Bear School Astartes

Robert is downright hot-tempered, and once his anger rises, few can suppress it.

Perhaps as the former prime minister who was a foster father, Lord Jon Arryn could, but the old man has died unnaturally.

Even this news, Edd dares not disclose to Robert, because a careless move could cause unrest in the kingdom.

Edd and Baelish were both driven out of the King's tent.

This time the King called for two attendants to tighten his armor, determined to stuff his belly fat in.

If worst comes to worst, let the blacksmith come onsite to hammer it.

Standing outside the King's tent, Edd kept a stern face, trying hard not to look at Petyr Baelish.

Had Lann not pointed out the man's issues, Edd might have thought this was simply a case of someone trying to flatter the King and himself, with the flattery backfiring due to a lack of understanding of their personalities.

Baelish made mistakes, stirred trouble, but it wasn't deliberate. So, given Edd's nature of valuing honor and rules, he probably wouldn't even get angry at Baelish.

He would just brood and swallow the bitterness.

But now, it's obvious to Edd that this guy is precisely playing to Robert's disposition and deliberately pushing him to take the field!

In the past, Edd might have gone ahead straight away, attempting to confront him.

But the information and insight Lann brought him made him realize what King's Landing truly was.

So now, the Prime Minister made an effort not to make eye contact with Baelish, keeping his voice level.

"The King can't be stopped... I have to arrange the events for the tournament later, farewell."

After parting ways with Baelish, Edd immediately began searching for Lann within the camp.

Fortunately, the Prime Minister's family hadn't stayed overnight at the tournament, but the tents were still set up, after all, their status was established.

So when Edd wanted to find Lann, he easily found the young man chatting with other members of the guard in the leftover tents.

"Jingze? It's near where I met you guys? The beasts native are lizard-lions huh... I'll take a chance to hunt one. Is its venom really as exaggerated as you say?"

"Further north beyond the Northern Territory are giants? Oh, I probably won't go there, that's way too far."

When Edd lifted the thick curtain of the tent to enter, he first saw Lann checking the buckles of his armor, surrounded by guards chatting idly.

Thanks to his increasingly exquisite yet valiant looks, and his habit of listening to everyone's hometown specialties, that is, gathering information on alchemy materials.

Lann was now quite popular among the guards, everyone liked chatting with him for a bit.

Being good looking really is an advantage. JPG

"Lann, come out for a moment." Edd spoke at the entrance, lifting the curtain.

The guards saw the lord arrive, though not tense, they nevertheless dispersed their circle.

Lann walked to Edd's side from amidst the crowd, following him out to a secluded corner.

"What's the matter?"

Lann asked Edd.

"The peculiarly strange plant material you wanted, I've gathered a batch, now they're stored in the underground of the Prime Minister's tower, you can take a look back."

"Hmm hm, and then?"

Lann didn't believe such commonly known matter would require pulling him aside to inform.

Sure enough, Edd pursed his lips, speaking with helplessness and anger.

"The group tournament afterwards... the King wants to take the field."

The Demon Hunter raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you stop him?"

"I did, nearly had him stopped too! But... Robert's fury was stirred up again by Baelish. Lann, Baelish wanting the King to field must have a purpose! I hope you can protect him well."

Lann furrowed his brows, remaining silent.

Arousing the King to join such a large mêlée group tournament, the intention was already glaringly obvious. It must inevitably aim at the King during the process.

It was this time that Petyr Baelish was so easily seen through by Edd because Edd already knew his dark deeds well, had sufficient understanding of his character.

Without this layer, even if the King died on the tournament field on the spot, he would at most be reprimanded for being too talkative, and suspicion wouldn't fall on him.

Also, at this point, Edd couldn't fully disclose the truth to the King, letting him know he's in danger.

Because Edd's fundamental goal is maintaining kingdom stability, telling the King about this will inevitably drag out the former Prime Minister's unnatural death, along with a heap of matters.

The kingdom would consequently descend into chaos.

In a flash, Lann connected with Mentos, and already figured it all out logically.

Lann turned his head, glanced at the warriors across who were itching to jump into the group tournament arena.

Faces and necks caked with black mud, extreme odors undescribed but known, hands weighing swords or warhammers and maces, paired with various shields.

Majority clad in cheap protective gear like chainmail over leather armor.

A few knights, however, fully armored and shining, shoulders also draped with capes bearing family crests.

Simply put—

A rabble of misfits, trapping heads to sell them.

"Protect the King, there shouldn't be much issue, but let me say this first..."

Lann smiled indifferently.

"I won't yield the championship spot to the King."

Edd exhaled deeply after Lann agreed.

At some point, he became truly trusting towards this man who appeared mid-way holding his daughter, be it his character or capability.

"Ha, you'd better clinch the championship. Robert loves warriors more than he loves his wife! If you frankly and uprightly beat him down, not only is prize and honor yours, but the dragon bone you've always wanted will also not be an issue. He might even give you Balerion the 'Black Death God's' bones entirely!"

"When we took King's Landing, he swept all Targaryen family dragon bones into the Red Castle underground. If you ask, he will surely give."

Such a reward for this commission could genuinely be deemed excellent.

Lann, although presently constrained by the conditions, hadn't started alchemical research on dragon bones.

But alone by their ample vitality, it already signifies how immensely valuable the material is.

The ceremony horn sounded, indicating the group tournament was about to start.

In the distance, eager mercenaries, warriors, and wandering knights rushed into the fenced competition arena.

Lann also waved to Edd, walking on.

The crowd was cheering, chanting for today's fiercest, bloodiest battle they were thrilled to witness.

Then abruptly, the entire sound quieted.

Walking into the arena, Lann turned his head to unexpectedly see the armor-clad King, holding a massive two-handed warhammer, standing on the high platform he was spectating from yesterday.

Then he raised the hammer towards the spectators.

The previously subdued cheers exploded again, even more thunderous than before!

"King's Landing! King's Landing!"

"That's the warhammer that killed Prince Rhaegar Targaryen! My gosh! It's enormous!"

Robert savored the cheers and the coming fierce battle, taking step by step down the platform.

Just then, Lann happened to walk before him.

"Aha! The lad who bested the Hound! Today we'll have a go!"

"Perhaps you should challenge to stand till the end first?"

"...Hey, stand till the end? See if I won't crack your skull in a moment!"

"Feel free to try."