• 1316
• Vittoria
  Player!
  Thank you for helping my brother the other day.
  Thanks to you, my brother's plans have finally been approved and we can send an emissary out to Faisal.
  But there's something else...

• 1317
• How will you respond?

• 1318
• What happened?

• 1319
• Don't say anything

• 1320
• Vittoria
  Maybe I just have an overactive imagination, but...

• 1321
• Vittoria
  My brother's been acting strangely ever since he came back from France.
  He came back from work and goes straight into what used to be our father's study, and never comes out until very late.
  Whenever he sees me, he shouts at me to throw Julien out of the Salon...
  I know these are hard times, but...

• 1322
• What do you want to do?

• 1323
• Appease

• 1324
• Tell her about what happened in France.

• 1325
• Vittoria
  ...
  Thank you Player.
  Yes, I must stand firm.
  This must be the hardest times of my brother's life...

• 1326
• Vittoria
  So, something did happen there...?

• 1327
• Vittoria
  ...What could it be?

• 1328
• Merchant
  Hey...
  Stop!

• 1329
• Painter
  What's wrong with you? Why are you in such a hurry?

• 1330
• Merchant
  ...Gasp...
  ...It's a thief! That man that just ran by stole my specially ordered jewellery...!

• 1331
• Sculptor
  A jewellery thief, eh...
  As a small artist myself, I can't let him get away with this.

• 1332
• Painter
  All right! I'm off to catch me a thief.
  Bye now, Princess.
  Be back soon, Player!

• 1333
• Vittoria
  Hey, wait...! Everyone, stop!

• 1334
• Sculptor
  Player! How good to see you again.

• 1335
• Painter
  I've heard rumours from the princess of your exploits.

• 1336
• Archaeologist
  Mistress Vittoria just came by the craft shop for the first time in a while to see the fruits of our research.

• 1337
• Vittoria
  Honestly, you're all so reckless.

• 1338
• How will you respond?

• 1339
• That's true...

• 1340
• You're no one to talk.

• 1341
• Vittoria
  I just hope no one gets injured...

• 1342
• Vittoria
  Oh, well, uh...
  It's true that your brother and Emaretta are often telling us to be careful...

• 1343
• Vittoria
  I wonder if everyone from the harbour is okay...

• 1344
• Vittoria
  Are you all okay?!

• 1345
• Painter
  Yeah, we're fine.

• 1346
• Sculptor
  But that thief stole away on an Egyptian trade ship...

• 1347
• Archaeologist
  He plans to steal that boat and make his getaway.

• 1348
• Merchant
  Wait, please! Let's talk this over!

• 1349
• Thief
  ...Send out your ship right now! If you don't...

• 1350
• Voice
  ...Just when I thought I was done hard voyages, this happens...

• 1351
• Merchant
  Master Faisal! It's dangerous to go out now!

• 1352
• Faisal
  Don't worry.
  I have nothing to fear from a child.

• 1353
• Thief
  Why you...! I'll start by making an example of you th...

• 1354
• Faisal
  Ughh!

• 1355
• Thief
  Fool!

• 1356
• Faisal
  It looks like our uninvited guest has left.
  Return to shore.

• 1357
• Merchant
  Y-yes sir!

• 1358
• Archaeologist
  That was amazing...

• 1359
• Sculptor
  Yeah...
  That guy's not normal.

• 1360
• Vittoria
  Hey, you don't think he's...

• 1361
• Painter
  What!? You think he knows the princess?

• 1362
• Vittoria
  That guy on the ship now...
  Don't tell me that was Faisal!? What would he be doing here...
  Let's go to the harbour and find out.

• 1363
• Vittoria
  Master Faisal, welcome to the Republic of Venice.

• 1364
• Faisal
  Oh ho.
  I remember meeting you in Alexandria...

• 1365
• Vittoria
  This is Vittoria Orseolo, younger sister of Alvise, who sent the letter the other day.
  This is my friend Player, who was there that time as well.
  ...By the way, Sheikh Faisal, have you come here regarding my brother's "plan"?

• 1366
• Faisal
  Indeed I am.
  I thought I would like to see Alvise, the man I may one day entrust me fate to, at least once...
  So, little sister, can I ask you to take me to him?

• 1367
• Vittoria
  Yes, of course.
  Come on, let's go, Player.

• 1368
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  Vittoria.
  Where have you been out walking this late at...

• 1369
• Vittoria
  Alvise, we have a visitor.

• 1370
• Faisal
  ...Long time no see, he who supports the sun of the eastern sky.

• 1371
• Alvise
  Hey! If it isn't Sir Faisal...!

• 1372
• Vittoria
  I just happened to come across Master Faisal in the harbour, so Player and I brought him here.

• 1373
• Alvise
  So, Sir Faisal, the fact that you are here means that the plan is...

