I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 56

Two Cities’ Tale (1)

* * *

Sinan summoned me less than an hour later.

He sat in the center of the audience chamber, a turban wrapped around his head.

Several hooded men stood around him.

“Welcome, Duke Baldwin. I heard your trap was successful.”

He spoke with a composed expression.

“I don’t know whether to congratulate or lament the fact that noble Frankish knights would draw swords against their own.”

“I thought it was a secret that you were Sinan.”

I ignored his provocation.

He smiled and replied.

“It is for most of the members. These are my arms and legs. You may leave now.”

The men bowed their heads and all left the room.

Sinan sat on the floor and said.

“Hand over the culprits to us. They tried to kill our convoy. We also have the right to punish them.”

“That’s only if you suffered any damage.”

I scoffed.

“No way.”

“They are knights of Jerusalem, so we will punish them ourselves.”

Sinan was silent.

He probably didn’t mean the offer sincerely either.

I looked at him.

The Assassin warriors who accompanied me last night must have reported on my abilities.

“Last night, I saw the Assassin warriors fighting. They were all warriors as rumored.”

“Our warriors are all trained from boyhood.”

Sinan said.

“They are trained only for Jihad [holy war] and martyrdom, unlike you Frankish knights who betray each other.”

He glared at me.

“If you want to boast about the demonic powers you wielded… it’s nothing more than a trivial trick.”

“A trivial trick.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

If he had been there last night, he wouldn’t have said that.

The night in the Levant was pitch black.

The only thing illuminating the way was the faint moonlight.

It was purely thanks to my sixth sense that I found the knights hiding in the rocks and bushes.

“Allah does not help idolaters. He only punishes them. Anyway, that’s not what’s important now.”

He frowned.

His expression seemed to be testing me.

“The Duke must have heard that Masud failed after launching an unreasonable offensive. He’s hiding in a hole like a wounded fox.”

I nodded in agreement.

‘You guys told me in the first place.’

“If Masud surrenders to Saladin, all the efforts you and our Assassins have made will be in vain.”

He growled.

“The supplies that were painstakingly brought over the mountains will be handed over to Saladin’s army intact.”

“….”

I calmly looked at Sinan.

I could be sure by looking at his reaction.

‘He’s not calling me to argue after all.’

The Assassins are an extremely pragmatic force.

To prevent Masud and Saladin from joining forces, he had only one option left.

To join hands with us.

Everything he had said so far was just laying the groundwork.

We even stopped the sabotage of the Knights Templar, so it was proven that we were on the same side.

“Stop beating around the bush. I already know what you’re proposing.”

I smiled.

“You want to strike Hama and Homs before the peace treaty is concluded, right?”

“….”

Now it was Sinan’s turn to be silent.

He looked at me without saying a word.

“That’s the only way to protect you Assassins from Saladin.”

I recalled the Last Crusaders game.

There was an event that often popped up while playing the game.

The Assassins sometimes occupied fortresses in this area, including Hama and Homs.

The important thing was that it wasn’t a typical siege.

Special occupation through espionage and assassination.

It was one of the strategies that only the Assassins had.

It seemed like a cheat-like ability at first glance, but its limitations were also clear.

Occupying and defending are different issues.

The Assassins, with their lack of believers, troops, and supplies, quickly lost the strongholds.

But what if the Crusaders intervened here?

If the Crusaders had troops….

‘We could occupy and even maintain Hama and Homs.’

That’s exactly what Sinan wants.

And it wasn’t a bad deal for the Kingdom of Jerusalem either.

If Hama and Homs were in our hands, we could put pressure on Saladin from the north.

It would be like having a sharp dagger aimed at Damascus.

To do that, Hama and Homs had to become ‘Crusader’ cities.

“Our Assassins can make any city in the Levant our own if we put our minds to it. The same goes for Hama and Homs.”

“But you need the help of us Crusaders to defend the fortresses. Is that why you’re telling me this?”

I asked with a smile.

“Is that why you told me about the situation in Aleppo? Let’s make one thing clear first. We are not your mercenaries.”

I added.

“If we occupy Hama and Homs, these will be our cities.”

“Do you think you can occupy these castles without the help of our Assassins?”

Sinan growled.

“Without our spies and warriors….”

“It would be difficult to occupy the cities. But that doesn’t matter. You’re the one who’s desperate right now, not us.”

I leaned forward.

‘You must be frustrated to death, right?’

It’s no use trying to win me over with all sorts of methods.

I can read your mind.

Anxiety and impatience.

They desperately needed our help.

Even if it falls into the hands of the Crusaders, it will create a breakwater to stop Saladin….

It wouldn’t be a losing game for the Assassins.

Silence fell again.

My gaze collided with his in the air.

‘Is he calculating in his head?’

I also fell into thought.

If I request reinforcements from Tripoli, they can arrive within a week.

The Tripoli army only supported the transportation here and did not participate in the pressure on Damascus.

If they were stationed in the city, we could have a solid defense.

In addition, Count Joscelin had built an intelligence network in these cities.

If the Assassins actively step forward….

“If we succeed in occupying….”

Sinan stood up and said.

“We will build missionary centers in these cities, and we must also receive trade-related privileges.”

“Of course. We must form a formal alliance.”

I said with a smile.

Considering the value of these cities, that’s a bargain.

‘But a missionary center of all things…’

Are they planning to increase the number of believers and take them away later?

“I swear on the honor of the Royal Family of Jerusalem.”

“If this promise is broken, we will take your life, Duke. Someday our Fidai [self-sacrificing assassin] will appear before you.”

