Hearing Corleone's straightforward accusation, the smile on Petyr's face froze for a moment, and then he bowed slightly and humbly. "You're too kind, Lord Corleone. I'm just doing a small business to barely make ends meet in this bustling capital."
"You can't do such a big deal just by living hand to mouth."
Corleone smiled and said half-jokingly, "People are saying that apart from Lord Tywin Lannister, you, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, are the richest in King's Landing."
"Previously, the Minister of Finance." Petyr reminded him deliberately, then changed the topic and exaggeratedly blamed himself. "Look, when such a distinguished guest as Lord Corleone is here, my subordinates didn't even serve food or drinks."
"You sit down for a while, and I will ask them to bring out my treasured Dorne Summer Red to entertain you."
Looking at his superb acting skills, Corleone did not expose it, but just spread his hands and made a "please" gesture.
Petyr kept smiling, turned around gracefully and exited the room, closing the door gently.
In the corridor outside the door, the red-haired Ros had already followed him sensibly and was waiting, holding a wine bottle in his hand.
"How many people did he bring?"
Taking the wine flask from her hand, Petyr still had a smile on his face, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.
"Just a Dothraki, my lord."
Ros quickly replied, "In the next room, I have arranged three of the best girls to accompany him."
As soon as he said this, Petyr breathed a sigh of relief. Since he didn't bring anyone with him, there was a high probability that Corleone was not here to cause trouble this time.
But he was still a little worried.
Ever since the last time he suffered at the hands of that mad woman Cersei in the Red Keep, where the Kingsguard almost wiped his neck, and arrogantly declared that "power is power," he has become more cautious in his actions.
"Go."
After thinking about it, Petyr whispered to Ros, "Send someone to find Captain Geoff of Old Gate and ask him to bring his people over. Tell him that we have some new products from Essos here, and I will treat all the expenses."
"Yes, sir."
After the arrangements were made, Petyr took a deep breath, carried the wine bottle and two valuable crystal cups, and pushed the door open again.
"I have kept you waiting, Your Excellency."
While pouring the wine skillfully, his mind kept flowing, and he greeted very naturally, "I heard that you are implementing a new order in Flea Bottom. This is really an amazing feat."
"To be honest, I admire you so much. You may not know that even the most dedicated tax officials are reluctant to set foot in that place."
"A few days ago, the eldest son of Olifa Paine Ser got drunk and accidentally entered it. As a result, he was stripped down to his underwear and ran home naked the next day."
Corleone took the glass of wine. He didn't drink it, and he didn't laugh. He just shook the glass gently, as if he didn't hear Petyr's tirade just now.
"Order needs a foundation, Lord Petyr."
He slowly spoke, "The foundation needs gold to pour. As long as there is sufficient financial support, I can guarantee that Flea Bottom will definitely become the safest and most prosperous neighborhood in the entire seven the Seven Kingdoms."
Neither of them are fools. Corleone's words can hardly be regarded as hints, they are simply made plain.
However, Petyr was like a slippery loach, pretending to be dumbfounded, as if he didn't understand the meaning of his words at all. "Ah, Gold Dragon, it is indeed the cornerstone of the career, and I couldn't agree more."
He took a sip of wine and said with emotion, "I remember that when I was a tax collector in Seagull Town, I worked hard and managed to increase the total tax revenue of that small port tenfold, giving it a new lease of life."
"Of course." He then changed the subject. "My modest achievements are nothing compared to the grand undertaking you are undertaking."
"I have no doubt that if you had been running Seagull Town back then, your achievements would have been ten times greater than mine!"
As he spoke, Petyr even raised his glass to pay tribute to Corleone, his eyes extremely sincere.
Seeing his meaty appearance, Corleone had already expected it, but he couldn't help but curl his lips.
Ten times?
How damn have you squeezed the people of Seagull Town? If it were increased tenfold, I'm afraid the sky in Seagull Town would be three feet taller by the time you left!
"Today is our second meeting, Lord Petyr."
Finally, the polite smile on Corleone's face gradually faded, and he stopped beating around the bush and said coldly, "Although our last encounter was brief, it was still harmonious."
"It was so harmonious that I even had the illusion that you, like me, are a person who is keen on making friends and values friendship."
As he said that, he shook his head and his tone became a little disappointed. "But now I think I may have made a mistake."
"You don't seem to care about my friendship, or even the favors I might offer you."
As his voice fell, an invisible aura began to emanate from Corleone.
[Dignity Lv3] turned into a substantial sense of oppression, spreading in the small space.
Such a gesture even gave Petyr the illusion that the other party was still sitting there, but he seemed to be condescending.
Those dark eyes looked straight at him, their gaze so sharp that they seemed to be able to penetrate all disguises and clearly see all his secrets.
