Venice. Citadel of the Order of the Hospitallers.

A few days after the meeting of the Pope of Corsica.

A meeting of knights was held in the office of the master of the Order. There had already been a lot of meetings with ambassadors this week, and now the meeting was planned at the very King of Veneto Dino I Allegro. All the Veneto generals had to be present there, as well as allies from Slovenia, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, Bavaria and Hungary. Now the master of the Order of the Hospitallers hosted his subordinates, as well as representatives of the allied orders. A total of twenty-one people were sitting at a long wooden table in the purple master's office, which was penetrated by the rays of the midday sun. At the meeting, an intelligence report on the impending threat from the West and the upcoming war was demonstrated, and the question of the activation of the "Syndicate" was also raised. At the moment, the activities of this criminal organization were discussed. Massimiliano Falco, Master of Ballea, performed. He was a tall man with long blond hair, silver eyes and a noble profile. He was in charge of the knights' possessions that belonged to the order.

'As we have learned', he was saying in his velvety voice.

'The Syndicate has spread its influence over the entire Balkan peninsula, and it is also actively introducing agents throughout Italy. There is still a question about the location of their base, but our agents inside this organization have found out a possible leader or one of the influential members of their conglomerate – his name is Gyurkhan Gunger, but this is probably not his real name. This man has been repeatedly seen in Veneto, Slovenia, Bologna and in some other places. We conducted an investigation, which determined that Gyurkhan took an active part in subversive activities, and also was almost caught by us several times. Now we are looking for him, but most likely, Gunger will go underground again, from which he got out. The last time his trail was found in the Venetian sea fort "Blue Butterfly", in the Adriatic Sea, where Gyurkhan was the curator of the rebels. According to the information we obtained: "Syndicate" conducts sabotage in our rear, and also arranges unrest among peasants and soldiers. Their goal is to raise a popular uprising and overthrow the government by telling people the truth about our past. Add to all this: piracy, smuggling, slave trade, contract killings, theft, sabotage and much more ...', Massimiliano put down the scroll from which he had been reading before, put both hands on the table and said loudly, shaking the air:

'It is necessary to destroy it at all costs!'

'Stop tolerate these stunts – it's time to get down to business seriously. I would like to propose a new method of combating organized crime, but, due to the difficult situation of foreign policy, I understand that my proposal is not appropriate yet. However, I would like to draw your attention to the activities of "Syndicate" not only among the common population, but also in high society. We have identified several cases of bribery of minor nobles and army officers, and this is unimaginable! It is necessary to spotlessly identify and send to the guillotine all criminals and traitors! Thanks for attention', Massimiliano sat down in his seat. After that, the master began to speak. He sat with his fingers folded in front of him.

'As you can see, honorable ladies and gentlemen, the situation is stalemate. The war will begin this summer, and we have absolutely no strength to resist the onslaught of the enemy. In addition, enemy agents and the ubiquitous "Syndicate" have also become more active. However, a well-coordinated defense system, plus active actions in the enemy's rear and directly on the front line, can buy her time. But we need people, whom we have very few. Most of the veterans are busy in the east, and we will send the young into battle. If you sent several task forces to us, it would increase the chances. What do you say to that? Mrs. Anzelk?', the master turned to the representative of the Order of St. Lazarus.

'Venerable Magister Ricci', The Knight-Sister Theresia Anzelk began. Although she was not young, she was still quite a pretty woman, with light pink lush hair and the same eyes, 'The Order of St. Lazarus has a rather dubious reputation among other orders. Their history goes deep into antiquity, as it existed by itself even before the second coming. After the Day of Judgment, the order was virtually wiped off the face of the earth, but some of its members continued their activities. It is thanks to the dedication of the founders of the new era in the orders that he owes his existence. However, there are some nuances: the order was engaged more in setting up hospitals and helping those in need than hunting demons. Also, the order has a bad reputation: the fact is that the order helped all patients without exception, even those who were sick with "hell leprosy" – a terrible disease that kills people, or changes them beyond recognition. Such patients are shunned by the people, and the church even calls them "half-demons", although there has never been a direct decree from the pope to exterminate them as demons. But the people still consider them to be non-people and dislike them in every possible way. But the order treated them as equals and even began to accept them into its ranks. It was those people who fell ill with "infernal leprosy", but did not die, who became the first warriors of the order. To this day, their ranks are replenished with new unfortunates who perform the same functions as other orders. But the people do not like them, so the order was driven from all places in Italy until they found shelter in Slovenia – then the most distant country of the civilized world. Now Slovenia is a rich maritime power, although still bordering on wild lands, but the order is not the same now. Its ranks are replenished not only by lepers, but also by healthy people who perform their holy duty at the forefront of civilization and chaos, as if they are paying with blood for their illness. The emblem of the order is a green cross on a white background. Although they have a bad reputation, but their relations with their allies are quite warm.'

