Above the ruins, the smoke and dust have not dispersed.
Tywin Lannister stood proudly in front of Sept, his green eyes extremely sharp, scanning the people present.
Although his body was in great pain, his left shoulder felt like it had been smashed by the Hammer, and at least three of his ribs were broken. Every breath he took felt like a red-hot iron was stirring in his chest. His mouth was filled with the smell of blood and the bitterness of ashes. His vision in his left eye was obscured by the blood flowing from his forehead, and everything he looked at was covered with a dark red mist.
But at least he's still alive.
Thank you Seven Gods...
No.
This has nothing to do with the Seven Gods.
He turned his head slightly and glanced behind him from the corner of his eye.
Tybert·Hesban Ser was half-kneeling on the ground covered in blood, holding a sword in one hand and struggling to keep himself from falling.
Tywin remembered clearly that in the moment before the explosion, before the all-devouring fire could rise from the ground to the sky, Tybert took the lead and flew towards him at the moment before the wildfire exploded, blocking him with his body.
Immediately afterwards, a violent shock wave blew the two of them away. Tywin remembered that he hit something hard, and then a huge shadow fell from the sky.
It wasn't until he crawled out of the ruins that Tywin realized that it was the right hand of the Father statue that had fallen down during the explosion, forming a tilted angle that enveloped them.
Coincidence?
Or is it God's blessing?
No matter what, Tywin had to admit that it was a miracle that he and Tybert survived.
But.
Tywin's eyes narrowed slightly, and the first thing that arose in his heart after the disaster was not gratitude, but doubt.
How did Tybert know?
The moment everyone reacted, he seemed to have anticipated the explosion.
Unless...
Taking a deep breath, Tywin forced himself to suppress this thought.
After all, now is not the time to pursue the case.
Under everyone's gaze, Tywin raised his right hand with difficulty to wipe away the blood that covered his left eye, and said in a shockingly loud voice, "The crime of the Sept explosion has nothing to do with Queen Mother Cersei Lannister."
"The culprit of this matter... is Vito·Corleone!"
As soon as these words came out, the nobles who had been a little in awe of Tywin's survival just now were in an uproar!
"What?!"
"What did he just say?"
"But... but Queen Mother has obviously...
Everyone looked at Tywin with disbelief. After all, just now, Lord Kevan personally announced Cersei's crime. Even Cersei's own words and deeds meant that she admitted everything!
But now, Tywin, as the victim, wants to declare Cersei innocent in public?
The culprit is Vito·Corleone?
What the hell is going on?
"Tywin."
Even Kevan couldn't help but take a step forward and reminded, "Everyone present has heard the truth about the Sept explosion. Harlem's testimony, the confessions of the three Dornish women, and Cersei herself admitted the crime...
,"Shut up, Kevan."
"No, I won't shut up!"
"I am the Minister of Justice, and my duty is to uphold the laws of the Seven Kingdoms. I can hear every word of what you just said clearly. You are going to label an innocent man as a traitor, blame him for the deaths of hundreds of nobles, and then let the real murderer go free...
"I told you to shut up!" Tywin's voice suddenly rose, and then he coughed violently.
Blood foam overflowed from the corners of his mouth, leaving a shocking dark red mark on his dusty face.
Kevan was silent, but he did not retreat.
But Tywin didn't even look at his brother, he just raised his hand and pointed at the three sand snakes standing on the edge of the ruins with equally confused faces.
"Arrest them!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding Lannister soldiers immediately took action.
Although they were equally confused, the instinct of obedience engraved in their bones allowed them to carry out Tywin's orders without hesitation.
Tyene was the first to react.
"Wait!"
She instinctively pulled out the dagger from her waist, but more than a dozen Longsword were already pointing at her at the same time. Before Obaya and Sarella could even pick up their weapons, they were surrounded by the overwhelming number of Lannister soldiers.
"Are you fucking crazy? Lannister!"
Tyene struggled and yelled at Tywin: "We are here to help you. If it weren't for our testimony, your crazy daughter would never have been punished by law...
"Stop her mouth." Tywin said coldly.
A soldier roughly stuffed a rag into Tyene's mouth, and her roar turned into an inarticulate whine.
Tywin ignored the three sand snakes and turned around, facing the nobles who were still immersed in confusion and shock.
The sunlight slanted down and shone on his sharp green eyes.
"All Lannister soldiers!"
