The Heavens: The Magical World Begins with The Lord of the Rings

Chapter 281 Unfinished Investigation

"Master Gao Yuan, you want to go to Dragonstone Island too?"

Ed Stark was very shocked by this. He didn't understand why the other party had to go to Dragonstone Island at this time.

Duke Goyuan and Stannis were strangers to each other, and the only intersection Eddard could think of between them was the secrets that Jon Arryn investigated during his lifetime.

Thinking of this, Ed couldn't help guessing secretly, could it be that Duke Goyuan had thought about it with him all the time, and wanted to seek the answer directly from Stannis?
"Maybe I shouldn't ask too much, but I'm still very curious, what did you go to Dragonstone Island, Duke Gaoyuan?" Eddard Stark asked suspiciously, "I mean, Duke Gaoyuan, you choose to leave King's Landing now, Are you planning to give up the investigation of that secret?"

Gao Yuan took a sip of Xia Rihong in his glass, and then told Ed helplessly: "I have already told you before, if I cannot dissuade Lord Ed from leaving King's Landing, then the purpose of my trip is not important."

"Even if I finally found out the truth of the matter, so what?" In Gao Yuan's words, he seemed to be full of resentment for Ai De's behavior of escaping privately, "At that time, Mr. Ai De, you had already patted your ass and left. I have left King’s Landing, and returned to my own Winterfell to enjoy the peace and happiness. But I, who only have these dangerous truths and secrets in my hands, will have to face a behemoth like Lannister alone at that time.

"Lord Jon Arryn died tragically because of this secret, and even Lord Stannis, the king's younger brother, heard the news and fled back to his Dragonstone Island." Gao Yuan looked into the other party's eyes seriously, "I'm not like Ai Like you, Lord De, with the protection and favor of King Robert, I will only die if I continue to stay in the city of King’s Landing, and I don’t want to step into the footsteps of the former Prime Minister.”

"In the entire King's Landing City, only Lord Ed, the king can listen to your words, and you are so soft-spoken!" Gao Yuan said with emotion, "Even if I told His Majesty Robert the truth about the truth I investigated, he would definitely not Take my word for it."

Gao Yuan's words made Ed fall into silence. He naturally knew how headstrong his old friend of the king was.If it is not something he is willing to believe or admit, even if the iron-like facts are in front of him, he can stubbornly refuse to admit it.

Sometimes even Robert can't listen to his own words, let alone the lofty "people speak lightly".

"Duke Gao Yuan, you are right. I really have no right to run away. I force you to stay in this dangerous King's Landing City and bear the threat from the Lannister family alone." Ed Stark immediately apologized.

"As for why I want to go to Dragonstone Island, it's all for this!" Gao Yuan took out the transfer order issued by King Robert himself and showed it to Ed Stark, "His Majesty Robert agrees that I will be stationed at From the Royal Fleet at Dragonstone, a number of ships were drawn to help defend the long coastline of the Vale."

Ed Stark couldn't believe it when he heard the words, and then he said with some concern: "The Duke of Stannis is the current Sea Minister, and the ships of the Royal Fleet were all supervised by him. Every ship in the fleet is dear to him, and I am afraid Stannis would not agree to assign them to you, not even with Robert's orders in your hand."

"Your Majesty Robert also knows this truth very well, so these ships are allocated from the royal fleet controlled by Stannis in the name of dispatching and assisting in the defense of the Valley." Gao Yuan told him triumphantly, "In name , These ships we sailed to the valley still belong to the Royal Fleet. As for when I will return these ships, it will all depend on His Majesty Robert's will."

"Perhaps after the threat from Daenerys is lifted, or after the valley has a powerful fleet of its own"

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Coming out of the prime minister's tower of the current prime minister, in addition to the dispatch order of the royal ship, Gao Yuan also has a coat of arms engraved with the wolf running in the ice field. The wolf running in the ice field on this coat of arms is Stark The family crest.

Before they leave King's Landing City tomorrow, Gao Yuan is still going to complete their unfinished investigation.As for the final result of the investigation, it doesn't matter now, and Ed Stark didn't have much hope for it, he just hoped that this matter can start well and end well.

In order to make Gao Yuan's investigation go smoothly, so that those who were visited by him would not have concerns about their identity or other reasons, Ed Stark handed over the coat of arms of his family to lofty.

Ai De stubbornly believed that when they learned that Gao Yuan was sent by the current prime minister, it might be easier to speak.

