RoWE - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Lies and Redemption

Aeg was indeed stretching the truth, but not fabricating it out of thin air. Martin had said that the world where the continent of Westeros is located is a planet, it is spherical, slightly larger than Earth, with more extensive landmass. Aeg had personally confirmed this statement. Judging from the atmospheric pressure and gravity, the planet where the ice and fire world is located is very similar to Earth. If the author's setting is indeed effective in this world, that is, "the land area in the ice and fire world is larger than Earth," then there might actually be land or large islands in the vast ocean west of Westeros.

His identity as a time traveler, if revealed, would not be believed, and his knowledge of the plot and the important characters is his greatest asset for surviving in this world. These two secrets cannot be told to others, so the vast and boundless "Sunset Sea" facing the western coast of Westeros became a perfect choice for his fabricated homeland.

It must be added that his claim of coming from the other side of the ocean was not something Aeg improvised on the spot. He had used this story when introducing himself to his Night's Watch brothers. Its greatest advantage is that: no one can debunk it, and in the future, when he wants to add more to his backstory, he can use cultural and customary differences as an excuse to add whatever he wants.

As for the round-the-world voyage, it was indeed something Aeg conceived during the banquet, using the time between eating and drinking. However, although it was an impromptu creation, it was not made up out of nowhere. The source of inspiration goes without saying, and the purpose of telling this story is also quite clear: to make an impression on the core member of the Lannister family by catering to his interests and addressing his desires, and to find a breakthrough from him to leave the Night's Watch.

For a dwarf with a physical disability but grand aspirations and a desire to understand the world, how many people in the world could be more interesting than an adventurer full of adventurous spirit from the other side of the ocean? Claiming that he sponsored this round-the-world voyage was to make Tyrion feel that the eloquent Night's Watchman before him is not an ordinary person from the lower classes.

Aeg had learned from over a year of living in this world that: birth is one of the most important factors in determining others' attitudes towards you. Slightly elevating one's status in social interactions is a significant advantage. Using "accidentally letting something slip" to imply that others involuntarily get the impression that you are "wealthy and leisurely" is much more credible than directly announcing that you are from the upper class.

This disguise not only partially eliminates the sense of distance caused by the difference in status, laying a more equal foundation for future interactions between the two, but also provides a reasonable explanation for his Asian face, which is different from others, and his knowledge and upbringing, which are obviously far superior to those around him. It can be said to achieve multiple goals at once.

Aeg was never a person who liked to lie, brag, or show off, but if it was for his safety and survival, he. would not hesitate to deceive everyone in the world.

Someone who was desperate to leave the Night's Watch was racking his brains to package himself, while the bastard who wanted to join had already quickly pieced together the broken swords and keenly noticed something amiss.

"This sword is broken in a strange way," Jon Snow looked at the swords he had basically restored to their original state and noticed something unusual, but struggled to find the right words to describe it: "A weapon forged from steel wouldn't break like this."

"You're right, under normal circumstances, the break would show obvious deformation," Aeg picked up the conversation, saying what the boy wanted to say. The information he needed to convey had been delivered, and some topics should not be initiated by him. "The break is exactly where the sword collided with the White Walker's weapon. Under the influence of ice magic, the steel lost its toughness and became more brittle than cast iron, unable to withstand the impact, and shattered into two pieces."

Jon stared blankly at the two swords he had pieced together on the table, finally understanding why his uncle Benjen had said those things.

"This is nothing short of a farce!" Tyrion was not interested in the broken swords on the table. He didn't know and didn't care what a normal steel sword break should look like. He was more concerned about the legendary new continent. Although he didn't completely believe Aeg's words, he instinctively felt that the other's explanation of his origins was not false, and subconsciously stood up for him: "You come from a continent unknown to us, you should be the most important guest in Westeros in a thousand years, yet you were caught by a bunch of Northerners to watch the Wall as soon as you landed!? Spending your life in the cold and remote north of the North, are you willing?"

"I'm not willing, but what can I do?"

"I'll find a way to help you leave."

Brother, you're giving me too much face. Aeg almost choked on his own saliva, this was exactly the outcome he wanted, but it came too easily and quickly, was he finally going to turn his luck around after suffering enough?

"Er. Thank you for your kindness, my lord, but, in the history of Westeros, has there ever been an example of someone becoming a Night's Watchman and then returning to a normal status?"

"As far as I know, no," the dwarf shrugged. "After taking the oath, you either remain a Night's Watchman for life or become a deserter, there's no third option. But I said I'd help you leave, not help you take off the black cloak."

"Is there a difference?"

"Let me tell you a story. Once there was a nobleman who chose to join the Night's Watch after losing power in a political struggle. A few years later, the person he supported seized an opportunity to ascend to the throne again. Then, this Night's Watchman returned to his family's castle under the pretext of gathering supplies for his black-cloaked brothers, living a life of eating, drinking, and enjoying women like any ordinary nobleman, and never returned to the Wall until his death."

