A Lannister never passes up money

(Thanks to Three Parts Sword Qi Sweeping Autumn and Empty Valley Wenchang for their monthly tickets.)

"I was wondering why the birds were singing so merrily first thing this morning."

"So it was because House Tully's 'Blackfish' had come in person."

At the Gold Cloaks' headquarters, Arthas spread his arms and warmly embraced Brynden Tully, who had arrived in King's Landing with a vast sum of money, a trace of barely perceptible icy-blue energy accompanying the gesture.

"Greetings, Commander Arthas."

Brynden solemnly greeted Arthas, who stood before him in silk robes. Having had no time to change, Brynden still wore mail and leather armor, looking very much like one of the Gold Cloaks.

Had the cloak on his back been gold, he would probably have been mistaken for one of them.

"We came on the orders of Robin Arryn, Duke of the Eyrie, to meet the kingdom's Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish."

"But your men informed us that Baelish had resigned as Master of Coin."

"I hope you can tell me where Baelish has gone, Commander Arthas."

Having stated his purpose outright, Brynden studied Arthas with his sharp blue eyes. He simply could not connect this youth, who wore a gentle smile throughout, with the invincible knight of legend.

He had heard quite enough of the bards' extravagant praise of Arthas along the way.

"Oh, my dear Ser Brynden."

Arthas frowned and picked up the documents on the desk, putting on a deeply troubled expression.

"The truth is, we don't know where Lord Baelish is now either."

"When he left, he only left King Robert a letter, saying something about how the king didn't need a bankrupt Master of Coin."

Slamming a hand on the desk, Arthas rose in righteous indignation. The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, waving the documents in his hand.

"If you ask me, that untrustworthy fellow ran off somewhere with his Gold Dragons to enjoy himself, all to dodge his debts."

"Ser Brynden, you have no idea."

"That fellow Baelish actually left a coin behind, but instead dumped the hot potato of the Master of Coin's office onto my elder brother Tyrion."

"King Robert has spent money like water over the years, running up more than six million Gold Dragons in debt. Over three million of that is even owed to Lannis, and now it's all landed on our heads!"

"When you think about it, we Lannisters are the greatest victims of Baelish's flight."

"Not only did he fail to pay back a single coin of the million-plus Gold Dragons he owed us, he left us to take the blame for this enormous mess!"

At this, Arthas angrily flung the documents onto the floor. His golden eyes looked ready to spit fire as he stared at the upright Brynden, as though he wanted to cut Baelish into a thousand pieces.

"Tell me, Ser Brynden, is that fair?"

"What sort of decent human being would do what Baelish did?"

Seeing him so furious, Brynden felt as though he were being interrogated, his eyelids twitching wildly. He had never imagined Baelish had dug such a deep pit for Lysa and the two Lannister brothers.

Brynden sighed softly, his expression deeply conflicted, but in the end, he still did not offer to repay Baelish's debts.

He merely offered a few quiet, measured words of comfort.

"You have my sympathy, Lord Arthas."

"But didn't your men tell me that Lord Tyrion has already taken all of Baelish's businesses into his own name?"

"Surely the businesses on the Street of Silk are quite profitable?"

It would have been better if Brynden had said nothing. At the mention of the Street of Silk, Arthas seemed to grow even more furious.

He strode to the window and thrust it open, pointing toward the Street of Silk with his right hand, which seemed to tremble with anger.

"That blackhearted Baelish took every Gold Dragon those businesses had earned over the years before he left. He didn't leave a single coin."

"And that's not all. He even owed the whores and pimps an entire year's wages!"

"After Tyrion took over the Street of Silk, he didn't earn a penny. Instead, he had to put up nearly fifty thousand Gold Dragons first. That was everything we brothers had saved through years of scrimping and saving!"

In the warm morning sunlight, something like tears even seemed to glimmer in the blond youth's eyes.

His chest heaved violently for a while before he let his right hand fall limply. He seemed somewhat disheartened, and even his usually warm voice had grown a little hoarse.

"That heartless Tyrion claimed he was going north with the king to clear his head in the cold and think of ways to raise money. Really, he just left this whole mess to me."

"Alas, I'm softhearted. I can't bear to see so many poor people in King's Landing suffer."

"I had planned to use the Gold Cloaks' funds to improve King's Landing and make life better for the poor in Flea Bottom."

"But who knew... who knew..."

"The former Commander, Janos, actually abused his office and embezzled every last coin to build his mansion!"

At this, even Brynden, who was always mature and composed and upheld judicial fairness, could bear to listen no longer. He thumped the floor hard with the greatsword in his hand and spat:

"Janos Slynt?"

