The Stormlands' manufacturing industry had developed rapidly in recent years, gradually establishing three fixed trade routes.
The first route went from Oldtown in the Reach to Highgarden, then followed the river to Honeywine Hall, Longtable, and Greenvalley City. It linked to Feewood Fort, Coppermouth City, Harvest Hall, and Hay Hall in the Stormlands, eventually reaching Storm's End.
The second route was a maritime route from Dorne, connecting Yronwood City, Greycloth Fort, Torr City, and Sunspear, to Greenstone Fort and Rainhouse City before arriving at Storm's End.
The third route was the original Rose Road. However, its land transport capacity couldn't compare to water transport, so it primarily carried personnel, gold, silver, or valuable and heavy goods. Bringing armored knights along made it safer than water transport.
Because the three regions had a large amount of agricultural products, raw materials, and finished goods transported, the surrounding towns had become relatively wealthy. Even noble territories along the routes that didn't have special products earned a lot of money from the caravans stopping, and it also created many landed knights who were elevated from the artisan class.
Due to the rise of industry and agriculture in the south of the continent, the central and northern parts of the continent were also affected, developing much more than in the original world. At least, the grain harvest increased year after year, and commoners could eat their fill and still have surplus.
However, these newly affluent classes naturally didn't have the same foundation and education as the old nobility, which caused some problems.
Near Newbarrel City in the Reach, on a riverbank along the Mander River, a group of fully armed knights, each bearing their own banners, formed a circle. Soldiers nearby were clearing away the dead enemies.
Among the banners were the green field and golden rose of the Highgarden Tyrell Family, the golden field and red apple of the Honeywine Hall Fossoway Family, and the golden field and green apple of the Newbarrel City Fossoway Family.
On the riverbank, a burly man named Thoros and a girl of about 10 years old were flanking a richly dressed person, pinning him against a stone. The girl had gray eyes and black hair, and two longswords were strapped to her back.
"By the grace of Robert I of the Baratheon Family, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, I, Witt of the Baratheon Family, Chief Grand Maester of the Realm, and Lord of Hornwood, sentence you to death for fraud."
After Witt finished speaking, he raised the Ice Crystal Longsword and with a single stroke, severed the head.
"Chief Grand Maester, how many is this?" A woman who appeared middle-aged approached.
"Ellery, this is the third one Witt has executed this year. I also helped kill a few of the attendants," the girl behind Witt replied.
Witt twirled the Ice Crystal Longsword, then plunged it into the muddy riverbank. White ice crystals quickly began to form around the point of impact.
At that moment, Garlan Tyrell and the guards from Highgarden brought another person forward. A guard kicked aside a headless corpse and forced the man to the stone. The man cried out:
"Lord Garlan, Chief Grand Maester, I've been wronged! This scoundrel swindled all my money, even slept with my wife! I've been wronged, my lord!"
"But you helped him swindle money afterward, and you helped him escape!" Garlan Tyrell didn't bother to argue. In the name of his father, Mace, the Lord of Highgarden, he sentenced the landed knight to death. With a single stroke of the sword, the man's head fell.
"Damn it, there are more and more of these con artists," Witt cursed.
Three years had passed since Witt's magical feats on the Iron Islands had become known, and he was appointed as the kingdom's Chief Grand Maester. In the first year, he was busy writing magic textbooks and establishing a school. He also had Ellery Hightower and Thoros by his side, guiding them in magic. Their talents were average, and they were already quite old. While they couldn't achieve great heights in magic, they were more than capable of holding ordinary positions in the magic school. Ellery was now the librarian.
In the second year, after the school was built, Witt wrote to the Dayne House of Dorne and summoned Ashara Dayne to King's Landing, formally accepting her as a magic apprentice. She was Witt's first true disciple, besides Renly, and he always kept her close to teach her.
