It was well known that Tywin had served as hand of the king to the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen for nearly twenty years, governing the realm with such order that his abilities were recognized throughout The Seven Kingdoms.
His eventual departure was largely due to Aerys's repeated humiliations and madness, rather than any lack of competence.
After Robert's Rebellion, House Lannister only joined the side of the victors at the very last moment.
Though they secured their position through the merit of sacking King's Landing, Robert, for the sake of balance, only married Cersei while granting the position of hand of the king to his foster father, the highly respected Jon Arryn.
As a brilliant politician, Tywin was tactful enough not to contest it at the time; instead, he chose to retreat to Casterly Rock, remaining dormant in the shadows for over a decade.
Those dozen or so years were less a retreat and more an exercise in patience and the accumulation of power.
Now, having finally seized the opportunity of the War of the Five Kings to return to the pinnacle of power and sit in the position he should have held all along, Tywin would likely never allow anyone to drive him out of King's Landing in disgrace again for the rest of his life.
Yet Gales Rosby was comparing him to a deceased hand of the king in the very manner Tywin found most intolerable.
He was practically courting death.
Furthermore...
Seeing Gyles repeatedly invoke the Seven and the Mother's mercy, Corleone couldn't help but frown slightly.
Was this old fellow perhaps a bit too pious?
Just then, Tywin slowly stood up, his green eyes fixed intently on Gales Rosby, no longer looking at him as one would a nuisance fly, but rather as one would look at an inanimate object.
"I express my regrets, Lord Rosby, that the misconduct of your family members has led to such consequences."
"But the laws of the kingdom are clear in their rewards and punishments. I hope you will be more prudent in choosing and disciplining your kin in the future."
"My apologies... I almost forgot, you have very few relatives left."
With that, without waiting for Gyles to react, Tywin bowed slightly toward Joffrey on the iron throne: "Your Majesty."
"Today's business is concluded. You must be tired; please return to your chambers to rest."
His voice was calm and steady, yet everyone could feel the power hidden beneath that tranquility.
Joffrey, whose brain was as smooth as a marble, didn't pick up on Tywin's anger, but he was more than happy to end the boring meeting early. He nodded repeatedly and left the iron throne surrounded by his guards.
However, as he was about to step out of the hall, he turned back, pointing at Corleone as if wanting to say something.
"You..."
After a moment's hesitation, whatever thought had crossed his mind vanished; he shook his head and strode away.
Tywin, meanwhile, strode outward, his silhouette appearing very upright in the cold, grim hall. As he passed Corleone, his pace didn't falter for a second.
But a low voice drifted into Corleone's ear.
"Wait for me at The Tower of the Hand."
Tywin didn't make Corleone wait long. About half an hour later, a servant led him through layers of guards and back into the study overlooking King's Landing.
The hand of the king sat behind the desk. He had shed the luxurious outer robe he wore for formal occasions, dressed now in deep red casual attire, yet his majesty was undiminished.
Hearing the sound of Corleone entering, he didn't look up immediately. Instead, he signed the final word with a stiff quill before setting it down.
"Sit."
His speech remained concise, but compared to the last time, it lacked the edge of a reprimand.
Corleone sat as instructed, his posture respectful, but to his surprise, Tywin actually picked up the wine decanter himself.
The amber liquid flowed slowly into the cup, making a pleasant trickling sound.
Having done this, the Prime Minister pushed one of the cups toward Corleone and took the other for himself.
There were no toasts, no pleasantries.
Tywin took a small sip first, then looked at Corleone: "I hear you've been governing Flea Bottom quite well."
Hearing this, Corleone answered honestly: "I'm still far from the goal, but the streets are much cleaner, and public order has improved significantly."
Seeing that he wasn't at all boastful, Tywin nodded with satisfaction and continued holding his wine glass, seemingly recalling history: "From Maegor to Aerys, kings have tried to thoroughly clean up that place more than once."
"They poured in gold dragons, sent in soldiers, and even resorted to burning, but in the end, nothing changed except for a few more rotting corpses hanging from the city walls."
Listening to Tywin's narration, Corleone also took a sip of wine.
He swore this was the finest vintage he had ever tasted in his life; even fifteen-year-old Dornish summer red couldn't compare.
However, Corleone did not linger on the taste; he set down the cup, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"They didn't lack the ability, My Lord."
"It's just that no one ever truly valued that place."
Tywin was slightly surprised to hear this and raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
"The kings saw it as filth to be purged, My Lord, but never as a place of living human beings."
