Master of Coin of the Empire

The next morning.

Joffrey was reading an aged Ancient Parchment Scroll.

Tyrion beside him broke the silence.

"Your Highness is certainly in high spirits. Your game has spread far and wide outside by now."

"I really wonder what everyone will think."

This was Winterfell's library tower. Aside from Brother Child, the keeper downstairs, there was nothing but mountains of ancient books and tomes.

Joffrey had originally hoped to find records related to magic, but they were all subjective, exaggerated historical accounts. Truth and lies alike were deeply buried beneath the ink, making it difficult to gain anything from them.

As expected, the Golden Finger is more reliable.

Joffrey returned the scroll to its place. "Uncle, it's only a game. We're just having fun. What impact could it possibly have?"

"Swearing fealty, granting titles—all that is just part of the game's rules. It doesn't count."

Tyrion looked at his nephew with amusement.

"So that's how it is."

Tyrion seemed to have found the answer to that question.

No matter how King Robert had originally died, his fine son would probably have to do the deed himself now.

King's Game.

Now that the "king" had become a king, could the game still remain just a game?

Tyrion could not help mocking himself. From the past until now, I've always been surrounded by the same kind of people. Not one of them is simple.

"May I ask, Your Highness, how do you intend to rule the realm in the future?"

Tyrion wanted a good answer.

The library tower was quiet at the moment. Neither Joffrey's senses nor his gaze detected any movement, making it a perfect place for a private conversation.

"Uncle probably can't imagine what Westeros will look like in the future."

"Even I can't be completely certain."

"But one thing is certain: it will become the most powerful and advanced empire in the world."

"The Stag, the Golden Lion, the Grey Wolf, the Rose, the Trout, the Falcon, the Sunpiercer Golden Spear—all lords will kneel beneath the throne, and the Seven Kingdoms will become one empire."

Joffrey spoke as calmly as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

"There will no longer be borders within the realm. All lands and people will be governed by those appointed by the throne, and noble titles will be separated from official posts."

"The Sunset Kingdom will become the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets, and the world will tremble before it."

Heh! Tyrion only found him arrogant.

Joffrey smiled faintly.

"And the power that will create all of this..."

He raised his right hand and pressed it against Tyrion's forehead. Invisible Runes began to operate.

Tyrion's thoughts froze in an instant.

He sensed an existence more incomprehensibly astounding than Dragonbone.

Joffrey withdrew his hand.

The mirrored images of the Flames, Information, and Location Runes—no more and no less—were enough to let Tyrion experience the wonder of magic.

The power of Flames was the most direct.

Using the spatial sense of the Location Rune as a medium, the two of them could communicate through their minds with the Information Rune.

Come to think of it, the Growth Rune should be able to make Tyrion taller, right?

A dwarf becoming a giant?

Joffrey saved it for the future Master of Coin.

Tyrion barely managed to calm himself. His gaze toward Joffrey became even more complicated and confused.

Divine power? Sorcery? Magic?

Right. Magic.

His mind immediately replayed everything Joffrey had said and done over this period.

The Red Keep Vault, the secluded alley, the Giant Lion that breathed fire...

He understood where Joffrey's confidence came from.

With such power, and the ability to share it with others—if there were no restrictions, no, as long as the restrictions were not especially stringent, who would dare predict what Westeros's future would look like?

Tyrion finally understood Stannis's cause of death as well.

Joffrey's encounter with the Son of the Prostitute back then must have been like this. The tempting power of magic.

That child had not possessed heaven-defying luck.

Tyrion spread open his palm and clearly felt Flames flowing through his flesh and blood.

It was too hot. He hurriedly suppressed his excitement and curiosity, lest he bring a fiery catastrophe upon this ancient library tower.

"Tyrion, are you willing to become the Empire's Master of Coin?"

Tyrion raised his head.

The invisible, mysterious presence in his mind also allowed him to "see" Joffrey's location in another manner. At this moment, Joffrey seemed to exist in two worlds at once.

What a marvelous sensation. Reality, or illusion?

Joffrey revealed a troubled expression again. "Littlefinger isn't loyal enough. What do you think should be done with him?"

"Should we cut off his head and stick it on a spearpoint atop the Red Keep's walls?"

Tyrion did not hear Joffrey say those words aloud. The other invisible presence in his mind transmitted the message to him.

Tyrion's eyes widened with excitement.

This power might not be as fierce as Flames, but for a nation, it was perhaps even more important!

He awkwardly tried to make contact with that invisible presence.

Scorching heat, icy cold, emptiness, noise, and shrill screeches assailed him all at once.

It felt as though he were trying to tame an unruly, violent wild horse.

All Tyrion transmitted through the mirrored image of the Information Rune were chaotic, disordered thoughts. Joffrey directly blocked this informational garbage.

Only after a long while did Joffrey hear Tyrion's first clear words in his mind.

"Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Can you hear me..."

Joffrey was utterly speechless.

Stop spamming!

"Ah, yes, I can hear you. Isn't it amazing? Aren't you excited? Stop talking nonsense and continue."

The two began communicating in silence.

"As the future Master of Coin, I advise treating Littlefinger cautiously."

"The kingdom's finances can no longer withstand any great upheaval. The debts are too extensive. The Faith's gold and Lannister gold are manageable, but the Iron Bank of Braavos in particular must not be left unpaid."

Joffrey knew the Iron Bank's methods.

If someone refused to repay their debts, the Iron Bank would support that person's enemy in taking the throne to recover what was owed. It might even send the dreaded Faceless Men to carry out assassinations.

Perhaps he was not afraid, but it would still be deeply unpleasant.

Tyrion gradually adapted to this way of communicating.

"Earlier, when I investigated information in King's Landing, the more I learned about Littlefinger, the more I realized just how deeply he had hidden himself."

"He has served as Master of Coin for years. His confidants are scattered throughout the Royal Treasury, the mint, the harbor, the customs offices, the tax collectors, agents, and other vital posts. Most of those people were promoted by him."

"In my opinion, we should be careful."

In this world, if anyone had truly armed himself with gold, it was none other than Petyr Baelish, not Jaime Lannister.

Joffrey remained impassive.

"Perhaps. But conspiring with his lover, Lysa Tully, to murder Hand of the King Jon Arryn—this charge alone is enough to deal with him."

"Why not seize him outright?"

Connections were ultimately less dependable than power.

"Let me remind you: King's Landing belongs to the Iron Throne. It belongs to me, not gold."

"When I return to King's Landing, I will be the king of Westeros. I will not tolerate any disrespect, much less betrayal. King's Landing's darkness will be thoroughly purged."

"Tyrion, do you lack the confidence to take over?"

Joffrey's attitude meant iron and blood, not peace or negotiation.

Tyrion smelled war and death.

But he had already embarked upon a road of no return. Besides, what reason was there to refuse?

"As Your Majesty commands."