Bronn stood in front of the House of Order door, neither entering nor not entering.
He was wearing a brand new dark blue velvet coat with a silver thread pattern embroidered on the collar. The silver-inlaid belt around his waist cost him a full eight Gold Dragon!
Bronn looked down at his outfit, then looked up at the black hand on the door lintel that stretched out from the shadows, and then secretly glanced at the old man Whitebeard holding the sword beside him, and couldn't help but cursed in his heart.
Fuck.
Bolong Earl...
That's right, he is now Earl.
Stoke Worthburg Earl, sounds so majestic.
The territory has been passed down to the royal family for hundreds of years. The family emblem is a white lamb holding a gold cup on a green background. The family motto is "We serve". How noble.
But in Polon's view, this sentence translated into human language is..."We treat others as dogs."
But the problem is, now we can't even keep the dog because the kennel is gone.
The castle was burned to the ground, not even a hair was left.
His mother-in-law, Mrs. Tanda Earl, was buried in the flames, his eldest sister-in-law, Falyse, died under her husband's sword, and the one who killed his wife and burned down the house, Balman·Byrch, is now lying in the ward on the third floor of House of Order. Although his life is not in danger, he has definitely lost the right to inherit.
Overnight, the castle, territory, and titles were all thrown at his head.
It hit him so hard that stars appeared in his eyes.
He originally thought that he had married Lollys Stokeworth, that fool who couldn't even tell the difference between Silver Stag and Copper Penny, but he had to wait thirty or forty years for the inheritance rights, but he didn't expect that it would take no effort at all!
Bronn was quite happy at first.
That morning, when Adam Malbrand Ser sent the golden robe to inform him that he would inherit Stoke Worth, he even treated Tyrion to a drink for the first time!
Although it's just the cheapest one on the street in Flea Bottom Ale.
But for a hedge knight who never spends money on others, this is already a lot of blood.
But soon Bronn stopped laughing.
"Did you see that?"
He remembered clearly that at that time he patted Tyrion on the head and pointed at the still smoking ruins of the castle in the distance and said proudly, "That's my castle!"
"As long as we find a few more people to repair it, it will be ready for people to live in. You can come and live in it at any time, pick the best one, no, pick two!"
"One room for sleeping, and another room for ten or eight girls to perform exciting shows for us at any time!"
However, unlike Bronn's excitement, Tyrion just looked at him with a very subtle expression on his face, as if he was looking at a child who just learned to count and thought he could be the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
"Do you know how much it costs to repair a castle?"
Bronn was stunned for a moment.
"I have accumulated a lot of savings over the years."
"How much?"
"There are still several thousand!"
"Do you know how big Stoke Worth is? Building materials and craftsmen cost a lot of money. Even if you repair it, you still have to hire people to maintain it and pay servants. These all cost money...
"So much?"
"Otherwise, why do you think that woman Falyse Stokeworth was so mean before? It was all because of money."
With Tyrion's patient explanation, Bronn finally understood how much it cost to repair a castle.
"I can continue to be your bodyguard,"
However, this did not extinguish Bronn's passion. Instead, he waved his hand and suggested nonchalantly. "Although you are no longer the Chancellor of the Exchequer, you are still a member of the Lannister family. Go ask your father, the Prime Minister, for money!"
Hearing such a bad idea, the corner of Tyrion's mouth twitched. "Ask Tywin Lannister for money?"
"Do you want to try to snatch the meat from Lion's mouth?"
"And now he wants me to starve to death, so that he doesn't have to deal with me as a suspected regicide. If it weren't for saving those dozen children and Corleone exempting me from gambling debts, I might have to go to Silk Street to sell my butt to pay off the debts."
Although he couldn't squeeze a penny out of Tyrion, he finally got a castle, so Bronn couldn't just give up.
So he went to the dock the next day, trying to find some work.
The dock is located on the Blackwater River south of Flea Bottom, and is the most crowded place in King's Landing.
It's not as brightly lit as Ring of Order, there are only damp wooden boards mixed with the smell of fish, and a group of people rolling in the muddy water.
