When Adam Malbrand walked into the House of Order hall, the voices of people talking automatically dropped a lot.
After all, they are all businessmen making a living in King's Landing, and they have a natural fear of the City Guard.
In particular, this Commander of the City Watch did not wear a gorgeous dress, but still wore a dark red armor with a dazzling golden cloak behind him.
She didn't wear any extra jewelry, only a gorgeous Longsword hanging around her waist.
He walked at a leisurely pace, followed by seven officers.
Petyr quickly glanced at the former Chancellor of Finance and immediately recognized five of them. They were all Squad Leader guarding the various blocks and gates of King's Landing.
Damn it... It seems like Adam Malbrand didn't come alone to support us, but came with half of the capital defense team's command system!
"Ser Corleone." Adam stood in the center of the hall. His voice was not loud, but it spread clearly to every corner. "Congratulations."
"I was personally canonized by Lord Tywin back then, and we will keep this honor together from now on."
"Of course, Ser Adam."
Corleone greeted him with a smile, "The improvement of public security in Flea Bottom depends entirely on the care of you and the City Guards. From now on, Black Hand Mafia will definitely support the work of the Golden Robe."
"Support each other." Adam nodded, his eyes swept across the hall, paused for a moment on Mrs. Earl Lych and Falyse, nodded slightly in greeting, and then landed on Petyr.
That look made Petyr's heart skip a beat.
Damn... no way!
He glanced at Mrs. Earl Lych and Mrs. Falyse, and felt uneasy. Adam Malbrand was not among the people he had tricked!
This guy is Commander of the City Watch, who was canonized by Tywin after the end of Battle of the Blackwater Rush. He had hardly been to King's Landing before, and there was almost no contact between the two!
"As it happens, Lord Baelish is here too."
However, Adam went on his own and said, "It saves me the chance to visit your house tomorrow."
Hearing this, Petyr could only try to maintain his demeanor and asked anxiously, "Ser Adam Is there anything you need my help with?"
Adam did not answer immediately, but took out a small black-covered book from his arms and opened it, running his fingers across the pages and stopping on one page.
"Last month, we received a report that several moneylenders submitted some mortgage loan applications to the Capital Guard Logistics Office."
"Use your seven brothels, three casinos, and two warehouses on Silk Street as collateral respectively. The total loan amount...
.. Four thousand five hundred Gold Dragon!"
"Um...Ser Adam," Petyr cleared his throat quickly, his voice a little dry. "The loan was subject to formal procedures, the value of the collateral far exceeded the loan amount, and there were no problems in the whole process."
"That's right." Adam nodded, then turned to another page and continued loudly, "But we later learned that you used those properties to repeatedly mortgage in different places and borrowed several times. The total loan amount...
He pretended not to remember and flipped through the pages of the book. After everyone listened attentively, he pointed to a place and suddenly realized, loudly. "A total of thirty-two thousand Gold Dragon!"
As soon as these words came out, there was a dead silence in the hall.
Even the sound of the waiter pouring wine stopped.
Thirty-two thousand Gold Dragon, this money is enough to buy half of the Silk Street!
This Petyr Baelish is indeed not a good guy. He used his property to repeatedly mortgage loans. He is obviously planning to run away!
Feeling the contemptuous gazes of everyone, Petyr felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
"This... I can explain, Ser...
","The repayment deadline is ten days ago."
Adam interrupted without even listening to his explanation. He raised his eyes and stared at Petyr, and said righteously, "According to the loan agreement, if the loan is not repaid upon maturity, the ownership of the mortgaged property will be automatically transferred to the creditor. Of course, your properties are not worth so much money at all."
"So, please think carefully about how to repay this debt as soon as possible, Lord Baelish."
He closed the book and stuffed it back into his arms.
Petyr opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but his throat seemed to be choked by something.
His brain was running wildly. Those three industries were the core assets on the roll of parchment he just gave to Corleone!
His original calculation was very precise, and he "gifted" the property that was about to be taken away to Corleone, which could not only sell personal favors, but also pass on the debt crisis.
