Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 1062 - 648: Second Kingdom Exploration, Fierce Tiger Tribe’s Fury

Chapter 1062: Chapter 648: Second Kingdom Exploration, Fierce Tiger Tribe’s Fury

The Long River surged, flowing into the seaside. The canoe departed, carrying with it the news of Priest Tomate’s captivity and the conditions from the Putun Tribe. On the longship, sailors bustled about, and warriors donned armor, not knowing what fierce arguments had transpired. Two quarters of an hour later, the canoe returned, bringing back a hundred shiny, sharp bronze axes that dazzled the eyes of the tribal warriors.

"Ha! Navajo Priest, who would’ve thought you were so noble and valuable!"

Chieftain Moqi looked at the shining bronze axes and laughed heartily. His small eyes glimmered with greed; he stretched out his hand and patted Priest Tomate’s face as if he were touching a godly statue worth a fortune.

"Tell me, with such nobility, if we demand another fleet for a hundred bronze axes, would they give it? Haha, there’s also a City-State translator here, let’s price him at ten bronze axes too!"

Mayan merchant Tikalo shivered as he translated the chieftain’s words. He felt both regret and resentment in his heart. Why did he get involved in this troublesome affair? He was about to leave, so why did he stir up the greed of these barbarians? Now it was too late, the other party’s greed was inflamed, and they had overturned the table. Greed always escalates, impossible to satisfy, and this might be a one-way journey...

"Oh Heavenly Serpent Divine! After so many years of hard work, months of planning, with vengeance in sight, will I fall at the last stretch? Is this my destined fate?..."

"Greedy seekers of wealth, desecrators who harm priests, promise-breakers who betray! The Chief Divine shall witness all this, deliver divine punishment, and cast your soul into the cold abyss!"

Priest Tomate, bound tightly, sat beside Chieftain Moqi. He straightened his spine resolutely, his eyes seemingly aflame, unafraid as he repeatedly admonished. Keeping his head down, Mayan merchant Tikalo did not dare to translate those words.

"Haha!"

Though Chieftain Moqi couldn’t understand, he could guess bits and pieces. He laughed heartily, flipping through the pictorial booklet in his hand, which had been confiscated from the Navajo Priest. The drawings depicted stories of the Chief Divine, with annotations in blocky script.

"Tsk tsk, is this your heritage tableau? So thin, what are these drawings? Double-headed pyramids, snake-entwined mountains, and gods wielding lightning?... Hmm, this paper is soft yet tough, seems coated with something, better than the City-State’s from the north!..."

Chieftain Moqi tugged at the Book of Ama Colley in his hands, feeling the resilience of the stiff yellow paper. He had also snatched the City-State priest’s book tablet, yet none matched the Fierce Tiger Tribe’s quality.

In the Classical Period, the Mayans could make simple bark paper and even compile books for use by the divine descendants and priests. Priests would write in highly abstract scripts akin to secretive divine symbols, passing on divine knowledge through generations. Each priestly lineage had differing scripts. However, after divine calamities, much of the divine knowledge was lost, with many priestly families perishing, leading to regression in papermaking techniques. The chaotic abstract Mayan writing remained circulated only among priests.

"What a wealthy Fierce Tiger Tribe..."

Chieftain Moqi muttered, looking at the book in his hand. However, a burst of frantic shouting suddenly erupted by the shoreline.

"They’re coming, they’re coming! They’re ramming us!"

"Boom, boom boom!"

Deafening collisions sounded continuously, like the most tumultuous tides of the rainy season. Chieftain Moqi drew his javelin, looking over with a change in expression!

Seven longships accelerated to their maximum, charging towards the shore. The rowers on board flushed red, rowing with all their might. Over a dozen intercepting canoes attempted to block, only to be overturned with resounding "bangs." Dozens of tribal warriors fell into the water, struggling in the waves to swim ashore. Before their momentum was spent, the seven longships had already reached the shore, quickly turning around. Over a hundred Prepecha Warriors standing at the aft raised their greatbows, paused briefly, then fired their arrows.

"Head high, aim high!"

"Whoosh, whoosh whoosh!"

Over a hundred feathered arrows soared into the sky, arcing over the tribal warriors along the coast, and landed obliquely on the sandy ground over two hundred paces away. The "thud" of arrows hitting the ground echoed, with one landing right in front of Chieftain Moqi. At such range, the bows’ kinetic energy was depleted, causing no substantial harm. Yet, the sheer distance was an intimidation...

"Hiss! What’s this? Fierce Tiger Tribe’s bows that can shoot two hundred paces!..."

For the first time, Chieftain Moqi’s face showed fear; this was clearly a demonstration from the Fierce Tiger Tribe. He observed the nearby longship, his expression somber and contemplative.

"Massive, ramming longships, long-range archery from the ships, and two hundred axe-wielding, armored warriors... they can run, shoot far, withstand and charge! ... Even with just a few hundred, they would indeed cause immense trouble for the tribe!"

