Korkut was not pleased. Inspecting one of the many small towns the pirates had raided in the past year near the port town of Teke, the small scale devastation only truly proved to be a nuisance, but even the Şehzade had to admit the Knights' action had some merit. The Sublime Porte, in its continual military campaigns against its enemies, real or imagined at the time, had allowed for the tumor known as the Knights of Rhodes to fester. Once pacified by bribery and small scale raids, the Knights are slowly becoming to the Sublime Porte what the Barbarossa Brothers have been to the Iberian monarchs. And now, they seek to demand more for themselves than what the Portuguese are asking for exceptions from the pepper monopoly in the Indian Ocean!? Korkut kicked the ground as he wandered around town in disguise, earning an eyebrow from his bodyguard but nothing else.

Eventually standing by the dock, Korkut and his bodyguard watched as the fishermen came into port, depositing their load for the future. Standing just far enough away to avoid the whiff of the seafood, Korkut watched as his subjects went on their way, not noticing or realizing that an Imperial Prince was among them. Eventually, as the sun set, Korkut made his way back to the stable to continue the next leg of his journey. However, instead of riding to the east back to Teke, Korkut made his way West.

After traveling for a few days on and off, Korkut and his guard made their way to a peninsula. Jutting out towards the sea, both Korkut and his companion had an unobstructed view down below. "Tell me Shevqet," Korkut starts, glancing back at the imposing guard before turning back to the peninsula before them, "You see that castle?"

"Yes my Şehzade, what about it?"

"That castle, fort, whatever you call it, is a stain on our Empire. Yes, my father has done greatly in defeating the treacherous Mamluks and has seemingly divided Europe enough to avoid their so-called Crusades but..." Korkut looks back again towards Shevqet who just quietly raises an eyebrow, "Our naval prowess has been sorely lacking." He pauses looking a bit away from the peninsula and just looks off into the distance, watching the final vestiges of the night sky shirk under the horizon, "We beat the Venetians and seized their most prized possession in Rumelia, Eğriboz or what the Italians call Negroponte decades ago. And only a few years ago, easily in living memory we were fought to a standstill. Venice, a republic that was on the back foot when we were weaker than where we are now humbled the Imperial Navy."

Şehzade Korkut turns away from the peninsula and mounts his horse, Shevqet doing the same. "And while we have more than recovered from defeats we faced seven years ago, I'm not sure my father has learned the appropriate lessons. All I know is that my brother in Amasya has not. When I take the Imperial throne, I will do everything possible to ensure the Imperial Navy knows only success." Korkut grins as he guides his horse away from Bodrum, "May winds be plentiful and guide our fleet for the world already trembles under the might of the Imperial Army. When we get to Teke, remind me to send a letter. There are some in the world who still recognize the power that a few galleys in the right place can have."

[M] Şehzade Korkut reaches out to the Barbarossa Brothers for [REDACTED].