At this point, the best approach was to shift the blame. After all, the Principality of Theodoro wasn't the only one involved in that decisive battle; the Golden Horde and the Crimean Khanate were also there.
Speaking of which, if it weren't for the difficult situation the Crimean Khanate was in at the time, and if the Shirin Family hadn't conscripted the slave soldiers they had previously promised to only manage, Zahir Jaqmaq and the other Circassian slave soldiers would never have been drawn into this conflict.
"Since that's the case, then let's push everything onto those two Khanates. Especially the Crimean Khanate, which just fell this year; their Khan is dead, and dead men tell no tales, after all."
Once he had thought it through, Manuel relaxed and began preparing his words and demeanor for facing Jaqmaq.
Before this, Manuel didn't rush to inform him of the matter. Instead, he treated Jaqmaq with great courtesy, allowing him to fully feel the goodwill Manuel extended to him and, by extension, to the Mamluk Sultanate he represented.
Furthermore, after Suleiman arrived in Theodosia, he deliberately acted as an intermediary for the two to meet, introducing Suleiman to Jaqmaq, and with Suleiman's consent, revealed his identity to Jaqmaq.
After that, he personally spent entire days taking them sightseeing, fishing, and enjoying themselves, and even proactively sent people to assist with their slave procurement operations.
This treatment almost made Jaqmaq reluctant to leave.
It wasn't until the fifth day of his stay in Theodosia, when Manuel deliberately had Badars burst into the palace and whisper something in his ear, that a premonition of unease finally stirred deep within him.
In reality, Badars didn't say anything to him; he merely mouthed words seriously as they had pre-arranged.
However, he still feigned great shock, seemingly half-believing and half-doubting as he quietly pressed Badars, "Is this true? Is this really happening?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, according to our investigation, this matter is indeed true," Badars replied cautiously, just as they had rehearsed.
"Since that's the case, then..." A trace of sadness intentionally appeared on Manuel's face, but he restrained himself from overacting.
"Manuel, may I ask, what is this...?" Jaqmaq felt his heart rise to his throat, but he dared not ask further, for he had a rough guess of something bad.
Manuel, with a tone of regret, got straight to the point, "I'll be direct, Mr. Jaqmaq. Your brother, Zahir Jaqmaq, was forcibly conscripted by the Shirin Family due to the unfavorable war of the Crimean Khanate back then, and he met an unfortunate end at the hands of the routing soldiers of the two Khanates in last year's decisive battle.
I only just learned of this matter on my side, and the reason I've delayed informing you of the relevant details until now is precisely because we were investigating these matters at the time.
To inform you of unconfirmed information would be irresponsible."
"Is this true?" Jaqmaq tried to struggle a bit more.
"I'm sorry, it's absolutely true. This has been repeatedly confirmed by my trusted subordinate, whom I sent to investigate, with a Tatar noble who personally experienced that battle.
Currently, Mr. Zahir's remains should still be in central Kuba. Would you like me to help you retrieve him?"
Jaqmaq's body trembled. Although he had mentally prepared himself after returning empty-handed from the Ligurian, he still felt utterly powerless upon truly confirming that his own brother was dead.
If things had gone according to his original plan, they would have reunited two years ago, but now Zahir had died inexplicably in the Kuba region due to an internal war among the Tatars.
This made him momentarily want to vent his anger on the Christian monarch before him, but he calmed down in less than half a second: at least from the content of what he had just said, this Christian, who proactively befriended Muslims, should not have much to do with this matter.
As for why the Principality of Theodoro participated in that war, it might have simply been due to the summons of its suzerain.
Moreover, the other party had treated him with utmost courtesy; if he were truly involved in his brother's death, he wouldn't act so clear-conscienced.
But based on his years of experience gained from his time in Cairo, Jaqmaq still harbored a slight suspicion, but this suspicion should not serve as a foundation for hostility towards the Christian monarch before him.
Therefore, after he believed he had understood these things, Jaqmaq suppressed his suspicion, abandoned his potential animosity towards Manuel before him, and instead sighed, saying, "So be it. Perhaps this is fate. Perhaps this is the will of Allah."
Seeing Jaqmaq's reaction, which indicated he had accepted his explanation, Manuel breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
He had originally intended, if necessary, to shed a few crocodile tears for that unremarkable Circassian. Since he seemed to have convinced the other party, there was no need to add any more over-the-top acting.
Despite this, Manuel's expression remained as it should be at the moment, earning silent admiration from Suleiman and Badars beside him, "I have to say, ever since the series of events of the civil war concluded, Mr./Your Majesty Manuel's acting has gotten better and better."
After Manuel so thoroughly upheld the Roman tradition, Yusuf Jakmak's impression of him significantly improved, and his wariness also greatly diminished.
Seeing this, Suleiman cleverly cooperated with Manuel's previous performance, shifting the topic from this heavy subject, and then proactively joined Manuel in taking him to the mountainside outside the city to relieve his mood.
Under the comfort of their practical actions, Jaqmaq, who was past his prime, quickly emerged from his sorrow and returned to his usual spirits.
Two days passed like this, and a week after Jaqmaq arrived in Theodosia, after confirming that the slaves had been purchased and most of his objectives had been achieved, he formally bid farewell to Manuel.
And Manuel, to show his friendship, proactively hosted a farewell dinner for him.
That evening, at the end of the farewell banquet, a half-drunk Jaqmaq, after draining a glass of fermented grape juice, smiled and stroked his long beard, "It's time to say goodbye."
"Yes," Manuel reluctantly drained the wine in his glass, "By the Holy Mother, how time flies."
"Indeed," Jaqmaq responded with a smile, then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, I don't think I've mentioned my specific position in the Sultanate to you yet, have I? Why don't you guess?"
"A chamberlain? Or a Vizier?" Manuel tentatively replied.
In both his previous life and this one, his knowledge of the Mamluk Sultanate was relatively limited. Earlier, to avoid leaving a bad impression, he intentionally didn't inquire about his status in the Mamluk Sultanate.
"Hahaha, you guessed wrong!" Jaqmaq burst into hearty laughter, proudly puffing out his chest, "Let me reintroduce myself. I am the Emir of Alexandria, a general personally promoted by Sultan Barsbay, a member of the Royal Mamluks, with the rank of Centurion."