Chapter 519: We’re Sending Ten Thousand More
For the first time, the influence of Antonius is extended to the Adriatic.
A charming place, a stretch of the mighty Mediterranean Sea into the North, home to many of the richest and most powerful maritime city states in Europa, calm and soothing as usual accompanied by the infinite waves of tides and the irritating sound of the sea gulls, at least much better than her nasty English Atlantic counterparts. Perhaps only God knows what the hell is going on deep beneath the Atlantic to make him so damn angry every single day bringing a never ending tidal wave and rainy weather to England for the entire year.
Helio seats by the portside of Avlonya and awaits his guest of today, staring at the seas of Adriatic. He got to admit that this is not his first time having a view of the Adriatic, but the vide, the feeling is different when you are seated here on solid surface in a city that you can proudly say is captured by you as compared to looking at a sea stranded on a ship in the middle of no where. Helio watches the harbour shaking his legs, gazing over the dappled light sipping through the olive trees, feeling the breeze coming into the curve of the land bringing shelter to the residents docked inside her arms.
There is indeed a fleet anchored right outside the harbour, dangerously close within artillery range, flying their iconic flag, the lion of the Saint Marco. Perhaps these Venetians still think inside their heads that the artillery are still as ineffective as last time firing rocks with a pitiful range and sorrowful impact, they have no idea that the new artilleries developed by Orban, and Jacob can do a havoc to them at this range.
Well, the only problem is that he brought none in his army this time round as they are way too bulky to be transported by arses and boots through these difficult mountainous terrains.
Finally, a small boat is dispatched from the fleet and sailed upon here to the harbour, with two men on top who are clearly, by their dressings, the ambassador of the Venetians. They seem to be startled when they saw that the people who welcomed them on shore are a bunch of armoured men instead of the usual senators of the city. As people with quick brains, they instantly guessed on what has happened, and with a professional smile they came onto the dock and introduced themselves.
"Greetings, your highness, I am Stefano Dandolo, the main delegate fully responsible of all foreign affairs with Albanon city states on behalf of the Serene Doge of the Venetians, and this is my assistant, Marco Berlusoni, we are here upon your request."
Helio is not that kind of care free person unlike Antonius who would usually start his talks with the Venetians by flaming them with his unique sense of sarcasm first. As a professional soldier known for defences, he approaches most of the things in a serious manner, so he followed the standard diplomatic courtesy and bowed slightly forward and gave the man a hug chest to chest replying in a not so fluent Latin language. "Greetings, noble ambassador, I certainly did not expect a Dandolo to be here in front of me."
The ambassador made a bitter smile and answered bowing back. "Well, I am not really close to the Serene Doge, just, you know, an ordinary man who just happened to carry the name of a family who happened to be the family of a few Serene doge. But all those prestige and honour does not belong to me, for I still need to fight my way to this position I am in today as an ambassador."
These honest words instantly made Helio start to have a positive view on the ambassador, for he feels like this ambassador is almost the same kind of man as himself. But still a man got to do what a man got to do as he smiled and continued. "I am now here talking to you as the representative of both the citizens of Avlonya and my liege, mister, I have heard that your Serene Doge has some rather interesting ideas about this city do correct me if I am wrong."
"Oh is it?" The ambassador’s eyebrow jumped, recounting the previous deal he once had with Skanderbeg which the later said that he has no interest in the coastal region. "We had no idea that the Lord of Albania has marked his interest on this coastal city."
Helio’s smile froze, he stopped speaking in Latin and changed to Greek. "My sovereign is his righteous Caesar of the Roman Empire, Antonius De’Ricci."
"Oh..."
The atmosphere froze in awkwardness.
"Anyways, as the representative of the city I need to ask you on the purpose of the Venetian’s fleet sailing into our city’s waters." Helio broke the silence sticking to Greek for now. "With no disrespect Mister but do note that the presence of a military fleet outside the shores is petrifying our citizens."
"Why though?" The ambassador’s eyes widened as if he is caught in amusement and surprise. "My apologies noble commander, but my fleet came here meaning no harm, instead we came here from this far just with the humble wish to spread our way of democracy and freedom to the people of Avlonya, you see, we mean no harm!"
"Spreading democracy and freedom? Then why would you need a fleet of soldier ships here? Do they serve a role in helping you spread your republic’s belief of democracy and freedom?"
"Oh, ah, those ships." The ambassador Stefano Dandolo looked back and rubbed his hands. "They are here... to protect my personal safety!"
"Your personnel safety?" Helio laughed with his arms folded. "But your Venetians are already the most powerful maritime power in the Adriatic, who are they supposed to protect you from?"
The ambassador is caught speechless without words, after a while his face is already beaming red as he stepped up and whispered in a voice level that only he and Helio can hear. "Come on, mister, you know the purpose of why I am here, trust me that we have absolutely no idea that his majesty has stretched his hands to this far, and we had no idea that the Ottoman order in the region can collapse in such a godly speed... There is no need to create a standoff like this, believe me if I had knew about your presence here we would not even think about coming here in the first place.... Please, sir, understand my dilemma, for I am nothing but a poor ambassador receiving a fixed salary per month, I am just doing job here trying to convey a message!"
The ambassador stepped back, cleared his throat and spoke in an official tone unique of an ambassador. "The Venetian government has hereby fully recognised the rights and legitimacy of the new government of Avlonya, and we shall continue to build a prosperous tomorrow through our collective effort in diplomacy and maritime trade. With such an agenda in place I would like to make a minute request, that is the Venetian government would like to follow the examples of the other city states, which is to allow the Venetian government to lease a small area of land near the port to be used as the Venetian quarters, which gives Venetian merchants an easier time and effort in loading and offloading our goods to increase our business bonds between the two cities!"
"...For a lucrative sum of money of course."
Helio nodded and agreed. "I understand your dilemma honourable ambassador, for I am a man who receives a fixed rate of salaries doing work for other people too. Though after hearing your words, I now have a message that I too would like to officially convey to you on behalf of my liege... I suppose that you can take my words as both an official statement of the government of the Roman Empire, and also a reply from the city of Avlonya."
The assistant of Stefano Dandolo swooped out a quill and a paper out of no where.
"First, sovereign, whether be it from a person, or a family, or a city, or a country, cannot be sold to an outsider, no matter how much the price is. Thessaloniki would never allow a foreign war fleet to dock and be stationed in the port of our own city."
"And second, the people of Avlonya do not need the democracy and freedom built by your Venetians, instead we will find a way of democracy and freedom through our own way, using the traditional knowledge belonging to us, the Greeks. If you really want to help us, a tax relief for our merchants, or an investment in funds to our local infrastructures shall be much appreciated. We can kindly erect a statue of the Serene Doge in our city or name a newly built street as the Venetians."
