That was to be just like his cheap mother, using a fake identity to participate in this real-name competition.
As long as he could get a top ranking, even if Jon stood on the podium under the name of Ser Dontos, presumably Robert would only complain to Ned, not expel him from King's Landing.
Of course, the reason Jon chose to do this was definitely not just for Gold Dragons or status.
It was because the dog System, which he hadn't seen for a long time, actually took advantage of his unpreparedness to issue a random mission, and this mission was not mandatory.
According to the System's usual perverse nature, the more Jon resisted, the more the dog System would enforce things.
In contrast, when such obvious rewards were released, it made the transmigrator somewhat suspicious.
At this moment, looking at Ser Dontos who was still lying on the ground, Jon couldn't help but subconsciously look at his panel.
Although the information on it didn't have much worth paying attention to, only the reward for the random mission at the bottom was clearly displayed.
[Limited Time Mission: Obtain any ranking in the Tourney. Reward: One corresponding magic skill (??)]
Seeing such a heaven-defying reward, even Jon couldn't help but be tempted.
You know, in this world of Ice and Fire, magic was not a common commodity; instead, it was more like a cool ability akin to cheating.
Just from what Jon knew, there were heaven-defying existences like shadow assassins, resurrection on the spot, group buffs, fire immunity, controlling dragons, glimpsing the future, skinchanging, and spirit channeling.
And none of these magics were not bug-like existences, capable of changing everything known in one fell swoop.
So, no matter what consideration it was based on, the transmigrator was not prepared to give up this opportunity.
...
At the same time, after throwing the most urgent matter at hand to Jon, Duke Ned also began his in-depth investigation.
After successively obtaining intelligence from the Grand Maester and Littlefinger, the Hand of the King reviewed the clues at hand very seriously.
However, apart from more confusion and doubt, Ned was deeply trapped in the fog of "The seed is strong."
Of course, he also sent Jory Cassel to investigate that smithy again, but apart from an old blacksmith, there was nothing else worth paying attention to.
Although the captain of the guards also learned that the smithy had an apprentice before, he chose to leave not long ago.
And this clue was so isolated that it naturally couldn't attract Ned's attention, making the Hand of the King more and more impatient.
During the entire investigation, Ned picked up the Valyrian steel dagger on the desk more than once, stroking the dragonbone hilt and falling into deep thought.
Unlike the impulsive Catelyn, Ned, who had been trained since childhood to assist the Lord, had extremely rigorous and serious thinking.
After re-deducing the key points in this, the Hand naturally understood that no foolish noble would give something belonging to themselves to an assassin to carry out a mission.
This was tantamount to announcing one's stupidity to the world.
But whether it was the golden Lannister hair Catelyn brought from the Broken Tower or the warning issued by Lysa Tully, both forced him to cast suspicious eyes toward the Westerlands.
Many chaotic suspicions mixed together, like the humid and hot weather shrouding King's Landing, making Ned feel groggy all day long, completely unable to be as calm as in the North.
Of course, Ned wasn't the only one in the same distress.
Deep in the Red Keep, the source of the chaos—the Lannister twins—fell into quarrels and disagreements after a rare tryst.
But before that, the two entangled men and women had to separate from each other.
After restoring her noble image, Cersei, who usually kept silent, couldn't help worrying.
"Presumably you already know that the little thing actually woke up. What should we do next?"
When saying this, Cersei couldn't help but look out the window, seeming to recall the situation at that time.
Seeing her lover like this, Jaime walked up with a grin and wrapped her in his arms.
"Don't worry, I've heard from Pycelle. Not only did the little thing break his legs, but his head is also broken."
"Even so, just in case..."
"There is no 'in case.' If that day really comes, I will fight for you, even if I have to cut off that boar's head."
...
Time flew by, and more than a month had passed.
For the people of King's Landing, this was just an ordinary summer.
Except for the tourney held to welcome the Hand, people had almost no expectations for anything.
Logically speaking, this grand event should have been held as scheduled more than a month ago, when the new Hand arrived.
But it was said that because the Lord Hand was extremely thrifty, he even vetoed this proposal at one point.
If not for His Majesty the King's repeated requests, I'm afraid it wouldn't be held again even now.
Apart from this point, people's understanding of the new Hand was limited to his great achievements in the Usurper's War and his identity as the Warden of the North.
Even many minor nobles had never seen the Hand's true face.
Of course, Duke Ned himself was also to blame for this.
Compared to the high-profile, proud, and extravagant Lannisters and other high-ranking nobles, the Hand of the King was still as low-key as he was in the North.
Among them, the Stark entourage neither held banquets nor appeared in public.
Even when traveling, they were only accompanied by a few guards, completely the opposite of the Lannisters.
And in the eyes of the people of King's Landing who were used to pomp, this was not just thrift, but closer to shabbiness or poverty.
Of course, among them, not all Starks practiced low-key behavior.
Jon, who was busy and held several positions, began to gradually emerge in King's Landing with his constantly shuttling figure.
Besides appearing in the Tower of the Hand, this Snow from the North visited the Red Keep more frequently. Even if Robert was absent, the King's squire never slacked off.
But this was just the appearance seen by scribes and handmaidens; the real situation was jaw-dropping.
Even the person involved, Jon, felt that doing so was somewhat inappropriate, but it was hard to refuse the insatiable Cersei.
Although in Jon's view, Cersei did not lack young and handsome squires around her, Lancel had obviously not been "handled" by Her Grace the Queen yet.
As for the White Cloak Jaime, during this period, he honestly stayed by the Usurper's side, responsible for clearing the road from King's Landing to the Kingswood to ensure security when Robert hunted.
As to why the Kingslayer was so active, even Jon muttered a bit.
As a transmigrator familiar with the main storyline, he didn't believe the White Cloak would work so hard for a Warden of the East title.
Unless there was a situation he had overlooked involved.
However, at this moment, the King's squire, whose body was empty and footsteps were unsteady, didn't have much time to consider these.
When he left the Queen's bedchamber, Cersei didn't forget to give him a task that could not be refused.
---