Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 1057 - 643: Second Kingdom Exploration, the Delicious Big Lobster that Fills You Up!

Chapter 1057: Chapter 643: Second Kingdom Exploration, the Delicious Big Lobster that Fills You Up!

Early March, a warm breeze blows. This is the Gulf of Mexico coast, the best season with neither the strong winds from the Northern Continent’s winter nor the Caribbean summer’s violent typhoons. The Kingdom Fleet sails east, along the coast, calmly covering four hundred miles before entering a largely enclosed sandbar bay, arriving at extremely vast coastal lagoon.

"Chief Divine! Such a large lake?!"

Puap stands at the bow, looking around yet unable to see the end of the Great Lake. It is high tide, and the surging tide floods in through two openings in the bay, quickly transforming the coastal mudflats into a lake surface. Thousands of seabirds simultaneously take off from the food-laden mudflats, circling reluctantly. Huitu warrior looks up, seeing only vast expanses of wings soaring in the rising morning sun.

"Yo, yo yo!"

Dark Snake eyes widen blankly, watching the flying sky and listening to the calls of the flock. Didi sucks his fingers, eyes wide, watching the shimmering waves in the lake.

"Fish, so many fish! Big and fat sea fish, must be delicious!"

"Haha! This here, is along the entire Yucatan Peninsula coast, and even the largest most bountiful lake across the Peninsula!"

Tikalo smiles, drawing a big circle with both hands.

"One hundred twenty miles east to west, one hundred miles north to south—all ’Great Lake’!"

"Gosh! So big!"

Old militia Chiwaco gazes for a moment, greatly surprised.

"What is this Great Lake called?"

"Just ’Great Lake’!"

"What is this lake called?"

"Just ’Great Lake’!"

Tikalo repeats with a grin.

"For the Maya tribes around the lake, there is no bigger lake than this. The Great Lake in their mouths is the only one! And their main belief is the Rain Divine Chaac, who governs rains, lakes, and abundance."

Chiwaco pauses, somewhat speechless. Then, the Mayan merchant points to a Maya fishing village on the sandbar, smiling as he speaks.

"This sandbar separates the sea from the Great Lake, leaving two gaps east to west. During rising and falling tides, the currents are extremely swift and violent. Whenever the tide recedes, fish, shrimp, and shellfish unable to escape are left in the lake. At that time, not only will the birds from the sky come down to peck, but the villagers from the village will come rushing over, picking up fish and shrimp easily seen all over the mudflat."

The so-called "Great Lake" is today’s Laguna Lake (Laguna de Términos) in Campeche, Mexico. The lake’s edge is lush with mangroves and flying birds, its scenery beautiful, and it boasts delicious seafood.

"Oh!"

Mayan merchant Tikalo thinks for a moment, suddenly patting his head. He swallows, tugging on the old militia’s arm, smiling at everyone.

"Chief Qui, Chief Pu, Priest Tomate... The village here produces a type of giant shrimp, incredibly fresh and delicious! If the local fishermen catch them, they will specially keep them for more than ten days, living in the seawater, reserved for passing fleets... Come, come, come! The fleet needs to go ashore to replenish fresh water, it’s a perfect chance for us to have a feast!"

"What? Go ashore, eat what giant shrimp?"

Old militia Chiwaco purses his lips, slightly hesitant. The experiences from the past days are still vivid, leaving him somewhat wary about going ashore.

"Not going, not going!"

"Chief Qui, no need to be afraid. This fishing village, trading groups frequently dock their ships. They have just a few hundred villagers, and their warriors are but twenty or so people. To the Kingdom Fleet, there will be absolutely no risk!... Moreover, the shrimp in the village, are truly top-notch delicious!"

"That shrimp, is it really that good?"

Upon hearing this, Puap is somewhat tempted. He patting the old militia’s shoulder, smiling.

"Old Qui, if you don’t go, just stay behind to watch the ship. I’ll take some people up to have a look..."

"Hmm... Okay! You go ahead! Take dozens of samurai ashore to resupply. I’ll stay to watch the ship..."

Old militia Chiwaco thinks it over, and the fleet indeed needs to replenish fresh water here, so he nods in agreement. Then, he lowers his voice, leaning close to Puap’s ear, softly reminding him.

