Christos knew that he had to leave Constantinople and escape the clutches of the Megas Domestikos and his private army. He left his little brother with his close friend Giorgios, knowing that he would be in good hands. He set out on a mission to gather all of their money and belongings, so that they could escape the empire and start anew in Naples.
Christos made his way through the city, avoiding the patrols and keeping his head low. He had no idea that he was being followed, until he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned around, ready to fight, but it was just a group of beggars looking for a handout.
He breathed a sigh of relief and continued on his way. He made his way to their home, a small apartment in a run-down neighborhood. He gathered all of their belongings, carefully packing them into bags and boxes.
But as he was leaving, he was confronted by a group of thieves, who had heard of his wealth and planned to take it for themselves. Christos, a skilled fighter, easily dispatched them with his combat skills, leaving them lying on the ground, bruised and battered.
With his mission complete, Christos made his way back to Giorgios and his little brother. They quickly made their way out of the city, hiding in the shadows and avoiding the patrols. They managed to make it to the coast, where they boarded a ship bound for Naples.
The journey was long and treacherous, with storms and rough seas threatening to capsize the ship at every turn. But Christos, Giorgios, and Gabriel were determined to make it to their new home, and they never lost hope.
Finally, they arrived in Naples, exhausted but relieved to have escaped the dangers of the Eastern Roman Empire. They settled into their new life, starting over with nothing but each other and their skills. Christos knew that they would face challenges and dangers in their new home, but he was determined to protect his little brother and his friend, no matter the cost.
Giorgios has contacts in the country that can help them settle for a moment until everything calms down, for hours they found a local inn which they can stay for days since Christos is a rich man so as Giorgios but they were always alert and cautious for suspicious events or shenanigans.
Whenever Christos needs to go elsewhere to find a job, his brother was always near him fearing for his safety and for days they tried to find a mercenary job or as a merchant but they failed.
Then for days Giorgios used his trading skills to establish a small market in the city and profited not too much but enough for the three for them.
They began by selling spices and textiles from the Eastern Roman Empire. Their products were of high quality and the prices were reasonable, which made them popular among the people. Soon, they were able to expand their business to other cities along the coast, such as Salerno, Amalfi, and Sorrento.
Their reputation as honest and trustworthy merchants grew and they were able to form strong business relationships with other traders in the region. They even managed to secure a lucrative trade deal with the Republic of Venice, which greatly increased their profits.
As their business grew, Christos and Giorgios became respected members of the community. They were able to use their wealth to give back to the people, donating to local churches and charitable organizations.
However, not everyone was happy with their success. A group of jealous merchants began to spread rumors that Christos and Giorgios were engaged in illegal activities, such as smuggling and fraud. The accusations were baseless, but the rumors began to spread, threatening their reputation and business.
Christos and Giorgios refused to be discouraged. They gathered evidence to disprove the rumors and presented it to the authorities. Their hard work and honesty paid off, as they were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Their business continued to thrive and they became even more successful than before. They expanded their trade to other countries, such as Egypt and Morocco, and their goods became highly sought after across the Mediterranean.
As months and years goes by the mysterious figure still watches them, he had plans for them he was to change their lives forever.