Episode 43
[This is Nasr, the loyal servant of the Apostle. We’ve received a request from the Ayyubids to assassinate the Apostle. The fact that they’re reaching out to us, their adversaries, shows their determination.
However, it’s still unclear if this is the Sultan Saladin’s intention. We’ve already declined, citing a previous failed attempt and our current internal issues that prevent us from accepting any requests. But it seems unlikely they’ll give up just because we refused.
We’ve tracked someone heading towards Alamut, suggesting an assassin might be coming from there. I recommend informing Fatima and ensuring thorough defenses.
As per the Apostle’s prophecy, we’re planning for Rashid’s departure to meet the divine call in two years. Of course, if the prophecy is wrong, it could cost me my head, but I’m not worried about that. I’ve established some groundwork, so I’ll report regularly from now on.]
While tidying up my desk, I came across a letter from Nasr. Every time I read it, I’m reminded that sparing those siblings and recruiting them was a wise decision. Thanks to them, I’ve been relatively free from assassination threats.
Still, dealing with these Islamic factions is a real nuisance. If they’re going to send assassins, why not send them all at once? It’s like they’re taking turns, like some dark lord plotting world domination, and it’s only a hassle for me.
This chaos is a testament to the disarray in the Islamic world. The Khwarazmian dynasty rules Persia, the Almohads control the Maghreb, and the Ayyubids govern Egypt and Jerusalem. They’re all Sunni dynasties, but they’re not exactly close-knit, each ruling their own territories.
So, it’s not surprising if one day it’s this faction, and the next it’s another sending assassins. It’s just frustrating for me.
Just as I was pondering this, a servant came in with the news I’d been waiting for.
“My lord, they’ve caught him.”
“So it was true, as suspected. But why are you here instead of bringing him directly?”
”…They said they need to treat him first.”
“Treat him? What kind of treatment? Never mind, I can guess.”
Since Fatima was the one who went after the assassin, there must have been a confrontation. And if there was a confrontation, my name would have come up. I can easily imagine what happened next.
“Is he badly hurt? He’s not dead, is he?”
“They say his left hand has a hole in it, and he’s been beaten so badly he can barely open his eyes, but his life isn’t in danger.”
“Tsk, that temper of hers. Still, she did a great job, so I should commend her.”
“Those who witnessed it said her skills were uncanny. They finally understood why you keep her by your side. Of course, we’ve ensured the witnesses will keep their mouths shut, so nothing will leak.”
“Good. Well done.”
It’s crucial that no one knows I have a skilled female assassin at my side. Whether this is known or not significantly affects my maneuverability.
“Make sure he doesn’t commit suicide or anything. I’m sure you’ve already taken precautions, but you never know.”
“Understood.”
“And don’t wait for him to fully recover. Bring him as soon as he can talk.”
The servant bowed and left the room.
To sum up, the Ayyubids sent an assassin from Alamut, and Fatima caught him. But as Nasr mentioned in his letter, it’s doubtful this was Saladin’s doing. Saladin wasn’t fond of the Assassins, and historically, he opposed them rather than collaborated. It doesn’t make sense for the Sunni Ayyubids to be chummy with the Shia Assassins.
So, if not Saladin, who ordered this? Nasr did say the Ayyubids officially sent someone, which implies a high-ranking official. But that’s still uncertain, so I can’t jump to conclusions.
No matter how many possibilities I consider, it’s all speculation until I confront the situation directly. For now, let’s start by meeting this assassin from afar.
The next day.
I entered the alchemy room after hearing the assassin had regained consciousness. Seeing his condition, I took a moment to silently lament.
“Anyone would think he’d been tortured already.”
Judging by his original features, he probably had a nondescript face that blended in anywhere. A perfect trait for an assassin. But now, that’s all in the past.
His nose was awkwardly bent, his left cheekbone twisted, and one eye was so swollen it was questionable if it would ever return to normal.
“With that face, you’ll stand out wherever you go, making it hard to gather information. But don’t blame anyone but yourself. And…”
I glanced at Fatima, who stood with her back straight, looking proud and expectant, like a puppy wagging its tail for praise.
“You did well. It seems I made the right choice entrusting this to you.”
“I only did what was necessary!”
Despite her words, her smile widened, and I returned it before turning back to the assassin.
