However, the three representatives summoned by this Komnenos claimant didn't seem to be buying it.
"Your Excellency Alexander, let's skip the pleasantries. Let's discuss what you can do for the Republic after your restoration." A Latin noble, draped in a blue-black manteau cloak, coldly interrupted him.
"Bastard! This is too unsightly, isn't it? Roughly speaking, we're relatives!" This Genoese noble was, by relation, his Brother-in-law. So, seeing the other party's merchant-like demeanor, Alexander felt utterly indignant.
Three or four months prior, after escaping from his White Sheep cousin, he, unwilling to admit defeat, immediately set off for Rize, a port town still under the control of Komnenos remnants at the time.
There, he successfully connected with the Genoese, who held some influence in Trabzon, by leveraging his wife Maria Gattilusio's Genoese noble status. Later, Alexander secretly arrived at Andos Fortress, which was operated by the Genoese, and sent people to Lesbos Island, a Genoese colony in the Aegean Sea, to find the island's lord, his father-in-law Dorino Gattilusio, and persuade him to act as an intermediary to help him enlist Genoa's direct involvement.
But he didn't sit idle either. Out of caution, he sent envoys to the traditional allies of the Komnenos family, the Kandar Beylik and the Janik Beylik, to entice them to send an army to help him.
Ultimately, through his lobbying and considerations for future geopolitics, Kandar, Janik, and Genoa each sent an envoy to Andos Fortress to discuss the most crucial distribution of interests with him.
Recalling this, Alexander could only sigh deeply in his heart. Since he chose to use external forces for his restoration, he had to accept such concessions.
After some thought, he unrolled a parchment map of Trabzon before the three of them.
"After this is accomplished," Alexander gritted his teeth, "the region west of Tripoli will be 'gifted' to the Janik Oglu family; Kandar's merchant ships can dock within my territory and enjoy privileges second only to the two great commercial Republics, and I will also marry my future daughter to the heir of Kandar Bey;" Then, he turned his gaze to his Brother-in-law, "After the victory, I will open up more trade privileges, and even transfer some of Venice's privileges to your country as compensation." He specifically emphasized the word "compensation."
"Holy Father above, Manuel Gavras, you usurper will only be happy for now!" After these three parties agreed to help him, Alexander angrily looked in the direction of Trabzon city.
However, Manuel, currently in Trabzon, was not yet fully aware of this impending counterattack.
The next morning, back in Trabzon Palace, he began to deal with several government affairs that had accumulated during his absence due to his subordinates' lack of authority.
In addition, he also had to prepare to establish a feasible and efficient administrative system in the West Armenia region under his rule.
After swiftly approving several important appointments, he felt quite relieved: during his conflict with the White Sheep, the troops he left in Trabzon had not merely passively defended, but had launched attacks according to his instructions, clearing out the Komnenos remnants on Trabzon's eastern and western borders by mid-December last year, bringing everything west of Giresun and east of Yomra under Bosporus's rule. If all went well, the Pontus region would then peacefully submit to his governance.
While feeling relieved and relaxed, the recent summary reports from the Dark Department concerning the Asia Minor region also caught his attention.
According to the Dark Department's report, the Janik region was indeed ruled by the Beys of the Janik Oglu family seven or eight years ago. And five or six years ago, Murad, just as in his previous life's official history, led his army to sweep across the five micro Beyliks that were carving up the land.
But what happened next was completely unexpected. Murad, contrary to official history, did not annex most of Janik. Instead, he handed over the entire Janik region to his vassal and close Ottoman ally, Emir Hasimir Bey, thus giving birth to the Janik Beylik in its true sense, and this person became the first Janik Bey in the history of the Janik region.
"And it's rumored that this Janik Bey has been secretly flirting with Komnenos remnants recently. Why is a loyal dog of Murad acting so erratically? Could it be…" After writing down the relevant instructions, Manuel looked thoughtfully to the west, "Murad II," he mused with some apprehension, "what exactly are you up to? A great Ottoman Sultan, surely you wouldn't do something to stir up trouble for a weak, pitiful, and helpless country like mine…"
After pondering for a while, unable to figure out Murad's intentions, he simply put the matter aside and began to read a document from Serenus and Amiroutzes regarding a Venetian visitor.
"Venice sent someone while I was away, as expected, as expected." After a quick glance, he murmured with a slight nod, as if he had anticipated it, "Benito de Gracio, a young noble sent from Tana by the Venetian Black Sea Consul, Pietro Lando. According to him, he came concerning Venice's trade rights in the Trabzon area, and he also brought opinions from his homeland and some intelligence about Genoa."
Manuel first frowned in displeasure, then his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, but very quickly tightened again, "Bargaining Venice is fine, but why are the Genoese stirring up trouble again? What does my fight with the Komnenos have to do with you merchant Republics?"
Although he said this, he quickly ordered a meeting with this Venetian representative to be scheduled, "As for the timing, the sooner the better." He even gave this specific instruction. If Genoa were to make moves against him again while he was unprepared, it wouldn't be a simple matter to resolve.
Thus, in one morning, he swiftly and effectively resolved the major issues his subordinates had left for him.
He also took the opportunity to rename the three newly acquired major cities: "Erzincan" was renamed "Akilisene," "Erzurum" was renamed "Theodosiopolis," and "Bayburt" was renamed to the old name "Paipert," commonly used by both Greeks and Armenians (greek: Μπαϊμπούρτ, Armenian: Բայբերդ).
After completing these tasks, he felt a lingering sense of unfulfillment and rubbed his hands in the early spring. Just as he was thinking about how to re-Romanize the small and medium-sized villages and towns on the map that had been renamed by the Turks, an unexpected person suddenly requested an audience with him.
"Suleiman?" Feeling somewhat surprised, he dared not delay for a moment and immediately granted the request.