The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Night. Braavos. The House of Black and White on the Isle of Gods.

The Elder's Courtyard.

"Shh!" A voice echoed from a dark corner of the room.

Arya Stark stopped in her tracks.

In the Elder's Courtyard, no one would shush like that. If they did, they must be an enemy.

The figure emerged from the shadows, clad in black, a narrow sword at their waist, face hidden beneath a black hood. A swordsman of medium build, dressed in ordinary black clothes, with an obscured face.

"Who is it?"

"Someone here to protect the House of Black and White."

"From the Iron Bank or the Sealord?"

"They are the same."

"The Iron Bank and the Sealord standing together so quickly… You're so deranged that you dare to make a move against the House of Black and White? Is it the prophet who bewitched you? Or Bernice of the Iron Bank?" Arya's voice was colder than ice.

"You are not a true Faceless Man, yet you sit in the position of a Faceless Man elder. We cannot stand by and watch you completely destroy the ancient ways and glory of the House of Black and White."

"Since when is it the Iron Bank's or the Sealord's concern what happens in the House of Black and White?" Arya smiled, but there was not a trace of a smile on her face.

"Draw your sword." The black-clad figure stood before Arya, hands behind their back. They were too confident in their swordsmanship, believing they could let Arya draw her sword first. They believed their swordsmanship was definitely faster than Arya's. Their expression and tone showed they did not take Arya seriously at all.

"I don't need to draw my sword to deal with you," Arya said calmly. She was even more arrogant than her enemy.

"Oh! You still have some of the demeanor of a Faceless Man. I like your overconfident arrogance."

Whoosh!

With a soft sound, the black-clad figure drew their narrow sword. The sword light shimmered like autumn water.

"There are three more of you. Come out together," Arya said indifferently. "Since you've come, don't even think about leaving."

Three figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the wooden door, the trees, and the courtyard walls.

"All four of you, come at me together." Arya's tone was equally terrifying. She drew Needle.

"You, the youngest of juniors, are so arrogant and ignorant." The black-clad figure couldn't help but laugh. "I alone can easily kill you. Get ready, I'm going to thrust!" As the words finished, their narrow sword transformed into a lightning bolt, shooting towards Arya's chest.

So fast!

It was like a powerful arrow flying towards her!

This was the second time Arya had seen such a fast sword.

The first time she had seen such a fast, lightning-like sword was when her senior brother was teaching her the one-hit-kill sword technique.

Clang!

With a soft sound, a black shadow appeared out of nowhere, blocking Arya's path. The shadow resembled Arya greatly, the shadow sword in its hand slanting upwards. It didn't seem fast, but it was so fast that it became a faint shadow. The lightning bolt was silently cut into two pieces. The upper half flew into the air, followed by a flash of the shadow. The shadow sword vertically cleaved, falling from the top of the black-clad figure's head, splitting the person in two, just like an extremely sharp blade easily cutting through a piece of cheese.

No matter how fast the sword that transformed into lightning was, it couldn't be faster than the shadow.

A shadow that was almost fused with the darkness.

The two halves of the body that had been split in the middle were still stuck together, taking half a step back before falling apart, the stench of blood instantly filling the courtyard.

With a clang, half a short sword fell to the bluestone ground.

In just one exchange, the black-clad figure, who completely looked down on Arya's swordsmanship, died a violent death, entrails and blood splattered all over the ground.

"This demoness knows witchcraft. She has long blasphemed the Red God. Everyone, attack together!" a dry voice said.

Three narrow swords were silently drawn, pointing at Arya in a fan shape.

This time, the three assassins were very cautious, staring intently at the shadow in front of Arya, not daring to launch a thrust rashly.

"Put down your swords, kneel down, and I will let you die peacefully in the House of Black and White," Arya's voice was as sharp as a narrow sword. "If anyone is willing to say who sent you, I might consider sparing their life."

"Do you keep your word?" a black-clad figure asked sharply.

"In the name of the Red God, the God of Death, and the Many-Faced God," Arya said. For a Faceless Man, there was no oath more devout than one sworn in the name of the Red God, the God of Death, and the Many-Faced God.

"Good!"

With a flash of sword light, the throat of one of the black-clad figures was pierced by his companion, while another black-clad figure swayed and melted into the darkness, fleeing towards the courtyard wall. Amidst the sound of footsteps, his scream echoed under the courtyard wall, the sound so short that it seemed like it hadn't happened at all. Anyone who heard the scream would suspect it was just a hallucination.

