"What did you say? Say it again!"

The night after the Battle of Sinop ended, a paddle steamer silently approached the military port of Constantinople and then disembarked heading towards the Ottoman Court. Shortly after the personnel from the ship entered the Ottoman Empire Court, the hall of the imperial assembly echoed with the exclamation of Abdul Majid I, followed by his urgent and high-pitched voice: "What happened to my naval fleet?"

"Your Majesty the Sultan!" The reporting officer, a Brit in a deep black buttoned British Navy uniform, was speaking fluent Greek to Abdul Majid I: "I regret to inform you of this sad news. Your fleet, due to a sudden attack two days ago, has been completely annihilated!"

"Completely annihilated!" Abdul Majid I's face turned pale, and his lips trembled slightly.

He then raised his voice even higher: "How could it be completely annihilated! How could it be!"

"On the morning of the day before yesterday, the Russian Empire took advantage of the situation..." The Brit narrated to Abdul Majid I about the events that transpired, including the Russian Empire's landing to capture Ottoman Empire sailors after the Battle of Sinop.

"What about the Ottoman Pasha? Where's that fool now?" Abdul Majid I asked through gritted teeth.

Although reason told Abdul Majid I that now was not the time to vent his inner anger and resentment, at least not in front of others, Abdul Majid I couldn't suppress this nameless rage. If there was a chance, he would certainly impose the severest penalty on the culprit who led to the fleet's failure.

However, the next words from the British naval advisor dispelled his thoughts.

"The Ottoman commander has perished! When we found him, his body was already lying near the battery at Sinop!" The Brit sighed and responded to Abdul Majid I.

"Dead?" Abdul Majid I was confounded once upon hearing of the Ottoman Pasha's death, then couldn't help but ask: "Are you sure it's him?"

"That's right!" The Brit nodded affirmative to Abdul Majid I: "I'm certain!"

Abdul Majid I opened his mouth to say something but found his mind entangled with the news of the fleet's annihilation, leaving him unsure of what to ask.

"Alas!" Abdul Majid I sighed, took off the ring with the light blue gemstone in his hand, and handed it to the Brit, saying solemnly: "Mr. Slade, thank you very much for your contribution to the Ottoman Empire Navy and for bringing me the news of the fleet's destruction! This ring is a personal gift from me to you, hoping you like it!"

The Brit, no, it should be the Ottoman Empire Navy's special advisor, Slade, shook his head and responded to Abdul Majid I: "Your Majesty, I bear responsibility for this war's defeat too! Had I constantly reminded the commander, such a defeat could have been avoided!"

With that, Slade was about to refuse the gift from the Ottoman Sultan, wishing to maintain his dignity as a member of the Royal Navy. This total defeat in war had already stained his naval career, and he didn't feel entitled to accept the Sultan's gift.

"Mr. Slade, this is not your fault!" Abdul Majid I comforted Slade: "As our navy's special advisor, you're tasked only with organizing and training. Military commands have always been carried out by us! Ultimately, this war resulted from our command mistake; you don't need to blame yourself!"

"Even so, I am unwilling to accept!" Slade stubbornly refused the Sultan's reward: "Your esteemed Majesty, I cannot deceive myself! As a special advisor, it was my duty to remind the commander to be wary of enemy ship attacks, and I failed to do that... As things stand, I merely escaped by luck, how could I have the audacity to accept your gift!"

Abdul Majid I wanted to give, but Slade was unwilling to receive.

In the deadlock between the two, Abdul Majid I spoke again to Slade: "Mr. Slade, do you know the full course of this naval battle?"

Slade nodded in acknowledgment: "I observed the entire naval battle and then fled to the residential areas with the soldiers!"

"Since that's the case, could you please write a detailed naval battle report for me?" Abdul Majid I asked Slade, then casually found a reason, "I need that naval battle report for questioning with my cabinet!"

"Of course!" Slade nodded in response to Abdul Majid I.

"Then please take this ring as your remuneration!" Abdul Majid I found a reason to once again pass the ring over.

"This is too valuable!" Slade shook his head and said to Abdul Majid I.

"If you still feel uneasy, finish the naval battle report and hand it to Ambassador Canning!" Abdul Majid I replied to Slade, "This is very important to us!"

"This..." Slade received Abdul Majid I's ring and ambiguously nodded, "I will send the report to your hand by tomorrow afternoon!"

"Much appreciated!" Abdul Majid I forced a smile onto his face, not yet regained his color.

Then, Slade kneeled to bid farewell to Abdul Majid I: "If nothing else, I'll take my leave now!"

"Hmm!" Abdul Majid I waved his hand and replied softly.

After Slade left, Abdul Majid I looked at the empty palace before him and couldn't help but sigh.

The black eunuch who served Abdul Majid I appeared before him: "Your Majesty!"

"Support me!" Abdul Majid I whispered to the black eunuch.

Seeing this, the black eunuch quickly came to Abdul Majid I's side and helped him move forward.

With the black eunuch's aid, Abdul Majid I stumbled to sit on the throne.

"Have Grand Marshal Mahmoud come here!" Sitting on the throne, Abdul Majid I said weakly to the black eunuch.

Looking at the Sultan, who seemed close to death, the black eunuch cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, should I escort you to the bedchamber and then have Grand Marshal Mahmoud come to speak with you there?"

"No! I will speak with Grand Marshal Mahmoud right here in this hall!" Abdul Majid I retorted to the black eunuch, holding his head high.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The black eunuch could only follow Abdul Majid I's instructions and went to invite Grand Marshal Mahmoud.

By this time, it was already late night in Constantinople. Under the silver moonlight, the black eunuch took a carriage to Grand Marshal Mahmoud's castle, waking him!

"Grand Marshal, His Majesty summons you!" the black eunuch said in a high-pitched, duck-like voice to Grand Marshal Mahmoud.

Grand Marshal Mahmoud glanced at the black eunuch, then respectfully asked, "What does His Majesty want with me?"

He then leaned close to the black eunuch and handed him a few gold coins.

The black eunuch immediately beamed upon receiving the coins and then squeaked to Grand Marshal Mahmoud, "I don't know what happened! His Majesty always sends us away when speaking with someone else! But, His Majesty didn't look well afterward; I think something serious must have happened!"

Mahmoud felt a shiver in his heart and for some reason, immediately thought of the United Fleet.

Could it be news of the United Fleet's destruction? No! It couldn't be; just days ago, that Osman fellow was reporting their victories to me, how could it...

A strong sense of unease surged in Grand Marshal Mahmoud's heart, making him somewhat resistant to going to the Ottoman Court.

"Grand Marshal, we should depart!" The urging voice of the black eunuch reached Grand Marshal Mahmoud's ears again, bringing him back to his senses, and he nodded at the black eunuch.

When Mahmoud entered the main hall of the Ottoman Empire's palace, using the light from the gems in the hall, he saw Abdul Majid I sitting on the throne.

At this moment, he was looking expressionlessly at Mahmoud, like a deity sitting on a throne.

Grand Marshal Mahmoud stiffened slightly, then bowed to Abdul Majid I on the throne: "Your Majesty!"

"Mahmoud!" This time, Abdul Majid I didn't address him as Grand Marshal but directly called Mahmoud's name: "Tell me honestly! Was the destruction of the fleet part of your plan?"

"What?!" Grand Marshal Mahmoud trembled at Abdul Majid I's question.

"The Imperial Fleet has been completely destroyed by the Russian Empire at Sinop Port! I want to know if this was part of your plan!" Abdul Majid I's voice rose by two decibels.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Grand Marshal Mahmoud's eyes widened, unwilling to believe it: "Where is Osman? Where is he now?"

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