Fear grew in everyone's hearts, and no one dared to interrupt or joke anymore.
"Very well."
Daeron nodded slightly and gave a decisive order: "Do it!"
The Gold Cloaks following Alliser pounced like hungry wolves, pinning down several high-ranking gate captains.
"Prince, we are being wronged!"
"Spare me, I confess..."
"..."
Several gate captains were scared out of their wits, kneeling on the ground and frantically begging for mercy.
The remaining eight or nine mid-level officers stood aside honestly, trembling and not daring to make a sound.
Unless they were idiots, anyone could see that the City Watch was going to undergo a complete transformation tonight.
Once these high-ranking officers were dead, the army would be in Prince Daeron's pocket without any further obstacles.
"Everyone, I am not an unreasonable person."
Daeron said with a straight face, "You gate captains have not only engaged in embezzlement and bribery, but have also committed many heinous acts in secret."
"Do you want me to list them one by one?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the gate captains' pleas for mercy stopped abruptly.
They knew better than anyone what kind of 'good deeds' they had done.
Exorbitant taxes, human trafficking, rape, harboring criminals... as long as it made money, they would do anything.
A bunch of scum!
Daeron snorted coldly and said, "I am assisting Lord Meryn in managing the City Watch, and I cannot ignore people who use the royal banner to oppress the innocent."
"You 'outstanding' individuals are examples of the law being upheld through execution."
At this moment, the gate captains seemed to have their bones removed, all turning into spineless cowards.
Daeron glanced sideways.
The eight or nine patrol officers who were caught in his gaze felt a chill throughout their bodies, their minds racing to recall the crimes they had committed.
"You few have been more law-abiding than them."
Daeron said with a scrutinizing look, "I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Consider carefully who will resign tomorrow morning and who will accept a demotion to stay."
He did not drive them to total extinction.
Striking one group while winning over another was the only way to completely divide them.
The eight or nine patrol officers looked at each other upon hearing this, clearly each having their own thoughts.
They secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the nightmare was about to pass.
Unexpectedly, Daeron followed up by saying, "However, while some among you face trial and others face redemption, there is one more person whose crimes are most heinous."
Who?
The eight or nine patrol officers shuddered, as if their hearts were gripped by an invisible hand.
"Ser Janos Slynt!"
Daeron's eyes were piercing as he said, "You are also a gate captain. Reasonably, you should be given a chance to stand trial."
"Unfortunately, someone happened to name you."
Janos Slynt, who was already shivering and hiding in the crowd, collapsed directly onto the floor.
"Come out!"
Alliser reached out with a large hand and dragged him out.
Janos had a mediocre appearance; his balding head and potbelly gave him a greasy, middle-aged look, and his aura exuded cowardice and wretchedness.
"Prince, I beg you, spare me."
Janos's face was deathly pale; if he hadn't been propping himself up with his hands, he probably would have turned into a puddle of mush from fear.
He knew all too well that his crimes were enough to have him executed a hundred times over.
"Don't worry, I will spare you."
A smile played across the corners of Daeron's mouth.
Janos was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Thank you, thank you, Prince."
That spineless appearance was truly an eyesore.
Daeron walked past the stunned Lord Meryn, pulled a dagger from his waist, stabbed it into the table with a clang, and said calmly:
"Each of you give him a stab to show me your determination to repent."
Hearing this, Janos's expression changed drastically.
"Prince, I..."
Pfft!
Before he could finish, a mid-level officer picked up the dagger and plunged it into his heart from behind.
Subsequently, the sound of blades piercing flesh rang out one after another.
Daeron watched from beginning to end without looking away.
A moment later.
The scene shifted; Janos was already lying in a pool of blood, his body covered in holes.
Daeron: "Poor Lord Janos, with so many holes in him, how can he be filled with gold dragons?"
Everyone was as quiet as cicadas in winter.
Everyone knew that from tonight, the sky over the City Watch had changed.
"Take the prisoners to the dungeons and throw the bodies into Flea Bottom."
