...Casterly Rock.
The Old Lion, Tywin, sat in the high seat, his sharp gaze scanning the Lannisters seated around him. Except for his brother Kevan, not a single person dared to look him in the eye.
In his hands lay the financial reports of the Westerlands from the past few years. The sea of red ink was staggering, but he merely closed them calmly, his face showing no emotion at all.
This was despite the fact that the gold mines under his rule had been dry for a long time.
And despite the fact that Robert on the iron throne was like an insatiable whore, tirelessly and frantically demanding from his father-in-law, resulting in a debt of over three million gold dragons owed to the Lannisters.
But Tywin felt no panic in his heart; to him, money was merely a means to achieve his ideals.
Leaving aside the accumulations of over a thousand years, the gold dragons in the Lannister vaults were already piled as high as mountains.
Even the daily trade income from Lannisport was more than enough to support a massive army while covering daily expenses.
Every noble in the Seven Kingdoms knew very well that Tywin was completely different from his weak father.
With an iron fist and exceptional foresight, all of the Lannister investments were bound to reap rich rewards.
"Regarding the matters in King's Landing, I want to hear your opinions."
After a brief silence, the lion king of the Westerlands finally spoke.
Although he and Kevan made almost all the decisions on matters large and small, Tywin was never stingy about listening to the opinions of others.
"The stupidest of men are usually smarter than the fellows who laugh at them."
The aged and shrewd Tywin knew that the wisdom of one or two people was ultimately limited, and even the most foolish person could occasionally offer a useful suggestion.
As soon as he finished speaking, the gathered Lannisters all turned their gazes toward Kevan, who sat beside Tywin.
If this brother and deputy to the lord of casterly rock did not speak, it was not their place to talk.
"I believe this is a good thing, Tywin."
Feeling the eyes of the crowd upon him, Kevan took it upon himself to be the first to voice his opinion:
"Arthas is only fourteen, after all. At that age, I don't think any of us could have done better than he is doing now."
"But a series of victories that came too easily has also made him somewhat overconfident at the moment. Letting Robert give him a taste of hardship might actually be a good thing for him."
"The current priority is for you to quickly send a letter to the King in your capacity as warden of the west and lord of casterly rock."
"Preserve Arthas's position as commander of the city watch as much as possible. That position is very important to us—even more important than the position of Master of Coin."
Kevan's words were very earnest; his tone suggested he was already grooming Arthas as the heir to the lord of casterly rock.
While expressing his opinion, he did not forget to observe Tywin's expression.
As for why Tywin had so forcefully brought Arthas back, only he, the younger brother, knew the internal details.
Although he previously bore the title of bastard, ever since Tywin brought Arthas back and returned the Lannister name to him, no one dared to question his decision under the Old Lion's authority.
After all, of his previous two sons, one had joined the Kingsguard and, barring any accidents, would never be able to inherit titles or lands.
The other... cough, it was hard to say... In Kevan's view, although Arthas had shown courage and wisdom beyond his years, he still inevitably displayed the common flaws of young people.
Conceit, impulsiveness... "I disagree!"
Just as almost everyone was nodding in agreement with Kevan's words, Davon's father—Stafford Lannister—stood up excitedly to voice his opposition.
"I told you long ago, Tywin."
"That damned bastard has no right to inherit Casterly Rock!"
As the brother of Tywin's late wife, Joanna, his resistance had been the strongest when Arthas first came to the Lannisters.
Even though his abilities were quite mediocre among the Lannisters, Tywin had always been very indulgent toward this brother-in-law out of guilt for Joanna.
"Watch your words, Stafford!"
Knowing that Stafford had always been resentful of Arthas's rise, Kevan out of kindness still spoke up to stop him from ranting directly at Tywin in front of so many people.
"Am I wrong, Kevan?"
Stafford clearly didn't get Kevan's meaning. Seeing that Tywin, sitting in the high seat, showed no change in expression, he became even more emboldened:
"Ever since that half-breed came to the Lannisters, our gold mines began to run dry!"
"I strongly disagreed when you sent him to King's Landing back then."
"And now look, that half-breed has caused such a massive scene in King's Landing. Doesn't this push the entire Lannister family and the King into opposition?"
"If you ask me, we should just take this opportunity to go with the flow and recommend him to take over Jaime's position in the Kingsguard, and let Jaime come back to inherit Casterly Rock!"
"He is your legitimate eldest son!"
Stafford spoke with spittle flying, calling him a half-breed again and again, completely failing to notice that Tywin's face had already darkened.
"Of course, Davon must also return with Jaime."
