Although he guessed the importance that would come with an accurate "prediction" of a war, Alexander soon discovered that he had somewhat overlooked the importance that people had taken him.

Aside from the fact that people like Kotschach and Gonzalo would seriously use their reason and judgment to guess why he was able to get the news in advance, people seem to prefer to believe that he could know that it all stemmed from some mysterious power that is difficult to explain.

In many accounts, Alexander seems to have been favored by a mysterious bohemian woman who, while revealing to him the beauty of her youthful body, also showed him some mysterious prophetic powers.

According to legend, this woman not only revealed many secrets about Alexander's past and future, but also gave him the means to obtain endless wealth.

This legend soon made Alexander not only a new way of talking about the after-dinner conversation of the people of Rome, but also brought Sophia into the sight of the Romans again.

This reminded them of the daring things that the bohemian girl had done in Rome before, and even caused Alexander to kill Julia Farne's brother in a fit of rage for Sophia.

The Romans were immediately excited, and the story of the quintessential mysticism and love, but with the elements of wealth and hatred, instantly became so intriguing that even the murder of Giovanni was briefly dismissed.

Alexander was somewhat caught off guard by the sudden rise to fame in such a way, but what he didn't expect was Orgala's invitation to him.

Alexander had not seen Olgara for some time since he had politely declined the lady's invitation at Ashulk's mansion.

Olgala could not do anything for a moment about Alexander's almost overly vigilant defense, she remembered Grogenin's advice to keep an eye on the young man, but not to disturb his life easily, let alone do anything that disgusted him and made him more defensive.

This time, however, she had to offer an invitation, because it was Ashulk who sent the invitation.

The Ottomans had apparently received news of the war between Poland and Moldova even before the Romans, but because of this he knew better than anyone what it meant for everyone.

At the same time, he became more interested in Alexander.

This time, Alexander did not refuse Eshulk's invitation.

Whether it was for his own purposes, the mysterious relationship between Pelotto Cadellón and Maria de Luna, or his curiosity about Ashurk's role in the matter, made him decide to visit the Ottoman emissary again.

Alexander was on the second day to visit the great palace of Ashurk.

Ashulk's home was always lively, and Alexander even met several regulars who were often seen in Kotschach or in the homes of other nobles and cardinals.

Seeing Alexander, who had been led by Olgara into a tearoom decorated in the Ottoman style, Ashulk stood up from the floor covered with straw mats, and walked over to greet Alexander cordially, not at all feeling unhappy by Alexander's indifference that he had shown before.

"I think we must have had a misunderstanding before, and if so, I have to reflect on whether I have failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a master."

The words of the Ottomans who did not realize themselves as outsiders made Alexander feel the deep arrogance and ambition in them.

He knew that in today's Ottoman Empire, the military aristocracy of the upper echelons did permeate a kind of self-confidence that bordered on no reason.

In the nearly half-century since the capture of Constantinople, this self-confidence has grown stronger with the Sultan of Bayezid's conquest of the Balkan states, and will eventually reach its peak many years later in the Suleiman era.

But Alexander also knew that, as he had guessed, not just ordinary Ottomans, even the Sultan's cronies in front of him probably thought that orders would soon be given to attack the Italian mainland, and even Bayezet himself might have believed that in his lifetime there might be a war against Vienna or the Vatican proper.

"You've always been a very competent master, and I had to be a little rude and presumptuous because of other things."

Alexander smiled in response to the politeness of the Sultan's envoy, and at the same time wondered in his heart the purpose of the man's invitation, what was certain to be true, and what other reasons were there?

Ashulk smiled at Alexander's perfunctory response, and then he lowered his voice and said, "Since you are not dissatisfied with me, if I want you to tell me something, I will be able to get an answer from you?" ”

Alexander smiled noncommittally and nodded, guessing what Ashulk was going to know from him.

At first, he thought it was related to the boiling "prophecy" that was being passed down in Rome, but then he felt that as Ashulk, even if he was very interested in this matter, he would not be so impatient to know the answer.

After all, for a believer in the Last Prophet, such a thing as prophecy can easily be controversial.

Sure enough, after inviting Alexander to sit down, Ashulk looked at Alexander with a scrutinizing gaze for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Earl, I would like to know the news about the woman who is said to have revealed to you about the impending war, and in return I can pay you any value you offer." ”

Alexander was a little surprised, he didn't expect Ashulk to invite him so solemnly, he actually wanted to know about Sophia from him!