'Our Order of St. Lazarus is very concerned about the strengthening of "Syndicate". Our knights face them every day, not only inside Slovenia, but also in the Balkans. We are also very concerned about the impending war from western Italy, and we are ready to allocate people. However, not from among the warriors, since all our forces are involved in the eastern direction. There are constant raids on the borders from the wild lands, and heresy is sprouting on our land. We have to clean up the sources of infection, and it takes a lot of effort. But we are ready to send our doctors to the rear services to help you if there is a war. We have excellent specialists from among the sisters and brothers. Sister Erzen can confirm this...', Mrs. Anzelk pointed to her companion, the second representative of the order. She was a young girl with long green-yellow hair and orange eyes. Her name was Flower Erzen, and although she was very young, but her talents as a doctor were ahead of her age. Thanks to her skills, responsible work and diplomatic character, Tsvetka was awarded membership in the council of the order.

'Mrs. Anzelk is right...', the Flower began.

'We have a fairly large contingent of logistics services. Now, thank God, there is no pandemic or other accidents, so we are not using the full potential of our medical services. However, if hostilities begin, injuries cannot be avoided, so we will be able to send our hospitals to support you.'

'Well...', the magister answered in his calmly cheerful tone.

'I am glad that we can count on your support. And what do you tell me, Herr Hubertus Von Feuerbach?' a statuesque man with dark brown hair in a square hairstyle, a large aquiline nose and expressive light green eyes stood up from his seat.

'The Teutonic Order will never betray the allied duty!' he said proudly.

'If necessary, we will send you our best knights with an entourage. No Italian mercenaries can resist the Teutonic steel!'

'Wonderful!' the master smiled.

'In what case can I count on you?' Hubertus hesitated for a second.

'I'm afraid I personally won't be able to participate in the battles, but my nephew...' he pointed at the young youth. He was a blond man with a square and dirty blue eye. He had something in common with his uncle, especially the expression of his eyes, but his nose was neater. The young man also stood up.

'The valiant knight Ditlib...' Hubertus continued.

'…has repeatedly shown himself in battle, so I can count on him.'

'Great! I think if you rely so much on Dietlib Von Feuerbach, then I shouldn't worry', both Germans sat down in their seats.

'So, and the Hungarians, what do you say, Lord Damian Barta?'

The Master was addressing the knights of the Order of the Dragon. It was a relatively young order of knights. Officially, it began its existence when the King of Hungary became a vassal of Liechtenstein. Before that, Hungary itself was a wild country bordering on civilized Austria. After the Czech Republic and Bavaria were fully mastered, Liechtenstein turned its gaze further east. Hungary was almost cleansed of heresy and mastered, but then the nomads came. Then the young order had a difficult task. Their symbolism was a red cross captured by yellow rays of fire. There was also a sign: a coiled dragon with a cross on its back.

'Alas, we cannot help you...'a middle-aged man with a well-groomed black mustache and beard began to speak. He had a long face and a short hairstyle.

'You see, the problem is not just at our side, they are right at us', he smiled guiltily.

'I understand that Veneto is in a difficult situation, but half of our country is now under the control of Volga Bulgaria. We have already used all the reserves to fight the nomads, so we cannot afford to allocate a single person.'

'However...' here the second representative of the Order of the Dragon, Pyotr Dvorak, intervened in the conversation. He was younger than his companion: a rounded face, lush – in the form of a cap – light reddish hair and a large mustache.

'If we manage to drive the nomads out of the country, then we can send you some people.'

'But this is if we manage to defeat the Bulgars', Damian added.

'I understand you...' the magister replied in the same tone.

'Let's hope for an early victory of Liechtenstein's army in the east. Well... Are you, Mr. Stepan Novak?' the master turned to the Czechs from the Order of St. George. This order also had its own interesting history. At a time when the Czech Republic was not yet mastered, and the Teutons with Liechtenstein had just penetrated into its territory, the Order of St. George was founded. The most interesting thing about it was that it was created by immigrants from Hungary. They were going to master the Czech Republic, and then move to their homeland, but history ordered otherwise. Many Czechs joined the ranks of the order, and it truly became a Czech order. Then the whole country was cleansed of heresy, and the Czech Republic became a full part of the civilized Christian world. As a result, it was decided to leave the order to the Czechs, and create the Order of the Dragon. So initially the Hungarian order became Czech, keeping the Hungarian white cross on a red background. However, there were still changes: some used a sword on the coat of arms, others the letter "G" in Cyrillic, since it was the first with the name George, and also resembled an axe.

