From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

The city of Seven was as quiet as ever under the cover of night.

After leaving Mateo in the Windsor Cottage, Don Quixote changed into an inconspicuous black outfit and went out again.

Before long, he tried to avoid the gaze of the few pedestrians on the road and walked to the outside of a small stone and wood house.

"Knock knock knock".

Don Quixote knocked gently on the door.

Raymond, the current butler of the Seven family, quietly opened the door.

"Lord Raymond, I would appreciate it if you could mention it to the Earl for me."

Don Quixote handed Raymond a leather bag full of coins.

A total of 50 silver deer.

Raymond quickly took the money pouch, opened it, glanced at it, and said with satisfaction:

"If the Earl does indeed take your advice, I will recommend your name to the Earl."

"But it's just a verbal recommendation. If you don't have real skills, then we'll see what happens in the end. I won't speak up for you anymore."

Don Quixote, understanding people's feelings, said:

"Of course, Lord Raymond only needs to recommend me."

Raymond nodded, turned and closed the door.

Don Quixote also left quickly.

He spread rumors that the Bolton family was secretly plotting something in order to make the Seven family take it very seriously.

Of course, it's okay if we don't take it seriously this time.

He had already planned to do something bad to frame the Bolton family, until the Seven family realized that the trading district in the city had become a destabilizing factor in Seven City.

As a result, the Seven family might move the trading area outside the city.

However, it's also possible that the trade zone could be abolished altogether, allowing Seven City to revert to its current form, similar to most lord cities in the North.

Abandon dependence on trade, with fiefdoms becoming self-sufficient and occasional barter replacing fixed trade.

"I hope that won't happen."

Rather than searching for suitable employment opportunities in other places like looking for a needle in a haystack, he preferred to stay in Seven City and develop his career secretly.

After all, he was born here, and in the eyes of the Seven family, he was considered to have a clean background.

He also made some friends in Seven City.

The location of Seven City is also quite suitable.

During peacetime, it can support a certain volume of trade.

The subsequent War of the Five Kings was not in the eye of the storm, but it was not on the periphery either.

Then you can take advantage of the chaos to quickly expand your own power.

Lost in thought, Don Quixote quietly returned to Windsor Cottage.

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.

The next day.

Seven Castle, Lord's Council Hall.

Earl Meg Seven, seated in the main seat, looked around and said:

"Some time ago, two knights from the Bolton family caused trouble in Seven City and were arrested by the guards."

"I consider that the conflict between the Stark and Bolton families has only recently subsided, and it is not advisable to start another conflict now."

"We released them, but a few days ago someone from the Bolton family came to Seven City and said that the two knights had been missing for several months."

"The last place they were seen was in Seven City, and some people saw members of our Seven family detaining them."

At this point, Count Mitch's face showed an angry expression:

"The Bolton family doesn't believe I released the two knights; they think I imprisoned or even killed them!"

Upon hearing this, Earl Mitchell's trusted knight, Keller Conton, immediately roared in anger:

"Those scum dared to slander His Excellency the Earl! Next time those Bolton family bastards come to Seven City, I'll chop them to pieces!"

The more rational Scholar Rodley slowly said:

"Your Excellency, what did the Bolton family say in the end?"

Earl Mechi suppressed his anger and said calmly:

"They demanded a hundred gold dragons in compensation, so I immediately ordered my guards to drive them away."

These words once again provoked several core retainers of the Seven family in the council hall to shout angrily:

"You bastard!"

"What a greedy and disgusting bunch!"

Count Mitch gently tapped the table to quiet everyone, then continued:

"The people at the Iron Axe Tavern said yesterday that there seem to be quite a few strangers from the Bolton family appearing in town lately, and they're secretly planning something!"

Sir Keller immediately stood up and shouted:

"My lord, I will go to the outer city area right now and arrest all those people who look suspicious!"

Count Mitch shook his head and said:

"No, we can't tell which outsiders are from the Bolton family, and we have no evidence that they're plotting anything."

"Then arrest them all and interrogate them one by one!" Sir Keller said fiercely.

Count Mitch frowned and said:

"Nonsense! Many of the people who come here to trade represent certain lord families."

"It's easy to capture them, but the lords behind them will definitely not let it go, and that's the real trouble."

Scholar Rodley suddenly said:

"My Lord, why not take this opportunity to close the outer city's trading area directly?"

"Although trading has allowed us to earn more money, it has also brought us a lot more troubles."

"Furthermore, the outer city is too close to the main castle. If someone with ill intentions were to infiltrate there, it could easily threaten the safety of Seven City!"

Raymond, the current butler of the Seven family who had remained silent until now, then spoke up:

"Scholar Rodley, by suddenly closing that trading area, other lords might think we're afraid of the Bolton family."

"It will affect the Earl's reputation among the Northerners, and even more likely, it will affect his reputation among Lord Stark!"

He paused, then continued:

"Without a fixed trade area, outsiders from all over the world could cause a lot of trouble for the Earl's people when they arrive in his territory."

"This has happened before."

"In my opinion, it would be better to move the trade area outside the city. That way, even if something happens, it won't threaten Seven City!"

Scholar Rodley narrowed his eyes and smiled:

"Butler Raymond, that would mean sending knights and soldiers to guard the trading area outside the city for a long time, which would weaken the power of Seven City."

"We can hire freelancers!" Raymond laughed.

As a knight of oath, Sir Keller looked down on the wild knights, but he was also aware of Earl Meggie's attitude toward the free knights.

He said coldly:

"The Free Knights are all scoundrels who disregard chivalry; they can't be trusted!"

Raymond suggested:

"We can have our knights as the main force, and then hire some free knights as their subordinates."

"Hiring those free knights would cost a lot of money," Scholar Rodley analyzed.

Raymond chuckled:

"There's always a price to pay, isn't there? Besides, with the trade zone moved outside the city, we can lift trade restrictions and maybe even earn more."

Count Meiqi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke:

"My purpose in establishing the trading zone is not to make money, but to make life more convenient for the people and to protect them from outsiders."

"Okay, let's find a location outside the city to temporarily set up a trading market and see how it goes. The trading area inside the city will remain open for the time being."

……

PS: (Please recommend and read this!)