"Hello, Grand Maester Pycelle." Scholar Holly entered the room, led by a servant, and was momentarily stunned to see two people inside. However, he quickly identified Grand Maester Pycelle based on their ages and the maester's chains around their necks, and bowed to him.
"I'm not doing so well," Grand Maester Pycelle responded with a smile.
Scholar Holly was taken aback, unsure how to react.
"These past few days, I've been troubled by how to record the death of Maegor I Targaryen, so I prayed to the gods for someone to help me," Grand Maester Pycelle said with a laugh, "But you, Scholar Holly, leisurely stayed in the camp and took two whole days to come, extending my suffering by two days. My dear Scholar Holly, do you think I'm doing well right now?"
No matter how awkward Scholar Holly was in social interactions, he could hear the resentment in Grand Maester Pycelle's words. He wanted to explain but didn't know how, and his nervousness made sweat break out on his forehead.
"Don't be nervous, I don't mean to blame you," Grand Maester Pycelle easily discerned Scholar Holly's personality, knowing that he posed no threat if he remained in the Red Keep. He then reassured Scholar Holly and asked, "Do you need to prepare anything else? If not, I hope you can start working immediately. The progress of the chronicles is much slower than I expected. I hope your arrival can speed things up, and that the compilation of all major historical events before the 80th year of Aegon's reign can be completed by next year."
"As you command, Grand Maester." Scholar Holly, who was passionate about history, became very excited upon hearing Grand Maester Pycelle's words, and the joy in his heart was impossible to conceal on his face. He quickly bowed to Grand Maester Pycelle and stated that he didn't need to prepare anything and could start working at any time. However, he suddenly thought of something and said, "I have a companion who is currently at the guard post outside the Red Keep. I might need to go and tell him something, explain a few things..."
"No need, you don't have to go," Grand Maester Pycelle raised a hand to stop Scholar Holly, saying, "Unless you have something particularly private, you don't need to go. Just write it down, give it to him, and let him take it. I don't want you to waste your time on such meaningless things later."
When Grand Maester Pycelle pointed to the other person in the room, that person was also stunned, then a sarcastic smile appeared on his face, as if he was saying to Grand Maester Pycelle, 'Let's see if I'll follow your orders.'
However, because the light in the room was a bit dim, Scholar Holly didn't see the expression on that person's face. He didn't object to Grand Maester Pycelle's instructions, asked for a piece of paper, and quickly wrote something on it.
After he finished writing, Grand Maester Pycelle took the paper, didn't look at it much, folded it, and handed it to the person, saying, "The things in the third cabinet by my bed should compensate you. I hope this matter ends here, don't you think?"
Scholar Holly, standing by, could clearly sense a hint of fear in Grand Maester Pycelle's tone, which made him curious about this maester-like person. After all, Grand Maester Pycelle's status in the Red Keep was extraordinary; there was no reason for him to be afraid of an ordinary maester.
The person was silent for a moment, then reached out and took the paper, saying, "I hope the compensation you spoke of, Grand Maester, is true compensation, otherwise I will come back to find you, and it won't be like this then."
After speaking, he turned and walked out of the room. As he left, Grand Maester Pycelle also let out a slight sigh of relief, reaching out to steady himself on a nearby table, trying to appear composed to Scholar Holly despite his somewhat weak body.
After leaving the room, the person did not take the usual path that maesters used to exit the Red Keep, but instead took a relatively secluded, less-traveled path. He also deliberately avoided passersby on the way, and did not encounter anyone head-on until he walked out of the Red Keep.
After leaving the Red Keep, he took out the note Scholar Holly had written and casually threw it into the weeds by the side of the road. But after taking a few steps, he seemed to think of something, hesitated for a moment, turned around, rummaged through the weeds, found the note again, and then turned towards the guard post outside the Red Keep.
Soon he arrived near the guard post and found the person he was looking for. However, when he saw the person, he couldn't help but be stunned, then walked over and asked in an extremely familiar, abrupt tone, "Why is it you again?"
Suddenly, a stranger appeared and asked a strange question, completely baffling Linde. But he quickly realized who this person was, after all, the unique aura about this person made it difficult for him to mistake him.
"Why are you here, Lord Bowo?" Linde looked at Bowo, the Faceless Man who had transformed into a maester, and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Grand Maester Pycelle owes me a debt." Bowo, the Faceless Man, answered simply, then handed the note in his hand to Linde, saying, "This is from a maester named Holly, who asked me to give it to you."
Linde was stunned, reached out, took the note, and looked at it. The content was simple: Scholar Holly was giving him the books left at the camp.
After putting the note in his pocket, Linde looked at the Faceless Man and asked, "How long will you stay in King's Landing?"
"If there are no surprises, I will leave tonight." Bowo replied casually, then looked at Linde with a strange gaze and said, "Don't you think our consecutive coincidences are magical? It's as if there's a hand subtly pulling the strings of our two destinies."
"No, not at all magical. Counting it, we've only met three times, and one time you came to see me on your own. This kind of coincidence is normal, there's no need to make a fuss about it." Linde appeared very indifferent, looked at Bowo, and said, "You're not trying to recruit me to be a Faceless Man, are you?"
Bowo shook his head and said, "Anyone in King's Landing could become a Faceless Man, but you absolutely cannot."
Although these words sounded like they were speaking up for Linde, Linde always felt something was off about them.
At this moment, Bowo scrutinized Linde for a while longer, his face full of doubt, and said, "What exactly happened to you these past few days since we met in the Kingswood? Why do I feel that you have gained..." As he spoke, he seemed to think of something, and his gaze became full of scrutiny as he looked at Linde, then he had a sudden realization and said, "I understand now why the Thousand-Faced God sent me to perform this blessing. It turns out that water dancer wasn't the objective at all; you, Bear Hunter Linde, are."
Hearing Bowo's words, Linde couldn't help but frown, and his hand subtly moved to the hilt of his sword, saying, "Lord Bowo, are you trying to make me enjoy some of the Thousand-Faced God's blessings as well?"
"No, not you." Bowo completely ignored Linde's wary behavior, instead shaking his head in a mystical manner, then looked at the Gold Cloaks who had walked out of the guard post out of curiosity, and said, "This is no place to talk."
After speaking, he gestured to Linde, then walked onto the main road and headed towards Beller Square.