'I'm afraid we have to refuse...' said Stepan. He was a middle-aged man with slicked-back swamp-green hair, the same eyes and a pointed beard on his chin.

'The Czech Republic is not interested in the conflict in northern Italy. Moreover, do not forget about the northern border and about the same nomads. The leadership of the order does not see an urgent need to send someone from a not so large number of knights.'

'But if our defense is breached, then the war may reach your borders', said the magister.

'If it is breached, then this is another conversation' Novak replied dryly.

'And what about you, Peter?' the master turned to the second representative of the Czech Republic – Count Peter Dvorak. He was an elderly man with dark red short hair and pale-yellow eyes.

'I'm sorry, Magister, but we really can't send you any help' he spoke calmly, but there was a note of apology in his tone.

'I see...' said the magister and leaned back in his chair.

'Well, I have heard your answers, dear friends. You can be free, but don't forget that we have meetings at the King's palace today. Your decisions will be on his desk' he stood up, and then everyone else stood up.

'Pater noster, qui es in caelis,

sanctificetur nomen tuum.

Adveniat regnum tuum.

Fiat voluntas tua,

sicut in caelo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

sicut et nos dimittĭmus debitoribus nostris.

Et ne nos inducas in tentatiōnem,

sed libera nos a malo.

Amen. Ave!"

"Ave!" they all said it in chorus.

Then the representatives of the allied orders left the office. Only the members of the Hospitallers' council remained.

"So..." the magister began again, but in a more irritated voice.

"Our allies have shown remarkable enthusiasm. We can only count on the Teutons and the healers from St. Luke. We don't have any more friends.

"And what about the Tau Order?" Gino Guidice asked here – (the great comstur) of Hospitallers. A middle-aged man with dark blue hair pulled back in a ponytail, piercing eyes of the same color in a thin frame of glasses.

"San Marino has declared its neutrality." the magister answered wearily.

"The Templars do not get into politics in principle, and our relations with Portugal and Luxembourg are not very warm. Only the neighbors from the south remain, but the Bulgarians and Greeks do not care about our squabbles. Romania is generally under the yoke of Bulgaria. So, we are alone."

"And maybe the Finns?" the marshal of the order, Andrea Burgiardini, asked. A tall and heavy middle-aged man with a round, flattened face, brown eyes and short orange hair shaved like a soldier with shaved temples.

"They have to swim to us for a long time, but if we apply diplomacy..." the magister did not let him finish.

"It's useless. The Northern people don't care about us at all. They didn't even enter neo-Christianity in particular, what can I say. With such success, we can ask for allies to the Irish. They are at war with Andorra and Aragon-Castile."

"The Irish are not an option.' Gino said here.

"The Spaniards will not enter the war until the Italians succeed. Until then, let us have an imaginary opponent than the real one."

"That's right." the magister sighed.

"That's what, my dears... Tell me how things are going in the order. I am particularly concerned about the information that there are traitors among us." there was silence. Then Gino got up from his seat.

"Magister, I responsibly declare that there are no traitors and heretics among us. However, you are right, there are bad rumors in the society of brothers and sisters of knights. We haven't identified a single traitor yet, but work is already underway. We are conducting an operation to identify potential traitors. Responsible for the secret gendarmerie – Luigi Spaziani." he pointed to a man with thick brown hair, a well–groomed beard and blue eyes.

"Magister..." Luigi began, getting up.

"I have already assembled a team of trusted members of our order who will deal with this problem. During the impending war, the question of finding enemies in our ranks is as acute as possible. We will begin a thorough check and surveillance of our people. I am more than sure that the enemy will start recruiting agents."

"All right, Luigi. I'm waiting for your report this month. And now I would like to know how things are with our army." the magister turned to the marshal.

"The things are quite good..." Burgiardini replied cheerfully.

"The number of our troops ensures the security of the whole country, and we also do not feel an urgent need for personnel. By your order, we have shortened the training time of our recruits. This affected their combat capability, but now we are using veterans in the eastern direction without fear, while the young ones are working in the center and the surrounding area."

"Not bad. How about the regular army?"