Bronze Jon and the others were still waiting outside the door of the Prime Minister's Tower. They saw Gao Yuan coming out of the Prime Minister's Tower and walking straight towards the outside of the Red Keep. Earl Jon, who was chatting with many Winterfell guards led by Erin just now, Immediately brought someone to follow.

"Lord Gaoyuan, I will send the letter to Runestone City as you ordered!" Earl Jorn who followed up panted and reported to him, "I believe that as long as Earl Gero in Seagull Town or the towns under the Grafson family have Due to the change, our troops will soon be able to completely surround the entire Seagull Town."

"Earl Jorn, you don't have to worry too much about the Grafson family in Seagull Town. The little girl from the Targaryen family on the other side of the strait hasn't called so soon." Gao Yuan nodded, "After I go back, I will personally Go to Seagull Town to visit that Earl Gero, if he is not willing to swear allegiance to me, I am happy to change Seagull Town to a new owner."

"Lord Ayrin was too kind to the Grafson family back then. They betrayed the Ayrin family during the War of the Reavers and turned to Prince Rhaegar."

"It's meaningless for you and me to be entangled in the past. The Grafson family has been cultivating in Seagull Town for many years. Since Lord Aylin didn't choose to eradicate them at that time, there is a reason for him to do so." Gao Yuan told he.

"Earl Jorn, after you leave the Red Castle, you will take some people to the pier of Blackwater Bay and help me recruit some experienced and strong sailors back. I need at least three hundred sailors, It would be even better if we could recruit more.” Gao Yuan ordered and exhorted, “It is best to be sailors who have served in the Royal Fleet, but there is no need for those sallow and emaciated alcoholics, let them board the ship. Come trouble."

Regarding the matter of the ship, Gao Yuan had not told Bronze Jorn before, so Earl Jorn was very puzzled by his arrangement at this moment: "Master Gao Yuan, are you going to go to sea by boat?"

"That's right, we won't take the King's Road this time! Instead, we will return to the valley from the sea by boat, and we may stop at Dragonstone Island for a short time in the middle, and then we can stop by and visit your castle, Earl Jorn. Gao Yuan smiled and told him, "You still have to find an experienced captain and a bigger boat for me, enough to accommodate all of us, and we are ready to go tomorrow!"

"If you're worried about not having enough money, you can get it from my championship prize in the martial arts tournament. That's a full [-] gold dragons!"

"It doesn't cost much to rent a ship and the captain, so there's no need for you, Mr. Gaoyuan!" Earl Jorn shook his head desperately when he heard the words, "If you come to Runestone City, I will definitely order someone to entertain you well. .”

"Earl Jorn, the cost of recruiting [-] experienced sailors is not a small amount." Gao Yuan reminded him, "As your lord, I have a sufficient number of golden dragons, so why spend your Earl Jorn's money? If If you really have a lot of money, you might as well buy a whole new set of armor for your two sons, Anda and Luoba."

"Speaking of your two sons, Earl Jorn, why didn't I see Sir Robert just now?"

Bronze Jon was a little embarrassed when Gao Yuan asked about Robert, and he said in a secretive way: "This bastard boy went to the Duke of Renly after the trial meeting and said he wanted to join Lord Renly. You should also know that Robert is my second son, legally speaking, he has no right to inherit the family."

"So I let him go"

"Isn't there a chance to become famous if you follow me?" Gao Yuan asked Bronze Jon with some displeasure, "Originally, I planned to make him the captain of my guard. Now it seems that it's okay, young man I can't hold my breath!"

"When I finish your orders, I will immediately call Luo Ba back and ask Mr. Gao Yuan to give him another chance."

"No need!" Gao Yuan said indifferently, "Twisted melons are not sweet! This is his own choice. Since Robert wants to be by Lord Renly's side, let him go!"

Earl Jon Royce, who was extremely embarrassed, hurriedly began to change the subject: "Lord Gao Yuan, where are you going next?"

"Don't ask me about this, you let Sir Anda follow me with ten people, and then you can go to your business!" Gao Yuan said impatiently, "We are going to leave tomorrow, I believe Jon Royce Earl, you still have a lot of preparations to do before departure."

Passing through the huge cobblestone-paved square and coming out from the main entrance of the Red Castle, Bronze Jon led the people away from the other direction, only Sir Anda and ten knights from the valley stayed behind.Sir Anda brought his white steed for Gao Yuan, and the saddle was already prepared on the mount.

