Episode 105
The plan to return to Europe immediately was delayed by about a month due to unexpected news.
Information gathered by Alexios III had arrived, and even the Assassins from Syria had come directly to Constantinople.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Thanks to the Apostle’s grace, we’ve been operating smoothly without any incidents.”
Nasr, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, bowed respectfully and then glanced sideways at his younger sibling.
“I’m more worried about whether my less capable sibling is serving the Apostle well.”
“What are you talking about? I bet I’m way more helpful to the Apostle than you are.”
“We call that a delusion, dear sibling.”
“You don’t think you’re the one who became the head of the organization thanks to the Apostle, do you?”
Listening to the bickering of these two, who seemed eager to prove they were indeed siblings, I let out a quiet sigh.
“Both of you are plenty helpful to me, so let’s stop the childish arguments. By the way, I asked for information, but I didn’t expect the leader to leave their post to come here. Is something significant happening?”
“It’s not something monumental, but I thought it would be best to report in person to avoid any confusion.”
“Alright. Then show me the compiled data. The things I requested from the Emperor have also arrived recently, so we can cross-verify them for accuracy.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Nasr opened the large bag he had brought with him. The documents, which seemed to have been compiled recently, piled up on the desk, indicating the intensity of their investigation.
“Going through all of this will be quite a task… Is there no summary based on importance?”
“Then I’ll start with the situation in the Western Regions, which the Apostle is most interested in.”
“Please do.”
According to the Eastern Roman Empire, the political landscape of the Western Regions has been undergoing significant changes recently. The neighboring Khwarazmian Empire has grown immensely powerful, and the previously insignificant nomadic tribes nearby have been uniting.
The decision to stay in the Eastern Roman Empire was largely influenced by this report. If the nomads near the Western Regions are indeed the Mongols, as I suspect, then historically, they shouldn’t be uniting just yet.
Of course, Genghis Khan—though he’s still known as Temujin at this point—should be making a significant impact on the steppes by now. However, there should still be several large tribes that rival his power.
I need to determine whether this news from the Eastern Roman Empire signals the beginning of a unification war or if it’s already nearing its conclusion. I quickly scanned through the documents Nasr brought, hoping to find answers.
Then, a particularly noteworthy phrase caught my eye.
“The defeated Naiman tribe has entered the Western Regions, and King Yelü Zhilugu of the Western Liao has welcomed them warmly?”
“That happened quite some time ago. However, Kuchlug of the Naiman tribe has been eyeing the throne of the Western Liao and contacted Khwarazm. Khwarazm, in turn, informed the Western Liao of this. Enraged, Yelü Zhilugu captured Kuchlug, causing chaos within the Western Liao.”
This is strange… This shouldn’t be happening.
Unlike when I was in Europe, being here makes it clear how much has changed.
In the original history, the Naiman tribe did indeed seek refuge in the Western Liao after being defeated by Genghis Khan. But that was supposed to happen much later, and Kuchlug was never supposed to be purged by Yelü Zhilugu. Instead, he was supposed to overthrow Yelü Zhilugu and seize the throne of the Western Liao.
Not only has the timeline accelerated, but the major threads of history are also shifting.
“If the Naiman tribe has crossed into the Western Regions, it means the Battle of Chakirmaut has already concluded… Does that mean all the major tribes of the Mongolian Plateau have submitted to Temujin?”
“Pardon?”
“Just talking to myself, don’t worry about it.”
If news of Kuchlug’s purge in the Western Liao has reached my ears, then the Naiman’s defeat by Temujin must have happened even earlier. This means that by now, Mongolia is likely under Temujin’s control, and the birth of the Mongol Empire might already be a foregone conclusion.
No, it’s not just a possibility; I should accept it as reality.
In the original history, the founding of the Mongol Empire is generally dated to around 1206. But at this rate, things are progressing almost ten years faster.
Does this mean the Mongols will advance more than a decade earlier?
It’s not that simple, though. The Mongols still have to contend with the formidable Jin Dynasty. Moreover, the reason the Mongols attacked the Western Liao was because the prince of their enemy, the Naiman tribe, became the king of the Western Liao.
If the Western Liao seeks peace with the Mongols, war might not break out… No, it’s best not to indulge in such wishful thinking.
The crucial question is whether the Mongols have the capacity to push into the Western Liao.
However, understanding how the Jin Dynasty will respond to the Mongol Empire’s early rise is crucial, and I currently have no way of knowing this.
What can I do?
Given the circumstances, I have no choice but to prepare as if the Mongols will advance more than a decade earlier.