"I heard of that fellow's vile deeds back in the Vale. That damned vermin belongs in the Seven Hells!"

His righteous words earned him a grateful look from Arthas, as though Arthas had found a kindred spirit.

Arthas hurried over and planted both hands heavily on Brynden's shoulders, seemingly oblivious to the fact that this man was an elder around Tywin's age.

"Thank you for understanding, Ser Brynden."

After thanking him solemnly, Arthas sighed again and put on a dejected air.

"The truth is, I've already made up my mind."

"When King Robert's party returns from Winterfell, I'll take Tyrion with me and ask the king to accept our resignations!"

Under Brynden's shocked and puzzled gaze, Arthas slowly turned away, clasping his hands behind his back. His desolate figure resembled an old man who had seen through all the vicissitudes of life.

"I originally came to King's Landing with Tyrion full of enthusiasm, hoping to do some genuine good for the kingdom."

"But I was still too young. A shortfall of several million Gold Dragons..."

"Such a heavy burden has nearly crushed the breath out of me."

"I don't know how many times I've woken from nightmares drenched in cold sweat, with nothing but my father's disappointed eyes in my dreams. Alas..."

"Please don't, Commander Arthas!"

Seeing that he was considering retirement, Brynden hurried to stop him.

An upright man by nature, he simply could not bear to see a youth who cared for the world fall into such self-reproach after stumbling into Baelish's "trap."

After struggling visibly for a while, this cunning "Blackfish" finally fell into the net Arthas had cast.

"We of the Vale of Arryn will repay Baelish's debt for him!"

Once he had made up his mind, Brynden actually felt relieved. After all, Lysa had intended this money to repay Baelish's debts in the first place.

Besides, Baelish was the foster son of his elder brother, Duke Hoster Tully.

Although he greatly disliked Baelish's character, Brynden's commitment to family unity meant he could not simply stand by and watch Baelish acquire a reputation as a deadbeat.

Among the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, such conduct all but destroyed a person's reputation.

"Commander Arthas."

Brynden stepped quietly up to Arthas, whose face was full of disbelief, and patted this upright, energetic young man on the shoulder, his words filled with an elder's care.

"Please do not abandon your ideals. King's Landing sorely needs a noble like you who cares for the common people."

"I came on Duke Robin's orders this time with Gold Dragons specifically to repay Baelish's debts."

"One and a half million Gold Dragons. I believe that should be enough for you to put your ambitions into practice in the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, young Lannister!"

Deeply moved by the older man's kindness, Arthas slowly rose, placed his right hand over his chest, and solemnly bowed slightly to Brynden.

"Ser Brynden, you truly are an upright and kind elder."

"The chivalry of Westeros finds its fullest expression in you."

"It's all Baelish's fault. If he hadn't fled with the money, the Vale, which was never wealthy to begin with, wouldn't have had to produce so much at once..."

Reaching out with his strong hands to grip Brynden's arms tightly, Arthas spoke with firm, infectious conviction.

"Rest assured, once I inherit the title of Duke of Casterly Rock, the Vale of Arryn and the Riverlands will forever be the Lannisters' staunchest partners!"

Looking at Arthas's sincere expression, Brynden, who had never married, actually felt a trace of envy toward Tywin.

If only I had such an outstanding son.

What a compassionate young man...

"What a hard old fellow to fool..."

Watching Brynden leave, Arthas settled into his chair in satisfaction. Icy-blue magic flickered and danced faintly in his hand, and a hint of amusement shone in his golden eyes.

Brynden, nicknamed the "Blackfish," was indeed harder to fool than most. This old knight, who was around Tywin's age, had experienced far too much.

Without Arthas's extraordinary performance, combined with... a little mind control through necromancy, he really might not have managed it.

But that did not matter. At least the outcome was good-of course, that was for Arthas and the poor of King's Landing.

With that thought, Arthas summoned Lancel and told him to hurry and gather men to unload the Gold Dragons from the wagons.

If Brynden had time to think things through, getting him to agree again would probably be difficult.

Although Arthas had previously seized five hundred thousand Gold Dragons from the brothels on the Street of Silk and the fighting pit in Flea Bottom, then confiscated more than a million from Janos's mansion, how could he, intent on transforming all of King's Landing, ever think he had too much money?

Not to mention that he still had to feed such an enormous force of Gold Cloaks when the royal treasury could not produce a single penny.

In his mind, now that the City Watch served under him, it belonged to the forces of the sole Lich King of Westeros. No one was taking it away!

"A Lannister never passes up money..."

Arthas toyed with a Gold Dragon, sending it dancing between his strong fingers. His golden eyes and the gold coin reflected each other's light in perfect harmony.