Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1673 - 1193: The End of 1492—We Are Blessed Partners of the Almighty!

"Praise the Almighty! I, De La Cosa, under the merciful guidance of the Almighty, undertake the mission of Queen Isabella, having received the blessing personally from the Granada Archbishop!"

The Christmas Day prayer ended, and the sea surface of the Caribbean Sea shimmered. The towering masts anchored in a natural harbor, with low huts scattered along the verdant coast. Under the standing wooden cross, Captain De La Cosa raised the Silver Cross Amulet around his neck and looked around at all the Castilian sailors. He declared loudly.

"I swear, I will lead all of you safely back home, receiving the blessing of the Queen!…"

Seizing the momentum from the recent prayer, De La Cosa again leveraged the Queen's "prestige" and clearly revealed the background of the Archbishop. All of his actions were meant to enhance his prestige among the sailors as much as possible before the challenging and lengthy ocean voyage fraught with the risk of mutiny, aiming to rebuild the already broken fleet order after continuous rebellions.

"Witness the Almighty! The return voyage is before us, Castile is before us, and the glory and wealth of discovering new routes are also before us!… I swear by the plague's beak, I will not wrong any sailor following me, nor will anyone be shortchanged of their Royal Family's reward! Otherwise, may I contract the Black Death and be burned to ashes by the flames of the Church's judgement!…"

Captain De La Cosa's gaze was intense, promising wealth upon return while swearing by the shamanic customs the sailors believed in. He carefully observed the expressions on the sailors' faces, seeking the awe and yearning in their eyes.

Their gaze gathered upon the Silver Cross, as if they revered not the captain's murderous power but the religious and legal order of the "Catholic World", the "civilization's solemn order". Until this moment, he gradually nodded, ensuring the beast in the sailors' hearts was temporarily restrained, and it was time to return.

"The Almighty bless! Seven days from now, it's New Year's Day, a good day guided by the Almighty!… Everyone, prepare yourselves, recheck the ship's grains and jerky, fill all the barrels! We will set sail on New Year's Day, through already traversed and risk-free routes, returning to Seville's port!… From the first day of the new year forward, every day, we will be one step closer to home!…"

"Ah! Praise the Almighty, praise Captain De La Cosa! Returning home, returning to homeland!!…"

Upon hearing the definite return date, the remaining eighteen sailors cheered excitedly. Even the lookout on the viewing platform was thrilled, grabbing the rope on the more than ten-meter high mast, dancing the passionate Flamenco dance of the Gypsies.

"Truly the Almighty's blessing! This nightmarish maritime exploration, lasting three to four months, is finally ending!…"

"Holy Mother! So many people died… yet we survived, we survived from the terrifying Xipangu Natives!…"

"Praise the Almighty! We discovered the new route to the East! Upon returning, surely there will be much wealth, many Royal Family rewards!…"

The Castilian sailors cheered and celebrated, and the surrounding Taino villagers also laughed sincerely although they could not understand what these friendly white-skinned tribespeople were saying. But their distant "friends" were so happy that they too felt genuinely joyous. After all, generations of the Taino Tribe were inherently warm, kind, and simple. They have not seen war and never knew the cruelty between different races in terms of slavery and slaughter!…

"Haha! Go and prepare!…"

Captain De La Cosa smilingly waved not only to every sailor but also greeted the Natives with a smile. He even warmly embraced the old village chief, thanking him for supplying the provisions. After everyone dispersed, he immediately put away his smile and approached the slightly bowing navigator Pedro.

"How is Commander Columbus?"

"Chief, the Natives applied strange herbs to him and have been caring for him diligently… now, he has passed the fever, and the wound is beginning to heal… in fact, he has enough strength to shout and curse now; I even saw him yesterday secretly get off the bed and walk slowly…"

"Oh? He was so gravely ill but cured by the Natives?… Only using herbs, without even bloodletting treatment?…"

Hearing this, Captain De La Cosa squinted his eyes and instinctively grasped the rapier at his waist. Moments later, he suddenly smiled and nodded at navigator Pedro.

"Come! Let us go visit the Kingdom's outstanding Admiral…"

The bright tropical sunlight fell in the village chief's wooden house, making the dancing dust all visible. Navigator Pedro, grinningly, led the old village chief to smoke leaf together in the distance. And inside the simple, spacious house, only two men remained, one lying, one standing, silently gazing at each other.

"Vaffanculo! De La Cosa, you finally couldn't hold back, planning to finish me before leaving?!…"

After a moment of staring, Columbus gritted his teeth, viciously looking at De La Cosa, unable to hold back from being the first to curse.

"Merda! You vile snake, haven't you long wanted to kill me, monopolize the glory of discovering new routes, and seize my commander position? Come on, do it! What's the hesitation?!…"

"Clang!"

De La Cosa expressionlessly drew the rapier, his gaze coldly fixed on Columbus's throat. Their eyes met. Columbus shivered all over, shrinking into a ball on the grass bed, yelling with façade of boldness but inward cowardice on his face.