GOT : Battle Royale[ An ASOIAF Fanfiction]

Ian made his judgment. He was just past the intersection of the King's Road, the east-west River Road, and the Valley Road, approximately sixty kilometers from Harrenhal. To the north lay the Trident River, marking the boundary of Lord Harroway's Town.

At the edge of Ian's vision, he spotted a small well salt mine. Next to the woods outside the mine, a caravan was in the process of loading goods. The foreman in the mine was directing workers to move bags of salt onto horse-drawn carts.

This caravan was precisely the size Ian remembered clearly: four old horses, two carts, seven mules, four servants, and a lean young businessman.

Though he didn't know why this particular player would be foolish enough not to change their initial characteristics, the significance of Ian encountering such a caravan here was self-evident.

"Is fate truly wonderful?" Looking at the scene from a distance, Ian's hand, gripping his sword hilt, involuntarily tightened.

The "hunting" Ian had envisioned involved setting up camp in advance, thoroughly surveying the terrain and the opponent's strength, and then executing a planned deception and attack. It certainly wasn't meant to be such an unprepared encounter.

But at this moment, he had no choice. He was traveling on the King's Road and naturally hadn't hidden his presence. So, just as he had discovered this caravan, they, too, had undoubtedly spotted him.

If he continued heading north along the highway, he could easily pass the group without arousing suspicion. However, trying to turn back after already being noticed would certainly seem odd.

If he wanted to approach the merchant player without suspicion, his only option was to feign that he was heading to the salt mine for business, and ride directly towards it.

Fortunately, my disguise is good enough, so no one will suspect me. Ian glanced at his heraldic sword, regaining a measure of confidence.

Ian made up his mind. He immediately adopted the distinct aristocratic arrogance he'd often observed in British dramas in his previous life, and rode his horse to the left, leaving the King's Road to head directly towards the salt mine not far away.

However, before he had taken but a few steps, he felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken. 'You must not show your timidity!' He quickly admonished himself in his mind.

Ian realized he had overestimated himself. While he could articulate the so-called "hunting plan," it was nothing more than a risk-free, untested verbal fantasy. When it came to talking, Ian, who in the past had boasted of going "seven in and seven out" in combat, didn't think he would lose to any keyboard warrior on the internet.

But as he truly faced this life-or-death adventure, he found that his rationality struggled to suppress the tension in his heart. He couldn't even tell for a moment whether he was more afraid of killing or afraid of dying.

In just a few dozen meters, Ian felt as if he had traveled a century.

"With only four servants who have no fighting power, and no mercenaries by his side, he is defenseless. I only need to approach him without arousing suspicion, and I can chop off his head with a sword and walk away." Ian continually gave himself psychological reassurances. "There is no risk. I don't have to be afraid."

Forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart, Ian rode his horse forward slowly while observing the situation in the mine ahead.

Soon, he discovered a crucial detail.

The salt miners and the merchant's servants were loading the salt onto the carts in an unhurried manner, and no one was urging them on. This, clearly, was a problem.

Ian had an idea and conceived a test plan. He then rode through the salt farm's gate, bypassed the line of carts blocking the entrance, and approached the foreman and the merchant player.

"Who is the owner of this salt mine?" Looking at the foreman who stood facing him, Ian adopted an arrogant expression and asked in a condescending manner.

"It's Lord Lucas Root. He is also the lord of Lord Harroway's Town, ser," the foreman replied, his gaze falling upon the sword at Ian's waist. He clearly recognized that the other man was no ordinary traveler. He lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

"What is the current trading situation at your salt mine? Is there a fixed long-term supply contract?"

"No, Ser. All the salt from our mine is sold to passing caravans," the miner explained, outwardly respectful, but inwardly cursing, 'It's none of your business! This is the Riverlands. Don't you Lannister family have too much control?'

"Very good. I plan to buy this salt well. Show me your mine." This was Ian's plan.

In this way, he could not only wander about to inspect the salt mine and explore the surrounding terrain, but also force the merchant player to take the initiative to deal with him. After all, the other party wanted to buy salt, and he was about to become the new owner of the salt mine.

On the other hand, it would be strange if an arrogant Ser Lannister took the initiative to greet a lowly businessman, wouldn't it?

Ian didn't look at the businessman player twice during the entire process. He knew that this would minimize the other party's wariness.

"This," the foreman suddenly looked embarrassed. "Lord Lucas is currently Ser Andre Charlton's attendant. He is not in the fief. Everything in the town is overseen by the mayor, including the salt mine."

"And the mayor isn't qualified to decide whether to sell this salt mine?" Ian raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Ser."

"Then I want all your goods now," Ian said without pressing the point. "You return their payment to them and have someone move the salt back to me." Ian pointed at the merchant player and the caravan of carts blocking the saltworks gate.

It doesn't matter if I can't buy this mine, but robbing his goods can still force him to come to me, Ian thought to himself.

"Here," the foreman broke into a cold sweat. "Are you in urgent need of a lot of salt now? We have some left in the warehouse, look."

"Do I need to explain myself to you?" Ian interrupted the foreman rudely. "You said you are not qualified to make the decision when it comes to buying mines, and you resisted when I bought salt. Do you have any objections to the Lannister family?"

The foreman was immediately frightened and had no choice but to look at the businessman for help.

The lean businessman felt a little at a loss for a moment, and had no choice but to look at the fat follower beside him.

Seeing this scene, Ian immediately narrowed his eyes.

He suddenly understood why a businessman dared to come to the salt mine with starting equipment to sweep goods, and why the workers in the mine were not in a hurry. It turned out that the guy on horseback had deliberately changed his clothes and those of his servants. He was fishing here!

He knew that the merchant's starting equipment had eye-catching characteristics, so he deliberately exposed this flaw and waited for other players to hunt him.

This was indeed a good spot for fishing! Because it was so eye-catching, located north of the intersection of King's Road, River Road, and Valley Road, and south of the Trident River crossing. As long as players entered the Riverlands from the North, Crownlands, or Vale (or traveled from the Riverlands to these three places), they would definitely pass by here and find him.