Riding on horseback and walking on the bustling streets of King's Landing, Sir Anda and Sir Jon Redford followed up, one on the left and one on the right. Sir Jon was one of the four sons of Earl Houghton Redford.

At the dinner in Eyrie City, Earl Holden Redford once expressed to himself that he hoped that he could accept Sir Jon as a member of his bodyguard.

In this sultry and cloudy weather, it was hard for them to wear heavy steel helmets and armor. They must have been sweating profusely at this moment, but they had no complaints at all.

Wearing a dark green elven cloak, Duke Gaoyuan rode his horse through the city full of stinking and sewage, under the protection of ten valley knights.Gao Yuan felt countless eyeliners all over them, but he still looked calm and breezy while riding on horseback, and hurried towards his destination without any haste.

Gao Yuan is going to visit first, King Robert's illegitimate son Gendry, who now lives in Master Tob Mott's blacksmith shop and is an apprentice blacksmith of Tob Mott.

Master Tob Mott's blacksmith's shop is located on the top of Iron Street in Visenia Hills, not far from Bronze Jon's house at the end of Steel Street.His shop was much larger than the other shops on Steel Street, and there was a stone-carved knight on either side of the door, so it was easy to distinguish.

Walking in front of Master Tob Mott's blacksmith shop, Gao Yuan turned and dismounted and handed the reins to Sir Jon, ordering them to guard the door and walk into the house alone.

The thin maid in the blacksmith's shop had sharp eyes and immediately recognized the armor on Gao Yuan's body and the two badges on his chest.It didn't take long for the owner of the blacksmith shop to come out to greet him in a hurry. With a smile on his face, Tob Mott was busy bowing to Gao Yuan.

He was wearing a black velvet coat, with a hammer pattern embroidered with silver thread on the cuffs, and a heavy silver chain was tied around his neck, and the sapphire on it was the size of a pigeon egg.The attire of Master Tob Mott does not look like a blacksmith to Gao Yuan, but looks like a big businessman who is doing business on the other side of the strait.

"Girl, go and pour wine for Lord Gao Yuan." Tob Mott shouted at the girl, and then motioned Gao Yuan to sit on the bench beside him, "My name is Tob Mott, Mr. Gao Yuan, please hurry up." Sit down and treat this place as your own home."

"Master Gao Yuan, your performance at the Prime Minister's Competition was wonderful, especially the armor on your body is simply a perfect work of art. Ever since I returned from participating in the Prime Minister's Competition, I have been trying to copy the armor on your body. It's just a pity that they all failed." Tobe Mott said as he filled two paired silver goblets with wine.

"I found that you still lack a helmet in the arena. If you need me to make a new helmet for you, then you have come to the right place." Ever since Gao Yuan walked into this blacksmith shop, this Master Tob Mott has been chattering, without giving Gao Yuan a chance to speak, "My lord, the price of what I make is very high, and I admit it myself."

"But I can assure you, you will never find anyone in the Seven Kingdoms who can compare with me." Tob Mott continued to brag about himself, while Gao Yuan just watched the other party's performance quietly, "If you If you don’t believe me, you can visit every blacksmith shop in the city and compare them yourself.”

"Actually, any country blacksmith can make a helmet. Even the apprentices in my shop are better than what they make, and what I make is a work of art!"

Gao Yuan sipped the strong wine in the glass, just listening to him continue talking.According to Toub's bragging, not only the whole set of armor of the Knight of Flowers was bought from him, but also many noble knights who really know the goods are also his regular customers, not to mention His Majesty's younger brother, Lord Renly.

Tobe also asked if he had seen Lord Renly's new outfit?Of course Gao Yuan knew the outfit he was talking about. In the tournament, Renly was wearing the green armor and gold antler helmet and lost to the "Hound Dog". For this reason, he also broke the antlers on the helmet.

Master Taub told him that no master in his own city could make such a deep green, because he had learned the secret of penetrating the color into steel when he was an apprentice in Quhor as a boy.In contrast, painting or glazing is just a trick for the uninitiated, which he calls child's play.

Seeing that Gao Yuan didn't respond, Tob also said that he also learned the technology of making Valyrian steel in Qohor.Only those who know the correct spells can make those old weapons look like new again.Obviously, the Valyrian steel sword "Ice" handed down by Stark's family was recast by the Tob in front of him.

