Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1764 - 1262: A True Knight Never Uses a Fork

"The Almighty blesses! Inspector Isaac, it's been years since we last met, and you've indeed grown prosperous! To have this seaside warehouse courtyard and two-story building in Lisbon's expensive commercial port..."

"Ah hah! Honorable Lorenzo the Kni... Guild Chief, this is all thanks to the City-State Republic (La Serenissima) having a reputable name, and guild merchants conducting honest trade, blessed by the Holy Mother! As a member of the City-State's commercial guild, it is through the guild's reputation that I manage to stand my ground in Lisbon, making a minor contribution to the Almighty and the Republic…"

"Haha! Isaac, humility is a virtue taught by the Almighty, but excessive humility is pride! Before coming here, I even had an audience with the City-State bishop… The bishop was very satisfied with the spices sent by the guild, and highly praised your additional contributions!"

"Ah… The bishop's contribution? I, uh… oh, right! I also have a gift from the Southern Continent, dedicated to the guild's patrons, the distinguished councillors… Yes! It's been prepared, it's prepared!…"

The waves of the North Atlantic crash persistently along the rugged Portuguese coast towards the south, only easing after rounding a bend. The expansive bay curves inward, a natural deep-water harbor able to resist storms. The long Tagus River flows into the ocean here, bringing fertile riverbank land along its course and carving out a flat rivermouth plain. Together, these favorable geographic features form the largest port city on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

At this moment, in a corner of Lisbon's outer harbor, a few nobles dressed as wealthy merchants, escorted by more than ten chamberlains, quickly make their way into a two-story building within the seaside warehouse district. Leading the way is Eliyahu the Jewish merchant, smiling broadly. Behind are two people, an older and a younger, both cautiously wearing wide merchant hats, entering the courtyard where the building stands discreetly. Once the courtyard gate closes, the "old wealthy merchant" removes his hat, revealing a weathered Italian face: it is none other than the old knight Lorenzo.

"The Almighty blesses! Lorenzo the Knight, though this building is somewhat tucked away, it is a superb vantage point! I often linger here, watching the merchant ships come and go, estimating the types and quantities of cargo..."

"Haha! Isaac, you truly are a born merchant, shrewd as if gold coins have eyes..."

"Ah hah! It's all for serving the City-State, for serving the guild..."

The group ascends the building, their tone growing lighter. From this seaside building, the prosperous scene of the harbor is fully visible. Hundreds of black-skinned labor slaves are busily loading and unloading at the dock, sweating profusely. Merchant ships of various sizes from different countries and City-States, each flying different national and City-State flags, are gathering in Lisbon's outer harbor at Tagus Bay. The Portuguese Royal Family fleet recently returned from the Southern Continent, along with the goods worth ten times in profit inticing everyone, is undoubtedly the core attraction of this commercial prosperity.

"The Almighty! This is truly a prosperous port, almost comparable to the Venice commercial port... Portuguese trade with the Southern Continent surely fills their coffers, making the City-State councillors envious!…"

"Lorenzo, there's a City-State proverb, 'The path to glory is not paved with flowers', 'Only the wise can grow wealthy'... The Portuguese prosperity stems from their wisdom in shipbuilding and navigation, their courage and bravery in exploring the sea! In my view, the adventurous and exploratory spirit of the Portuguese nobility surpasses those noble councillors sitting idle in their manor gardens enjoying wine and women, those indulging in luxury, fat and gluttonous individuals, by far!…"

"Uh…"

Hearing this sharp comment, the old knight Lorenzo hesitated slightly, looking helplessly at the young man standing confidently with hat in hand behind him. The leading Jewish merchant Eliyahu was visibly startled, cautiously observing while smilingly asking.

"Lorenzo the Knight, who is this young, valiant and wise noble?…"

"Ahem! Isaac, let me introduce... This is Giovanni Tran, the eldest son of Councillor Sylvester Tran, the grandson of Governor Moro!…"

"Ah! It turns out to be the eldest son of Councillor Tran, the great-grandson of Governor Moro?! No wonder so distinguished, exuding such nobility, like a mythical flying lion..."

The Jewish merchant Eliyahu wore a beaming smile, flattering for quite some time. Meanwhile, the young Giovanni removed his hat, with an aloof posture, casting a discreetly smiling glance at the Jewish merchant, evidently looking down upon him. Eliyahu kept the smile while turning to call for the straightforward and robust Slavic servant.

"Ivan! Go bring my very best barrel of Douro port wine! I wish to entertain the distinguished guest!…"

"Uh… Master, you mean, the very best?…"

Upon hearing this, a rare look of astonishment crossed Ivan's honest and dull face. Master had repeatedly instructed him that when guests came to the house, if he said "good wine," it meant mixing in seven to eight parts water. If he said "best wine," it meant wine and water half-and-half. Only when he said "very best wine," was it the original wine with no water mixed at all. Having followed the master for several years, this was the first time hearing him say, "Bring the very best wine"...

"Indeed! The very best Douro port wine, from the Douro River Valley in Porto to the north, that barrel from ten years ago!… These two are the most distinguished guests!…"