"Everything is just fine. No serious flaws were found. Only the clippers from the Syndicate muddy the waters, but we catch them quickly."

"So... And how are we doing with logistics?" the magister turned to the chief quartermaster, Eugenio Bossi. A young man of very short stature, with short blond hair, an expressive smile and dark blue eyes. From the look of it, you wouldn't say that he is one of the members of the council of the order.

"Everything is fine!" Eugenio answered enthusiastically.

"The advanced detachments of knights do not experience a shortage of uniforms. The production of ammunition and equipment is stable. As for the regular soldiers, there as always."

"I see. What about the hospitals, Gracia?" The magister turned to the chief physician Grazia Vivanti. A young girl with azure hair and bright green eyes.

"It's stable, Master. New medicines, as before, are produced slowly, but there is enough for knights. However, a shortage is expected during the war, so the help of the Order of St. Luke will be very useful."

"I see. Paolo, how are our finances?" Paolo Ungaretti was the chief treasurer of the order. An old man with gray curly hair, dull brown eyes and a thick beard.

"Enough for the war, but then we'll eat crumbs. Therefore, I would like to discuss this issue with you in more detail."

"This will be later, otherwise we will sit like this until the royal meeting. Now I'm interested in what's wrong with the Corsica's Pope." The magister turned to Ruggero Veseta– the chapter responsible for the religious part.

"If the pope excommunicates us from the church, we will be in disgrace. But my flock is still ready to follow the goals of the order, so we will not allow unrest."

"How are things among the knights?"

"No one's really eager to be loyal to the Pope."

"I see, now I wanted to give the floor to Herr Von Süter." he turned to an elderly man with a beginning bald spot in his thin blond hair, yellow eyes and sharp facial features. It was a curator from Liechtenstein.

"Thank you, Master" Hilbert Von Süter began.

"I have listened to all today's reports, as well as representatives from the allied orders. Liechtenstein is interested in the state of affairs in northern Italy, and my king is concerned about the imminent escalation of the conflict. But we are also concerned about the state of the order: the sabotage activities of "Syndicate", the lack of experienced personnel, weak replenishment of resources suggests that the order is ready for war by 56%. You need to fix it. Liechtenstein will certainly help you with this. No one knows about it yet, but today at the king's meeting I will still inform everyone that Liechtenstein – in case of war – will send a fourth army to Veneto in support. Also, we will allocate the missing equipment and resources to the order, but you need to figure out the personnel yourself."

"We understand you, Mr. Süter."

"Today I will report to my king about the state of the order." here he got up from his seat. Everyone followed his example.

"I think our meeting may be closed. The meeting with the king is very soon, we need to take a little break. With that, let me take my leave." he bowed to the audience and left the office. The knights sat down again.

"Well...," said the magister.

"We have something to work on. I think we will clarify the plan of action today at the King's reception. Now we really need to take a break. At ease, my friends."

The knights got up from their seats, bowed to the magister and began to leave the office. Only one member of the council remained in his place. It was Teofilo Ricci, the brother of the master and part–time member of the Order of the Hospitallers and Minister of Commerce of Veneto. He was very similar to his brother: the same color of eyes and hair, only his hairstyle was different – sideburns turning into a beard. When everyone had left, the brothers started a conversation:

"What do you think about this, Flavio?"

"Our things are quite bad, Teofilo. If western Italy falls on us, we won't last long. This "Syndicate" also puts sticks in the wheels, but the news about traitors in our ranks depresses me more."

"And what's your proposal? You trust Massimiliano, don't you? He will definitely identify them. By the way, about funding, I can put in a good word with the king about this.

"Thank you, brother. But Massimiliano can't do it alone. I'm thinking of taking on this case on my own."

"Do you have the right people?"

"There are some in mind." Flavio said cryptically.

"You're always on your own, brother. If you need my help, You can count on me."

"I know, Teofilo." they hugged goodbye, and then Teofilo left.

Left alone in the office, the master sprawled in his chair, sighed heavily, and then turned to the curtains.

"Are you still there?"

Chiera's head popped out from behind a curtain.

"Yes, Uncle."

"Did you hear everything?" the girl came out from behind the curtain and approached her uncle.

"Of course."

"We are working according to the agreed plan. Have you heard anything about that boy?"

"Marzio successfully completed the task with the detachment on that island, and now they have been sent to mainland Croatia."

"Let it be, let it be. If there is any more news, let me know immediately."

:All right, Uncle!" Chiera smiled sweetly.