UPDATED Chapter 689: The Bank

"Huh? What do we do now?"

"Lord Willas, are we not collecting the taxes from Old Linman?"

"How do we record this in the books? And there's also the Master of the Four Treasuries, Lord Harries, and the royal accountant."

The tax officer under Willas, upon hearing his superior's words, hurriedly spoke out.

If it was just the taxes from a wool merchant, it wouldn't be much. However, the challenge lies in explaining this to the Master of the Four Treasuries and the royal accountant. There's no way to record it in the books.

After all, the new dynasty has already severed ties with the previous one. The king even rode a dragon to burn Braavos, defaulting on millions of gold dragons owed to the Iron Bank.

The remaining creditors, such as the Tyroshi Trading Company, the Lannister family, the Tyrell family, the Hightower family, and others, either perished or declined. Those who survived didn't dare to come to collect their debts.

The Iron Throne's policy is to start anew. Hence, they don't recognize old debts or past taxes. If anyone has the guts, they can come to the Iron Throne and personally ask Viserys for their money.

The case with Old Linman has precedent. He's not the only one whose taxes have been deferred for thirty years.

However, upon hearing his subordinate's words, Willas waved his hand to calm him down. He casually flipped through the ledger in his hand and then closed it.

But what he was thinking about was the news that the Finance Minister Illyrio told him a few days ago. He already had a plan in mind and then spoke.

"We can't falsify the accounts, and no one will pay Old Linman's taxes for him. We must collect the money."

"I'll talk to him personally."

Willas, having broken his leg in his youth during a duel with Oberyn, always had difficulty walking.

He boarded a carriage embroidered with a golden rose, accompanied by a few attendants from the Tyrell family. This carriage was extremely comfortable and valuable. After all, Willas was now the face of the Tyrell family in Starfall City.

"Eel Alley."

He then gave an instruction, and the coachman nodded in acknowledgment. The carriage wheels began to roll towards their destination.

Eel Alley is located in Visenya's Hill, named in memory of a past queen. It's a commercial area in King's Landing, lined with shops and primarily inhabited by middle to lower-middle-class families.

The arrival of the Tyrell family's carriage in Eel Alley caught the attention of the residents. Everyone in King's Landing knew that despite their hardships, the Tyrells remained wealthy and influential.

This was the result of Margaery Tyrell's generous spending, an idea of the Thorn Queen, Olenna Tyrell.

"If the Tyrells don't appear strong, the wolves will pounce."

However, the residents of Eel Alley only gave the Tyrell carriage a passing glance. They didn't swarm around it asking for tips like the poor in Flea Bottom, as the residents here had a decent income.

The Tyrell carriage stopped in front of a decent-looking shop in Eel Alley. Willas, leaning on his cane, got down with the help of his attendants.

"Which wind brought Lord Willas here?"

"I could smell the roses from a distance."

A young man with brown hair, dressed elegantly with a golden rose embroidered on his chest and a ruby ring on his finger, entered a wool shop. A portly, graying old man hurriedly greeted him.

He was a wool merchant from White Harbor, responsible for selling Northern wool products in King's Landing. However, business wasn't good. The North, once a major producer of wool, had fallen due to the White Walkers' invasion. Old Linman had to resort to importing expensive wool from the Free Cities.

Money had lost its value, prices had skyrocketed, and the people were broke. These three factors weighed heavily on Old Linman, depleting his savings.

Old Linman had been running this shop in King's Landing for decades, starting during the reign of the Mad King Aerys II. He had accumulated a lot of savings and continuously expanded his business.

Back then, the Mad King's atrocities were well-known. He often burned nobles alive. Old Linman despised him, condemning him as a tyrant. However, when the rebels he supported entered King's Landing and began looting, Old Linman lost most of his wealth.

Then, the rebel leader, Robert Baratheon, became king. He heavily taxed the people, deferring tax collection for thirty years. Old Linman lost everything and was on the brink of suicide.

Now, things were slowly getting back to normal, but the wool production base in the North hadn't recovered. He had to import expensive wool from the Free Cities.

Although the market was slowly stabilizing, every penny saved mattered. After all, he had genuinely paid thirty years of taxes.

Old Linman was resentful and still harbored some hope. Now, there were no tax collectors causing trouble, which he found unusual.

Back when tax collectors harassed merchants, their countermeasure was to hire mercenaries. It was a battle of thugs against mercenaries.

So, this time, he spent a little money to hire a few mercenaries. Every time a tax officer came, they would use various tactics to drive them away.

However, this time, the empire's chief tax officer, Lord Willas of House Tyrell, personally arrived. Old Linman didn't dare to play any tricks. He had his mercenaries hide, and he reluctantly went out to greet him.

When Willas entered, he got straight to the point. Old Linman's face changed, and he began to lament, hoping that the chief tax officer would be merciful and exempt his taxes.

"I really have no money left, Lord Willas."

"I'm not lying to you."

The graying old man looked pitiful. He then presented his account book, clearly indicating he had nothing left.

"You really have no money?"

However, Willas, observing Old Linman's exaggerated performance, nodded slightly and asked seriously.

"Yes, I really have no money."

Old Linman, unsure of why Willas was reconfirming, scratched his head and repeated his statement.

"I have a way for you to borrow money at a very low-interest rate."

"Do you know about banks?"

Willas then spoke.