A Book of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones : Magic Network

"Your Grace, I have completed my mission. The eastern half of the city has been thoroughly cleansed before sunset."

Tyrion craned his neck to look up at the hundred-foot-tall giant.

This was the "Throne Room" that existed only within the light screen. All the ministers were present, but the three regents were conspicuously absent.

Tyrion had many questions swirling in his mind.

Like many others, Tyrion's mission on the light screen had also changed: "Holy Land Glory: Act II — Divine Grace."

Divine Grace. Tyrion pondered the true meaning of these words.

The previous "Washing Away Dust" had encompassed half a moon's turn of operations across various departments, transformed the entirety of King's Landing, and directly overturned the fate of tens of thousands of souls.

What, then, would "Divine Grace" entail? How vast would its scope be?

"Very good," Joffrey said, lowering his gaze to regard the small figures at his feet with mild interest.

"Tonight's council is to determine the arrangements for the next phase. Under the main theme of Divine Grace, each of you bears significant responsibilities and must issue various tasks to your subordinates."

Issuing tasks. This was what troubled Tyrion the most.

The number of prayer stones bestowed by Joffrey each day had gradually increased, and the supply of divine grace cores had multiplied many times over.

Now there were as many as 50,000 "Divinely Favored Ones."

Courtiers, servants, soldiers—everyone Tyrion usually encountered dwelled under the shroud of the divine grace light screen, as did his subordinates in the Treasury.

Tyrion's daily work had thus become both more convenient and more trivial.

Need to obtain certain information or understand something?

One simply contacted the person with knowledge through the light screen. If one did not know the specific individual, one could post a request on the light screen and await a response from someone knowledgeable, or the Statistics Bureau and Security Bureau might provide the answer.

Wish to speak with someone?

Just converse through the light screen. If the atmosphere seemed unsuitable, one could immediately summon that person through the light screen.

Want to assign someone a task?

As Minister of Finance, Tyrion had permission on the light screen to issue tasks to the vast majority of people, provided they were reasonable and lawful, and did not draw questions from the Security Minister or His Grace.

With the light screen, even without leaving his chambers, he could manage the affairs of the realm perfectly, with results even better than before.

His stunted legs were finally liberated.

But at the same time, Tyrion's moments of rest had been completely cut away or occupied.

The light screen not only greatly improved the efficiency of the various departments but also exposed many problems that had long festered in the shadows.

Sloth, perfunctory service, waste, corruption, abuse of power, malicious sabotage...

Tyrion had to contend with various reports and submissions on the light screen throughout the day, admonish his subordinates, and dispense rewards or punishments.

He also had to respond to his subordinates' lengthy petitions and greetings, absorb various trivial information and figures, and issue various directives that he had never concerned himself with before.

With the tentacles of the light screen, his power extended greatly downward, almost reaching every soul.

But simultaneously, he had to endure the bombardment of vast amounts of information, remember a dizzying array of people and matters, and deal with countless, endless affairs.

The Treasury and the Mint, the Statistics Bureau, the Engineering Bureau, the City Watch.

Promotions and transfers, material requisitions, tax records, funding applications, project reports, royal decrees...

If all the affairs handled each day were transcribed onto parchment and stacked, Tyrion felt the pile would stand at least twice his height—no, thrice.

Under such circumstances, he urgently needed to comprehend the true meaning of "Divine Grace," to discern a clear path, so that he could issue tasks and handle governance in accordance with this goal, and also earn the King's approval.

So Tyrion cast an expectant gaze at Joffrey on high, awaiting the King's interpretation of "Divine Grace."

But as Joffrey opened his mouth, his eyes fell upon Tyrion. "How fare the achievements of the various departments at present, and what difficulties do you face? You should all provide a summary, increase mutual understanding, and share information. Tyrion, you may begin."

The expectation in Tyrion's eyes vanished in an instant.

The other ministers looked to him one after another, and Tyrion could only sigh inwardly before he began his report:

"The treasury currently holds more than 1.5 million gold dragons in its vaults.

However, the purchase of military supplies, personnel wages, and other expenses grow day by day, while tax revenue from ports and agents gradually shrinks, and the Mint suffers shortages of raw materials. I estimate 100,000 gold dragons will flow out each moon's turn in the days to come.

The Statistics Bureau has 1,000 formal employees and more than 3,000 temporary workers.

A detailed accounting of industries and their owners throughout King's Landing has been compiled, and more than 600 material costs and selling prices have been successfully tallied, maintaining the overall stability of commerce in the city. A total exceeding 100,000 gold dragons has been recovered in taxes and confiscations.

The Engineering Bureau has absorbed more than 20,000 people and 150 Holy Art Sorcerers.

The sewers, streets, and ruins have been cleared and rebuilt, the river channels dredged, and the King's Landing aqueduct, wells, and water pipe system completed. More than 100,000 tons of stone, wood, and soil have been transported into the city.

All members of the City Watch obey their orders, train diligently each day, and stand ready for battle at any moment."

"As for difficulties," Tyrion hesitated briefly, but voiced his thoughts nonetheless, "It will be difficult to significantly improve the treasury's condition in the short term, yet expenditures continue to rise. I believe it wisest to secure another loan from Casterly Rock. The Lion and the Stag are one family, after all."

Joffrey remained noncommittal.

"Lord Tyrion has labored admirably and achieved remarkable results, far beyond my own humble accomplishments," Security Minister Alyn Lantell said, taking up the conversation.

"Since the Little Birds joined the Security Bureau, we now count 2,000 formal members, more than half of whom are experienced field personnel scattered throughout the city, while others remain within the Red Keep to perform security duties. We estimate more than 1,000 Little Birds are dispersed throughout the Seven Kingdoms and beyond the Narrow Sea.

Additionally, 2,900 trainee members receive instruction from the Army Department.

To this day, the Security Bureau's vision encompasses the whole of King's Landing, identifying more than 500 spies and secret agents, and more than 1,000 rebellious and lawless individuals.

Beyond King's Landing, the Security Bureau maintains surveillance over all castles and fortresses in the Stormlands and the Reach. The movements and intentions of the rebels are almost entirely exposed to our view.

Old Oak in the western Reach still houses 30,000 troops, training daily.

Yet Earl Mace Tyrell shows no inclination to take the offensive, has not responded to our letters of goodwill, and has expressed no belief in the Divine Might of His Grace in his words.

Highgarden has assembled 20,000 fresh troops and hastens their training, which we expect to conclude in one moon's turn.

Though the 60,000 rebel forces at Bitterbridge in the eastern Reach have not moved, Earl Randyll Tarly leads a vanguard of 5,000 cavalry northward to the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush, clearing roads, intending to lure the Westerlands and King's Landing to attack.

Consequently, traffic on the Gold Road has ceased, and many lords in the mountains of the Westerlands harbor complaints, seeking to urge Lord Tywin eastward.

Lord Tywin has assembled 40,000 elite warriors at Casterly Rock.

More than 20,000 men under Lord Kevan have departed Harrenhal and march southward. We expect their arrival in King's Landing within ten days.

The Iron Islands and Dorne remain motionless.

Furthermore..." Alyn announced the latest intelligence: "The false king Renly has entered Bronzegate."

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