I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 65

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 65

The Return of the Hero (5)

* * *

“I think I can make it, but…”

Zernal stroked his beard as he spoke.

The smithy was filled with the clang of hammers and the intense heat of the forges.

Blacksmiths hammered pieces of iron, heated to a fiery red.

Apprentices ran through the aisles, sweating profusely.

“Making the moving parts might be a bit tricky. I’ll need a few parts from the existing crane…”

“You don’t have to make it exactly as I said. As long as it looks like it’s moving from a distance, the exact mechanics don’t matter much.”

I said.

Sweat continued to pour down.

“How long do you think it will take to make a prototype?”

“Hmm. It’ll take a while since it’s the first time I’m making something like this. I’ll need more people too. We’re already short-handed…”

“I’ll provide as much funding as you need. Please prioritize this project.”

“You’ll provide as much funding as I need? I wish everyone else would make such promises,” he said with a smile.

I smiled back.

“Money is no object, as long as you can make it quickly.”

Saladin wouldn’t be on the move again for a few years.

Operating the signal tower would involve some trial and error.

We needed to train and test personnel as quickly as possible.

I guess it’s fortunate this isn’t the 21st century.

It would take years to get the budget approved, tested, and built.

The 12th century was different.

With the king’s permission and money, anything was possible.

This is nice and convenient.

“If necessary, I’ll build you a separate workshop altogether.”

“Then the money…”

“I just told you, money is no object.”

I said with a smile.

Arriving in Jerusalem, I realized one thing.

The price of elixirs had skyrocketed.

It was several times higher than even in Constantinople.

It was like currency in the 12th century.

Rumors of it being a heavenly drink led to fights in the market.

Some even raided the Knights Hospitaller’s brewery to find out the recipe.

The reason it became so popular was…

Probably because of me.

Baldwin’s elixir = heavenly drink.

Well, I’m making money, so I guess it’s a good thing.

Zernal slowly opened his mouth.

“There’s one more problem. Making dozens of these will require a lot of lumber…”

He muttered.

“Unless we dismantle siege towers or catapults, it’ll be hard to secure the necessary amount right away.”

“I’ll ask the merchants separately. There should be trade caravans that can transport lumber.”

Come to think of it, there wasn’t much usable lumber in the Levant [the historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean].

Lumber was one of the main items imported from Europe.

“If all else fails, we could buy ships and dismantle them.”

At that moment, Aig came over.

He yawned and said.

“I still don’t get it, Master. Will what you’re trying to make really be faster than carrier pigeons or messengers?”

“It’ll be incomparably faster. You’ll be amazed when you see it yourself.”

I replied with a smile.

The key to an army is fast and accurate communication.

Once the signal tower system was established, we could gain an advantage over the Islamic forces.

“We need to start training in advance too,” I said.

First, we had to decide which letters corresponded to each movement of the signal tower.

“If you’re going to recruit people separately…”

“No, we can’t entrust this to ordinary people. The risk of information leaks is too high.”

A disaster could occur if the signalman sent a false signal.

Information could also be leaked.

“We’ll have to entrust it to the Knights, or the Vikings.”

“Vikings… are you referring to the Holy Sepulchre Guard?”

“Yes, the Holy Sepulchre Guard.”

I nodded.

The Holy Sepulchre Guard had only recently arrived in the Levant.

They had few vested interests or connections with other factions.

That meant they were relatively clean.

“And we’ll need the help of the Knights Hospitaller too. We can’t use the Knights Templar right now.”

“What you say is correct, Master, but I don’t know if the Varangians [elite unit of the Byzantine army, composed of Norsemen] are suitable for this task.”

Aig scratched his head.

“Aren’t most of them just here for the money? Wouldn’t it be better to entrust it only to the Knights Hospitaller…”

“It’s a problem that can be solved by paying them the highest salary. It’s not for nothing that the Roman emperors trusted the Varangian Guard.”

I said with a smile.

But I doubt there are many people who can write.

“I’ll have to discuss it with Luak first. Well, there must be a way.”

“Still, if something like that is created, there will be less need to use carrier pigeons during the day.”

“It’ll decrease at night too.”

I said with a smile.

“Because we can send signals with torches when it gets dark, just like you and Marco did in Cyprus.”

During the day, we could use the wooden arms to send specific messages, and at night, we could send only urgent messages.

“It’ll be hard to use when the weather is bad, though. But there’s nothing we can do about that.”

“We can use messengers in those cases.”

Aig nodded.

“Other people will be surprised when they see it. A wooden arm that creaks and moves all day long.”

“Now that I think about it, it is a funny sight.”

After discussing minor details with Zernal, I looked around the smithy.

Armor and weapons were visible.

Pots placed deep inside.

Zernal said.

“We keep the Greek fire from Antioch [an incendiary weapon used in naval battles] here. It was hard to find a place without a fire source.”

“There’s more than I thought.”

I said.

The sacred fireballs of Antioch.

I need to think about how to use that in battle too.

On one wall, numerous helmets were placed.

They were shaped to protect the entire face, similar to mine.

Great helms.

“It seems like there are more helmets like this than before.”

