Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 746 51: The Chosen Candidate

"Is it really won already?"

The Genoa mercenaries, who were preparing for a fierce battle, still couldn't quite believe it.

"The Emperor wouldn't lie."

Giovanni's tone relaxed.

If Mahmud II were not dead and reappeared, the Emperor's authority would suffer an immediate blow. If the news were false, it wouldn't boost morale at all. He didn't believe the Emperor would make such an unwise move.

"I never expected Miss Viviana to be a Dragon Knight."

"Miss Viviana seems to be a noble from the Holy Roman Empire, have any of you heard of her name?"

"No."

Everyone shook their heads. Normally, the presence of a Dragon Knight would definitely be in the spotlight. Even someone like Orhan, if from a noble background in the Holy Roman Empire, would surely make a name for themselves.

"Do you think Miss Viviana might be a nun? Only those who practice asceticism and live in seclusion stay out of the limelight and emerge at critical moments to resist the enemies of Christ, right?"

"It's possible!"

"Miss Viviana is practically a living Saintess."

"That's right, compared to the so-called Saint Jeanne of the French, Miss Viviana with such noble character should be the one called a Saintess!"

Listening to his subordinates' rampant discussions, Giovanni found himself half-convinced of their conclusion.

Because Dragon Knights of Viviana's level, in his opinion, are already among the highest combat prowess in the world, only the Wolf Lord could surpass her within the Wolf Race. If she hadn't been in hiding, she would have already made a grand name for herself.

He mused inwardly, "If the Romans had such a Knight, the Crusaders and Venetians probably wouldn't have been able to capture Constantinople, and there might not even have been an Eastern Expedition."

The Crusaders' Eastern Expedition originated from the appeal of the Roman Emperor, Alexios of the Komnenos Dynasty. Many Crusader leaders swore allegiance to him and helped the Romans reclaim parts of Anatolia.

If the Romans had such a powerful Dragon Knight, they could reclaim Anatolia, Antioch, even Jerusalem by their own strength; the need for a crusade might not have arisen at all.

Of course, the Northern Crusaders and Iberian Crusaders are another matter.

As the news spread, the entire Constantinople became a sea of joy, with everyone rejoicing and praising the mercy of Christ, the wisdom of the Emperor, and the greatness of the Candle Knight.

While the soldiers guarding the city steadfastly held their posts, they celebrated in their own ways.

Outside the city, the Ottomans did not entertain thoughts of attack due to the defenders' laxity; instead, they were gripped by deep terror.

The Roman Dragon Knight had returned, yet their Majesty and the Demon Dragon had not, filling them with dreadful implications.

These implications, yet unconfirmed, were still suppressed by the lingering power of Mahmud II and his Three-headed Demon Dragon. Though the soldiers were unsettled, it didn't result in major chaos.

Unfortunately, soon, the news of Mahmud II's death was confirmed.

The Three-headed Demon Dragon returned his body to the Ottoman camp before flying off to the Dragon Garden in Anatolia.

Perhaps when the last bloodline of the Ottoman Royal Family is severed, these Giant Dragons will choose to leave Anatolia, returning to their homeland.

The Demon Dragon left without a care, leaving the Ottomans to infinite terror and chaos.

Some even felt as if seeing the clouds break and light return.

The Eastern Orthodox followers of Rumelia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece became restless, with undercurrents surging. Some wanted to rectify the situation, sending envoys to communicate with the Emperor to restore order.

Others planned to flee home, detach from a war that had little to do with them.

Although the Ottomans quickly realized this and dispatched the Anatolian corps to suppress the unrest, how much morale the Anatolian corps still had remained uncertain.

Heavily damaged but still numbering in the tens of thousands, the Janissaries became the target of competition among various nobles.

Seeing the Ottomans on the brink of chaos more terrible than the "Interregnum," without military power in hand, even once high-ranking officials couldn't guarantee their safety.

Inside the big tent.

The Ottoman leaders, seated on the ground, were fervently arguing.

"Is now really the time for a power struggle? The Emperor of Greece has a Dragon Knight, who could arrive above us riding that Demon Dragon at any moment. What we should do now is make peace with the Emperor of Greece and then retreat!"

"Coward, the Emperor's body is still warm, and instead of avenging him, you want to make peace with his killer. Where is your honor? Where is your devotion to the holy fire?"

"Is a Demon Dragon something that can be killed with mere numbers? Even if we fire ten thousand, a hundred thousand arrows, they wouldn't touch it, but it could devour thousands of our lives with one breath of fire!"

"We've lost, gentlemen, and must admit this. What we need to do now is support a royal bloodline. The horrors of the Interregnum, even if not experienced, I'm sure you've heard of them?"

"Royal bloodline? Whom can we elect?"

The Grand Vizier, the Prince's teacher, said without hesitation, "Of course it should be His Highness Bayezid, the eldest son of His Majesty!"

"His Highness is only five, how can he govern the country in such a critical moment? Moreover, a qualified Ottoman king must prove he can tame a Giant Dragon, otherwise, how can we compete against the Roman Dragon Knight?"

Where there is support, naturally, there is opposition.

Though Prince Bayezid is the most legitimate Ottoman heir, relationships vary in intimacy. Those unable to gain favor have thoughts of starting anew.

"Prince Jem is even younger, surely you're not considering him?"

The atmosphere inside the tent fell silent.

Someone suddenly realized that aside from Mahmud II's bloodline, there might indeed be another choice.

A choice that could keep the Roman Emperor from dispatching his dragon-riding sorceress to burn the entire Ottoman camp into a Fire Prison.

"You want to select that renegade, Orhan?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

The Grand Vizier argued vehemently, "Anyone with such thoughts is a traitor and should be executed immediately!"