He looked up at me with swollen eyes.
“I have nothing to say… Just kill me.”
“But I have something to say. Can’t I?”
”…No matter what you say, you won’t get anything from me.”
“I already know what I need to know. But isn’t there something strange about all this? Don’t you have questions too?”
I pulled up a chair and sat down, meeting his gaze with a smile.
“I know you’re from Alamut. And you know the one who caught you is my loyal follower from Syria. Why would Syrian Assassins serve me? If they weren’t, you wouldn’t have been caught so easily.”
His eyes flickered with frustration.
“Because they’re traitors who abandoned their faith.”
“Didn’t you get beaten up for saying that? And doesn’t it seem odd to you? Why would Syrian Assassins suddenly serve me? Just because they converted?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“They had no choice but to acknowledge my legitimacy. But don’t worry, I’m not asking you to do the same.”
With Syria firmly under my control, I have no attachment to Alamut. Later, when Nasr leads Syria, it can serve as a trophy for him. Besides, they’ll eventually be swept away by the real madmen from the east.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“Isn’t it strange? Why did you come alone? Did you think you could succeed in an assassination by yourself?”
”…Say what you want. Whether you believe I came alone or not is up to you.”
“We’ve already investigated, so let’s not waste time with lies. You must have heard that the Ayyubids previously failed to assassinate me in Syria. Did you think you were different?”
The assassin’s eyes twitched slightly. He tried to hide it, but I noticed.
I sipped my wine, watching his reaction. Realizing his mistake, he sighed and shook his head.
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting.”
“Don’t you get it yet? My loyalists are already established in Syria. They rejected the Ayyubid proposal, saying they had already failed. So, what made you come alone? It seems you weren’t informed.”
”…That can’t be…”
His genuine shock and confusion were evident, not something that could be faked. It felt like the missing pieces in my mind were finally coming together.
“Isn’t it odd? Normally, if you were tasked with an assassination, they’d provide as much information as possible to ensure success.”
“I heard that Masyaf in Syria refused. I thought they were just cowards avoiding responsibility…”
“My words are proven by the very woman who captured you. She came to kill me, failed, and upon realizing I’m the real deal, pledged her loyalty.”
“Wait… Does that mean…”
Realization dawned on him, and his body trembled.
“Was I betrayed? Or was I set up? No, that can’t be… Why would they…”
“Well, if it were Syria, which had a rocky relationship with Saladin, that might be one thing. But Alamut? We never really had any dealings with them.”
“That’s simply because they’re quite far away.”
“So, if there’s no personal grudge and they still tried to mess with you, there’s only one explanation. It’s not personal; there’s some ulterior motive. Even an idiot could figure that out, right?”
“So, you’re saying the client deliberately set up the assassination to fail?”
“No, if that were the case, they would’ve leaked information to us. Whoever hired you probably thought it would be fine if you succeeded, but didn’t care if you failed. They must be quite the strategist.”
“That’s ridiculous. How could they benefit from a failed assassination?”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m going to figure out.”
The mastermind behind this plot was undoubtedly clever, but they overlooked one crucial detail.
The Syrian Assassins didn’t just fail to kill me. More importantly, they didn’t realize that some of their key members had already been swayed to my side.
For a devout Muslim, such a twist was unimaginable, so calling it a blunder might be too harsh.
Thanks to this oversight, the assassin from Alamut was not only easily subdued but also rendered incapable of even taking his own life.
“Now, how about we make a deal? Tell me the name of the bastard who set you up, and in return, I won’t kill you. Of course, I can’t just let you go, so how about learning a thing or two under Fatima here?”
The assassin’s eyes darted around as he pondered my offer.
He was likely weighing the possibility that he might be falling for my rhetoric.
But with the undeniable evidence of Fatima’s presence and his own easy capture, the answer was already clear.
After a few minutes, the assassin let out a deep sigh of resignation and revealed a name.
“Al-Adil. The Sultan’s brother and the empire’s most ambitious figure is behind this job.”
Well, well… look at that.
The name that emerged was far more significant than expected, and for a moment, the atmosphere around us seemed to chill.
But I didn’t feel fear or think we were in trouble.
In the past, maybe. But now, there’s no reason to be intimidated by the Sultan’s brother.
In fact, this is perfect.
This is the kind of challenge that makes me want to get serious.