Thoughts quickly crossed Alexander's mind, and he could not guess that the Ottoman wanted to know what Sophia was for, but because he knew it, he had to answer it all the more carefully.

"I don't think I can agree to your terms," Alexander stopped and respectfully handed him the hookah maid, "it's a personal matter for me, and I don't know why you are inquiring about this, but I can't promise you." ”

Ashurk looked at Alexander silently, the thick and slightly curly beard under his lips moved slightly, as if he was muttering something to himself, and then after a short time he shifted his body, sat a little closer to Alexander, and said in a low voice: "Komaj, I have heard some legends about that woman and you, so I can understand your thoughts about trying to protect her, but because of this, I have to remind you that if you really think about her, it is best to tell me about her, Because that's the only way I can help you, otherwise it's just going to make things worse for you and for her. ”

Alexander's heart shook for a moment, and he almost tried his best to keep himself from showing a strange look because of the horror, but only he knew that the hand that had been placed next to him had now tightly clenched the corner of the remaining straw mat.

"I don't know what you mean by bad, maybe you can be clearer."

Alexander said calmly, his eyes uncompromisingly met those of the Ottomans, and his mind was racing to wonder what could have made Ashulk so anxious to know what was going on about Sophia.

Alexander didn't know that Ashulk was actually very annoyed in his heart at this time, although he guessed in advance that he would not get what he wanted so easily, but when he really faced Alexander, who had not been treated like this for many years, the noble Vizier was still very angry.

But considering the rumors that are now circulating in Moldova and other places, Ashulk has to be patient.

"I know that the woman, or rather a girl, is more suitable, she is a Roma," said the messenger patiently, "and as far as I know, such a woman, no matter how beautiful she is, cannot be given a higher status in Rome, and I have even heard that it is because of you that the girl had to leave the city of Rome, is that so?" ”

Listening to Ashulk's words, Alexander's face became gloomy.

He never denied that Sophia's forced departure was because of him, and he didn't even shy away from thinking that the result was the best for him.

But now Ashulk's words made Alexander angry.

Whatever the Ottoman wanted to know all this, Alexander had a feeling that this man was clearly trying to disadvantage Sophia.

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly, and he wondered if he could kidnap the Ottoman nobleman before the guards arrived, and then force him to say why he was so interested in Sophia.

Perhaps sensing that Alexander's unusual appearance was a little obvious, Ashulk's body leaned back slightly, while his eyes were still fixed on the change in Alexander's face.

"I have received some news from Greece," said Ashulk's voice in a slow voice with a little quiet temptation: "Just these days there is a ridiculous legend circulating in those villages and mountains, and although the truly intelligent people do not think that legend is true, many stupid farmers and savage people of the mountains prefer to believe that nonsense......"

Alexander was silent, he looked at Ashulk, waiting for him to continue.

Ashulk, however, stopped as if on purpose, and his gaze swept over Alexander's face to Orgala, who was sitting not far from the tea-room chatting with his maid.

"Earl, I heard you're looking for clues about the murderer of Duke Gandino, right?"

Ashulk's sudden change of subject made Alexander a little uncomfortable, but he nodded silently in response.

In this kind of time when you can't figure out what the other party is up to, silence is always the best defensive weapon.

Ashulk seemed a little annoyed by Alexander's seemingly passive, but impeccable reaction, he grabbed the hookah with the tortoiseshell lid next to him and took a hard puff, and then continued as if he had a little more emotion:

"I think I can give you a little bit of information about this murder, but I want you to keep it a secret for me, at least not to let some people in the Vatican know that I gave you this information."

Alexander remained silent, he knew what Ashulk meant.

The Ottomans wanted to use the clues to Giovanni's murder in exchange for news about Sophia.

What kind of rumors made this person willing to use that kind of clue to inquire about Sophia?

Alexander, who still seemed to be indifferent, was already anxious and even uneasy.

It's not a good thing that the Sultan will take it so seriously.

Thinking of the ruthlessness of the Ottomans, Alexander's seemingly casually hanging hand at his side was about to crush the corners of the seat beneath him.

"It's fair to exchange with what we know, isn't it," Ashulk finally made a condition, "I just want to know about that girl, and she's now out of you, so what does she have to do with you, why can't you tell me, and what I can give you is better, at least to get you to deal with your bishop." ”

Alexander nodded slowly, not because he was seduced by the Ottomans, but because he wanted to know what the legend he was talking about in Greece and the Balkans was.

What kind of legend is it that makes the Sultan vaguely uneasy?

