23: “Lift the canvas!” The leading gold cloak rapped the iron bars of the cage with his spear, producing a harsh metallic clang.
Rek’Sai looked down at this City Watch soldier who did not even reach his chest and bared a cruel smile.
“Tick.” Rek’Sai wasted no words.
Tick swallowed hard, stepped forward, grabbed the thick waterproof canvas, and yanked it off with one sharp pull.
Whoosh— The canvas hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Sunlight poured into the enormous black-iron cage.
Hnnngh!
A deafening roar exploded from inside.
A thick, rank beast-stench slammed into everyone’s faces.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze solid.
All eight gold cloaks sucked in sharp breaths at the same time.
The leader’s backside hit the muddy water with a splash.
Inside the cage, the Boar King Pig stared fixedly at them.
Every black-brown bristle on its body stood on end; it was clearly furious.
Those small scarlet eyes were full of pure savagery.
“Seven hells…” A young gold cloak stumbled backward repeatedly.
The spear in his hands clattered to the ground.
The merchants and commoners originally crowding the city gate instantly exploded into chaos, screaming as they scattered to both sides and leaving a large empty space.
“What… what kind of monster is that?!” The leading gold cloak scrambled backward on hands and knees, voice completely out of tune.
“I told you.
This is my mount.” Rek’Sai took one step forward.
His massive shadow completely swallowed the gold cloak.
Pig seemed to sense its master’s mood and suddenly slammed its tusks against the iron bars.
Boom!
The cage of refined iron shook violently and gave a strained creak.
Several gold cloaks raised their spears in terror and aimed them at the cage, hands shaking like sieves.
“Back!
Make it quiet down!
Or we’ll shoot!” Several archers on the city wall also leaned out and drew their bowstrings fully.
The smile on Rek’Sai’s face disappeared.
He hated it most when people pointed weapons at what belonged to him.
“Brienne.” Rek’Sai’s voice was low.
Clang!
Brienne drew her longsword without the slightest hesitation and stepped forward to stand at Rek’Sai’s side.
The tall girl had cold, sharp eyes and tightly coiled muscles.
She showed no sign of retreating.
Rek’Sai did not draw the Arcanite Reaper on his back.
He simply raised his right hand slowly.
“Behave, Pig.” He slapped the Boar King hard on the forehead.
Slap!
The sound was crisp and loud.
The giant Boar King that had been raging a moment ago suddenly went quiet as if its soul had been yanked out.
It gave two aggrieved grunts, obediently lay down at the bottom of the cage, and closed its eyes.
One slap had subdued a monster like this?
The sight made one’s heart pound with fear.
The leading gold cloak swallowed hard and, supported by his companions, managed to stand.
He looked at Rek’Sai’s terrifying size, then at the arms thicker than his own thighs, and finally realized that the man in front of him was far more terrifying than the beast in the cage.
“City entry tax… calculated per head, one copper star per person.
This… this mount… counts as… as one cow.
One silver stag.” The gold cloak’s voice clearly lacked confidence.
Rek’Sai gave a cold snort.
Brienne spoke first: “Tick, pay him.” Rek’Sai turned his head.
Tick hurriedly took four copper stars and one silver stag from the money pouch and handed them over.
The gold cloak snatched the coins without even counting them and quickly stepped aside to clear the road.
“Let them through!
Quickly!” Rek’Sai paid them no further attention.
He waved a hand.
Tick and Rolf hurriedly pushed the heavy iron cage through the passage of the Mud Gate into King’s Landing.
The archers on the city wall slowly lowered their bows and looked at one another.
“Where the hell did that monster come from?” “That axe on his back, gods… it must weigh a hundred and ten jin at least.” Rek’Sai ignored the whispers behind him.
The streets of King’s Landing were even more crowded and even more foul-smelling than the docks.
Inside the Mud Gate lay the edge of Flea Bottom.
Narrow streets were lined with low wooden houses whose roofs were covered in blackened thatch.
Filthy water flowed along the drainage ditch in the center of the street, giving off a piercing sour stench.