• 1374
• Faisal
  Since the western fleet has appeared, the once overflowing numbers of merchants in the desert have greatly dwindled.
  Turkey's suppression of us gets stronger as the days progress...
  Then, your messenger comes and tells us to "create a country for the people of the desert".
  I thought that this may have been guidance from the gods.
  But...

• 1375
• Alvise
  What happened...?

• 1376
• Faisal
  If we were to fight the vast Turkish army, my clan could never match them for sheer numbers.
  So, I went around to meet with other chiefs of the desert to ask them to band together--

• 1377
• Chief
  I see.
  So you want us to steal Suez with our own hands...
  Interesting.
  But...unfortunately, we have no chance of victory.

• 1378
• Faisal
  Are you saying the Bedouin's finest warriors cannot win against a pitiful garrison like Turkey's?

• 1379
• Chief
  ...No, that's not what I'm saying.
  You are the Conqueror of the Desert, and strong enough to prove it.
  Whatever you may lack in numbers, the guidance of the gods will surely help you to drive your enemies away.
  But...
  The problem is, after you do that, the Sultan will send his giant army after you in revenge.
  If that happens, without the support of the people, you may be unable to keep Suez safe...

• 1380
• Faisal
  ...Are you saying that the people of Suez will not follow us!?

• 1381
• Chief
  ...That's right.
  They are still obedient to the extinct royal family of Mamluk.
  No matter how strong you may be, they will never trust you without proof that you are a representative of the prophet.

• 1382
• Alvise
  Proof that I am a representative of the prophet...?

• 1383
• Faisal
  ...The Sword of the Caliph possessed by the Mamluk family.

• 1384
• What question do you want to ask?

• 1385
• What's the Sword of the Caliph?

• 1386
• Don't ask anything

• 1387
• Alvise
  Why would a single sword by that powerful? Just what kind of sword is it?

• 1388
• Faisal
  It is a legendary, treasured sword that has been passed from king to king over the ages.
  The owner is said to be the one to inherit the will of Muhammad.
  Since the royal family of Mamluk died out, someone took the sword, and now no one knows where it is.

• 1389
• Alvise
  So the Sheiks will not join the battle unless you take up this sword and prove to be worthy of being the ruler...

• 1390
• Faisal
  ...Will never help me fight.
  But, the tracks of whoever took the sword have long since disappeared since they left Cairo.

• 1391
• Alvise
  If only we had some clue as to the sword's location...

• 1392
• Faisal
  Mmm...
  People from the other tribes are already searching far and wide for it.
  But, as of yet there have been no clues whatsoever.

• 1393
• Vittoria
  ...Hey, Player.
  I know this is unreasonable, but...
  Maybe there's some way we could help with the search for the sword?

• 1394
• How will you respond?

• 1395
• Okay! Let's do it.

• 1396
• Don't be ridiculous.

• 1397
• Vittoria
  Thank you, Player.
  I'm sure we can do something if we work on this together...

• 1398
• Vittoria
  ...
  You're right.
  It may be ridiculous on the face of it.

• 1399
• Alvise
  Vittoria...
  You don't seriously mean to start sticking your neck into government affairs again...!

• 1400
• Vittoria
  Excuse me, Alvise, but I believe there aren't many people in this country who can surpass me in my knowledge of treasure.
  Even Julien in the salon, who hunts treasure for a living...

• 1401
• Alvise
  ...Julien?
  Hmph.
  I can't believe you're still keeping him.
  It's so ridiculous I don't know what to say.

• 1402
• Vittoria
  Come now...
  Julien's not...

• 1403
• Alvise
  Sir Faisal and I are discussing important national affairs.
  They are nowhere in the same league as your pathetic jokes.
  I'd thank you to refrain from mouthing off on these matters.

• 1404
• Vittoria
  ...
  
  ...
  If that is the case, I have nothing more to say.
  You should do as you please.
  Player, I apologize for the impossible request I made to you...

• 1405
• Alvise
  ...I'm very sorry you had to see that.
  Sir Faisal, now that things have come to this, I would like to offer my country's assistance in finding the sword.
  I will soon select one of my best men from among our secret agents and send to find it.
  Once the sword is found, we will deliver it to you immediately.

• 1406
• Faisal
  ...Thank you, Sir Alvise.
  Upon hearing those words, I now have no doubts that you are a man whom I can trust the fate of my Bedouin.

• 1407
• Faisal
  ...Now, I must be on my way back home.
  Player, thank you for taking me here.

• 1408
• Alvise
  ...You aren't going to stay a while?

• 1409
• Faisal
  The desert will soon be reaching its time when the caravans pass through it.
  If the chief doesn't come back, the guards will have nothing to do.

• 1410
• Alvise
  I see.
  Then at least let me take you to the harbour.

• 1411
• Faisal
  ...By the way, Alvise, are you carrying doubts about this?

• 1412
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  What are you talking about?

• 1413
• Faisal
  When we met before, your eyes were alight with the passion to save this country.
  But now...
  I see no light in them at all.

• 1414
• Alvise
  ......

