The sky was shrouded in the thick sunlight, and the ruined city floor exuded a distorted aura.

From above, the former kingdom next to Blackwater Bay looks black, with ruined buildings, cracks, scorched earth, and traces of destruction after wildfires erupt.

However, if you look closely, you will find that under the scarred exterior, there is a faint vitality hidden in it, and it gradually glows with new vitality.

One civilian, poorly dressed civilian, stooped through the ruins on the edge of the city and searched for them.

The elderly, children, women, and black-spotted people spread the ruined city in all directions, and everyone was like an industrious worker ant.

Overall, they look like a colony of black ants.

They're scavenging.

After King's Landing was burned out by wildfire, there were still many items that could not be burned, such as metal, and so on with money, even though most of the items could not be used again.

It also gave the city a chance to be reborn again.

People scavenged, wandered around, and occasionally erupted into shouts of excitement when they found something good, followed by trading with others or keeping it for themselves.

Under the rule of the sparrows, there was no chaos in the short term - the main King's Landing was large, the survivors were relatively small, and there were a lot of secrets for them to search without risking each other's robbing.

They traded in Shoemaker's Square, near a military camp that was the main commercial area before it was destroyed.

Because the entire body is flat and paved with black stone, it is also an area that has less wildfire damage and can be used without much effort.

However, a more suitable place is the square in front of the ruins of the church of Saint-Belle, because it is in the center of the city, so it is easy to get from anywhere. It's just that it's occupied by armed orders, and people are generally not allowed to wander around.

It looks domineering, but in the face of them, no one will have resentment, because if there is no one to control the Order, this place will be a mess long ago.

The Order's armed forces were divided into the sons of warriors and the assembly of the poor, each acting as a knight and a soldier, and governing the entire city under the command of the sparrows, similar to the nobles of the past.

But unlike before, there is no exploitation here.

The Order is armed to protect the ruins of King's Landing, and welcomes foreign civilians to settle here, but opposes any violation of the Seven Stars Bible, and its rules are very strict.

But compared to the exploitation of the aristocratic lords in the past, what are their rules?

In addition, King's Landing was faintly a "treasure spot" at this time, so that it attracted many poor people who were homeless due to the war.

Under the control of the church's higher-ups, the division of labor was clear, and the elderly and children in the family were free to participate in scavenging, but the strong men had to take on the task of rebuilding King's Landing, or join the poor people's assembly to train to protect the place.

With all these measures, King's Landing has barely regained a trace of its former prosperity.

Scavenging, repairing buildings, clearing the streets, in the midst of this lively scene, suddenly the melodious sound of bells in Place Saint-Belle.

Talking, cleaning, carrying things, buying and selling things, all the busy people all looked in the direction where the bell came.

Then they looked at each other.

"What happened?"

"I don't know."

"If memory serves, the King of Dragonstone seems to be starting to be crowned."

"Didn't he be crowned? Before the wildfires, how could it come a second time? ”

"Who knows why."

"The King? I hate the king......"

People were talking, but they unconsciously walked in that direction.

……

The Red Fort, which had been cleaned up by the soldiers for a while, had barely managed to sort out an area large enough for the king to live.

Stannis was now standing in a hall on the second floor of the Maigar Building, where the former King of the Red Keep lived, sorting out his clothes in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror newly sent by the Mill merchant.

The crown buck, the golden woolen robe, and the sparse hair on the head are neatly combed back in an orderly manner.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Stannis said in an inexplicable tone, "That's right, I was standing here not long ago, next to Baran. Farin and Pekin. Vlad, and, of course, my obnoxious lady with big ears. ”

As he spoke, he glanced through the clear mirror at the bearded middle-aged knight serving beside him.

"Now, you're the only one with me."

"Your Majesty is relieved," said the bearded Davos, who reached out and handed over a belt, and whispered comfortingly, "Madame is just confused for a moment. ”

"Confused?" Stannis grinded his teeth as he fastened his robe with a belt, "She has never been sober enough to instigate my vassals to leave me!?" ”

"And that Melisandre, a religious madman with a mouth full of lies."

"Burning the Statue of the Seven Gods? Burning people for sacrifice? I'd rather be in the company of sparrows than be a mad king! ”

"The Seven Gods will bless you, Your Majesty." Davos whispered to persuade.

"The Seven Gods ......" Hearing this, Stannis somehow thought of someone, so he snorted.

"The Seven Gods are great, but sometimes His vision is not very good. But...... Either way, today is my big day. As he spoke, his cheeks as hard as stone appeared, and at this time there was a rare smile.

"The old sparrow was able to surrender to me, thanks to you." He said, looking at Davos with admiration.