"Keep an eye on that bald fox!"

"Huh?... Okay!"

Puap nods in a daze. The old militia turns to Priest Tomate, smiling as he asks.

"Priest Tomate, are you going ashore too?"

Priest Tomate nods solemnly. He holds two illustrated copies of the Book of Ama Colley in his hand, seriously explaining.

"I am going ashore not to eat shrimp, but to spread the glory of the Chief Divine! Praise the Chief Divine!..."

"...Praise the Chief Divine!"

The old militia smiles and prays. Then, he thinks for a moment, his gaze slightly softening, speaking to Puap.

"Old Pu, you bring Dark Snake and Didi along too! Let them taste that shrimp!"

"Huh?... Okay!"

As the sun rises to midday, the samurai have replenished the fresh water, all gathered at the sandbar fishing village. Dozens of Maya fishermen cautiously serve large pots of fish soup, carrying grilled shrimp and fish, presenting them respectfully to the samurai lords with weapons. The elderly village chief, smiling, accompanies a few nimble villagers in presenting a full six clay pots of grilled giant lobsters to the leader of the lords.

"Oh? Are shrimp really this big?"

Huitu Puap reaches into the clay pot, grabbing the largest shrimp. The shrimp is over forty centimeters long, about as thick as his forearm, weighing several pounds. Puap smells the fragrant aroma of the lobster, poking the hard shell, unsure of how to start eating.

"Such hard shell? How to eat?"

"Haha! It’s simple! Twist off the shrimp head, at most sprinkle a little salt into the body, and then just suck the meat out directly!"

"Huh? What about these big claws? How to break them open?"

Puap extends his hand, gesturing at claws larger than his palm, amazed.

"Whoa! Truly a marine beast! How can the fishermen easily catch them..."

"Oh, those claws, no need to bother breaking them open, just toss them away. Anyway, there’s plenty of lobster, enough to guarantee everyone can eat their fill! Come, try this top-notch deliciousness! No need to add anything, at most sprinkle some salt if it’s bland, I promise you it’s good enough to make you cry!"

Tikalo eagerly twists off a palm-sized lobster head, scooping up a bite of tender fresh shrimp meat, puts it in mouth to slowly chew, immediately showing an expression of enjoyment.

"Ah! Truly a nostalgic taste... Maya homeland’s flavor!..."

"Whoa! Truly, truly delicious!"

Puap reaches out, grabbing forearm-length shrimp meat, holding it to take a few bites, immediately showing a look of amazement. The lobster meat when entering the mouth is tender and fresh, with natural sweetness and a hint of salt, the texture is extremely chewy. Huitu warrior immediately buries himself in hard work, eating two pounds of lobster meat in one go, feeling even more satisfying than inhaling Divine Smoke!

"Delicious, delicious! Not enough, not enough! Tikalo, have them bring two more pots of shrimp!"

"Delicious! Truly delicious! Better than honey!"

"Exactly! Dark Snake is right!"

Dark Snake holds a large shrimp, diligently scooping out shrimp meat, eyes shaped like crescent moons. Beside him, Didi stretches his tongue, humming unclear words while suckling the meat juice from the shrimp shell.

"Woo woo woo! Old Qui is so nice! Sailing is truly happiness!"

As for Chief God Priest Tomate, he is focused on using the Obsidian Dagger for offerings, skillfully picking out shrimp meat. His technique, precise and proficient, is simply astonishing! Beside him, a large pile of empty lobster shells has accumulated.

"Great! I’ll go instruct the village chief to grill all the shrimp!"

Tikalo smiles at the crowd focused on eating shrimp, strolling leisurely to the village chief. In this isolated Maya fishing village, no one speaks Navajo. Among the fleet, only Tikalo and his guide are familiar with Maya language.

"...Everyone knows?"

"...Got it, noble lord higher than the sky, I’ll handle it soon!"

Listening to Tikalo’s instructions, the stooped old village chief continually bows, even bowing his head to his knees. Afterwards, he immediately calls several villagers to continue preparing delicacies for the lords.

Tikalo’s lips curve up in a slight smile. By the time he turns again, his face is entirely relaxed.

"Ha, truly delicious! ...Maya homeland’s flavor, right before us!"