His voice was not high, but every word was clearly spread throughout the ruins. "Seal the area around the ruins immediately and no one is allowed to leave!"
Following Tywin's order, the soldiers immediately took action. Red armors shuttled through the smoke and dust, and soon an airtight cordon was set up around the ruins.
Several nobles who tried to sneak away were roughly pushed back.
Tywin looked on coldly, with no expression on his face, and then continued loudly, "In view of the current situation in King's Landing, in order to ensure the safety of your lives, as Regent, I formally invite all the nobles present to go to the Red Castle and accept the protection of the royal family!"
Although he used the word "invitation," most people present understood the true meaning behind Tywin.
"Protect?"
The gray-haired old Earl stood up from the crowd and shouted angrily, "My son is dead, Lord Tywin, died on your Coronation Ceremony!"
"Now you are telling me that you want to imprison me in the Red Keep?"
"I'm sorry for your loss, Byrch Earl."
In the face of his accusation, Tywin said righteously, "Because of this, you need the protection of the royal family even more. King's Landing is in danger now. The remnants of the traitor Corleone may still be lurking in the city. Any nobles who are alone may become the target of their revenge."
"Traitor?" Hearing this, Byrch Earl sneered, "Just now, Cersei Lannister personally admitted everything. Now you tell me that the traitor is Corleone?"
"You heard wrong." Tywin glanced at him and continued to persuade him nicely, "Queen Mother was frightened just now, and her words are not credible."
"As for the pyromancer's testimony...
He paused and glanced at Harlin, who was shivering in the corner. "He was obviously bribed by Corleone with the intention of blaming the royal family."
"I didn't!" Harlin screamed, "I was not bribed! What I said is true! It was Queen Mother! It was Queen Mother who let me.
However, before he could finish his words, a Longsword penetrated his chest.
Harlin's voice stopped suddenly and he fell softly to the ground. Blood spread from underneath him, soaking into the rubble and ashes of the Sept ruins.
Lannister Knights, who had a thick golden beard, retracted his sword blade, bowed slightly to Tywin and said coldly, "The traitor has been killed, Regent Your Majesty."
As soon as these words came out, a deathly silence fell over the ruins.
Everyone looked at the knight who had just killed the only witness, and then turned to look at Tywin whose expression did not change.
Only then did people finally realize that the man standing in front of them had never been a devout believer in the Seven Gods or a just judge.
He... is a Lion.
A male lion who can tear apart any prey for the sake of his territory!
But among the silence, there was only one person who was not frightened by this silent terror.
"You're crazy, Tywin!"
Kevan Lannister's voice sounded, and to everyone's surprise, Tywin's younger brother, the man who was once known as the shadow of the Duke of Casterly Rock, now refuted his brother's decision in public.
He knew what Tywin was going to do and his intention.
As Tywin's Deputy, Kevan has assisted him in managing Casterly Rock City for decades, and he also has a good political mind.
Hundreds of royal nobles died in Sept. If the world knew that it was the Lannister family who did it themselves, then they would no longer have a foothold in the royal realm.
Therefore, even though he was extremely angry at what Cersei had done, Tywin still could not admit that she was the murderer.
He needs a scapegoat, and no one is more suitable than Vito·Corleone..
"You want to imprison all the victims in the Red Fort and put the blame on Corleone!"
But even if he understood Tywin's intentions, the education he received since childhood prevented Kevan from seeing such a thing happen.
For the first time in his life, he angrily rebuked his brother in front of so many people. "This is illegal, this is a blasphemy against the Seven Gods and the laws of the Seven Kingdoms!"
Hearing this, Tywin finally turned his head and looked at his younger brother.
Two pairs of equally green eyes looked at each other on top of the ruins. One pair was as calm as a deep pool, while the other pair was as turbulent as a storm.
"Law?"
Tywin's tone was slightly sarcastic. "Don't you understand that law is just a tool used by rulers to maintain order, Kevan?"
"When the law threatens the rule itself, then it is not the rule that needs to be changed, but the law!"
As soon as he said these words, Kevan's body felt as if someone had punched him in the chest.
"This is not a law..." He pinched the reins and retorted stubbornly in a loud tone, "This is tyranny!"
As he spoke, Kevan actually reached out and took off the badge on his chest that symbolized the authority of the Minister of Justice.
He still remembered that when he took over as Minister of Justice a year ago, Tywin patted him on the shoulder and said, "Kevan, you are the most upright person in the Lannister family. Only you can fill this position."
