Chapter 25 Intelligence Harvesting

The tavern became crowded after nightfall. A large number of officials, nobles and knights from King's Landing came to the tavern to kill time, but some people used the tavern as a place to discuss things. In the tavern There are private rooms specially prepared for these people.

  The position where Linde and Raul were sitting was not bad during the day, because they could see the courtyard of the tavern, and they could enjoy the performances there while drinking and eating. But at night, when the performance stage was moved to the middle of the tavern, , this location is much worse.

  However, for Linde, this position was very good, because above his head were the boxes reserved by the big shots for discussing matters.

  When building the tavern, the owner had considered the issue of eavesdropping, so he added some soundproofing features to the materials and construction methods of the private rooms. Coupled with the noisy nature of the tavern itself, as long as the people in the private rooms did not shout loudly, Yep, the existing anti-eavesdropping methods are enough for people to not hear what the people inside are saying even if they get close to the door of the box.

  However, these protective measures do not have much effect on the current Linde. With his extraordinary hearing, he can still hear clearly what the people in these boxes are talking about, unless the people there deliberately lower their voices. Unable to hear.

  What's more, the owner of the tavern seems to have a secret in these boxes. He buried some copper pipes in the walls, probably to facilitate his own eavesdropping. These copper pipes themselves have the effect of sound amplification, which makes Linde unable to listen at all. You need to concentrate on listening to the conversation in the box, and you can also hear what you want to hear from the corresponding copper pipes on the wall.

  So he sat close to the wall closest to the copper pipes and listened all afternoon, while Raul sat close to the aisle to take cover and alert him when someone was coming.

  It has to be said that I did not hear a lot of information during this afternoon. Most of the conversations were about daily matters, as well as some small secrets about bribery and bribery of powerful people.

  Although he did not know the specific purpose of these contents, Linde still recorded them. However, because he did not have pen and paper to record them, he could not remember everything. He could only choose the relatively important information to remember. For example, which dignitaries in the Red Keep can be bribed to help the Tyrell family build relationships.

  Compared with the information obtained in the afternoon, after the dignitaries of the Red Fort began to come to Silk Street to have fun in the evening, Linde obtained a lot more information, and it was also a lot more important.

  There are two most important pieces of information. One is that Duke Eddard Stark and King Robert have fallen out. There are even rumors that the two have turned against each other. The reason for the antagonism is how the two dealt with the orphan of the Long family. There was great disagreement over the matter, but some people speculated that Eddard Stark was dissatisfied with King Robert's decision to marry Cersei Lannister.

  All in all, for this major ceremony related to King Robert's chief heir, Eddard Stark did not personally lead the team to King's Landing, but asked his younger brother Benjen Stark, who had already put on a black robe, to lead the team. , this approach seemed to others to be simply humiliating King Robert.

  News has spread in the Red Keep. After King Robert learned about this, he was so angry that he broke many things. Even the servants around him became his punching bags and were beaten until their noses were bruised and their faces were swollen.

  Because of this, many people think that King Robert may launch a northern expedition this time to teach the Duke of Winterfell a lesson.

  Therefore, in the box above Lind's head, many businessmen and dignitaries were secretly discussing the hoarding of various strategic supplies and weapons and equipment. It seemed that they were preparing to make a fortune when King Robert announced his crusade against the North.

  However, Lind knew very well that although Robert Baratheon was very angry, he did not complain or hate Eddard Stark because of it. Let alone launch the Northern Expedition, even if he rebuked Eddard Stark No decision will be made.

  His friendship with Duke Ed far exceeded most people's imagination. Even if they didn't see each other or correspond with each other for more than ten years, their friendship would still not weaken by half.

  Therefore, the entire Red Keep officials, dignitaries, and big businessmen all made wrong judgments, and this may become an opportunity for the Tyrell family to take advantage of. The only thing is how to profit from this opportunity. It's just about the big shots.

  Compared with this piece of information, another piece of information may be more important to the Tyrell family. This piece of information is that Robert Baratheon and his brother Stannis Baratheon are at odds.

  Now the discord between the two brothers is not only spread within the Red Keep, but many people outside the world are also aware of the situation.

  The reason is that Stannis was dissatisfied that King Robert gave Renly Storm's End, which had been passed down by the Baratheon family for generations, while he only got the barren Dragonstone Island.

