Episode 130
A secluded mountain lodge in Syria.
This place, often used as a meeting spot for the Syrian Assassins, had a rare visitor from afar.
“Quite the remote location for a meeting, isn’t it?”
“There’s nothing good about being seen.”
The man, his face completely obscured by a turban wrapped like a mask, sat down with an air of confidence. Yet, his eyes darted around, constantly scanning the surroundings. This was, after all, the territory of the Syrian Assassins, equals in skill and reputation. Letting his guard down, even for a moment, could lead to unforeseen trouble.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect the leader himself to come. The Imam will be pleased.”
“Given the gravity of the situation, I had to come personally. So, how is the Imam? I heard he had some trouble with the Khwarazmians recently.”
Nasr, the leader of the Syrian Assassins, clicked his tongue as he asked. In Sunni Islam, an Imam is treated like a rabbi in Judaism, but Shia Islam views it differently. They believe only the descendants of Muhammad and Ali have the right to interpret the Quran. Thus, calling someone an Imam is akin to acknowledging their noble lineage.
The current leader of the Alamut Assassins, Nur al-Din Muhammad, followed his predecessor’s example by declaring himself an Imam, showcasing his power. This acknowledgment implied that Syria was willing to recognize Alamut’s authority. Naturally, the envoy from Alamut brightened visibly.
“He was a bit shaken, but he’s fine now. Knowing that you accepted our request must have put him at ease.”
“Hold on. I agreed to hear you out, but that doesn’t mean I’ve accepted anything. You understand, right? The matter is too serious to just agree without consideration.”
“Of course.”
“Let’s take it step by step. First, what we can’t understand is why Alamut would side with Khwarazm. Didn’t they attack your stronghold?”
It’s only natural to be suspicious when those who were attacked and driven out now want to work for their aggressors. The envoy from Alamut seemed prepared for this question and responded immediately.
“I understand why you’d question that. But when Khwarazm attacked Alamut, we suffered minimal damage. Abandoning the fortress was humiliating, but it only hurt our pride.”
“Pride is akin to dignity. Without it, what do we have?”
Nasr chuckled, taking a sip from his cup, and the envoy nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. Initially, many in Alamut couldn’t understand the Imam’s decision.”
“From the way you say ‘initially,’ I gather that’s changed?”
“To some extent, yes. Simply put, it’s in all our interests for the war to end quickly and for Khwarazm to retreat.”
“Isn’t that contradictory? Khwarazm isn’t friendly to us. How is it beneficial for us if those who attacked Alamut win?”
Without resolving this question, no assistance could be offered. Sensing Nasr’s firm stance, the envoy sighed softly.
“The situation in the east is quite tumultuous. The Imam believes that for peace in the Islamic world, the war must end soon, and Khwarazm’s forces must return to their original positions.”
“What nonsense…”
It was hard to make sense of what he was saying. What was happening in the east?
“You seem unconvinced. We don’t know all the details either. The Imam hasn’t shared everything… But the leadership is united in this belief.”
“You’re aware that if Khwarazm wins this war, they’ll become too powerful, right? They could crush Alamut if they wanted. Yet you still say Khwarazm must win?”
“Yes. The Imam insists that Khwarazm must be the victor, and he assures us they won’t become overwhelmingly powerful.”
The more Nasr listened, the more it sounded like the ramblings of a madman. Perhaps the leader of Alamut had lost his mind with age. But with the entire leadership in agreement, it was even more perplexing. Unless they were collectively delusional, there had to be some logic behind their words… or was this a ploy to deceive?
“With such vague explanations, it’s hard for us to cooperate…”
“It’s not vague. We have our reasons. Perhaps they’re considering the nomads in the east.”
“Setting that aside, you mentioned targets like Richard, Henry VI, or Marshal. Aren’t they too high-profile?”
“They are. But if we had to choose one, the false apostle Marshal seems the most suitable. His death would lead to the Crusaders’ downfall.”
Nasr’s eyes twitched momentarily, but the focused envoy didn’t notice.
