The Salt Mine Standoff
Jon Snow couldn't figure it out. It was hard for him to judge other professions, but a properly equipped mercenary knight with armor and a trained horse would undoubtedly be able to handle such a caravan with ease.
The problem was that Jon currently had no armor, so he dared not take unnecessary risks.
While Jon was considering his options, the player exchanged quiet words with his servant. The thin, fake businessman approached Jon, who pretended not to notice their subtle movements and remained silent.
"I am Damon, a traveling merchant from Brightwater in the Reach," the man announced.
"I don't care who you are," Jon interrupted. "I only care about this shipment of salt."
"May I ask who you are?"
"Ser Jon Snow," Jon smiled. He didn't pretend to be a legitimate Lannister as he had with the groom earlier. After all, claiming to be illegitimate was far less troublesome than maintaining a complicated lie.
This was the advantage of pretending to be a bastard—as long as the other party didn't want to gravely offend you, they wouldn't press for details.
"Perhaps you haven't heard of me, but this salt shipment is requested by Ser Kevan Lannister, brother of Lord Tywin of Casterly Rock. I suggest you abandon any schemes you might have." Jon tugged at the tiger skin, a clear warning.
"Uh..." The thin businessman was visibly frightened. This clearly went beyond what his leader had instructed him to say, so he glanced back at the fat servant for help.
The fat man felt somewhat desperate and quickly stepped forward. "Sir, my name is Harui. My cousin isn't very bright. I usually make all the decisions for our caravan."
A reasonable explanation, Jon thought with an internal sneer. If I were truly some nobleman's bastard, I might have been fooled.
"I'm not a lord, just a knight," Jon sternly corrected the merchant's form of address, which might have been a simple slip of the tongue. "Regardless, it's your choice whether to cooperate. Hand over the salt shipment to me, and name your compensation. I can offer three times the market price. Even if you transported the goods south and sold them piecemeal, your profit wouldn't exceed this."
"Unless," Jon added, speaking nonsense while wondering if he could safely draw his sword, kill the businessman, and escape, "you're planning to evade taxes. You wouldn't be planning that, would you?"
He concluded that escape would be impossible. Judging by the unhurried pace of the salt miners, the foreman had likely already been bribed by these merchants.
He might have a chance if he simply killed the merchants and their few worthless servants before fleeing, but if the miners had been paid off, escaping would prove difficult.
Miners in this era were essentially a semi-criminal organization. Without certain skills, one couldn't control such a profitable operation. For these miners, cracking open a man's skull was no more difficult than breaking a stone in a well.
Moreover, the merchant's convoy blocked the mine's entrance. To leave, Jon would need to circle around the convoy just as he had done when arriving—increasing his risk of being beaten down by the salt workers.
Across from Jon, Harui's thoughts were racing. He wasn't here for profit from a small salt shipment. He was after the enormous sum of 3,000 gold dragons and S-level NPCs. Who would have thought he'd encounter this bastard?
If he abandoned this hunting opportunity and returned to Salt Harbor to set up again, time would be too short. A hundred players were thinking about how to claim the bounty, and time was everything.
"Of course not. We're legitimate businessmen. My family has been honest folk for three generations. We would never do anything illegal." Harui bowed respectfully.
"Oh? So four generations back, someone committed crimes? Otherwise, you should claim all your ancestors were good citizens."
"No, no, no," Harui quickly waved his hand. "I never knew my great-grandfather at all. We're honest people who never speak of things we cannot verify."
Yeah, right! You're an honest person and I'm the King of Westeros! "I don't have time for your jests. Will you accept my proposal or not?"
"No, no, that won't be necessary," Harui shook his head again. "We simply need the salt mine to return our initial payment. Please give my regards to Ser Kevan."
"Enough! Who do you think you are? When has Ser Kevan ever needed greetings from the likes of you?" Jon couldn't help but sneer, speaking with a Lannister's arrogance. "I offered three times the value. Take it and be grateful. Don't imagine this gives you any connection to our house."
Harui's face froze. He had spoken out of habit, completely forgetting that as a merchant, he had no right to claim acquaintance with House Lannister. Only after Jon's rebuke did he realize his error. He forced an awkward smile.
He dared not show anger, knowing that nobles in this era naturally held such attitudes toward commoners, even if the nobleman was merely a bastard.
Jon observed Harui and fought down his nervousness. I've ruined your trap, he thought. Do whatever you must.
Soon, Jon noticed Harui winking at the salt mine foreman. His suspicion was correct! The man had already bribed the foreman! Good thing I didn't act rashly.
"Sir Jon, please go to town and rest first. We'll begin inventory now. You can collect all goods early tomorrow morning," the foreman approached and said respectfully.
So they want to distract me so they can remain here. Jon's eyes narrowed as he replied, "Take me to see the goods first. Our family's transport team will arrive soon. My men will help, and we'll finish loading before nightfall."
"By the way, Harui, move your convoy. Don't block our position when the time comes." Jon looked directly at Harui, clearly stating his true intention.
Harui's convoy blocked the salt field's gate. If those carts moved away, Jon could escape immediately after killing him.
"As you wish, Sir. I'm happy to serve you." Harui bowed.
Hearing that a Lannister transport team was coming, he abandoned any plan to deal with the bastard. The Lannister men would leave with the salt today. At worst, he could fill bags with sand tomorrow and continue his scheme.
So Harui began ordering his servants to move the carts.
Seeing this, every nerve in Jon's body tensed, ready for swift action.
No one doubted him now. He only needed to kill Harui when the opportunity arose, before anyone could react. With his horse's speed, no one here could catch him.
However, just as Harui's carts were about to clear the area, the sound of arrows cutting through the air and a low scream suddenly broke the silence.
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