Lucas' Plan

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The breakfast continued for the first few minutes with only light chatter. Olenna Tyrell mostly remained silent, offering only small remarks here and there. She was studying everyone in the room, quietly gauging them. And Lucas was doing the same. Although, he knew a lot of them from his previous life, seeing someone in flesh was an entirely different matter.

But soon enough, Robert brought up the real issue.

"Lucas," Robert said, "I believe I need not mention the reason I summoned you here. I have heard many reports about how you have transformed Lannisport and Casterly Rock. Especially how you solved their sewage problems. I want to hear your thoughts on freeing my city from its stench."

"Your Grace," Lucas replied with a smile, "I have not done any detailed reconnaissance of the city yet, so it would be hard to give a precise explanation. But I will try to speak on the matter based on what I have observed so far."

Every ear at the table perked up, eager to hear what Lucas would say next.

"Your Grace," he continued, "removing the stench from the city is not a very difficult problem. I can design pipes and connections that would easily carry all the sewage and waste far from King's Landing and dump it in a distant place."

"But there is something more," Robert interjected reading Lucas' words.

"Yes, Your Grace," Lucas said. "While the stench caused by the sewage is one of the biggest problems of the city, it is not the only major problem."

"The city is overcrowded and extremely dirty. And I do not exactly blame the people for that. When you are crushed by poverty, you cannot worry much about cleanliness or the smell of your own body."

"The population keeps expanding, but there has been no increase in space for them. The result? Slums, and places like Flea Bottom."

"So, in truth, King's Landing is suffering from a multi-faceted problem, and the stench is merely a symptom and not the entire disease."

"What are you trying to suggest, Ser Lucas?" It was Jon Arryn who spoke this time. "Are you implying that you would be unable to solve the problem, or is it something else?"

"My Lord," Lucas addressed the Hand, "I am saying that a multi-faceted problem requires a multi-faceted solution."

"First of all," he continued, "King's Landing needs to expand. The area we have now simply cannot accommodate this population in any orderly manner."

"So, I suggest we build a new city. A satellite city to King's Landing."

He was about to continue when a voice cut in.

"I am sorry to interrupt you, Ser Lucas, but what you're speaking of is pure daydreaming." It was Petyr Baelish.

"The Crown can barely manage its own affairs, and you are talking about building an entire city. I doubt any house or institution would be willing to extend us more debt than we already owe them."

It was a clear reference to House Lannister, and nearly everyone at the table silently agreed. Building roads of gold was not be the problem. The problem was always money.

"Lord Baelish," Lucas said almost neutrally, "I believe I have proven myself not to be a man of foolish daydreams."

Although there was a lot more, he wanted to say Baelish, now was not the right time.

Then he turned back to Robert.

"Your Grace, I will come to the matter of finance, but first let me outline the rough plan I have in mind."

Robert nodded. He was interested.

"A satellite city is what is need of this hour. Without it, King's Landing's problems cannot be solved," Lucas continued. "The satellite city will be fully planned. Sewage pipes carrying waste from each house and building, plumbing to bring fresh water into every home. Each house will have lavatories and baths. Public parks and leisure areas will be built across the city. Every building and home will be marked and occupied only after receiving royal authorization."

"All this for smallfolk?" Joffrey, who had been quiet until now, sneered. "What do they even deserve, beyond the slums they live in? They are like garbage. Removing the stench for us is what matters."

Not many thought differently from what Joffrey uttered, though at least they were sensible enough not to say it aloud.

"Carry on," Robert's voice cut through, and Lucas nodded.

"Half of King's Landing's population will be moved to the satellite city," Lucas said. "Then we will completely replan King's Landing itself. Old houses and buildings will be torn down, replaced by new ones."

"We could build countless new structures. Even a grand mansion for each of the major houses of Westeros. Shops, parks. We could beautify the entire city and make it truly worthy of being the realm's capital."

"The Red Keep itself will have to be renovated too. Sewage and fresh water pipes will be integrated throughout."

"All of this is mere a rough idea," he added. "only after a in depth study and reconnaissance, a detailed plan could be formed."

When he finished, there was a stunned silence in the hall.

Though Lucas had only spoken in broad strokes, what he described was too grand, too big. It almost did not seem possible at all.

"Ser Lucas," Jon Arryn finally said, "what you have described sounds like a fairytale. It is too good, too good to be true. But the problem remains the same. Money. Gold."

"I would first want to hear what you have in your mind about the finance? How would we finance this? The Crown can hardly spare a single stag."

"We called you here to fix the drains," Stannis added sharply from the side, "and now you are talking about building an entire city. I want to hear about this finance you mentioned."

"I know everyone here is worried about the cost," Lucas said calmly. "But you need not worry an iota."

"I will fund the entire project. Alone."

A pin-drop silence followed his words. What he had just declared was outrageous. Unbelievable.

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