  In Stannis's view, he made great achievements in the Usurper's War. He defended Storm's End and held back the Tyrell army, which allowed Robert to have no worries and kill Prince Rhaegar at the Ruby Ford, and finally defeated him completely. Long family.

  Therefore, both emotionally and logically, he should inherit Storm's End Castle and become the Duke of Storm's End Castle.

  But now, he has become the Duke of Dragonstone Island. You must know that Dragonstone Island is the fiefdom of Crown Prince Targaryen, but now it is the Baratheon Dynasty. What does it mean for Baratheon to grant Dragonstone Island to him? mean?

  No matter how he thought about it, he felt that this was the greatest insult to him, so in the royal meeting a few days ago, he complained directly to King Robert. Instead of comforting him, King Robert scolded him for not catching Wei Cyris and Daenerys, the two remnants of the Dragon family.

  The quarrel quickly spread throughout King's Landing, and everyone thought that Stannis and King Robert had fallen out. However, someone bribed Stannis's servants and learned that Stannis returned to his residence in King's Landing. Finally, instead of cursing King Robert, he cursed Renly.

  This makes people think it is understandable. After all, directly cursing King Robert and venting dissatisfaction with King Robert by cursing Renly are completely different natures. Even if King Robert pursues the case, there will not be much punishment.

  After Lind heard the news, he quickly understood that this should be an opportunity for the Tyrell family.

  He knew very well that Stannis's loyalty to Robert Baratheon would not change because of a quarrel and his identity as Duke of Dragonstone. Their public break seemed to him more like an act, performed to those who As the unscrupulous people lurking under King's Landing see, if anyone wants to exploit the discord between the brothers to cause trouble at this time, they may fall into a fatal trap.

  Compared to the relationship between Stannis and Robert, his relationship with Renly is the opportunity that Lind values ​​​​because his dissatisfaction with Renly should be true.

  Because it can be known from the Rebellion of the Five Kings that occurred more than ten years later that Stanlis has always been extremely dissatisfied with Renly's inheritance of Storm's End, even to the point of hating him.

  And now Renly is still extremely weak and needs allies to fight against his powerful second brother and the nobles of Storm's End Territory, and to secure his position as Duke of Storm's End, so the appearance of the Tyrell family is undoubtedly a timely help, and Tilly The Er family can also use Renly, the Duke of the Baratheon family, as a springboard to have a certain say in King's Landing.

  So now it is the best choice for the Tyrell family to make friends with Renly. As for what will happen in the War of Five Kings in the future, there is no need to consider it now. At least in Lind's opinion, no one knows what changes will happen in the future after he joins the variable. unpredictable.    

  With these two pieces of information in hand, plus other pieces of information he had obtained piecemeal, Linde felt that the mission was almost completed, so he relaxed and had time to distract himself from tasting delicious food and having fun eating and drinking. of glory.

  In addition, he also made Raul, who was always nervous, relax and asked for a bottle of Arbor Island wine for him.

  Although this bottle of wine is the lowest grade among the wines sold on Qingting Island, it also costs two golden dragons. It is definitely the most expensive wine Raul has drunk, so much so that he changed his mind to drinking mead in the afternoon. The way he drinks is like turning into a kitten, holding the glass and sipping little by little, for fear of drinking too fast.

  Seeing Raul drinking, Linde couldn't help but smile, and then said: "You don't need to be so careful when drinking. Just take another bottle with you when you leave later."

  Raul quickly shook his head and said "No need, this kind of wine is not for people like me."

  Seeing that Raoul was unwilling, Linde did not force him. He sat for a while and felt that there was nothing new to hear if he sat down again, so he left. Glory, who was biting his own clothes, stuffed it into his pocket again, prepared to end the mission, stood up and left.

  But for some reason, his body suddenly paused again, and there was an inexplicable expression of surprise on his face. Then he sat back down again, and then leaned against the position near the copper pipe again, and patted the glory on his chest to let it go. Don't move around. He signaled to Raul to alert him, and then he concentrated on eavesdropping.

  The reason why he suddenly changed his intention to leave and sat down again was because just now he heard some voices coming from the aisle above him, and one of the people who spoke turned out to be Littlefinger Petyr Berry. seats.