"What are you discussing?" Jon had been focused on piecing together the broken swords and only heard the first part of the time traveler's story, "A Night's Watchman who doesn't guard the Wall? Can you just ignore the law and your oath by finding an excuse!"

"Of course, it's not that simple. As long as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch publicly declares him a deserter, he will immediately be placed on the wanted list by all the lords and nobles of the continent. whether they are his family's vassals or overlords." The dwarf somewhat proudly left a cliffhanger: "The reason this person could remain at large was that the Night's Watch always acknowledged his 'supply officer' status, and he did indeed, as both sides declared, continuously 'gather' supplies for the legion."

"I understand, if the political enemy who forced him to join the Night's Watch is defeated, and the benefits he can bring to the Wall's defenders outweigh his presence there, the higher-ups of the Night's Watch wouldn't risk offending the king by tearing their faces and forcibly recalling or declaring him a deserter!" Aeg suddenly realized, this method hadn't occurred to him before, but after pondering it, he quickly discovered the key: "I'm afraid the nobleman you mentioned, Lord, didn't gather supplies at all, did he?"

"Of course, this plan needs to solve two problems. First, you need a thick skin, and second is to continuously provide supplies that satisfy the Night's Watch. so that the Wall's defenders officially acknowledge that he is not a deserter." Tyrion continued, "A strong financial background is the most fundamental reason. Let me ask you, between enough supplies to feed a hundred soldiers and a soldier who is not committed, which would the Night's Watch choose?"

Aeg stroked his chin and fell into thought.

Having a thick skin, Aeg, who had faced White Walkers, felt it was not a problem, but the latter. He truly had nothing in this world, with a net worth barely not negative. Even a random servant or maid in Winterfell was wealthier than him. How could he afford the high "ransom"?

There was someone present who could afford such a price. The son of the Warden of the West, the Duke of Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister, "the richest man in Westeros." If he was willing to help, everything would be fine. But it was their first meeting today, how could he ask for such help right away?

"How did I not hear about this person?" Jon came to his senses, "And the Night's Watch is an organization independent of the Seven Kingdoms. Even the king has no right to interfere in its internal affairs."

"You haven't heard this story because, firstly, this person was not born in the North, and secondly, he parted ways with the Night's Watch amicably, without causing any disputes or being an important figure." Tyrion snorted, "As for the king having no right to interfere in the Night's Watch's internal affairs? You're still too young. When you grow up, you'll understand that if you're powerful enough, you can interfere in whatever you want."

Jon was momentarily speechless, wanting to refute but finding no evidence, and understanding that the other party was right, he could only blush and remain silent.

"I can help you smooth out the initial series of problems and help with the first ransom." The dwarf stopped talking to the young man and looked at Aeg, "But you'll have to figure out the rest yourself. Also, I have a condition. You have to tell me more about Caina's advanced technology and the customs there."

"Thank you, my lord!" No matter what, Aeg's joy at this moment was genuine although everything was going too smoothly to be true, he had bet correctly.

"But he's a sworn Night's Watchman." Jon, who had temporarily forgotten about the broken swords on the table, murmured, "How can he."

"So, child, you tell me, is it fair that this explorer from beyond the Sunset Sea, possibly the first Cainian to set foot on Westerosi soil, is forced to guard the Wall for life just because he took a few potatoes to survive after a shipwreck?" Tyrion smiled, interrupting the boy's words, "You should know, he's not a bastard, he's not without a place to go."

"In my homeland, forcing someone to swear an oath is illegal, and the oath is invalid." Aeg chimed in, "Westerosi customs seem to be different, but I've already served a year for those potatoes, even risking my life to kill a White Walker. I don't owe you anything anymore. I have family waiting for me at home, I can't and shouldn't stay here forever."

Jon sighed, "Fine, do as you please. I'll pretend I didn't hear your conversation."

"Thank you for your kindness, but we're not discussing how to be a deserter." Tyrion shrugged, "Even if you tell your father or the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch about our conversation, they can't do anything to me. This is an open scheme, you'll understand when you grow up."

Being treated like a child made Jon look a bit angry. He looked seriously at the broken swords on the table again and suddenly spoke up, "I've decided, I'm going to join the Night's Watch."

"It's best to calm down before making important decisions." Tyrion looked up at the bastard again, "But I do understand your thinking. Wildlings are gathering under the King-beyond-the-Wall, White Walkers with ice magic are appearing in the woods, everyone else is trying to stay away from danger, and only by facing danger can one achieve success and earn fame and glory."

"It's not for fame and glory! I just." The boy stared at the two eerie broken swords on the table and suddenly straightened his back, "I just want to protect my family and the millions of residents of the North from the terrifying threats from the far north."

"Is that so, touching." Tyrion nodded, no longer joking with the bastard, but exchanged a glance with Aeg, "Coincidentally, I've also decided to visit the Wall. The first of the nine man-made wonders, it would be a shame not to see it with my own eyes, and I can also verify whether our new friend from Caina is telling the truth. We might travel together then."