The city had already fallen.
Not through fire or blood.
But through silence and shadows.
Ryu had replaced nearly half of King's Landing's guards. His eyes and ears were in the Red Keep, in the streets, even in the kitchens.
He sent a shadow disguised as a servant to place a coded message beneath Ned's new chamber.
A simple trail:
Jon Arryn. Book of Lineages. Bastard Children.
Enough to stir curiosity. Enough to start a war.
---
At night, Ryu stood in his hidden chamber beneath the Red Keep. The room glowed dimly with magical sigils from his Shadow Monarch powers.
Shadows knelt before him. Some now bore the faces of Gold Cloaks, others of Lannister guards.
One even looked like a knight of the Kingsguard.
All loyal.
All silent.
---
[New Infiltration Objective: Small Council Surveillance]
[Infiltration Level: 73%]
---
Ryu raised a hand. A shadow stepped forward.
Its face was that of a quiet scribe who worked near the council chamber. No one had noticed his disappearance.
"Start listening," Ryu said.
The shadow nodded once, then vanished.
---
Far above, Ned Stark opened the book Ryu had led him to.
Far below, Ryu smiled coldly.
The first domino had fallen.
---