He spoke to Olivier with a half-joking smile:
"At least in Westeros, no one has, nor will anyone, step forward and righteously criticize me, this Lord, for competing with the common people for profit."
In this world, the common people are the property of the Lord; this is a rule etched in their bones, a matter of course. Coupled with the countless strange laws of each Lord, no one would deem it unreasonable for him, a Lord, to earn this money. This is the very soil of Westeros.
"Competing with the common people for profit?" Olivier rubbed his head, not quite understanding what 'competing with the common people for profit' meant. Aren't the common people simply the Lord's property?
He chewed on the unfamiliar phrase, and though still not entirely clear, he roughly guessed its meaning, only able to offer an awkward smile and nod in agreement.
Just then, a hurried sound of hooves, from far to near, broke the tranquility of the place.
A rider from Lions Den galloped in, and before he even arrived, his anxious shouts pierced the air.
"Lord Arthur! Urgent military intelligence!"
The rider abruptly reined in his warhorse below the platform, and the steed let out a long neigh.
He dismounted, rushed up the steps in a few strides, and pulled out a letter sealed with hard wax from his embrace.
"It's a raven report from Daintings City! Maid Evelyn asked me to deliver it to you immediately!"
Arthur took the letter, and with a gentle flick of his fingers, he broke the wax seal, pulled out the letter, and quickly scanned it. His expression remained unchanged, as if he had been prepared, calm as a deep pool, everything under control, proceeding in order.
He handed the letter to Olivier beside him: "Take a look."
The content of the letter was terrifyingly simple, yet enough to shake the entire Seven Kingdoms: the Westeros fleet at Lannisport had been utterly destroyed by a fire set by the Ironborn.
Olivier took the letter, and with just one glance, his face turned pale: "The Seven Gods above!"
His voice trembled, and the thin letter felt as heavy as a thousand pounds in his hand.
"Tywin Lannister's fleet… just like that… gone?!"
He looked up, staring at Arthur in horror.
"With the destruction of the Westeros fleet, the Ironborn can raid anywhere they want, unhindered! Lord Arthur!"
"The Ironborn have been so successful, and our Riverlands are right next to Westeros, I'm afraid… I'm afraid the Lord will soon be mobilized again by Riverrun to join the war!"
Arthur looked at the flustered Olivier, a smile instead playing on his lips: "Mobilization? No, that won't happen."
No one understood the feudal system better than he did.
He pointed into the distance, at the lines of refugees slowly disappearing from their sphere of influence: "Olivier, it seems you don't understand the land you live on."
"When allies are in trouble, preserve your strength, remain as unmoving as a mountain, and wait to place your bets."
"On the land beneath your feet, the Lords of Westeros, every single one of them, will only sweep the snow from their own doorstep and never concern themselves with fires at others' doors."
"As long as the flames of war haven't reached their own doorstep, each of them will hide in their castles, secretly pleased, and may even privately complain about why the Ironborn didn't burn more of their neighbors' ships."
Olivier was stunned. For some reason, he felt that what the Lord said made a lot of sense. "When allies are in trouble, preserve your strength, remain as unmoving as a mountain, and wait to place your bets" accurately exposed the true face beneath the splendid robes of the Westeros nobility.
"Therefore, the burning of the Westeros fleet will not lead to further large-scale mobilization in the Riverlands."
"The House Tully will just wait, and everyone will wait together for the King's reaction, and for the Lannister's retaliation."
"Only when the outcome is almost clear will they swoop in like vultures smelling blood, seizing spoils and proclaiming their loyalty."
Arthur sneered, there was no doubt that Balon Greyjoy had this in mind, believing that the Baratheon Family's rule was unstable and that the great lords would not fully assist. This was indeed determined by the feudal system, but he overestimated his own strength, suffering a crushing defeat on land and being defeated by the Royal Fleet at sea.
"In this war, unless the King personally leads the campaign, and the outcome is virtually decided, with the Ironborn's defeat inevitable, no one will easily enter the fray and follow suit."
Arthur looked towards the distant Seaguard, his eyes becoming exceptionally profound. There were some things he didn't tell Olivier.
Because the war in the Riverlands was indeed approaching, and he had to prepare early. He didn't know why the Ironborn were so persistent.
Seaguard.
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