“Master, where are we going?” Brienne walked at Rek’Sai’s side, eyes warily scanning the surroundings.
The people on the road avoided them as if fleeing a plague.
Rek’Sai’s size and the enormous iron cage made them the absolute focus of attention wherever they went.
“Find somewhere cleaner.
This place stinks too much.” Rek’Sai frowned.
He was used to the earthy smell of the rainforest.
The fermented shit-and-urine stench here made him extremely irritable.
“We should go toward Rhaenys’s Hill, or near the Gate of the Gods.
The inns there are better.” Brienne offered the suggestion.
“Lead the way.
Quickly!” The four of them pushed the cage and followed the streets upward.
Along the entire way, Rek’Sai’s massive body and Pig’s terrifying appearance caused countless instances of staring and shocked cries.
A few street thugs hid in the dark alleys, originally planning to try something, but the moment they saw Pig’s pale tusks and the enormous double-bladed war axe on Rek’Sai’s back, they immediately shrank back into the shadows.
In King’s Landing, people who did not know how to keep their eyes open did not live long.
After walking for nearly an hour, they finally passed through Flea Bottom and reached the mid-slope of Visenya’s Hill.
The streets here were much wider.
The road surface was paved with neat cobblestones, and the nauseating stench was gone from the air.
“There’s an inn ahead called the Seven Swords.
The conditions are decent and the courtyard is large enough to hold Pig’s cage.” Brienne pointed to a three-story wooden building ahead.
A wooden sign hung at the entrance of the inn, painted with seven crossed longswords.
Rek’Sai nodded and strode over.
The innkeeper was a plump middle-aged man.
He was standing at the door trying to attract customers.
When he looked up, his entire body froze.
A mountain was walking toward him.
“Rooms.
The best ones.
And a separate courtyard for my mount.” Rek’Sai stopped in front of the innkeeper.
His voice was like muffled thunder.
The innkeeper staggered back two steps, stammering: “My… my lord, we do… we do have a courtyard, but…” He glanced at the iron cage behind Rek’Sai.
Pig was snoring, the airflow of its breath making the canvas on the cage billow in and out.
“But what?” Rek’Sai looked down at him.
“But this… this is too dangerous.
If it injures the other guests…” The innkeeper wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
Clink.
Rek’Sai casually pulled out a gold dragon and tossed it onto the stone slab at the innkeeper’s feet.
The brilliant golden light was especially piercing under the sun.
“It doesn’t eat people—only meat.
Prepare half a pig for it, and send the best ale and roast meat to my room.” Rek’Sai looked down at the innkeeper.
“If it’s not enough, say so.” The innkeeper’s eyes went blank.
In King’s Landing, one gold dragon could buy half a month’s profit from this inn.
“Enough!
Absolutely enough!
My lord, please come inside!
There’s an independent side courtyard at the back—very quiet.
Absolutely no one will disturb your… mount.” The innkeeper immediately put on a fawning smile and bent at the waist to lead the way.
Rek’Sai gave a satisfied grunt.
Any problem that could be solved with gold dragons was not a problem—unless one had no gold dragons left.
Tick and Rolf called several people to help push the iron cage into the rear courtyard together.
The place was indeed spacious, surrounded by high stone walls, and very secure.
“Tick, you stay and watch Pig.
Rolf, go move the luggage upstairs.” After giving the orders, Rek’Sai turned and walked into the main hall of the inn.
Brienne followed behind him.
There were quite a few guests in the hall.
Originally it had been noisy; the moment Rek’Sai entered, it became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Every gaze focused on his size and the weapon on his back.
Rek’Sai ignored those stares and walked straight to the most spacious guest room on the second floor.
He pushed open the door.
The room was neatly arranged and the bed was large enough.
Rek’Sai took the Arcanite Reaper from his back and set it heavily on the table.
He twisted his neck, walked to the window, and pushed it open.
From here one could clearly see the Red Keep in the distance.
That enormous dark-red fortress looked like a crouching giant beast overlooking the entire city.
“Master.” Brienne walked up behind him.
“How are we going to get to Casterly Rock from here?”