Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 888: Chapter 112: Awaiting the Dragon Cavalry’s Charge

The battle outside is intense, and yet the nominal leader of the Crusaders is left alone, playing chess in the courtyard of Galata City’s residence across Golden Horn Bay—it reveals quite a boldness.

"Your Majesty, I’ve just seen that those Latins are about to take Constantinople; how can you still be sitting here?"

Olos tried to speak several times, but couldn’t resist asking.

As a loyal retainer and protector of the Anglos family, he had endured the most difficult years of exile with Alexios, his loyalty was beyond doubt. But now they were about to retake Constantinople, and he harbored growing unease.

Compared to the Greeks, those Crusader nobles were more crude and real.

They had just over thirty retainers under them, not enough to earn the respect of the Crusaders, and they weren’t even allowed to attend military meetings.

He doubted the reliability of the Latins and whether they would hand Constantinople over to them at that time.

Alexios chuckled gently, "Relax. Let those barbaric Latins and the rebels who follow the false emperor have their brutal fight; they’re always meant for this kind of work, aren’t they?"

"My father had once kept a group of Latin knights under his banner. They were defiant, fierce, rude, and greedy, like evil wolves, but as long as you have meat, they wouldn’t hesitate to kneel and become the hounds under your hand."

He chuckled again, "Olos, our family’s foundation isn’t as strong as the Komnenos or Ducas nobles. To securely take Constantinople, we must resort to extraordinary means."

The Anglos family originated from the descendants of Princess Theodora, daughter of Emperor Alexius I of the Komnenos Family, considered a minor vassal of Ducas and Komnenos families, neither a central power of the Empire nor a powerful regional nobility.

Before obtaining the emperor’s throne, they had always relied on part of their bloodline from Princess Theodora’s mother "Irina Dukaina" and often referred to themselves as "Ducas" to enhance their prestige.

Political coups in the Empire often came in three types: Firstly, palace coups, small in scale, quick in speed, occurring at the core of the Empire’s power.

Secondly, coups within the walls of the Empire’s capital, often inciting the entire population of Constantinople to participate.

Thirdly, armed invasions occurring in local provinces, usually lasting the longest and causing the most destruction.

Isaac II, Alexios’s father, seized power through a coup within the walls, inciting the citizens and nobles of Constantinople to overthrow Andronikos I of the Komnenos Family.

He understood very well the power of the nobles and citizens of Constantinople.

"Olos, by choosing to rely on foreign mercenaries to seize Constantinople, we will surely provoke the resentment of its people. They might choose to bear it for a while, but eventually, the Latins will leave—they need to go east to continue the crusades, leaving only us behind."

Though he seemed foolish before Bella III and the Venetians, he had seriously considered whether he had the ability to take over Constantinople.

The citizen class he referred to naturally did not include the bottom-level mob but rather those with certain assets: craftsmen, shop owners, and even city nobles. They, together with the nobles, formed the ruling class of this grand city.

Upsetting them would bring a new round of coups close.

"So, during the process of the Latins conquering Constantinople, we should minimize our presence, even allowing the Latins to loot the city after breaking in. Then, finally, rise as the savior emperor to quell the Latins’ atrocities."

Olos was shocked: "But Your Majesty, many will die!"

"These losses are necessary."

Alexios didn’t care how much he had to pay to ascend the throne—it was, after all, the most sacred seat in Christendom. Shouldn’t some sacrifices be expected?

He even hoped that the Latins’ slaughter would be more ruthless, severely weakening the potential resistance within Constantinople, especially from noble families like Komnenos and Ducas.

Alexios said sternly, "I’m still young, Olos. After I ascend the throne, I have plenty of time to recover these losses. I will repair the city, distribute bread to the people, hold grand triumphal processions and chariot races; I have plenty of means to regain my reputation. But the premise is that I have this opportunity, not just being immediately dethroned by those nobles leading the so-called Constantinople ’citizens’ once the Latins are gone."

The Empire had existed for over twelve hundred years, and if traced further back, from the establishment of monarchy by Octavian to the founding of Pope City by Romulus, this time spanned even two thousand years, nearly covering all of human history.

He had never thought one day the Empire might also perish.

To the Basileus, the greatest threat always lay within.

Boom—

A loud thunderous roar overturned the chessboard before Alexios.

He cursed in less dignified Greek slang, got up, and said, "Let’s go take a look at the rebels’ struggle before their demise, and see the grand ceremony the Empress of all cities holds to welcome my coronation."

...

The battle within Golden Horn Bay had reached a fever pitch.

Two formidable high-level casters were relentlessly attacking the magic array on the city walls, Eve swallowed a mouthful of terrible-tasting Spiritual Recovery Potion, clenched her teeth, and tilted her head back to let it slide down her throat.

She feared opening her mouth might cause her to spew blood.

Eve felt the scene before her becoming increasingly blurry; raindrop-like ice cones battered the protective array, and the immense magic power from the Sea Dragon’s giant form was incomparable to human casters.

As for the Lava Giant beside it, its combat power might be rivaled by the Sea Dragon Ceto, but was evidently stronger than Dandolo who controlled the Sea Dragon.

As he slammed his fist down, the earth trembled, and the landscape of the harbor changed accordingly.

"Anna... I might not hold on much longer."

Her consciousness grew increasingly vague, as if she were back to the first night she met Anna, or perhaps the day she felt most at ease in the library with its alluring scent of books and ink.

A slight smile curved her lips.

Then she weakly collapsed to the ground.

The giant protective array lost its main caster and became increasingly fragile.

"Lady Eve!"

The general on the battlement cried out in despair.

His hometown was in Cibyra, held by Alslan of Rom Country. Finally seeing a wise monarch striving diligently, with the momentum to restore the Empire’s power, reshape the military system, and reclaim his homeland—is this the end?

"Heavenly Father above, Saint Sophia’s Holy Wisdom above, please tell me what more I can do to save my storm-tossed country?"

It seemed the general’s prayer was heard.

The Sea Dragon, originally fiercely attacking the array, suddenly trembled violently.

Controlling the Sea Dragon, Dandolo felt like some extremely terrifying creature was staring at him, a feeling akin to being gazed down upon by a dominant sky predator surveying a rabbit on the plains, rendering him utterly weak.

"Move, move quickly!"

"What on earth is happening?"

The Lava Giant beside him was like boiling water—the flames of rage spewing from his mouth. Istvan sensed that a formidable opponent had appeared above the clouds.

The previously fierce battle suddenly fell into an eerie pause.

Both the Giant and the Sea Dragon simultaneously raised their heads toward the sky, causing soldiers from both sides to instinctively look up. Within the thick clouds, a massive shadow was slowly revealing itself.

Roar——

Three long dragon roars echoed, a gigantic pair of wings tore through the clouds, and with an imposing presence, it swooped down fiercely on the Lava Giant standing ashore.

Upon the middle head of the Demon Dragon, a man crowned in gold raised a purple flag unfurled by the wind, bearing a towering golden double-headed eagle.