"Whoosh, whoosh whoosh!"

From the seven longships, another intimidating volley of feathered arrows was launched. Then, the fleet quickly turned their prows, the rowers bravely paddling, once more disengaging, retreating into the near sea. By the coastline, only a dozen capsized canoes drifted, with dozens of waterlogged tribal warriors awkwardly swimming ashore.

The Moqi Chieftain watched the fleet moving away for a while, then stop near the coast. He knew they were waiting for a response. He turned his head again, glanced at the feathered arrows on the sandy ground, then the copper axe in front of him, and finally the Navaj Priest, whose expression grew fierce.

"Ha! Navaj Priest, your crew dares to intimidate me! Intimidate the brave Short Spear tribes, intimidate a powerful chieftain like me! ... You should know that no matter how fast your longships are, they cannot land! No matter how far your bows shoot, they only reach a hundred or so yards. No matter how powerful your tribes, they’re three thousand li away! As long as we retreat inland or return to the fortress, your fleet poses no threat to us!"

The Moqi Chieftain squinted his eyes, sneering coldly. Then, as if mocking or venting his anger and unease, he suddenly swung the sharp axe in his hand.

"Ha! Navaj Priest, your crew doesn’t care about your life or death! I’ll kill you! I’ll take you back to the fortress and make you into snacks for tonight!!"

"..."

The Mayan merchant Tikalo was on the verge of tears, stammering as he translated. Priest Tomate’s demeanor was resolute; though trembling inside, his face showed a fearless acceptance of death.

"The Chief Divine protects me! His Highness of Divine Revelation says that weakness and ignorance aren’t obstacles to survival, arrogance is! Chieftain Morton, the powerful Fierce Tiger Tribe came with goodwill, yet you repay it with malice and greed! ... You’re like a prairie rat poking out of its burrow to steal food, unaware of the Jaguar’s swiftness and ferocity! ... Tikalo, if you want to live, translate word for word for me, don’t try anything smart!"

"Uh! ..."

Tikalo froze momentarily. Soon, he translated the Chief God Priest’s stern words word for word, sweating all over.

"Hmm? Courting death!"

Upon hearing this, the Moqi Chieftain’s eyes became fierce, and he raised the newly acquired copper axe. The sharp edge gleamed coldly under the midday sun.

"Ha! Navaj Priest, speak another word, and I’ll sever your limbs now! Make you regret with tears!"

Priest Tomate showed no fear. He even smiled, laughing angrily and cursing.

"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! Putun Chieftain, you are unaware of our strength’s might and the preciousness of our friendship, nor can you comprehend the glory of the Chief Divine’s mercy! These hundred copper axes are mere hairs on a Jaguar for the powerful alliance! And the four hundred warriors on board are only one-twentieth of an eight-thousand-man legion. The alliance has twenty such eight-thousand-man legions!"

"Come on, kill me then! The Chief Divine’s protection will guide my spirit to the bright Divine Kingdom! Whereas you will regret with tears! Because you will face the Fierce Tiger Tribe’s wrath, lose the hope of conversion to the Chief Divine, miss out on your tribe’s rise, and utterly lose your tribe! ... You will regret with tears for all of today’s actions!"

Hearing Priest Tomate’s angry shout, the Moqi Chieftain lowered his gaze and remained silent.

"The Fierce Tiger Tribe’s wrath... the tribe’s chance to rise? ..."

A hundred copper axes were enough to prove the Fierce Tiger Tribe’s wealth. The longships and greatbows further demonstrated the tribe’s power. And Priest Tomate’s composure in the face of death surpassed even the city-state priests in courage. His confident words surely indicated genuine backing from a powerful force, trusting in the Fierce Tiger Tribe’s strength!

After a while, the Moqi Chieftain gritted his teeth, kept a cold face, and raised the copper axe in his hand, suddenly swinging downward!

"Ah! Save me, Serpent Divine! I still have unfinished matters!"

The Mayan merchant Tikalo closed his eyes and screamed in despair. However, the cold axe blade did not penetrate his body. Moments later, he opened his eyes, shivering, only to see the solemn faces of both Priest Tomate and the Moqi Chieftain.

Priest Tomate loosened the stiffened shoulders, tore off the cut ropes from himself. He stood up with difficulty, controlled his trembling legs, and looked at the Moqi Chieftain, who lowered the copper axe, asking calmly.

"So, Putun Chieftain, will you honor your promise and let me go?"

The Moqi Chieftain pursed his lips, lowered his head. After a while, he looked at Priest Tomate, and suddenly his mouth curled upwards.

"Navaj Priest, your bravery has earned my respect! The enlightened ancestors bestow upon me guidance and show me a chosen future. Through my mouth, he asks you a question..."

"Does the friendship brought by the Fierce Tiger Tribe still remain?"