Casting the Net (Part 1)

Ian's original plan had been to cooperate with Black Falcon, stationing mercenary squads at every important inn, port, and village along the northern shore of Gods Eye Lake to hunt players passing through the region.

With his operation spread so wide, he naturally did not dare involve himself in the matter of the Blackfyre treasure. First, he was too busy; second, he worried about ruining his relationship with Black Falcon.

Now that Black Falcon was dead, without the support of the mercenary group, he could only cast his net in two places: this inn and the Kingsroad outside it. In any case, those were the only two key locations; everywhere else was no more than a matter of luck. This practically required no further personal involvement from him.

Besides, the once-powerful Black Falcon Mercenary Group had fallen into internal strife following the Death of the Black Falcon. What reason did he have not to get involved with the Blackfyre treasure?

"Before we discuss that, though, I need to assign you your original task first." Ian changed the subject.

"Ser, what exactly do you need us to do for you?" Ser Gransen was clearly far more proactive than before.

"Hunt."

"Hunt?"

"You can tell them, Martha." Rather than explain directly, Ian decided to let Martha handle it.

Martha quickly recounted the story of how "Ser Lucian" and the others had come here from King's Landing to capture fugitives. Whether out of some private consideration or not, she did not mention the reward offered by the queen.

"In short, your task is to keep watch on this inn and the Kingsroad outside, then secretly capture the people I want," Ian continued.

"My men have no horses. I can handle operations inside the inn," Denzel spoke up first.

"How many of you can ride?" Ian changed his wording after speaking. "How many can fight on horseback?"

"Three, including me, Pickle Lorne, and Open-crotch Jimmy. We used to be free riders, but business has been bad these past two years, so we sold our horses."

"You are free riders again now. I'll provide you with horses, better weapons, and chainmail or coats of plates with iron plates sewn inside that can be hidden beneath your outer clothes. Consider all of it a gift from me." As Ian spoke, he looked at Gransen. "Of course, the same goes for you."

"Your generosity overwhelms me," Denzel said, pleasantly surprised.

"I'll provide you with funds later. Send men to nearby castles to make the purchases. After that, you and your two mounted men will join Ser Gransen's command. You will stake out the Kingsroad and pursue targets we cannot conveniently deal with inside the inn."

"Oh, I have no objection to being commanded by Ser Gransen, but what about the rest of my men?"

"The others will remain at the inn under my direct command. Naturally, before that, you need to select one of them as their leader, someone who will answer directly to me."

"That will weaken my standing, ser," Denzel objected.

"Aren't you coming to serve as my squire? And you still care about your standing in a mercenary company?"

"As you wish." Denzel was choked off. Unable to find another excuse, he could only lower his head in submission.

"Bring him in now. I want him present for my war council."

Before long, Denzel brought in a burly man with a gray beard.

"This is Dirty Joke Eric, a veteran swordsman and my mentor in life, hahaha." Denzel pointed at the man he had brought in. "I recommend him to temporarily take over command of my mercenary company."

Pickle, Open-crotch, Dirty Joke... I take back what I said about "Spiked" being an unprestigious nickname, Ian thought.

"Ser, it is an honor to serve you." Dirty Joke Eric smiled at Ian, but just as he was about to speak again, Ian ruthlessly interrupted him.

"My first order: no dirty jokes in front of me."

"Oh, Seven Hells." Dirty Joke feigned panic. "I did not realize you were one of the Children of the Warrior, but I am sure even the High Septon is not one-tenth as devout as you."

"My second order: no grinning and joking around in front of me." Ian interrupted the chatterbox again.

"As you wish." Dirty Joke still wore the same cheeky grin as he replied noncommittally.

"Then remember every word I say next." Ian clapped his hands, signaling everyone to focus.

"I am hunting a gang made up of Sellsword Knights and Wandering Mercenaries. There are several archers among them, perhaps even Ironborn. While we pursued them, they scattered in all directions, but they may come here to regroup.

"The Sellsword Knight among them wears full chainmail, complete with mail gloves and greaves. His weapon is a hand-and-a-half sword. He has only one horse and no squire.

"The archers use Yew Longbows and carry daggers as secondary weapons. They wear no armor and have no horses.

"The Ironborn carries three throwing axes, one of which is larger and can be used as a fighting axe.

"Those Wandering Mercenaries wear leather armor and carry short swords and daggers."

"Sorry, ser," Denzel could not stop himself from interrupting Ian. "Seven out of every ten mercenaries are dressed like that."

"Which is why that is not all. Have some patience, my friend." Ian smiled. "For people matching my earlier descriptions, pay special attention to unfamiliar faces, loners, and... people who appear especially wary.

"Your mercenaries will operate in two groups. The first group will consist entirely of cavalry, commanded by Ser Gransen, and will monitor the Kingsroad outside the inn. If a suspicious person matching the description passes by without entering this inn, follow him and find a chance to tie him up and bring him back. I will personally identify whether he is one of the fugitives I seek.

"The second group—"

"I have a question, ser." Denzel interrupted Ian once again.

"Go ahead."

"What if someone we bring back is not one of the criminals you want?"

"This..." Ian froze. He truly had not considered that question.

If the mercenaries captured people according to those criteria, mistaken captures would be perfectly normal. So how should those wrongly captured be handled? Releasing them immediately was definitely not an option. Should he lock them up and let them go after the hunt was over?

"You were not planning to let them go, were you?" Denzel seemed to have guessed Ian's thoughts. "Ser Lucian, you and your companions are from the great House Lannister. Naturally, you need not worry about the feelings of knights and mercenaries mistakenly captured, but neither I nor the mercenaries I recruited can do that.

"We operate here for the long term. If we capture someone, then regardless of the reason, we have made an enemy of them. And if they happen not to be the people you seek, releasing them will make things very difficult for us."