Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 74: The Dazzling Iron Throne

The trial in the throne room began.

The Master of Laws, Hanna, spoke first: "Petyr Baelish, Varys, do you still refuse to confess to the murder of King Robert?"

Everyone looked at the two half-men placed in the middle of the hall.

Without a doubt, without help, Lord Petyr and Lord Varys couldn't move a step. Food and water were a luxury even when right in front of them.

These were true half-men. How cruel!

Plop~

Littlefinger suddenly fell face-first onto the hard stone floor.

Varys felt a pang of sorrow.

Without the support of the fixed wooden box, even moving his neck could topple his entire body. He could only carefully turn his eyes to survey his surroundings.

Directly in front of him, the Iron Throne cast a cold, giant shadow. The King on the throne was expressionless.

Queen Mother Cersei and Duke Edder sat to the left and right of the Iron Throne, respectively. The Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister and Meryn Trant, stood guard on either side.

Closer to him, at the council table, were Tyrion, Pycelle, Barristan, Hanna, the Hound, and other members of the Small Council.

Varys knew that the humble maid Hanna had already taken his place.

Master of Laws, it sounded more legitimate than Master of Whisperers.

Varys pleaded in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, my lords, look at my condition. Did I not anticipate such punishment at all?"

The courtiers remained silent. Varys and Littlefinger had completely failed, and their past relationships and promises were naturally null and void.

"It's Bloodraven!"

Varys's words were filled with hatred, "Thanks to His Majesty's insight, I finally learned the name of this insidious villain. He controlled my body and mind, I am no match for him!"

The fallen Littlefinger struggled to expose his mouth, "It is him! How can mortals resist such evil power?"

Joffrey quietly watched the reactions of the people below.

Tyrion chuckled, "You don't think you can escape responsibility by making up a story, do you? Who knows if it's true or false, Bloodraven may not even exist. My lords, am I right?"

Several courtiers nodded slowly, but were quickly reminded by those next to them, and hurriedly lowered their heads to admire the exquisite floor tiles, not daring to react in any way.

Bloodraven must exist.

Bloodraven must exist. Otherwise, how did King Robert die?

Varys argued again, "I have seen those children. Children of the Forest! They know how terrible Bloodraven is! Your Majesty, let them say a few words."

The Hound looked at the throne and waved his hand at the gold cloaks guarding the entrance to the small hall. Three chestnut-haired sprites walked out of the slowly opening passage.

"Good heavens."

"The Children of the Forest are real!"

"Gods have mercy, what a miraculous creation..."

The courtiers exclaimed in shock, losing their composure, even though this was not the first time some of them had seen the Children of the Forest.

Littlefinger immediately pleaded loudly, "My lords, please ask these little sprites how many conspiracies Bloodraven has, which loyal ministers he has murdered, and how many good and kind people his evil power has controlled."

Everyone looked at the Children of the Forest with curiosity, and the hall fell silent.

Leaf's voice was as beautiful as a song.

"Oh, the suffering and obsessed old man.

He once entered the tall human Gregor, strangling infants and queens;

He once entered the small human Petyr, stealing gold dragons and loyalty;

He once entered the crippled human Varys, concealing news and danger;

He once entered the proud human Renly, stirring ambition and desire.

The singer discovered him, and thus came to the South."

The mournful and natural song echoed in the hall for a long time, intoxicating people without them knowing it.

Loras broke the silent atmosphere, "Impossible! Lord Renly is not such a person! He has never done anything evil or shameful!"

The courtiers belonging to Highgarden either immediately voiced their support, or hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to speak now?

The other courtiers didn't say a word.

The Hound mocked, "Well said, Knight of Flowers. Are you representing the entire Tyrell family of Highgarden, or are you just speaking for your lover?"

Loras glared at the Hound, his face red.

Joffrey's voice was calm, "There is no need to argue. Earl Velaryon has already sailed to Storm's End to invite Uncle Renly back to court. The truth will be revealed in the future. Today, the trial is the main focus."