"I'm just in charge of getting the word out." Davos said modestly, "And the sparrow is perceptive, and Your Majesty is wise and rigorous, and no one is more fit for the king's office than you, and everyone knows this." ”

"Everyone?" Stannis's smile narrowed, noncommittal, "I hope you're telling the truth. ”

With that, he straightened his neckline one last time, and then stepped out of the hall.

Davos followed him out of the room, and a team of guards also quickly assembled.

And when he walked to the hall on the first floor, there was already a group of well-dressed noble lords waiting for a long time.

When they saw Stannis appear, they bowed and saluted, and then followed him as well towards St. Belle Square outside the Red Keep—

At the moment, there are at least half of these people than they used to be, because not long ago, for various reasons, Stannis fell out with the woman in the red robe. Those so-called post-party people all followed the red-robed woman and left him.

So much so that Stannis was in a rather bleak situation at this time.

However, the church's contribution has made his unstable strength solid again.

And now, under the witness of the Church, he is about to be truly crowned king!

"The influence of the Church is far-reaching, and with their help, the suspicion of planting wildfires will be cleared directly, and you will become the only legitimate king of Westeros." Davos's proposal against the Red Robe's actions came to mind, and Stannis's steps couldn't help but quicken.

As the horses rode forward, buildings on both sides of the road passed one after another.

Step out of the Red Keep and follow the shadowed streets of Aegon Hill. Place Saint-Belle is not too far from the Red Fort, and in about a quarter of an hour the group arrives there.

In the square, traces of wildfires are still faintly visible, even if there have been workers who have washed them with water countless times, as if they have experienced the colorful scars left by the disaster that will never fade.

But this does not affect the glorious mission it carries at this time.

Deep in the square, beneath the ruins of the former Saint-Belle church, a high platform has been built – the place where Stannis will be crowned.

The bell rang in his ears continuously, and he stepped to the innermost part of the square, and walked down the steps to the high platform. At this time, there was already a group of monks waiting quietly.

In the face of Stannis's arrival, they bowed and saluted.

Stannis was very pleased with the sparrows' respect, but the unspoken king did not say anything, but nodded his head and looked out into the square below.

Under the melodious sound of the bell, all the people of King's Landing gradually gathered here, and in all directions, the procession was like a long snake, converging into the current "waterhole", unconsciously emitting bursts of noisy sounds.

The square, the high platform, and the ruined cathedral behind it, it is unlikely that the king's coronation would be so shabby, but there is basically no good place for King's Landing at the moment.

Second, this was the old sparrow's special request, and he said that a truly virtuous king should wear a crown before all his people. Instead of hiding in the castle and partying with the nobles.

Stannis agrees.

So this time, he chose the location here.

As if blessed by the gods, the weather was fine today, and the sky was cloudless overhead, and the sun shrouded the earth unhindered, illuminating the entire Place Sainte-Belle clearly, which made the mood open.

People continue to converge, from sparse to dense, and the square gradually becomes black and oppressive.

The newly formed assembly of the poor was responsible for maintaining order, and soldiers loyal to Stannis also helped.

At the same time, around the high platform, there were groups of young figures dressed in simple black robes, their foreheads were branded with the mark of a black seven-pointed star, and their bodies were wrapped with heavy black iron chains, each of them expressionless and resolute.

These men were poorly dressed, but they were brave and fearless in battle, and on several occasions they took the lead in repelling the lords and nobles who were greedily watching the place around them.

Stannis had considered how he would make good use of them when he became king, but due to the church and the presence of sparrows, he didn't seem to be able to drive them completely.

"Everything will wait until after the coronation." Secretly thinking, Stannis took a deep breath.

Soon after, when the time came, Stannis knelt down in front of the statue of the Seven Gods, which had been specially moved from the high platform, in the face of the looking eyes below.

"Today, under the witness of the gods of the heavens, Stannis of House Baratheon is about to carry out a great mission......"

The bald man knelt on the ground, the sparrow stood beside him, and after a brief opening remarks, he lowered his head and shouted at him.

"Stannis. Baratheon, will you make a solemn pledge to rule over the nations and the people of your lands, to govern their lands, and to respect their respective laws and customs in your rule? ”

"I do."

"Are you willing to do your best to uphold the laws and justice of the Kingdom in a merciful heart?"

"I do."

"Are you ......?"

……

The square was quite quiet at this time, everyone looked at the solemn scene on the high platform, and under the continuous questioning, the ceremony gradually came to an end.

"The gods will give you authority over the nations, and you will exercise the authority he has given you as the gods' earthly representative, and you will protect and defend your country and your subjects."

In the end, instead of the old custom of anointing holy oil or attracting the allegiance of the nobles from all sides, the sparrow directly picked up the colorful crown brought by the servant on the silver plate.

