In the dark, oppressive dungeon beneath Firegrass Manor, the bound Myr killer let out a pained wail.
Firegrass Manor has now been converted into the headquarters of the Wolf Pack Company.
The Wolf Pack Company's banner flies above the manor, with wolves roaring.
The Mercenaries of the Wolf Pack Company, the high-ranking members of the Free Army, and the escaped slaves who sought refuge under the Butter-King.
In the Myr's manor, there was never a shortage of tools to punish slaves: whips, old irons, and spiked chairs that could inflict great pain and lead to a slow death.
"What a pathetic human being," Old Maester Qyburn said, looking at the tortured Myr killer, who was almost at his last breath, amidst the blood and fire.
The Old Maester, who usually appeared amiable, now resembled a mad scientist.
Although the Myr slavers had not dispatched a large force to encircle the Wolf Pack, their assassins had already arrived.
The white-haired Qyburn still prepared to mix scorpion venom and coagulant, deftly setting out a small knife, syringe, tubing, and cotton balls.
Qyburn performed a ritual of dark magic, then injected the mixture into the Myr killer's body.
"Ah!" the Myr killer let out a painful wail, then his heart beat violently for a while before he died.
The killer's eyeballs were filled with blood, as if they had burst.
His small body simply could not withstand the combined ravages of the venom and coagulant.
"Your Highness, this is the second experiment this month!" Old Maester Qyburn said regretfully.
"Honestly, the physical condition of these Myr people is indeed too poor!"
"These defective killers need to be burned after being discarded."
"There's no other way, this is already the best sample we could find!" Gendry said, looking at the dead Myr killer.
"It's normal to subject these people to severe torture."
"You must pay attention to your own safety! Power is like the iron throne, full of thorns.
These assassins are like The Hound clinging to power."
"Assassins are hard to guard against; we can only improve intelligence and security.
Although our numbers are growing, like a snowball, the Free Army consists of freed slaves, and they are, after all, novices.
The most reliable are still the veterans.
You will have to work hard!"
"To be able to contribute to your cause is my greatest desire!"
"I can't wait to return to Westeros and see the Old Lion's expression!" Qyburn said without hesitation.
Although he was old, his body was still in good condition.
"Who is the killer's employer?"
"Governor Joey, he almost hates us to death!"
"What a pity, this body is really unsuitable.
I feel the samples also need to be improved.
As far as I know, a physique like The Mountain's would be more perfect—tall and certainly highly resistant to drugs!" Qyburn sighed.
"The Mountain is very difficult for us to get our hands on!" Gendry said.
"He is a good dog by Duke Tywin's side."
"You also need such capable lieutenants to protect your safety! In the future, if our strength grows, assassinations will also come back around."
"Let's use the current team for now!" Gendry said.
The Handsome Man had several skilled members of the Wolf Pack Company protect his safety, and also selected many young people from the Free Army who were fiercely loyal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Wolf Pack Company to serve as guards.
"War is probably coming soon, and my experiments may have to be put on hold for a while!" Qyburn said with some regret.
The Wolf Pack regime in the Disputed Lands was indeed in its nascent stages.
"There will always be opportunities, adventurers, Bandit Mercenaries, Meereenese, Unsullied—these are all excellent samples!" Gendry consoled him.
"Your Highness, are you ready?" Qyburn asked.
"For the coming war!"
"War is unavoidable, so I can only grasp my weapon!"
"War isn't entirely bad for us; we can acquire resources and territory.
More importantly, it boosts morale.
There are still many exiled slaves in the Disputed Lands; if we win, our military strength will grow even stronger.
Let those runaway slaves see that we have the power to protect them!" Gendry's ambition was great.
In addition to the areas currently conquered, he also wanted to attract those runaway slaves willing to join them.
These slaves also resided in the Disputed Lands and formed a relatively strong armed force...
Seagulls flew over the sea, and on the other side of the Narrow Sea lay Westeros.
"Clear the way! Clear the way! The King is passing!"
King Robert's hunting party emerged, a procession like a river of gold, silver, and white.
Riders carrying the crowned stag banners charged at the front, shouting loudly.
King Robert rode a warhorse, but he was now so corpulent that it was truly feared the horse might collapse under his weight.
The King, engrossed in wine and women, was no longer the imposing, world-dominating hero of his youth.
Beside the King were two White Knights, the most famous being the Old Knight Barristan, old yet unyielding, renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
Then came his eldest son, Prince Joffrey, the heir.
Joffrey pouted, a scornful smile seemingly on his face.
Like his House Lannister relatives, he was tall, fair-haired, and very handsome.
He had green eyes and a turned-up lip.
Joffrey wore a crimson velvet tunic, embroidered with a lion on one side and a stag on the other, displaying his pride.
There was also another knight, the tall knight wearing a grotesque The Hound-headed helmet, who also served House Lannister.
Behind the King was his Attendants, Lancel.
Ser Kevan's son Lancel was young and strong, with sandy-brown hair, light green eyes, and a handsome face, often said to resemble Jaime Lannister greatly.
"I need to save this country; there are indeed too many lions around the King!" Alone in a high tower, Stannis watched his brother's retreating figure in the sunlight, thinking to himself.
Stannis counted the House Lannister men around King Robert, who seemed to be drowning the King.
The King's Attendants, the Kingslayer among the White Knights, and The Hound sent by House Lannister, along with some lion soldiers.
Even the names of these Children had a distinct House Lannister flavor, rather than the traditional names of House Baratheon.
"Indulging in wine and women, where is the young Robert?" Stannis was worried.
He was dissatisfied with the unfairness Robert had shown him, and also concerned about the excessive influence of House Lannister.
The sunlight struck the House Lannister banner, the golden roaring lion on a crimson field, making the lion appear even more vibrant and radiant.
Stannis also noticed Joffrey's golden hair, so dazzling and brilliant at that moment.
"No matter what color hair the mother of any Child has—bronze, honey, chestnut, cream—the Children born are all as black as crows! Yet Joffrey and his two siblings, their hair all shines like the sun," Stannis thought to himself, finding it very strange.
Stannis thought of many people: his own daughter, his three brothers, and Edric Storm, raised at Storm's End, who had shamed him and bore a striking resemblance to the young King.
"Why!" "Why is this?"