• 1438
• Merchant
  Woo, scary...
  A Venetian merchant ship was being pursued by Turkish pirates in the sea off of Candia.
  Against one carrack and 8 heavy galleons, there's no doubt it's been captured by now.
  You be careful out there too.

• 1439
• Merchant
  Be wary of pirates when crossing the sea off of Candia.

• 1440
• Venetian Merchant
  H-help me! Please!

• 1441
• Turkish Pirate
  Gah! We've got uninvited company.
  Take care of them all, now!

• 1442
• Venetian Merchant
  ...I'm sorry! I'm running off to Candia ahead of you.
  I hope you make it out of here too.

• 1443
• Make sure to run away so you don't get sunk.

• 1444
• The event will progress even if you don't win this battle.

• 1445
• Turkish Pirate
  Swines...! Retreat!

• 1446
• Resident
  Hey...! What happened to you? You're wounded everywhere!

• 1447
• Venetian Merchant
  Turkish pirates...
  We were unarmed, yet they had no mercy...

• 1448
• Venetian Merchant
  ...Hey, you.
  You're the sailor who saved us earlier, aren't you...
  Please...
  Deliver this letter to the Decemviri in Venice...
  The resident ambassador of Istanbul gave this to me...
  There's something they absolutely need to know inside...

• 1449
• How will you respond?

• 1450
• Okay, I see.

• 1451
• Go find him yourself

• 1452
• Ask someone else

• 1453
• Venetian Merchant
  ...As you can see, I'm heavily wounded, and most of my crew is gone...
  Please...
  I beg you...
  Deliver this letter to the Decemviri of Venice...

• 1454
• Venetian Merchant
  ...There is a possibility that the Turks have manoeuvred their way in here...
  I can't ask just anyone to do this...
  Please...
  Deliver this letter to the Decemviri of Venice...

• 1455
• Venetian Merchant
  ...Thank you...

• 1456
• Resident
  ...It's okay.
  He's still breathing, if barely.
  I'll take him to a doctor on my own.

• 1457
• Guard
  The Decemviri are in the middle of a meeting...

• 1458
• What do you want to do?

• 1459
• Show the letter

• 1460
• Give up

• 1461
• Guard
  Then come back later.
  Of course, there's no telling when the meeting may end.

• 1462
• You showed him the letter!

• 1463
• Guard
  ...? That letter is from the resident ambassador of Istanbul!
  ...It looks like your business is urgent.
  Go on to the meeting room!

• 1464
• Guard
  Are you still here?
  Since your business is urgent, go on to the meeting room!

• 1465
• Cabinet Secretary Mocenigo
  ...
  A letter from the emissary of Istanbul?
  Why are you carrying such a letter? What happened to the informant?

• 1466
• Cabinet Secretary Mocenigo
  ...
  So he was wounded by the Turks.
  I see.
  
  In that case, we will let you into the meeting room, even though the council is in progress.

• 1467
• Gradenigo
  ...How long do you plan to keep being stubborn, Sir Orseolo?

• 1468
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  This kind of "peace" will only result in our country's death...!

• 1469
• Alvise
  ...Player!

• 1470
• Cabinet Secretary Mocenigo
  ...Your Excellency, the secret agent carrying an important letter fro the Ambassador of Istanbul was attacked by the Turkish navy and suffered heavy injuries.
  This man has come to bring us the letter in his place.

• 1471
• Handed over the letter!

• 1472
• Doge of Venice
  ...Hmm.
  Good work, Player.
  We must reward you later.

• 1473
• Doge of Venice
  ...Now, what could this letter be about...

• 1474
• Doge of Venice
  This is...!
  ...If this report is true...

• 1475
• Alvise
  What does it say?

• 1476
• Doge of Venice
  It says that the Turkish navy has already completed its enormous galleon fleet...
  And if we don't cede them the cities, Barbary and the pirate chief Hayreddin will begin their attack within a scant few months...