Sinan smiled.

“No one can escape the sacred sword.”

I scoffed.

The Assassins were obsessed.

Once they set a goal, they would kill it even if it took years.

Even in the game, once you were on their bad side, they kept sending assassins.

But it wasn’t difficult for me to catch the assassins.

Even if you can hide your clothes and appearance, there is no one who can hide their inner thoughts.

‘That’s why I chose the sixth sense to avoid assassination in the first place.’

The Assassins don’t use poison or anything like that, so there was virtually no way to kill me.

Unless I stupidly walk down the street alone.

“If what you have is truly a sacred sword….”

I stood up after him.

“It will be difficult to stab me with it.”

‘Try it if you can.’

It was time to stop arguing and return to practical matters.

“If you want us to help, share the information you have. Right now.”

There was no time.

We had to finish it as quickly as possible, even a second faster, before Saladin and Masud made a peace treaty.

“Saladin and Masud’s army situation. Current location, etc. I need to know everything.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘It’s always something.’

“First, the reconnaissance unit that Saladin left near Hama and Homs….”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

Sinan scoffs.

“Didn’t I already say? There is no place in this Levant without our eyes and hands.”

* * *

Outskirts of Damascus.

Balian entered the command tent and said.

“All three villages have been captured, Your Majesty. As you instructed, we only received tributes and avoided looting.”

Balian bowed his head.

Only he and Baldwin IV were in the command tent.

“Well done. You’ve done it much faster than planned.”

Baldwin IV said.

He put on his mask and stood up.

“How about attacking the walls of Damascus now? There are complaints among the soldiers. So many troops have gathered, but why….”

“They’re complaining that we’re only attacking the surrounding villages. Well, it’s understandable.”

Baldwin IV coughed and said.

“They’re right. There’s probably never been more Crusaders gathered than this. Twelve hundred knights and over fifteen thousand infantry….”

He continued.

“It’s enough to scare the Saracens. But it’s far from enough to occupy Damascus.”

“You mean….”

“Saladin left plenty of defenders, and the supplies and provisions are enough to last a year.”

Baldwin IV waved his hand.

“They’re waiting for us to attack. There’s no reason to fall into the trap first.”

He asked.

“Is Guy still holed up in his tent?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s almost strangely….”

“Of course, it would be.”

Baldwin IV burst out laughing.

“Soon, there will be interesting news from the north. The Knights Templar will be completely overturned.”

“The Knights Templar will be overturned? What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the letter I received from my sister a while ago?”

Balian nodded.

“It’s related to that. You’ll find out soon. Keep a close eye on Guy and the Grand Master of the Knights Templar. We’ll have to catch them soon.”

“…Understood, Your Majesty.”

Balian slowly opened his mouth.

“How about allowing the soldiers to raid to relieve their complaints?”

“We need to leave the people around here alone, for a very simple reason. Why do you think we’re here now?”

Baldwin IV raised his finger.

“Saladin has left for the north now. What will the people of Damascus shout at Saladin now?”

He added.

“They will resent Saladin for abandoning us and going on an expedition.”

“A ruler who cannot protect his people is not needed.”

“That’s exactly it.”

“Then allowing the raid is enough….”

“If we push them too hard, the anger of the people of Damascus will turn to us. That shouldn’t happen.”

Baldwin IV coughed.

Balian approached and supported him.

“The anger of Damascus and the Syrians must be directed at the incompetent Saladin, not us.”

“I think I know what Your Majesty wants.”

“Then that’s a relief. Would you help me? I’m late for morning prayer today.”

“You should rest now. You should just rest in your tent today….”

“A king must stand by his soldiers. If I were healthy, I would have walked around myself.”

Baldwin IV coughed.

He was helped out of the tent.

The officers and soldiers bowed and paid their respects to him.

The Holy Cross was placed in front of the tent.

A huge wooden cross.

The relic said to be where Christ was crucified.

As if to show the importance of the relic, dozens of soldiers guarded the area.

Baldwin IV knelt down in front of the Holy Cross.

He stopped the soldiers and Balian from trying to support him.

Everyone silently watched their king pray.

Soon he slowly stood up.

Balian approached again and supported him.

Baldwin IV gasped for breath.

“I’m looking forward to hearing some news from the north.”

“So am I, Your Majesty.”

“Saladin hasn’t returned yet, so our plan has already succeeded.”

He continued.

“Young Baldwin will be doing well. Maybe he’s doing something outrageous again.”

* * *

“Strike Hama and Homs?!”

Joscelin widened his eyes without realizing it.

He looked at the boy in front of him.

His relative and the savior of the Roman Empire.

And the boy who will soon marry the princess.

“We don’t have enough troops right now!”

“I will request reinforcements from Tripoli. If they can get spoils, they will gladly join us.”

“Your Grace has no experience, so you take sieges too lightly. Even if you bring a large army and besiege it, it will take at least half a year, several years at the longest.”

“That might have been the case with other cities.”

Joscelin closed his mouth at the boy’s words.

A confident tone.

There was something.

“But what if assassins and rebels are rampant inside? All sorts of false information are going around the streets.”

The boy smiled.

“The Assassins will pour everything they have. So will we. Then we can succeed.”

“It’s as if you’ve already seen it succeed.”

“I’ve actually seen it many times, Count.”

The boy replied with a smile.

Joscelin swallowed hard.

“The Assassins are trying to use you, Duke.”

“Maybe so.”

The boy nodded.

“But there’s no law that says I can’t use them.”