They indeed make it to King's Landing, just a day after Joffrey's name day celebration is over. Petyr gets off the ship and walks through the streets, still knowing many who work here. He looks at the state of the city and shakes his head at it. He will have to get to work, even if he only wants to remain here for a while. He can dull his senses only by so much.
He walks through the city until he reaches one of his brothels. It seems just as impressive as it did last time. The last time he was here was... a long time ago. Petyr makes his way through the interior and doesn't bother with the people present, entering the solar of the one leading the brothel for him. Arla is not happy about where they are, but understands that almost all of their moves serve a purpose.
As Petyr and Arla enter the extravagant solar, they see a tall, elegant, dignified, and beautiful black woman from the Summer Isles sitting behind a desk doing paperwork. Petyr has a flashback seeing her that way. Her reaction is also the same. As she sees him, her face brightens up and she rushes towards Petyr. She embraces him, and he can tell that she wants to kiss him again, but this time doesn't stop herself. Despite that, he can feel her grinding against him and shakes his head with a smile. Everything is the same as it was when he was here the last time, except that she has grown a bit older.
"I missed you so much, my love. Where were you all these years? Why didn't you come to visit me?" she asks.
"Hello, Chataya. It's good to see you haven't changed at all. I was busy in Baelish Keep for a while. How are things going in the capital?" Petyr asks.
"You leave me alone for years, come back with a woman and then think we're going to talk about the business?" she asks.
"Right, Chataya, may I introduce you to Arla Fett. My beloved," Petyr says.
"Your... beloved? I see. It is an honour to see the woman my Lord has chosen to be his. You must truly be extraordinary. My name is Chataya, I am the one to take care of all of Petyr's brothels in King's Landing."
"The pleasure is mine, Chataya. I was not aware that Petyr kept brothels and forced women to be prostitutes," Arla says and looks at Petyr.
Arla is utterly loyal and never questions Petyr ever. But the fact that Chataya kissed him has her cross.
"Oh, my lady, you have no idea what life in King's Landing was like before Lord Petyr appeared. All my girls are here because they want to, and if they no longer wish, they are given the chance to leave," Chataya says.
"Chataya is no longer a whore. She left that position a while ago and is not a businesswoman more than anything. She is one of the very, very few I trust in this snake pit," Petyr says.
"So you are no longer a prostitute, that's good," Arla says.
"Once you have tasted the forbidden fruit, there is no going back to consuming dirt. I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about, my Lady," Chataya says.
¬_¬
"..."
"Is everything alright, my la-"
*BANG*
The door is suddenly opened, and a woman rushes in.
"Lady Chataya, lady Chataya, the guards are here, they... they..."
"Maris, control yourself. What happened?"
"The guards they... they killed little Barra," Maris cries.
Petyr walks forward.
"Tell me what happened in detail."
"It was Lord Janos Slynt, my Lord. He led a city-wide massacre of bastards. Barra... she-she was killed in... in front of Mhaegan and Ros..."
"How dare he?!" Chataya says in outrage.
"Where is he now?" Petyr asks.
"I think outside, they took it..."
Petyr walks out of the room, followed by Arla and Chataya. They hear the shouting and the cries of multiple women. He enters the room and sees the soldiers of the city watch holding a dead infant in their hands, with Janos Slynt standing at the side.
"What is going on here?" Petyr asks.
"Hmm? Who are y- ... Lord Baelish," the city watch soldier says as he recognises the one who pays him.
"This is official city watch business. Piss off."
"And you are?" Petyr asks.
"Lord Janos Slynt, Lord Commander of the City Watch. Now, piss off before I kill you for bothering us."
Petyr doesn't answer and slaps the man across his face. He seems surprised about that and turns angry.
"How dar-"
*Slap*
Petyr slaps him again, stopping him from talking. By that point, the man's face had gotten very red. He unsheathes his sword and is about to attack Petyr. But the soldiers suddenly step in between and stop him.
"Commander, please. You can't," one of them says.
"He's the Master of Coin, Commander."
"What is this?! You dare betray your Lord Commander?!" Janos Slynt shouts.
"Please, Lord Janos. He's the Master of C-"
"There is no Master of Coin, you imbeciles! He quit years ago," he shouts.
"Actually, I am. Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King, has appointed me as Master of Coin. You see, no one but the King can overrule the Hand," Petyr interrupts.
"Oh, what a good idea. We'll go to the King himself. I'm sure, King Joffrey will like to hear about this," the Commander says and smiles.
Before they leave, Petyr addresses one of the soldiers.
"Get that case, will you. It will become important afterwards."
.
A large crowd has arrived in the throne room in the Red Keep. King Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne. To the side stands his betrothed, Sansa Stark, the Queen Mother, Cersei Lannister, as well as the rest of the Small Council. Other Lords and Ladies of the court are also present, interested in seeing what is going on. The doors open, and Janos Slynt, the Lord Commander of the City Watch, walks in, followed by soldiers and finally Petyr, Arla and Mhaegan, holding the corpse of her deceased infant.
As soon as Joffrey sees Petyr, his demeanour brightens for some reason.
"Lord Petyr!" he exclaims. "You're here?"
