Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1896 1369: The Dark Cross! Portugal's Exploration Code

"Bang! Bang!...""Kill! Kill the natives!..."

"Bang!..."

"Ah!..."

The dim, sparse sunlight filtered through layers of green leaves in the Forest Sea, forming crescent-shaped spots on the loose ground. The sound of the Orinoco River hummed deeply in the distance, while the blood trickling into the earth accompanied the dying wails, dispersing into the unseen sky.

When Bruno heard the gunshots, he rushed over from the Large Ship to aid and saw such a scene. More than a dozen naked natives lay dead on the ground, a few sailors wrestling over shell necklaces found on the bodies. Sir Silvira returned from the Forest with a blood-dripping Knight Cross Short Sword, a sullen look on his face.

"Ha! These vile natives, they run fast! Like monkeys in the Forest, vanished in a blink..."

"Sir Silvira! Shouldn't you explain what just happened?!"

Bruno looked at the fallen native corpses, his expression unpleasant. He didn't care about the lives of these natives, but he was exceptionally angry at Sir Silvira for acting recklessly on his own!

"In the witness of the Almighty! We sailed along the coast for more than ten days, finally encountering a group of natives, hoping to get some local information... And you led the sailors and killed them all in one sweep?!"

"Uh... Captain Bruno... These natives stealthily approached, holding bows and arrows and strange long tubes, clearly not good people! Before they ambushed us, I impulsively reacted by killing them first! The Urban Pope decreed that yellow-skinned heathens like these are no different from the Moors across the sea; the more you kill, the better. Killing is salvation!..."

Seeing Silvira's indifferent explanation, fury surged in Bruno's chest. Clearly, these natives didn't attack first and perhaps had no hostile intent. Yet Silvira, in a rush of blood, considered them enemies and launched this reckless assault, without even consulting him, the team leader…

"Damn it! You fool, Silvira! Who told you to attack the natives first?... You didn't even investigate to see if there's a powerful tribe behind these natives that might retaliate... Nor did you see any shining wealth on them. With no benefit to the fleet, you killed purely for the sake of killing!... You are a reckless, arrogant wild boar to the extreme!"

"What?! Foda-se! Bruno, how dare you insult me? I am the son of a Baron, and you are just a..."

"Foda-se! I am cursing you! Kneel down to me!"

With a "clang," Bruno drew the rapier from his waist, placing it against Silvira's neck before he could react. Silvira trembled all over, struggling to fight back... Boatswain Haloduo quickly stepped forward, forcefully pressing down on Silvira's shoulder, then kicked the back of his knee hard, knocking him to the ground!

"Silvira, today I'm going to teach you a lesson! Remember well! In terms of position, I am the fleet captain, and you are merely my deputy, required to obey my orders! In terms of title, I am a Royal Knight personally knighted by His Majesty, while you are just a baron's son, a bastard without inheritance!...

"Lastly, regarding relationships, I am the Exploration Captain personally appointed by Nuno Chief, personally listened to His Majesty's instructions! And you? You are just a masterless, friendless wild dog, barking everywhere!..."

"Remember! It is I, Sir Bruno Kang, who is responsible for the entire fleet and accountable to the Almighty and His Majesty! As for you, Sir Silvira, you only need to be accountable to me! You must obey the orders of me, the captain!"

"If you disobey my orders, recklessly create incidents, ruin His Majesty's grand endeavor to connect with the Native Kingdom and open up the Eastern New Route… Even if I kill you directly, report it to His Majesty and Nuno Chief when we return, and notify your baron father, there will be no crime on me! Killing you is just killing in vain!... Do you understand?!"

Faced with Bruno's merciless reprimand and this murderous warning, feeling the cold edge of the blade on his neck... Sir Silvira's face turned pale, his knees weak as he knelt, unable to speak for a long time.

Being a noble captain graduated from the Naval Academy, he never considered killing heathen natives a crime. After all, wasn't the Kingdom of Portugal's expansion on the Southern Continent, with shiploads continually bringing back cargo and Gold, achieved this way?

