Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 47 Black Castle

“How many people are there in Pentos?”

Joffrey abruptly asked Tyrion on the snow bear beside him.

Tyrion looked distantly at the Wall, which was faintly visible in the distance, not understanding why Joffrey would think of Pentos at this time.

“Four or five hundred thousand, perhaps more, with another one or two million outside the city.”

Joffrey nodded without speaking, but in his heart, he marveled at Elin's significant actions, realizing that Pentos was suffering a calamity this time.

He had witnessed the bloodbath in Pentos.

Although the time to acquire runes for location, reconnaissance, and backtracking was after Elin set sail, without preparing a medium in advance, he couldn't observe Elin's every word and action.

But there were many mediums targeting the city-state of Pentos: Pentos gold coins, amber wine, saffron, dragon eggs, and so on.

Using these mediums, he could use the location rune to determine Pentos's position, and then input the position information into the reconnaissance rune, allowing him to see Pentos from the North.

From then on, Joffrey observed the situation in Pentos at regular intervals every day.

Last night's blood and fire declared his victory.

Daenerys and Viserys were about to fall into his hands, Pentos had suffered a heavy blow, and the relationship between the Dothraki and the Free Trade City-States would inevitably deteriorate, likely returning to a state of opposition.

In this situation, would the Dothraki cavalry still cross the Narrow Sea by ship?

Varys and Illyrio's conspiracy had come to naught.

Without the Beggar King and Daenerys as shields, Little Aegon, whom they truly supported for restoration, had lost a major aid and would find it difficult to continue accumulating strength silently on the continent of Essos.

What would Varys's reaction be?

Joffrey knew that Varys would know about the news of Pentos in a few days. At that time, would the spider in the Red Keep flee or kill?

He chose to believe in Hanna's determination and the Lannister forces remaining in King's Landing.

“Your Highness,” Benjen reminded, “We’ll be at Castle Black in half a day. It’s the largest of the three remaining active fortresses of the nineteen castles along the Wall, and the headquarters of the Night's Watch.”

Joffrey glanced at him, "Now is not the time. After I ascend the throne, I will begin to improve the situation of the Night's Watch."

Benjen almost couldn't help but ask, "How long will that be?" but fortunately, he didn't say it out loud.

Benjen was not the only one who lamented the decline of the Night's Watch. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, Old Maester Aemon, who was already a hundred years old, and all the brothers who felt a sense of belonging to the Night's Watch could only watch as the Night's Watch declined day by day.

The Night's Watch was once the hero guarding the safety of the Seven Kingdoms, but now it was just a ragtag force defending against wildlings;

The Night's Watch was once regarded as a symbol of honor and dedication, with many knights, nobles, and good families volunteering to join, but now only criminals and unpopular noble offspring were willing to serve reluctantly;

The Night's Watch once had tens of thousands of brothers, stationed in nineteen strong fortresses, enough to resist all foreign enemies, but now there were less than a thousand people guarding the hundreds of miles of the Wall.

Benjen believed that the wildling woman was telling the truth.

Why not believe it? Thinking about it carefully, there were too many abandoned places on the Wall. What did one secret passage matter?

He could bring people to block this one, but if the Night's Watch continued to decline, who should be sent to block the next secret passage? Even then, would the wildlings still need to sneak across the border?

Benjen silently looked at Joffrey's back.

Besides the North, the Crown Prince was the only important figure who still believed in the value of the Night's Watch.

The scene of King Robert's sudden death flashed in his mind, and Benjen quickly shook his head vigorously, throwing this sinful thought far away.

Gods forgive me, that was not my intention, absolutely not.

Benjen couldn't see what was ahead.

A secret smile flashed across Joffrey's lips.

The time was midday, and the cold wind howled.

The Wall became larger and larger, higher and higher in their eyes, gradually occupying the entire world.

The sunlight shone directly on this blue and white giant serpent stretching across the end of the world, and the crystal-clear blue light flickered with the giant serpent's breathing.

Gods.

Its boundless body seemed to hold all the ice in the world.

Tyrion was serious and silent. Having witnessed the existence of magic, how could he still doubt the greatness and mystery of the Wall?

Being able to keep the terrifying Others out, the Wall must have vast power.

The group moved closer.

They saw Castle Black under the Wall, but even though it was large enough to accommodate thousands of people, it was just an insignificant corner under the Wall.

More than a dozen people in black robes rode over to greet them.

“Your Highness, all the brothers of the Night's Watch have been waiting for a long time. It is a great honor for all of Castle Black to serve you.”

The speaker was a bald old man with a long beard.

Joffrey nodded with a smile.

Benjen stepped forward and hugged the old man, "Lord Commander, I'm back."

The Lord Commander patted him hard on the back, "Benjen, you're finally back. I've lost all my hair waiting. The Wall really can't do without you for a day."

Even Benjen rarely showed a smile, "Commander's hair was already gone, how can you blame me?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lord Commander Mormont also greeted Yoren and the others one by one, warmly exchanging greetings.

Joffrey listened to their conversation, gradually matching the names in his memory with these faces.

Beside Mormont was his steward, Eddison Tollett, "Dolorous" Edd;

The ruddy fat man was the Night's Watch's First Steward, Bowen Marsh;

The stern-looking man seemed to be born without a smile. He was the Night's Watch's master-at-arms, Alliser Thorne;

The man with the protruding chin was the First Builder, Othell Yarwyck;

The one-armed strong man had a big belly, Donal Noye. He was once the blacksmith of House Baratheon, personally forging Robert's warhammer and Stannis's first sword.

The assertion that "Robert is true steel, Stannis is pure iron, Renly is pretty but worthless bright copper" came from his mouth.

Stannis certainly seemed like pure iron, Renly well…

Joffrey really wanted to believe the part about Renly, but as long as Renly was not dead, he would not underestimate this great enemy.

Lord Commander Mormont came to Joffrey again.

“Your Highness, Castle Black has deteriorated a lot. We have tried our best to tidy up the King's Tower, and I hope you will not dislike it.”

Joffrey waved his hand at Mormont, "You've troubled yourself, Lord Commander. How could I be picky?"

He looked determined and encouraged the Night's Watch in a loud voice: "You are all brave heroes. The kingdom will not forget your contributions. I guarantee in my capacity as Crown Prince that the Night's Watch will regain its past glory, in just a year or two!"

The crowd cheered and thanked him gratefully.

But Joffrey knew in his heart that perhaps only Tyrion, Jon, who had not seen much of the world, and half of Benjen and Yoren truly believed his words.

In any case, the secret of the Wall was beckoning to him.

The team drove into Castle Black.

Joffrey smelled the ancient, powerful, and sweet magical aura.

I really want it.

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