I stood there for a long moment, glaring at the Sipahis, trying to calm my pounding heart.
The moment I was certain they wouldn’t advance, I felt the urgent need to reposition.
If the Sipahis launched a sudden attack, whether on our main force or the reinforcements Thomas had brought, it could shatter the fragile balance we had maintained.
To ensure a solid link-up with our allies, we had to adjust our formation.
Thankfully, we weren’t attacked while making our move.
The Sipahis were acting with clear restraint, prioritizing the preservation of their forces.
That only strengthened my conviction—
The rebellion in Anatolia had succeeded.
And when the fleet finally arrived, I was greeted by a long-awaited, familiar face.
The soldiers disembarked in a flurry of movement, and amidst them, one figure made his way toward me—
Thomas.
A steadfast ally that brought unexpected but welcomed news.
My young friend approached with a relieved smile.
“I’m truly glad you’re safe.”
“Thomas.”
We reached for each other without hesitation, clasping hands firmly.
No words could fully express the flood of emotions and unspoken thoughts exchanged in that grip.
His timing had been perfect.
Had he not arrived at this precise moment—had I sprung the trap only to be crushed before it could tighten—the enemy would have obliterated us before we had a chance to turn the tables.
“You figured it out and came just in time.”
“Not quite. If not for the Jewish contacts your wife sent, I wouldn’t have known what was happening at all.”
“…She was that cooperative?”
That was surprising.
Almost suspiciously so.
Considering how she had once tried to entangle Morea in Serbia’s struggle, fearing the collapse of the regional balance, her sudden helpfulness made me wary.
But Thomas wasn’t merely doubtful—his expression carried something else.
“Whether you like it or not, she’s just secured herself a position that can’t be ignored. Sooner or later, we’ll have to decide how to handle it—whether to accept it or…”
“Don’t worry. Given her motives, I’ll have no trouble justifying whatever needs to be done.”
That wasn’t an issue for today.
Serbia had suffered two devastating defeats, but with a Crusade appearing in the future, keeping potential allies close was essential.
Cutting Sophia off now would be premature—and unnecessary.
What intrigued me more was why, knowing how dire our situation was, she had still chosen to support Morea.
But for now, there were more pressing matters than Sophia.
I turned to Thomas.
“That’s enough about her. This fleet—it’s from Genoa, isn’t it?”
“Of course, brother. One thousand of our own troops, three thousand Genoese mercenaries—four thousand in total.”
“So Genoa sees this war as an opportunity.”
Unlike Venice, which had already established a powerful presence in the Aegean with colonies from Crete to various island outposts, Genoa’s influence in the region was weak.
(TL : Crete is the largest and a island filled with riches in Greek)
Aside from Chios and Galata, the free city north of Constantinople, they had little territorial foothold.
Perhaps they had been watching, waiting, hoping that the Ottomans would drive out Venice.
Regardless, the size of the force they had sent meant they were making their move.
Three thousand mercenaries.
It wasn’t an all-in gamble, it was a serious commitment.
In fact, they had sent more men than we had.
If things turned sour, they were in a position to turn their weapons against us and still stand a chance.
Maybe they had sent such a large force precisely to ensure I honored our agreement.
I needed to speak with them before tensions arose.
“Thomas, take me to the man leading the Genoese.”
“He’ll come to you first.”
Thomas gestured toward a group approaching in full plate armor.
Their gear never failed to stir a sense of envy.
I wondered if the Empire would ever reach a point where we could deploy soldiers as heavily armed as these.
As I pondered, Thomas spoke again.
“The man in the center—that’s the mercenary captain leading this expedition. Justinian.”
I smirked.
“Not a woman, I assume?”
Thomas chuckled.
“No, brother. That knight by your side is the odd one.”
Hearing Thomas’s chuckle, I turned my gaze to the man in question. Noticing that he had been pointed out, Justinian removed his helmet. Just as Thomas had said, he was an open-faced young man, looking bold and confident. Well, as strange as this world could be, it wasn’t quite absurd enough for something else.