"Does anyone else have any questions?"

Loras reluctantly retreated to the ranks. No one else stood up.

Joffrey stood up, "Announce the verdict!"

The Regent and the members of the Small Council also stood up from their seats. The courtiers knelt on one knee, with their hands on their chests and their heads bowed.

"Inform the Seven Kingdoms that the mastermind 'Bloodraven' Brynden Rivers is guilty of treason and rebellion. A reward of ten thousand gold dragons will be given to whoever captures the criminal, dead or alive."

"The accomplices Varys and Petyr Baelish are somewhat excusable. They are to be stripped of all positions, wealth, rights, and honors, and placed near the throne day and night to offer advice, to atone for their sins. There may still be a day of forgiveness."

The courtiers shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty!"

Joffrey sat down again, accidentally touching a sharp iron thorn. The solid magic energy was consumed a little.

The courtiers stood respectfully, waiting to leave.

Tyrion cleared his throat, "My lords, don't rush. I have a difficult problem here, let's discuss it together."

There was still content after the trial? This was only the first day, His Majesty seemed to be too diligent.

The courtiers felt a sense of foreboding.

Tyrion opened the ledger and read, "The total debt of the national treasury is approximately six million five hundred and twenty-three thousand gold dragons:

Three million two hundred thousand to the Lannister family, one million three hundred thousand to the Iron Bank of Braavos, seven hundred thousand to the Church, six hundred thousand to the Tyrell family, five hundred and forty thousand to the Tyroshi Trading Company, as well as interest, losses, penalties for breach of contract, etc.

Last year, the national treasury's income was approximately one million three hundred and ten thousand gold dragons, and the expenditure was approximately one million and two thousand gold dragons.

My lords, this is still a time of peace, what if there is an urgent need for money..."

The situation is not optimistic."

Tyrion sighed and glanced at the courtiers, every face was lowered so that their expressions could not be seen, "Which lord has a solution? Please speak."

The hall was as silent as a graveyard.

Cersei finally couldn't help but scold, "Is the national treasury in such a bad state?! What have you been doing all this time?!"

Joffrey tried to bend a rusty sword blade on his right hand.

Prime Minister Edder's voice was low, "Your Majesty, calm down. The national treasury is already so empty, the most urgent thing is how to reverse the situation."

The courtiers remained silent.

They were only serving the throne in the court, and the affairs they were responsible for were not fixed, mostly temporary assignments. As long as they didn't speak out of turn, the responsibility for the national treasury would not fall on them no matter what.

Tyrion said, "I have a way."

Everyone's eyes focused on the Imp. What method could save such a precarious situation?

"My lords should know, right? The total amount of taxes collected in various places is as high as one million five hundred thousand gold dragons, but unfortunately, it has not been fully collected for many years."

The tax system of the Seven Kingdoms is not unified.

The lords of the Crownlands and other royal territories directly pay taxes to the Iron Throne, or are collected by personnel designated by the royal family.

The other lords of the Seven Kingdoms have autonomous taxation, but they must also pay allegiance to the throne according to the agreed proportion or amount. However, this agreement was not strictly enforced from the beginning, even the Targaryen Dragon Kings only symbolically received some gifts and tributes, and would not seriously care.

This was already an unspoken rule.

But now.

Almost everyone was stunned at the same time.

Provoking all the lords, how dare he?! Without the support of the lords, even the Iron Throne will become rusty scrap iron!

The sunlight suddenly became redder and brighter.

Hiss, so hot!

The people near the Iron Throne ran away the fastest, including the Kingsguard and the Regent.

Everyone looked at the Iron Throne from a distance.

His Majesty was still sitting there calmly, as if the hot air was just everyone's illusion.

"Send a message to every castle, make up all the outstanding taxes within three years, and the past will be forgiven. If you can't do it, hand over the territory to someone more qualified."

The Iron Throne under His Majesty was completely red-hot, and the steel was melting and flowing.

How dazzling.