Borrowing the Lion to Kill the Squid

"Mating fluids?"

Garon blinked slightly, observing the expressions of Cersei and Jaime shift in an instant.

Prompted by Robert, Ned stepped forward to sniff the scent as well, finally confirming, "That's right, it is indeed the bodily fluids left behind after intercourse!"

His expression turned instantly furious, "Who on earth was copulating in the Broken Tower? And why would they try to murder Bran?"

"Garon, what else did you and Jon discover!"

At this moment, Jon blurted out, "Does this even need investigating? Bran must have witnessed them having sex while he was climbing the wall."

"To prevent Bran from blabbing about it everywhere, they pushed him off the high tower!"

Bang—

Hearing this, Robb slammed his fist hard against the table.

Ned's eyes were cold and sharp as he ordered Theon again, "Go fetch Ser Rodrik. I want to know exactly where everyone in Winterfell was and what they were doing today!"

Theon, who had finally snapped back to reality, dared not go.

If Ser Rodrik truly uncovered something, he would certainly be unable to escape death.

Fortunately, at this moment, Tyrion stepped forward, offering a different perspective.

"If that were truly the case, then how do you explain the blood?"

"Your Grace, Lord Ned, surely the blood wasn't produced by the friction of the two of them doing the deed, was it?"

Tyrion put on an appreciative expression, clicking his tongue, "That would have to be quite intense!"

Robb, already in a fit of rage, couldn't stand his expression and asked coldly, "What do you mean?"

Tyrion glanced at Jaime and Cersei, then looked toward Garon, asking, "You said earlier that there were many bloodstains at the top of the Broken Tower?"

Garon's eyes flashed; realizing what Tyrion was trying to do, he played along.

"That's right, the blood droplets were mostly concentrated near the window at the top of the Broken Tower, but there were no signs of a struggle."

Tyrion smiled, "That settles it!"

Facing the puzzled gazes of Robert and Ned, he explained, "This proves one thing: Bran knew the man and woman who were having sex!"

"And he was very familiar with them!"

A strange smile tugged at the corner of Garon's mouth as he continued to assist Tyrion.

"Lord Tyrion means that because Bran was familiar with them, he had no guard up at all."

"By the time they turned hostile, it was too late to react, so he could only scratch their bodies with his mouth or hands, which is how the blood was left behind?"

Tyrion looked at Garon in surprise, unable to figure out why he was helping him.

However, Tyrion continued along Garon's line of reasoning, "Exactly, that is indeed the case!"

"I suspect Bran heard a conspiracy he shouldn't have, which is what provoked them to commit murder!"

"I believe Lord Ned only needs to check who in Winterfell has bite marks or scratch marks on their body today to find the culprit!"

After speaking, Tyrion didn't forget to look at Jaime and Cersei.

To everyone's surprise, the two of them looked simultaneously at Theon, who was nearly at the door.

Garon noticed this scene, and the smile on his lips grew even more intense.

He decided not to pretend anymore and pointed the finger directly at Theon, "Come to think of it, I'm curious about one thing: what happened to your wrist, Theon? Why is it wrapped in bandages?"

Inside the hall, everyone's gaze focused on Theon's right wrist.

Theon froze in place instantly.

"At the banquet yesterday, you were perfectly fine. How did you end up with bandages today?"

"You aren't going to tell His Grace and Lord Ned that you accidentally cut your own wrist, are you?"

Theon trembled all over, his forehead covered in cold sweat, "I... I..."

Robb hadn't suspected him initially, but seeing his stuttering, he couldn't help but feel doubtful, "Theon, did you really go to the Broken Tower today?"

"I did not!" Pushed to the limit, Theon began to fight back, "Robb, I've spent years with you; do you not trust me?"

"Are you suspecting me based solely on these things?"

Robb was momentarily speechless; the evidence at hand truly couldn't prove that the culprit was Theon.

Theon continued his defense, saying, "I also view Bran as a brother; how could I possibly plot to harm him!"

"Besides, didn't you say there were bite marks or scratch marks?"

"Then take a look at what kind of wounds are actually on my wrist!"

