We’ve seen a definite sea change in the narrative landscape of Shoukoku no Altair, fitting as the series begins its second cour.  For 13 episodes Mahmut was in full-on reaction and survival mode, trying to execute holding actions against Louis’ schemes while preserving his place in the Divan (and his life). In truth he was initially placed in his position as Pasha before he was ready, and paid the price.  Mahmut’s role in the first cour was as a tool for those above him, though he ended up being a tool that often accomplished more than it was designed to accomplish.

Now, though, things have changed – and beginning with the rebellion which concluded last week, we’re finally able to take the full measure of Mahmut as a tactician and leader.  He’s artfully manouvered himself into a position of authority where he can take the initiative and battle Louis’ on more or less equal footing.  Mahmut doesn’t have quite the same level of influence in Turkiye as Louis does in Balt-Rhein (where he seems to effectively dictate policy) but it’s literally close enough for government work.  Mahmut has the pull to do what he needs to do to take the battle to the enemy, and it’ll be interesting to see how these two measure up against each other.  Will Mahmut’s youth still reach out to bite him here?

That battle begins in a seemingly unlikely place, the merchant city of Argyros.  Perhaps loosely based on Constantinople, it’s a powerful independent merchant city-state which sits at the hub of East-West trading both by sea and land.  As such it’s of huge strategic importance, a fact which is certainly not lost on a boy like Mahmut who’s fully invested in fighting battles before they ever get to the battlefield.  His initial efforts to enlist the support of Argyros are rebuffed, as the three “great merchants” who rule the city refuse to be seen as allying themselves politically or militarily with a major power at the expense of another.

Fortunately for Team Mahmut, they luck into an opportunity in the form of Niki Al-Bahram (the great Shiraishi Ryoko).  She’s a young girl who’s losing her caravan business after the death of her father, and thus desperate to do anything to save it.  She’s the “in” Mahmut desperately needs, and dressed as women (it’s beginning to seem as if Mahmut has come to enjoy it) Team Mahmut begins selling Turkiye jewels and goods to other caravans through Niki’s business.  Eventually they connect with a Chinese merchant, Wan Yixing (Naka Hiroshi), a former guard captain for the emperor now in semi-retirement procuring Western goods for him in Argyros.

The nature of this game is people using other people of course, and that’s exactly what Mahmut does here.  He uses Niki as an entrée into Argyros, and he uses Wan as a way to sell Venedik glassware (in great numbers) to China – the difference, of course, being that Wan knows exactly what’s happening and Niki does not.  The ultimate purpose here is to create a rift between Venedik and the Empire, which is exactly what happens after Venedik buys a boatload (many, in fact) of Tharros’ wheat to convert into straw to cushion 40,000 boxes of glassware for delivery to the Emperor – wheat that Louis was counting on to fuel his invasion of Turkiye.  Louis has no choice but to intercept the Vendeik fleet, which effectively scuttles the alliance between Balt-Rhein and Venedik.

This is an excellent and proactive gambit by Mahmut on many levels.  Seeking to build alliances to the East – where Balt-Rhein has less influence and more geographical remoteness – is a good long-term play, and fomenting tension for Balt-Rhein in the Centro a vital short-term one.  That he has to use others (including Venedik) is a necessary concession, and it’s notable that Mahmut has no qualms about doing so (including when the person being used is a 14 year-old child).  There’s no malice in it (indeed, Niki ends up joining Mahmut as she’s burned her bridges in Argyros), but there is a cold practicality – Mahmut may still be a child himself and an idealist, but he has the spine needed to succeed in the killing game he’s chosen to participate him.  Your move, Louis…