The knight did remember Aegon, not entirely because the principal on the redeemed bond had generated several golden dragons in interest, but also thanks to his distinctive black Night's Watch uniform and unique Asian appearance. After recognizing Aegon, he not only greeted him warmly but also readily introduced him to the people around him.
...
"This is the Night's Watch member I mentioned to you before. You all said it must be a scam, but I took out the money without losing a cent, and I did receive three golden dragons in interest per month—as far as I know, many people took out money to buy equipment in response to the King's call, and every one of them received this."
"That's three percent interest!" another knight asked in surprise. "I don't understand, where did the Night's Watch get this money?"
"From the profits of the Night's Watch Industry. Actually, if you have more than five hundred golden dragons, you can invest directly for higher returns... For details, wait until we deal with that alliance and return to King's Landing. You can come find me at the Night's Watch Office, right across from the City Watch East Camp. I can give you a detailed introduction, and visiting the factories belonging to the Night's Watch Industry is also fine." Aegon completed a lightning-fast pitch in a few seconds, then immediately pulled the conversation back on track: "Alright, then, which kind Ser would be willing to pass a message to King Robert for me?"
"I know the Kingsguard on duty today. I'll help you ask." The knight who had bought the bond patted his chest and took on the task, as he owed Aegon a favor: "Wait here for my news. Don't wander off."
"Okay, thank you very much!"
...
Standing in front of a tent marked with three red chevron stripes, Aegon chatted with several knights for a while longer. Under his well-rehearsed persuasion and recommendations, the knights quickly became interested in the bonds and Night's Watch Industry he described, all expressing that they would definitely go take a look after the war and returning to King's Landing.
This was an unexpected gain, and the feeling of annoyance that he was wasting time, which had been weighing on Aegon's heart, faded considerably. In any world, the first impression between people is very important: when Aegon first asked for directions, both he and his "attendant" Casey had presented themselves reasonably well. Coupled with the fact that the knight who knew him immediately introduced him to his friends, and then hearing that this Night's Watch Chief Logistics Officer handled large sums of money, hundreds or even thousands (in reality, one hundred) of golden dragons, and was indeed not a swindler... these formally knighted knights, who had proper attendants, titles, and property, instantly forgot that he was a Night's Watch member and treated him simply as a knight in black. In their words, there was even a hint of politeness and flattery.
Having money, or making people feel like you have money, truly makes things easier everywhere. No wonder people instinctively want to show off their wealth. Money is essentially a resource, and those who possess resources are bound to enjoy status among their peers. This is true for both humans and animals.
About twenty minutes later, the knight who had gone to inquire for Aegon returned with another person whose chest was embroidered with two deer antlers. Interestingly, Aegon also knew this person.
...
"Lord Buckwell!" This was too much of a coincidence, wasn't it? Aegon vaguely felt it wasn't a coincidence and raised his eyebrows, saying nothing more—the arrival was none other than the Crownlands noble, Lord of Buckwell, who had originally agreed to invest in the Night's Watch Industry. This Lord had planned to invest one thousand golden dragons in the paper mill, but unfortunately, the money hadn't reached King's Landing before the outbreak of the civil unrest in the Vale caused him to leave.
While the deal didn't go through, goodwill remained. The other party's temporary halt to the investment was understandable. As the first Lord to visit the Night's Watch Office and tour the paper mill experimental workshop, despite being over fifty, he still dared to invest a thousand golden dragons. Just for this decisiveness and courage to try new things, he was an old man worth befriending.
Lord Buckwell, whose temples were already turning gray, nodded at Aegon and the other knights in response to their greetings, then said with a businesslike expression: "Your Majesty the King has ordered that the Night's Watch accompanying the army will act with the Buckwell forces, and I will be responsible for your safety."
***
Finally, the matter of accompanying the army was settled. The Lord Buckwell bid farewell to the other knights, and with their respective attendants, they walked towards the military camp belonging to Buckwell.
"Actually, King Robert had completely forgotten about summoning you. He only remembered when your friend reminded him." With no outsiders present, there was no need for formalities. The Lord Buckwell shook his head and chuckled, revealing the truth. This matter was clearly handled poorly, but a vassal had no right to criticize his liege, let alone the King: "His Majesty was thinking about how to arrange things for you, and I happened to be there, so I volunteered to take on this task."
"Uh, this... Lord Robert, you've gone to great lengths." Just as expected, his previous two premonitions had come true. Ten thousand grass-mud horses galloped through Aegon's mind, but cursing the King in front of a Crownlands noble was something he absolutely dared not do, at least not yet.
"You're welcome. Since you're here, there's no need to be anxious. King Robert has a poor memory. After new ideas pop up, he often forgets them quickly, but sometimes after a while, he suddenly remembers thoughts he had or things he said before. If the rebellion in the Vale ends and he remembers wanting to make Royce and the others take the black but can't find anyone, then you'll be in big trouble."
