From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

Another week has passed.

noon.

Don Quixote saw Iris enter the Iron Axe Tavern, and her mood seemed to have improved considerably.

After Elise finished reviewing the tavern's accounts.

Don Quixote rose and walked toward her, smiling:

"Miss Elise, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?" Elise asked, puzzled.

Don Quixote pointed to a quiet corner to the side:

"Let's go there and talk."

Upon hearing this, Elise became even more puzzled.

Ronan watched the two figures disappear into the distance, regretfully withdrawing his curiosity.

"I've noticed quite a few unfamiliar faces in the tavern lately," Don Quixote muttered.

"Moreover, they all seem to be from Dreadfort."

Dreadfort is a fortress in the North and the home of House Bolton, located in the east-central part of the North.

Elise was taken aback, then her expression quickly changed as she said:

"The Boltons?"

Don Quixote guessed, "Very likely."

For most people in the North, the Bolton family is often synonymous with fear.

Elise frowned and said:

"What are they doing in Seven City?"

"I don't know. They seemed to be hiding something while they were talking. If I hadn't been paying close attention, I wouldn't have realized they came from the Dreadfort," Don Quixote said quietly.

"I suspect there's some conspiracy involved."

"A conspiracy? What are those disgusting beasts up to now!" Elise exclaimed, both angry and worried.

"No, I need to talk to Sister Qiao Lier about this."

"Of course, if the Bolton family is truly plotting something, we must inform the Seven family!"

Don Quixote breathed a slight sigh of relief as things began to develop in the direction he had guided.

As long as there's no trouble, he doesn't care where the tavern's customers come from.

He said that only to achieve his own goals.

Well, it's an immature plan.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

More than an hour passed.

Jolie and Elise stepped into the Iron Axe Tavern.

Qiao Lier first cautiously scanned several guests in the tavern, and only stopped staring when she made them feel uneasy.

She then walked over to Don Quixote with Iris.

Don Quixote stood up and said:

"Hello, Miss Qiao Lier."

Qiao Lier nodded, lowering her voice and saying in a heavy tone:

"Are any of these people from the Dreadfort?"

How would I know?

Don Quixote shook his head and said:

"no."

Qiao Lier breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her tone remained heavy:

"Are you sure? People from Dreadfort have been frequenting this tavern?"

If it's just a few people, then it's nothing.

After all, due to its geographical location, Seven City has designated a small area within the city for some rudimentary commercial trade.

It was naturally expected that some people from other places would come here.

The trading area where the Iron Axe Tavern is located was originally designed to facilitate trade for outsiders visiting Seven City.

"I swear in the name of the Old Gods!" Don Quixote said calmly.

"I'm not sure if those people are really from Dreadfort, but they're hiding something and they often whisper about Dreadfort and Lord Bolton."

"I only overheard it because I was paying special attention!"

Seeing Don Quixote swear in the name of the Old Gods, Jolie's expression grew even more somber.

After thinking for a while, she shook her head and smiled bitterly:

"Without concrete evidence to confirm that they are from the Dreadfort, without concrete evidence to confirm that they are indeed plotting something, my father may not take it seriously."

If I had concrete evidence, I would have left this place of trouble long ago.

Don Quixote still had some self-awareness; although he was now more powerful than he had been at the beginning, he was no more than twice as strong.

But if thrown into the battlefield, they can easily die if not careful.

He needs to play it safe and focus on developing his character in the early stages.

They will gradually participate in the major events that are about to happen in the later stages.

Don Quixote implied:

"The Bolton family are all lunatics. Who knows what they might do when they suddenly lose their minds! We must be on guard!"

Elise took the wine jug from Cole, and after Cole stepped back, she personally filled the wine glasses in front of the three of them.

Qiao Lier drank her wine while pondering.

She finished almost the entire glass of wine before saying:

"I will tell my father about this!"

"Then I'll leave it to Miss Jolie!" Don Quixote said, setting down his wine glass.

"We must be wary of those lunatics in the Bolton family!"

He paused, then continued:

"Miss Qiao Lier, I actually have a suggestion that may be premature."

Qiao Lier looked up at Don Quixote and asked in surprise:

"Don Quixote, please speak plainly!"

Iris also glanced sideways at Don Quixote.

"I have been to the south, where most of the lord cities have fixed market squares around them to meet the trading needs of the local area and surrounding villages," Don Quixote said slowly.

"We might also take inspiration from the practices of those southern lord cities."

"Establish a permanent market square around Seven City, so that even if other lords want to secretly carry out some shady activities against Seven City."

"At most, it only affected the market square outside the city, but it had little impact on the safety of Seven City."

Qiao Lier quickly understood:

"You mean, move this trading area from inside the city to outside?"

"Yes, that's pretty much it," Don Quixote nodded.

Upon hearing this, Elise frowned immediately.

Qiao Lier smiled wryly:

"Don Quixote, you may not know this, but when our Seven family was planning to open a trading area, someone suggested choosing an area outside the city."

"But that would mean our Seven family would have to deploy a lot of knights and soldiers to guard the trading area outside the city."

"After all, bandits and wild animals, and even the looting by the Iron People, are all threats!"

"But if we do that, the protective power of Seven City will be greatly weakened."

"Perhaps we could hire some free knights to guard the trading area outside the city," Don Quixote chuckled.

"The profits from trade are actually very low for our Seven family; it's impossible for us to employ free knights long-term," Jolie said, shaking her head.

"Moreover, the Free Knights are unreliable; Father doesn't trust them."

She paused, then seemed to recall that the Don Quixote before her was a free knight, and added:

"Most Freeriders are unreliable."

Don Quixote was completely unconcerned about how the outside world viewed the free knight.

He sighed, "Then we can only be more wary of outsiders."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After Qiao Li'er left.

Iris hesitated for a moment, then looked directly at Don Quixote and said:

"If the Seven family plans to move the trading area outside the city, then the Iron Axe Tavern will have to move there too."

The reason why Iron Axe Tavern has been able to continue operating and generate substantial profits is because the Elise family has gained the trust of the Seven family, allowing them to dominate Seven City.

If they go outside the city, the Seven family will most likely not interfere with other people running shops or such trivial matters.

Don Quixote nodded and said:

"If those lunatics in the Bolton family really have a conspiracy, then Iron Axe Tavern could easily become part of their plan now."

"After all, the only places in Seven City where outsiders can easily communicate are the Iron Axe Tavern and Windsor Cottage."

"If anything happens, we'll be the sinners of Seven City!"

……

PS: (Please recommend and read this!)