"Your family's coat of arms is the evening star and golden dragon, right?" Tob still didn't give up, he patted his chest and promised, "I can help you build a golden dragon and silver sword helmet, and keep the evening star in the dark. Also sparkle."

"It's the Evening Star Golden Dragon!" Gao Yuan corrected his mistake with a smile, and asked him, "I heard that you also helped Lord Ayrin make a falcon helmet?"

Tob Mott was stunned when he heard the words, and he stopped rambling, but put down the wine glass in his hand: "The former Prime Minister did look for me at that time, and there is His Majesty's younger brother Stannis by his side. The grown-ups accompanied me. It is a pity that I did not have the honor of serving them."

Gao Yuan looked at him calmly. He didn't say anything, but just waited quietly for him to continue. Sometimes silence is more effective than taking the initiative to ask.This master Tob Mott obviously also noticed the two coats of arms on Gao Yuan's chest, besides the evening star golden dragon symbolizing Gao Yuan's family, there was also a coat of arms of a direwolf.

"Master Gao Yuan, I think you are here today to find that child, right?" Master Tuobu continued, "The former Prime Minister and the others also came to meet that child, so I took them to the forge room."

"That's right, I did come here today for this child. Lord Eddard Stark couldn't come in person for some reason, so I can only make a trip for you." Gao Yuan said with a smile, "Time doesn't matter." It's too early, maybe next time I come back, I will ask you to build a helmet for me, but for now, let's go meet that child first."

Tob Mott glanced at him calmly and cautiously. Gao Yuan knew that his gaze fell on the direwolf emblem on his chest, and his previous friendly and enthusiastic tone disappeared without a trace: "Obey, my lord!"

Taub led Gao Yuan into the back door, through a long and narrow courtyard, and into a spacious stone barn, where the forging work of the blacksmith shop is usually carried out.

As soon as the door of the forge room was opened, a wave of heat gushed out, but Gao Yuan didn't feel anything unusual, and even felt very comfortable all over his body.A forge was blazing in every corner, and the air was filled with the scent of gunpowder and brimstone.

The blacksmith foreman glanced at the two people who walked in, just wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then continued to wield the hammer and pliers, while the shirtless apprentice worked hard to push and pull the blower made of cowhide.

Tobba called a tall boy about 15 years old with stone muscles in his arms and chest.

"This is the new guardian of the East Territory, Lord Gaoyuan! He came to you today on the instruction of the new Prime Minister."

While listening to Tobu's introduction, the boy looked Gao Yuan up and down with his gloomy blue eyes, and kept flicking his sweat-soaked hair behind his ears with his fingers.His hair was thick and thick, perhaps because it was soaked in sweat, and the ink-black hair was messed up.

"My lord, his name is Gendry! He is already very strong at this age, and he is very diligent in his work." Tuobu introduced to Gao Yuan, "Jendry, I will soon build the top of your body." Bring the helmet here for your lord to see."

The boy was at a loss at first, but then he shyly led them to the bench where he was resting, and handed Gao Yuan a helmet shaped like a bull's head.Gao Yuan didn't take the helmet from the other party's hand, and he could tell at a glance that this uncrafted helmet was just the play of the boy in front of him, and it was more delicate in shape.

"According to your current age, this helmet is already very well done." Gao Yuan was not stingy with his appreciation, "Would you be willing to part with it and sell it to me?"

Gendry hid the helmet behind his back: "This is not for sale!"

Tob Mott suddenly looked terrified, and he hurriedly slapped the boy on the back of the head: "Boy! This is the Duke of Gaoyuan, the Duke is willing to pay for the rubbish in your hands. It's very kind of you."

"How dare you refuse my lord!"

"I made it for myself," said Gendry stubbornly, with a stubbornness almost identical to King Robert's.

"My lord, I'm really sorry!" Tuobu hastily apologized to Gao Yuan on his behalf, "Since he came to my blacksmith shop, this boy has always looked like this stubborn, like a piece of pig iron, and the pig iron just needs to be beaten. "

"Forgive me, my lord!"

"However, this helmet is not a valuable thing. If you forgive Gendry, I promise to personally build you an unprecedented high-quality helmet."

"It doesn't matter, he didn't do anything wrong, so there's nothing to forgive! It can be seen that Master Tuobu cares about this child very much, which is a good thing." Gao Yuan turned to look at the boy, "Gendry, Ai When Lord Lin came to see you, what did they tell you?"

