I was a knight in the Middle Ages

The mysterious young man before them, capable of commanding a pirate leader like Aslan and openly intercepting imperial warships in imperial waters, was no ordinary person.

He was most likely a member of the emerging power group in the empire, an ambitious man who had been marginalized and ostracized by the old aristocracy.

His feelings toward the empire were probably more resentment and ambition to take its place.

With this in mind, Alpha felt more confident.

If we gamble wrong, the worst that can happen is we all go down together.

With their strength, it's not impossible for them to fight their way out with Fanxing.

“My lord,” Alpha raised his head, his gaze intense, “in my opinion, the Empire is now ailing.”

The young man raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"The empire rose to power through military might, and knights are the backbone of the empire. It should be 'knights above all else.' But what about now?" Alpha's tone carried a hint of indignation.

"The power of the empire is occupied by a group of old nobles who hold their positions without doing any work. They oppress the people, monopolize resources, and ruthlessly suppress non-noble knights like us who are of humble origin and have no background. They have long since abandoned the 'spirit of imperial chivalry,' and the foundation of the empire is being eroded away little by little by them!"

These words were partly flattery and partly Alpha's true feelings.

Alfa had long witnessed the decay of the Ottoman Empire.

The young man leaned forward slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Then how do you think the Empire should get out of its current predicament?"

Alpha knew that the most crucial test had arrived.

"My lord, such matters of state are too important for a mere knight like myself to presume to speak of." Alpha lowered his head feigning fear, but in reality, he was using a feigned retreat as a tactic to advance.

The young man laughed: "I'm telling you to speak, so just speak. Don't be afraid."

"Yes!" Alpha replied, as if forced into a corner.

"In my humble opinion, what the Empire lacks now is not land, nor an army, but a 'redistribution of power.' Only by breaking the monopoly of the old nobility and allowing more talented and ambitious people to seize power can the Empire be reborn. And we knights are the sharpest blade in your hands, sir, to help you cut away the thorns that stand in your way!"

Alpha was trying to guide the young man's ambition, shifting his attention from "piracy" to "the struggle for power".

“Rights…the right to speak…” the young man muttered to himself, his fingers tapping the armrest more frequently.

Alpha's words clearly struck a chord with his deepest desires.

“So,” the young man’s gaze refocused on Alpha, his eyes sharp as knives, “Ray Alpha Collin, what can you offer me? Or rather, why should I choose you to help me with this?”

That's the crux of the problem.

Alpha raised his head, his eyes gleaming with confidence, and his voice suddenly rose: "My lord, I can bring you an army! I can unite those commoner knights who, like me, have been abandoned by the empire and oppressed by the nobles, and make them your most loyal followers, forming a powerful knightly force that belongs entirely to you!"

The command room was silent except for the young man's breathing.

"And then?" The young man paused for a moment, his tone tinged with wariness. "You should know that the Empire explicitly prohibits any private individual from possessing a large-scale armed force. You're playing with fire."

“My lord, we have just returned from overseas and our understanding of the current situation in the empire is still limited.” Alpha had already prepared his explanation.

"That's why I believe it's absolutely necessary to establish an armed force belonging to the adults. We can remain silent and undetected, and be sent to an important but remote area to lie in wait, accumulate strength, and wait for the right opportunity. For example... a certain area where the situation is chaotic and pirates are rampant, is the perfect place for people like us to 'settle down' and 'sharpen our blades' for the adults!"

Alpha is taking a gamble, betting that this young man has enough ambition and that he needs a strong team.

Alpha wanted to target Central Macedonia, but it couldn't say it explicitly; it could only let them figure it out and think about it themselves.

This was both for his future plans for a pirate alliance and to make the proposal sound more strategic, rather than simply a rebellion.

The young man did not answer immediately. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, clearly weighing his options intensely.

Alpha's heart was in his throat; success or failure hinged on this moment.

Finally, the young man stopped, a smile spreading across his face: "Good! Ray Alpha Collin, I'll remember you. From now on, this matter is yours to handle. You will be in charge of overall coordination, recruiting more commoner knights like yourself. As for the encampment, I will arrange that for you. I want to see my own 'Shadow Knights' rise in the shadows of the Empire!"

Become!