Arya's shadow chased after the black-clad figure as he fled. Just as the black-clad figure jumped up and grabbed the courtyard wall, the shadow sword severed both of his hands. The black-clad figure had just let out a scream when his throat was cut and his head flew off. From the neck cavity of the standing body, hot blood gushed upwards, like a spring from the earth.

"Speak, who sent you?"

"You promise to spare my life?"

"I promise."

"It was…" Suddenly, a sword light flashed, and the narrow sword in the black-clad figure's hand fiercely stabbed towards Arya's abdomen.

The distance was very close, and the abdomen was the largest area that was most difficult to dodge. Moreover, the attack was very concealed. If it was a stab to the throat, Arya would have seen the change with a slight movement of the wrist. The drooping narrow sword, the sudden attack, the best place to assassinate, was the vital point of the abdomen.

This black-clad figure killed his companion to gain Arya's trust, making Arya relax her vigilance towards him. The other black-clad figure fled, drawing away Arya's shadow guard, and then launched a surprise attack when Arya was most relaxed. As long as the sword pierced through Arya's abdomen, they could easily kill Arya.

Arya, whose abdomen had been pierced, would certainly not be a match for a swordsman whose swordsmanship was already above Arya's. And by the time the shadow guard returned, Arya would have been stabbed at least seventeen or eighteen times with the narrow sword and died beyond any chance of revival.

These black-clad figures were all assassins who were impossible to be bought off by Arya's so-called promise of life. Their coordination was so seamless that it was as if they had practiced countless times beforehand.

The horror of these people exceeded Arya's imagination.

However, this sure-kill sword missed.

This was absolutely impossible.

Unless Arya had other witchcraft besides the shadow guard.

Arya was like a fallen leaf, blown away by the sword energy raised by the sure-kill sword light.

The black-clad figure couldn't believe that his surprise attack had failed. Shocked, he gave chase with all his might. He had just taken a step when a shadow sword pierced in from the back of his neck and came out through the front of his throat. The black-clad figure's body stiffened and immediately froze.

The long shadow sword was stuck in his neck.

Arya drifted back silently, and Needle in her hand lifted the hood of the black-clad figure, revealing a young face filled with shock!

*

The Iron Bank's council chamber was very large, with bright light. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in the outside sunlight, and the high dome made people feel their own insignificance.

Beneath the dome, a long black table, four people, the atmosphere oppressive and silent.

"Elder Oswell, were the four assassins we sent really all killed by Arya alone?" Manager Bernice's question was very light, very careful, as if afraid of waking a sleeping child, or as if afraid that someone was silently eavesdropping in the air.

Elder Oswell silently glanced at Bernice, not answering the question he already knew the answer to.

Bernice was unwilling to believe it, rather than not believing it.

It was said that four of the Iron Bank's best assassins had easily sneaked into the House of Black and White's Elder's Courtyard, but were all killed by Arya alone. How was this possible? The three elders all agreed that only one assassin needed to be sent to kill Arya, but in fact, even with four assassins all out, placing four insurances on Arya's death, Arya still wiped them all out.

Elder Oswell and the Finance Elder and the Internal Affairs Elder had been sitting here silently for who knows how long. Manager Bernice really couldn't bear it any longer. To relieve his own pressure, he had to find something to say. Under extreme pressure, speaking could relieve his feeling of suffocation.

"I admit that Arya is the Heavenly Mandated Elder chosen by the Red God." The Internal Affairs Elder, speaking slowly, slowly, and even more slowly, said one word at a time, "My previous judgment was a mistake. I must correct the mistake, re-establish trust with the Heavenly Mandated Elder, and ask her to help us contact Mount, to see if there is a way to cooperate with Mount on banknotes and banking."

Elder Oswell and the Finance Elder looked at the Internal Affairs Elder together, their gazes filled with doubt.

Manager Bernice was even more incredulous.

The Iron Bank had stood for a thousand years, with so much gold that it could easily buy the next powerful country. When would it cooperate with a king who didn't have much gold? Even if they did cooperate, others would come to them. The Iron Bank never took the initiative to seek cooperation with anyone.

"Even if we want to cooperate, we have to let Mount come to us," Elder Oswell said slowly.

The three elders looked at each other, and then there was a suffocating silence again.

Bernice couldn't accept the words of the two elders. He would rather die than have the Iron Bank cooperate with Mount. As a manager of the Iron Bank, Bernice had long ago believed in the Iron Bank's authority with his life. Supreme authority would make people addicted and obsessed, thereby forgetting themselves.

