lynalle to stumble back into her chair, her face flushed with excitement and arousal.
She gazed at him with half lidded eyes for a moment before she shook her head and pouted. "Don't think I'll forgive you so easily. Just because you are the best lover in the world doesn't mean that you can hand me half a dozen high-end brothels and expect me to run them without any problems. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to manage a single high end brothel, let alone so many of them."
Sitting on her table, he looked down at her and rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't act as if you didn't dance with joy when I first told you about all the brothels that will now be under your management. Your vehemence is not fooling anyone," he said.
Lynalle pouted at him once again, her pout doing a good job of stirring his arousal. "That's before I realised just how much work I'll have to do to keep them running. If my hair wasn't silver then it would've gone grey from all the stress."
"That just means that you need to become better at delegating. Like me." He said with a roguish grin and Lynalle glared back at him.
"I hate you."
His smirk widened and he leaned down to kiss her lips once again. "No, you don't." He whispered to her ears, feeling amused at how she shuddered with arousal, getting wet by merely being in his presence.
"That said, I have another gift for you." He said and Lynalle gave him a wary look. He snickered at that look and asked "What with that look?"
"The last time you gave me a gift, my workload increased tenfold." She complained. "I don't think I'm ready to take another gift from you just yet."
"Well, you'll like this gift. I think." He said and clapped his hands four times.
A petite figure entered the room through the open door, wearing a black cowl to conceal her face.
Lynalle gave the girl an intrigued look. "And who is she?"
Tyene took this moment to remove the cowl and gave a pose to his Spy Mistress. "Tada~~~"
Lynalle looked distinctly unimpressed by Tyene's actions and she ignored his lover to give him a deadpan look. "You brought me a sand snake?"
He smiled at her. "Correction. I brought you an apprentice."
"An apprentice?" Lynalle inquired, turning to look up and down at Tyene before returning her gaze to him. "I assume you're not referring to an apprentice in the... erotic arts that I learned in Lys,"
"No. She's to be your spy apprentice." He said and then wiggled his eyebrows. "Though I won't mind you giving her a few tips on how to please me while in bed."
Lynalle frowned at his words and gazed deeply into his eyes. "You do know that this is a profession, right. She can't just learn for a few moons and expect to be an expert at it. Becoming a spy mistress takes a lifetime of discipline and dedication."
"I'm aware of that." He said before turning to look at Tyene. "And so is she."
In fact, this entire thing had been Tyene's idea from the start.
Tyene had noticed how Asha was gathering a crew for her ship, and Sarella had made herself useful as his scribe and felt a bit useless in comparison.
Sure, she is very good at making poisons, but that's not really a useful talent for him since he can make far better poisons with his Shaper power.
After feeling bored to death in the Red Keep for the past few weeks, she finally began searching for something to occupy her time. A way to be of use to him, as well as a way to acquire power and influence in general.
Eventually, she concluded that becoming a spy mistress would not only make her useful but also provide her with the most significant degree of power and influence. And so... here they were.
Lynalle turned and stared at the suspiciously silent Tyene and narrowed her eyes. "Do you really understand what you're getting into. girl? He's not pushing you into this, is he?"
"No, I want to do this myself," Tyene said with a cheerful smile. "And yes, I have experience in collecting information for my cousin Arianne back in Sunspear."
"Gathering rumors for your cousin and leading a vast spy organization are two completely different things," Lynalle remarked with a drawl. "So I'll ask you again. Are you absolutely certain about this, girl?"
Tyene gave a firm nod and Lynalle looked thoughtful for a moment before she turned to gaze at him. "Very well, I'll take her in. But… if she starts slacking around and doesn't take this seriously, then I'll kick her out."
"If I don't take this seriously, then I'll walk out myself." Tyene said and he smirked.
"If that is settled, then the two of you can get started." He said.
"Right now?" Lynalle asked and he nodded.
"Yup. No reason why you should wait. Just teach her how to handle some of your work, and after a while, you'll be able to offload the unimportant task to her. I win-win for both of you." He said.
Lynalle hummed and nodded. "Where will she live, though? In case you haven't noticed, this is a brothel."
"She'll live with you." He said and Lynalle frowned.
"I hate you."
"You don't have to worry. I'll send four additional guards to ensure your and her protection, just in case," he reassured before stepping down from the table and leaning in to kiss her lips once more. "Now, I must take my leave. I have other properties to attend to as well."
"You're leaving?" Lynalle asked, a hint of desperation colouring her voice. "Can't you…" She licked her lips and lowered her dress to show him more of her bountiful cleavage. "Stay a little while longer?"
He thought on it for a moment before he nodded. "I can give you an hour." Then he smirked. "You can use this time to start teaching Tyene about some of your 'Lysene' tricks."
—
That night, after returning back to the Red Keep
"Aahn aah aaahnn!" Sarella moaned under him as he continued to pound her in the missionary position.
The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed in the room as the dark-skinned girl writhed beneath him. Her moans grew louder and more urgent until she finally climaxed, holding him tightly as waves of pleasure washed over her.
He took the opportunity to release as well, groaning as he filled her insides with his seed.
Sarella's legs trembled and her eyes grew hazy with post-orgasmic pleasure as he continued to thrust a few more times, sending his semen deep into her womb.
It was her fertile time of the month, and had he not used his Shaper power to render his seed sterile, she would be on her way to becoming pregnant.
He kissed her lips and nuzzled her face for a moment before he rolled over to the side and laid down next to Asha who he had already fucked into blissful sleep.