Bronn took off his luxurious coat and replaced it with his old leather armor that he had worn for seven or eight years. He also took off the Ruby on the hilt of his sword and put it in his pocket.
After all, if that thing were displayed on the pier, it would be no different than holding a sign saying "come and rob me".
But "jobs" are not that easy to find.
Business on the wharf has its own rules and its own local snakes. It's not like you, Mr. Bronn, are just going to kick here and there will be people rushing to send you money.
He stayed here for two days and only took one job - helping a Reese businessman to scare his competitors and collecting five Gold Dragon.
Five Gold Dragon.
In the Riverlands a few years ago, this money would have been enough for him to live comfortably for more than half a month.
But now?
Even repairing a corner of the low, dilapidated wall on the west side of the castle is far from complete.
But the turning point came on the evening of the third day, when a merchant ship from the east slowly docked.
The ship was not big, but the draft was very deep. The Sailors spoke with incomprehensible accents and threw the rope to the dock, shouting one after another.
The last person to come down was a guy wearing Gray Cloak. The hood was pulled down so low that he couldn't see his face clearly, and he could only see his gray beard.
The scabbard on the waist is very old, but the copper parts on Gauntlet are very clean and spotless.
But before he could get off the boat, the captain stood at the end of the gangplank and held out his hand to stop him and demand the fare.
The old man stopped and took out a money bag from his cloak. Bronn could tell at a glance that the money bag was heavy.
"The promised ten Gold Dragon, you only have five." The captain glanced at them and frowned.
The old man's voice came from under the hood, low and calm. "I paid twice the market price."
"That's the market price." The captain jabbed his thumb on his chest. "My ship, my price!"
"Ten Gold Dragon, not a penny less!"
Hearing this, the old man was silent for a moment and patiently explained, "You increased the price once when you docked in Volantis, and again in Lys."
"Now you have to add more when we get to King's Landing. If you add more, the price of this voyage will be enough to buy you half a ship."
As soon as these words came out, the captain's face suddenly dropped.
The Sailors behind him stopped unloading and gathered in twos and threes, some still holding oars and iron hooks in their hands.
"Old guy!"
The captain, who was outnumbered, took a step forward and threatened in a low voice. "When you boarded the ship at Slaver's Bay, the dock was in a mess. Do you dare to say that you didn't steal other people's money and run away?"
Hearing this, the old man's body stiffened slightly.
It was so subtle that if Bronn hadn't been staring, he wouldn't have been able to tell.
"You got the wrong person."
"Admit your mistake?" The captain smiled, showing his yellow teeth. "I have been running on this line for more than ten years, who haven't I seen?"
"I've seen many old men like you hide away from people with money of unknown origin!"
As he spoke, he spread his hands and threatened again. "Ten Gold Dragon, if one penny is missing, I will call the Golden Robe and ask them to ask you where the money you brought back from Slaver's Bay came from!"
The dock was quiet for a few seconds.
Then there was only a muffled groan, and the captain, who had been so proud just now, bent into a shrimp shape and knelt on the gangplank.
The Sailors behind him were stunned for a moment, and then exploded instantly.
"Fuck! Fuck him!"
I have to say, Sailors are very brave.
It also poured quickly.
In less than twenty breaths, there were seven or eight people lying on the deck. The old man who had done all this stood there, the hem of his cloak fluttering gently, breathing as calmly as if nothing had happened.
At this time, the captain finally regained his breath. He knelt on the ground and pointed at the old man, holding his stomach. His lips were trembling but he did not dare to open them.
The old man squatted down slowly, took out five more Gold Dragon from his wallet, and put them one by one into the captain's breast pocket.
"The five promised are five."
His voice was calm, neither condescending nor unreasonable. "You didn't say you wanted to pay more when I got on the boat, so this is your problem, not mine."
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the pier.
The pace is still very steady, neither fast nor slow, like an old man walking in the dusk.
Bronn leaned on the railing and looked at the back, but his mind was filled with the heroic actions of the other party when he took out the money.
That old man has money in his pocket!
A lot of money!