*

In the House of Black and White's Hall of Faces, the bodies of the four assassins were pieced together. For bodies that had been cut in two, the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White could easily piece them together. This was much easier than shaping faces and peeling skin. Several old monks walked around the four dead, chanting prayers, hoping that the four souls could obtain a place in the realm of the God of Death.

In the Hall of Faces, all the Faceless Men were present.

The Heavenly Mandated Elder had killed four top assassins who had sneaked into the Elder's Courtyard alone last night. This had instantly gained the Heavenly Mandated Elder the respect and following of all the Faceless Men. The Faceless Men were all top experts in hiding, tracking, assassinating, identifying, and blending into the darkness. The doors of the House of Black and White were also tightly closed, with Faceless Men or Faceless Men monks guarding every place. But even so, the other party could easily enter and exit, and enter the Elder's Courtyard to ambush. In this sense, the ability of each assassin was no less than that of a Faceless Man. In fact, these four people were even more powerful.

And the Heavenly Mandated Elder was able to kill such powerful four people alone, instantly conquering the hearts of everyone in the House of Black and White.

The Elder chosen by God was absolutely right!

Arya stood in front of the statue of the Many-Faced God, her small body becoming incomparably tall in the eyes of everyone. Behind her was the light of the dragon glass candle, and the tall statue of the Many-Faced God.

"Someone wanted to kill me last night. They sent four assassins, any one of whom could freely enter and exit the House of Black and White, just like in their own room. These people can change their appearance at will, and can easily sneak into the darkness to escape. In Braavos, besides the House of Black and White, who else has the same abilities as the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White?"

"Heavenly Mandated Elder, the elders of the Iron Bank have secretly learned the skills of the Faceless Men," an old monk's trembling voice sounded. His face was full of wrinkles, all his teeth had fallen out, his eyes were sunken in his sockets, and his hands were so thin that they were skin and bones.

"The Iron Bank?"

"Yes, the Iron Bank. The elders of the Iron Bank secretly learned our Faceless Men skills. This stems from the ancient tradition of the founder of the Iron Bank and the founder of the House of Black and White. In the beginning, the House of Black and White and the Iron Bank were one family."

*

In the Iron Bank's Elder's Council Chamber, Manager Bernice said, "Three elders, we can make peace with the House of Black and White, accept their return of gold, and agree that they terminate the contract with the prophet, but I suggest that the plan to eliminate Mount be carried out secretly by us. The House of Black and White only needs to stay out of it."

"Since Arya is really the Heavenly Mandated Elder, what she says has credibility." The Internal Affairs Elder said slowly, slowly, slowly, "Arya said that Mount is the Green Prophet, and had already foreseen Bran's assassination plan. As long as the House of Black and White does not terminate the assassination plan, Braavos will be flooded by dragonfire."

"How can Braavos be flooded by dragonfire? The citizens and nobles of Braavos have nothing to do with this matter." Bernice retorted, "Elders, perhaps you are too worried. Send assassins to kill Mount, and all the problems we at the Iron Bank are worried about will be solved. One person, one sword, the matter is that simple."

"Bernice, you may leave," the Finance Elder said faintly.

Bernice opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing. He stood up, bowed, and withdrew.

"Bernice will definitely not agree to the Iron Bank cooperating with Mount on banknotes and banking," the Internal Affairs Elder said slowly.

"He has been in charge of the Iron Bank for seventeen years. In his heart, the Iron Bank is supreme. As long as we cooperate with Mount, Bernice will think it is surrender, submission, and shame," Elder Oswell said.

"If we want Bernice to continue serving, we need to wait for him to calm down before we talk to him," the Finance Elder said.

The other two elders looked at each other and nodded. They agreed with the Finance Elder's statement, giving Bernice time first, and then talking to him to untie the knot in his heart.

*

Night.

The stone house where Bran lived.

After saying a lot of analysis of the pros and cons, Manager Bernice asked Bran Stark, "Prophet, do Arya and Mount have any weaknesses?"

"Everyone has their own weaknesses," Bran said, looking at a certain spot on the ceiling.

Bran's lack of expression and his attitude of never looking Manager Bernice in the eye made Bernice feel very uncomfortable, but he endured it because he needed the Green Prophet's help.

"Prophet, what are the weaknesses of Arya and Mount, and how can we kill them?"

"Killing the Demon Mountain only requires a narrow sword."

"And killing Arya?"

"No matter how powerful a Faceless Man is, all it takes is a fire."

"No matter how powerful a Faceless Man is?" For some reason, Bernice's mind flashed to the three incompetent elders of the Iron Bank.

"Yes, a fire can solve all of Manager Bernice's problems."