I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 64

The Hero’s Return (4)

* * *

“People say the Patriarch has changed since he spoke with you,” Baldwin IV said with a smile, reaching out to move a chess piece. “He used to be full of vanity. What did you say to him?”

“I don’t know either.”

No, I really don’t know.

I just stopped him from playing with the elixir [a potion believed to grant immortality or cure all ills]. Who knew he would become a different person?

I reached out and moved the rook.

“A hasty move.”

Baldwin IV moved his queen forward.

Only then did I realize the game was over.

Three moves.

I would inevitably lose in three moves.

“I lost again,” I said, knocking over my king.

The chess we were playing was slightly different from what I knew.

The defending side starts with the castle and king in the center.

Then the opponent starts from the outside and attacks the king.

It’s the same as our situation.

The defense is Jerusalem. The attackers are Saladin and Islam.

I looked at Baldwin IV.

A calm lake.

I couldn’t feel much agitation in his emotions.

It’s hard to win even with my sixth sense.

“You’re not skilled enough to beat me yet.”

“I’ll win someday,” I replied with a smile.

It’s enough to make me competitive.

Baldwin IV laughed again.

“I heard you had a private meeting with Saladin in Hama. What did he say to you?”

I told him about my conversation with Saladin, even about his threats.

Baldwin IV seemed lost in thought, fiddling with his silver mask.

“Your judgment was correct, Baldwin. Saladin was not in a position to lay siege at that time.”

“If Saladin had really intended to fight, he would have given up the fortresses,” I said.

The troops in Hama and Homs were a small minority compared to Saladin’s main force.

We would have been at a disadvantage if a proper siege had taken place.

The troops brought from Tripoli were also more of a card to pressure Saladin.

“By the way, ‘the Sea of Islam.’ Those are meaningful words.”

He pushed the chessboard aside.

The two eyes behind the mask looked at me.

“Baldwin, how do you think Saladin will move in the future?”

“Saladin will try to recover his strength for the time being,” I said.

This would be a half-truth.

Baldwin IV was testing me, just like he had done before.

“Saladin has taken Aleppo and Mosul, but he has lost Hama and Homs. In addition, Damietta and Damascus were attacked.”

I looked at the chessboard.

I could picture the pieces moving one square at a time in my head.

The pieces that had been fighting each other were returning to their places one by one.

“His leadership has been damaged, so he won’t be able to go on an expedition for the time being. He will try to strengthen his internal affairs and bring the lords to his side,” I added.

“He also needs to restore public sentiment in Egypt and Damascus. It will take some time.”

“Then what do you think we should do?”

“The same as Saladin. We need to strengthen our internal cohesion and increase the number of knights and troops. We must promote commerce to secure resources and strengthen our intelligence network,” I said.

The problem is that it’s still difficult even if we do this.

“But if we have the same amount of time, Saladin is at an advantage. As time goes by, the gap between the kingdom and Saladin will widen.”

“You are right,” Baldwin IV said, picking up the king and fiddling with it. “If a small man and a big man train equally, the big man will eventually win. I think you suggested a solution before.”

“Yes, if there are not enough pieces on the board…”

I changed a few black pieces to white.

The rough texture of the wood was felt at my fingertips.

“First of all, we need to turn the opponent’s pieces to our side.”

“You’re talking about the Assassins [a Nizari Ismaili Shia sect known for their political assassinations]. I heard they helped capture Hama and Homs.”

“Yes, and another way is…”

I reached out and put new pieces on the board.

“To bring new pieces from outside the board. We have made Constantinople our ally, so now we need to bring in Europe.”

“We have already sent envoys to Europe several times to urge a crusade. The Knights Hospitaller [a Catholic military order] and the Knights Templar [another Catholic military order] have stepped forward in London and Rome,” Baldwin IV said.

“But the situation in Europe is chaotic. The King of England is fighting with his children, and the German Emperor is snarling at the Pope. They have no will to form a new crusade.”

“Then we have to make them willing. I have something in mind…” I said.

The Crusades.

That flame had to be rekindled.

Not after Jerusalem was captured, but right now.

To do that, I would have to step forward.

First, I need to sort out the problems here.

“I’ll tell you more about it later. By the way, I heard that Your Majesty is postponing the punishment of Count Guy…”

“There is no more detestable parasite than Guy,” Baldwin IV said, getting up. He coughed.

“It’s no wonder, since he used to attack other royals and nobles in Europe for ransom. And your mother to such a man…”

He stopped talking and sighed.

“Guy will receive due punishment for what he has done. But the problem now is not Guy. He is dull and stupid, so he is not a great danger. The problem is the forces that support Guy,” he said.

“Hardliners from Europe. They will raise their voices, using Guy’s purge as an excuse. They will soon put forward someone else.”

“So the problem won’t be solved by getting rid of Guy.”

“That’s right. The same goes for the Knights Templar. Simply changing the leader will not eliminate the hardliners inside,” he added.

“From their point of view, even if Guy or Reynald disappear, they can just put someone else forward.”

I fell into thought.

Was Baldwin IV right?

It was the same in *The Last Crusaders* [likely a historical reference or book title]. Christian forces did not lose their factions just by eliminating leaders.

That’s why the Assassins didn’t assassinate the Crusaders.

“I have something in mind regarding that, Your Majesty. I have already discussed it with Count Raymond,” I said.

I looked at Baldwin IV.

My plan required long preparation and work to succeed, and above all, Baldwin IV’s permission.

“Gather all the hardliners and opposition forces in one place, like a shepherd gathering sheep in one meadow. And…”

I clapped my hands.

“Catch them all at once. This time, the Knights Templar made the foolish move of attacking the convoy to continue receiving their annual payments.”

