Petyr looked at the nobles who had once called him brother, sharing secrets and profits with him.
Now they lowered their eyes as though avoiding the plague, studying the patterns in the flagstones beneath their feet...
When a wall began to fall, everyone gave it a shove.
This was King's Landing.
The real King's Landing.
Petyr's heart sank into the abyss, little by little.
He knew he was already a political corpse.
No one would risk their life for a dead man.
In his despair, his gaze finally settled on a corner of the hall.
On the enormous figure standing there like a mountain.
Gregor Clegane.
The Mountain.
House Lannister's fiercest, cruelest, and most loyal mad dog.
His prowess was beyond question.
Gregor stood with his arms folded across his chest, his heavy steel armor gleaming coldly in the firelight.
The shadow of his helmet concealed his expression.
But everyone could feel the sheer, suffocating brutality radiating from him.
A spark of hope rekindled in Petyr's eyes.
He knew the Mountain answered only to Tywin Lannister and cared only for money and slaughter.
And he happened to have both.
Even though he had lost his assets in King's Landing to Lynn, he still had cards left to play!
A competent politician always planned an escape route in advance.
And Petyr was clearly competent.
"I choose..."
Petyr's voice carried the madness of a man staking everything on one last gamble.
"I choose the Mountain, Ser Gregor Clegane, as my champion!"
The entire hall fell deathly silent.
Everyone drew a sharp breath.
The Mountain!
He actually dared to choose the Mountain!
That monster who could tear a man in half with his bare hands!
Ned Stark's expression darkened terribly.
He knew better than anyone how terrifying the Mountain was.
Elia Martell and