With that, Theon ripped the bandage off his right hand, revealing a mangled, bloody wound.

It was neither a scratch nor a bite.

The suspicions of Robb, Jon, and the others eased slightly.

Theon finally reacted, realizing that Garon had been trying to pin the murder on him all along.

He glared at Garon with venom, "This Garon has only been in Winterfell for a few days, and look at all that has happened."

"He's deliberately trying to smear me."

"If you ask me, Bran's accident was caused by him!"

Ned naturally did not believe Theon's angry outburst, as Garon had been with the hunting party all day.

He furrowed his brows and barked, "Enough!"

If he let the two of them keep arguing, it would only make a spectacle for the King and Queen.

But Garon had no intention of stopping halfway.

He examined the wound on Theon's right wrist and said abruptly, "You've been talking for so long, yet you still haven't said how your injury was caused?"

Theon was instantly rendered speechless.

"The marks on your wrist are indeed not from scratches or bites, but they aren't from a sword cut either."

"They look more like you deliberately sliced the flesh with a dagger to cover up the real wounds!"

Robert and Ned were veterans of many battles; they could tell the authenticity of a wound shape at a glance.

The two exchanged a look, their suspicions growing increasingly intense.

Robert slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Theon, where exactly were you during the day?"

"Speak! Was it you who murdered Bran?"

"I didn't!" Theon defended himself anxiously, "I really didn't, Your Grace!"

Garon did not give Theon a chance to catch his breath and immediately pressed him, "Then why did you tamper with the wounds on your hand?"

"I didn't tamper with any bite marks!"

"Haha, how did you know they were bite marks and not scratches?"

"I don't know..."

"You don't know? Then why were you so certain they were bite marks?"

"I... I..."

"In my opinion, you must have used a dagger to kill Bran, and then pushed him off the high tower to create the illusion of a fall!"

Garon shouted sharply, "Look into my eyes and answer me!"

The rapid-fire questioning left Theon's mind unable to keep up.

Hearing the prompt, he subconsciously looked at Garon and blurted out, "Nonsense, I only pushed him off, I didn't kill him with a knife!"

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Everyone looked at Theon with varying expressions.

"Your Grace, Lord Ned, he has already confessed!"

Garon smiled slightly, putting the final nail in Theon's coffin!

Ned's expression was one of agony; for nine years he had treated Theon like his own son, never imagining that one day Theon would betray him and murder his child.

In an instant.

The words Garon said when he first arrived at Winterfell surfaced in Ned's mind—

An Ironborn is an Ironborn, their nature is hard to change!

Robert understood the character of his brother-in-law and knew he could not do anything that violated honor, so he made the decision for him.

"Jaime, seize Theon and interrogate him properly!"

"I want to know who made him so bold as to dare murder the son of the Warden of the North!"

The murderous intent in Jaime's eyes could no longer be suppressed.

He realized that if he didn't kill Theon right here, once the interrogation began, Theon would surely spill everything about him and Cersei.

Jaime strode forward, drew the longsword at his waist, and provoked him, "Theon, you murdered the son of the Warden of the North, violated the laws of the kingdom, and defied the will of the gods; your crime is unforgivable!"

Seeing Jaime walking over with murderous intent, Theon backed away two steps and shouted in alarm, "Jaime... Ser Jaime..."

"You... you can't do this!"

"You promised..."

Jaime swung his sword, cutting off Theon's words.

Seeing Theon dodge, Jaime feigned rage and said, "You dare to defy the King's command!"

"Theon, in the name of the Kingsguard, I order you to surrender!"

But Theon noticed the killing intent in Jaime's eyes; how could he be foolish enough to stand still?

As he dodged Jaime's grasp, he shouted angrily, "Jaime, you clearly..."

Before the words were out, a cold glint flashed in Jaime's eyes as he lunged forward and slashed Theon's throat.

Blood sprayed out with a wet thud.

Gah—

Theon clutched his throat, slowly sinking to his knees, foam and blood bubbling at the corners of his mouth, "You promised me..."

He glared at Jaime with venom, and finally collapsed to the ground, dead, his eyes filled with resentment.