Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1759 - 1259: Pursuit! The Portuguese Navy Mobilizes

The sunset fades, and the sky turns dark. The tattered image of the Santa Maria Galleon wobbles slowly, disappearing at the edge of the horizon. Just an hour or so later, the "clip-clop" of horse hooves resounds from the east on the dirt road. The galloping sounds come ever closer and faster until more than a dozen Royal Cavalry surge onto the dark gray cliff, followed by the sharp neighing of the horses.

"Halt! Halt!"

Cavalry Captain Faige stands solemnly on the cliff. He rides a tall Lusitano battle horse, wearing a breastplate emblazoned with the Portuguese Royal Family's emblem and a helmet adorned with blue feathers.

He holds the reins with one hand while pressing the Cavalry Sword at his waist with the other. Behind him, on the horse's back, are a Shield marked with a Knight's Seal and a Banner Lance bearing the Royal Banner. This expensive equipment undeniably marks him as a knight of the Portuguese Royal Family. Behind the knight are two chamberlains in light armor, sword in hand, without banner lances, simultaneously handling four or five reserve horses, maintaining the ability to travel hundreds of miles a day.

"They've gone... those cunning sea rats, deserving beheading, bandits!..."

Faige squints, gazes briefly at the empty sea, then waves his hand coldly.

"To the village!..."

The cavalry squad turns their horses around and trot toward the fishing village below the hill. Soon, the silent village erupts in clamor, accompanied by the flare of torches and the villagers' panicked cries. Following a shrill scream, all shouting ceases abruptly, leaving only the fierce interrogation of the chamberlains. Meanwhile, the remaining cavalry rudely kick open house doors, confiscating villagers' stored grain to feed their cherished warhorses that have traveled for half a day. As the cavalry's most important companions, horses are naturally valued far above lowly villagers.

"Halt..."

Faige gently pats his horse, feeding it handfuls of freshly obtained oats from the village. He remains indifferent to the nearby interrogations and screams and the collapsed corpse on the ground. In such remote villages, the knight is like a deity to the villagers; judgment and execution are trivial matters—the free commoners offending the knight are killed at will, and agricultural slaves are even less valuable than costly beasts.

It is only in thriving commercial cities with strict laws or towns hosting large churches with high-ranking priests that noble knights must exercise restraint, at least for appearances' sake, to maintain their reputation.

"Captain, we've got results!"

A short moment later, a chamberlain rushes over with a somber face, mixed with inexplicable excitement. He approaches Faige, whispering a few words. Faige hesitates, revealing confusion.

"Eh? A large ship without a flag, yet not a sea bandit? They distributed expensive cotton to the villagers and inquired about local news? They even took away an agricultural slave?… It's not cotton, it's unspun cotton yarn? That's really odd..."

"What! The accent is very suspicious? Difficult to understand, as if it's from the mountain dialect of the east? How could mountain folk from the eastern mountains possess a large ship?… How big is that ship? That big! A galleon with two decks?!…"

"Such a large galleon, the Kingdom possesses merely a few; how could mountain folk own one?… A tattered galleon, eastern mountain dialect… So, you suspect?… Hmm!!..."

Upon hearing the conclusion, Faige's pupils contract instantly, his gaze becoming sharp.

"Damn it! It's those sheep-herding Castilians! Their galleon slyly bypassed Lisbon and showed up on the Northern Coast?!… The Royal Family's Southern Continent fleet just arrived in Lisbon, loaded with gold and spices. The Castilians have come to spy, not even flying their flag, and then sneak away quietly?… It must be true; this has to be a spy ship! They bribed the villagers for intelligence, scouting on the Kingdom's affairs!..." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

By now, the seriousness of the matter has completely changed. From the bailiff's initial report of "suspect sea bandits," it has transformed into the grave threat of "enemy nation spies." Unquestionably, uncovering such a major case would count as a significant achievement for the cavalry squad!

"Witness the Almighty! I must return urgently to report to the royal chamberlain in Coimbra. Then, to relay this critical intelligence to the King in Sintra Palace!"

Faige, after brief contemplation, mounts a reserve horse, leaving without delay. The cavalry behind him also mount the unburdened reserve horses. However, due to the limited reserve horses, seven or eight cavalry remain behind. They must wait until the laden warhorses are satisfied before returning. Before departing, Faige specifically leaves a chamberlain with solemn instructions.

"The bailiff here rides a mule, slow moving, still behind… When the bailiff returns, explain to him the seriousness of the situation thoroughly!…"

"The manor holds agricultural slaves colluding with an enemy nation, with one carrying Kingdom intelligence boarding a ship; this is not a trivial matter… The manor's issues are substantial! Even if his sister is a priest's lover, it can't help him argue in this case…"

"However, considering his voluntary report and unwavering loyalty to the Royal Family, it accounts for some merit… I, Royal Knight Faige, can speak a few words on his behalf before the royal chamberlain!… As long as… hmm… sincere intentions towards the Royal Family… two shares… mine, and the royal chamberlain's share..."

Faige gestures with a look, indicating, while the chamberlain knowingly smiles. This cavalry squad outing seems to achieve commendable deeds while securing significant gains, indeed splendid.

"Move!..."

"Clip-clop..."

Horse hooves pounded the ground again, torches illuminating the night road. As darkness deepens and brightens again, the outline of Coimbra City unfolds along the flat river valley. Faige rides through guarded city gates, hurrying down narrow streets, all the way to the expansive nobility district, finally reaching the vacant Coimbra Duke's mansion. Soon, a loud and firm voice echoes from the mansion's adjacent courtyard.

"Faige, you've done well, keen and decisive!... Blessed by the Almighty! Before the might of the Kingdom Navy, these Castilians spying on the Southern sea routes will undoubtedly fail to escape!..."

"Damn it! After conquering Granada, these Castilians have become increasingly bold, daring to shadow our Southern fleet! The Kingdom must act, to issue them a warning lesson!..."

"I will dispatch a team, immediately notifying the northern Port of Porto! You take two people south, personally recount to His Majesty the King in Sintra Palace, requesting the southern Lisbon navy to deploy!..."

"Holy Mother, protect! No matter how the Castilians' sailboats infiltrated here… under the Kingdom's northern and southern navies' search, they cannot escape!..."

"Yes! Holy Mother, protect!"

The sound of hooves rings out once more, over the bluestone road, through forested paths, across bountiful fields, past increasingly dense canals, finally reaching the mouth of the Tagus River, in the thriving city of Lisbon!

Subsequently, Royal Envoys sprint from Sintra Palace, reaching the port outside Lisbon City. Soon, an urgent Royal decree falls into the hands of naval captains at the port.

"Witness the Almighty! Our noble King, like the iris, brave, wise, long-lived… I, Royal Sir Bruno Cao, will unhesitatingly intercept the cunning Castilians at sea, thwarting their ambitions for the Southern Continent!..."

Bruno, full of passionate honor, solemnly vows with clenched fists in front of the Royal Messenger. Thereafter, he leads his "talent-rich" team, turning the nimble Caravel sailboats, shooting out from Lisbon's harbor like arrows. Simultaneously, over ten equally nimble Caravel sailboats, all bearing Portugal's Royal Banner with Seven Castles, sail into the ocean!

A massive invisible net spans across the sea outside Lisbon, conjoined with the northern mesh from Porto, drifting toward the Castilian fish in the ocean, the struggling Clark Galleon, Santa Maria...