After Corleone took over, the creditor's people came to the door. It was a dispute between Corleone and those people, and he, Petyr Baelish, had already left for the Vale to marry Lysa Tully.
Considering the ruggedness of the Eagle's Nest City and the level of that woman Lysa's passionate love for him, as long as he didn't want to see her, no one could come to the Eagle's Nest City to collect debts!
But he never expected that Adam Malbrand would appear here.
And it was only after he "gave away" the property that he mentioned the debt in public.
What a coincidence.
Too coincidental to be a coincidence.
Thinking of this, Petyr suddenly turned his head and looked at Corleone.
He saw that the other party was looking at him calmly, with no emotion in his dark eyes, no surprise, no anger, or even ridicule.
There is only a calmness that seems to have anticipated everything.
... He already knew it!
This thought suddenly entered Petyr's mind.
Corleone had long known that these three properties had debt problems, and had long known that Adam would come to collect debts, so he signed the contract so happily!
Petyr felt his fingertips getting cold. He looked down at his hand and found that his fingers were trembling slightly.
He quickly put his hands behind his back, clenched them into fists, and dug his nails into his palms.
"Ser Adam." He took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady. "That loan... I did delay the repayment due to some matters, but please don't worry, I will arrange it right away...
"What are the arrangements?" Behind Adam, a tall and thin officer took a step forward.
It's Humphry Waters, captain of the Dragon Gate.
Petyr knew this man, a confidant of Squad Leader, Adam of the City Guard, who was known for his shrewdness and vengeance.
At the beginning, he had a distant relative who worked as an assistant in the Chancellor's Office. When handling the corruption case of his predecessor Commander of the City Watch Janos Slynt, Petyr was imprisoned for the crime of "unclear accounts". It was later said that he committed suicide in prison.
"Will the arrangement continue to be delayed?" Humphry looked at him with a sinister look. "You are no longer the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Baelish."
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"No one in King's Landing knows that you are about to go to Harrenhal to accept the fiefdom. Once you leave, are you going to ask King's Landing's creditors to go to Harrenhal to collect their debts?"
As soon as these words came out, Petyr's face instantly turned cold, but just when he was about to continue to find excuses to delay, a voice suddenly intervened.
"I believe it!"
Everyone turned around and saw Corleone taking two steps forward and standing between Petyr and Adam, with a completely conciliatory attitude.
Although his expression did not change much, Corleone was already feeling happy at this time.
He could swear to the Seven Gods that Corleone really had no idea about Petyr trying to trick him.
But even if he knew about these industries, Corleone would follow them without hesitation.
After all, these debts were owed by Petyr Baelish. What does it have to do with him Vito·Corleone?
Moreover, as Black Hand Mafia's power gradually grows, Corleone doesn't believe that anyone dares to use his power to pressure others in King's Landing and force him to pay back Petyr's money!
"I believe Lord Petyr is an upright man."
In front of everyone, Corleone said seriously and loudly, "He just generously gave me a batch of properties, which happened to be the ones Ser Adam mentioned."
"I think Lord Petyr must have planned to pay off all his debts before leaving King's Landing, so he gave all these properties to me, right?"
As he said that, he turned to look at Petyr and narrowed his eyes slightly. "After all, if there is really a problem with these properties, why would Lord Petyr give them to me? Isn't that... betraying honor and harming the knights?"
Abandon honor and harm the knights.
These two words are said lightly, but for nobles who take honor and face very seriously, they are very serious accusations.
It's almost like putting Petyr on the fire.
He now has two choices. First, admit that he really intends to cheat Corleone, which would be equivalent to admitting in front of everyone that he is a treacherous villain.
Not only Earl Lych and Mrs. Falyse will despise him, but by then the news will spread among all the seven the Seven Kingdoms nobles, businessmen, and even common people.
But that almost means that from now on, no one will believe Petyr Baelish's words.
Therefore, Petyr had almost no hesitation.
"Ah, yes, yes!" He nodded quickly and quickly restored his smile, although it was a little forced.
"Ser Corleone is right!"
"I... that's what I mean! Those properties are indeed mortgaged, but I originally planned to... well, I'll pay back the money after the banquet today, really!"
