Since Guiddo's children were not yet born in 1436, Manuel temporarily gave up the idea of recruiting his family. However, he also kept a close eye on the matter, adding this illegitimate son of Manuel II to his list of historical figures of interest. During his conversation with John VIII, he casually mentioned Guiddo several times, leaving a good impression on him.
After staying in Constantinople for about five days, Manuel continued his journey back to Bosporus by ship. This time, however, he switched to a different caravel and deliberately separated from his family and adopted son. This was because what he was about to do was as dangerous, if not more so, than his recent trip to Smyrna.
Three days later, in the dead of night—
In Varna, a port city in the Eastern Rumelia region of the Ottoman Sultanate, a caravel merchant ship that had been docked since noon quietly opened its lower hatch. Several passengers, disguised as merchants but with their faces obscured, silently emerged and headed towards the dense forest on the southern bank of the port.
After more than half an hour, the group arrived at their destination and paused. Less than five minutes later, the individuals they were scheduled to meet, several unknown figures disguised as Albanian merchants, also arrived.
At this point, the two groups glanced at each other. The leader of the first group, feigning confusion, uttered a cryptic phrase: "The Moabites have rebelled against the King of Israel, and their sin is unforgivable."
"That is the Moabites' affair, not the Edomites'. Furthermore, is it right for a king to stand by and watch his close kin be slaughtered by the Nabataeans?" ① The leader of the second group looked straight ahead and responded with an equally cryptic statement.
After hearing the other party's reply, they officially confirmed each other's identities. The leader of the merchant ship passengers immediately extended his right hand, showing goodwill to the group of Albanian merchants in front of him.
"Long time no see," his smile was exceptionally hearty at this moment, "Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha... No, I think you'd prefer to be called by your real name: George Kastrioti."
"It has been a long time, Caesar." George Kastrioti himself nodded somewhat stiffly and extended his own right hand to firmly grasp the other's in response.
Yes. The passengers on the merchant ship were none other than Bosporus Caesar Manuel and his trusted guards, disguised; and the group of Albanian merchants he met was surprisingly Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha, whose real name was George Kastrioti, an Ottoman general he had personally fought against not long ago.
At this moment, under the dense night sky, although Kastrioti could not clearly see the other's specific expression, he could guess that Manuel's face must have held a subtle, ambiguous smile.
And indeed, the Caesar, who had disguised his identity, now wore a slight, inexplicable smile, much like a manor lord during a bountiful autumn harvest.
Around the latter half of last year, 1435, based on an analysis of his knowledge and personal experiences, Manuel keenly felt that he could completely win over Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha, who was still outwardly serving the Ottoman and had not yet become Skanderbeg.
After all, in official history, he was able to secretly contact the Roman Curia, Venice, and the Kingdom of Naples, so he naturally could find an opportunity to contact him in return.
Therefore, he issued an order to his intelligence department to find every possible way to contact Anaftolu Pasha, who had by then been transferred to the Rumelia region. The intelligence department, which had been operating in Ottoman-controlled areas for some time, did not disappoint him and made contact with him early this year.
However, gaining the trust of Kastrioti, a man who had long concealed his true faith and intentions and endured humiliation, was not an easy task. At first, Kastrioti was largely suspicious and hostile towards the Bosporus Caesar's agents. If Manuel's disregard for his own life had not moved him, this Albanian nobleman would have reported the intelligence agent to Edirne long ago. After all, compared to the now extremely weak orthodox forces, George Kastrioti preferred the prestigious and powerful Catholic forces, even though he was an Eastern Orthodox believer in his youth.
But Manuel's subsequent sincerity, conveyed through his intelligence agents, and his own inherent capabilities, gradually shook Kastrioti's long-held beliefs. Approximately three months ago, he finally indicated his willingness to accept Manuel's proposal, but on the condition that Manuel personally speak with him again.
And so, this secret meeting took place today.
Since their meeting tonight was extremely confidential and time was tight, neither side wasted any words and went straight to the point.
"Caesar, how do you plan to help me? Even if I can truly free Albania from the Ottoman, can the Bosphorus Despotate, far away in Anatolia and Tauris, provide effective assistance at that time?" Kastrioti incisively pointed out the core issue.
Manuel first smiled awkwardly in his heart. He couldn't very well say that he had prescience and knew that Kastrioti would seize the opportunity during the Varna Crusaders to successfully lead Albania in revolt.
So, his explanation for this was: "Mr. Kastrioti, I hope you don't misunderstand anything. Firstly, aid includes not only military force but also financial and human resources. Secondly, I am not asking you to only seek aid from Bosporus, but rather I hope you can accept aid from me.
"Of course, it's perfectly normal if you don't accept, but for you, who currently only have a very small number of trusted confidants, having clear aid from a certain power can also help you achieve twice the result with half the effort, can't it?" Manuel leaned slightly forward, as if inducing the other party to comply with his decision.
These words finally persuaded Kastrioti. Subsequently, after a further conversation between the two sides, the Albanian nobleman ultimately chose to accept aid from Bosporus. He then immediately asked, "So, what are Bosporus's conditions?"
"Nothing else. If I absolutely had to say something, it would be that if you truly revolt in the future, I hope you can return to the orthodox faith." Manuel calmly stated his condition.
This put Anaftrou in a difficult position, because, given the current situation, converting to the powerful Roman Catholic faith was clearly much more advantageous than returning to the orthodox faith of Constantinople. However, considering that the other party could indeed provide support within his means, and since this was an oral promise, he readily agreed.
Thus, in less than half an hour, after both sides had clarified their respective needs and reasons, the secret meeting concluded.
"It's over already? I thought you would ask me why Bosporus is willing to support you?" Finally, Manuel half-jokingly asked this before parting.
This directly made Kastrioti laugh, "Is that even a question? Caesar, you bit off a piece from the Ottoman. Unless all the high gates of the Sultanate are dead and its rule has collapsed, how could you possibly find any way to reconcile with these wolf-like Ottoman Turks?"
"Indeed," Manuel's face darkened at this, "Only a dead Ottoman is a good Ottoman."
"Great minds think alike." Kastrioti also agreed with him, his face grim.