"In the presence of the heavenly gods, Stannis of House Baratheon is about to be crowned king."

As he spoke, he clasped the crown in both hands and prepared to coronate Stannis, but the crown did not land on the bare head, but paused in mid-air.

"But before that, do you confess and repent of imprisoning the god Charles. The Cranston move? ”

The words of the sparrow were a little sudden, and as soon as the words fell coldly, all the expressions of everyone who had just been concentrating on watching the ceremony were stunned, and their eyes showed consternation.

Stannis also seemed a little incredulous, and looked up at the gray-robed old man beside him with wide eyes, so that he didn't respond for a while.

After being stunned for a long time, someone scolded loudly

"Presumptuous, you ...... before"

"Your Majesty will not allow anyone to insult ......"

……

Some nobles couldn't help but step forward, but they were stopped by the sons of warriors, and most of the people in the square at this time were kings, and for them at present, the king did not seem to have a church.

The noise quickly turned into a bustle, and in the face of this sudden turn of events, not only Stannis's people were caught off guard, but even ordinary people could not believe it.

But immediately after, they began to shout excitedly.

"Confession!"

"Confession!"

"Offending the oracle will be punished severely, and the king is no exception!"

"Confession!"

……

Ignoring the scolding of anyone below and ignoring everything around him, the Sparrow said with a blank face: "The Bible says that all sins will be forgiven, but you must first be punished, and your punishment is to admit your mistakes in front of everyone." ”

"So, Stannis. Baratheon, do you confess and repent of imprisoning the god Charles. The Cranston move? In the presence of all the gods in heaven, in front of all, confess your guilt? ”

"You're playing with fire." Stannis glared at the sparrow and let out a low growl.

"True God believers are not afraid of demonic fire, and the gods have long proven His mercy." The old sparrow replied lightly.

"We can talk about it privately." It was too noisy, and Stannis gritted his teeth to squeeze out the words.

The hemp finch shook its head, and the oil and salt on its face did not enter, and then—

"Do you confess and repent of imprisoning the god Charles. The Cranston move!? He asked aloud for the third time.

The people in the square shouted in response to his words, and the sons of warriors around the high platform mercilessly stopped the vassals and nobles who rushed forward impulsively, drawing their swords and punching and kicking each other at every turn.

The soldiers of Stannis's headquarters were blocked from the gathering of the people and the poor in the square, and the noble knights were not armed because of the special nature of the day, so that they could not resist this kind of "forcing the palace" at all.

Stannis trembled with anger.

At this moment, he really wanted to draw his sword and stab this messy bastard to death, and the king's sword hanging from his waist did give him this condition.

But he still didn't make that decision. Instead, after scanning the surroundings, he slowly calmed down.

Sparrow's words, a hundred in his heart do not want to admit it.

But considering his current situation, he had to start thinking about whether to make this compromise.

On the one hand, there is a conflict that breaks out, and on the other hand, there is a loss of face.

The outbreak of conflict did him no good at all, and he lost face......

Although it would be a loss of face, he could also clear the angry suspicion of arson with the support of the Church, and he could gain the support of the growing Church to become the only legitimate king of Westeros. The price is only to apologize to an unknown messenger, and to apologize to a messenger of God does not seem to be a loss of face......

And the North......

Taking a deep breath, in the face of the deep gaze of the sparrow, Stannis was silent for a long time, and finally lowered his head slightly, and said coldly: "Under the witness of the gods in the sky, I confess and repent about the imprisoning of the god Charr. The Crimes of Cranston. ”

"I confess that this matter is a great mistake, that I have committed an unpardonable sin, but the gods have mercy, and I hereby ask God to forgive Kronston." Gritting his teeth and finishing all the words, Stannis glared at the old sparrow fiercely and made a silent threat.

However, the other party's face did not change much.

He just nodded slowly, and said in his mouth: "The people salute the lord, the lord salutes the king, and the king and queen must salute the seven-faced god." At this moment, on behalf of the gods of heaven, I give the faithful Stannis. King Baratheon was in authority, and ......"

Before he finished speaking, the crown that was clasped in the old sparrow's hand suddenly began to vibrate, and then under the stunned gaze of everyone, including the old sparrow, the seven-pointed star-shaped crown actually began to bloom with colorful light!

As soon as the light appeared, it attracted everyone's attention, including nobles, commoners, sparrows, and all members of the Order.

Kneeling on the ground, Stannis stared up at the close glow in front of him, wondering why this astonishing change had occurred.

However, it didn't take long for him to know the result, and his heart sank to the valley.

A hazy and familiar figure slowly appeared in front of him, replacing the statue of the Seven Gods that he should have been kneeling down!