• 1477
• Alvise
  Hayreddin...!

• 1478
• Gradenigo
  ...Take a look, Sir Orseolo.
  The reason we were able to resist the Turks despite our inferior numbers was because their soldiers were not used to sea battles.
  But...
  If the pirate king Hayreddin is leading them, then our country's disadvantage is clear.

• 1479
• Alvise
  ...But, if we lose the Adriatic Sea, then in the very near future our country will have no choice but to surrender!
  How many times do I have to say that a temporary peace is meaningless before you'll understand!?

• 1480
• Gradenigo
  Heh heh...
  Perhaps you should hold your temper, Sir Orseolo? You are in the presence of His Excellency...

• 1481
• Alvise
  ...Grr...

• 1482
• Gradenigo
  ...Well, it appears that everyone has come to a conclusion.
  We have no more time for idle talk.
  It is clear that we now need to cast our votes to decide on our future direction.
  May we proceed, your Excellency?

• 1483
• Doge of Venice
  ...Well, Gradenigo, if you say so, I suppose we must.

• 1484
• Alvise
  Your Excellency...!

• 1485
• Doge of Venice
  ...
  ...Today's meeting is hereby adjourned!

• 1486
• Gradenigo
  Ha ha...
  Player, was it?
  That letter you brought was very helpful.
  I thank you.

• 1487
• Gradenigo
  ...Well, Sir Orseolo, now that the majority has voted it appears you have no hope of victory tomorrow.
  If you are going to pledge allegiance to us, I believe now would be a good time to do so.

• 1488
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  I have no tail to wag for the subordinates of a dying country.

• 1489
• Gradenigo
  Ha ha...
  Player, was it?
  That letter you brought was very helpful.
  I thank you.

• 1490
• Alvise
  Good work, Player...
  I must now work to convince the other members to vote against ceding the cites tomorrow.
  I'm terribly sorry to ask you, but could you please tell my people at the mansion that I won't be returning home tonight?

• 1491
• How will you respond?

• 1492
• Okay, I see.

• 1493
• I'm not your servant.

• 1494
• Alvise
  I'm counting on you.

• 1495
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  If it's that much trouble, you don't have to bother...

• 1496
• Alvise
  ...The sun is setting.
  It may no longer rise on this country again--

• 1497
• Vittoria
  Welcome home, Alvi...!
  ...Oh...Player.
  Sorry about that.
  I was expecting my brother to return home, so...

• 1498
• Vittoria
  ...Lately my brother always looks depressed whenever he gets back from his meetings...
  But when I ask him to tell me what happened, he just insists "It's nothing for women and children to concern themselves with." I really don't know what to do...

• 1499
• What do you want to do?

• 1500
• Give her Alvise's message

• 1501
• Cheer up Vittoria

• 1502
• Don't say anything

• 1503
• Vittoria
  ...Come now, Player.
  It's fine.
  I'm used to my brother scolding me.

• 1504
• Vittoria
  He's never liked to talk about his job before, but I've never seen him so stressed all the time...

• 1505
• Vittoria
  The...
  decision, tomorrow?
  Player, what happened in there?

• 1506
• Vittoria
  ...No! They can't cede the Adriatic Sea cities!
  If they vote to cede them, my brother will never have a chance.
  ...Why...
  Why are they doing this just when my brother's plan is starting to work...

• 1507
• Voice
  ...Power without justice is incompetent.

• 1508
• Julien
  ...Yes, but so is justice without power.
  Isn't that true?

• 1509
• Vittoria
  Julien...

• 1510
• Vittoria
  ...Julien, I know that my brother doesn't like you.
  But, "incompetent"? At a time like this...?

• 1511
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  My lady, you misunderstand me.
  I mean no offense whatsoever.
  Master Alvise is enormously popular with both the administrators and the people.
  But, that position is nothing more than a single young Aide.
  That is why the incompetent old people continue to drag him down and prevent him from doing anything...
  It pains me to see it.