“Ever since you wore it, Master, all the knights have been clamoring for us to make one for them. They’ve been asking us to make one for themselves.”

Zernal said with a hearty laugh.

“Thanks to you, we have even more work.”

“I apologize for that.”

I said with a smile.

It saved my life when I went to Eilat.

Plate armor is better, but…

It would be difficult with the current metallurgy technology.

And in the sunny Levant, chainmail would be better than plate armor.

Zernal stood up and examined my body from head to toe.

“By the way, you’ve grown a lot taller in the meantime. Your arms have gotten longer too. Does the armor we made last time still fit?”

“It’s a bit tight. I asked the local blacksmiths to enlarge it, but…”

“From now on, you must entrust it to me, Master. Armor must fit perfectly. The same goes for helmets. If it’s too tight or too loose, it won’t absorb the impact properly.”

He said in an excited tone.

“If you bring me the armor… no, it would be better to get a new one made while you’re here today. Stand over there for a moment. I’ll just take your measurements quickly.”

“You must only take my measurements,” I said with a shrug.

I’m going to be late for my appointment.

“I have someone to meet.”

* * *

Having escaped from Zernal, I headed to Balian’s residence.

Right behind the Tower of David.

A stone building wall came into view.

Balian’s residence was quite simple.

Dozens of soldiers stood guard.

In contrast, there were fewer than five servants.

I was led inside by the guard captain.

Balian was sitting at a table in the center of the garden.

Facing him was a familiar face.

উইগ [Wig, name of the character] was there.

Both of them stood up when they saw me.

“Welcome, Master. We were just talking about you with my brother.”

“This fellow was doubting my words. That I went to Damietta myself…”

উইগ said with a smile.

He had taken off his mask.

“And negotiated with the governor there.”

“You didn’t do it alone, brother. The Holy Sepulchre Guard and the Venetian fleet were also there.”

“Yes, yes. They were there too.”

“No one fought at the forefront as much as Sir উইগ.”

I said with a smile.

উইগ was as brave a knight as Garnier.

He fought at the forefront in Constantinople, protecting me.

“As expected, you’re the only one who believes me, Master.”

উইগ laughed heartily.

He stood up and said.

“I’ll excuse myself for a moment. I heard you have something to discuss separately with Balian.”

He went inside the building.

Only Balian and I remained in the garden.

“Sir উইগ wouldn’t have been a problem if he were here.”

“My brother belongs to the Knights, so he tries to avoid interfering in such matters as much as possible.”

Balian gave a faint smile.

“And he’s not interested in the first place. Please, sit comfortably. There’s no one here who would eavesdrop on our conversation.”

I sat on the chair he offered.

Balian said.

“My wife has never been so happy as she is these days. She’s been by Princess Theodora’s side all day long. She probably misses the days when she lived in Constantinople.”

Ah, his wife was also a Byzantine princess.

Maria Komnene, was it?

She was the wife of the late king and the former stepmother of Baldwin IV.

Isabella was the daughter of Amalric I and her.

Isabella also had some claim to the throne.

“She asked me to convey her gratitude to you as well, for saving the Roman Empire.”

“I just did what was necessary.”

I replied with a smile.

From assassination attempts to rebellions, I don’t even want to think about it.

“It was closer to cleaning up insects.”

I wonder how Alexios is doing.

He must be busy stabilizing the empire by now.

If he’s even showering the Kingdom of Jerusalem with gifts, it seems like he’s somewhat settled in.

“Let’s get down to business.”

I leaned forward.

There was another reason I came to see Balian today.

“His Majesty said that he entrusted you with the management and operation of the royal intelligence network.”

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m mostly in charge of it.”

I looked at him.

A man whom Baldwin IV trusted enough to entrust with a royal family member with a claim to the throne.

It’s not unreasonable to entrust such a man with the intelligence network.

“As you may already know from Sir উইগ…”

I put as much strength into my voice as possible.

If I’m going to act, I should do it properly.

“I can recognize those who lie. I caught Andronikos’ followers in Constantinople too.”

“I heard the story from my brother.”

Balian nodded.

“He said that definite evidence came out later after investigating. If you have such abilities…”

“You could catch the traitors within the kingdom too, couldn’t you? Don’t you think?”

I said with a smile.

Catching the traitors among the royal spies and secret agents.

I should get rid of them quickly while I have the time.

That’s why I came to see Balian.

I added, “His Majesty readily agreed.”

“I understand what you mean. If you can really identify the traitors… there would be no greater gain than that.”

Balian muttered.

I nodded.

Intelligence was a difficult part of The Last Crusaders as well.

Not just simple spies, but double and triple agents.

To find this out, I had to go through a separate, troublesome process.

But if I made good use of my abilities, I could catch them.

I had to weed them out to prevent information leaks.

Of course, there was a problem.

All I could feel was emotion.

A delicate procedure was needed to find out whether they were simply nervous or traitors.

A kind of leading question.

“Aren’t there a few suspicious people among the spies? Please call them in.”

I added with a smile, “I wonder how many will be caught in the net.”

* * *

(Semaphore signal tower system – www.history-communication/semaphore.com public domain)