Now, Kevan chose to tear off the badge with his own hands.
The metal edge cut a shallow scar on his palm, but he couldn't feel any pain.
"Tywin!"
In front of all the nobles and commoners, Kevan raised his head, his green eyes shining with a light he had never seen before.
It's different from anger or disappointment, but it seems like it finally broke out after being suppressed for decades, and it was his own will.
"Since the end of the Battle of the Nine Copper Penny Kings, I have been your most loyal Deputy. In the past forty years, I have never raised any questions about your orders, never!"
"Because I believe that every decision you make, no matter how cold they are, is for the survival of the Lannister family, for the prosperity of the Westerlands and the stability of the Seven Kingdoms!"
"But today...
As he spoke, Kevan took a deep breath and his voice suddenly rose. "Today, you want me to watch you lock up hundreds of victims, bury the truth under the rubble, kill witnesses, and then continue to pretend that the Lannister family is the moral model of the seven the Seven Kingdoms?"
"No!"
"I can't do it!"
After saying that, Kevan threw the badge of the Minister of Justice on the ground without any hesitation.
The sound of metal hitting rubble was particularly harsh in the silent ruins.
"I'm glad you're alive, Tywin."
"But from today on, I no longer hold the responsibility of Minister of Justice!"
After that, he turned his horse around and walked towards the ruins with his back to Tywin.
Even on horseback, Kevan's back remained straight, but every step felt as heavy as walking in mud.
"Father!"
Lancel rushed out of the crowd, his eyes darting wildly between his father and uncle, but Kevan had no intention of looking back.
He gritted his teeth, glanced at Tywin one last time, and then staggered after his father's back.
"Father! Wait for me!"
The two figures, an old man and a young man, gradually moved away from the edge of the ruins, and finally disappeared into the thick smoke and dust.
Tywin stood there, watching his brother's back gradually blur.
There was no expression on his face, no one knew what he was thinking at this moment, and no one dared to ask.
The next second, Tywin had retracted his gaze and turned to face the nobles and soldiers on the ruins who were still immersed in shock.
His face regained its usual calmness and majesty, as if everything that had just happened was just an insignificant episode.
"Tybert."
"Inform Adam Malbrand to assemble all Lannister soldiers in the city. The target is... Flea Bottom!"
Hearing this, Tybert was silent for a moment, and then replied in a low voice, "Ser Adam is dead, sir."
"I watched him get blown to pieces by wildfire... right next to Altar from Sept."
After hearing this answer, Tywin's fingers curled up slightly, and then he remembered that Adam Malbrand was also inside Sept when the explosion occurred.
However, his expression remained unmoved.
"Then it's up to you to take command."
His voice was still very steady, and he ordered methodically, "Assemble all available troops to surround Flea Bottom. From now on, King's Landing will be under military control. No one is allowed to enter or leave the city gates, and no one is allowed to gather on the streets. Anyone who disobeys the order...
"Kill without mercy."
After saying that, Tywin waited for Tybert to take his orders as usual.
In the past forty years, every time he gave an order, Tybert would immediately bow to answer and then execute it without hesitation.
But this time, after waiting for a long time, there was still no answer of "Yes, sir" from behind.
Tywin frowned slightly.
He turned around and looked at Captain of the Guard, whom he trusted most, and what he saw was a pair of weak but firm gray eyes.
"No, my lord."
As soon as these words came out, Tywin was stunned.
He stared at Tybert, his green eyes full of disbelief, but he saw the old knight who had been with him for decades slowly stand up while supporting his seriously injured body.
At this moment, he was looking at him with a look that Tywin had never seen before, full of... sadness and relief.
"What did you say?" Tywin's voice suddenly lowered, with a dangerous tone.
"I said... no!"
Tybert repeated it, with a louder voice. "I will not kill any more people on your behalf, Lord Tywin Lannister!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone around the ruins opened their eyes wide, unable to believe what they saw.
Tywin Lannister was actually disobeyed by his own Captain of the Guard?
"Why?" At this moment, even Tywin couldn't help but asked through gritted teeth in front of everyone.
"You obviously just saved my life with your own body, Tybert...
.. Hesban Ser!"
Hearing this, Tybert was silent for a while. The silent atmosphere made everyone think that he would not answer.
"Because of my daughter, Meera Ya."
Upon hearing this name, Tywin's pupils shrank suddenly.