Gendry lowered his head in fear, and he replied honestly, "My lord, he just asked me a few questions."

"what is the problem?"

The boy raised his head and shrugged his shoulders: "Just asking me how I am doing here, how my master treats me, whether I like my life here, and things about my mother, who she is and what she looks like. "

Gao Yuan asked him kindly: "How did you answer Lord Ayrin?"

"She died when I was very young, I just remember her hair was blond. Sometimes she would sing to me, she was working in the tavern, and we were kicked out by the tavern owner. "The boy's tone was a little sad.

"Did Stannis ask you a question?"

"You mean the one with the bald head and the one with the tight face?" Gendry shook his head, "He doesn't talk every time he comes, just stares at me with fierce eyes, just like me and his daughter Like getting out of bed."

"Boy, be careful when you speak!" Master Tuobu scolded, "You are talking to the Duke right now."

The boy who was reprimanded by Toub lowered his head in fear.

Master Tuobu continued to explain to him: "This child has been very smart since he was a child, but he has a stubborn temper. You see other apprentices in the helmet forge room saying that he has a temper like a cow, so he made a cow helmet specially To piss them off."

"Young man, let's go to work!" Gao Yuan carefully inspected the outline of his chin, and his pair of cold sky blue eyes, "Sorry to bother you."

After saying this, he turned around and walked back to the inner room. When Tob Mott followed up, he turned around and asked casually, "Who paid for this kid's apprenticeship fee?"

Tobu was a little panicked when he heard the words, he seemed to be particularly afraid of this question: "You have seen it yourself, this kid is very strong, and his hands are born to forge iron, this kid has the potential to inherit my mantle, So I didn't charge an apprentice fee."

"Do I look so foolish? Tob Mott, tell me the truth!" Gao Yuan asked him in a rather stern tone, "The most important thing in this city is a strong young man, unless the Seven Gods personally Come down in front of you, otherwise you can't not charge the apprenticeship fee."

"Tell me, who paid the apprenticeship fee?"

"It's a nobleman in the palace, I can tell" Tob Mott seemed reluctant to say this, "he didn't give his name, and he didn't have the family coat of arms embroidered on his coat. He spent a lot of money. The apprentice The fee was directly paid to me twice, saying that it is usually the child's apprenticeship fee, and the other half is to keep me from talking about it."

"I believe you should still remember his appearance!"

"He is stout and broad-shouldered, but not as tall as you," said Master Mott tremblingly. "He has a brown beard on his fat chin, and it seems to have a little red in it."

"My lord, I don't want to cause trouble!"

"No one wants to cause trouble, but Master Mott, I'm afraid this is an era of constant trouble!" Gao Yuan said in a deep voice, "You know who this child is."

"Master Gao Yuan, I'm just a master blacksmith who forges iron, and I don't know anything that I shouldn't know."

"I'm not asking if you know!" Gao Yuan kindly reminded the other party, "You know the identity of this child very well."

After Gao Yuan’s reminder, Master Tuobu finally came to his senses. He met Gao Yuan’s dignified gaze, which was as stubborn as iron and indestructible: “This child is an apprentice I recruited from the countryside. He came to me for a reason. Who, that's none of my business."

"A child can be taught!" Gao Yuan nodded happily, "If one day Gendry doesn't want to continue making swords, but wants to actually get a knife or a warhammer for fun, you can tell him to come to me, I think he is a soldier material."

"You should know where to find me!" Gao Yuan exhorted, "Until then, Master Tuobu thanked you for taking care of his father. If I come to your blacksmith shop next time, I will ask you to build a blacksmith for me." A fine helmet, I assure you!"

When Gao Yuan walked out of the blacksmith's shop, Sir Anda was already waiting outside the door with his horse. He leaned forward and asked Gao Yuan, "Master Gao Yuan, have you found anything?"

Gao Yuan took the reins from the other party's hand, and jumped onto the horse's back: "The illegitimate son of our flamboyant king who lives outside, doesn't know what the former prime minister did with the king's illegitimate son?"

"His Majesty Robert's love affair is already well known in King's Landing," Sir Anda said with a laugh, "He has an illegitimate son living outside, which is very common."

"This is very unusual, Sir Anda!" Gao Yuan said in a deep voice, "Jon Arryn even lost his own life for this. There must be a huge secret hidden in it."

(End of this chapter)