Over 2,000 remaining members of the Golden Company entered the ruins of Ny Sar City. In a place with no dominant power, it was almost impossible not to attract attention.
Littlefinger changed into fine clothes and, accompanied by a dozen subordinates, set out to inquire about the Golden Company's situation.
"Are you not going?" Littlefinger asked, noticing Ramsay sharpening his dagger with a small whetstone while spraying cheap perfume.
Ramsay's voice was grating, and his subordinates, with their dark expressions, mostly looked as menacing as he did. "You have your habits, I have mine. I don't like face-to-face encounters!"
Littlefinger understood Ramsay's intention. The two would approach the Golden Company in different ways to gather intelligence—one openly, the other covertly.
Despite the Golden Company's current plight, both knew that a well-established force like them could easily defeat an organization built from scattered mercenaries like theirs. Littlefinger didn't want to lose the newly formed power to others, so he either needed to find a reason to quickly drive the Golden Company out or stir internal discord among them.
The current leader of the Golden Company was Watkyn, the former squire and cupbearer to the late Harry Strickland. A middle-aged man with pockmarked scars all over his nose, Watkyn claimed he didn't know his parents and thus had no family name. However, others suspected he was a wanted criminal from Essos.
After the previous leader Harry Strickland died from poisoning outside Meereen, the position of commander should not have gone to Watkyn. There were numerous experienced officers ahead of him, but after a series of assassinations by Theon and Asha, five leaders had perished in quick succession. No one was eager to take up the deadly position, so they nominated Watkyn, though the real power was in the hands of three senior officers: Lorimas Mudd, Brendel Byrne, and Denys Strong.
When a powerful force arrived, Littlefinger made a rare gesture of goodwill by inviting a few of the Golden Company's high-ranking members to the best restaurant in the city for a meal.
After several cups of wine, the Golden Company members, feeling rejuvenated from their exhaustion, began to chat with Littlefinger, who only took a small sip of his drink and spent the rest of the time engaging in conversation, carefully extracting information about recent events.
"Wright killed four dragons! How did the last poisonous dragon die?"
Watkyn was already half-drunk. "Ah, although we're enemies with Wright, if he hadn't killed that poisonous dragon, we might all have died there!"
Lorimas slammed his cup down on the table. "It's all Euron's fault! He wanted to use this opportunity to kill all of us!"
Littlefinger raised an eyebrow. "'Ironmouth' Euron, the great pirate, is operating at sea. You're on land, so what's the connection?"
Watkyn replied, "Then why did he summon the poisonous dragon?"
Littlefinger sighed inwardly. The Golden Company's former leadership was dead, and these new leaders had all been low-ranking officers. They knew little and were short-sighted. Littlefinger couldn't extract any valuable information from them.
"What are your plans next?"
Watkyn replied, "We're heading north to Braavos, away from the south. There's still some business we can do there."
Just as he finished speaking, Lorimas kicked him hard.
Littlefinger noticed Watkyn's expression remained unchanged after the kick, and when the food was served, he calmly called for everyone to start eating.
"We've encountered some trouble recently. Do you think you could hire some of your men to help us deal with it?" Watkyn finally spoke about something more serious.
On the surface, the Golden Company never sought help from outsiders, but now they had completely abandoned that tradition.
Littlefinger, who knew a great deal about them, played it cool. "I've heard some things. What exactly do you plan to do? Perhaps I can assist."
---
The city was full of all kinds of people, and with knives and veils, no one seemed to care. Asha and Theon, along with several mercenary band members, wore headscarves as they entered the city, hoping to first get a sense of the local situation.
They came to an open-air food stall under a ruined wall. After ordering a dish similar to one from the table next to them, they sat down, planning to finish their meal before discussing further matters.
Asha remarked, "Since the city was burned by a dragon, countless factions have occupied it over the past thousand years, but all were mysteriously overthrown not long after. These two won't last long either."
"Why?" Theon, holding a wooden fork, was famished. Several of the mercenary leaders listened in, one of whom, a fairly handsome man, had spent the night in Asha's tent the previous evening and was now sitting beside her.
Asha dipped her finger into her water glass and drew a rough sketch on the table. "This is a crossroads. Volantis, Pentos, Qohor, and Norvos—all four cities have failed to claim this place, and they've tacitly agreed not to interfere here. But others can't take it either; they'll be wiped out by the four if they try."
Theon chuckled, "Haha, sounds like these two are out of luck. If they were smarter, they'd take what they can and leave."
Not long after, the cook and waiter placed a large turtle shell on their table.
"Dig in!" The turtle was turned over on the table, and as Theon removed the turtle's shell from its belly, a rich, savory fragrance filled the air.
Inside the shell was a medley of stewed meats and vegetables. Asha's lover took the initiative to serve her first, and the others followed suit, serving themselves from the turtle shell.