As he gazed at the ceiling, surrounded by both of his girls, he retrieved a cloth from his Inventory and handed it over to Sarella, who used it to clean herself, ensuring that his load of semen wouldn't soak the bed.
After doing that Sarella tossed the cloth aside and scooted closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in until her budding breasts were pressed against his chest. She intertwined her leg with his, and they lay there in a comfortable silence.
She lifted her head to kiss him on the lips and they locked eyes for a moment. Then she nestled her head against the crook of his neck. "Thank you, Steph." She said in a soft whisper as she snuggled closer to him.
"For what?" He asked, his fingers tracing the curves of her body.
"Everything." She said and then paused. "But mostly for the sex. And the books. For the first time in a long long while, I'm truly satisfied with my life. Even if you can only provide me with books and sex, I'll still feel content enough to die a happy woman."
As he nuzzled his face into her soft, wavy hair, he replied, "You may think that now, but humans have a tendency to adapt quickly to something good and forget its value after a while."
Sarella murmured, "Perhaps," and let out a cute yawn. "But I'm grateful for everything you've given me, Stephen, and I want you to know that. So... thank you for everything."
He lifted her head and leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the lips. "You're welcome, Sarella."
After breaking the kiss, Sarella gazed at him for a moment before saying, "I love you, Stephen."
Upon hearing those words, his heart skipped a beat and began racing as he heard the softbuzzingsound from his Company Device.
He swallowed hard and stared at her in amazement. "What?"
Sarella blushed and ducked her head. "I'm not saying that again." She said in a soft voice. "But… just thought that you ought to know."
He gazed at her for a long moment before his gaze softened and pressed her close to him. "I love you too, my dear Sarella."
After a few minutes, when Sarella finally drifted off to sleep, he retrieved his Company Device and stared at it intently.
Under the Companion section, which listed his own name, as well as those of Mel, Lysa, and Asha, he saw the name of Sarella Sand.
With her Capture, he acquired an additional point, which finally pushed his total points to five.
His lips felt dry, and his fingers trembled with anticipation as he opened the app and navigated to the "Talent Perks" section.
Then, he clicked on the'Other'tab and proceeded to scroll down the page until he finally reached the option that he had been wanting to purchase for quite some time.
An option that would open the gates of the vast Multiverse for him.
This option would enable him to journey to other worlds where he could acquire new women and new powers.
His heart pounded with excitement almost jumping up to his throat, as he selected the "Exit Stage Left" option and proceeded to press the Purchase button.
A moment later, the 5 points he had were gone, and he was left with the key to the vast multiverse.
His face broke into a wide grin as he read the contents of the option once more.
Exit Stage Left (Cost: 5) (Purchased)
The Company app in your smart device has a new feature. Its main display is simply a progress bar that measures everything you and your subjects do in each world you visit, whether that's capturing local waifus, defeating baddies, or otherwise accomplishing story goals.
Once a world's bar is full, a button on the screen will light up that opens a portal to a randomised new world within one danger level of that world. (If you have Pocket Apartment, or We Will Meet Again, you can easily progress multiple worlds in parallel.)
If you purchase this perk after chargen, it will still count everything your retinue has done in each world visited since the start of your contract.
These portals are one-way only and will last no more than two minutes or until you and all of your waifus have passed through, whichever is shorter. This includes any vehicles your group is using. If any of your waifus stay behind, this perk will not help you retrieve them.
If your destination world has a lower danger rating than the world that you unlocked it in, a second 'penalty' bar will appear above the regular progress bar.
It must be filled before the regular progress bar will start to move. The larger the gap between the two ratings, the more work you'll need to do in the new world.
He read through the option twice more before opening the app. To his surprise, he was greeted by a progress bar indicating 75% completion.
Spoiler:Exit Stage Left
His eyes widened in shock and amazement at how much progress he had already made. He looked down to determine why the bar was indicating so much progress and found himself speechless at what he saw.
Progress in ASOIAF world so far
1% for becoming a Squire
3% for becoming a Knight
5% for participating in a War
3% for killing a major antagonist: Euron Greyjoy
2% for owning a Small Fleet of ships
3% for owning a Spy Network
3% for World Uplift
5% for becoming the wealthiest person in Planetos
11% for visiting 11 major places: Kings Landing, Dragonstone, Storms End, Sunspear, Hightower, Citadel, Oldtown, Pyke, and Astapor, White Harbour, and Braavos.
5% for going to Valyria
3% for owning a Valyrian Steel Sword
5% for owning a Valyrian Steel Armour
1% for owning a Dragon Egg
2% for learning Glamour and Fire magic from this world
15% for meeting 15 major characters: Robert Baratheon, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister Stannis Baratheon, Melisandre, Ser Barristan Selmy, Varys, Petyr Baelish, Jon Arryn, Lysa Arryn, Brianne of Tarth, Doran Martell, and Arianne Martell.
5% for Capturing Melisandre. (Tier 5 waifu)
3% for Capturing Lysa Arryn, Asha Greyjoy and Sarella Sand (Three Tier 1 waifus)
'Holy shit!' He thought as he realised how close he was to achieving 100% progress and unlocking the option to travel to the next world.
All he needed to do was visit certain places, such as Winterfell, Eyrie, Casterly Rock, the Wall, and the Nine Free Cities. He also had to interact with other major characters like Eddard Stark, Catelyn, Robb, Jon, and so on. That should be enough to achieve 100% completion.
If all else failed, capturing Dany and a few more waifus would surely push him over the 100% mark. Then he could finally leave this world and move on to the next.
He… he definitely needed some time to process all this.