• 1512
• Vittoria
  ...
  Yes...
  I think so too.

• 1513
• Julien
  ...That is why I am now certain that Master Alvise has only one path left to him.
  He needs to gain enough "power" to equal Mr Gradenigo.

• 1514
• Vittoria
  ...But that's impossible.
  Master Gradenigo has been working in important positions for over 30 years.
  Even the Doge can't refuse him.

• 1515
• Julien
  However, that is only because of his current standing and reputation.
  ...Take a look at this.

• 1516
• Vittoria
  What's this...?

• 1517
• Julien
  ...This is a letter from Mr Gradenigo.
  I believe he sent this to the other members of the Decemviri to discuss the strategy for the fight against Turkey.
  ...But, if we take out these words here...and change these words here...and copy this...
  There.
  Take a look.

• 1518
• ...After we surrender to Turkey...my position will be assured...and even greater power will be mine...
  So the Sultan has promised me.

• 1519
• Vittoria
  ...Wait! This makes it seem like Master Gradenigo made a deal with Turkey...!
  ...Julien, you can't mean...

• 1520
• Julien
  I see...
  
  We shall use it as proof.
  We can prove that Gradenigo is working with the Turks...
  No matter how powerful he is now, being blamed for working with the enemy shall be a heavy political blow.
  If Master Alvise were to stand up then, he may even be able to grasp the entire Decemviri in his hands.

• 1521
• Vittoria
  So...you intend to frame him...?
  Don't you know that if you do that, Alvise could be charged with committing a felony?

• 1522
• Julien
  But if we consider Master Alvise's situation, this is the only option left to us...
  Don't you agree, Player?

• 1523
• How will you respond?

• 1524
• That's true.
  It is.

• 1525
• No.
  We should not commit a crime.

• 1526
• Julien
  So...you think so too, Player?

• 1527
• Vittoria
  ...Yes.
  You may be right, and this may indeed be our only option.
  ...But, I still can't accept this letter from you, Julien.

• 1528
• Vittoria
  ...You're right.
  It's just as Player says.
  ...Thank you for your suggestion, Julien, but...I can't accept that letter.

• 1529
• Vittoria
  My brother...
  Alvise Orseolo will never plot such a conspiracy.
  Even if it is against Gradenigo or the Turkish navy, my brother will fight fairly to save this nation.
  That is his way of life...
  and I do not wish to get in his way.

• 1530
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  Fight them straight on...eh...
  ...That is good.
  I would expect no less from my chosen patrone mademoiselle, Miss Vittoria.
  I will leave the letter here.
  Please dispose of it when and how you see fit.
  Now, I will take my leave--

• 1531
• Julien
  (...I'm going to trust those words, my patrone.)

• 1532
• Vittoria
  I'm sure Alvise will win...
  No matter how much of a disadvantage he may have--

• 1533
• Guard
  Hey! Go home already!

• 1534
• Resident
  Come on, tell us who those people just now were.

• 1535
• Merchant
  There was something different about them.

• 1536
• Housewife
  Yeah.
  I've never seen a group of night watchmen line up to enter an official Estate like that...

• 1537
• Voice
  ...Player

• 1538
• Vittoria
  ...It's all my fault that Alvise...
  That Alvise did that...

• 1539
• How will you respond?

• 1540
• What happened?

• 1541
• Did what?

• 1542
• Vittoria
  ...
  The Decemviri decided to cede control of two cities.
  11 for, 3 against, 1 abstain...
  my brother was defeated by such a huge margin.
  I...
  I don't know how to save my brother, he is in such despair...

• 1543
• Vittoria
  A...Alvise!

• 1544
• Resident
  ...Hey, wasn't that a gunshot just now?

• 1545
• Merchant
  Come on, tell us what's happening there.

• 1546
• Housewife
  Yeah! What's going on!?

