King's Landing at night was still loud.
Lynn stood on the balcony of his new estate.
It had belonged to Petyr Baelish.
From here, he could see half the city's lights. Smell the sweet, cloying mix of cheap perfume and desire drifting up from the brothels below.
Money was just a tool.
His real prize was the web Littlefinger had spent fifteen years weaving.
Seven brothels. Warehouses at the docks. Estates outside the city.
These weren't just assets.
They were information nodes. Power hubs.
Without them, Petyr was finished.
"My lord."
A respectful voice came from behind.
A middle-aged man named Rob.
He handled intelligence work.
"It's all confirmed."
Rob handed over a thin sheet of parchment.
"Commander of the City Watch. Janos Slynt."
"Greedy as a pig. Cowardly as a rat."
"Every month, he takes three hundred gold dragons in 'protection fees' from your seven brothels."
"That's not counting the bribes he takes from shops, gambling dens, smugglers..."
Lynn took the list.
It was covered in Janos Slynt's dirty dealings.
Dates. Locations. Amounts. All of it.
"Good."
Lynn's finger tapped the name.
Janos Slynt.
The City Watch was King's Landing's largest armed force. Six thousand gold cloaks.
And their commander was a dog who could be bought with coin.
In Ned Stark's hands, this force was a double-edged sword.
If Ned didn't act, the gold cloaks were a blade hanging over his head.
If he did act, he'd face backlash from the queen and every other power in the city.
Lynn knew.
Once he left King's Landing—
—Ned would be devoured by wolves.
So before he left, he had to pull this fang.
And give Ned armor.
The Tower of the Hand
The atmosphere was heavy.
Ned Stark stared at a map of King's Landing, brow furrowed.
The fragile balance between king and queen weighed on him like a mountain.
"Lord Stark."
Lynn's voice came from the doorway.
Ned looked up.
Seeing Lynn, the exhaustion in his face eased slightly.
"You're here."
"I'm leaving for the Narrow Sea soon."
Lynn got straight to the point.
"But before I go, there's something we need to handle."
He placed the parchment—full of Janos Slynt's crimes—on Ned's desk.
"This is..."
Ned picked it up.
One glance. His face darkened.
"The City Watch... is this rotten?"
"This is just the tip."
Lynn's voice was cold.
"You're the Hand of the King. The realm's first minister."
"But in King's Landing, your power doesn't leave the Red Keep."
"Six thousand gold cloaks. They don't obey the king's law. They obey Janos Slynt."
"And Janos Slynt obeys gold."
"Think about it. After I leave, if you discover evidence against the Lannisters—what will Queen Cersei do?"
"She'll pay a few thousand dragons. Janos will lock down the Red Keep. And you and your family..."
Lynn didn't finish.
But the bloody image was already clear in Ned's mind.
"What should I do?"
"The king trusts you. And he trusts me."
Lynn's gaze was sharp as a blade.
"Robert hates Littlefinger. And Janos Slynt is Littlefinger's dog."
"We need to cut out this dog—and the rot behind him."
"In the king's name, purge the City Watch."
"But who will replace him?"
Ned frowned.
"I don't have anyone I can trust in King's Landing."
"You do."
Lynn tried to jog Ned's memory.
"The guards who came south with you from the North. They're battle-tested. Loyal to House Stark."
"Put them in the City Watch. Make them officers."
"Call more men from the North. Replace the gold cloaks' blood entirely."
"Then this army will be yours."
"Right now, Queen Cersei can't spare the attention. She's barely holding on herself."
Ned's breath quickened.
He looked at Lynn like he was seeing him for the first time.
Lynn had just handed him a butcher's blade.
"Will Robert... agree?"
"He will."
Lynn's tone left no room for doubt.
"The king values you more than you think."
The Throne Room
Robert's roar filled the hall again.
"That fat bastard!"
"He dares do this in my city?!"
He hurled the parchment to the floor. His massive body shook with rage.
"I've hated him for years!"
"A bald fool who can't even hold a sword—commanding my gold cloaks?"
He turned to Ned. His bloodshot eyes burned.
"Ned! Handle this!"
"Arrest that bastard Janos! I'll cut off his head myself!"
"No, Your Grace."
Lynn stepped forward. His voice steady.
"Cut off one Janos, and another will take his place."
"King's Landing's rot needs a thorough cleansing."
"You only need to give one order."
"Place the City Watch under the Hand's command. Temporarily."
"You oversee it. Until the Hand believes this force can once again defend the king's honor."
Robert stared at Lynn kneeling before him. Then at Ned's resolute face.
His chest heaved.
Finally, he forced out a single word.
"Fine."
The City Watch Barracks
The barracks sat near the Gate of the Gods.
The air always reeked of sweat, leather, and horse shit.
Janos Slynt lay shirtless, enjoying a massage from two serving girls.
On the table: chilled wine and honeyed melons from Dorne.
CRASH.
The door flew open.
"Who the fuck—"
Janos's curse died in his throat.
A figure in a black direwolf cloak strode in, flanked by gold-armored guards.
Lynn.
Behind him, surrounded by more guards—
—Ned Stark.
His face was iron.
Janos's heart dropped.
He scrambled to his feet. Fumbled for his clothes.
"L-Lord Hand! Ser Lynn! What brings you here?"
He forced a smile uglier than a grimace.
Lynn ignored him.
He walked to the table. Picked up a slice of melon. Ate it casually.
Ned pulled a scroll from his cloak. Signed by the king. Sealed with the Hand's sigil.
He unrolled it.
His voice was ice.
"By order of King Robert Baratheon, First of His Name—"
"Janos Slynt is hereby stripped of his command of the City Watch. He is to be arrested and held for trial."
"The Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, assumes temporary command. With full authority to purge the Watch."
The words hit Janos like thunder.
His smile froze.
Cold sweat poured down his bald head.
"No... this can't be! Lord Hand, there's been a mistake!"
He dropped to his knees. Tried to grab Ned's leg.
"I'm loyal to the king! I swear it!"
"Loyal?"
Lynn finished the melon.
Wiped his hands with a napkin.
Tossed a ledger at Janos's feet.
"Lord Janos. You've embezzled wages. Sold weapons. Sold commissions."
"Is that your loyalty?"
Janos saw the familiar ledger.
His face went white.
"Take him to the black cells."
Ned waved dismissively.
Two guards dragged the limp Janos away.
Lynn walked to the barracks door.
Outside, gold cloaks gathered in the courtyard. Confused. Wary.
Lynn's voice rang out.
"From today, the City Watch is under the Hand's command!"
He turned to the fifty Northern soldiers behind him—already dressed in gold cloak officer uniforms.
His first order was clear.
"Arrest every officer above the rank of captain."
"Anyone who resists—kill them."
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