Chapter 945 - 68: The City Falls
Losa and Richard stared at each other for a long time.
In the latter’s eyes, the aura emanating from the other became increasingly powerful, and the entire figure blurred into a golden outline, like the incarnation of a lord of thousands of armies descending.
After a moment, this proud King of Albion slowly lowered his head: "As long as you adhere to righteousness, I have no objections."
Philip opened his mouth in surprise. Would someone like Richard bow? How odd!
Seeing Losa’s gaze sweep towards him, Philip also stated, "As long as it is for the cause of the Crusade, the knights from Gaul are also willing to obey your orders."
Raymond’s throat felt stuck, like there was a date pit.
Back when we talked in private, weren’t you all pretty tough? Something about the Tripartite Alliance standing on equal footing with them, preferring to withdraw troops back home than to fight Losa to the end, yet why is everyone kneeling so quickly now?
"It seems there are no objections from the two kings, so this matter is settled."
At this moment, Raymond, who was about to express his stance, felt completely unwell—couldn’t you at least ask me a question?
Entirely forgetting that, as a vassal, he didn’t even have the qualification to stand alongside the two kings, the only reason he was part of the Tripartite Alliance was purely because he was a local power and a main supplier.
It was because he represented the Kingdom of Jerusalem, in the capacity of Regent King, that he had the status to stand alongside the twin kings.
Now that Losa, the legitimate King of Jerusalem, had arrived, any opportunity for him to express his stance was gone.
Disagree?
Oppose Losa?
Losa was just waiting for an excuse to cut his authority.
"Five Hundred People’s Council!"
Once the news spread that Losa had arrived and immediately intended to reform the military council held by the Tripartite Alliance, it quickly caused an uproar.
The camp of the Tripartite Alliance was crowded with confidants coming to inquire.
But even the most radical Lionheart could only answer with a reluctant "We are just guest troops, the master of this land has arrived, so we follow his command," and then withdrew from involvement.
Losa came this time wearing two crowns, initially making his attitude clear—those who follow prosper, those who oppose perish.
Currently, Losa lacks neither wealth nor power; possessing both legal legitimacy and the long halberd, even if the Tripartite Alliance joined forces, they would not be his match, leaving no room for resistance.
Within the Tripartite Alliance, Philip had the best mentality. When he decided to join the Eastern Expedition, he never intended to gain much benefit in the east; it was purely for glory’s sake, and now it is merely a return to the original intent.
Though Richard felt uncomfortable, having lowered his head, he no longer dwelled on it, focusing solely on finishing the remaining battles and returning to Europe.
Only Raymond felt the worst, and most powerless.
These two European kings were ultimately restrained for a time, but are bound to leave eventually, and return with the honor of restoring the Alexandria Major Archdiocese, the Antioch Metropolitan District, and various precious Eastern spoils of war.
"Five Hundred People’s Council, isn’t that too many people?"
"It is said even commoners are eligible to attend. Isn’t this an insult to our noble bloodline?"
But soon the opposition found that some began secretly heading to Losa’s camp to pay homage to that domineering tyrant.
The Gaul nobility themselves were not a monolith, with varying degrees of closeness. Similarly attached to Richard as vassals, someone like Fuller, the Count’s Guard Captain, unquestionably loyal to Richard, could not be equated with others.
These people became the first batch of Gaul Crusaders to turn to Losa.
As for the Germanic Crusaders, from the moment Losa arrived, they erupted in the most enthusiastic cheers since arriving on the Homs battlefield.
It fit the saying, "If you don’t do it, someone else will."
More and more Gaul Crusaders began turning to Losa, even the army under Philip was no longer resistant to Losa’s commands.
Losa very quickly united the scattered Crusaders, and then on that same afternoon, initiated a new, and final assault on Homs.
...
On the walls of Homs City.
The defenders watched as the Crusaders across started forming ranks and exiting camp, engaging in heated discussions.
"After just one day of rest, these Frankish barbarians are coming again."
"It seems the banners they fly today are somewhat different."
At that time, the Double-headed Eagle Banner was not yet widespread like after the fall of the Empire.
Nowadays, Eastern Greek forces had fully abandoned Cyprus, retreating to the western coast of Asia Minor, representing only a singular presence.
"Demon Losa!"
A name that brought a chilling sensation coursing through his body instantly appeared in his mind.
Without a doubt, the most feared, most malevolent foe in the eyes of the Saracens.
Initially, Losa’s reputation among the Saracens had not been demonized.
Saladin’s personal historian Baha’uddin once recorded, "Though he is a monarch of heretics, he possesses extraordinary courage, often leading cavalry charges himself, exhibiting impressive combat skills and command artistry."
Even Saladin himself once told his servants, "Losa is one of the few merciful, just princes among the Crusaders, akin to King Baldwin, but alas, we are destined to be adversaries."
Until Losa demonstrated power so increasingly formidable, the Saracens widely began to believe he was "Ahriman," the embodiment of the dark evil god opposing the eternal sacred fire.
Otherwise, how could one explain the wise and brave King Saladin’s repeated failures before this man?
At the moment, a melodious dragon’s roar echoed from the sky.
Amidst the clouds, a massive demon dragon was no longer concealing its presence, revealing its gigantic body measuring several tens of meters long to the defenders of Homs City without reservation.
In Faruksha’s heart arose a sense of utter despair.
"Adil, equipped with elite troops and an entire team of casters, was defeated by Losa in the very heart of Egypt; what can I use to hold him back?"
"By the Sacred Fire, are you truly going to just watch this"
He had never doubted his faith in the Sacred Fire as much as he did now.
The defenders on the wall desperately knelt to the ground, chanting scripture.
""
The dragon’s roar did not cease for a long time, the sight of its frightening three heads made one tremble, appearing more than ten times stronger than the demon dragon tamed by Shemir before.
He had never doubted his faith in the Sacred Fire as much as he did now.
The defenders on the wall desperately knelt to the ground, chanting scripture.
""
The dragon’s roar did not cease for a long time, the sight of its frightening three heads made one tremble, appearing more than ten times stronger than the demon dragon tamed by Shemir before.