Time Travel? Rebirth? I Win This Time!

Three days had passed since the first assault on the castle by the Saracens. Over these days, aside from the routine barrage of stones, there had been no further attacks.

Mike Bai, after facing what seemed like an unrelenting bombardment of projectiles, had grown somewhat indifferent.

"Thud!" Another stone struck the castle walls, shattering into fragments.

Mike Bai waved the dust aside, eyeing the still-standing fortress wall with satisfaction. When the castle was first constructed, the engineers had taken heavy bombardments into consideration. The four-meter-thick walls were now proving their worth—resilient and unyielding, with no cracks despite the repeated assaults.

However, when he turned his gaze inside the walls, Mike Bai's smile faded slightly. While the outer defenses had held up, the interior had been decimated. The buildings on the outer side of the inner walls were now nothing more than ruins. Fortunately, the vital wells and storage rooms were secured within the heart of the castle, untouched by the chaos. But the soldiers and workers had to sleep on the floor, crowded together in what had once been their barracks.

Not everyone could be as nonchalant as Mike Bai, unaffected by the howling missiles. In the first days, most of the workers, upon hearing the scream of the stone projectiles, could only clutch their crosses tightly and huddle against the walls, watching helplessly as their rooms were shattered. After a few days of this, it was no surprise that the morale of the workers and soldiers had dropped sharply.

Mike Bai, however, had his own solution.

"Meal time!" he called.

The castle's inhabitants, once worried, suddenly forgot their fears. They lined up along the walls, eagerly waiting for their share of food.

Mike Bai had enough supplies to weather the siege. He had anticipated that relief might not come immediately, but the castle was well-stocked with provisions, so the animals—chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep—were plentiful, and the spices were generously used.

"Today we're having beef stew with onions, accompanied by simple black bread without any strange additions." Mike Bai shared the same meal as the workers. Though he found the taste lacking, to the workers it felt like a grand feast from a royal kitchen.

These laborers, who seldom saw a piece of meat, had spent their lives eating bread mixed with sand, small stones, and bugs—barely enough to keep hunger at bay. Now, they were served bowls brimming with meat-filled stew and plates of endless black bread. Their joy was palpable; they devoured every last bite, even licking their bowls clean. Not even the crashing of stones near them could distract them from their meal.

"Full now, huh? Once you've eaten, you won't miss home so much," Mike Bai said, watching the workers with satisfaction. Their spirits were high—so high, in fact, that if one could see morale as a bar above their heads, Mike Bai would bet that it was at its peak.

What he didn't know, however, was that the smell of their hearty meal had traveled over ten miles, and even the Saracen soldiers, surrounded by the smell of their own simple flatbreads, found themselves envious of the rich aromas wafting from the castle.

Just as Mike Bai finished his meal, the stone bombardment ceased.

A Saracen messenger, holding a white flag, galloped toward the castle, shouting, "The Sultan invites the commander to meet him at the camp below!"

Mike Bai leaned out to take a look. The Saracens had erected a lavish tent about 300 meters from the castle, undoubtedly the meeting place.

"Uncle Otto, I'll go with you!" Mike Bai said with enthusiasm. His curiosity about Salah ad-Din was piqued, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip.

"But what if Salah ad-Din intends to harm us? What if the castle—" Otto hesitated, his voice trailing off.

"It won't happen!" Mike Bai replied firmly. "A man like Salah ad-Din, with all his honor, would never damage his reputation by betraying two unknowns like us."

The gates of the castle slowly opened, and Mike Bai, along with Otto, rode toward the tent.

There, a middle-aged Saracen in fine clothing awaited them—it was none other than Salah ad-Din himself.

Mike Bai studied him carefully. With his thick, well-groomed beard and the weariness of years of battle etched on his face, Salah ad-Din exuded an air of authority. Yet, it was his hawk-like eyes that left the deepest impression on Mike Bai.

"Good day, Sir Otto," Salah ad-Din greeted them, his voice rich and soothing.

Mike Bai couldn't help but admit—those rumors about Salah ad-Din being more knightly than many knights himself were true.

"And this young man," Salah ad-Din continued, turning to Mike Bai, "I believe there's no one else who could be none other than Mike Bai Adler, the famed 'Jerusalem Knight' and 'Blessed of the Lord,' am I correct?"

Mike Bai felt a swell of pride, his chest puffing out involuntarily. It was the first time a historical figure had spoken such high praise of him, and he was certainly enjoying it. He wouldn't mind a little more flattery, in fact.

"Greetings, Sultan Salah ad-Din," Otto said simply, bowing. "May I inquire the reason for your summons today?"

Salah ad-Din smiled warmly. "The True God has sent me to deliver a message: your reinforcements were entirely destroyed two days ago."

Mike Bai's heart sank. The worst fears he had held in his mind had been realized.

As though to confirm his words, Salah ad-Din's men brought forward numerous banners, insignias of the Knights Templar, and a number of prisoners—among them, none other than Grand Commander Audode.

Mike Bai's heart froze as he saw Audode's familiar face. So much for relying on Audode for rescue—he was already a prisoner.

Audode's mouth was gagged, and he tried to shout something, but a Saracen soldier punched him in the stomach and dragged him away.

Otto and Mike Bai grew serious.

"To ensure the safety of those inside the castle, I ask, Sir Knight, that you surrender the castle," Salah ad-Din said, maintaining his pleasant smile. "Of course, every Christian inside may leave with their personal belongings."

He emphasized, "Every Christian." The offer was generous, especially in the face of their lost reinforcements.

"But how can I trust that once we surrender, you won't send cavalry to intercept us?" Otto's voice was wary. "We know that after the Crusaders breach a city, there's often a massacre."

"I am not like them," Salah ad-Din replied coolly, almost disdainfully, his voice firm with authority. "I am Salah ad-Din."

Otto hesitated, and Mike Bai studied the prisoners, looking for any familiar faces, wondering if there might be someone who could offer any glimmer of hope.

After a long pause, Otto finally spoke.

"If that's the case, then I—"

"Wait!" Mike Bai interrupted, his eyes alight with realization. He looked up at Salah ad-Din. "Your Excellency, it seems that you haven't captured or killed King Baldwin or Count Raymond."

"Does this mean that while the kingdom's army is lost, the kingdom's leaders are still safe?" Mike Bai asked, flashing a subtle smile. He knew this was a rare chance to impress a historical figure, and he wasn't going to waste it.

"And does this also mean that, in ten days, we will have reinforcements?" Mike Bai pressed, his voice smooth.

Salah ad-Din's smile faltered. His gaze grew dark and unreadable.

"Looks like you really are as clever as the rumors say," Salah ad-Din sighed. He then gave Mike Bai a look of appreciation. "I'm certain that Taqi ad-Din's defeat at your hands was no accident."

But then, he turned his attention to Otto. "Do you honestly believe that, with fewer than a thousand soldiers, you can hold this castle for more than ten days?"

Otto, glancing at Mike Bai, gave a firm nod. "I believe we can."

Salah ad-Din's smile faded. "It seems the negotiations have failed. We shall meet again on the battlefield."

With that, he turned and left.

Mike Bai watched the dignified Saracen leader walk away, thinking to himself: If our positions were different, I'd probably prefer him as an ally over an enemy.

As Salah ad-Din paused and glanced back at Mike Bai, he spoke again.

"Sir Mike Bai, if you ever find yourself in my lands, my court will always welcome you."