The Voice of the Victor-A Nationwide Proclamation!

The armies that had gathered around King's Landing's Landing finally retreated, both those from the Westerlands and those from the Reach.

At this point, the Red Keep was completely under Jon's control. The original garrison had been imprisoned, and Cersei and her two children were under heavy guard.

Eddard Stark's head had been removed from the pylon, Varys found a court painter for Jon to paint a portrait of Eddard, which could serve as a reference for the stonemasons of Winterfell in the future.

The Stark had a tradition of making a statue of each of the Lords of Winterfell and placing it in the crypt.

In addition, the Stark's ancestral sword, Ice, has been handed over to Jon.

This enormous Valyrian steel sword is as tall as a person, with a blade wider than a hand, and its entire surface is covered with wavy, water-like patterns, as if it contains magical power.

Thinking of magic, Jon activated his Golden Finger:

[Sword Saint]: Red [Archery]: Purple [Horsemanship]: Blue [Gods' Eye]: Purple [Skinchanger]: Green [The Unburnt]: White [Giant Strength]: Blue Remaining Upgrades: 1

In order to stage a coup and control Roose Bolton in the shortest possible time, Jon used up two upgrade attempts.

Later, due to the journey and the time spent in King's Landing, I regained one more upgrade opportunity.

Jon tried touching the Ice to see if it would work on his Golden Finger, but it didn't.

It seems that my Golden Finger isn't really related to magic.

In this timeline, the Ice was spared the fate of being split in two. Although Jon also wanted a Valyrian steel, he wouldn't go so far as to covet the Ice.

He also ordered that it be carefully preserved, while he himself toured the Red Keep accompanied by Varys and Pycelle.

"My lord, the place where you just captured and killed the Usurper King is called Maegor's Holdfast. It was built by Maegor Targaryen, the second Targaryen king." Pycelle introduced every tree and plant in the Red Keep to Jon in his old but obsequious voice, as if he were trying to sell him "this castle."

The overall style of Maegor's Holdfast is quite different from that of Westeros, supposedly because Maegor recruited artisans from the Free Cities.

Jon had learned that the Lion-and-Flower Coalition dared to launch their attack because they were certain that the Red Keep had not fallen to Jon.

The definitive method is the Raven.

This gave Jon a new idea: if he could control the Raven of a castle, wouldn't that be equivalent to knowing their every move? He could even do the opposite, having the Raven carry "false information" to influence their judgment and decisions.

Jon decides he should upgrade the [Skinchanger] attribute next, wondering if he'll eventually become a half- Greenseer.

Speaking of intelligence, Jon subtly observed Varys beside him. This guy should have already hidden Tyrion away, but he didn't mention it at all, which meant he was planning to keep it a secret.

"The most regrettable thing about this battle is that we didn't capture the Imp. Actually, we have a good relationship. Winterfell is where we first met, and he taught me a lot. If I could find him, I definitely wouldn't kill him," Jon tried to probe Varys.

Seeing that Jon wasn't interested in his knowledge, Pycelle wisely kept quiet.

"Yes, Tyrion certainly has a brain that is rare in this world, but war is cruel and chaotic, and he is just a dwarf, unlike you, my lord, who are highly skilled in martial arts." Varys silently cleared himself of suspicion, while also flattering him.

Jon smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. Based on their previous communications, he might have sent Tyrion across the Narrow Sea beforehand, and then transported him to Young Griff's side.

It's unclear whether he'll end up with Young Griff or Daenerys.

If Jon chooses to follow Daenerys, Tyrion should be a good subject to assist her once Daenerys has her own territory. Therefore, Jon did not hesitate to ask about Tyrion's whereabouts.

However, this does not mean he can ignore this matter.

Varys's goal was to help Aegon the Young Griff, the "Blackfyre bloodline," ascend the Iron Throne; he also had an ally in the distant Free Cities Illyrio Palmytis.

