Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 682 - 357: The End of 1485, New Changes_2

Chapter 682: Chapter 357: The End of 1485, New Changes_2

"Captain, I, I didn’t mean that..."

Bruno knelt on the ground, looking at the captain who calmly faced death, as if he felt the light of the Holy Mother once again.

"Come now, child! Do not burden yourself, you are helping to release me. I am already afflicted with the Demon’s curse, and I won’t last much longer."

Diego smiled. He reached out, took off the Silver Cross that Dias had given him, and placed it around Bruno’s neck.

"Through redemption, the Lord manifests His grace between generations and eternity... Bruno, there is still the light of redemption in your heart! Clasp the Cross around your neck and do not let it extinguish in the darkness of the Demon."

Having spoken, Diego took out a bottle of olive oil, drew a Cross on his forehead, and prayed.

"Per istam sanctam unctionem, indulgeat tibi Dominus quidquid deliquisti, Amen."

This was the anointing of the sick, a last rite. There was no Priest on the ship, so Diego did it himself. Afterward, he quietly closed his eyes.

"Captain!"

Tears filled Bruno’s eyes once more. The guidance and promotion given by the captain over two voyages and several years flashed in his mind, finally steeling his resolve. He knelt and stepped forward, grasping Diego’s hand tightly.

"Captain, please put aside your courage to face death for a moment. The Kingdom and Church’s duty does not allow you to stop here! There is more than one route to the Kingdom of Elder John! Once we reach the sea’s mouth, we will leave the Demon’s land, and the crew will no longer fear the power of the Curse. We can then continue southward, rounding the boundary of the African continent, and onwards to the East!"

"Oh?!"

Diego’s eyes opened in an instant, revealing a lion-like gaze. He abruptly grabbed Bruno’s arm and sternly asked.

"Are you willing to go south and explore?"

"Yes, I am willing."

Bruno nodded firmly.

"But you said Matim wants to return to Elmina Castle, and Diego wants to sail straight back to the Kingdom?"

Diego’s eyes shone brightly, fixed intently on Bruno’s expression.

"Yes, they want to head north and return."

Bruno looked sincerely at the captain.

"Captain, although we all urged you to turn back, we are not in league! You are my captain, elder, teacher, and my heart will always follow you. I am different from them!"

Diego lowered his gaze, slightly tilted his head, hiding all the changing expressions. After a long while, he nodded slowly and asked softly.

"So, Bruno, you intend to eliminate Matim and Diego?"

At those words, Bruno’s face froze slightly, and he looked at the captain with a mix of awe. Although the captain was confined in his cabin, he seemed able to see through everything on the ship. Thinking of this, Bruno did not beat around the bush and solemnly nodded his head.

"...Captain, Diego is too brutal. He controls over a dozen sailors and acts with impunity, threatening the lives of us all! Therefore, he must die! Matim is the official in charge of munitions, able to repair weapons, and his men are few. As long as we strip him of his position and power, we can spare his life."

Having said this, Bruno licked his lips. He looked earnestly at the captain and respectfully continued.

"Honorable captain, by eliminating them, you can regain control aboard the ship!"

Diego did not speak or show any excitement. He regarded his personally mentored nephew calmly, with deep eyes. In Bruno’s eyes, he saw growing ambition, burning desire, and an increasingly profound darkness.

The silence fell again in the cabin. The flagship flowed downstream, raising the sound of gushing water; a strong wind passed through the wooden window, carrying the wild laughter of Diego. After a long time, Diego finally asked faintly.

"Bruno, tell me, how did Sailing Master Reinaldo die?"

At this question, Bruno’s heart shook violently. He knelt on the ground, not daring to meet the captain’s eyes.

"Reinaldo... he was... the crew was uneasy about him, worried about the men under his command, so they killed him together."

"Oh? Unfortunate child."

Diego looked deeply at Bruno, his meaning implied. Then, he brought his hands together and prayed somewhat sadly.

"May the Holy Mother bless his soul!"

"May the Holy Mother bless!"

