-Chapter 68-
-POV MC-
"PEOPLE OF KING'S LANDING THIS TOURNAMENT IS IN HONOR OF THE KING AND OF YOU HIS PEOPLE IS OFFICIALLY OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN RIGHT AWAY WITH THE FREEDOM FIGHT THE ROYAL PARIS OFFICES ARE OPEN AND YOU CAN ALL BET ON THE GLADIATOR WHO WILL WIN ACCORDING TO YOU THIS MELEE I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ONLY ONE OUT OF THE HUNDRED BRAVE GLADIATORS WILL WIN HIS FREEDOM," yelled the herald to the crowd eager to bet all the coins I had generously given them.
I realized that I was giving too much gold to my soldiers and to my people, at first I did it simply so they wouldn't die of hunger while my coffers increased and they could live decently but as time went on I realized that they were piling up gold coins like the nobles and they continued to live in misery because there were few entertainments for the people outside of brothels and taverns.
So, I decided to control the capital's agri-food sector, the coliseum, the brothels which I entrusted to Chataya, as well as the new reconstructed housing that I was buying before construction and renovation so that I was renting them for a reasonable sum once the work was completed.
Seeing the officers from the royal betting office passing between the rows of the Coliseum and collecting coin by coin made me feel relieved as my chest level kept dropping.
"This arena is truly magnificent," said my brother with a small smile, admiring the dragon statues everywhere in the arena that I had built separately to add to the arena a sense of grandeur.
"Thank you, my brother," I said, making sure to keep a natural tone even though I noticed several people twitching at the fact that I call him that.
Aegon looked at his Uncle and then said, "I learned that the First Legion was deployed to the Wall."
"Like the rest of the kingdom, I imagine you're wondering if I've gone mad and believe in white walkers and giants?"
"No, I know perfectly well that you're sending your men to face the Wildlings, but what I'm wondering is why you sent only a single Legion to fight them when they are, according to the members of the Night's Watch of course, more than 100,000," he said.
I smiled and said, turning my head, "I don't have enough soldiers to send more so far North, but I imagine you have an idea to remedy this otherwise you wouldn't be talking to me about war at a time like this, would you?"
He smiled and then said, "I sent a message by raven to the commander of the Golden Company to see if he could fight for the Kingdom."
"For gold, I imagine he said yes."
"Don't be mistaken he offered his services and those of his men totally free of charge."
"Nothing is ever free," said Viserys, seizing the moment to undermine Aegon.
'At least he learns,' I thought, watching Bronn who looked very proud of the fruit of his teachings.
To his credit, Aegon didn't give Viserys a glance and stayed focused on me, he said, "The only compensation requested by the Golden Company is an amnesty for all their members and the title of royal knights for all the knights of the Golden Company."
I smiled and then said, "Let's focus on the gladiator fight we'll talk about the rest later."
He wanted to add something but Jon gave him a look that stopped him and after a nod, he resumed his position and focused on the fight that had just begun.
I thought the gladiator fight would be more boring than the knight tournaments, but I was not disappointed because everyone rushed in with only one goal, freedom.
The fighters clashed so frankly that in less than 5 minutes there were already less than 20 combatants left.
"It's the giant with chestnut hair who will win," said Viserys, seeing a huge colossus wreaking havoc in the arena.
"Are you ready to bet on that, Viserys?" said Aegon with a small smile.
"Of course," he said, not backing down despite the insistent looks from Bronn.
"100 golden dragons on the little one with the long sword and the shield on the right," said Aegon.
"The blond or the redhead?" I asked, interested in the little contest between them.
"The blond," Aegon replied.
I watched the giant split a combatant's skull with his hammer then he yelled, beating his chest like a savage to scare his enemies, he looked at his opponents and then he ran behind the blond who was still fighting his opponent and he dealt him a hammer blow in the back.
Aegon's face tensed as he saw the colossus crush the blond skinny's spinal column and then I said, "At least he's thoughtful enough, he eliminated the biggest threat to his freedom."
"That's 100 golden dragons dear nephew," said Viserys with an arrogant smile.
"Not everyone is as poor as you my dear uncle, 100 golden dragons is nothing at all for someone like me," said Aegon even though I could easily see that it was bluster.
Losing 100 golden dragons would be hard to swallow for any noble and even though Aegon was a prince he didn't have a fortune exceeding 10,000 golden dragons.
"But if you ever want to double your winnings then I'm in," said Aegon.
"Double or nothing?" asked Viserys now sure of his colossus's victory.
"Double or nothing," said Aegon determined to recover his winnings.
Viserys nodded confidently, and Aegon said with a relieved little smile, "Very well then I bet on the spearman."
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We've already gotten to chapter 110 on the Patreon and I'm planning on getting into two more side stories soon that I'll be updating more slowly than Aegon Snow.
One will be the story of a reincarnated OC in House of the Dragon and the other an OC in Marvel, tell me what you want to see first and let me know what you think.
My Patreon is : patreon.com/Ghostrider0002