The West Coast Is What I Want

As night fell, bats occasionally flew overhead.

"My lord, please have some." A blond servant presented Tywin with a large piece of fatty roasted meat, or more accurately, roasted horse meat.

Tywin didn't immediately reach out to take it, but instead looked towards the riverbank not far away.

The scene of thousands of horses drawing water at the same time was truly spectacular; the bleak autumn wind blew the manes of the warhorses, making them resemble withered reeds by the river.

The repeated galloping had caused the ribs of many warhorses to become visible; because they left in such a hurry, they didn't even have time to bring any food.

When he came across farmland, he let his warhorses graze on the crops; when he came across farmhouses, he allowed his soldiers to plunder the grain. With this almost animalistic behavior, Tywin left his pursuers far behind.

Tywin regained his composure and focused his gaze on the horse meat that the servant had brought him. Based on his extensive experience, he judged that it must be the hind leg meat of a warhorse.

They had been driving themselves recklessly along the way, losing over a hundred warhorses. These horses were not wasted; they were quickly butchered by the soldiers and used as rations.

He took the horse meat from the soldier, took a bite, and found it exceptionally tender.

"May I have your name?"

"Adam Hishan, sir."

"Adam-- "

Hishan is the surname used for bastards in the Westerlands. Tywin couldn't remember the name. The Lannister are a large family, so it's normal for them not to remember, especially since he was a bastard.

He recalled that during the Dance of the Dragons, the House Velaryon line of male heirs died out, and a bastard Adam, a dragon knight, was legitimized and took on the task of continuing the family line.

Seeing that Tywin had eaten something, Adam quickly took out some rosemary from his person and offered it to him as a spice, which improved Tywin's mood considerably.

Through conversation, it was learned that Adam Hill's father had the surname Lannister.

It's perfectly normal that Tywin didn't know about this, since the Lannister, like the House Frey.

Tell the soldiers they can rest a little longer; they can rest here tonight, and we'll continue our journey tomorrow.

"Yes, sir, but—"

"You're worried about pursuers?" A rare smile flickered in Tywin's eyes. "Don't worry, I've already considered it. Just strengthen the guards."

"Yes, sir." Seeing that Tywin had said so, Adam bowed to him and then went to make the arrangements.

"Wait," Tywin suddenly spoke, "Once we return to the Westerlands, you will be Lannister."

Adam's eyes lit up, and he immediately knelt on one knee and exclaimed, "Thank you, sir!" Then he stood up and left like a gust of wind.

Tywin dared to let his soldiers rest here because he judged that none of the various factions would necessarily kill him outright.

Especially given that Stannis was "severely weakened".

Although Jon intended to install Stannis as king, the problem was that even if Stannis inherited the Iron Throne, he would lack the power to launch any external attacks.

Tywin firmly believed that only steel and blood were the weapons of conquest, and Stannis was currently desperately short of both.

They have the title, but lack the power to command respect.

Perhaps the Crownlands and Stormlands will eventually belong to Stannis, but it will be impossible to accumulate strength in less than three to five years, especially since Summer has ended and autumn is approaching, making the process even longer.

Tywin firmly believed that once he returned to the Westerlands, he would have enough time to consolidate his forces and build defenses, giving the Lannister a chance to recuperate.

In time, all I need to do is pay some fines, and these things won't be insurmountable.

Thinking of this, Tywin couldn't help but turn his gaze eastward. He believed he had already given Jon enough attention, and the siege was shrouded in mystery.

First, Myrcella and Tommen were captured. Tywin suspected that someone had leaked the information, but who could it be?

How could Varys possibly have contacted Varys Jon Snow?

That old Rosby? Could he possibly have the guts?

If this only puzzled him, then Jon's subsequent superb defense was even more astonishing.

An army of ten thousand men could perform as if it were thirty thousand, as if the heavens above were watching him closely, and he could control every move of the army.

He then thought of the Mountain. What kind of army could possibly withstand the onslaught of heavily armored troops? Even if the Mountain was weak, they shouldn't have been completely annihilated.

Finally, there were the Wildfire. When he learned that Tyrion had used Wildfire to defeat Stannis, he was very excited, but he never expected that the Wildfire would soon reach him and burn his own brothers to death.

If it weren't for the loss of Kevan and a large number of his elite troops, Tywin wouldn't have given Adam Hishan a second glance.

"Kevan, I will avenge you!" Tywin vowed silently in his heart. The fire of revenge seemed to ignite the old lion, filling his body with strength once again.

King's Landing has once again enjoyed peace.

At least for now.

Jon Snow ordered the Red Keep sealed off, striving to keep everything inside as it was, with no one allowed to enter or leave except the guards.