I continued, “Thanks to that, they are being criticized by everyone. We’re going to recreate that situation.”

“Recreating the current situation is interesting,” Baldwin IV leaned forward. “Tell me more about it.”

I smiled at him.

He’s hooked.

* * *

That afternoon, I found Guy inside the palace.

It wasn’t hard to find him.

Rage.

I could feel the rage filling his chest.

He was training in swordsmanship with other knights in his room.

I entered the room without hesitation.

“I heard you were scheduled to leave for Ascalon. You’re still in Jerusalem.”

“Well, if it isn’t the hero of Hama and Homs! Or should I call you Sir Knight now?” Guy said, glaring at me. He waved his hand at the knights.

“Everyone, get out.”

“But, Count…”

“Everyone, get out. Can’t I have a private conversation with my stepson?”

The knights looked at us with uneasy eyes and left.

Guy came up to me.

“You’ve grown a lot in the meantime. Your face is much more mature. You must have had a good time in Constantinople.”

“The Emperor gave me all sorts of conveniences,” I shrugged.

Now, Sibylla has definitely turned to my side.

Guy himself couldn’t possibly not know that.

He, an outsider, had gained power in Jerusalem only thanks to Sibylla, who was a member of the royal family.

He knew that without Sibylla, he would have no power.

From Guy’s point of view, he didn’t have much time left.

That’s why he made such an unreasonable move this time.

But instead, the situation had become twisted… Behind his calm expression, anger and anxiety poured out.

I tensed all the muscles in my body.

It was time to throw the bait.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the Knights Templar.”

“Some of the members were blinded by money and committed robbery. But to dismiss the leader for just that…” He scoffed. “I heard you caught them yourself, Baldwin. If you heard anything in advance…”

“Would you believe me if I said the Archangel told me?”

“The Archangel? People believe what they want to believe, and there are more than a few who deceive people by gathering them together,” he scoffed again. “I don’t seem to see an Archangel floating behind you?”

“The Archangel has told me many things.” I looked at Guy and smiled. I would have done so if we could have been on the same side, but Guy’s greed was too great—his greed for the throne of Jerusalem.

He was a man who would do anything for it.

Using the Knights Templar to sabotage was just the beginning.

I couldn’t join hands with such a man.

“I also heard who seduced the leader of the Knights Templar. Aren’t you curious?”

“…”

Guy growled, glaring at me with a look that would devour me.

“If you came here to spout nonsense in front of me…”

“Father’s words are correct. It’s probably nonsense,” I said.

“It doesn’t make sense. Someone made the Knights Templar attack the convoy. Who would do such a foolish thing?” I added with a smile. “Unless it’s an incompetent person who hasn’t achieved anything in the expedition. Well, the attack failed just the same, so it makes sense.”

“…”

His face turned red.

“Isn’t that right?”

“You’d better avoid turning me into an enemy, Baldwin. I am your stepfather and the lord of your mother.”

“The lord of my mother? I wonder how long that will last.” I leaned forward, adopting a provocative stance.

“There will be no one to follow an incompetent person to the end. What do you think will happen if even my mother leaves you?”

“If you keep talking like that, you’ll be the first to…” He grabbed my shoulder and lowered his head. I could feel that he was very agitated.

The situation I wanted.

I grabbed the dagger scabbard on my waist upside down.

There was no need to think deeply.

The handle.

I slammed the handle into his neck.

A complete surprise attack.

He grabbed his neck and coughed.

Following the bewildered emotion, anger erupted.

“You son of a bitch…” He gasped and raised his scabbard, but he didn’t draw his sword.

Does he still have reason?

Even if it’s a scabbard, my bones will break if I get hit.

“This impudent bastard dares to hit me?!” He came at me and swung his scabbard.

Not just swinging, but a sophisticated attack.

I focused my mind.

Constantinople, Cyprus, and even the Assassin’s fortress.

Having gone through all sorts of incidents, my sixth sense had become sharp.

This was a piece of cake.

I moved my body from side to side, dodging his attacks—once, twice, and three times.

When I dodged all the attacks, he hesitated with a surprised expression, but only for a moment.

He rushed at me with a flushed face.

Having dodged the attack, I bent my body and dug inside. This time, the side. I stabbed the handle in.

With a cough, Guy fell to the floor.

“It seems your training is still lacking, ‘Father’,” I said, exhaling. “You’d better work harder if you don’t want to be hit by such an impudent bastard.”

I turned my head and left the room.

This level of stimulation should be enough.

He wouldn’t stay still after receiving such an insult.

Go ahead and run wild, because that will be your end.

I grabbed my tingling shoulder.

As I left the door, Aig rushed over with an urgent expression. He stared at me with wide eyes.

“Young master? I heard some noise from inside… Did the Count hit you?”

“No, I was the one who hit him. There was a bug in the room. I just gave it a little tap,” I said, attaching the dagger to my waist.

“Even so, fighting with the Count…”

“It’s not a wise thing to do?” I asked with a smile.

“When you demolish a building, you don’t install bombs outside. You install them inside and detonate them.”

A precisely designed explosion causes the building to collapse on its own. There is no damage to the outside, and I just installed a bomb inside the building, in the exact location I wanted.

“Detonating a bomb, what do you mean?”

“There is such a thing,” I replied with a smile.

Now that I’ve done the work, all I have to do now is wait for him to fall into the trap.

It will take some time—a few weeks, or a few months?

But that meant I also had time to prepare the trap.

Until then, should I take care of other things at my leisure?

I looked at Aig and said, “Call blacksmith Gernal, and bring me a few telescopes. There’s something I want to experiment with.”