Daeron demonstrated what it meant to be swift and resolute, saying, "I'll give you one day. Be quick about it and get your subordinates in order. This time tomorrow, I want to see every Gold Cloak here."
After digging out the vermin, he still had to sweep King's Landing, this cesspool.
The last batch of strawberries would be harvested on the 26th of Spring, after which he would find a way to go to Dragonstone.
Before that, King's Landing had to be made anew.
"Yes, Prince!!"
The voices were deafening... The next day, after dark.
Cobblers Square, the City Watch headquarters.
Clusters of torches dispersed the gloom, lighting up the headquarters as bright as day.
Daeron wore his armor with a purple cloak draped over his right shoulder, standing amidst a circle of wolves.
He scanned the crowd.
Thousands of Gold Cloaks wearing half-plate mail, equipped with well-made shortswords and cudgels, each wearing a long golden cloak, stood with solemn faces and heads held high.
They were hungry wolves.
A pack of hungry wolves that had escaped the control of hyenas and were eager to be fed.
Daeron had removed the corrupt elements, installed his own men as officers, weeded out the cowardly slackers, and retained the core members who still knew the meaning of honor.
To win their hearts, he distributed money to each of them.
The Gold Cloaks, who had long been exploited by their superiors, saw the dawn of a new day.
"Is everyone here?"
Daeron said in a deep voice.
"Yes, Prince."
Lord Meryn stood to one side and whispered, "Everyone is waiting for your command."
Daeron looked around once more.
On either side of the crowd, he saw an excited Alliser, the newly joined mid-level officer Jaremy Rykker... and many more low-ranking knights of humble origin but skilled in martial arts who shared their fate.
Before this, they either had no connections or looked down upon the corruption of the City Watch.
But now, they flocked to it.
There was only one reason.
"The Commander is here!"
Alliser's voice was loud, drowning out all other noise.
The thousands of Gold Cloaks instantly fell silent, their eyes turning in unison toward him.
Daeron remained composed, walking to the front under everyone's gaze.
The entire field was silent, waiting for the Prince to speak.
With a wave of Daeron's hand, soldiers from the rear brought forward several large chests.
Creak!
The chests were opened, revealing gleaming silver stags mixed with gold dragons and Copper Stars.
The thousands of Gold Cloaks caught their breath, followed by heavy panting.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Unconsciously, the Gold Cloaks struck their chests with one hand, sounding like a drumbeat.
Daeron raised a hand.
Instantly, the noise stopped.
With eyes like fire, Daeron spoke: "When I took over as Deputy Commander of the City Watch, you were a pack of starving, exploited stray dogs."
It remained quiet.
Daeron raised his head slightly and raised his voice: "Now, you are a pack of hounds—well-fed, alert, and ready to go!"
Awoo...!!"
Thinking of the meat and wine from this morning and the severed heads of their exploiters, the Gold Cloaks were full of excitement and howled in unconditional cooperation.
It had been a hundred and fifty years.
The Gold Cloaks had gone from being illustrious to becoming disreputable generation after generation.
Finally, a Targaryen prince had appeared again to take charge of them, returning them to the protection of the blood of the dragon.
Daeron walked forward step by step and said seriously, "My father's city has become fallen and corrupt, where all kinds of evils breed and run rampant."
"Those days are over."
"Starting tonight, King's Landing will once again fear the color gold."
Immediately after, he issued the order to move out.
Gold Cloaks: !!!
Accompanied by deafening roars, the thousands of Gold Cloaks did not hesitate for a moment, swarming out as they followed the Prince's figure.
"Remember, our purge area is Cobblers Square and Silk Street."
"For thieves, chop off the hand that stole."
"For rapists, cut off the tool of the crime."
"For murderers, blood for blood!"
Command after command was issued, and the means of punishment were exceptionally cruel.
To avoid being attacked with criticism, Daeron left some room.
"Before execution, if someone is willing to take the black and head to The Wall, you must ensure they arrive safely."
"We are not executioners; we are officers of the law!"