Driven by his vision of the "Three Romes" and inspired by the Battle of Yarmouk, Mehmed the Conqueror sets his sights on the Pontic Empire, prompting Emperor David Komnenos to seek support from Pope Pius II and forge strategic alliances using sacred relics from the Sumela Monastery. As political tensions rise, a mysterious Aramaic-inscribed parchment discovered in Hagia Sophia draws Mehmed’s attention, leading him to summon the eccentric "Mad Lütfi" and assign Vlad Tepeş to decipher its secrets. Amid dynastic maneuvering and shifting allegiances, the unfolding drama tests not only imperial ambitions but also Mehmed’s deepest personal dilemma: choosing between the survival of his empire and the fate of his own children.

Sultan Mehmed faces a harrowing dilemma between safeguarding his empire and disciplining his son Beyazıd, who defies orders and stirs unrest by leaving his sanjak amid Karamanid threats demanding his surrender. As Mehmed puts Beyazıd on trial, a deeper conspiracy unfolds: Pontic Emperor David Komnenos and Pedri ally with Karaman to incite rebellion among Turkmen lords, while Mehmed pursues a sacred icon hidden in Hagia Sophia. Provoked by the Karaman envoy’s threats, Mehmed executes the ambassador and launches the Pontus Campaign to crush Roman influence in the Black Sea, confronting both internal discord and the remnants of Byzantine power.

As Sultan Mehmed struggles with internal strife sparked by Prince Beyazıt’s rebellion and the dismissal of İshak Pasha, tensions escalate within the palace and harem, while external threats loom as Pontus and Karaman seek alliances against the Ottomans. Vlad and the Karatuğs pursue sacred relics amid Vatican conspiracies, facing both enemies and inner turmoil. Süleyman, blaming Beyazıt for Julia’s death, stirs rebellion through İsfendiyaroğlu Kasım Bey. After Beyazıt is gravely wounded in an ambush, Sultan Mehmed, consumed by fury, rallies the Janissaries and declares war on traitors, plunging the empire into a dark tide of vengeance.

Sultan Mehmed faces a turbulent chapter marked by personal grief and political upheaval, as the critical condition of Prince Beyazıd stirs unrest within the palace. Amid rising tensions in the imperial court—fueled by rivalries between Mahmud Pasha and İshak Pasha, and debates over Zağanos Pasha—Mehmed navigates shifting alliances against Karaman, Pontus, and the Vatican. While Beyazıd clings to life, Mustafa is ceremoniously inducted into the Janissary corps and sent on campaign. As Vlad Tepes plots in Pontus and the Karatuğs endure torture, Basat grows wary of betrayal. Mehmed’s decision to recall Zağanos Pasha signals a pivotal shift, just as the Ottoman army marches toward Beyşehir, where an impending battle and palace power shifts will shape the empire’s destiny.

Power struggles and shifting alliances unsettle the palace as Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha maneuvers to regain influence, testing the bond between Mehmed’s former tutors amid the revelation of a buried secret. Prince Beyazıt’s political marriage to Gülperi Hatun, haunted by his love for Julia, sets the stage for betrayal, with Gülperi’s covert correspondence hinting at looming catastrophe. Meanwhile, in Pontus, a deadly race for sacred relics unfolds, threatening to reshape religious and imperial destinies, as hidden alliances and dark motives fuel the bloodshed. With the relics’ potential to spark a new Crusader front, Mehmed reconsiders his military strategy, ultimately launching a secretive expedition under his sole command.

Sultan Mehmed launches a grand military campaign shrouded in strategic ambiguity, sowing confusion among allies and enemies alike as he sets his sights on Pontus. A pivotal naval battle in the Black Sea threatens to alter the course of the war, while secret diplomacy intensifies across Karaman, İsfendiyar, and the Vatican—where the Pope appoints a mysterious new commander. Amid rising tensions, an assassination attempt at the Ottoman camp sparks unrest, and in the capital, Gülperi’s bold move against Prince Bayezid disrupts palace dynamics. As turmoil brews on all fronts, Mehmed presses forward with unwavering resolve.

An assassination attempt throws the Ottoman headquarters into turmoil, gravely wounding Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha and prompting Sultan Mehmed to vow silence until the traitor is exposed. As tensions rise with the murder of Karaman ambassadors and suspicions swirl around Vlad, Molla Lütfi’s investigation reveals deeper conspiracies. Internal strife escalates as Janissaries and Solaks clash, threatening military unity, until Mahmud Pasha’s recovery stabilizes the ranks. Meanwhile, an unseen enemy stirs unrest across the empire, alliances blur, and a secret meeting in Danishmend lands reshapes the campaign’s course. Amid whispered plots and shifting power, the state prepares to rise from unexpected quarters—heralding the beginning of a decisive victory march.