Corleone continued to explain in a flat, matter-of-fact tone: "In truth, I didn't do much. The reason Flea Bottom was the way it was, fundamentally, was because the people living there had no hope. Naturally, they couldn't follow rules and embraced chaos."
"And I simply gave them the simplest path: obey my rules in exchange for basic food, shelter, and safety."
"Of course, the necessary force is indispensable. I have to make everyone understand where the boundaries are and what the cost of crossing them is."
Tywin listened quietly, and after a long while, he spoke slowly, a rare hint of emotion in his voice.
"You have the potential to be a qualified ruler, Vito Corleone."
"Feed the people, make them feel safe, and they will accept order. Defend that order with absolute force, and it will be stable."
As he spoke, his gaze became distant, and he leaned forward slightly, candlelight dancing in his deep eye sockets: "These principles sound so simple, yet even I was forced to truly learn them only after I turned twenty."
"Yet, tragically, many people go their entire lives without being able to understand things beyond the limits of their own perception."
"They are trapped in shadows of the past, empty dogmas, or self-righteous 'justice,' unable to see the iron laws of the real world."
Tywin's voice suddenly turned cold, and Corleone immediately understood who he was referring to.
He was clearly talking about that old fool Gales Rosby's lack of sense.
"Your wisdom and methods have long since moved beyond the need for judgment by any worldly person, My Lord."
He nodded slightly, his tone carrying just the right amount of respect: "The lion stands at the peak, his heart and vision broad enough to encompass all rivers. Why would he truly care whether the sheep at his feet look up or close their eyes?"
Hearing this, the corner of Tywin's mouth twitched slightly; these words had clearly hit his point of greatest pride with precision.
"A lion indeed need not care for the gaze of sheep."
He repeated the phrase in affirmation, but then shifted the topic: "But the lion needs the flock to remain quiet, to stay in their designated pastures, and to contribute their wool and flesh on schedule."
"If the sheep begin to disobey orders, or even start bleating insolently, then they must be silenced, or..."
Keep them silent forever. And for that, a hand is required..."
"
After finishing that meaningful sentence, Tywin's gaze was as sharp as a sword, piercing straight at Corleone: "'A hand in the darkness'—that was the term you used when you made your proposal to me before."
"Now, prove it to me, Vito Corleone."
Well now.
The words were out in the open; there was no more need to talk in circles.
That old fellow Gyles had basically been sentenced to death.
But then again, was Tywin Lannister narrow-minded?
No, absolutely not.
Among the dukes of The Seven Kingdoms, when it came to political breadth and tolerance, Tywin Lannister could even be considered second to none.
Recall the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, who opposed him at every turn in court, making numerous absurd decisions that completely ignored the balance of the kingdom Tywin worked so hard to maintain.
In the later stages, he almost took a perverse pleasure in humiliating his hand of the king.
Yet, until Aerys finally "graciously granted" his resignation, Tywin had gritted his teeth and continued to fulfill his duties as hand of the king for years with astonishing perseverance and professionalism.
Although at Twilight Valley Town, after Aerys was captured, Tywin had very happily stated that if the king were killed, they would welcome a better king, namely Rhaegar.
But that was beyond reproach.
After all, he was Tywin Lannister, always putting interests and political considerations first.
For instance, when House Reyne and House Tarbeck rebelled, they had seriously threatened the absolute authority of House Lannister in the Westerlands, shaking the very foundations of their rule.
Consequently, Tywin's response was destructive, and he used the opportunity to send a warning to The Seven Kingdoms that almost no one dared forget for decades.
It could be said that his tolerance was reserved for those within loyalty and order, while his iron fist was for the sources of betrayal and chaos.
And Gales Rosby...
This old man's plight was entirely of his own making, as he had simultaneously touched upon Tywin's two most inviolable bottom lines.
First, publicly accusing Ser Jaime Lannister.
That was the only designated heir to Casterly Rock in Tywin's heart!
Second, and even more foolishly, he dared to compare the late Jon Arryn with Tywin before the iron throne, implying the former was more "just"!
This was even harsher than slapping the king in the face.
This was equivalent to denying the legitimacy of Tywin's return to power, not only touching the sensitive nerves he'd developed during his years away from the center of power but also being a total challenge to his personal capability.
However, for the sake of the big picture, Tywin could not personally take action against the man.
Looking into those eyes flashing with unquestionable intent, Corleone knew that Tywin's first test for him had arrived.
After all, having received benefits, he had to demonstrate his due value.
The expression on his face gradually became serious as he raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.
"Mafia will be dedicated to serving you, My Lord."
"I guarantee that the sheep who made the wrong sound at the wrong time and in the wrong place will not see tomorrow's sun."