• 1415
• Faisal
  The plan needs perfect preparations for it to succeed.
  One cannot deny what it is that eats away at you.
  However, the seeds of stray thoughts must not be allowed to grow.
  Otherwise, we may lose our way in the path to come when we least expect it.

• 1416
• Alvise
  ...
  ...Yes.
  You are exactly right.

• 1417
• Faisal
  Alvise, and Player, stay well until we can meet again.

• 1418
• Alvise
  ...By the way, Player, would you go and look in on Vittoria for me later?
  I went too far in what I said earlier.
  And she's quite a bit of trouble to take care of when she gets in a bad mood.
  ...Of course, you are under no obligation whatsoever to follow through on this.

• 1419
• Voice
  ...Master Alvise!

• 1420
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  What is it now?

• 1421
• Minister's Secretary
  Sir Gradenigo...has submitted a proposal to the Doge to make peace with Turkey...!

• 1422
• Alvise
  ...Make peace with them!? What do you mean!?

• 1423
• Minister's Secretary
  Well...

• 1424
• Gradenigo
  ...That's the report from the resident ambassador of Istanbul.

• 1425
• Doge of Venice
  ...What is it.
  Tell me.

• 1426
• Gradenigo
  It seems that if we cedes the two cities of Zadar and Ragusa to the Sultan of Turkey, he says he will call off his attack.

• 1427
• Doge of Venice
  ...That's impossible.
  If we did that, then Orseolo's plan, which as finally begun to materialize, would be...

• 1428
• Gradenigo
  ...It is true that if Orseolo's plan goes well, it will have great benefits for us.
  However...
  If it fails, then what will become of us?
  If a galleon that outnumbers our soldiers ten to one were to appear in the Adriatic Sea, our country would be gone; our people drowned in a sea of their own blood.

• 1429
• Doge of Venice
  ......

• 1430
• Gradenigo
  If we can avoid that simply by ceding a mere two cities...
  Then that would truly be our country's salvation.
  Don't you agree, sir?

• 1431
• Alvise
  Gradenigo...
  Does that old fool really intend to drive this country to the grave!?

• 1432
• How will you respond?

• 1433
• Why?

• 1434
• Yeah.

• 1435
• Alvise
  Think about it...

• 1436
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  So you think so too.

• 1437
• Alvise
  Venice makes up for its lack of resources and people by flourishing in trade.
  If we give the Turks two cities and then lose access to the Adriatic Sea, our country would fall to the Turkish army in a matter of years.
  If the enemy has begun calling for peace now, then they are surely aware of that situation.
  Curse you, Gradenigo...
  I will not let this country fall because of your cowardice!

• 23099
• Several days later, Player met Vittoria on a corner in Venice.
  According to her, ever since Alvise returned from France, he had secluded himself in his deceased father's study, and appeared to have something troubling him.
  His behaviour toward Julien was more severe than ever, and lately had even banished him from the house.
  Vittoria was troubled by her brother's transfiguration and also by the various diplomatic and political power struggles that continued on unabated.
  Just then, the Town Square was struck by a robbery.

• 23100
• The theft was of an Egyptian merchant ship that had just set anchor in the port, and they were trying to escape the city.
  However, a man on board the merchant ship easily managed to take the ship back.
  That man was the man who held the key to the Suez plan and the leader of the Bedouin, Faisal.

• 23101
• Vittoria and Player took him to the Orseolo mansion.

• 23102
• Alvise was surprised by the unexpected guest.

• 23103
• Faisal apologised for being late with an answer to the plan at the Suez and also informed them that there was a large obstacle to carrying out the plan.
  It was that he was unable to find the "proof of the representative of the profit", a sword that once belonged to the Caliph.
  He required it if he was to prove to the leaders of the various Bedouin tribes that he was the legitimate ruler of Suez and unite them together.
  However, when the Mamluk Dynasty in Egypt fell, somebody made off with the sword and nobody knew where it was.

• 23104
• Vittoria asked Player and the others if they could help look for the sword.
  However, Alvise told her not to interfere with national affairs, and recommended that they dispatch government spies instead, to which Faisal agreed.

• 23105
• Having gained assistance in his search for the sword, Faisal prepared to return to the desert.

• 23106
• As he was leaving, Faisal asked Alvise, "Are you sure you do not have any doubts?" For there was a touch of concern in his eye which had not been there before.
  Alvise promised that he would keep his doubts in check until the plan had been carried out.
  Faisal promised to meet again and then left Venice.

• 23107
• Then, Alvise's secretary came up to them.
  Gradenigo had ignored Alvise's plan and was preparing a peace treaty with Turkey.
  The conditions for peace were that Venice cede two of its cities along the coast of the Adriatic Sea to Turkey.
  If Venice, being a nation by the ocean, were to give control of the Adriatic to Turkey, then it would have guaranteed their collapse, and they would have eventually been overrun by Turkey.
  Knowing this, Alvise informed Player that he would leave for the time being, and determined to the stop the peace treaty, raced off to the mansion.