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Tonight, Robb intended to eliminate Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, Joffrey, and every Lannister present in one strike.
Don't try to argue that Myrcella and Tommen are just innocent children.
Or that Tyrion did nothing wrong and is blameless.
If Cersei and Joffrey were allowed to live…
Was Ned Stark, who would be executed in the future, not innocent?
Was Bran, who would fall from the tower and become crippled, not innocent?
What about Rickon, who would die before Jon in the Battle of the Bastards?
Or Sansa and Arya, who would suffer countless hardships before returning home?
And the tens of thousands of Northern soldiers who would die far from home… were they not innocent?
Innocence means nothing.
Guest rights mean nothing.
Even setting aside the Red Wedding that would come in the future, the lessons from Robb's past life had already taught him one thing.
When a dangerous spark appears, it must be extinguished before it turns into a wildfire.
In the history of the world he came from, countless deadly banquets had been used for exactly that purpose.
Robb took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts aside.
"Theon should still need some time to finish preparations."
He turned to Dacey.
"Inform the other captains, except Theon, to stand by. Once I give the signal, execute the plan."
"Yes, Lord Robb."
She bowed and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.
The Lannisters' quarters were located in the rear half of the main castle.
Most of the wildfire had already been placed along the outer walls of that section.
For tonight's operation, Robb had prepared with extreme caution.
He had already sent people to quietly study the castle's structure.
An explosion in that wing would certainly cause heavy damage, but it would not bring down the entire castle.
The main castle was always the final refuge of the nobility.
If it were that fragile, a single misplaced catapult stone could collapse everything. The nobles inside would die instantly.
That obviously made no sense.
Step… step…
Robb walked up the castle stairs in silence.
The only sound was his own footsteps.
He planned to return to his room and wait beside Bloodwind.
Once Theon sent word that everything was ready, Robb would have the wolf give the agreed signal.
A long howl to the sky.
At his current size, Bloodwind's howl carried terrifying power.
If everything went according to plan, all of Winterfell and even the Winter Town would hear it tonight.
As for what would happen next…
Robb had already prepared several outcomes.
First scenario, the most optimistic.
The wildfire explodes and kills all the Lannisters.
The false evidence Robb prepared works.
When the king and Ned return, everything is treated as an accident.
After all, even kings can suffer accidents… can't they?
As for the fury of the old lion Tywin Lannister, Robb didn't care.
The North had never feared foreign invaders.
Except, perhaps, the Targaryens with dragons.
Second scenario, relatively optimistic.
The explosion kills only part of the Lannisters.
Robb and the Wolf Guard would eliminate the survivors.
After that, he would be punished by the king and by Ned.
If the punishment was not death, he would endure it silently and wait for another opportunity.
If he were sentenced to death…
Robb already had an escape plan prepared.
After escaping, he would take the wealth he had gathered and anyone willing to follow him.
Then he would sail for Essos.
Third scenario, the worst.
The explosion fails to kill the key Lannisters, and they escape the Wolf Guard's encirclement.
In that case…
Robb would launch a coup and take control of Winterfell.
That would undoubtedly create countless problems.
Some vassals might refuse to recognize him.
But Robb could only deal with those problems as they came.
After all…
he was only human, not a god.
He couldn't predict everything.
While thinking, Robb reached the door to his room.
But the moment he opened it…
a blinding green light filled his vision.
"Robb! The Lannisters have taken the bait. It's our turn!"
Before the light faded, he heard Theon's familiar voice.
Robb instinctively closed his eyes.
When he opened them again…
his surroundings had completely changed.
He was now standing in a forest of dry, red shrubs, stripped of leaves.
"Sound the horn. The entire army advances!"
Before he could even process what was happening, Robb heard himself give the order.
A deep war horn echoed behind him.
He had no control over his body as his horse surged forward.
Yet he could still observe everything around him.
Hundreds of riders surrounded him, clad in mail armor bearing the direwolf banner of House Stark.
Theon rode beside him.
When they emerged from the forest, a vast valley plain opened before them, cut through by a small river.
Around two thousand Lannister cavalry, under crimson banners with golden lions, were chasing two or three hundred riders of House Tully, marked by the trout sigil.
As the war horn sounded, Northern soldiers surged from three sides of the forest.
The Lannisters immediately abandoned the chase and began to retreat.
But when they looked behind them…
more Northern banners had appeared, blocking their escape.
For a moment, the Lannister riders hesitated.
Then one of them rode forward.
He charged straight toward Robb.
Behind him, more than two thousand cavalry launched a desperate final charge.
Arrows.
Swords.
Blood.
Screams.
Every battle is the same.
On Robb's side, there were roughly five thousand Northern cavalry.
Under his command, the Northern forces, more than twice the enemy's number, completely surrounded the Lannisters.
Protected by his guards, Robb killed two or three enemy riders himself.
When the Northern cavalry from all directions closed in…
not a single Lannister rider remained standing before him.
"Kill!"
A shout rang out ahead.
Robb raised his eyes.
Clad in golden Lannister armor, Jaime charged straight toward him.
Covered in blood, he fought like a demon.
Ordinary Northern riders could not withstand him.
None lasted more than two blows.
Torrhen and Eddard Karstark, guarding Robb, immediately advanced with several men.
Theon raised his bow and took aim.
Even with soldiers partially blocking his view, the pressure on Jaime was undeniable.
Robb knew the Karstark brothers well.
Both were excellent swordsmen.
But after only a few exchanges, Jaime suddenly leapt forward.
With a powerful upward strike, his blade cut through Torrhen's horse and the rider himself.
"Torrhen!"
Eddard Karstark roared and attacked immediately.
But Jaime threw a dagger.
The blade struck directly into Eddard's left eye.
He fell from his horse, dead.
After killing both Karstark brothers, Jaime was left without a mount.
Without mobility, he was no longer a threat to Robb.
Moments later, he was surrounded by Northern riders and captured alive.
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