Chapter 62

The sun rose, heralding the start of another day. As usual, Yoren, the wandering crow, headed to Flea Bottom after breakfast to “recruit” new brothers for the Night’s Watch. Tyrion, unusually energetic, left early to seek out collaborators for his much-anticipated “printing press” project. Meanwhile, Aegor allowed himself to sleep in. When the time seemed right, he mounted his horse and lazily made his way toward the street-facing storefront that Eddard Stark had arranged for the Night’s Watch in King’s Landing.

The seals and sign wouldn’t be ready overnight, and it would take another day or two to finalize the bonds. But the Night’s Watch office had to open as soon as possible. Whether for signing bonds or organizing recruitment efforts, such activities couldn’t be conducted outdoors or in borrowed spaces. Just as fraudsters often rented office buildings and hired staff to create the illusion of legitimacy, any money-related enterprise needed a fixed location to instill trust in first-time visitors.

Jack, Tyrion’s attendant, had already ordered desks, chairs, cabinets, and other office supplies based on Aegor’s list. He had also scheduled their delivery for today. As the applicant and future manager of the Night’s Watch office, Aegor had no choice but to supervise the furnishing and setup.
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True to their word, the suppliers arrived within half an hour of the shop opening.

After a quick clean-up, Aegor directed the workers as they moved the furniture inside and placed each piece according to his plans. While he had never run a business before, he’d grown up in his mother’s tailor shop, and the layout had left a subconscious imprint on him. Without realizing it, he replicated the structure of her store.

The office was divided into two rooms. The outer room would have two posters hanging on the walls: one explaining the details and rules of the Night’s Watch bonds, and the other outlining recruitment benefits and requirements. Below these would be two rows of benches for visitors to sit on. At the center stood a large desk, where the office manager would sit to converse with anyone curious about the bonds or considering joining the Watch. Those seriously interested would be invited into the inner room.

The inner room served as Aegor’s office. It housed a row of simple cabinets and shelves, with space left for future additions like a safe. Opposite the window sat a slightly smaller desk than the one in the outer room. Here, Aegor would hold more in-depth discussions, sign bonds, and handle recruitment contracts for the Night’s Watch.

After hours of hard work, both Aegor and Jack were drenched in sweat. They dragged chairs outside, sitting in front of the not-yet-opened Night’s Watch office, discussing what else might be missing.
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“Do you really think anyone will sign up for the Night’s Watch?” Jack asked, removing his Lannister armor and fanning himself against the oppressive heat. “Maybe you’re good at convincing people, but giving up marriage and freedom to wear black for life? I wouldn’t do it even if you killed me.”

“You’re not wrong. The Night’s Watch needs reform. If we keep clinging to those ‘sacred’ vows, we’ll disappear from the world sooner rather than later.”

“Reform?” Jack raised an eyebrow. “What kind of reform?”

Aegor smiled knowingly, though he had no intention of explaining his true plans. He wasn’t about to send droves of traditional recruits to the Wall—he lacked both the resources and the inclination. What benefit would he gain from sending men to take lifelong vows and become his “brothers”?

Sending a small number of recruits to stabilize the Wall’s defenses would reduce the chance of being recalled himself. But the larger the Night’s Watch grew, the harder it would be for Aegor to exert influence. He neither wanted to return to the Wall nor rely on others to prevent his recall.

His plan was simple: spend a couple of months pretending to recruit in King’s Landing, then write a letter to the Night’s Watch leadership, claiming that despite his best efforts to convince men to defend the Wall against wildlings and White Walkers, the lifelong vows deterred 99% of them. He would propose a temporary solution: allowing recruits to serve for a few years before returning home, which would encourage hundreds, if not thousands, to join.

Jeor Mormont, desperate for manpower, would have no choice but to agree.

With that approval, Aegor could hire workers under the guise of recruitment, paying them wages to fulfill his obligations. These “temporary recruits” would rely on Aegor not only for their wages but also for the promise of safe passage home after their service. In essence, they would be “his men,” tied to him by mutual interest. If such recruits made up a significant portion of the Night’s Watch—perhaps even a third or half—Aegor’s influence would grow immeasurably.

Even without an official title, he could become the second-most powerful figure in the Night’s Watch—or even its de facto leader. Figures like Alliser Thorne or Benjen Stark would think twice before opposing him.

What should he call this force? The Night’s Watch Auxiliary Corps? The Gift Development Brigade? Or the Wall’s Temporary Defense Force?

It didn’t matter. He had plenty of time to refine the plan. For now, there was no need to discuss it with Jack. Tyrion’s attendant was loyal but not privy to Aegor’s full ambitions.

The key to everything was the success of the Night’s Watch bonds. If the bonds succeeded, everything else would fall into place. Problems solvable with money were hardly problems at all.
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Jack, watching Aegor’s confident expression, felt an itch of curiosity. After spending so much time with Tyrion, he had developed an insatiable desire for knowledge. Just as he was about to press for details, his eyes widened in shock. “Damn! It’s Lord Stark! What’s he doing here, Aegor? He’s heading this way—do you think he’s looking for you?”

Aegor’s train of thought was abruptly interrupted. Following Jack’s gaze, he saw Eddard Stark, the current Hand of the King, riding down the street with a group of guards.
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Even if the Night’s Watch office were fully operational, it wouldn’t merit a visit from the Hand of the King. Eddard Stark was likely just passing through. But given his deep concern for the Night’s Watch, it wouldn’t be surprising if he stopped to inspect or offer “guidance.”

Technically, the Warden of the North had no authority over the Night’s Watch. But as a prominent leader, Stark’s support—or lack thereof—could make or break Aegor’s efforts in King’s Landing.
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Before long, the Warden of the North locked eyes with the man in black standing outside the storefront. Speaking briefly to his guards, Stark nudged his horse toward Aegor, his entourage following closely. They came to a stop at the office entrance.

“Lord Stark,” Aegor greeted, maintaining a calm and respectful tone. At that moment, he played the role of a loyal Night’s Watch officer perfectly—a demeanor Stark would have