At the end, Stafford didn't forget his own son. He didn't know what had gotten into the boy, insisting on staying in King's Landing to serve that half-breed.
Now was the perfect opportunity; he had to make him come back with Jaime. Perhaps in the future, he could even become the deputy to the lord of casterly rock, just like Kevan.
"Is that all you wanted to say, Stafford?"
Only after he sat down satisfied did Tywin's voice, devoid of joy or sorrow, finally drift over, sounding as if it carried no emotion at all.
But Kevan, who knew his temper well, had already sighed and closed his eyes, even deciding which table to sit at for the funeral feast.
Seeing everyone casting pitying glances at him, Stafford was somewhat stunned. It wasn't until Tywin's tall figure slowly stood up and walked behind him step by step that he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Heavens! What had he just said!
Perhaps because of Tywin's indulgence over the years, he had actually blurted out all his true thoughts in front of so many people.
But things had come to this, and words spoken could not be taken back. Feeling the undisguised killing intent behind him, Stafford actually thought of that song famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms, "the rains of castamere."
"I used to think you were merely mediocre in talent."
Gently placing a palm on Stafford's shoulder, like a lion king approaching its prey in the shadows, he bared his sharp fangs.
"I didn't expect you to be so foolish—foolish enough to dare challenge the dignity of the Lannisters, my dignity, in front of everyone."
Stafford trembled all over, his heart rate accelerating frantically, alarm bells ringing in his mind as if he were about to be buried in a lion's mouth at any moment.
"Please forgive him, Tywin."
Although he also didn't think much of this foolish fellow Stafford, as the deputy to the lord of casterly rock, Kevan still dutifully tried to maintain Lannister harmony.
He stood up, walked to Tywin's side, gently placed his hand over the one on Stafford's shoulder, and pleaded in a persuasive tone:
"I believe Stafford must have drunk too much wine before the meeting, causing his mind to be a bit unclear."
"Yes, I was drinking all night last night, and I'm still hungover!"
Seeing Kevan making an excuse for him, Stafford quickly followed suit, though his voice still couldn't stop trembling:
"My Lord, please forgive my insolence. I promise there will never be a next time!"
He tried to twitch away, but Tywin's hand remained as steady as a mountain. Kevan sighed and pleaded once more:
"He is family, after all. He is a Lannister."
Turning to take a deep look at his brother, who had been dutiful for so many years, Tywin finally lowered his hand and slowly walked back to his seat.
Just as Stafford breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking he was finally saved, Tywin's majestic voice rang out again:
"Just now, Kevan's suggestion was very good."
"While I believe Arthas has the ability to handle what is happening in King's Landing, when a family member is in trouble, we Lannisters cannot stand by and watch."
"Kevan, draft a letter in my name and send it to King's Landing immediately."
As everyone listened with rapt attention, the lord of casterly rock began to issue orders methodically:
"As long as the King is willing to return the position of commander of the city watch to Arthas, the repayment date for the three million borrowed by the iron throne can be deferred."
In fact, since Robert had started borrowing money from his father-in-law, he had never returned a single gold dragon.
Tywin offering such a condition was nothing more than saying some pretty words to give Robert a way to save face.
"Additionally."
Tywin tapped the tabletop heavily with his knuckles, his cold gaze once again turning toward Stafford:
"Ser Stafford Lannister will voluntarily contribute one year of income from his lands to be fully invested in the construction of King's Landing."
Under Tywin's brook-no-argument tone, Stafford, who had barely escaped with his life, could only grit his teeth and accept the bill.
If he jumped out to oppose Tywin again, then 'foolish' would not be enough to describe him.
After the matters were mostly arranged, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the two brothers, Tywin and Kevan, in the Great Hall.
"Do you think Arthas can maintain his footing in King's Landing?"
Slowly standing up and walking to the window, breathing in the salty air blown in by the sea breeze, Tywin asked as if talking to himself.
"Arthas's valor and methods far exceed those of his peers."
To this question, Kevan did not give a direct answer:
"However, if he can perfectly resolve this disturbance, I think the entirety of King's Landing will become the Lannisters' back garden."
"Go and prepare, Kevan."
Tywin turned around, the sunlight shining on his golden sideburns. His tall frame made him look like a lion king in his prime:
"The two of us cannot simply hunker down in our own territory and let a young lion charge ahead."
"Furthermore, the Lannisters have been at peace for too long; people have forgotten the cruelty of war."
As an outstanding military strategist, Tywin always had an extraordinary sense for war:
"I have a premonition that war is coming soon."
"In the last war, the Lannisters appeared at the end as supporting actors."
"But this time, we shall be the brightest sun in Westeros!"
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