Illyrio was a merchant, but ever since Varys became the Mad King's intelligence broker, Illyrio's career took off, and he rose to become a famous governor of Pentos, even able to speak with Khal.

Rumor has it that the Targaryen have a large sum of gold in their Iron Bank in Braavos. Jon doesn't know if it's true or not, but considering their circumstances, it's probably true.

Jon decides to extort money from Varys.

The three of them arrived at the Training Yard, which was filled with all kinds of weapons. In a small hut, Jon immediately spotted the long-handled warhammer.

That's Robert's warhammer.

Jon walked toward the warhammer. Varys and Pycelle exchanged a glance; they both knew the weight of the warhammer. It would be difficult for an ordinary person to even lift it, let alone swing it.

Moreover, in their view, Jon's physique was lithe and slender, unlike Robert's imposing stature.

But the next moment, Jon picked up the steel warhammer with one hand. It was clear that although Robert's warhammer had not been used for a long time, it was still well maintained, with wax and oil applied to it, and the tail decorated with gold thread and gemstones.

Jon, holding a warhammer in one hand, walked up to a human-shaped target, spun around, and swung it down with a powerful blow.

The humanoid target shattered into pieces, as if it had been trampled by a bull.

Varys and Pycelle were both astonished. They hadn't believed the rumors that Jon had been smashing people with a battering ram, but now it seemed to be true!

After smashing one target, Jon continued to swing, the heavy warhammer whistling through the air, a sound that made Pycelle's legs go weak just hearing it.

"Lord Jon is truly powerful! The way he smashed the target just now was just like King Robert's slaying of Rhaegar!" Pycelle exclaimed, but Jon's lips twitched slightly.

He said nothing, but turned to the Grand Maester and said, "Grand Maester, I wish to place the King's Warhammer and Lord Eddard together in the Great Sept, and I wish to keep vigil for them." The Red Keep is too treacherous; before Stannis arrives, Jon will only seal it off, not move in. But he will need to stay in King's Landing for some time, and the Great Sept is a good place for him during that period.

"No problem, I'll have the High Septon arrange it for you."

Jon nodded; in truth, he also wanted to help Rhaegar's spirit rings on Warhammer pass on.

"Grand Maester Pycelle, Lord Varys, I have slain the Usurper King and avenged my father. I intend to return to the Wall and continue my Night's Watch after handing the Iron Throne to His Majesty Stannis."

"Hmm-hmm? Sir--you--"

Pycelle looked up at Jon as if he had misheard, his pale, fleshy neck swaying in bewilderment; to him, this was utterly impossible.

Jon had so many options. First, he helped Stannis reclaim King's Landing, preventing him from becoming a "king in exile."

Such a monumental achievement would easily grant him a fertile and vast territory, and make him an absolute power and influence in Stannis's new dynasty!

This is something so many people dream of, yet Jon is about to give up with just a casual remark, Pycelle simply cannot understand.

Varys, standing nearby, also showed surprise. If Jon was really determined to go to the Wall, how could he rely on him to maintain his position with Stannis?

But his intuition told him that things weren't that simple. Varys hesitated for a moment before speaking, "My lord, in my opinion, the Seven Kingdoms need you more than the Wall. His Majesty Stannis might not allow a talent like yours to waste on the Wall. You shouldn't think that way."

"You don't understand." Jon Lunan casually sat down on the stool, with Pycelle and Vas following closely behind, both of them even bending deeply over to hear him more clearly.

"I am not only a bastard, but also a deserter from the Wall. I heard that my father, Eddard, was framed and secretly left. Moreover, the Wall is short of manpower and supplies. If I don't go, who will?"

You have no idea, the situation on the Wall is dire. The Wildlings, driven by the cold, are trying to breach the Wall and march south. Furthermore, rumors of the White Walkers echo through the snow. Our the Wall is in grave danger.

