RoWE - Chapter 67
Chapter 67: Chaos is a Ladder
As Aeg and Tyrion ambled back to the inn, their conversation revolved around the intricacies of establishing a book printing industry chain. Upon stepping inside, the innkeeper informed Aeg that a young man had visited in the afternoon, seeking funds.
"It must be the son of the mine owner you introduced to me," Aeg mused. With no outstanding debts, the identity of the visitor was clear. "The dragonglass mine likely needs capital to commence operations. There's so much to manage; I nearly forgot about this."
"Have Jack dispatch some money tomorrow," Tyrion said without hesitation. He sighed, "It seems our coffers are dwindling."
"The sign won't arrive for another two days, but we can procure the seal tomorrow," Aeg suggested. "Let's secure that first loan as soon as possible."
"Indeed, we must. And who should we swindle first?" Tyrion pondered aloud.
Their discussion continued as they ascended the stairs. After a day filled with tasks, they shared a meal before retiring to their separate chambers.
***
While Tyrion may have found solace in sleep, Aeg's mind was a tempest. For the imp, this might all be a thrilling game. With the Lannister wealth at his back, he was well-positioned to take risks. But Aeg had no such luxury; his parents were not even in this world. This scheme was about his survival, and he had to give it his all. Anyone who threatened his interests was an adversary.
He paced his room, wracking his brain for a strategy to prevent Littlefinger from winning Eddard Stark's trust.
Hours ticked by, and one plan after another was discarded. Sowing discord was simple enough, but this time, his opponent was a master of the game of thrones. He needed to either eliminate Littlefinger outright or remain undetected; any misstep could be lethal. After much deliberation, Aeg conceded that political battles were not as endlessly enjoyable as Mao Zedong had claimed.
The most direct approach would be to reveal Littlefinger's role in Jon Arryn's murder to Eddard Stark. However, this was different from the previous slander against Joffrey. Petyr's manipulation of Lysa Tully to poison her husband had occurred while Aeg was at the Wall, and the truth was known only to the perpetrators and a few others. Aeg couldn't claim to have "overheard" this information. Moreover, repeating the tactic of informing would be suspicious. What would Eddard think of a Night's Watchman who neglected his duties to eavesdrop on confidential matters?
Aeg aimed to be seen as a straightforward and loyal soldier of the Night's Watch, not a meddlesome octopus.
Perhaps it was time to resurrect the plan during the Winterfell incident. an anonymous letter? But how could such a letter reach Eddard's hands in King's Landing, a city teeming with spies? One false move could be fatal. Littlefinger might lack close allies, but he had wealth and connections, while Aeg had none. Exposure could mean a cup of poison, a dagger, or a cold arrow to end his life.
Using Arya as a messenger was equally risky. A ten-year-old girl, innocent and without guile, might not betray her "master" intentionally, but a careless comment to her father could expose him.
The city outside had fallen silent. King's Landing observed no curfew, but the notion of night markets was foreign, save for major festivals. Aeg sighed deeply, extinguished the candle, and lay on his bed, hoping that sleep would bring forth a solution by morning, as it had in Winterfell.
Perhaps, consumed by thoughts of countering Littlefinger, the man's motto echoed in Aeg's ears as he closed his eyes.
"Chaos is a ladder."
Chaos is a ladder; this phrase actually makes sense. In a world like A Song of Ice and Fire, where class distinctions are so rigid, they're almost frozen, the best way for those at the bottom to rise is to create chaos. Chaos damages the interests of the social elite, and where there is loss, there is inevitably gain.
The problem is that in chaos, the beneficiaries should be quite random, even greatly unexpected by ordinary people. Littlefinger's skill lies in his ability to position himself precisely where the great nobles are "bleeding" through clever manipulation, catching the "blood" they shed, and becoming the greatest beneficiary of the chaos. In this regard, he even surpasses players of the same level like Varys, who is adept at long-term planning. Using the stock market as an analogy, Varys and Littlefinger bought the same stock with an overall upward trend. The former profits through long-term holding, while the latter profits through micromanagement, selling high and buying low, making his gains far exceed the overall rise of the stock.
This talent left Aeg in awe and admiration.
But Petyr is not without flaws. In the original storyline, he showed the limits of what a thorough realist could do, manipulating nearly everyone with courtly political tactics. But the problem is that, aside from pursuing his own ambitions for power, he did not display any political ideals. it was fine in the early stages, but even as the game neared its end, he did not even "fabricate" a philosophy to attract followers or consolidate his power. With nothing, what right did he have to sit on the Iron Throne?
Littlefinger is strong, a player adept at strategy and without moral limits, making it easier to rise as a victor in troubled times. But that's all there is to it. He is the most powerful destroyer but can never be the ultimate winner. his best outcome would be to help a certain power rise and unify the realm, then follow along and benefit. But he insisted on sitting on the throne, a goal that was impossible to achieve, and it ultimately cost him his life: Littlefinger's entire power base was just himself. Anyone could kill him with a knife, even at the peak of his life, and no one would shed a tear for him, let alone stand up for him or seek revenge.
If Aeg just wanted to see his downfall, he could simply do nothing and wait. Littlefinger would eventually play himself to death. If not Arya, then someone else would eventually emerge to take him down. But the tricky part is that Aeg now wanted to defeat Littlefinger on the battlefield where he was most comfortable, which would be quite difficult.
"Chaos is a ladder," Aeg silently recited his imaginary opponent's motto in his heart, preparing to fall asleep.
But a voice suddenly emerged from his subconscious: Why? Why must peacekeeping involve creating stability? If one were to do the opposite and also create chaos, letting the situation in King's Landing escalate beyond control, what would happen if one used chaos to combat chaos? His greatest advantage was knowing the inside story. Giving that up to play a game of power and mind with Littlefinger would be something only a severe obsessive-compulsive would do. Since the enemy wants to muddy the waters, why not stir them up so much that no one can see clearly, and see how he profits!
Aeg was shocked by this bold idea, and for a moment, he even suspected it was a suggestion planted in his mind by a green seer or a similar deity. But after careful consideration, he found the move feasible! No matter how intense the game of thrones becomes, or how violent the undercurrents are, as long as the court intrigue doesn't escalate into war and the market and people's livelihoods are unaffected, his scam can continue!
Stirring up this murky water until it boils, complicating the situation to the point where any player of the game of thrones finds it difficult to profit, at that time, "staying out of it," and playing the game of money seriously and dutifully, he and Tyrion could become the biggest winners!
Many things can cause chaos, but what is the lowest cost?
Rumors.
*****
A/N: I encourage you to take a peek at my other literary endeavors. I'm confident that you'll find them captivating. They're waiting to whisk you away on new adventures.
Also, a gentle reminder: "Don't forget to vote with your Power Stones. It will be a tremendous help in getting my works noticed by a wider audience. Your votes are like beacons in the night, guiding others to the stories we've built together."