• 1547
• Guard
  C-come now, enough of this.

• 1548
• What do you want to do?

• 1549
• Sneak inside in the confusion

• 1550
• I'm waiting to see what happens.

• 1551
• Alvise
  ...I told you not to move, Gradenigo.
  Move again, and you'll have a new hole to worry about plugging!

• 1552
• Gradenigo
  ...Ha ha.
  My my.
  It seems that you have finally revealed your true, coarse nature.

• 1553
• Night Police Officer
  This is dangerous.
  Please stand back.

• 1554
• Night Police Officer
  This is dangerous.
  Please stand back.

• 1555
• Night Police Officer
  This is dangerous.
  Please stand back.

• 1556
• Vittoria
  (Alvise...!)

• 1557
• Gradenigo
  ...Sir Orseolo, I'm surprised at you.
  I never thought you of all people would try to pin me down with false charges.

• 1558
• Alvise
  Don't give me those pathetic lies...
  I've already submitted the evidence to the police.
  Eventually you'll be sentenced as the Judas that you are.

• 1559
• Gradenigo
  Ha ha...
  I wonder which of us is the true Judas here.
  ...At any rate, the police are under my control.
  I will be sure to pay you back for this many times over...

• 1560
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  Just keep praying that this country is still around for you to try as you rot in your cell.

• 1561
• Alvise
  ...Guard! Take Gradenigo into custody!

• 1562
• Night Police Officer
  ...B-but...
  I don't know if we can do that.
  I mean, it's Master Gradenigo...

• 1563
• Alvise
  ...Do it! I will handle the responsibility!

• 1564
• Night Police Officer
  Yes, my Lord!

• 1565
• Vittoria
  It's all my fault that you did this...

• 1566
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  You had nothing to do with it whatsoever.
  Now, I must go talk to the Senate about what to do now that Gradenigo is gone.
  You stay here and out of trouble.

• 1567
• Vittoria
  ...No, please! Wait, Alvise!

• 1568
• Alvise
  (If anything should happen to me, Player, please take care of Vittoria--)

• 1569
• Vittoria
  No...Why should Alvise be the only one in pain...

• 1570
• Vittoria
  ...I should never have shown him that letter.
  I just couldn't take it anymore...
  I couldn't bear to see him in such pain--

• 1571
• What do you want to do?

• 1572
• Comfort Irene.

• 1573
• Reproach her for the magnitude of the situation

• 1574
• Don't say anything

• 1575
• Vittoria
  Player, even you...!

• 1576
• Vittoria
  ...You're right.
  You're exactly right, Player...

• 1577
• Vittoria
  ......

• 1578
• Voice
  ...It seems that the letter proved useful.

• 1579
• Vittoria
  Julien...

• 1580
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  Why do you look so sad?
  There is no human out there strong enough to make his ideals a reality without getting his hands dirty.
  Master Alvise is no god, but a mere human, just like the rest of us.
  You have no reason whatsoever to blame yourself.

• 1581
• Vittoria
  ......

• 1582
• Vittoria
  ...Julien, Player, will you hear me out?

• 1583
• Julien
  What is it, Mistress?

• 1584
• Vittoria
  ...I'm going to continue to uphold my brother's dream.
  No matter what may happen...
  Even if I end up turning my back on God.

• 1585
• Julien
  ...
  Turn your back on God...
  That sounds very unlike you, seeing how devout you are.
  You must feel truly horrible about this.

• 1586
• Vittoria
  ...
  Because he is my family.
  The only one left in the whole world...

• 1587
• Julien
  ...
  Ha ha...
  I understand.
  I too...
  ...Very well.
  If there is anything I can do, I will be glad to help.
  If that time should come, I hope you will help me too, Player.