Judging by the way he took out the money, there were at least two to three hundred Gold Dragon in the wallet, or even more!
But... thinking about the opponent's skills just now, it is obvious that he is not as easy to deal with as an ordinary fat sheep.
But I, Earl, am not a vegetarian either.
"Hey, Lao Dong... Your Excellency!"
He strode after him with a long-lost trademark smile on his face that belonged to Mercenary Bronn, hired by the Riverlands.
"The road to the pier is not easy to walk on, so slow down!"
However, the old man didn't seem to hear Bronn's shouting, and ignored him and just kept walking forward.
Bronn was not discouraged, and followed him in two or two steps, walking beside him and praising him in a familiar voice. "Those moves just now were so beautiful, such skills are rare in King's Landing!"
The old man still ignored him and continued walking.
"From Slaver's Bay?"
Bronn continued to chat, "That's a good place. The slave trade is not prohibited like here!"
"Oh, by the way, you can also pass by Reese. It is said that there are many beautiful women there, and all of them have special skills.
","What exactly do you want?"
Under Bronn's chatter, the old man finally spoke.
However, his footsteps did not stop, but his voice came out from under the hood with a hint of impatience.
Seeing this, Bronn's smile became even brighter.
"Nothing, I just want to make friends with you."
"King's Landing has not been peaceful recently, especially around the docks. Didn't you know that many children were abducted and trafficked some time ago? "You want to protect me?" The old man stopped and turned around, his tone a little playful.
Under the shadow of the hood, Bronn could only see a pair of sharp blue eyes.
"Protection is out of the question. Maybe I can give you a way."
He spread his hands and said in a relaxed tone, "Is this your first time coming to King's Landing? Where are you going? Who are you looking for? I'm Bronn...
Well... Stokeworth Earl!"
"There's no one I don't know in King's Landing, and there's nothing I don't know!"
"Earl?"
Hearing this, the old man looked him up and down, his eyes stayed on his old leather armor for a moment, and then moved to the ordinary Longsword on his waist.
The suspicious look made Bronn feel a little embarrassed.
"Stokesworth!" he repeated, his voice half a tone higher than before. "One of the oldest families in the Crown. Their emblem is a white lamb holding a gold cup. Have you ever heard of it?"
"I have heard of it." The old man looked at him and was silent for a long time.
"Stokeworth has served the royal family for generations, Mrs. Tanda Earl, Miss Lollys, and Mrs. Falyse, but I have never heard of anyone named Stokeworth...
He paused and narrowed his eyes slightly. "What is it called Earl?"
As soon as these words came out, Bronn's smile suddenly froze, but he still insisted. "My name is Bronn, Bronn Earl!"
"Battle of the Blackwater Rush awarded knight, Commander of the City Watch Adam Malbrand Ser personally canonized, I married Lollys Stokeworth, her mother and her sister are both dead, so now...
","So now you are Earl." The old man finished the second half of the sentence for him, and it was unclear whether he agreed or sarcastically in his tone.
Bronn puffed up his chest. "Of course."
Hearing this, the old man looked at Bronn for a long time, then a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips, "You say you know everything about King's Landing, but you don't even know me."
Bronn was stunned again and had to look at the old man again.
But no matter how he recalled it, he could not match it with anyone he had ever seen.
"You..." he asked tentatively, "Who are you?"
"My name is Whitebeard." The old man turned around and continued walking forward, Gray Cloak's hem fluttering gently in the night wind.
"I'm looking for someone."
Bronn followed him again, this time faster than before. "Who are you looking for? It's not me. I'm not in King's Landing. Bronn Earl doesn't know me..."
"Vito·Corleone."
As soon as the name was spoken, it was like a hammer hitting Bronn on the head.
His steps suddenly stopped.
Fuck!
It's Corleone again!
Every time you get involved with Corleone, something bad will happen. Either the dwarf will be kidnapped or the castle will be burned down!
Moreover, how embarrassing would it be if Corleone knew that he was working around the dock?
He is Bronn Earl...
... owner of Stoke Worth.
