Game of Thrones: The Impaler of the Blue Fork

Chapter 98: Dried Lies and the Rebuke of a Broken Halberd

The spring floods in the Blue Fork River Valley are still raging, but the twenty-five sharp wooden stakes on the mudflats have been removed.

It wasn't that Otto suddenly felt pity, but rather because the delegation from Riverrun was about to arrive.

Supervisor Polliff, along with dozens of farmers, repeatedly washed the riverbank soaked in black blood with quicklime and sand.

The twenty-five dried-up heads, along with the mangled corpses, were stuffed into flax sacks and buried deep beneath the newly cultivated wheat fields to the east.

When a troop of Riverrunners bearing silver leaping fish banners appeared at the end of the road, the Hohenzollern territory had perfectly shed its bloody exterior as a meat grinder, transforming into a pitiful yet resilient border village ruthlessly ravaged by the great nobles.

The leader was not the young master Edmure, who was easily swayed by a sense of honor, but the one who truly held the reins of Riverrun—Ser "Blackfish" Brynden Tully.

Gareth rode a slightly weary grey horse, keeping close behind Blackfish. His back remained straight.

The procession stopped outside the inner gate of the fortress.

Otto Hohenzollern stood at the bottom of the steps, not wearing armor, but only a faded linen robe, his head slightly bowed.

Blackfish Brinden did not dismount.

The weathered veteran slowly scanned the ruins of the collapsed watermill, the dried-up irrigation canals, and the emaciated farmers with his sharp, hawk-like eyes.

Finally, the blackfish's gaze fell on the riverbank, which was covered in a ghastly white layer of quicklime.

"His Excellency the Duke has received your letter."

Blackfish's voice sounded like two rusty iron pieces rubbing together, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"Tethos Blackwood's army has withdrawn to Raventree. A riot sparked by the Spring Flood has been quelled."

"It is all thanks to His Majesty the Duke's justice and grace."

Otto looked up, his tone tinged with just the right amount of gratitude.

"If it weren't for the protection of the Tully family, these five hundred-plus people would probably have died of thirst or been killed by the bandits who occupied the water source this spring."

Upon hearing the word "bandits," Gareth nodded heavily, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

Blackfish looked at Otto's face, and the corner of his mouth twitched subtly.

He didn't expose the lie about the "bandits," but simply rolled off the saddle.

"Knight, go and settle the soldiers of Riverrun."

Blackfish glanced at Gareth, then fixed his gaze on Oto.

"Baron, take me to see the ledgers you've kept up these past few months. Some things can only be said behind these gray stone walls."

Fifteen minutes later, the sealed cellar at the bottom of the stone tower.

The layout was exactly the same as the previous night. There was no brazier, only a cheap oil lamp flickering in the dark cracks between the stones.

The heavy oak door was bolted shut from the outside by Pollifer, completely shutting out Gareth's righteous figure.

Blackfish did not take off his signature grey leather cloak.

He walked to the rough stone table and slammed a secret report sealed with a red horse emblem onto the table.

"Jonos Brecken's red horse flag burned down the three largest ranches south of Raventree, stole the cattle and sheep from the Blackwood family, and burned down the mill."

"At this moment, the Blackwood and Brecken families have officially deployed their troops on both banks of the Blackwood River."

Blackfish turned around, and a sense of oppression that could almost pierce through a person erupted from its deep-set eyes.

"You sent that big oaf with a box of dirty money to the Riverrun Palace to wail and use my brother Horst as a pedestal."

"Turning your head, you handed Brecken a poisoned needle and sent him to attack Zatheus's weak point."

"Zheng—"

A short, metallic clang rang out. Blackfish half-drawn his sword, the blade reflecting the faint light of the oil lamp.

"Hohenzollern. Last autumn in this cellar, I gave you the title of baron, to make you a knife planted on the border by Riverrun, to bite off the throats of those who cross the line for us."

The veteran approached by half a step, his tall figure like a pressing iron rock.

"But your knife not only cut off Tethos's flesh, but also arbitrarily instigated a full-scale civil war between two ancient families of the Riverlands!"

"What makes you think the Tully family would tolerate a madman who dances wildly across the line and treats his lord like a monkey?!"

Otto didn't take a single step back. His left hand unconsciously rubbed the iron ring.

"Because although this knife is poisoned, all the heads it cuts off become profits for Flowing City."

Otto met Blackfish's razor-sharp gaze with a voice as steady as an ancient well.

"My lord. If I don't drag Breken into this mess, Tethos will trap me alive with the plague blockade."

"At that time, Riverrun will just have to watch as I, this thorn in their side, am removed."

Otto extended his right hand and tapped the secret report that Blackfish had photographed.

"Right now, Blackwood and Brecken are locked in a fierce battle at Blackwood River, and both of them will be constantly seeking support from Riverrun due to their excessive expenditure of resources."

"Not only did His Excellency the Duke not need to send a single soldier, but he also became the sole arbiter in this messy war. And me..."

Otto pointed to the cold stone slab beneath his feet.

"In this battle, I not only preserved the salt warehouses of Riverrun, but also, through legitimate means, utterly destroyed Thales's prestige in the Riverlands. Isn't that the mark of a perfect instrument?"

Dead silence. Only the faint crackling of the lamp's flame could be heard in the cellar.

"You're very clever." Blackfish slowly pushed the sword back into its sheath.

"But if a tool is so sharp that it could cut the owner's hand, then it needs to be fitted with a heavier chain."

Blackfish pulled a parchment from his cloak and threw it in front of Otto.

"Given the heavy losses suffered by the Blue Fork River due to the harassment by 'bandits,' a twenty-man halberd garrison will be left in Flowing River to protect the Baron's safety. Their rations and pay will be entirely covered by the salt tax from the Blue Fork River."

Blackfish curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth; this was the true purpose of his trip.

"Furthermore, as compensation for His Excellency the Duke's efforts in mediating this border crisis, starting next month, the city of Benliu will take an additional 40% of the white salt produced in your territory, on top of the existing rate. The cash reserves will also be subject to a 50% cut."

Military surveillance, coupled with heavy taxes. This was the Tully family's sanction.

If Gareth were here and heard these conditions, he would surely be enraged and draw his sword at this opportunistic exploitation.

But Otto didn't even blink.

He picked up the quill pen on the table and neatly signed his name on the document, which resembled a contract of servitude, and stamped it with the seal of the Baron of Hohenzollern.

"The funds will be delivered to the treasury of Rushing City on the first day of next month." Otto pushed the signed parchment back to Blackfish.

Blackfish put away the parchment and took a deep look at the young man who was growing wildly and untamed in the mud.

"Put away those wooden stakes you've stuck in the riverbed, Hohenzollern."

Blackfish turned and walked toward the heavy oak door, his voice echoing in the small stone chamber.

"Don't think that washing away the bloodstains will hide the smell of rotting flesh. There are many clever people in this river region, but those who live long are often the ones who know when to hide their fangs."

The door opened, and the cold spring rain poured into the cellar along with the chilly wind.

Gareth was standing in the hallway not far from the door.

When he saw Blackfish and Otto walk out together, the White Knight immediately straightened his back.

Otto looked at Gareth.