• 1588
• And so, thanks to Gradenigo's downfall, the elders lost their leader, and fell into an unprecedented chaos.
  Alvise took advantage of this to establish the Trade Counsel, and elected himself as the chairman.
  On the surface, the counsel was created to deal with pressing matters of trade and commerce.
  But its true objective was to pass resolutions approving the Suez Canal plan in order to combat the threat from Turkey as quickly as possible with a smaller number of counsel members.

• 1589
• However, the people had no idea of the true workings their government was employing, and warmly greeted the arrival of their new young counsel leader.
  No one had the slightest idea of the agony Alvise and Vittoria were really under.

• 23108
• Player heard that a Venice merchant ship had been attacked by Turkish pirates in the seas near Candia.

• 23109
• Heading out to the location, the merchant ship was on the verge of being captured by the pirates.
  Thanks to the assistance of Player, the merchant ship was able to escape to Candia.

• 23110
• A heavily injured merchant asked Player to deliver a letter to the Doge's mansion.
  The author of the letter was the emissary residing in Istanbul.

• 23111
• Sensing an incident, Cabinet Secretary Mocenigo led Player to the meeting room where the top officials were having their meeting.
  When the Doge received the letter, his face went deathly pale.
  It said that Turkey had finished construction of its fleet of large galley ships and would be ready to begin an invasion within a few months.
  Gradenigo declared that they should vote whether to go to war or not, for not even the Doge could oppose the ruling of the government elders, and a vote was scheduled for the following day.

• 23112
• Player was stopped by Alvise, who wished that everybody be told he would be unable to come home that night.
  His plan was to make one last plea to the council to reject the peace treaty.

• 23113
• At the assembly hall, Vittoria heard the details of the situation and predicted her brother would lose his appeal, all the while cursing the tactics of Gradenigo and the others.
  Then, Julien appeared and said that justice without force is also incompetent.
  These words were from a letter written in Gradenigo's handwriting.
  Julien pulled out the words from there and cleverly transcribed them.
  The letter he forged seemed to guarantee Gradenigo's position after surrendering to Turkey.
  This, he said, could be used to undermine Gradenigo by serving as evidence of his crimes of secret dealings with Turkey, which would mean that Alvise could seize power in his place.
  However, Vittoria refused to take it for she believed that no matter what happened, Alvise did not need to resort to conspiracy in order to do what was best for the country.
  "I would expect no less from my chosen patrone mademoiselle, Miss Vittoria." Julien asked Vittoria to dispose of the letter and then left the room.
  On Vittoria's face was a rare look of uneasiness and anguish that she did not normally show.

• 23114
• Several days later, a number of people gathered in front of the Doge's mansion.
  Apparently, the night watch had stormed into the mansion in great numbers.
  Then, Vittoria came rushing up.
  She spoke with shame, saying was unable to bear the sight of her brother following his crushing defeat in the vote.
  Just then, a single gunshot rang out from within the mansion.

• 23115
• Within the mansion, Alvise, the leader of the night watch, was pointing a gun at Gradenigo.

• 23116
• Gradenigo smiled wryly at having been dismissed due to the false charges brought against him.
  Alvise laughed at his words and ordered the night watch to arrest him.
  Gradenigo said that he would repay him eventually as he was led away.

• 23117
• Alvise said to look after Vittoria if anything were to happen to him and then he left the room.

• 23118
• Vittoria confessed the real situation to Player.
  Unable to bear the site of her brother's frustration, she had shown him Julien's forged letter.
  Just then, Julien appeared and told her not to blame herself.
  Vittoria looked distressed as she spoke to Julien and Player.
  She said that she would do whatever it took to protect the dreams of her only living relative Alvise, even if it meant turning her back on God himself.
  Julien promised that he and Player would assist her whenever she needed it and then left the room.
  Meanwhile, having assumed power, Alvise formed the "Trade Counsel" and appointed himself as Chairman.
  In regards to their dealings with Turkey, he formed a system within the government for a small group of members to quickly decide on a plan of action in regards to the Suez plan.