The soldiers were forbidden from visiting prostitutes, and were not allowed to move freely in the city. But as compensation, Jon provided them with plenty of good food and even had the High Septon come to the army to pray and offer blessings.

Jon set up a temporary military government next to the Great Sept of Baelor to oversee the order and daily affairs of King's King's Landing.

They kept vigil for Eddard Stark that night.

He discovered that he spent most of his time each day dealing with various lawsuits.

The topics range from horse-drawn carriages overturning carts to burglaries at homes, and even diplomatic issues involving international affairs.

Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion ordered the requisition of many foreign ships, and now they are all coming to Jon demanding compensation.

Jon almost laughed in exasperation; he hadn't even received credit for his own work yet.

"That's just how the Myr people are, insatiable. They deserve what happened to them," Beric Dondarrion commented.

Jon thought he should set up a secondary court on his own territory, otherwise it would be a waste of time to be bothered by these kinds of things every day.

Having finally finished his day's work, Sola came to Jon and said that a man with horrific burn scars on his face wanted to see him.

Upon hearing the mention of burn scars, Jon immediately recognized the man. After letting him in, he saw that it was indeed the Mountain's brother, Sandor Clegane, the Hound.

Sandor knelt before Jon upon seeing him, as if having made a firm decision. "My lord, please allow me to follow you from now on."

Sola sized up Sandor Clegane, who was kneeling on the ground, and thought to himself that the man was incredibly tall, even kneeling, he was taller than him. Although the man looked somewhat ugly, his muscles were so large they seemed to be tearing his clothes apart. If Jon could gain such a powerful warrior, it would be a good thing.

"Your name is Sandor Clegane, Gregor's brother. I killed your brother, and now you're going to be my bodyguard. How am I supposed to know if you're just looking to avenge him?"

Upon hearing this connection, Sola immediately became alert, her right hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of her sword.

"No! No, sir, no." Sandor shook his head like a rattle-drum, his hair, which he had deliberately grown long to cover his scars, was tossed aside as he recounted a childhood memory.

When he was a child, he played with Gregor, an old toy that the Mountain no longer played with, and the enraged the Mountain shoved his head into a fire pit to burn it. That's how he got the scar on his face.

To cover for Gregor, his father claimed that Sandor had accidentally set his bedsheets on fire, which caused the burns to his face.

"My lord, I have no desire to avenge my so-called brother. I am not saddened at all by your killing him. I know that my family's territory will be taken away. Although I have nothing now, I still have some martial arts skills. If you find me ugly, you can put me in your army." Sandor's tone was sincere, as if he would not leave until Jon agreed.

"You really want to follow me?"

"Gods are my witnesses, my lord!" Sandor crawled two steps closer to Jon.

Jon smiled and said, "There's no need to join my army. Just come with me to the Wall."

"The Wall? My lord, the Wall?"

Sandor didn't understand what Jon was talking about. He had rendered such a great service; he was bound to receive a large fiefdom in the future. Wouldn't he be happy being a comfortable lord? Why would he want to go back to the Wall?!

Sandor, though not a great lord, knew that someone like Jon would never return to the Wall.

"My lord?!" Having followed Jon for so long, Sola already knew what the Wall was and what Jon used to do.

Jon had promised the elders of the Mountain Clans that he would give them a new place to live.

"Alright, go out and think about it yourself first. Come back to me when you've figured it out."

Sandor left Jon's tent somewhat dejectedly. "Let's go have a couple of drinks first," the large man said with a hint of resignation, and headed towards the brothel in King's Landing.

"My lord, you—" Sola asked immediately after Sandor left.

"Sola! Don't behave like this in front of others!" Jon said calmly, but it sounded like a scolding to Sola.

"Go tell our people not to believe anything they hear or see during this time, unless I stand before them and tell them something. Otherwise, anyone who breaks the rules will remain forever deep in the Moon Mountains!"

Jon's expression was serious, and his tone was even more stern; this was the first time Sola had ever seen Jon like this.

Jon didn't explain anything to Sola, because even if he did, she wouldn't understand.

Jon knew that even if Stannis were here now, he would definitely give him the title to the Westerlands if he asked him for it.

Anyway, the Westerlands weren't in his hands, and his own contributions were immense. The key was that Jon needed him to treat him completely as one of his own, only then could he unleash his full potential in the Westerlands without any hindrance.

The best way to gain trust is to present yourself as someone who only wants to avenge their father and then immediately leave.

In other words, Jon wanted the people of the Seven Kingdoms to see him as "the second Eddard Stark."

The noble lords of Westeros wear their emotions on their sleeves and say whatever they want, to the point that even someone like Littlefinger can throw a tantrum.

Now, Jon is also joining the race to establish his persona.

The Westerlands are nothing to Jon; what he truly desires is the entire Sunset Sea and half of Westeros.