I Have a Plan

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Garon climbed out of bed and headed to the training grounds for his usual routine.

He had been practicing his swordplay for half an hour before a second figure appeared on the grounds—Robert Baratheon.

"Your Grace!"

Drenched in sweat, Garon saw Robert looking at him, so he quickly stopped his swings and bowed in greeting.

Robert walked a few more steps, then waved a hand at Garon, signaling him to come over.

Garon stepped forward and noticed that Robert's eyes were bloodshot; it was clear he hadn't rested well.

Robert asked, "Up for training so early?"

Garon sheathed his sword and smiled, "Your Grace, I grew accustomed to this schedule back at Deepwood Motte. If I don't get up early to train every day, my whole body feels wrong!"

Robert let out a hearty laugh and praised, "Not bad, that's how a warrior should be!"

After he finished speaking, he looked down at his own belly, which he could no longer hide, and sighed.

"Back when Ned and I were at The Eyrie, we were also full of energy and up early every day."

"It's a pity that so many years have passed in a blink, and being tangled in worldly affairs has turned me into what I am now!"

Robert shook his head, sighing at his own physique.

"Giant Bear Slayer, walk with me!"

He beckoned to Garon, turned around, and began walking aimlessly along the edge of the training grounds.

Garon nodded and followed behind him.

The two walked for a while until they reached a staircase, which they climbed to head toward the second floor of the castle.

As Robert stepped onto the stairs, he suddenly asked, "What is your take on what happened last night?"

Garon was slightly surprised; his footsteps faltered as he hesitated, "What does Your Grace mean?"

Robert didn't stop walking, speaking as if they were just chatting, "Do you think Theon conspired with Jaime?"

Garon's eyes darted around as he kept pace, replying cautiously, "I don't know!"

"Don't know?" Robert repeated in a calm tone, then said nothing more.

Tap, tap, tap.

The two climbed the cold stone steps and soon reached the castle ramparts.

Garon looked ahead—

In the distance, the endless Wolfswood loomed in the mist, appearing exceptionally mysterious.

Robert took a deep breath, and the icy morning air of Winterfell felt like an ice snake slithering through his body, jolting his spirit awake.

"You found so many clues yesterday; surely you have some guesses?"

He turned to look at Garon, continuing the previous topic.

Meeting Robert's scrutinizing gaze, Garon shook his head, "Your Grace, there weren't many clues last night, and I only suspected it might have something to do with Theon."

"As for whether Theon conspired with Ser Jaime, there is currently no evidence to prove it."

Robert was immediately disappointed.

Ever since his unpleasant parting with Ned last night, Robert knew clearly that unless he could find the true culprit behind the conspiracy with Theon, Ned's stubborn nature would never allow him to head south.

He sighed with worry, turned his head to gaze at the Wolfswood, and cursed, "Damn it, ever since I arrived in The North, I haven't had a single day of peace!"

"Fuck, I just want to live a few days in comfort..."

A string of curses poured out, with Robert completely disregarding his status as King or the fact that Garon was standing right beside him.

Garon looked awkwardly to the front, but his mind suddenly stirred.

According to the plot, someone will attempt to assassinate Bran very soon.

I seem to be able to use this to shift Robert and Ned's attention back to the Iron Islands.

Only by constantly reinforcing the threat of the Iron Islands can I have a legitimate reason to stay in The North later on...

He pondered for a moment, and during a lull in Robert's cursing, he interjected.

"Your Grace, I actually have a plan that could help you and Lord Ned find the real culprit!"

Robert's eyes immediately locked onto Garon, "What method?"

"Your Grace, this method requires the cooperation of Lord Ned."

"Let us return to find Lord Ned first, and I will explain it in detail then."

Robert turned impatiently and headed down the stairs, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Garon's mouth as he followed behind.

The two returned to the training grounds and asked a passing servant, only to learn that Ned had gone to the Great Hall of Winterfell.

When Robert and Garon walked back into the hall, they found that not only was Ned there, but the Queen was as well.

Ned sat at the dining table with a cold face, observing the laws of hospitality.

Cersei, however, was in high spirits; the darker Ned's expression grew, the better she felt.

"Ned, Ned!"

Robert burst into the hall excitedly, not even glancing at Cersei, and laughed straight out: "I've found a way to uncover the culprit conspiring with Theon!"

Hearing this, Ned assumed Robert had agreed to let him interrogate Jaime, so he stood up abruptly and said: "I'll have someone seize Jaime at once!"

Cersei's expression immediately turned panicked.

At this, Robert shook his head speechlessly, pointed to Garon who was following behind him, and said: "It's not about seizing Jaime; Garon has thought of another way."

Now it was Ned's turn to be disappointed, and he sat back down, feeling disheartened: "What way?"

"Garon, you tell them!"

Robert waved his hand, signaling Garon to explain the plan quickly.

"Your Grace, Your Majesty, Lord Ned!"

Garon looked around at the three of them and said calmly: "Judging from the evidence last night, Theon was definitely conspiring with someone, and there is a high probability that one of the conspirators is a woman!"

"Now that Theon is dead, besides the conspirator, the only one who knows the truth of the whole matter is Bran!"

Cersei suddenly interrupted: "But Bran is still lying in bed, hovering between life and death. I heard from Maester Luwin that it is unlikely he will survive!"

She didn't care at all about Ned's increasingly ugly expression and sneered: "Or do you possess the magic of the Children of the Forest to bring Bran back to life?"

To everyone's surprise, Garon stared at Cersei and said meaningfully: "That is exactly my intention!"

Cersei's expression changed slightly, while Ned asked with some pleasant surprise: "Does Garon possess medical skills?"

Garon shook his head, denying it: "Of course I don't!"

Seeing the doubt arise in Ned and Robert, he then unhurriedly explained his plan.

"Now that Bran has fallen from the tower, almost everyone in Winterfell knows he is in critical condition, including the conspirator!"

"But what if we spread the news that Bran has awakened and will soon be able to speak?"

Ned was stunned and muttered: "You mean..."

"Exactly, it's to flush out the snake!", Garon confirmed Ned's thought and explained further.

"If the conspirator is still in Winterfell, I believe they won't be able to sit still once they hear this news!"

"Either they will risk an attempt to assassinate Bran, or they will flee Winterfell in the middle of the night!"

"But regardless of which possibility it is, we can easily find the conspirator."

Ned's eyes lit up: "That's right, we only need to guard Bran's bedroom and monitor those entering and leaving Winterfell to discover the conspirator."

But soon, Ned realized something: "What if the conspirator is not in Winterfell?"

Garon shook his head: "This plan is essentially a gamble that the conspirator is still in Winterfell. If they aren't, then we can only pray for Bran to wake up as soon as possible."

Cersei felt a surge of joy in her heart, thinking: Idiots, the conspirator is right before your eyes.

Since I know the plan, how could I let Jaime fall for it!

With the look of someone watching a show, she continued to listen to Robert and Ned discuss how to implement Garon's plan.

Once the discussion concluded, a piece of news was quickly spread throughout Winterfell by men sent by Ned—

Bran, favored by the Old Gods, had awakened.

With Ned's indulgence and encouragement, by noon, even the whores in Winter Town knew the news.