Alexander didn't think that Ashulk was so obsessed with wanting to know about Sophia from him, but only out of personal curiosity.

The only reason why a vizier beside a Sultan could be so concerned was that it alarmed the Sultan himself.

"Then I want to ask first, how much do you know about that girl?" Ashulk asked seriously.

How much do you know?

Alexander's heart trembled inexplicably, how much he knew about Sophia, what he knew about her past, about her short life that was not complicated but quite tortuous, about her passionate and optimistic love of life, and even more about her sometimes even somewhat stubborn and exclusive character.

"She came from Sicily with me, and I knew she was a girl from a Bohemian tribe." Alexander said slowly, knowing that Ashulk could not tell him the whole story, but that he had to know more about what the Ottomans really wanted to know.

"Sicily," Ashulk's face was calm, nothing special about it, but Alexander didn't know that his hand that was holding the hookah's long mouth was secretly clenched, "so what else do you know besides these, her parents, her relatives?" ”

"According to the law of fair trade, I think I should have asked," Alexander said nonchalantly.

The Ottoman frowned slightly, then chuckled and made a "please" gesture.

"Can you tell me who was involved in the murder of Duke Gandino?"

Alexander wittily did not ask such a question as "who is the murderer?"

The name of an insignificant perpetrator is sometimes completely meaningless to a murder with a wide range of implications, and often the murderer is destined to be a victim from the beginning, and nothing of value is expected from such a murderer.

The topic of who is involved is too broad, and because of all the inextricable connections, it is impossible to expect to prevaricate by just saying the name of an unrelated person.

Alexander didn't think that Ashulk would make up a name to get information from him, after all, it would not only damage his reputation, but also implicate himself in Giovanni's murder for no reason.

But apparently the Ottoman had no intention of telling him all he wanted to know.

Ashulk could only shrug his shoulders helplessly at Alexander's little cunning, he groaned slightly, and then looked at Alexander as if he had made up his mind.

"Let's all be honest and say what we know, it's all good for us."

After saying that, without waiting for Alexander to reply, Ashulk had already continued: "In fact, this matter involves some Jews, and I can tell you that someone seems to be secretly doing something, and Duke Gandino seems to have found some clues about it, and this matter involves some transaction between some of your high-ranking officials in the Vatican and the Jews, and I think this is why the Duke was found killed in that kind of place, and I heard it from those Jews." ”

After saying that, Ashulk took a hard sip of hookah, and then, without waiting for Alexander to think about it, he continued: "I have told you enough, now tell me about the girl, and then I will tell the name of the Jew." ”

Alexander listened calmly, but his heart was already tumbling, he didn't know how Giovanni's death could be related to the Jews, but thinking that Giovanni did die not far from the ghetto, he couldn't help but believe that Ashulk's words were very reasonable.

The point is, Ashulk can also provide a name.

"What do you want to know?" Alexander said, "Sophia is bohemian, I know her father, and although they have been separated for a long time, I believe they should have nothing to pay attention to." ”

"Her father, is his name Nathan, a Bohemian?" Ashulk's eyes were fixed on Alexander, "So what about before you knew her, you said you knew her in Sicily, so tell me do you know how she got to Sicily?" ”

"With her tribe, of course."

"So where did her tribe come from, or did she tell you all about it?"

"Sophia, you can't speak," Alexander replied with a cold expression, although he had never cared about Sophia's physical defect, but he could not tolerate the hypocrisy of sympathy when others heard this, but it was difficult to hide the pity from above, "but she never hid anything from me. ”

"Didn't you hide anything?" Ashulk looked at Alexander with a slightly meaningful look, and then said nonchalantly, "I said there is a very funny legend before, and I think you will know it soon, so it is better for me to tell it, because maybe then you can remember something that you have overlooked." ”

Saying that, Ashulk's eyes glanced at Orgala at the door: "For a long time, there has been a legend in some parts of Greece that Constantine XI of the Roman Empire once left a girl in Greece when he invaded Athens, and when the great Sultan Muhammad conquered Constantinople, the rumor that Constantine XI had a daughter who escaped from the war was even more believed by many people, and according to this rumor, the princess fled to Crete under the protection of her faithful retinue, She then lived there for a long time, and then her descendants seemed to continue to flee westward, and the last news about them was in Sicily. ”

With that, Ashulk's eyes returned to Alexander's face.

"Now, do you know why I'm asking you all this news about her?"

Alexander looked at the Ottomans in front of him in a daze, and at this time there was only one thought in his heart: Isn't this talking about me?