"I know you will always remember it, my lord." Tybert didn't seem surprised at all by Tywin's reaction. Instead, he showed a relieved but somewhat bitter smile.
"She likes to sing very much. In the summer, she often sings in the courtyard of Casterly Rock. You heard it on the balcony once and asked the maid to give her some lemon cake."
"Sometimes I even think that she is the best gift Qi God's Gift gave me, but this gift was drowned in a well when I was eleven years old."
"It's not an accident, right?" Everyone knows who the last sentence is from.
However, Tywin did not answer, but asked, "So you knew it from the beginning?"
"No, I only found out recently." Tybert said calmly, "Not long ago, someone told me the truth."
"I understand." Tywin did not ask who that person was, but just sneered, "So you knew Cersei's plan before Sept exploded."
"So... you saved my life just to plunge the sword into my heart with your own hands?"
As he spoke, he even took the initiative to open his arms. "Come on, Tybert!"
"The distance between you and me is such that no one can stop it. Pull out your sword now and end it all!"
Tywin acted so calmly, but Tybert, who was only a few steps away from him, slowly shook his head.
"No, my lord."
"Honestly, from the day I knew the truth, I have been thinking every night, if one day Tywin Lannister falls into my hands, I will use a thousand ways to make his life worse than death!"
"But today, when the wildfire exploded, my body rushed forward uncontrollably...
Under people's gaze, tears burst out of the old knight's eyes and flowed down his blood-stained cheeks.
"I have served House Lannister for so long, my lord, that this loyalty has become a part of me,... myself."
Tybert took two steps forward with tears streaming down his face. The distance was so close that he could even kill Tywin with one sword.
However, he just moved forward, and then moved forward.
"I owe you nothing more, Lord Tywin."
While walking, Tybert took off Longsword from his waist with difficulty, letting the scabbard fall on the gravel with a soft sound.
Passing past Tywin, facing the sky outside the ruins that was obscured by thick smoke.
He walked staggeringly, leaving a bloody footprint on the ground with every step he took, just like the mark of his loyalty to Lannister over the years.
But he didn't look back.
Just like Kevan did just now.
Tywin didn't look back, he just listened to Tybert's footsteps walking away step by step.
On the ruins, everyone looked at Lion, who had just put on the Regent crown, but lost his younger brother and the most loyal Captain of the Guard one after another, but no one dared to say even a word in front of Lannister's sword and gun.
Tybert staggered through the crowd. Although the pain in his body made him feel extremely weak, he felt that he had never been so awake as at this moment.
After forty years of loyalty to Lannister, today I finally became my own master for once.
That's enough.
"Please... please give way."
Tybert walked to the edge of the encirclement and whispered to the row of Lannister soldiers in bright red armor in front of them.
His voice was hoarse and weak, but there was an unprecedented sense of peace in his tone.
The soldiers looked at each other in confusion. After all, they all knew Tybert.
This old knight is always taciturn and never gets angry with anyone, but everyone knows that they must not mess with him.
Some people say that his swordsmanship is as good as that of the Kingsguard, and there are even rumors that this guy once cut down seven Ironborn marauders by himself when he was young!
After a moment of silence, seeing that Tywin still had his back turned to them and hesitated to speak, the soldiers still chose to retreat silently to both sides.
Open and make way for a narrow passage.
Seeing this, Tybert slightly curved the corners of his mouth upward, revealing a relieved smile.
"Thank you."
He said softly, then took a deep breath and continued walking outward with heavy steps.
One step.
Two steps.
In front of him was the world outside the ruins. As long as he took one more step, he would completely leave Tywin Lannister's territory.
Leaving the man he had followed for forty years and even instinctively was willing to sacrifice his life for.
Suddenly, Tybert stopped and wanted to look back, but in the end he didn't.
Because he was afraid that once he looked back, he would never be able to leave again.
So, he continued to move forward.
Just the last step...
Poof.
A soft sound.
Tybert's body suddenly froze.
He lowered his head and looked at his abdomen in disbelief. A sword blade penetrated from there. The sword was covered with his blood and glowed with a dazzling red light in the afternoon sun.
Blood trickled down the blade, falling drop by drop on the gravel beneath his feet.
The cold feeling gradually spread throughout his body, as if something was sucking everything out of his body, including his soul.
Slowly raised his head.
In front of him, a face full of blond hair and a messy beard faced him.
Tybert opened his mouth. "Da... Da Feng...