Asha ate while using her spoon to pick out pieces of meat that clearly came from different animals, commenting, "I don't know what kind of meat this is, but it tastes good."
Theon, not picky at all, ate eagerly, with grease dripping from his mouth. "I heard that Wright loved eating turtle feasts when he passed through here! This is exactly like the one he had. Truly lives up to the reputation!"
"Hahaha, the turtle feasts today aren't the same as they used to be!"
A voice from a nearby table caught everyone's attention. They turned around, and the person was already approaching with a large jug of wine.
"Asha 'Silver Axe' and Theon 'NightFall' , it's a pleasure to meet you! May I join your table?"
The man, grinning widely, shook the jug of wine in his hand.
"Ramsay 'Black Demon', one of the two governors of Ny Sar, of course you're welcome!" Asha gestured to an empty seat and exchanged a look with Theon.
Theon didn't respond to Asha's glance, continuing to eat as though uninterested in the situation, though his foot was positioned near his sword, ready to unsheathe it at the slightest provocation.
With the support of Wright's intelligence network, the two recognized Ramsey immediately. After the Demon Squad was dispersed, many prisoners had been captured, and the kingdom's wanted notices had been issued. As the interrogations from various places were compiled, the two's identities were confirmed, and the updated wanted notices merged their names.
"Is there something you need?" Asha asked.
Ramsey poured wine for everyone. "The person I admire most is Wright. Once we start talking about him, we're friends!"
"You're quite amusing. What if we have a grudge against Wright?" Asha wasn't afraid of poison, taking a hearty drink herself.
Ramsey leaned in closer and whispered, "You two are the number one wanted criminals in Westeros. You originally followed Daenerys, and now you secretly hunt down the Golden Company. From Wright's standpoint, that means he has tacitly approved of your actions! The fact that you're still alive proves it!"
"You have quite the information!" Though Ramsey was partially correct, Asha raised her glass in a gesture of acknowledgment.
"Most of those who come to Ny Sar are involved in dangerous trades. Some of the Golden Company' deserters live here, and I generously took them in." Ramsey poured more wine for everyone. The jug quickly ran dry, and with a wave of his hand, several people from the nearby table rose to bring over more bottles.
"Governor, you really admire Wright?" Theon, finishing his meal, set down his utensils and spoke.
Ramsey looked at Theon with a sense of camaraderie, as both of them had a rough, unique appearance. "Wright is the light in my life. In my darkest times, it was his spirit that kept me going. Without him, there would be no Ramsey today! I even set up a statue of him outside the governor's mansion. After we eat, I'll invite you to the mansion to rest."
Theon, now somewhat alert, responded, "There's no need to rest at the governor's mansion."
Ramsey laughed heartily. "Hahaha, you two are the number one wanted criminals on the continent! According to our fugitive rules, anyone who makes it here is a hero. It's only right for me and Baelish to host you!"
"Now you and Baelish are number one and two, while we're number three!" Asha, used to such compliments, responded nonchalantly.
"Then consider it settled. Back to the turtle feast—used to be made with real turtles. The insides were removed, stuffed with ingredients, and the whole thing roasted over a fire. Now that was some real flavor!" Ramsey excitedly explained to them.
Theon asked, "Why don't you do it that way anymore?"
Ramsey shuffled the turtle shell on the table. "In recent years, turtles have nearly become extinct! People still want to eat them, but the chefs can only make do with what's left. The turtle shell is just a container now, reused over and over."
Originally, Ramsey had thought that Wright had killed all the turtles, but after arriving and questioning the locals, he found out that the turtle feast was a local specialty. Wright had only gotten involved in a conflict here, and it was the Golden Company that had falsely accused him. Outraged by their slander of Wright, Ramsey had developed a deep hatred for the Golden Company. However, maintaining his rationality, he approached Asha and her brother to try and make things difficult for the Golden Company.
After the meal, Ramsey took Asha and her group to the governor's mansion. When they saw the statue of Wright holding a turtle in the plaza, Asha nearly burst into laughter, covering her mouth to stifle it.
"It's made of wood for now, but soon I plan to replace it with marble!" As they listened to Ramsey explain the statue's background, Asha was now completely convinced that he was a fanatic follower of Wright.
Theon's mind was filled with mixed feelings. After all his years of effort—gaining power, women, and some wealth—he didn't seem to have gained much. He was still marked as a wanted criminal. But Wright had never gone back on his word, rewarding them based on their deeds...
Theon felt conflicted. After all these years of hard work, power, women, and a bit of wealth, it seemed like he had gained nothing. He still bore the title of a wanted criminal. But at least Wright had kept his word, rewarding people based on merit. His sister, Asha, had already become a "Lord" with vast lands. If not for him, she could have returned to enjoy her glory and life.