“Nasr, thank you for gathering all this information. I’ll review the rest on the ship back to Europe.”
“Yes! It’s an honor to have been of service to the Apostle. If there’s anything else you need before you leave, please let me know.”
“Alright, let’s see… Beyond the Western Regions, there’s the Mongolian Plateau. A new empire should have emerged there. Send merchants to investigate their movements, especially their relations with the Western Liao and Khwarazm.”
“The Mongolian Plateau… Investigate their relations with the Western Liao and Khwarazm. Understood.”
Once I return to Europe and lay the groundwork, reports should start coming in. Until then, I need to gather as much strength as possible.
If the Mongols head to war with the Jin Dynasty, I can focus on Khwarazm. In the process, my influence will inevitably grow, providing plenty of opportunities to reap the rewards.
Let’s not rush and see how the situation unfolds.
As if things weren’t complicated enough, more trouble seems to be brewing.
After concluding talks in the Eastern Roman Empire, as soon as Cardinal Lothaire and I set foot on the Italian Peninsula, we were greeted with the news:
“Prophet, His Holiness the Pope has passed away.”
It was the news of the death of Celestine III, who had supported me in every way possible.
“I see… When exactly did he pass?”
“Three days ago.”
“Did he leave any final words?”
“His Holiness asked us to convey his gratitude to you, Prophet. He also instructed the other cardinals to trust and follow you completely.”
Even in his final moments, he did everything he could to support me.
However, the timing of Celestine III’s passing feels oddly premature compared to what I remember. Was there something else at play here?
Perhaps I’m seeing everything as a butterfly effect of history because I’m so attuned to it.
Fortunately, after hearing the detailed circumstances, I could make an educated guess.
“His Holiness was busy preparing within the Vatican to expedite the formation of the Crusade. He was likely quite exhausted from overwork.”
“I advised him to take it easy… He was an elderly man, after all.”
Even though I had persuaded him with sweet words, I can’t deny that Celestine III was a great ally. I sincerely prayed for his soul and conducted a memorial service at a church near the harbor.
And, though it feels inappropriate to say, this event changed the way Lothaire looked at me once again.
The moment had finally come for him to fulfill the prophecy that he would be chosen by God as the next Pope.
“Prophet, with the Pope passing at such a crucial time, won’t the secular rulers be anxious?”
“Are you suggesting they might mistakenly believe, like the last Crusade, that the Pope incurred God’s wrath?”
“Not so much a mistake, but they might use it as an excuse to be uncooperative. Especially the Holy Roman Empire and France.”
“I’ve considered that possibility, but there are ways to address it.”
Typically, a conclave is held about two weeks after a Pope’s death. This allows time for the funeral mass and mourning.
As I wrote a prayer for Celestine III, I explained my plan.
“There’s still plenty of time during the mourning period to prepare.”
I had intended to accelerate the plan anyway, and the timing coincidentally aligned.
“By preparation, do you mean you have plans for the upcoming conclave?”
“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? You were chosen as the next Pope because the Church needs a young, dynamic leader.”
“Yes, I remember clearly.”
“So when you ascend as the new Pope, you must demonstrate that strength.”
The unprecedented rise of a Pope in his thirties would be a shocking event across Europe. And if he were the first Pope directly chosen by God?
He would likely become the most talked-about pope since the establishment of the Vatican, right from the moment of his election.
And as a bonus, he possessed a charm and good looks that anyone would find appealing.
“Before I left for the Eastern Roman Empire, I informed the senior cardinals that Cardinal Lothaire had been chosen as the next pope.”
“When did you manage to do that…?”
“One must always be prepared in advance. Once the conclave convenes, the election of the cardinal as pope will be swift and decisive. In the meantime, I will send letters to England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire.”
—This is the will of God for this crusade, and He has appointed a young and strong pope to lead this holy war.
Given the circumstances, everything seemed to fall perfectly into place, leaving no room for doubt.
“If the prophet himself says so, even kings won’t be able to openly refuse. So, what should I do next?”
“I will summon the kings of those three nations to my domain. They’ve visited once before, so a second time shouldn’t be difficult. However, this time, the pope must come in person, not just send a representative.”
Previous popes were so advanced in age that long-distance travel could have affected their lifespan, so they rarely left the Vatican.
But Lothaire, having traveled the world as the pope’s envoy, would have no trouble coming to Auvergne.
“So, what you’re saying, Prophet, is…”
“Yes. We will settle everything there.”
In my own domain of Auvergne, no less.
This would not be a half-hearted crusade like those before, but the launch of a true crusade uniting both the Catholic and Orthodox churches.