There was also a drunken remark heard in Braavos's pub, saying that Tormund seemed to have had a more "respectable" identity in his early years.
It may even be related to a certain big family, but he only committed a crime and ended up at sea.
These clues are fragmented and vague, but the direction is gradually becoming clear.
Otto makes people focus on tracing the early life of Tormund, and whether House Velaryon has a record of being "missing" or "scrapped", but it may actually go to an unknown ship.
At the same time, he did not give up putting pressure on Red Keep and King's Landing.
He cleverly used it in informal settings, such as dinner with close nobles or discussing naval appropriations with royal finance officials.
"Worriedly" mentioned the recent unrest on the sea, rampant pirates, and even vague threats to royal tax revenue and trade routes, and the kingdom's powerful navy seems...
It has not been effectively curbed, but there are rumors that some pirates are connected with "inside".
He never mentioned names, but his meaningful glances and sighs were enough to make those who heard him think of him.
These remarks are like ink dripping into clear water, spreading slowly and irreversibly.
Soon, a subtle atmosphere of suspicion toward House Velaryon, especially Corlys Earl, began to permeate the upper-class circles of King's Landing.
Although no one dared to question it publicly, private discussions and views were already different.
Otto knows very well that to bring down an important minister with deep roots like Corlys, rumors alone are not enough.
He needs more conclusive evidence, or to create an "incident" that the king can no longer tolerate.
He secretly contacted some of the Hightowers' "partners" across the Narrow Sea,
Many of them are related to the "Three Daughters Kingdom" or some Free Cities, and have less than clean forces under their control.
He hinted that if he could find some "big trouble" for Tormund, or create some "evidence" that could connect Tormund and Driftmark more closely (even if it was forcibly), the Hai Tarth family would not hesitate to pay heavily.
He even considered a more direct method - if he could Tormund "attack" a ship that was closely related to the royal family or a maritime Tarth but disguised as an ordinary merchant ship,
And if it "happens" to leave some traces pointing to Driftmark (such as the wreckage with the Valyrian emblem, the captured sailor's "confession" to being ordered by Driftmark), that will be a fatal blow to Corlys.
However, this requires extremely precise planning and reliable executors, and the risks are extremely high, so he temporarily considered it as an alternative.
While Otto is actively operating, King Viserys's worries are also increasing day by day.
Otto "happens" to submit some "disturbing" reports about the maritime situation every few days.
There will always be "inadvertently" mixed in one or two records about Tormund's activity range being close to Driftmark, or the "suspicious whereabouts" of some House Velaryon ships.
This information may not seem like much on its own, but cumulatively, it formed an increasingly clear dangerous pattern in the eyes of the already suspicious king.
The frequency of Viserys summoning Corlys has obviously decreased. Even when they meet, they still have an unprecedented sense of scrutiny and distance when discussing official matters.
He even began to inquire about some details of the navy's specific deployment and ship movements, which was rare in the past. Usually, he fully trusted Corlys's professional judgment.
Corlys Velaryon is not a slow person. He quickly noticed the change in the king's attitude and the strange atmosphere of King's Landing.
At first he felt confused and a little angry, thinking that it was those nobles who were jealous of the power of the Valyrian family who were stirring up trouble.
But when he learned from some of his own channels (including his informant at the Narrow Sea and the warning from his "deceased" brother Tormund),
He felt real chills and anger when investigations and rumors seemed to point to his alleged "collusion" with pirates.
He immediately understood that this was someone deliberately targeting House Velaryon, probably to weaken them in the game of succession to the throne.
The biggest suspect is naturally Otto·Hai Tarth, who wants his daughter and grandson to rise to power and has a delicate relationship with the Valerian family.
It may even include Dongfang Dragon King, who intends to support his wife in seizing the throne.
On the one hand, Corlys has strengthened his own vigilance and cleared up the links where he might be caught (especially any contact with his brother Tormund that might be traced).
On the other hand, he also began to fight back quietly.
He clarified the rumors among the nobles through reliable allies, emphasizing that House Velaryon was as loyal as ever to Iron Throne,
He also hinted that some people had ulterior motives and were trying to drive a wedge between the king and his ministers and undermine the stability of the kingdom.
He even took the initiative to submit a detailed report to Viserys, explaining the recent efforts and results achieved by the navy to eliminate pirates, and tactfully refuted the accusation of "ineffective suppression of bandits".
However, once suspicion arises, it is like a crack in porcelain that is difficult to completely heal.
Corlys's explanations and counterattacks sometimes sound like cover-ups to Viserys.
The balance in the king's heart was gradually tilting amidst Otto's "reminders" day after day and his own growing uneasiness.
The air inside Red Keep became more and more stagnant due to this silent attack and defense.
Targaryen and Velaryon, the once close in-laws and monarchs, had obvious cracks in their relationship.
And this hunt for "Sea Snake", ignited by Redd, fanned by Otto, and acquiesced by Viserys, is pushing Corlys Velaryon into the corner step by step.
The storm has not yet officially arrived, but the direction of Driftmark is already covered with clouds.
Redd Ever since he planted the seeds of doubt, he has been like a calm and keen hunter, always paying close attention to the evolution of the situation.
King Viserys showed obvious vigilance and vigilance towards Corlys, like a wild beast smelling danger.
However, although Otto secretly launched a series of secret investigations, these actions did not escape the eyes of Mesalia's omnipresent and pervasive intelligence network.
Not only that, Mesalia also cleverly added fuel to the flames, making the entire investigation process even more powerful and progressing at a rapid pace.
Although there is no conclusive evidence yet, various signs indicate that there is an ambiguous and indescribable connection between Corlys and Tormund.
This relationship seems to be deeply hidden, but there is a hint of it vaguely revealed.
From the king's recent words and deeds, it can be clearly felt that his trust in Corlys and House Velaryon is gradually dissipating.
As the leader of a country, Viserys knows that the stability of power and status cannot be achieved without the support and cooperation of all parties.