He agreed very readily and seemed to have no intention of defaulting on the debt.
Adam Malbrand stared at him for three seconds, then nodded slowly. "Very good."
Then he turned to Humphrey and ordered, "Captain Humphrey Waters."
"Yes, sir!"
"Starting tonight, you will lead a group of people to guard outside Lord Baelish's mansion."
"When will Lord Baelish pay back the thirty-two thousand Gold Dragon he owes, and when will you withdraw?"
"Remember, you must see the money, not even a Copper Penny is missing, and you must not let the legitimate businessmen of King's Landing feel cold!"
Humphrey Waters grinned. That smile was full of unabashed malice.
"Yes, sir!" Hearing this, Humphrey stared at Petyr and grinned, "I will definitely... take a good look."
Looking at that guy's cunning expression, Petyr felt the corners of his mouth twitching unconsciously.
He knows Humphrey Waters very well.
When the assistant was imprisoned, Humphrey had approached him privately and begged him to be lenient, but Petyr was busy doing a big business at the time and dismissed him with a few perfunctory words.
Now, this man will guard the door of his house with a team of golden robes.
In name, they are supervising repayment, but in fact...
Petyr didn't dare think about it.
Looking at Humphrey's cold eyes, Petyr suddenly remembered something.
During the years when he was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he often defaulted on his salary arrears for the Golden Robe, sometimes for a month, sometimes for two months, and the longest time was for a whole quarter!
But there was nothing we could do about it. Robert Baratheon was so damn good at it. It would have cost hundreds of thousands Gold Dragon to hold a tournament!
No matter how powerful Petyr Baelish's ability to make money is, he can't make up for the speed at which he spends money like water!
How can he, the finance minister, make money if he doesn't deduct some money from the golden robe?
If he can't make money, how can the king make money? Should he still be the minister of finance?
But it's too late to think about this now.
In front of everyone, Petyr could only bite the bullet and force out a smile that was uglier than crying, "Ser Adam Don't worry, I... I will pay it off as soon as possible."
"It'd better be that way."
Adam nodded and stopped looking at him. When he turned to Corleone, his tone was much gentler. "Ser Corleone, I heard the wine you have here is very special."
"There are indeed some new attempts." Corleone smiled, "Ser Adam What would you like to drink?"
"A bit stronger, it's a bit cold today."
The two of them walked to the bar while chatting, as if nothing had happened.
But everyone knows what happened.
Petyr Baelish, the shrewdest and most profitable businessman in King's Landing, had just been forced to spit out thirty-two thousand Gold Dragon in front of everyone, and he would also be monitored day and night by a group of gold-robed men who hated him to the core in the next few days.
And all of this happened just after he "gifted" the property to Vito·Corleone.
Coincidence?
No one believes this is a coincidence.
Earl Lych held the wine glass and shook it gently, with a faint smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
Mrs. Falyse covered her mouth with a handkerchief, but her eyes were full of gloating.
The businessmen and bosses exchanged glances and talked in low voices.
Petyr stood there, feeling as if everyone's eyes were on him like needles.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
It doesn't matter, he told himself in his heart, it's just thirty thousand Gold Dragon. Fortunately, he has made a lot of money in King's Landing over the years, and even if he loses tens of thousands, it won't be a big loss.
He still had money, and plans for the Vale, and that stupid woman Lysa Tully.
By the time we get to the Eagle's Nest City, these will be nothing...
He just needs to get out of here, and he must not stay here any longer, otherwise what else will happen!
Immediately, immediately!
But just as he was about to turn around and walk towards the door...
At the door of the hall, that damn... ugly noseless guy came in again!
Rorge ran very fast this time, panting, and his dark, hairy face even turned red with excitement.
He squeezed through the crowd, almost knocking over two waiters, and then shouted with all his strength, "Ser! Lord Tyrion Lannister, Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer, Marga Miss Li Tyrell, Queen Mother Your Majesty are all here!"
The moment he finished speaking, the entire hall fell completely silent, looking at him in disbelief.
But Rorge isn't done yet!
"Also, the Hand... the Hand, Lord Tywin Lannister, and Lady Olenna Redwin are here too!