Inside the bedchamber.

The chessboard is already set.

Baldwin IV, with his short brown curls, leisurely pointed to the ceramic cup opposite him.

"Have a cup of tea, it's made to your taste, without any spices."

Losa took the cup and drank it in one go.

He squinted slightly. It was a familiar taste, though clearly not good tea.

"Is everything going smoothly?"

Losa sat down on the stool in front of him: "I owe it all to your help."

Without Baldwin IV's cooperation in various aspects, recruiting settlers would not have progressed so quickly.

"Hmm, try to settle as many settlers as possible. Recently, rumors in Jerusalem say that Egypt's grain ships were swallowed by sea monsters, and there are also cases of hoarding in the city. Grain prices have doubled in just two days and are still trending upwards. I'm worried that if this continues, it might incite unrest."

"The Jews' doing?"

"Yes, but not only them. The great nobles are also involved, just hidden behind the scenes. They have large amounts of grain stored in their territories."

Losa frowned: "Leave this matter to me."

"What do you plan to do?"

Losa drew a cross in front of him: "In the eyes of the Heavenly Father, usury is the ugliest and most detestable crime."

"I'm asking you to handle the hoarding issue."

"The Jews, do you really believe they don't engage in lending?"

Restricted in employment, lending is one of the few ways Jews make a living, usually with interest rates higher than those of the Templar Order's 'Bank.'

Whether it's considered usury depends entirely on the ruler's whim.

Baldwin IV frowned: "You want to handle them under this charge?"

"Hmm, with the grain they've hoarded, grain prices can be stabilized, and by then, the grain ships from Egypt should have arrived."

In just a few words, a group's fate had been decided.

However, neither of their expressions changed noticeably, naturally moving on to the next topic.

"Do as you say, in the name of the Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order."

"Alright."

Losa nodded slightly. Baldwin IV's words effectively placed the responsibility for handling Jewish moneylenders on himself.

Although few would sympathize with Jewish moneylenders these days.

But in Losa's Hebron, there lived many Jews who were mostly honest businessmen and merchants. Being labeled a 'Jewish butcher' might not reflect well on him.

Baldwin IV rubbed his brow with some distress: "I've been pushing for Belian's marriage to Sibilla recently."

"Facing heavy resistance?"

"Yes."

Losa appeared thoughtful.

Even if you disregard the fact that Princess Sibilla's son would be the first in line for the throne of Jerusalem, the princess herself was powerful and influential.

Resistance was only natural.

Losa's rapid rise was likely a contributing factor. After all, both the Noble Faction and the Empress Faction were concerned about further strengthening the King's Faction.

Seeing Losa's furrowed brow, Baldwin IV couldn't help but smile: "Doesn't it seem that being a king isn't as good as it sounds? One can't even decide on his own sister's marriage."

Losa sighed: "It's your illness that burdens you."

If it weren't for leprosy, Baldwin IV's momentum in the Mongisa campaign, defeating Saladin, might have made him Jerusalem's greatest king.

He sighed softly: "Regardless of the reason, it doesn't change the fact that under my rule, the nation is divided, and royal power has waned. I'm very worried that one day the Holy Land will fall into other hands."

Losa earnestly said: "Your Majesty, I assure you, I will do everything in my power to protect the Holy Land from being occupied by heretics."

Baldwin IV smiled, picked up a chess piece, and set it down: "Don't underestimate your opponents."

"Miss Nishaya once told me that the Eastern Empire has raised a large army that uses magic potions extensively. The Bulgarians, who revolted in the North, gathered tens of thousands of rebels, all easily defeated by this army of just three hundred, with only the rebel leader Ivan Risen escaping."

Losa frowned.

The Bulgarians were formidable, a mixed blood of Bulgars and migrating Rus.

Simeon I had once been crowned as Caesar, or Tsar, in Constantinople.

He was henceforth called the Emperor of the Bulgarians, even dominating the entire Balkans afterward.

But Bulgarian bravery was no match for Greek stratagems, and ultimately the Eastern Empire had the last laugh.

Historically, it was around this time that the Bulgarians revolted, but in Losa's world, this rebellion was successful.

Of course, the differences between the worlds meant different trajectories, and that was entirely normal.

Losa jokingly said: "You've even ferreted out such secrets?"

Baldwin IV's expression momentarily stiffened, then he said: "Miss Nishaya is an innocent and kind girl."

Losa mused: "Meaning, 'not quite smart'?"

Baldwin IV coughed and frowned: "Speaking candidly and honestly is a knightly virtue; how can that be called not smart?"

Losa's expression gradually became serious: "Magic potions are exceedingly valuable. Besides the Eastern Empire, perhaps only the Sassanid Dynasty has the ability to form such an army."

This isn't referring to the inferior potions like those of the Assassins, which only enhance abilities for a short time and cause immediate death afterward.

Such potions couldn't possibly enable three hundred soldiers to rout tens of thousands, no matter how disorganized the latter might be; those three hundred would be overwhelmed.

Moreover, the Bulgarians were famously fierce and unyielding.

Baldwin IV gravely said: "Not only that, at minimum there's another half."

"Saladin?"

"Yes, besides that, perhaps some European kings should also be considered. You should know, the price of magic potions is high, and perhaps only the Eastern Empire and Sassanid Dynasty can afford them."

"But Emperor Henry was the first monarch to convene a Witch Consultant Team, and King Charles took a witch as his wife."

Losa nodded: "I will be careful. During the Battle of Eira Port, the enemy deployed a wizard; fortunately, he was weak, or else we would have suffered heavy losses."

Baldwin IV frowned: "Casters entering the world—who knows what's happening to this world."

After saying this, not waiting for Losa's response, he continued: "What are your plans moving forward?"

"Expansion."

Losa's statement was succinct.

Rehabilitation while training a new army was Losa's primary goal for the moment.

Baldwin IV nodded: "Do you need me to fund you? There's some leeway in the king's private treasury, though not much."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but it's unnecessary."

"Ha, I thought as much. Eira Port and Hebron are affluent places. Quite frankly, you should be wealthier than me right now, damn it, you should be funding me."

Losa chuckled wryly: "So, this was your strategy to advance by retreating."

"Ha, just a joke with you."

Baldwin IV chuckled lightly: "Your rise to this point was beyond my expectations. When you get the chance, talk with Baron Goffrey more. I'll expedite the implementation of your frontier district plans."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Losa said sincerely.

"Finish this game and head back. I haven't seen you for a while, and your chess skills haven't improved a bit. It seems you've never played with anyone else but me."

On Baldwin IV's face appeared a gentle smile.

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