Petyr bows and smiles.
"Your Grace, King Joffrey. I am pleased to see you sitting on that chair finally. It has been a long time coming. I'm sorry for your father's loss."
"Ah, yes. Tragic that. But let us not dwell in the past. What is this about?" Joffrey asks.
"Your Grace, this man, Petyr Baelish, has dared to interfere with the work of the city watch and even physically assaulted me," Janos Slynt says, pointing his finger at Petyr accusingly.
"Is that true, Lord Petyr?" Joffrey asks.
"It is true," Petyr admits.
The crowd gasps, hearing this. Some look disgusted, others appalled. Tyrion looks at the scene with interest and a bit of confusion. Cersei... well, she also observes the moment. The only one who looks a bit suspicious and unnerved is Varys. The Spider is both amused and unhappy to see Petyr back in King's Landing. But he is not stupid enough to believe that this is all there is to the story. He knows Petyr too well for that.
"If I may, your Grace. I am willing to explain everything, if you are interested in listening?"
"Go on," Joffrey waves his hand.
"I was making my way through the city and entered one of my brothels when I was informed that the Lord Commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt, had stormed in with some of his men and committed an atrocity. This man," Petyr says, raising his voice and pointing at Janos Slynt for dramatics, "has ripped an infant child from the arms of this poor woman and ended its short life."
Another assortment of gasps is heard, and everyone looks at Mhaegan, holding her child.
"I understand, Your Grace, that as a woman working at a brothel, she doesn't even come close to what you are, but I ask you this: Is this right? Is it allowed that we give power and authority to men who then go around King's Landing and kill infants?! Is this what a man who is supposed to protect us should do?!"
Outraged calls are heard, and people look at Slynt in anger and disgust.
"I didn't do this of my own accord... I... I... was ordered to do this!"
Janos Slynt has fear in his voice. He looks at the king, trying to communicate with the young king without using words. But Joffrey has been swept up in the moment and his position of power. Petyr's words sound in his ears.
"Is that so? I would like to know who could possibly order you, the Lord Commander of the City Watch. It is either the Lord Hand, who is Tyrion Lannister at this time, or... and we all know how ridiculous this is, His Grace, King Joffrey. So, tell me, Commander, who ordered you to slaughter innocent children?" Petyr asks.
"I-... I... It was-"
"I think we have heard enough," Petyr says, interrupting the man before he can say.
"Your Grace, I hope you forgive my loss of control when I slapped Janos Slynt. But I believe that it is only for you to decide this man's fate, who insinuates that you would ever order such a despicable act."
...
"I agree with you, Lord Petyr. There is only one solution to punish such an act," Joffrey says and stands up.
He feels a great rush right now. The power over life and death was in his hands.
"Your Grace, I-"
"Silence! For acts against the people of King's Landing and the killing of innocent children, I, Joffrey Baratheon, First of my name, sentence you... to death!"
The throne room erupts in murmurs and talking. This was a similar situation to before, when Joffrey ordered Lord Stark to be beheaded. Cersei Lannister sees the scene repeat itself, and Tyrion tries to talk to Joffrey and say something amidst the loud hall. But Joffrey doesn't want to hear anything.
"Ser Ilyn, bring me-"
"Your Grace, if I may," Petyr interrupts Joffrey.
"What?"
"I am aware that I missed your Nameday, but I have brought a present, which I believe would be suitable for this moment."
Petyr waves the soldier forward, carrying the case. The soldier holds it in front for Joffrey to open. Janos Slynt is being held in a kneeling position, waiting to be executed, while Joffrey starts to open his present. Only a few could ever appreciate the ridiculousness of the situation.
Joffrey opens the case and finds a smaller warhammer inside it. Petyr created it much lighter so that the weak little shit could lift it with his meager strength.
"Your Grace, I know that it may be insulting to see this small version, but in time, you will outgrow it and become even stronger than your late father. I believe it would be a good statement to use it now and show the realm that you will not tolerate actions such as these," Petyr says silently.
"You're right, Lord Petyr. What a well-thought-out gift," Joffrey says and grabs the handle.
He feels that it is a bit heavy, but he manages to hold it. Tyrion walks towards Joffrey, with the sellsword Bronn at his side.
"Your Grace, I understand you wish to punish this man, but maybe the throne room is not the best place to do it."
"No. I think it's the perfect place. Hold him in place," Joffrey says.
The Kingsguard hold Janos Slynt in place, making sure that he doesn't get up, or try anything else. Joffrey walks forward, holding the warhammer and lifts it up. Cersei tries to talk her son out of it, but he once again doesn't listen. Janos Slynt stammers in fear, telling everyone that he was following orders. Then Joffrey brings the hammer down.
*Crack*
"AAARRRGHHH!!!"
A loud crack is heard as the bones break. Joffrey missed Janos' head and hit his left shoulder instead. Blood runs out of his crushed shoulder, while the poor sod screams in pain.
"You may need to try again, your Grace," Petyr says.
Joffrey lifts his hammer again, his face showing excitement. But the second hit is not much better than the first. So he has to try again and again and again. The floor is so full of blood and gore that some start to hurl.
"Quite impressive, your Grace. How about some food?"