Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 461 - 243: The Overarching Trend

"If this keeps up, we’ll be eaten by that beast before we even reclaim the Holy Land!"

Ivan squatted down, looking at his own Mamluk warrior before him—his chest seemed to be torn open by the beast, his eyes wide open in death filled with fear and horror.

One can only imagine what he went through before he died.

He placed his palm over the deceased’s eyes.

Ivan’s voice carried a suppressed anger: "We can’t go on like this. I must see Lord Taqidin."

Fulk grabbed Ivan’s arm and murmured, "Ivan, don’t be rash; you’re in no condition to have an audience with Lord Taqidin now."

"Let go, Fulk!"

The fury in Ivan’s eyes was almost explosive: "Senmut was the most loyal warrior under my command. He saved my life once and not just once, and I swore to repay him."

"But now, he lies dead on our own land, killed by someone we call our own."

"But you can’t just rush to Lord Taqidin, Ivan, you must understand the most important thing for a Mamluk—it’s loyalty! Not doubt. Think about how much effort you put in to earn the Lord’s trust."

Fulk lowered his voice and advised, "Don’t let all that effort go to waste. I don’t think Senmut would want you to lose your mind in anger."

Ivan fell silent.

He rubbed his face and glanced around, irritably reprimanded, "Everyone get back to your posts and keep your mouths shut. No matter what, I will provide an explanation for this, but until then, I don’t want any strange legends spreading around the camp."

"Yes!"

He dismissed his subordinates.

Only then did Ivan sit on the ground with some weakness: "Fulk, I must admit you’re right; I can’t just go to the Lord like this."

Fulk cautiously said, "I hear... that Cannibal Evil Beast hasn’t eaten just one person."

"Yes, not just one, not even just a dozen."

Ivan stood up: "Brother, help me carry Senmut to the tent. We need to prepare a burial for him that isn’t so shabby."

Fulk nodded.

They didn’t doubt the legend was false because monsters like those in Venezia eating people was commonplace for them.

It fit right into their understanding.

Just like bodies gnawed by lions or tigers in a circus.

...

The camp of Saladin.

The aged Saracen sovereign raised his calm eyes and asked his most trusted nephew, "Have you found the source of the rumor?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"It was a traveling merchant. When we went to find him this morning, he was already gone."

Taqidin was somewhat agitated.

What is the most malicious point of the rumor?

It’s that Saladin is keeping a cannibalistic beast for victory!

To Saracen lords like Piercer Rauf, this meant nothing.

But to Saladin, who had been portrayed as a paragon of virtue for many years, it was an enormous blow.

The Knights of the Public Church value "chivalry," and the Saracens equally value "honesty, self-restraint, forgiveness, and kindness." Over the years, Saladin’s status has been deified, inseparable from his frugal integrity, fair and open-minded style.

Indeed, Saladin could not possibly be a moral paragon.

If a newcomer can quickly gain control of Egypt and reverse usurp his suzerain Nuruddin’s Zengi Dynasty, becoming the second most powerful ruler in the Zoroastrian World after the Sassanid King.

If such a person were a moral model, Salih, imprisoned in Aleppo, would surely die of indignation.

Without doubt, Saladin was a formidable overlord.

But over the years, even if it was a façade, the value of this constructed image is immeasurable.

As an outsider without "legitimacy," if Saladin were truly like the Sassanid King of Kings, keeping numerous heterodox concubines and eunuchs in his court, the dynasty he built might already be engulfed in flames.

"Heh, a merchant..."

Saladin couldn’t help but laugh, "A merchant with such eloquence, able to ferment a rumor to this extent in just one morning, it seems my military camp has long been infiltrated like a sieve by the enemy."

Taqidin quickly said, "Rest assured, my King, the central camp guarded by the Kasaji Guard will absolutely not have any issues."

"I have never doubted this."

Saladin shook his head. He had survived multiple Assassin attacks and was very concerned about personal safety. After receiving the allegiance of Caster Master Shemir and others, the defense of his central camp became even more stringent.

"If we calculate the time, Adil should have already begun his advance, right?"

"Yes, advancing by both water and land, within a day or two, the Crusaders should receive the news."

Saladin nodded: "Keep an eye on the enemy’s movements, and notify me immediately upon any abnormal activity."

"My King, about the rumor... should we silence the people below?"

"No need."

Saladin shook his head: "The more something is forbidden, the more intriguing it becomes. Even if not spoken aloud, the mind will be filled with wanderings—like wine. Many weren’t interested initially, but when the law forbade it, drinking so-called ’fermented grape juice’ became a privilege that upper-class people were proud of."

In Saladin’s gaze, there was no sarcasm.

Even though, in every respect, he was a devout Fire Worshiper.