Chapter 86

The partial bad news in the letter was that while Mormont approved the idea of recruiting temporary guards for the Wall, he didn't fully accept the plan's more subtle intentions. The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch placed specific restrictions on Aegor's proposal: anyone recruited to temporarily assist at the Wall, and intending to return to civilian life after a few years, could not be called a member of the Night's Watch unless they swore the official oath. Not only that, they couldn't undergo formal training at Castle Black like ordinary recruits. They had to arrive at the Wall as mercenaries, rather than sworn brothers, and immediately contribute to its defense.

In summary, the recruits Aegor brought in were barred from becoming fully integrated members of the Night's Watch, and they had to be ready to take on military tasks as soon as they reached the Wall.

Under these restrictions, Aegor was left with two options: hire professional mercenaries or train recruits himself.

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The first option was appealing. In this era, mercenaries were professional soldiers, their combat effectiveness almost guaranteed. However, mercenaries came with high costs. Employing them made sense only for those with deep pockets, like the Lannisters, or in conflicts where spoils of war could cover their wages and pensions. For Aegor and the Night's Watch, who faced the wildlings and the White Walkers, two types of enemies who offered no financial return even in victory, this was a problem. Defeating wildlings might yield some spoils, but White Walkers left nothing of value behind.

Without any means to "fight to support the war," Aegor knew mercenaries, always pragmatic, would demand steep upfront payments. While a few thousand gold dragons was a significant amount, enough to start a business, it would barely make a dent if funneled into mercenary wages.

Aegor simply couldn't afford that luxury right now. His only viable option was to train recruits himself.

What a nuisance. Aegor frowned. Did Mormont see through his plan to gradually dilute the Night's Watch with outside recruits to increase his influence? Or was it simply about maintaining the "purity" of the Night's Watch as a brotherhood? Or, perhaps, it wasn't that complicated at all, maybe Mormont just wanted to add another burden to keep him busy and "productive" while stationed in King's Landing.

Whatever the reasoning, the answer didn't matter. The real question was how to handle the situation. Aegor wasn't overly concerned; he had anticipated this possibility. If the Night's Watch differentiated between "their own men" and outside "foreign aid," then his original plan to gain influence and control might stall. However, on the flip side, training his own recruits in King's Landing would give him tighter control over the "foreign aid" he brought in, as well as a closer relationship with them.

While this approach would cost more and require greater effort, the benefits of direct oversight could potentially outweigh the drawbacks.

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Attached to the back of the letter was a small note, which Aegor handed to Arya. It was a message from Jon. The moment Arya read it, she beamed with joy, nearly letting out a squeal. She was too thrilled to notice Aegor shaking his head and sighing inwardly. Poor Jon, stuck in that bleak place like Castle Black, reduced to writing letters just to convince his little sister he was living a "fulfilling life."

Leaving Arya to her note, Aegor took Nina into the inner room. Fully prepared, he quickly signed the world's first "Night's Watch Asset Investment Certificate" with Tyrion's assistance. Handing the document to Nina, he praised her and encouraged her, telling her she could always come to him directly if she encountered trouble. With this, the papermaking project was officially concluded.

According to routine, he should have sent Arya back to the Red Keep, accompanied Tyrion to his inn, and then escorted Nina home. After a few such visits, familiarity with Nina's family would make retrieving her for future work easier.

But after some thought, Aegor decided against it. Instead, he called for Jaqen.

"Akun, escort Miss Nina home. Once you've done that, head back to the inn and rest. I'll lock up here."

…

I have too many responsibilities right now, Aegor thought. Flirting with a girl like Nina, barely out of childhood and still inexperienced, would be irresponsible for both her and myself.

Discipline was paramount in a world full of dangers and temptations.

Suppressing the distractions caused by his hormones, Aegor shifted his focus to two pressing matters. First, training his recruits in King's Landing. Second, finding alternative ways to strengthen his influence and authority within the Night's Watch, particularly as a "chief logistics officer" stationed far from the Wall. After all, if the "foreign aid" he brought in was excluded from votes or decision-making, his influence might be diminished.

Training troops in King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, was a particularly sensitive endeavor. It was akin to trying to establish a private militia under the king's nose, an act that could provoke suspicion and conflict. Even with the backing of Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, the endeavor wouldn't be smooth sailing. Aegor would need a legitimate reason.

…

The solution to the first problem came to him quickly. Since he was opening a factory, it would naturally require security guards to protect the premises. He could recruit workers under the pretext of hiring factory guards, train them collectively, and, when the time came, offer double salaries to those willing to head north to the Wall.

As for the second issue… After mulling it over, Aegor realized he'd fallen into the trap of relying too much on trickery. Having seen success with deception and schemes, his first instinct was to approach every problem with those tools. But this situation was different.

He was a sworn brother of the Night's Watch and had officially been recognized as its chief logistics officer. Although his influence was currently limited, practically nonexistent, save for Jaqen's shadowy presence—these titles still carried weight. They granted him real authority within the organization, a foundation he could build upon.

The solution wasn't convoluted: to increase his influence, he simply needed to perform his duties well. If he ensured the Night's Watch had adequate food, warm clothing, and sufficient weapons, and made it clear to the brothers in black that these improvements were thanks to his efforts, his reputation would naturally rise.

He just had to ensure that no other officer took credit for his work.

With visible, tangible results, his standing within the Night's Watch would grow organically. Sometimes, an open and honest effort could accomplish more than any hidden scheme.

And in the end, money could solve most problems.

Finally able to relax his mind, Aegor let out a breath. The next step was to select a site for the factory and begin preparations to establish what he dubbed the "Night's Watch Logistics and Security Department."

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