CHAPTER 309: CHAPTER 3: REPEATED BETRAYAL

Turriados returned to his residence and immediately dispatched his subordinates to make grand preparations.

"This Count Losa is someone who knows when to advance and when to retreat. Otherwise, if he forced me to send troops to cooperate with him in battle, I really wouldn’t know how to refuse."

Turriados opened his arms, allowing the maids to step forward and help him remove his heavy outer robe and change into a short tunic.

He instructed:

"Pass the word down, all the garrison forces must stay alert. That Count Losa is not leading the Empire’s army, but a group of barbaric Franks. You all must have heard of the brutal reputation of the Crusaders. Do not obstruct them, but also remember, you must never open the city gates to invite them in."

Having handled everything on hand, Turriados then went to sleep.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

An urgent secret letter reached Turriados, who was still in his dreams, through a messenger.

He broke the wax seal and read it roughly. His drowsiness vanished instantly, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

"The Empire and the Crusaders’ fleet have actually lost!"

"Defeated by a fleet rented from the two city-states of the Apennines? How is this possible!"

Turriados felt as if he was being mocked, even if the Empire Fleet was declining, wasn’t there still the Crusaders’ fleet assisting this time?

He continued to read on.

His face turned alternately pale and flushed.

"Isaac rode a Black Dragon, spewing out scorching Dragon Flame, defeating the joint fleet badly, forcing them to escape far away, leaving the sea littered with floating corpses..."

His heart skipped a beat.

He had just defected, and now received such news.

"All-knowing, all-powerful Father, could it be that this tyrant Isaac truly has destiny in his favor? Is the Empire meant to continue under the Komnenos family?"

His heart sighed, squeezing out a trace of relief on his face.

Fortunately, he hadn’t openly changed allegiance yet, and there was still a way to salvage.

...

Losa received the news at almost the same time as Turriados.

He was startled awake from his sleep, drenched in cold sweat by the news: "This Isaac actually has a Black Dragon. Anna, such crucial information you didn’t know?"

Anna was full of apology: "Sorry, Isaac really is just an ordinary person. I don’t know how he managed to tame a dormant Black Dragon."

"Is this Black Dragon also of the Fire Dragon species?"

Losa inquired.

"Yes, it is a Winged Dragon. Its strength should not surpass the Tyrannical Dragon you previously defeated, but it’s not much weaker either."

Losa quickly calmed down and asked, "How great are the losses of your fleet? When can reinforcements arrive?"

Anna replied bitterly: "The Empire Fleet suffered heavy losses, especially several large ships laden with Greek Fire oil—yet the Crusaders’ fleet, having suffered minimal losses, also refused to engage again."

"So, we have now completely become an isolated force?"

Losa frowned deeply.

"For now, it seems so."

Anna’s tone was full of apology. Knowing this would be the outcome, she shouldn’t have advised Losa to take advantage of the enemy’s concentration of ships in northern Cyprus to launch an attack.

Anna paused in silence, then said with some difficulty: "If it doesn’t work out, you should have your subordinates surrender. I will compensate you for your losses as much as I can."

Losa felt a warmth in his heart.

He couldn’t help but smile: "It’s not your fault, you don’t need to worry. Besides, encouraging me to surrender before the fight begins—am I even Belisarius?"

"Ah? You heard that?"

Losa chuckled lightly: "What a joke, I’m not deaf. Alright, that’s it for now. Inform me immediately if there are any updates."

He ended the communication.

Losa’s smile gradually faded from his face.

The reason the Crusaders’ fleet withdrew with minimal losses was simple. On one hand, the Crusaders’ fleet couldn’t bear such huge losses.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem’s survival owes much to the Crusaders’ fleet’s superiority over Saladin’s fleet, maintaining control of the seas.

Otherwise, cities like Jaffa, Acre, etc., frequently plundered, would have submerged the Kingdom of Jerusalem into the annals of history long ago.

On the other hand.

The chips offered by Empress Ragaya were evidently insufficient for the two great Knight Orders to assist with full force.

Additionally, Losa had no ties with the two major Knight Orders.

In Jerusalem, there was also a falling out with the radical knights, including the Templar Order, which was another reason.

But this was a necessary move. Those newly arrived ambitious knights in the Holy Land were both a help and a burden.

He couldn’t endlessly provoke Saladin.

In the future, even if he really captured Rauf’s territory, at least half must be incorporated into his direct domain, rather than being distributed to satisfy various interests.

Otherwise, he would almost have no room to expand. To the south, facing the Holy Family equated to confronting the entire Saracen World.

To the east, it’s all desert wasteland.

With the strength at hand, when could he contend with Egypt’s Adil?

Jeanne reminded: "Sir, now that this has happened, Turriados, who originally planned to defect to our side, is likely to jump back to Isaac’s side."

"It’s not likely, it’s certain."

Losa said with a determined tone: "We only have fourteen hundred men, now the enemy is strong and we are weak—at least, that’s how it looks on the surface."

Jeanne sighed lightly: "It seems the logistics support in the original plan is also gone."

"No, if it’s not given to me, then I’ll take it myself."

Losa’s voice turned slightly cold: "My meeting with Turriados is no secret. Isaac, as a tyrant, won’t tolerate a defector like him.

To salvage, he’ll have to act against us. As long as he doesn’t rely on fortified castles and in a field battle, we can wipe out his main force in one fell swoop, and Limassol will be in our own hands."

Jeanne’s eyes lit up.

"After the battle, do we still return the land we conquer to the Eastern Empire?"

"Of course, I’m a man of integrity, but by then, just giving me a small town and a few allied castles surely won’t be enough. I would need at least half of Cyprus."

Losa said with a relaxed tone.

Though the Eastern Empire certainly won’t give it, saying it out loud still matters.

Only by naming a price can there be room for negotiation.

...

In the morning.

A convoy of supply carts, under the escort of Turriados’ military servants, entered the Crusaders’ camp, filled with fresh foods, immediately drawing cheers from the masses.

Who would want to eat dry, hard bread and tasteless jerky when they could have fresh bread?

Turriados asked again and again: "Are you sure they consumed the bread and meat we supplied?"

"I cannot be sure, sir, because when I left, they hadn’t eaten yet."

"But I warned them that the bread and meat delivered this time might spoil if not consumed promptly."

"Those stingy Franks would certainly finish it all soon."

Turriados let out a light breath: "Proceed according to the original plan, rally the troops from all directions, and eliminate this isolated Crusader force swiftly."

Seeing his master’s somber expression,

The soldier comforted: "Sir, rest assured, the defeat of the enemy fleet is known to only a few among us. They certainly cannot imagine that His Majesty the Emperor has tamed a Black Dragon."

"Yes, exactly!"

Turriados was invigorated: "As they have ventured deeply, they have no way of obtaining information from the outside world. At this moment, they certainly believe we sincerely want to help."

After all, anyone would think Isaac was a sinking ship.