But Bruno held on to this point relentlessly, pressing him with His Majesty's mission, harshly reprimanding him... He indeed couldn't argue. According to the teachings of the Naval Academy, there must be clear and strict subordination among the captains within the fleet, just like on every ship, where the captain is the king of all crew members.

If Bruno were weak or concerned about his background, granting him equal captain power and subsequent rights to equal merit distribution, that would be his own ability! But if the other party strictly enforced discipline, exploiting his mistakes, putting a knife to his throat, forcing him to bow and admit fault... He could only swallow his pride and comply with the leadership!

"Yes... Captain Bruno..."

"Call me the Honorable Sir Bruno Kang!"

"...Yes! Honorable Sir Bruno Kang! I understand your command..."

"Do you really understand?! Then tell me, what to do when encountering natives next time?!"

"...According to the Naval Academy's teachings, first offer small gifts to forge good relations with the natives. Then scout carefully to understand if there's a powerful Great Tribe backing them... Finally, probe if they have any valuable assets, to bolster crew morale..."

Silvira lowered his head, secretly gritting his teeth, but on his face, he showed timely submission. He honestly and obediently recited the standard response based on Portugal's maritime exploration experiences.

"When lacking strength, do not provoke powerful tribes! Do not undertake reckless pillaging before proper preparation! And once confirmed that a native tribe has no backing and has valuable assets, the fleet must unanimously decide to launch a decisive raid and slaughter, leaving as few survivors as possible!... Then burn the scene to erase tracks, aiming to delay or prevent news from spreading, while swiftly setting sail to leave. Lastly, distribute the spoils of war fairly, avoiding internal strife within the fleet, while setting aside a portion to surrender to the Kingdom..."

"May the Almighty bless us! We strive for the glory of the Almighty, acquiring the Wealth and grace promised by the Almighty. And all the crimes of heathens will be forgiven by the Pope's decree!..."

"Very well! Silvira, remember all that you recited! Stay cautious and clear-minded at all times!..."

Upon hearing the satisfactory reply, Bruno nodded. He looked at the bowing adjutant, slowly retracting the threatening sword. At this moment, emulating his memories of Captain Diogo, he left an extremely solemn warning.

"Holy Mother bless! The Castilians have already suffered great losses here... According to their information, there is a barbaric and powerful tribe, or a powerful native kingdom, active on this Great Island area... And this native kingdom has links with the East, a dangerous target we must contact to open the Eastern New Route!..."

"Regarding this powerful native kingdom, you must remain cautious, showing enough goodwill and respect, and not act recklessly! Just like the Kingdom's respect for the Sanghai Tribal Kingdom, the Congo Tribal Kingdom on the Western side of the Southern Continent!..."

"Remember! A powerful native kingdom is like the wolf that can sit at the dining table with us... But only those weak and powerless native tribes are the meat meant for us to eat!..."

After warning the bowed Silvira, Bruno once again surveyed the surroundings, ordering the reverent sailors.

"In the witness of the Almighty! Everyone heard what I said! At the first contact with the natives, smile! And if unforeseen circumstances occur, and a fight ensues, act fiercely and decisively, leaving no survivor to escape!"

"Go! Check all the fallen natives! Anyone not dead, finish them with a blade, throw them all into the sea to feed the fish!"

"Once done, get back on board quickly! We set sail tonight, leaving no delay here! May the Almighty bless!..."

"Yes!... May the Almighty bless!..."

The united prayers resonated through the dense Rainforest. This sound was devout, like some special proclamation, stirring a flock of Flying Birds into flight.

The Flying Birds watched the Seaside, confusedly blinking at the Blue and White Cross flapping on the two Portuguese sailboats. They could not discern the "flowers" on the cross pattern, but they clearly saw, behind that flag, the low dark clouds, the signs of imminent storm. The dark clouds were very black, very dark, and the dark cross began to emerge from this day forth!...