“True, the Crusaders do revolve around that… person. I understand your intentions. If you deliver on the promised benefits, we’ll consider lending our support.”
“Really? Thank you! The Imam will be delighted.”
“But you must fulfill your promises. Deliver the advance payments as agreed. Otherwise, we won’t move.”
“Of course. I’ll send word immediately.”
No matter how well-guarded the Crusaders were, if the two largest assassin organizations in the Islamic world joined forces, they could break through. Nasr smiled broadly, extending his hand to the envoy from Alamut. The envoy, grinning widely, shook Nasr’s hand.
A historic alliance formed, leaving behind old grudges. The Syrian Assassins, witnessing this warm scene akin to an Islamic Crusade, applauded in welcome. They had expected rejection, but their sincerity had been recognized by Allah. The envoys silently rejoiced, offering prayers of gratitude once more.
“…and that’s how the conversation went.”
“What a load of nonsense.”
The minutes of the meeting, meticulously recorded by Nasr, were in my hands within days. I had told him he could badmouth me to lighten the mood, but his loyalty was too strong for that.
“Seems like the Alamut folks have collectively lost their minds. Maybe their perspective on the bigger picture is skewed?”
“Well… we can’t just assume that.”
Underestimating the opponent is the worst mistake in any situation. There are countless examples of those who were caught off guard by such arrogance. Always assume the opponent’s judgment is on par with your own, and that you might think similarly under the same conditions.
“According to the envoy, the nomads in the east are causing such a ruckus that Khwarazm’s influence needs to remain strong. Could it be that the east, where the Alamut Assassins were pushed out, is already under nomadic control?”
“To the east of Khwarazm lies the Western Xia, a formidable nation. But I don’t think they’re strong enough to threaten Khwarazm.”
“True. The Western Xia, though founded by nomads, is on the decline…”
But could the nomads mentioned by the Alamut envoys be referring to the Western Xia? Given what I know, it doesn’t seem likely.
“Anyway, the Alamut folks have crossed a line this time. If you give the order, I’ll drag them out and execute them all.”
”…No, that won’t do. It would waste all the effort I’ve put in.”
If it were just about killing them, there are plenty of ways. But with Khwarazm as a formidable opponent, we can’t afford to be distracted. No matter how strong we are, Khwarazm isn’t an enemy we can fight while looking elsewhere.
Instead, is there a way to use this opportunity to strike Khwarazm? After some thought, I called for another assassin who had brought Nasr’s letter.
“Did Alamut share any specific plans for the assassination?”
“No. I think they’re still working on that.”
“Then, objectively speaking, if you were to do your utmost to kill someone, how likely would you succeed?”
“It depends on the target and whether the assassin can return safely. But if it’s just about killing the target, the success rate wouldn’t be low.”
Such confidence. Well, being out in the open naturally exposes one to danger. And a suicide mission, disregarding one’s own life, has always been the most terrifying threat to those in power.
Even in modern times, there’s a reason why we take such thorough precautions against suicide bombings.
“Here’s what we’ll do for now. Go and tell Nasr this: ‘After some investigation, it seems Heinrich VI is too well-guarded to approach. Richard is also constantly surrounded by key figures, and his own combat skills make assassination nearly impossible. Instead, let’s focus all our efforts on taking down the false apostle, Marshall.’ They won’t object to that, will they?”
“Do we really need to call him a ‘false apostle’?”
“If you start being overly cautious about how you refer to me, the sharp ones might get suspicious. Better to get used to it now.”
“Understood. So, I’ll pass that message along. What are your plans, Apostle? Are you going to bait them and wipe them out in one go… or did you just say you wouldn’t do that?”
Exactly.
Ending it simply like that would be far too underwhelming.
Perhaps it’s because a brilliant idea just struck me, but I can feel a smile creeping onto my face.
“They’re so eager to kill me, I might as well let them.”
”…?”
”…What?”
The two of them stood there, mouths agape, blinking in disbelief.
Why are they so surprised?
After all, nothing leaves a bigger impact on people than a dramatic death followed by a miraculous resurrection, right?