Maester Marwyn of the Citadel had a good relationship with Witt because of his research into magic. He introduced Witt to Qyburn, who had been exiled from the Citadel and was wandering around. Witt knew that this was the man who had transformed the Mountain into an undead being. He was worried about not being able to find him. Upon meeting, he indeed possessed a summoning talent, so Witt began to teach him orthodox summoning spells. Qyburn also managed the logistics work in the school.
In these past few years, Witt hadn't been very active on the continent. Renly also maintained the image of a wealthy man, and there was no opportunity to display magic. Some people started pretending to be magicians, going around swindling people, exorcising demons, curing all illnesses, and mediating marital problems.
The man Witt just sentenced to death was a con artist. This scoundrel had been operating near Highgarden, swindling money from several nobles, five landed knights, and over twenty master craftsmen. He'd also slept with the wives of nine of them. Witt had come specifically to expose the scam, and, in cooperation with the defrauded lords, had chased the con man down to this location before finally catching him.
Witt was now fifteen years old and as tall as a grown man. His business dealings had brought him very close to the Tyrell Family. Garlan Tyrell had also slimmed down and was no longer fat.
The two were walking and chatting about the recent events, Witt was quite angry while Garlan was chuckling.
"I haven't found many promising apprentices, but con artists seem to be popping up one after another, damn it."
A guard ran over, saluted, and asked:
"Chief Grand Maester, may we try out that ice sword?" He then looked towards the Ice Crystal Longsword that Witt had stuck in the riverbank, and a group of guards gathered around, eager to try it out.
"Put on gauntlets and don't touch it directly with your bare hands. It should take about an hour before it starts to melt."
"Thank you, sir." With Witt's permission, a group of guards began to draw the Ice Crystal Longsword and play around with it. But after only a few seconds, ice began to form on their gauntlets, and they had to switch out. All of them were amazed by the wonder of magic.
Garlan Tyrell remembered something:
"I heard a mage arrived from Dorne a few days ago. They should be in Highgarden now, but there's been no news. Do you want to investigate?"
"I also got the news. You guys inventory the swindlers' supplies and distribute them to the victims. Recover as much as you can. Kill every one of those swindlers I find. I'll leave immediately," Witt said furiously.
The reason for his anger wasn't the swindlers themselves, but that someone was pulling the strings from the shadows.
Highgarden was divided into many layers by its walls. The outer layer was vast, with numerous residences and shops. Witt didn't stay in the inner city of the Tyrells, but found an inn to stay in, making it easier to investigate.
There were many Dornish merchants in the city. This mage was very mysterious, with no signs of interacting with the outside world. There was no clue at all.
At night, Witt lay in the inn bed, pondering things before he fell asleep. Suddenly, he felt weak, his stamina draining away.
Suddenly startled awake: This is poisoning! Do they want money or my life?
He immediately used a healing spell on himself. Yellow magic scattered over him, but it had no effect whatsoever. Carefully sensing, he found that his life force wasn't diminishing at all; in fact, it was slowly exceeding its limit! His stamina was also steadily decreasing.
Now, Witt was lying in bed, unable to move. His vision was already starting to blur, and he couldn't see clearly. He couldn't mobilize the magic within him, either. Just as he thought to call for help, the door to his room was opened, and two people entered.
"Is the medicine working?"
"It should be. He's a mage, so I doubled the dosage based on the elephant's effects."
Judging by their voices, they were two women? Women shouldn't be as ruthless as men; there was room to negotiate.
Witt quickly said:
"I understand the rules. The money is all in the wardrobe beside me. Take it and go, and I'll pretend I don't know you."
"I'll scatter your ashes later!"
The two women remained unmoved. One walked over and bound Witt to the bed with chains, while the other produced a black hood and placed it over Witt's head.
"I am the Chief Grand Maester of the realm. I... let's talk this out. Don't take my pants off. Are you Nymeria and Tyene?"
Disappeared
The next day, Witt woke up naturally. He felt sore all over as soon as he tried to move. He looked up and saw a few oranges on the bedside table.
.....
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