Jon observed their reactions as he spoke, and seeing their thoughtful expressions, Jon continued, "King Robert is extravagant, and His Majesty Stannis will also be short of money in the future. I hope to bring back as much supplies as possible when I return to the Wall, which would atone for my sins as a deserter." Then, Jon turned to Varys and said jokingly, "Lord Varys, you are the Master of Intelligence; do you have any intelligence on gold?"

Upon hearing Jon's words, Varys laughed and indicated that he too was exchanging information for gold and had no information about gold.

However, this small test did not lead Varys to believe that Jon really intended to return to the Wall; the possibility of that was still too small.

He believed that Jon Snow was probably preparing for the future management of the territory.

The three then headed towards the Throne Room, where the famous Iron Throne is located.

On the way, while Pycelle was showing Jon the surrounding buildings, Varys quietly suggested that he might be able to raise some gold for Jon, but on the condition that Pycelle would speak on his behalf to Stannis and keep his position as Lord Inquisitor.

Jon, of course, agreed.

He already knew Varys's target, which meant he knew Varys's trump card. Keeping him by Stannis's side would allow the two to exchange information from time to time, which would be beneficial to him.

Soon the three arrived at the Throne Room. As soon as they entered the spacious hall, Jon saw the hideous and grotesque Iron Throne.

The sharp spikes, some curved and some straight, bared their fangs and claws, as if to tear the flesh and blood of every ambitious person.

There are also many examples of Targaryen kings being stabbed by the Iron Throne.

Aegon the Conqueror forged it, said it was to remind his descendants that kings should not be too comfortable.

This is indeed a wise saying, but the problem is that it doesn't seem to have any positive effect.

Seeing Jon examining the Iron Throne, Pycelle and Varys exchanged a glance, wondering if they should encourage Jon to sit on it and experience it.

Just as the two were exchanging glances, a white shadow darted past the three of them!

Ghost!

Having been away from the North for more than half a year, and with the weather gradually getting colder, Ghost had long since shed the fur that Jon had dyed, returning to its natural color.

The pure Ghost, as light as a wisp of smoke, swiftly climbed onto the Iron Throne Iron Throne and then sat down on it.

It stretched out its long, pointed nose and sniffed around, seemingly quite intoxicated by the rusty smell emanating from the Iron Throne.

"Ghost! Get down!" Jon's pupils contracted as he tried to get Ghost off the Iron Throne, but it seemed to really like the cold, hard thing, even resting its head on the armrest.

But Jon, standing to the side, was a little numb.

If no one were around, it could just go up and experience it for a bit, but Varys and Pycelle are right here!

"The adult's wolf is quite active," Varys said, trying to smooth things over.

In fact, they really couldn't use Jon's wolf to make a fuss, telling outsiders that Jon's wolf had sat on the Iron Throne. That would only make others think it was slander, which would be detrimental to their ability to gain a foothold in the new dynasty.

Fortunately, Ghost reluctantly got down under Jon's urging, and Jon bent down and gently slapped Ghost's long, pointed mouth as punishment.

Jon looked at the Iron Throne and said, "Let's seal off the Throne Room and the entire Red Keep until His Majesty Stannis arrives."

"At your command (as you wish), men," Varys and Pycelle said respectfully, treating what had just happened as a minor incident.

Moreover, Ghost's actions also proclaim a fact: we are now in the second "Wolf Hour" in Westeros.

If Jon supports Stannis as king, the Seven Kingdoms will be at peace; otherwise, they will descend into a war among kings.

The current state of Westeros can be summed up in one sentence: 'Whether the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos or not, Jon has the final say.' Jon turned to face the two men, then looked at Pycelle and said loudly:

"Pycelle, please send ravens throughout the land immediately, proclaiming that Jon Snow, son of Eddard Stark, has led his army to conquer King's Landing 'Winterfell, and that His Majesty Stannis is the sole rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms. All the lords of the Seven Kingdoms have a duty to stop and capture the rebel Tywin!"

Pycelle watched Jon give orders in the hall, his voice echoing like a divine pronouncement, just like the king in his memory.