Chapter 158 Robert's Bastard

King's Landing - Prime Minister's Tower

Ned Stark returned to the Prime Minister's Tower with a tired face. He had just hired a sword master for his little daughter, and hurriedly attended a royal meeting. His heart was full of worries about the current situation, because As the war approaches, Robert has recently taken on the rare responsibility of a king. He no longer leaves everything behind to go hunting, but he still enjoys the company of wine every day, and most of the work falls on him.

When he stepped into his study and was about to take a short rest, his guard pushed open the door and saluted Ned and said: "Sir, a child just thrust this note into my hand and only said one sentence 'Give this to the Prime Minister' and ran away in a hurry."

After speaking, the guard respectfully handed the note to Ned.

Ned opened the note and his eyes suddenly froze. There is not much words on it, only an address. Under the address, there is a book title - "The Genealogy and History of the Main Noble Families of the Seven Kingdoms".

Ned sat there quietly, holding the note in his hand. His eyes were complicated, and his thoughts were surging like a tidal wave.

The above address and the title of the book kept popping up in his mind, especially the title - "Genealogy and History of the Main Noble Families of the Seven Kingdoms".

He suddenly remembered that Grand Maester Pycelle had mentioned to him that Jon Arryn had been reading this book in the days before his death.

He didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but now the appearance of this note forced him to re-examine this detail.

Ned had always suspected that Jon's death was abnormal. His sudden death was too strange, and a letter his wife Lysa Tully sent to Catelyn also stated that Lannister killed Jon.

Ned originally wanted to investigate in depth, but then the clouds of war gradually approached, and the urgency of national affairs forced him to temporarily put aside the investigation of Jon's death.

This note seemed to be a guide from fate, once again drawing his attention back to the mystery of Jon's death.

Now this book was gathering dust on his desk. It was the book that Ned borrowed from the Grand Maester before, but he found nothing after reading it.

And that strange address may hide the key clue to unlocking the truth about Jon's death.

Thinking of this, despite the lingering feeling of physical exhaustion, Ned stood up, took a deep breath, and cheered up.

Ned looked at the guard in front of him and said in a calm tone: "Get ready and follow me to this place."

The guard was stunned for a moment, then responded: "Sir, where are you going?"

Ned handed him the paper, pointed to the address on it and said, "Go to this place."

The guard took it, glanced at the address, and had a puzzled look on his face, but he knew he shouldn't ask any more questions, so he just nodded and said, "As you command, sir. I'll go get ready right now."

Ned led only two guards through the streets of King's Landing. Finally, he came to the address.

Ned looked up and saw a seemingly ordinary blacksmith shop. He was a little confused. That address turned out to be a blacksmith shop. He really didn't understand what it had to do with Jon.

When the guard on the side saw the Weapon Master sign hanging at the door of the shop, his heart moved slightly and said: "Sir, I have heard that there is a Weapon Master here, Tob Mott, who is very famous in King's Landing."

Ned nodded slightly after hearing this, his eyes stayed on the signboard for a moment, and said, "Let's go in and take a look."

They slowly walked into the shop, and Ned looked around. It was filled with the smell of metal and fire, and the sound of clanging and banging was endless.

Tob Mott heard someone entering the store and quickly stepped forward to greet him. When he saw the Hand of the King badge on Ned's chest, he immediately bowed slightly and said respectfully: "My lord, I don't know why you are here today. Order?"

Ned looked solemn and asked straight to the point: "Tob Mott, let me ask you, has the former Prime Minister been here?"

Tob Mott was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and said: "The former prime minister came to me, sir, many times. Unfortunately, I didn't have the honor and never fought for him."

After hearing this, Ned became even more confused and asked, "Then what is Lord Arryn here for?"

Tob Mott replied respectfully: "Come to see my apprentice, my lord."

Ned didn't listen and said, "I also want to see the apprentice."

After hearing this, Tob Mot bowed and saluted: "As you command, my lord."

After a while, apprentice Gendry was brought to Ned. Seeing the young man in front of him, Ned had the answer in his heart.

He recognized at a glance that the young man was Robert's bastard son.

Gendry has a similar face and temperament to Robert, with a strong physique and a unique expression. These characteristics allow Ned, who grew up with Robert, to instantly see the connection between the two.

Ned took a few steps closer, looked at him carefully, and asked, "Gendry, what did you say when Lord Arryn came to see you?"

Gendry shrugged and replied: "My lord, he just asked some questions, such as how I am doing, how the master treats me, whether I like this job, and about my mother. Ask her Who he is, what he looks like, etc.”

Ned frowned slightly and continued to ask, "Then how did you answer?"

Gendry pushed aside a bunch of newly hung black hair and said, "She died when I was young. I only remember that her hair was yellow and she would sometimes sing to me. She worked in the tavern."

Ned couldn't help but smile, reached out and touched Gendry's head, gently rubbed his thick black hair, looked into his eyes and said, "Young man, do your job well."

Gendry nodded shyly. Although he didn't quite understand the intention of this lord, he could feel that he had no ill intentions.

Watching Gendry's back as he left, Ned sighed and said to Tobmoth, "If he wants to learn swordsmanship in the future, let him come to me."

Tobmoth replied, "As you wish, sir."

Ned nodded slightly and turned to leave the blacksmith shop.

The guard beside him led the horse over and asked, "Sir, where are we going now?"

Ned took the reins and said calmly, "Go back."

After meeting Gendry, Ned's doubts did not come to light. His thoughts became more complicated. He decided to look through the book again to find clues.

Just as Ned and his party rode away on horseback, they did not notice that not far behind them, several figures hidden in the crowd were quietly monitoring their every move.

As Ned left, a figure immediately rushed towards the Red Castle.

Petyr, dressed in exquisite and low-key clothes, shuttled elegantly in the corridors of the Red Castle.

The modest smile on his face was like a mask. He greeted the nobles he met. His words were appropriate and friendly, and people could not feel his inner thoughts at all.

After a while, he came to the entrance of Maegor's Holdfast.

His eyes became sharp in an instant, and he quickly glanced around. After confirming that no one was paying attention, he quickly climbed the stairs like an agile cat.