Aside from appearing a little younger than expected, he had the seasoned look of a veteran mercenary commander.
A mercenary captain… That thought suddenly brought to mind someone else who had yet to arrive. I had grown accustomed to him over time, but judging by first impressions alone, this one was far superior.
As I mused over that, Justinian had already reached me.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness Dragases.”
“You’re Justinian, then. I want to thank the Genoese for coming all this way.”
“How could we turn a blind eye when a brother in faith is in danger?”
“A truly reassuring answer.”
Though his true intentions lay elsewhere, such polite formalities helped smooth our relationship, so I played along. No matter his motives, the Genoese reinforcements were a welcome addition.
However, their involvement alone wasn’t enough to achieve the outcome I desired. There was still Venice. Whether they meant to or not, every move they made would end up aiding our cause. I needed to understand their position, and having encountered them firsthand, Justinian was one of the best sources of information.
“What of the Venetians? How are they moving?”
“The Venetians turned their ships around as soon as they heard of the Ottoman fleet advancing south. We encountered them near the waters of Glarentza, so by now, they should have reached the western coast of the Aegean.”
I had yet to hear of any Venetian sightings near Leontarion or Nauplion. Perhaps others at court had received reports, or maybe the Venetians had deliberately avoided making port to prevent information leaks.
At first, their movements were likely just an effort to gauge Ottoman intentions and prepare for any surprise attacks. But soon, they would realize the truth.
This was the perfect opportunity—perhaps their best chance—to either annihilate the Ottoman fleet or extract riches from them.
Persuading Venice, a state driven purely by rational self-interest, was simple. All I had to do was ensure they saw a way to maximize their gains with minimal losses. Whatever they chose, it would inevitably work against the Ottomans.
Meanwhile, the Empire had to use this opportunity to force Murad to the negotiating table and lay the groundwork for the next war.
“Thank you, Justinian. Thanks to you, I now know what must be done. Now, Thomas, I have a question for you—what of Thessalonica?”
“As you instructed, we’re securing supplies to accommodate the army at any moment. But given how long the war has dragged on, we’ve had to pay a steep price.”
“Make sure it’s well-stocked. We wouldn’t want our guests to complain about not getting their money’s worth.”
And with that, the noose around the Ottomans tightened even further.
The Venetian fleet’s return to the Aegean meant the Ottoman ships that had sailed south to cut off our retreat were doomed. Without Venetian approval, the sea route would be sealed.
Their only alternative was land travel, but that meant retreating as far as Edirne or Gallipoli—a costly delay.
And that was only if I allowed them to leave.
In raw numbers, the Ottomans still held the advantage. But in terms of positioning, we had the upper hand.
If they withdrew, they would have to surrender their hard-won gains in central Greece. And if the Ottomans retreated, Morea would rise.
That was inevitable.
Yes, Genoa’s influence might grow in the process, but that was still preferable—especially if one anticipated an eventual clash between Genoa and Venice.
Not that I necessarily wanted Murad to retreat either.
The longer he was forced to fight the minor Mustafa in Anatolia, the longer our peace would last.
Murad… His blade was sharp. Sharper than most could endure.
Even the most disciplined army would break under the sheer ferocity of his campaigns.
He was not only a man wielding a deadly sword—he knew exactly how to use it.
Then, I shall ensure that sword is never drawn.
No matter how sharp the edge, a blade that cannot be swung will cut nothing.
This was the logic I would follow.
Of course, I could not keep his sword sheathed forever.
But the next time Murad drew his blade—
We would have honed ours as well.
TL : The sea between Duchy of Athens and Ottoman Empire is the Aegean Sea. As you can see the capital of Byzantine empire is very far from its other territory. Constantine as you know resides in Morea near Athens. And Thomas who just arrived in this chapter is the ruler of Epirus.
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