2
His hand trembled as he raised it, holding the sword blade that pierced his abdomen.
The rough sword edge cut his palm, and blood seeped out from between his fingers, but he seemed not to feel the pain at all, and just held it tightly, as if this could stop the sword from moving forward.
But Davon Lannister's hand holding the sword did not waver at all, and instead continued to move forward.
Poof!
The blade penetrated another inch.
Tybert could clearly feel the cold steel moving inside his body, rubbing against his muscles and blood vessels, penetrating from his abdomen to his lower back.
Then Davon Lannister whipped out his sword.
Blood spurted out from Tybert's abdomen like a fountain. Tybert's body shook, then slowly fell to his knees, and finally fell motionless among the gravel and ashes.
The whole process only takes a few breaths.
Everyone held their breath as they watched Davon Lannister turn around and stride towards Tywin.
The bright red armor shone like blood in the smoke, and every step was steady and powerful, like a young lion patrolling its territory.
He stopped three steps in front of Tywin, put his right hand on his chest, and knelt down on one knee.
"Your Majesty."
Tywin lowered his head and looked at the young knight kneeling in front of him.
Davon Lannister.
The son of his idiot uncle, but unlike his father, Stafford Lannister, Davon's swordsmanship, courage and ability are clearly superior to those of his predecessors.
"Well done."
Tywin's voice was not high-pitched, but clear enough.
His eyes fell on the body lying in a pool of blood not far away, without any emotion in his eyes.
"Davon Lannister Ser."
"At, Your Majesty."
"Adam Malbrand Ser has died in the line of duty, Tybert Hesban... was executed for treason. Now, I hand over these two thousand soldiers to you."
"From this moment on, as Regent, I appoint you as the temporary commander of the Lannister forces in King's Landing."
Da Feng raised his head, a trace of uncontrollable excitement flashed in his eyes.
"I will never betray your trust, Your Majesty!"
Tywin nodded, then raised his hand very decisively and pointed at the three Dorne Sand Snakes who were tied up and gagged not far away.
"Kill them!"
"Then gather all the troops to surround Flea Bottom, and destroy Vito·Corleone, the culprit who blew up Sept and murdered hundreds of nobles, along with his Black Hand Mafia!"
He paused, and a cold light flashed in his green eyes.
"Leave no one alive!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Hearing this, Da Feng stood up excitedly and walked towards the three sand snakes without saying a word.
Tyene looked at the young Lannister Knights walking towards her, struggling desperately and making a rapid whine from her mouth.
Davon stopped in front of them.
"Women."
He raised Longsword and pointed the tip of the sword at Tyene's throat. "You are accused of participating in the murder of Regent Lord Tywin Lannister, and the death of hundreds of nobles in Sept explosion. The evidence is conclusive and the crime is clear."
"In the name of Regent Tywin Lannister Your Majesty of the Seven Kingdoms, I sentence you...
,"Death penalty!"
Fuck!
Tyene cursed in her mind, if she had known better, she would not have revealed her identity so early.
I blame myself for being too quick to talk. When I saw Cersei, that woman was in bad luck, I couldn't help but jump out and yell at her. This time, I was so good that I lost my temper!
In full view of everyone, Davon's sword was raised high, and the afternoon sunlight reflected dazzling light on the blade.
At this moment.
"Kill!!!!!"
A deafening cry of death suddenly exploded from the outside of the encirclement.
Davon's sword stopped in mid-air.
He turned around suddenly, with a flash of astonishment in his eyes. He saw that the red defense line composed of Lannister soldiers on the outside of the encirclement was being torn apart by some huge force, opening an increasingly larger gap in the middle.
The screams, the sound of metal clashing, and the neighing of war horses mixed together into a chaotic sound.
"Enemy attack!!!"
A Lannister soldier covered in blood staggered out of the gap. He only had time to shout out before he was chopped down to the ground by a Scimitar chasing after him.
Immediately afterwards, the gap was completely torn open, and a pitch-black war horse jumped out from the crowd in red armor. A tall figure crouched on the horse's back, charging straight towards Da Feng.
Da Feng instinctively raised his sword to block.
But the opponent's speed was too fast.
He had barely raised his sword halfway when the opponent had already rushed in front of him.
Da Feng only had time to see clearly the pair of dark eyes under the shadow of the hood, as cold and sharp as poisonous snakes.
Then, a cold light flashed.
Poof!
A dagger shining with blue light penetrated his throat accurately!