Alpha was overjoyed, but he maintained a respectful and solemn expression: "Yes, sir! I will do my utmost and live up to your expectations!"

The young man nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the silent Aslan and ordered, "Athlan, from today onwards, fully cooperate with Ray Alpha Collin. Thoroughly investigate their backgrounds and ensure they have no connection whatsoever with those old noble families. At the same time, temporarily halt the 'cleansing' operation against the Imperial Knights. What I need is not corpses, but a group of living blades at my disposal!"

“Yes, Your Highness!” Aslan replied respectfully.

Alfa's "successful start" came at just the right time.

This not only enhanced the security of this mission but also laid a solid foundation for future development.

"I never imagined that Kaskin knew how to enjoy life so much..." Alpha stood in the center of the warship's command room, looking around with undisguised surprise in his eyes.

The entire space was arranged like a luxurious palace on land.

Persian carpets, gilded ornaments, and soft velvet sofas are all available.

There was even a faint scent of wine and perfume lingering in the air.

The most eye-catching were the ten beautiful women standing in the corner.

Their clothes were luxurious and revealing, yet they could not hide the fear and bewilderment in their eyes.

Half of these women were noblewomen or commoner girls whom Kaskin had plundered from various places using his position.

The other half consisted of spoils stolen directly from coastal towns or merchant ships during past raids.

Alpha sneered inwardly.

Everyone knows that the Barbarossa family were originally pirates and acted recklessly.

But this so-called "orthodox" Imperial Navy, this so-called agent of the Koprulu family.

How is Kaskin's behavior any different from that of a pirate?

It's just that one is openly wielding force, while the other is secretly plotting.

"What do you plan to do with these women?" Athena walked in unnoticed.

Athena leaned against the doorframe, looking at the trembling women, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.

Her gaze, however, was fixed on Alpha, as if scrutinizing his reaction.

Alpha frowned slightly and pondered for a moment.

These women are a huge hidden danger.

Did they witness the bloody massacre on deck? Did they know the true cause of Kaskin's death?

If they leak the news, whether it reaches the ears of the Koprulu family or the imperial authorities, it will be a catastrophe for all of them.

“They cannot leave this ship now, at least not until we reach a safe location,” Alpha finally decided, his voice cold.

"Keep them on the ship for now, arrange for someone to look after them, and let them do some odd jobs on the ship. As for the future... we'll talk about it later."

Now is not the time to be soft-hearted. In order to keep the secret, Alpha has no choice but to temporarily deprive these women of their freedom.

Alpha dared not take any risks; any potential threat to his plans had to be contained.

After dismissing the women and the guards, Alpha instructed his trusted lieutenant Murat to summon all the surviving crew members and knights to the deck.

On the deck, the bodies had long been cleared away, but the faint smell of blood still lingered in the air.

Dozens of people were crammed here, their faces bearing the fear of surviving a disaster and the uncertainty about the future.

Alpha stood high above, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over everyone: "Listen! No matter who you were working for before, no matter what you were thinking, from now on, we are all in this together. Anyone who dares to betray us or reveal what happened today, whether captured by the Barbarossa family or purged by the Koprulu family, will have only one fate—death!"

Alpha's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"So you'd better behave yourselves and do your jobs step by step. As long as you don't cause trouble, everything will be the same as before. I guarantee you'll live to receive your share of the reward."

After a series of warnings, combining both carrot and stick, the commotion in the crowd gradually subsided.

Alpha knows that fear is the best servant and self-interest is the best whip.

Alpha then summoned the first mate Carson and the old sailor Hassan separately.

“Captain Kaskin has now ‘died suddenly from an illness.’ To the outside world, we’ll say that he died of a cold he contracted while trying to save the ship during the storm a few days ago. Carson, you are the new captain. It was you who turned the tide, led us through the storm, and saved the warship and the cargo.” Alpha was paving the way for the upcoming investigation.

They are still nominally the Coprulous family's fleet and cannot directly fly the Barbarossa flag.

A plausible excuse must be found to explain the change of captain and personnel.

“Lord Lei…” Carson wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looking troubled.

"This warship lost nearly half its crew, and a considerable number of bodies have been disposed of. I'm worried that the Koprulu family will definitely send people to investigate, and then..."

"Don't worry." Alpha waved his hand, looking relaxed.

