To Jaqmaq's surprise, Manuel only trembled slightly and didn't show a shocked expression. It was Suleiman, on the other hand, whose mouth was slightly agape, looking as if he was about to speak.
"Your Excellency Manuel, you don't seem so surprised?" Jaqmaq asked him curiously.
"Well, it does sound quite surprising at first. But the clothes your Excellency wears are mostly made of real silk, quite expensive, and you have many attendants, so it's clear at a glance that your status is extraordinary. Although generally, the Royal Mamluk of Cairo wouldn't travel across the sea to the Black Sea, there are exceptions to everything," Manuel explained to him earnestly.
"Hahahahaha." Half-drunk, Jaqmaq burst into laughter, "Your Excellency's insight is truly extraordinary. I believe you will surely achieve something in the Black Sea that others cannot."
Although Jaqmaq's words were mostly polite pleasantries, Manuel was even more astonished than when he learned of his true status. However, he didn't show it on his face and continued to drink and enjoy himself with them.
The farewell dinner for Jaqmaq ended after nearly three hours in such an atmosphere. The next day, Jaqmaq, surrounded by Manuel and others at the port of Theodosia, departed from this prosperous port city with his attendants and numerous purchased slaves.
However, after confirming that they were far from Theodosia, Jaqmaq's expression became calm.
"Change course. We'll take a detour to Tana in the northeast. Hurry up, we're short on time," Jaqmaq ordered the captain expressionlessly.
"Yes, sir."
Many around him expressed confusion, "Sir, aren't we returning to our country? Is there enough time if we take such a long detour?" A close attendant by his side asked, somewhat puzzled and worried.
"There should be enough time. Anyway, we're going by sea, so the Sultan probably won't notice a small delay on the way," Jaqmaq said with a smile, stroking his long beard, "Before returning, let's go from Kuba to Sarai to see what impression those Tatars have of that battle. After all, a one-sided account proves nothing."
At the same time, in the office of the Theodosia Palace, Badars asked Manuel with some worry, "Your Majesty, if that Muslim doubts our statement and specifically goes to the Golden Horde to verify, wouldn't our lie be exposed?"
"Did we lie?" Manuel, who was reviewing financial reports, put down his work and asked Badars with a refreshed look.
"Ah?"
"Everything we told His Excellency Jaqmaq was true; we just didn't tell him everything," Manuel said with a gentle smile, wiping the tip of his quill, "Moreover, as a Royal Mamluk directly under the Mamluk Sultan, he has important duties here and shouldn't stay for too long. Even if he rushes to the Golden Horde to investigate, the only new effective information he could get is that we played a certain role in that battle. And the main participants in that battle, Haji Giray and the Shirin Family, are gone, and Sayid Khan and his Tenek Emir have been overthrown. For an outsider like him, it would be too difficult to find reliable information from the remaining taxi drivers who witnessed the event without the cooperation of noble lords.
"In other words, in this situation where there's almost 'no one to contradict,' the conclusion he ultimately reaches should be similar to what we told him." With that, Manuel continued to immerse himself in approving the various tasks of the Autocratic State.
And Badars, who had followed this Majesty since childhood, was even more convinced and admired him, nodding in agreement from the bottom of his heart.
For the remainder of the summer, the Caesar couple's summer continued in Theodosia, with no other important matters worth mentioning. If there was anything worth noting, it was only two things. One was Manuel's plan to establish a bank exclusive to the Bosphorus Despotate after discussions with Arno and Serenus. For this, he began to intentionally pay attention to Latin merchants from the Apennine Peninsula, intending to recruit financial talents among them to help him achieve this ambition.
The other was the final report on the Adyghe Principality from Badars, who also served as the head of the Dark Division—
"Is the report content truly accurate?" Manuel summoned Badars and Tukharovsky to his office, dismissed all irrelevant personnel, and repeatedly confirmed with Badars.
"Yes, Your Majesty, the vast majority of the Adyghe's Elder Council have secretly been brought under our control," Badars replied respectfully, bowing his head.
"Land, status, and money are truly powerful tools for winning people's hearts," Manuel mused inwardly. To ensure success, he had personally guided the Dark Division's control over the Adyghe's high-ranking officials during this period, so he had a good grasp of the report's authenticity.
"Hmm, Tukharovsky, are the relevant legions ready?" After confirming that the covert work was flawless, Manuel turned to Tukharovsky for confirmation.
"Yes, Your Majesty, a 500-man infantry legion is ready for deployment at any time. And two other legions, totaling 1000 men, have received sufficient training. Everything awaits your command, Your Majesty," Tukharovsky saluted Manuel.
"Very good. In a few days, hint at our next target to the former, that is, the 500-man infantry legion. If soldiers are like headless flies, not knowing who their enemy is, the chances of success will unknowingly decrease," Manuel instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since everything is almost ready, let's make our move at the end of the month." At the end of this brief and short, yet crucial, meeting, Manuel issued his final order.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Loyalty!"
After seeing the two off, Manuel took a deep breath, then returned to his desk and took out the plan he had previously drawn up. After taking it out and carefully pondering over it, he circled a person's name on its margin. After much thought, he had his attendant summon Serenus, "Tell him I am going to entrust him with a difficult task." His expression was very serious when he said this.