"I think there is... some misunderstanding between us...
He wanted to speak to ease the atmosphere, but was interrupted by Corleone waving his hand.
"No need to explain, sir."
"What's past is past. Never look back. Whether it's to make excuses, defend yourself or have fun, never look back."
"When people live in this world, there are many things that they cannot change."
This decisive tone made Petyr feel a little embarrassed for a moment. This was the second time since he started his official career on a soft diet that he didn't even have a chance to explain.
Oh, the first time was that crazy woman Cersei.
The only difference is that the mad woman used a sword to silence herself, while Corleone completely suppressed Petyr in the art of language that he was proud of.
"We all know that."
As if seeing his embarrassment, Corleone Shi Shiran stood up, his voice was low, but every word hit Petyr's heart.
"You helped me solve the trouble in Flea Bottom, which saved me a lot of effort. This favor Corleone will be engraved in my heart, but everyone knows that it is not worth five thousand Gold Dragon."
But then, he changed the topic again and his tone became extremely tolerant. "It doesn't matter, I never mind double the favor, so I won't pursue it anymore."
This sentence is said so lightly, but it is more threatening than any vicious debt collection method.
It is equivalent to saying: I have seen through your tricks, but I am too lazy to argue with you over this trivial matter, because I have more important things, or I have a more ruthless way of revenge.
Just when Petyr was stunned for a moment, Corleone had already arranged his clothes very calmly.
"Business is like a gust of wind sometimes. It's hard to tell whose hat is blown away."
With that said, he walked towards the door, and when he passed by Petyr, he seemed to leave the last sentence inadvertently:
I heard that you will leave King's Landing soon and go to the Vale to show your great ambitions, Lord Petyr."
"I sincerely wish you a bright future, but I just hope that when you enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and forests in the Eyrie, you can still hold on to the hen that lays the golden eggs in King's Landing."
Having said that, Corleone stopped staying and walked straight to the door to leave.
This gesture of completely giving up on negotiations made Petyr unexpected, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.
Five thousand Gold Dragon?
No, he cares about bigger things!
This guy... he actually has his sights set on all his properties in King's Landing!
This is one of the most important cores of his intelligence network and source of funds!
"Wait! Master Corleone!"
Thinking he had seen through the other party's plot, Petyr suddenly took a step forward and blocked the threshold with his body, blocking Corleone inside the room.
"We haven't had a good chat yet, why are we leaving in such a hurry?"
He smiled awkwardly, constantly guessing who was behind Corleone's move.
Tywin Lannister?
Still...
"Almost all that needs to be said has been said, Lord Petyr."
Seeing his eager look, Corleone's expression did not change, but he felt happy in his heart.
Urgent.
He is anxious!
Not to mention that the Five Fingers Peninsula cannot produce any great nobles. With such ambition and ambition, they are so determined to become Duke of the Eyrie, and they still can't let go of this three-acre land of King's Landing.
The Eyrie is so far away from King's Landing, how can you protect these properties?
To put it bluntly, even if Corleone doesn't take action, there won't be a few people coveting the brothels under his control.
In fact, Corleone dares to say that even if Petyr hasn't left King's Landing yet, the guys waiting to take a piece of his flesh are already eyeing him with eager eyes.
But Petyr was not an idiot. He was able to prosper in King's Landing. He only relied on poison and soft food. He seemed to be aware of his lapses. Petyr suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, pretended to be calm and composed, and said firmly, "Perhaps you have just arrived in the capital and don't know much about this place, Lord Corleone."
"Looking all over King's Landing, you can't find anyone with Mockingbird sigil stitched on their chest, but that doesn't mean I, Petyr, don't have friends in the city.
"A thin threat won't do much for me."
Hearing this, Corleone glanced at him and thought, is this kid fighting with his left and right brains?
"Have I ever threatened you, Lord Petyr?"
"I am just fulfilling a Chief Intelligence Officer of the Small Council obligation to remind you to take good care of your valuable belongings."
As he said that, he looked at Petyr's hand that was still pressed on the door frame, and his meaning was obvious.
Seeing Corleone's confident look, Petyr couldn't help but start beating the drum again in his heart, racking his brains to think whether Tywin sent him to beat him.
It was either a matter of letting it go or not. The two of them were in a stalemate for two or three seconds.
Just then.
"Ah!!!!"
Suddenly, a shrill scream came from the next room, followed by a woman's scream, the sound of cups and plates breaking, and a string of incomprehensible curses.
The two looked at each other, instantly put aside their intrigues, opened the door and quickly walked to the next door in perfect agreement.
The scene in front of me was a mess.
I saw a knight in bright red armor, kneeling on the ground and wailing in pain, with a unique-shaped dagger firmly nailed to the table in his right hand!