"So...what do you think?"

Lyon pondered for a moment, first observing the expressions on the faces of the many Night's Watch leaders and even the Free Folk elders present.

When many of the Night's Watch heard that Jon abandoned the Night's Watch for his own personal vendetta, they sneered.

After all, the task that Leon had assigned to Jon before was only to recruit the Night's Watch from the prisoners captured by Stannis. However, for such a long time, Jon had not sent back a single person. All of them were detained by Stannis, which completely violated the conditions previously agreed upon with the Night's Watch.

The free folk elders, on the other hand, showed indifference to the lives of Olaf and others who went out to fight. Now that winter was approaching, the fewer people who came back would mean fewer mouths to feed. For the sake of the next generation of the tribe, they did not care even if the free folk were wiped out outside.

It was Benjen Stark, who had been silent the whole time, who took the lead. He placed his sword solemnly on the table and spoke in a deep voice:

"Everyone, what I am about to say is not an excuse. I have experienced death and rebirth. When I died at the hands of the White Walkers, my duty of watching came to an end. Now, in addition to being loyal to Commander Lyon, the only thing on my mind is my family."

After saying this, Benjen Stark took off his Night's Watch armor without caring about the severe winter weather, revealing a scar the size of a bowl on his heart.

Benjen Stark pointed at the fatal wound on his heart expressionlessly and said:

"This is the mark left by a White Walker's spear. If anyone doesn't believe me, you can call back the White Walker patrol outside the Wall to ask."

After listening to Benjen Stark's speech, even those Night's Watchmen who had doubts about his words had to admit a fact.

It seems that Benjen Stark will go south to rescue his two nephews and nieces, because they may be his only relatives left in this world.

"Benyan, I believe you."

While many of the Night's Watch remained silent, it was Grand Maester Aemon who believed Benjen's words.

"Grand Maester Aemon, you once said that every man who has sworn the oath of the Night's Watch must go through at least three tests before he can truly become a qualified Night's Watchman. I'm sorry, this is my fourth test."

Then, Benjen Stark turned his gaze to Lyon and said:

"I'm sorry, Lord Commander, please forgive my disengagement. As Jon and Sansa's uncle, I must ensure that they are alive, so as to be worthy of my dead brother and sister-in-law."

"No matter what, Benjen, you have betrayed the Night's Watch for your own selfish gain!"

A high-ranking member of the Night's Watch said something to spoil the mood after listening to Ben Yang's speech full of affection.

As soon as these words were spoken, there was quite a commotion among the night watchmen.

"Are we going to choose a Chief Ranger after you leave? There have been two Starks, and there is not even one qualified one."

Another night watchman immediately chimed in with a complaint.

However, in the face of his colleagues' wishes, Benjen Stark's thin but expressionless face remained calm and unannoyed. He asked:

"Everyone, when we, the Night's Watch, were first established, who were we on guard against?"

"Of course it's the wildlings and the White Walkers!"

When an outspoken Night's Watchman uttered the word "wild man", the atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became tense, and several free folk leaders looked at him with eager eyes.

The night watchman quickly realized his slip of the tongue and hastily added:

"But that was all in the past. Now all the free folks north of the Wall have been killed by the White Walkers. Those left south of the Wall are the New Northerners!"

"What about the White Walkers?"

Benjen Stark asked the man again.

The Night's Watch thought about it and suddenly his eyes widened, then he realized that the White Walkers were probably no longer a threat.

Even the powerful Lord Lyon recruited a patrol of more than 40 White Walkers. The Night's Watch had witnessed with their own eyes this group of evil ghosts slaughtering some wights that were wandering unconsciously near the Wall.

It has been a long time since any White Walker or wight appeared north of the Great Wall. Even if there is one, it is from the Night's Watch.

Thinking of this, the Night's Watch fell silent. He no longer had the courage to refute Benjen Stark's words of withdrawal, but he still stood straight with a look of defiance.

When the other night watchmen saw this, they seemed to understand something and all looked at Lyon.

At this time, after examining the performance of his men, Leon turned his gaze to the Night Watch leaders and said solemnly:

"To all the Night's Watchmen present here, please allow me to make one thing clear: the duties that our ancestors have upheld for countless days and nights, those threats from the wildlings and the White Walkers, have come to an end in our generation."

"For thousands of years, whenever we attend the funerals of our deceased companions and recite the words 'Your watch will end here until you die', have we ever thought deeply about when our own persistent watch will come to an end? I have always adhered to my vow to watch and have never wavered. But at this moment, I want to proudly announce to you: Our watch will end here until you die..."

When Lyon, as the commander-in-chief of the Night's Watch, issued this order in a solemn tone, many Night's Watch were deeply shocked and could not extricate themselves for a long time.

Although Leon's words were shocking, they were not nonsense. Thinking of this.

An old night watchman with white hair and beard asked in disbelief:

"Commander-in-Chief, you...you mean? I can go home now?"

"Yes, Sir Vinton Stout, if you want to go home, I am willing to help you with your travel expenses. If you don't want to come back, I will also give you a lump sum of retirement benefits based on your length of service."

After listening to the conversation between Lyon and Sir Vinton Stout, many of the Night's Watch became excited, including some who were in their prime. Most of them were the second sons and illegitimate sons of a family in the Seven Kingdoms and had no right of inheritance.

But after the Rebellion of the Five Kings, a large number of nobles died in the war, and many fiefs fell into the hands of side branches. If they wanted, they could go back at any time to regain their family property.

Immediately, many of the Night Watchmen burst into discussions that were no less violent than the blizzard outside. They were talking in disbelief but also ecstasy about their plans for returning to the family.

Osel Yarwyck, the chief craftsman of the Night's Watch, was a traditionalist. When he saw that Grand Maester Aemon was indifferent to Lyon's sudden announcement of the decision to disband the Night's Watch, he stood up resolutely and shouted:

"Commander-in-Chief Lyon, your actions are undoubtedly against the laws of the Seven Kingdoms. I cannot accept this. Grand Maester Aemon, as the oldest of the Night's Watch, are you just going to watch Lyon do what he wants?"

After saying this, Othell turned and glared at Grand Maester Aemon.

However, Grand Maester Aemon then took out another letter, handed it to Sam beside him, and motioned for the latter to read it out.

"Night's Watch, I, Tywin Lannister, order you in the name of Tommen, the Hand of the King, to immediately stop funding Stannis's army and immediately repatriate all the Night's Watch and mercenaries. Otherwise, it will be regarded as your deliberate destruction of the sacred neutrality of the Night's Watch. The kingdom will stop all funding for the Night's Watch and will no longer protect the Night's Watch."

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like