As the former largest and now second-largest city in Westeros, Oldtown was naturally covered by layers of intelligence networks belonging to different forces, diverse and overlapping. Among them, the strongest and most widespread naturally belonged to the host, House Hightower, while the second-ranked mostly relied on the support of House Tyrell, the protector of the Reach...
As for who ranked third, it had once been a question mark. But with the successive collapse and destruction of the two dynasties of the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen and the "Usurper" Robert Baratheon, the intelligence personnel loyal to the two royal houses lost their superiors and the objects of their loyalty. Now, this ranking had fallen to the Iron Bank of Braavos.
The initial purpose of the network laid by the Iron Bank was to monitor research in the Citadel, grasp the movements of the Faith of the Seven, and understand the city's economic activities, especially the development and policies of the banks in Oldtown. It was meant to report promptly whenever they might threaten Braavos's financial status and the city-state's interests, and to take appropriate action to intervene or nip potential dangers in the bud when needed. Harboring such strong offensive malice, and being an external force, its organizational structure differed from the defensive, usually neutral intelligence networks set up by other local forces, and placed particular emphasis on concealing its own existence.
The middle and upper management of this network were basically dispatched rather than hired from local informants. The lower levels also tried their best to use exclusive clerks and civilian informants unrelated to other forces, resulting in the lowest degree of overlap with other "networks," which naturally made it the most secretive.
However, there were no walls that did not leak. Theoretically, even if preparations for a bombing and assassination of such magnitude were not detected in advance, the top two forces should at least have noticed some clues to a certain extent.
The problem lay here. After Aegor entered the city, he put the entire Hightower family under house arrest and sealed off their channels of external communication, leaving their intelligence network leaderless. After using administrative means to forcibly intervene and dismantle the power of the top force, the second-ranked Tyrell family intelligence network easily rose to power... With the top two forces clashing, coupled with the struggle between royal and religious authority, the series of actions quietly carried out by a third party who remained uninvolved naturally succeeded in deceiving everyone amid the chaos.
In short, it was Aegor's disruption in Oldtown that created cover and provided opportunities for the assassins targeting him.
...
Smoke filled the streets, which were full of the horrified screams and fleeing figures of nearby residents.
Unlike Aegor, who had the protection of a reinforced carriage compartment and the cushioning of multiple layers of thick wood, the infantry and cavalry guards protecting the carriage took the full frontal impact of the explosion. Even if they were not killed on the spot by stones and shrapnel, they were thrown by the blast wave into the walls along the street and knocked unconscious. Amid the groans and moans of the wounded on the ground, even the lucky Unsullied soldiers with sturdy bones who struggled to get up were immediately greeted by crossbow bolts from the second floors on both sides of the street.
Ernst Ubi quickly reloaded his crossbow, staring expressionlessly through the window opening where the partition had been blown away at the overturned carriage on the street below, shrouded in white smoke, quietly waiting for the next potential victim to emerge from it.
But he did not wait.
Either the target was already unconscious or dead, or he had wisely chosen to lie low and wait for rescue. Given the style and regulations of the Iron Bank's Special Affairs Department, such uncertain factors were absolutely not allowed to remain.
The Hand of the Queen's retinue was divided into three parts, front, middle, and rear. One part was responsible for clearing the way ahead, and one part brought up the rear to prevent being followed. Although the most important middle section, responsible for protection, had already been wiped out, the other guards at both ends would quickly react and rush to the rescue... Not to mention that there were Western Expeditionary Army patrols everywhere in the city at this moment.
Time was not on their side.
"Downstairs."
Ernst gave a short, crisp order, put away his gear, and quickly walked toward the stairs. He soon went downstairs to the street and walked toward the carriage with two of his subordinates.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two more slightly smaller explosions and rising flames came from both ends of the street. The Special Affairs Department members responsible for blocking enemy reinforcements had already engaged with the front and rear sections of the Hand of the Queen's guard. Ernst had to quickly confirm the result, finish everything, and then retreat. One step late, and they would all become martyrs today.
According to the previous plan, a jar of imitation wildfire was handed to Ernst. Without even looking at the container, he tossed it with a flick of his hand. With a crisp shattering sound, the pungent green liquid instantly splashed all over one side of the carriage compartment.
It was rumored that the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch was a formidable character who could tear White Walkers apart with his bare hands. "Opening the carriage door and entering the compartment to check if he was dead" was clearly a foolish idea. A task that could be completed with tools should be done that way.
If no one rushed out after the flames engulfed the carriage, it naturally meant the mission was complete. But if Aegor rushed out from inside... he would be greeted by three poisoned crossbow bolts.
A torch was also handed to Ernst. This was something he had explicitly requested repeatedly before the mission began. Facing potentially the most powerful and valuable prey of his life, he wanted to strike the final blow himself as a sign of respect, and incidentally claim the achievement for the last hit.
The carriage door was kicked open with a bang, and a black figure rolled out, charging toward them with a steel sword in hand.
Two crisp sounds of crossbow strings twanging rang out on Ernst's left and right. The two subordinates pulled the triggers and fired their bolts the moment the target appeared. The shots in the sudden situation caused one bolt to miss, and although the other hit the target, it still did not affect Aegor's charging momentum.
"Hmph." Ernst sneered, quickly stepping back while letting go and dropping the torch. He raised the military crossbow already strung and hanging on his chest, aimed at Aegor's chest while moving, and unhurriedly fired the third bolt.
He had been worried that a renowned warrior like Aegor would perform astonishing moves like "sidestepping" or "deflecting the bolt with his sword." However, the bolt hit him squarely in the chest but bounced off with a somewhat strange collision sound, hanging limply on his black clothes.
He was wearing armor under his black clothes!
"Hahaha."
Ernst burst into laughter. This was truly an interesting and extremely difficult assassination target.
But his armor would only increase Ernst's glory after he succeeded.
"Shoot his legs!"
Assassins had no knightly honor. Ernst shouted at his two subordinates who were frantically reloading, then decisively released his grip on the military crossbow. With dazzling speed, he drew his pair of Valyrian steel daggers from his sides, moving so fast it looked as if the two weapons had leaped from their sheaths into his hands.
With a beautiful, almost elegant arc, he cut the rope hanging the crossbow around his neck in midair. Before the crossbow landed, he kicked it away with his foot. Having shed all hindrances and burdens, he advanced toward Aegor, wielding his twin daggers.
(To be continued.)
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