Theon clenched his fists, watching Ramsey, who was chatting happily with his sister, and decided to use this opportunity to form an alliance with him, hoping to wipe out the Golden Company in one strike.
By evening, Ramsey invited Asha and the others to a modest dinner at the governor's mansion, then took them to a local tavern for entertainment.
Most people in the tavern were without clothes, and couples were holding drinks, enjoying each other's company. Only Asha and the others, freshly entered, were dressed well.
"Do you never take off your armor?" Ramsey asked.
Asha smiled at him, reaching over and grabbing between his legs, fondling for a while before pulling her hand back, looking a bit angry. "Who did this?"
Ramsey kept grinning. "I've let go of the physical flaws, but my enemies are still firmly in my heart. Donnel Sarsfield!"
Asha: "Never heard of such a minor character."
Ramsey: "Heh, the 'hound' is always by his side—he's no minor character! I just regret not learning about these people back in the day. That's why I suffered a great loss."
Asha: "Are you planning to take revenge?"
Ramsey: "I can't go back, but I've been saving money. I've heard the Faceless Men in Braavos never fail to kill, but their services are expensive."
Asha placed a hand on Ramsey' shoulder. "Haha, it's good that you remember your hatred. Hatred is a motivator in life. Perhaps you could negotiate with the Faceless Men. Maybe if you just want to take his precious away instead of his life, the price might be discounted."
After their entertainment, the group used the excuse of retrieving luggage to leave the city. They sent news of Ramsey and Littlefinger's appearance to Volantis via ravens, then brought a large number of their subordinates back into the city. They rented several inns near the governor's mansion, while Asha and the mercenary leader moved into the mansion.
That night, Asha and Theon had already discussed a plan to use Ramsey' influence in the city and the mercenaries stationed outside to launch a two-pronged attack on the Golden Company. The only remaining problem was figuring out the stance of the other governor, "White Devil" Baelish.
"Asha, have you noticed that Ramsey looks at me strangely?" Theon recalled some things that had happened at the tavern.
Asha paused for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Some eunuchs lose interest in women during their growth. Surrounded by normal men, they start to develop affection for them instead. It's just the nature of missing something and desiring it!"
"Ah!" Theon felt goosebumps all over his body.
Asha walked over to him, pinching his strong arm and patting his firm thigh. "Not bad, very likable. Tomorrow, you should talk more with Ramsey. Use the advantage to your favor!"
"I won't! I'm a normal person!" Theon felt like he might throw up just thinking about it.
Asha laughed heartily. "To achieve our goal, sacrifices are necessary! You see, I don't mind; men come one after another, and they think they slept with me, but I'm the one who sleeps with them! Anyway, Ramsey doesn't have anything precious, and you're not losing much, so it's the same whether you blow out a candle or not."
"No~~" Theon felt himself slipping into a dark abyss.
Meanwhile, Ramsey and Baelish were discussing their plans together.
"You know I'm not fond of the Golden Company, but if you want us to take action against them, you'll have to offer something worthwhile. My men need to eat!" Ramsey, who had been drinking all day, was starting to feel dizzy.
Littlefinger: "Today, I met with the senior members of the Golden Company. They want to hire us to deal with the forces hunting Asha and Theon."
"Oh! Now both sides are coming to us. What are your thoughts?" Ramsey was nearly asleep.
Littlefinger: "The Golden Company is full of useless people! Right now, they're only good for money and numbers. Asha and Theon, however, have Wright's approval. That might be our opportunity."
Ramsey spoke slowly: "You're different from me. You were after the position of Lord of the Vale. You've offended too many high-ranking people—The king, the Vale, the Riverlands. Wright Baratheon won't tolerate you!"
Littlefinger: "Jon Arryn is Robert's foster father, not Wright's! Looking at Wright's trajectory, it's clear he's focused on the eastern continent, far from those old noble houses. I'm not asking to erase our crimes, but as long as we play our cards right, we might avoid the bounty. And some dirty work will always fall to people like us!"
Ramsey opened his eyes: "You want us to kill the Golden Company people here?"
Littlefinger smiled: "How can you say it like that! The Golden Company spent a lot of money to hire us, but since Asha and Theon messed up their plans, the Golden Company has suffered heavy losses. They can't blame us for that."
Hearing this, Ramsey was halfway sober. "Haha, fine. I'll handle Asha and Theon, you handle the Golden Company. We'll take the money from both sides!"
Littlefinger was skilled in plotting and schemes, while Ramsey excelled at communicating with the lower ranks and had outstanding execution. After a series of changes, neither had any moral boundaries left. Their bond, forged through shared struggles, was now blood-deep, and when they sailed to the eastern continent, they had already sworn brotherhood, determined to create something great.