The Lord Buckwell was talking about the very concerns Tyrion and Aegon had—if he were an upright Night's Watch member who didn't care about being sent back to the The Wall, who feared nothing, let alone the King, then he wouldn't have to bother with Robert's absurd idea. Unfortunately, he wasn't. As long as the King gave the order, he had to comply. Even if this trip truly turned into just a journey to the Vale, he couldn't jeopardize his financial prospects.
"You are right, Lord. Coming here this time, I was actually prepared to waste some time."
"That's good. I know the Night's Watch vow is not to participate in internal conflicts among the Seven Kingdoms, but this matter is different. This is 'the Seven Kingdoms working together to quell a rebellion,' not Six Kingdoms ganging up on the Vale. The object of the war is not the Lord of Vale of Arryn. Strictly speaking, you accompanying them is not breaking the rules." Seeing Aegon's expression, Lord Buckwell thought he still had doubts and spoke again to reassure him: "Whether King Robert can achieve the unprecedented feat of breaking through Bloody Gate or not, no one will hold you responsible. Don't worry."
This was true. The Lord Buckwell was also a rare clear-headed person: if Robert broke through Bloody Gate, the outcome was self-evident; even if he couldn't, the most likely outcome was the King being forced to agree to the demands of the League of the Righteous and withdraw, while families like Royce would guarantee Lysa Tully's safety and hand her over to the King for a fair trial. As for "several Lord families teaming up to defeat the Six Kingdoms army led by King Robert himself," such a fantasy was only worth thinking about. Unless there were other transmigrators who went to the Vale, joined the League of the Righteous, and developed gunpowder beforehand, the aforementioned concerns were ultimately only "theoretically" possible.
He had already written to Castle Black to send a steward to the South. If the "quelling of the rebellion" was swift and smooth, he would just perform his duties normally. If it wasn't smooth, who would have time to remember him? Once a Crow arrived to take over his duties, he could shed the burden and return to King's Landing with peace of mind.
...
The Lord of Buckwell and the Night's Watch Chief Logistics Officer chatted as they walked towards the military camp belonging to the Bookwell family. From their conversation, Aegon quickly grasped more information: Buckwell had sent five hundred men to this battle, including twenty knights; the King had decided to set off tomorrow morning for the area around Saltpans to meet up with the Riverlands army, and then wait for the other kingdoms at the entrance to the Great Gorge; and there was one last piece of news that made Aegon almost choke: Robert had ordered Petyr Baelish to go to Braavos to apply for the next loan, to avoid a financial crisis if the rebellion-quelling war did not go smoothly.
Aegon couldn't completely hide his astonishment: "How is this possible? I mean... isn't our Master of Coin currently facing some accusations?"
"Yes, who knows? This fellow has always been responsible for the Iron Throne's borrowing from the Iron Bank. Now that there's a war, they can't find a suitable replacement to go to Braavos... Letting the adulterer borrow money, and then we send people to rescue ***, only our King Robert could do such an absurd... thing." The Lord Buckwell shook his head and sighed, swallowing a certain offensive word: "Of course, we are only discussing a rumor now. We can't assume it's true without evidence... If it is true, I estimate Littlefinger won't be returning to Westeros this time either."
"Indeed." Aegon calmed down. Although the matter was absurd enough, if Robert could even think of something like having a Night's Watch member accompany the army, what other foolish things couldn't he do? While unexpected, this matter wouldn't change the fact that Littlefinger had been brought down by his rumors. What could he, a minor noble with no power or influence, do even if he fled across the Narrow Sea? Would he dare to swallow the Iron Bank's loan to Robert and then establish his own power to attack Westeros? The Iron Bank would never support the opponent of its major client, and the Faceless Men were not to be trifled with.
Moving past this matter, they then talked about Jarman Buckwell, who was at Castle Black. Since most Crownlands nobles had originally sworn fealty to the Targaryens, Buckwell had inevitably sided with the wrong party in the Usurper's War—the future heir of the Bookwell family surrendered and was captured after Rhaegar was hammered to death by Robert at the Battle of the Trident River, then was forced to go the North to join the Night's Watch, later becoming a Ranger captain at Castle Black. Aegon had even almost been assigned to this man's command... Lord Buckwell's initial goodwill towards the Night's Watch was partly due to this connection.
"The Night's Watch has never had much contact with the Seven Kingdoms. How is it that this time they suddenly sent someone to the South to raise provisions, and even establish industries?" With Tyrion and the other Crownlands nobles no longer present, the old man could finally ask the question he hadn't dared to raise at the Night's Watch Office last time. Having a long-cultivated heir sent to The The Wall, and the family lacking outstanding younger generations, was a huge blow to any family. It was even possible that the family could decline because of this. It was impossible for the old men not to be anxious.
(Since Aegon Westerling in front of him could leave The The Wall and act freely in the South, could Jarman Buckwell also enjoy this treatment if a price was paid?)
Aegon immediately understood the meaning behind the Lord Buckwell's words: the other party saw hope in him and had the idea of getting "his heir" out of the Night's Watch!
--