  Linde was naturally concerned about Littlefinger Petyr Baelish, a mafia-level figure who influenced the direction of the Seven Kingdoms, and many posts with high reply rates in related forums were also related to him. It was undeniable that he stood on the sidelines and watched. From a reader's perspective, Littlefinger is definitely a very charming person.

  Because of this, through those posts that discussed Littlefinger, Linde also knew Littlefinger very well, and it could even be said that he understood Littlefinger better than Littlefinger knew himself.

  Before coming to King's Landing, Lind thought about meeting Varys, a black-hand figure, but he never thought about meeting Littlefinger, because according to his understanding, Littlefinger was still working as his tax collector in Gulltown at this time. He raised taxes tenfold and made eye-catching achievements before he was transferred to King's Landing by Jon Arryn.

  Therefore, when Lind heard someone talking about Lord Petyr just now, he was very surprised. He even thought it was just a person with the same name for a while, until the person told him that Lord Petyr had sent a shipment to Seagull Town. After he could help raise taxes, he determined that Lord Petyr above his head was Littlefinger.

  Snooping through the copper pipe, Lind discovered that Todd's Pumpkin was opened by Littlefinger, and that the boss behind several taverns and brothels on Silk Street was Littlefinger. Apparently, he had already begun to make plans in King's Landing at this time.

  When Linde learned that he was in the world of ice and fire and was considering his future direction, he once made a list of people who could be used, people who could not be used, people who could be friends with, and people who could not be friends with. After sorting it out, there is also a list of the most dangerous candidates, and Littlefinger Petyr is on this list.

  Linde felt that even though he had the advantage of being a prophet, he did not have the confidence to take advantage of a schemer of Littlefinger's level, so at that time he was thinking about what would happen if one day he really became an enemy of Littlefinger. , then don't think too much about anything and just kill the little finger regardless of the consequences is the most correct thing to do.

  Now, the first important person Linde wanted to kill unexpectedly appeared in front of him in this way, and Jean couldn't help but sigh at the interesting fate.

  Through eavesdropping, Lind learned that Littlefinger came to King's Landing secretly to meet a person, and the interesting person he wanted to meet was Janos Slynt, the current commander of the Capital Guard.

  Although Janos Slynt is the commander of the largest standing military force in King's Landing, his social status is not very high. In the eyes of the powerful officials in the Red Keep, the butcher's son is just their watchdog. , but Littlefinger doesn't seem to see it that way. He can see the huge benefits hidden in the power held by Janos Slynt.

  In the room, Littlefinger gave the tavern manager a few words and then asked him to leave. After leaving, the tavern manager ordered all the boxes on both sides of the room where Littlefinger was to be emptied, and asked a few people to guard the aisle to avoid Being bugged.

  Not long after, Janos Slynt arrived as promised.

  Linde originally thought that the two people might have gotten together for some big conspiracy, but after listening for a while, he discovered that Littlefinger had sneaked into King's Landing to find Janos Slynt for smuggling.

  It turned out that Littlefinger had a batch of goods from the Free Trade City that needed to be unloaded in King's Landing. Based on the value of the goods themselves, he would have to pay a large amount of tax, but he didn't want to pay this tax, so he found Janos Slim. I especially hope that the Commander of the Capital Guard can help.

  Although Janos Slynt is not responsible for the taxation at the dock, Janos Slynt is responsible for the security at the dock. With his ability, it is not difficult to help Littlefinger smuggle, and It is not difficult to tell from their conversation that they have collaborated more than once this year.

  "I'm curious as to what kind of goods made you, Lord Petyr, make this trip yourself?" Janos Slynt's voice came from the copper pipe. This unpleasant sound like a drake's crowing was very unique. Make people remember it as soon as they hear it.

  "Some gadgets from the other side," Littlefinger didn't say clearly, and then emphasized: "These things are prepared for the big shots in the Red Keep. I think Lord Genos..." "Don't worry,

  I'm not interested in these things. , as long as it doesn't cause me any trouble and Lord Petyr can provide enough reward." Janos Slynt said greedily: "This time I want double the reward, and it's paid in cash. "

  After the commander of the garrison finished speaking, it took a while before he heard Littlefinger say: "Yes, but the items will be placed in the warehouse at the dock before delivery. You must be responsible for the safety of the items."

  "Okay." Janos Slynt responded without hesitation.

  (End of chapter)