“From now on, this area is Barbarossa territory. If they really send investigators, they won't be able to leave this area. What you need to do is hold your ground and wait for further orders.”

Alpha knew that this gray area was a blind spot in the power struggle between various forces.

As long as the Barbarossa family is backing them up, the lowly Haifa port officials would never dare to investigate further.

Without the captain's meddling, the rest of the voyage went surprisingly smoothly.

Despite the manpower shortage that doubled everyone's workload, the crew worked extra hard under the threat of death.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, the iconic port lighthouse of Haifa finally came into view.

The warship slowly approached the shore, dropped anchor, and lowered its gangway.

Alpha disembarked from the warship and stepped onto solid land.

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the beach at the harbor seemed to transform into a golden ocean.

What he found even more absurd was that there were countless elegantly dressed young noblemen and ladies basking in the sun on the beach, enjoying the last warmth of the afternoon.

The sounds of laughter and jubilation contrasted sharply with the bloody carnage on the warships.

Is this the comfort of empire?

Far from the eye of the storm, people remain immersed in a false peace and luxury, completely unaware of the crisis lurking in the shadows.

Upon entering Haifa Port, everyone's eyes were opened to a whole new world.

The streets were lined with shops selling all kinds of goods, and the air was filled with the aroma of spices and roasted meat. Nobles dressed in fine clothes rode tall horses and swaggered through the streets.

This scene of prosperity and extravagance seemed like a completely different world from the life-and-death struggle they had just experienced.

The prosperity of Haifa Port is less a reflection of urban development and more a massive, decaying fortress of pleasure.

The warships docked at the very heart of the port.

Looking around, the mountains of goods piled up on the dock were not grain or military equipment.

Instead, they were chests of spices and silks from the East, barrels of aged wines, and countless luxury goods of unknown purpose, packaged in exquisite wooden boxes.

The enormous warehouses stretched out in a continuous line, adorned with various emblems representing the imperial nobility.

Each one was more robust and magnificent than any fortress they had ever seen at sea.

"Look over there." Athena's voice came from beside Alpha, her tone tinged with disgust.

Following the direction of her gaze, one sees a breathtaking cluster of buildings.

Those buildings were not ordinary houses, but tall buildings constructed of marble and precious wood, each floor decorated with intricate reliefs and stained glass.

It was dusk, and countless lights, made of whale oil or magic crystals, illuminated the area as bright as day.

Red, green, and purple lights intertwined, forming a mesmerizing and decadent sea of ​​light.

That was Haifa Port's most famous "Canary District," a red-light district that was an open secret among imperial officials and wealthy merchants.

The sounds of birdsong could be heard from both sides of the street.

A woman with a slender figure, dressed in a thin veil, leaned against a carved wooden railing, casting flirtatious glances at passersby.

Their laughter was sharp and unrestrained, piercing through the night air.

Among these women were blondes from the north, dark-haired beauties from the east, and brown-skinned girls from the southern desert.

They were displayed like commodities, for the wealthy and powerful to choose from.

In stark contrast to the dazzling lights and bustling activity, the silent lines of people walking along the middle of the street stood out.

Those were slaves.

Hundreds and thousands of slaves were chained together with thick iron chains or ropes, forming long, endless lines that walked numbly through the streets.

They came from every corner of the empire's conquests, of different skin colors, dressed in rags, their bodies bearing the dust and whip marks of long journeys.

Some were strong men who would be sent to the Empire's mines or farms;

Some of them were young women, their eyes filled with fear, unaware of what fate awaited them;

There were also some teenagers, thin and bony, sandwiched in the middle of the line, too weak even to cry.

These slave caravans stood in stark contrast to the luxurious carriages and elegantly dressed nobles passing by.

The nobles were already used to all of this; they would sit in their carriages, pointing at the slave caravan through the curtains, as if they were selecting goods.

Or they might stand at the tavern entrance, arm in arm with a beautiful waitress, drinking and admiring the "spectacular" scene with a satisfied yet contemptuous smile on their face.

A complex and strange smell filled the air.

On one side, there was the rich aroma of roasted meat, fine wine, and spices; on the other, there was the smell of sweat and body odor emanating from the slaves, the salty smell of the seawater at the dock, and the stench of decay emanating from the distant slums.

"Is this the current state of the empire?"