Bruno bowed his head and prayed softly as well.

After the devout prayer, Diogo straightened up and asked in a deep voice.

"Bruno, how many men do you have in your command?"

"The head chef Haroldo and his logistics sailors, the carpenter Ivo and his apprentices, plus a few of Reinaldo’s men, and my own loyal followers... roughly about twenty people in total."

Bruno’s gaze flickered. It was only by invoking the captain’s name that he could command the men of Ivo and Reinaldo.

Though Captain Diogo was imprisoned in the captain’s quarters, his prestige of over a decade still ran deep in the hearts of the men. Before, the crew had united to rebel because the captain insisted on exploring the East, disregarding the lives and deaths of all on board. Now that the fleet was on its return voyage, and the crew was gradually moving away from the Demon’s land, the captain’s authority was somewhat restored. Moreover, they wished to return to Elmina Castle to resupply in an honorable manner, to return to the Kingdom and their homeland with glory.

The captain’s status was silently recovering in the hearts of the people. Bruno acutely perceived this, which led to his visit today.

"About twenty men."

Diogo nodded slightly. He pondered for a moment and then revealed the melancholic smile typical of the Portuguese.

"It is not enough. Noble Knight Bruno, since you are here to see me today, you must have other preparations."

Bruno lowered his head, a myriad of chaotic thoughts emerged in his mind and quickly subsided. Facing the lion-like captain, he could not hide anything. And once the lion was released from the cage, how could he ensure his own safety? He hesitated for a while, until he once again gripped the Cross around his neck, personally bestowed by the captain, before he finally made up his mind.

"Respected captain. I am in charge of contacting the other two ships."

Bruno said through clenched teeth.

"Two noble captains, Pero Anes and Pero Dacosta, have been somewhat suspicious of the flagship’s situation. As long as I send your secret letter to them, both ships will send their elite sailors to the flagship to follow your command and help you quell the rebellion!"

"To invite Pero Anes and Pero Dacosta to send sailors aboard the flagship?"

At this, Diogo’s eyebrows rose, and he carefully eyed Bruno in front of him, the corners of his mouth revealing a faint smile.

"Very well! Bruno, you are bold. Taking such great risks, what exactly do you wish to gain?"

"...Captain, I wish to become an honorable and noble royal Knight like you!"

At this point, there was no need for any concealment. Bruno raised his head, not masking the longing and ambition in his gaze.

"Captain, I also believe in you. I believe in the piety within your heart, I believe that the responsibilities you bear can outweigh your hatred for our mutiny!"

"Oh?"

Diogo looked at Bruno, his eyes narrowing, revealing a lion-like smile.

"Bruno, my piety and responsibilities, what do they have to do with you?"

"Respected captain, after quelling the mutiny, I will assist you in heading south to continue exploration! If you were to die of illness during the voyage, I would steer towards the East to erect the last padrão, the explorer’s pillar, in your honor! Then I would bury you on the very land we last reached."

After that, Bruno placed one hand over his heart and grasped the Cross around his neck with the other, solemnly swearing to the Almighty.

"Almighty witness! Not just this once! I shall inherit your responsibilities, continue to explore new routes, and search for Elder John’s Kingdom in the East! I will also follow the teachings of Prince Enrique, to explore new seas and seek out unclaimed lands. For the future of our Portuguese people, to expand on the sea!"

Diogo’s smile faded, and his expression turned solemn. He gazed into Bruno’s eyes, as if he wanted to see right through the man before him. After a long time, he nodded calmly.

"Bruno, a true man should do as he says. My days are numbered, and I won’t see your future. Your vows, your promises, I will believe in them one last time. To survive, you may choose betrayal; for ambition, you may be ruthless; for faith, you may even kill."

"All of this, I can forgive you, and so can the Lord. But remember, you are a Noble Knight, a good son of Avis! You must not fail in your courage, your responsibilities!"

"Now go and make your preparations, Noble Knight Bruno."

The Congo River flowed relentlessly, never to return.