About half an hour later, Razviy indeed invited Grand Duke Vytautas to the negotiating table.
Although Grand Duke Vytautas would be 80 years old in a few years, he still looked energetic.
He had a thick, grizzled but not long beard, and wore a dark red woolen coat, very popular in Eastern Europe at the time.
The shoes he wore were not the pointed ones favored by Western Europeans, but rather the more rustic, round-toed boots.
His features were more like those of a Rus' person, and the look in his dark brown eyes was full of the heroic spirit of a monarch.
Upon arriving, Vytautas clapped his hands and said, "Your Excellency Gavras, I believe truly important matters don't need too many people to discuss, what do you think?"
"The Duke is absolutely right."
Manuel then had most of the mission personnel wait outside, leaving only Mana as Theodoro's confidential record-keeper.
Seeing this, Vytautas also dismissed the Lithuanian personnel except for Razviy.
"I agree with Your Excellency's view on our country's current Eastern policy."
"But we still need to discuss more practical things. Let's talk frankly and openly.
Why does Your Excellency believe that our support for Tatar rebels is disadvantageous, and what do you want, and what can you offer us?" Vytautas asked with a smile.
Well, he couldn't very well say it was because he knew that in another timeline, the Crimean Khanate would become an Ottoman lackey in less than half a century, turn around and plunder Moscow and Lithuania, and even swell to the point of wanting to rebuild the Jochi Ulus, could he?
So Manuel pondered for a few seconds, organized his thoughts, and began to try to persuade Vytautas:
"His Highness the Duke, may I ask a question first? What do you think of Haji Giray?"
Haji Giray, the historical founder of the Crimean Khanate, was currently supported by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in his attempt to return to the Crimean Peninsula.
"Brave and strong, with an unyielding faith, and caring for his people.
All the Tatars I know hold him in high esteem.
To be honest, if he shed the bad habits of a nomad and converted to the true faith, then I might even recommend him to join the Order of the Dragon, because I believe that if he were Catholic, he would surely become one of the finest knights of this era."
Speaking of this, Vytautas shook his head with some regret.
"Then, do you think he would willingly become your vassal?"
"To be honest, I don't care.
I need strong allies more than fragile vassals."
"But an ally whose strategies conflict will easily betray you if the situation turns unfavorable, while a loyal vassal is far more stable than such a precarious alliance.
Furthermore, supporting a vassal and helping one's ally are not actually conflicting.
I know the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom of Poland are allies, but do the Poles truly consider the Grand Duchy their ally?
If the two truly united, who would be at a disadvantage?"
Vytautas did not answer him directly, but instead lowered his head slightly and pondered hesitantly.
After a while, he avoided the latter part of the statement and launched a strong counter-argument to the first part:
"How loyal can a vassal across the Black Sea be?"
Manuel knew he had swayed the Duke somewhat, and his heart pounded with excitement, but his expression remained calm.
"A vassal's loyalty depends on the liege.
If it is a loyal and trustworthy liege, then at the very least, the suzerain can directly project the formidable strength of his army to the other side of the sea."
"I don't believe His Highness the Prince would be willing to become a mere Duke's vassal."
"But the Prince's son would."
Manuel followed their conversation, revealing his true intentions.
Vytautas was first stunned by his words, then slowly began to laugh.
"So that's it, is that Your Excellency's goal?
My apologies, I almost forgot the strength of the Greeks."
However," he suddenly stopped laughing and changed his tone, "even a loyal vassal, if too weak, no matter how loyal, how much can he provide?
Power projection?
Black Sea base?
A thorn in the Tatars' eyes?
Ultimately, it's all unrealistic."
As Manuel listened to the Duke's doubts, he clenched his fists tightly, because he knew that now was the time to gamble.
If Lithuania remained true to its faith, then no matter how much he said, it would be in vain.
But if Vytautas was pragmatic and willing to try to trust him, then his journey would not have been in vain.
Whether he would return empty-handed depended on this moment.
Manuel finally decided to speak: "What if Theodoro reclaims the pearl-like port city that greedy merchants stole?"
The secret conversation immediately fell silent.
Manuel and Mana held their breath, waiting for the other party's reply, while Vytautas and Razviy remained grim-faced, not saying a word.
Just as Manuel thought he was about to return empty-handed, Vytautas burst into laughter again: "Hahaha, you actually dare to do such a thing, Your Excellency Gavras, I am increasingly impressed by your wisdom and courage."
Then he asked, "How confident is Theodoro?
I don't intend to do anything in vain."
It was a success.
Manuel suppressed his inner excitement and carefully replied, "Less than thirty percent, but if His Highness the Duke is willing to offer a little insignificant help, then it will be around seventy percent."
"It seems the initiative is entirely in my hands," Vytautas said with a slight smile, "A mere commercial Republic is not difficult to deal with."
"So, I officially ask, Your Excellency Gavras, what is the price?" Vytautas said, handing him his sword.
Manuel had been waiting for this moment.
He stood up from his chair, suppressing his euphoria, and very respectfully returned the sword to him, performing a formal Catholic vassal's homage to Vytautas, saying:
"Then I shall swear allegiance to you."