The death of Janos

"Ahh..."

Sitting in his familiar chair, Janos, newly released from prison, let out a comfortable groan.

He had suffered more than enough lately.

First he had been scared half to death in the mansion, then he had shoveled excrement in Flea Bottom for a week, and finally he had been tossed like rubbish into the sunless dungeons of the Red Keep, where no one even bothered to feed him or give him water.

Had he not been on reasonably friendly terms with the dungeon guards, he would probably have starved to death inside.

"Arthas, I'll make you pay this time!"

Remembering everything he had suffered these past days, Janos clenched his fists, his gaze turning murderous.

"Barry! Barry!"

He shouted his former deputy's name, his shrill voice echoing through Gold Cloaks headquarters, but no matter how much he called, he received not the slightest response.

Just as Janos was about to lose his patience, the office door slowly opened. Lancel entered in red silk robes, carrying a steaming cup of tea, with the burly Gendry following behind him.

"Why is it you? Where are Barry and the others?"

Janos knew this Lannister, who had once escorted him all the way to the mansion to confess his crimes, all too well.

But times had changed. Now that he was the man's immediate superior, he sat arrogantly in his chair and loudly demanded to know where his lackeys had gone, without the slightest courtesy toward Lancel.

"Oh, Lord Janos."

Respectfully setting the hot tea on the desk with both hands, Lancel wore an utterly sycophantic expression.

"They were dismissed from the Gold Cloaks long ago because they couldn't keep up with the intensity of the training."

"Oh, that's right!"

As though remembering something, Lancel slapped his forehead.

"That fellow Barry had his right hand chopped off by Arthas himself in Gold Cloaks Square for extorting ten Gold Dragons from the manager of the Street of Silk."

"He's probably making a living at the newly established council for the disabled in Flea Bottom now!"

"What?"

The shocking news nearly sent Janos springing out of his chair, and he only managed to calm his astonishment with difficulty.

Watching Lancel continue to fawn over him, he knew the man was probably trying to curry favor.

But this blond Lannister was clearly one of Arthas's trusted men. He could not employ him, no matter what.

Turning to Gendry, whose face looked simple and honest, Janos asked:

"Young man, what's your name?"

"Gendry, my lord."

Without saying much else, Gendry simply gave his name honestly, making him seem even more guileless.

"Very good, Gendry!"

The simple, direct answer pleased Janos immensely. Right now, he desperately needed someone obedient to serve as his tool for taking back control of the Gold Cloaks.

"Tell me, are you willing to carry out my orders to the letter?"

"Even if I order you to attack your fellow men?"

Before making his decision, Janos still needed to test him further.

"Of course, my lord!"

Gendry thrust out his chest and repeatedly pounded it with his right fist, the thumping echoing through the room.

"Your orders show me the way forward!"

"Excellent!"

Looking at Gendry, who was as powerfully built as a bull, Janos's eyes filled with even greater satisfaction.

With such a simple-minded personal guard, who looked like someone not to be trifled with, he was confident he could bring the Gold Cloaks entirely under his control before tomorrow morning.

"Lancel Lannister."

"I hereby officially declare that you are no longer a member of the City Watch. Leave this place at once."

He raised his head haughtily. Though he dared not casually lay hands on this blond Lannister boy, with the Hand of the King backing him, Janos had never felt so vindicated.

Then he looked at Gendry, who stood ramrod straight.

"From now on, you will serve as my deputy. Carry out my orders faithfully, Master Gendry!"

"No!"

Hearing that he had been dismissed, Lancel's eyes filled with fear, and he pleaded desperately with Janos in a hoarse voice.

"Please don't send me away, Lord Janos."

"The mistakes Arthas committed have nothing to do with me! If I return to the Westerlands like this, my father will scold me to death!"

Lancel grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, moving closer and closer to Janos.

"Please leave at once, Lord Lancel."

Like an iron tower, Gendry stepped between Janos and Lancel at just the right moment, mercilessly holding his great hammer across his body, every inch the personal bodyguard.

"You... you ungrateful wretch!"

Lancel seemed furious. Trembling all over, he pointed at Gendry and unleashed a torrent of abuse.

"Don't forget who discovered you in that fighting pit in Flea Bottom! Would you be where you are today without me?"

"Now that you've risen in the world, you want to kick me aside? Did a Shadowcat eat your conscience?"

Watching Lancel fume, Janos could not have felt more delighted. But he knew he still had important business to attend to, so he waved a hand and ordered:

"Gendry, show this Lannister gentleman out!"

At the order, Gendry immediately tucked Lancel under his arm like a little chick, opened the door, and walked out.

