Cured Meat Street The air is always wrapped in a layer of lingering salty smell.
"Old Fish" On the second floor of the tavern, the lights are bright tonight, and the windows are covered with thick cloth.
There were more than a dozen people sitting around the long wooden table. Their clothes were not shabby, but they were definitely not decent.
They are people with some names around Flea Bottom, Fishermen's Square and even Steel Street, and their subordinates are more or less in charge of several alleys.
Usually, he collects some protection fees, looks after a few gambling stalls, arranges odd jobs as a porter, or runs the "Brown Soup" business.
The person sitting in the main seat is somewhat out of tune with this environment.
He wore polished mail and a slightly tight gold-trimmed robe, trying hard to look majestic.
But the protruding belly and the thinning top of the head only revealed a little bit of incompetence.
Balman·Byrch Ser, the new Flea Bottom of the Capital Guard, Squad Leader.
When he was young, he established his reputation in many tournaments and was regarded as one of the most handsome knights in the Seven Kingdoms.
But he was a little frivolous when he was young, and Balman was as famous for his swordsmanship as his arrogance and outspokenness. Therefore, this outstanding knight ended his path to rise in the real power field early.
Now that I am nearly fifty, I thought that my life would be moldy and rotten in my wife's family, but I didn't expect that I would be able to find such a lucrative position in Flea Bottom Squad Leader.
This made his withered ambition simmer like an old hemp rope soaked in oil.
At this moment, the long table was filled with all kinds of food, including large pieces of stew, hard bread, grilled sausages, and cheap Ale.
People toasted to Balman diligently and said flattering words, but Balman was just munching on a greasy roast chicken leg, gnawing so concentrating on it that he turned a blind eye to the wine glass raised in front of him.
Grease flowed down his stubby fingers, but he didn't care.
It's as if if you don't eat quickly, you won't be able to eat this meal.
Finally, he threw the cleanly chewed bones back onto the plate and let out a sigh of contentment.
Then he picked up the greasy fork next to him and tapped the iron wine glass in front of him carelessly.
Ding, ding, ding.
The voice was not loud, but it instantly silenced the noisy second floor of the tavern, and all eyes were focused on his shiny face.
Balman raised his eyelids, glanced around, and said coldly, "I called you here today, not for drinking."
"Let's be honest, I want to discuss with you how to deal with that...Vito·Corleone!"
Hearing him say this name, the people at the table had different expressions.
Some people subconsciously avoided his gaze, while others exchanged glances with each other, as if they couldn't figure out which song the newly appointed captain was singing.
At this time, a leader named "Cracked Jaw" Togge took courage, licked his dry lips, and tentatively asked, "Sir, do you mean... you want to teach that outsider a lesson?"
"Hmph! Lesson?"
Balman snorted from his nose and tapped his fingers on the table irritably, "That guy has no rules at all!"
"I, Balman·Byrch, have been in King's Landing for so many years, and since I arrived at Flea Bottom, I haven't seen a single Gold Dragon!"
"His gang has waived all the street maintenance fees and public security cooperation funds that should be paid. How about free porridge shacks and voluntary medical consultations? Bah!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and his finger almost touched the tip of the person's nose. "This damn bastard, does he really think that Flea Bottom is his backyard?"
"Those untouchables have eaten his porridge and seen his illness. Will they still be honest members?"
As he said that, Balman took a breath, his little eyes shining with greed. "So, we must unite to bring him down and clean up this guy who doesn't understand the rules."
"I will support whoever can accomplish this. From now on, Power Broker will be on Flea Bottom, regardless of any business, as long as the money is in place, Golden Robe will not care about anything!"
As soon as these words came out, "Cracked Jaw" Togge's eyes instantly lit up, and he couldn't wait to express his loyalty directly. "Sir, in fact, we have long disliked that boy!"
He leaned forward and lowered his voice, but it was enough for everyone at the table to hear. "To tell you the truth, these days, our people have been mixed in with the porridge team, chopped up dead mice and secretly threw them into his porridge pot!"
"There are also rumors in Fishermen's Square that children who take House of Order medicine will cry in the middle of the night and their eyes will turn green."
"A few days ago, we almost killed him as a truck driver transporting grain. Unfortunately, that guy was clever.
With his taking the lead, others at the table were encouraged and joined in, adding more and more jealous words about how to cause trouble for Corleone and how to slander his reputation, as if victory was already within reach.
The atmosphere in the tavern became warm again and full of joy.
"Cracked Jaw" Togge even picked up the wine glass and approached Balman with a flattering smile on his face, "With your words, sir, and the backing of the capital defense team, we will be a family from now on!"
"I, Togge, don't dare to say anything else. I will do my best for you, sir..
His words stopped abruptly.
Because Balman took out a sharp dagger from his arms and stabbed him in the chest more than a dozen times.
Warm blood flew everywhere, splashing on the food on the table and the faces of the people next to him.
The flattering expression on Togge's face hadn't faded yet. His eyes were wide open, filled with unbelievable astonishment, and then he fell softly on the table where the cups and plates were messy, and blood spread quickly.
Deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned, watching as their companion who had just "conspired" with them turned into a corpse.
"Eat just eat, so much nonsense."
But Balman slowly wiped the dagger on the tablecloth, and then smiled kindly at the people, "Eat!"
Seeing this, people just thought that the new Squad Leader was moody, and they laughed and laughed in agreement.
A gang leader sitting in the corner was so frightened by this scene that he subconsciously grabbed a piece of meat in front of him and stuffed it into his mouth hungrily, as if this could prove that his obedience was harmless.
But Balman glanced at him and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you really eat it?"
Before he finished speaking, he raised his other hand under the table, holding a light hand crossbow that had been strung.
The trigger was pulled, and there was a short burst of sound.
With a "duh" sound, a thick and short crossbow arrow was driven into the fat man's forehead.
Only then did the remaining people fully understand.
This is a fucking trap!
Frightened screams and curses rang out. Some people wanted to overturn the table, while others wanted to rush to the door.
But at this moment, the door of the tavern was slammed open from the outside.
Dozens of heavily armed strong men filed in and instantly controlled all exits.
In their hands were bright swords and axes, with the unified Black Hand logo printed on their bodies.
The man in the lead was short and stocky, covered with black hair, and his noseless face looked particularly fierce. He was none other than Rorge.
"Thank you for your help, Ser Balman, Lord Corleone will remember it all."
Rorge didn't even look at the trembling gang leaders. He walked straight to the main seat and nodded slightly to Balman.
Balman·Byrch, who was still arrogant and domineering just now, quickly restrained all fierceness at this moment, and even put on a fake smile on his face, "You are too kind, it is my honor to serve Mr. Corleone."
"Please be sure to convey my most sincere greetings to Lord Corleone for me."
Obviously, this young and arrogant knight has now begun to know how to assess the situation after years of training.
But this is normal. After all, even though his swordsmanship is excellent, it is not very top-notch. In addition, he made too many enemies when he was young and his family background is not strong.
Later, for the generous dowry, the family "married" him directly to Falyse House Stokeworth without even asking.
The son-in-law's life is not easy, especially when Balman sees that mean and ugly wife, he can't even have the slightest desire.
They have been married for more than ten years, but they have never had a child.
You know, even the mentally retarded Lollys is pregnant, even though she was raped.
Therefore, after finally working through Corleone's relationship, he returned to serve in the Capital Guard Corps. Balman made up his mind to hold on tightly to this opportunity.
Rorge didn't know his little thoughts, so he just nodded in response.
Turning around, his cold eyes swept over the lambs waiting to be slaughtered in the room, looking at their faces, and took out the list and checked them carefully one by one.
"So...
Finally, he grinned and showed an extremely ugly smile, "Shall we continue to "eat"?"
For a moment, screams and wails filled the tavern again.
At the same time.
Fishermen's Square, Steel Street, Flea Bottom...
The same plot was performed in at least seven places at the same time.
In the dock warehouse, next to the body of an old fisherman who tried to poison the grain he was transporting, the flag Black Hand with a white background was placed on his chest.
There is also Silver Moon he collected on his chest, which means "greed".
In the shack under the old city wall, three Faith Protectors remnants of the Great Sparrow were hung on the beams, with one Copper Penny stuffed in each person's mouth, which represented that they had used lies to deceive people.
In an abandoned blacksmith shop near Steel Street, two blacksmith apprentices who were secretly forging weapons to attack House of Order died next to the furnace. Their hands were thrown into the furnace and burned together with their swords.
In the darkest hour before dawn, Corleone stood at the top of House of Order, watching the flea nest sleeping under the moonlight.
Not long after, Yego and Rorge came back.
"Eighteen."
Dothraki Warrior licked the corner of his mouth, obviously having a great time killing today.
"Two more than expected."
Hearing this, Corleone nodded. "The escaped mice will lead us to find more mouse holes. This is normal."
Rorge on the side was silent for a while before speaking, "Miss Brienne... she did it very neatly."
"But I don't think she likes it."
"No one likes this."
Looking at the night sky, Corleone seemed to be muttering to himself, "But sometimes, in order for the majority of people to eat breakfast in peace, a few people have to do the dirty work in the dark."
With that said, he turned around and went downstairs. He paused slightly and said, "Light the fire in the porridge shed."
"It's almost dawn, and there will be more people coming to receive porridge today than yesterday."
Rorge asked in confusion, "Why, Your Excellency, we have succeeded and no longer need to help those civilians...
"Remember, Rorge."
Corleone did not look back, but said softly, "But after you make your promise personally, you must keep it."
"In this way, people will believe you, respect you, and then use you.
After saying that, Corleone turned around and went downstairs.
The eastern sky began to turn white, and Flea Bottom gradually returned to calm.
Farther away in the dungeon of the City Guard, four captured Faith Protectors were taking turns confessing.
Every name they say brings another little black flag to another place.
Order is being established in the most bloody way.