Although the castle burned down, the citizens ran away, and his pocket is cleaner than his face, he is still a Earl, right?
"I don't know." Bronn turned around and left. "You can find someone else, I have something else to do...
"Stop!"
But the old man suddenly spoke at this moment, and Bronn stopped involuntarily.
Not because he wanted to stop, but because he felt something pressing against his lower back, and the touch was sharp.
Oh, it's a sword.
That's okay.
The old man's voice came from behind. "You just said that there is no one you don't know in King's Landing. Take me to find him."
Hearing this, Bronn was speechless.
I thought I would find a fat sheep, but I didn't expect that my boat capsized in the ditch!
And...
.. When did this old man draw his sword? He didn't even react!
Bronn swallowed, and his voice was half a tone lower than before. "I'm not familiar with him, Corleone's...
Hmm.
"Vito·Corleone-sama."
Remembering that Corleone people are everywhere here, Bronn quickly changed his mind. "We just met a few times in the casino occasionally. If you want to find him, just go there yourself. House of Order is in Flea Bottom. Walk three streets south. There is a big sign at the door. It's easy to find."
"Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer an old man that I can meet whenever I want?"
The old man pushed the scabbard forward another inch. "Stop talking nonsense, take me to him quickly, Bronn Earl."
Seeing that the opponent was unable to get in, Bronn's eyes were dripping and he was trying to find a way to escape.
Suddenly, he saw a large poster of Ring of Order not far away, and an idea suddenly came to his mind.
"It's not impossible...
Bronn grinned and babbled. "The fastest way to meet Corleone is to first defeat a Level One Fighter in Fighting Arena. I recommend you to challenge the guy named the Hammer."
, saying this, Bronn almost laughed out loud.
That guy the Hammer, he has seen it several times at Ring of Order.
Seventeen consecutive victories, a 20-pound the Hammer was wielded like a fire stick, with inhuman strength.
None of the Knights of the Valley, Mercenary from the West, or the experts from across the Narrow Sea could survive ten rounds in front of him.
Bronn once watched him compete at the VIP table. The swordsman from Dorne was thrown away with his hammer and his sword. He rolled on the ground three times before he stopped.
This old man has good skills, but... letting him fight the Hammer is undoubtedly no different from committing suicide.
"You don't know the rules of Ring of Order, do you?" Bronn turned around and put that smile on his face again, this time much more sincere than before. "You need to pay a deposit for skipping the level challenge, two hundred Gold Dragon. If you lose, the money will not be refunded. Do you have the money?"
His original intention was to let the old man retreat, but he didn't expect that the other party directly took out the money bag from his cloak, weighed it in his hand, and said simply, "Take me there."
The heavy voice made Bronn's eyes light up for a moment, but he still stepped aside to make way and made a "please" gesture. "Then you go, Ring of Order, it's on the west side of Flea Bottom. It's easy to find, so I'll leave first..."
"Take me there."
"What?"
"I told you to take me there yourself."
The old man's tone left no room for doubt. "You said you know everything about King's Landing, so just lead the way. You can leave when I see Corleone after I win."
Bronn opened his mouth to refuse, but the sharp touch on his waist became stronger and he quickly swallowed his words.
Damn it, this old man is like a piece of candy and can't be shaken off.
"Okay!"
He waved his hands with an impatient look on his face, but he was thinking in his mind that when Ring of Order arrived, and the old man was knocked down by the Hammer with a hammer, he could leave justifiably.
"Come with me, Whitebeard."
Then, the Hammer, who had won seventeen consecutive victories, fell to the sand. Bronn didn't even see clearly how the last sword was struck!
Seeing the House of Order people coming and going in front of him, Bronn's mind was in a state of confusion, and he was planning to find a way to escape while there were many people watching.
Fortunately, the voice of Whitebeard came from behind Yi again.
"Don't even think about running away, Master Earl!"
Bronn froze on the spot, the corner of his mouth twitching.
He suddenly gave birth and felt that going to the dock to find work was probably the stupidest decision he had ever made in his life.
More stupid than marrying Lollys.