"Hey, putting on an act is one thing, but why did you pour that disgusting fellow tea?"

As soon as they left the room, Gendry put Lancel down and asked in bewilderment.

Even if they were putting on an act under Arthas's instructions, Lancel had treated Janos a little too well.

"You don't know a damn thing!"

He cast a disdainful glance at this seemingly honest fellow. Gendry's performance just now had been so spectacular that even he had almost been fooled.

"I added some special 'seasoning' to his tea!"

No sooner had he spoken than an agonized scream rang out from the room, followed by the sound of a cup falling to the floor.

As Lancel grinned wickedly, Gendry hurriedly pushed the door open, pretending to be deeply concerned.

The teacup had fallen to the floor and shattered, splashing tea everywhere. Janos kept spitting and dry-heaving intermittently.

A strand of clear, glistening slime slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Remembering Lancel's wicked grin, Gendry seemed to realize something. A chill of revulsion swept through him, and he pretended he had seen nothing, closing the door again and leaving Janos alone.

"Lancel Lannister!"

After he left, a shrill, furious curse came from the room. Janos's anger had clearly reached its breaking point.

"I'll kill you!"

That night.

Exhausted after a day of rioting, almost everyone had gone home to rest, and King's Landing returned once more to a rare state of peace.

The Gold Cloaks, who had stood watching in the streets all day, yawned with boredom as they prepared to finish work.

Under Arthas's remote direction, they had struck the balance perfectly, allowing King's Landing to descend into chaos while causing almost no casualties.

Just as everyone was preparing to head home, Gendry appeared in the street wearing a horned helmet and riding a tall horse.

Before the Gold Cloaks could react, he had already knocked seven or eight men to the ground.

"By order of the newly appointed Commander Janos, everyone is to assemble in Gold Cloaks Square within thirty minutes."

"Anyone who arrives late will end up just like them!"

Leaving that threat behind, Gendry rode toward the next street without looking back, leaving the Gold Cloaks staring blankly at their comrades lying on the ground and groaning in pain.

It was late at night, but Gold Cloaks Square blazed with light, countless torches illuminating it as brightly as day.

All four thousand Gold Cloaks were present, whispering among themselves as they gazed at the familiar figure straight ahead.

Looking at the imposing ranks, Janos felt power returning to his hands. Only after everyone quieted down did he raise his voice.

"My brothers in the Gold Cloaks, I'm sure you all know me very well, so I'll spare you an introduction!"

"I know that these past days, you've all suffered just as much as I have."

"But I'm back! As long as you do as I say, everything will go back to the way it was!"

As he spoke, a smug smile spread across Janos's face. In Gendry's report, he had heard that Arthas had thoroughly "tormented" these fellows, accustomed as they were to doing whatever they pleased.

Not only had he forbidden them to collect protection money, he had also devised all manner of grueling training for them.

Janos was utterly confident that, so long as he promised to restore their old lives, these fellows would be deeply grateful to him!

But to his surprise, the moment he finished speaking, an uproar broke out in the crowd, with even some boos.

Though they could no longer extort the common people as they had before, Arthas had improved their pay and benefits. With no need to hand over half their wages, they were earning even more than before.

Though they trained day and night, their food was always the best, without any skimping.

Most importantly, these fellows, normally despised by the people, had actually seen something called "affection" in the eyes of the people of King's Landing these past days!

"Get off the stage, Janos!"

"You disgusting bastard! Who wants to follow your orders?"

"Suck my cock!"

The booing grew louder and louder, and Janos's face turned livid. Events seemed to have gone beyond his expectations.

"You ungrateful wretches!"

Just as he was at a loss for what to do, Gendry stepped forward from beside him, knocked several of the leading Gold Cloaks to the ground, and cursed incessantly.

"Commander Janos treats you so well, and you still dare complain!"

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Gendry picked up a Gold Cloak and threw him in front of Janos, proclaiming with utter loyalty:

"Commander Janos, I've caught a disobedient fellow, just as you ordered."

"Shall I kill him immediately?"

At those words, everyone turned hateful gazes on Janos, as though they wanted to devour him alive.

"I knew this fellow was up to no good!"

In the crowd, a Lannister squad leader angrily drew his sword and raised it high above his head.

"Brothers of the Gold Cloaks, if we don't act now, we'll be next!"

The moment he finished speaking, all four thousand Gold Cloaks answered the call and surged toward Janos like a tide.

"Wait... wait!"

Seeing that the situation had spiraled out of control, Janos shouted, trying to explain something, only to be swallowed by the crowd in an instant.

Before losing consciousness, he only seemed to see the formerly simple, honest Gendry reveal a meaningful smile as he gradually disappeared into the crowd...