Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1778 - 1272: My Life, Treading on Thin Ice (Part 2)

Nuno, the supervisor, ignored them and went straight into the horse carriage. Bruno stood stunned for a few moments, his wife looked at him anxiously and reached out to hold his hand. Bruno shook his head, gently withdrew his hand, and sent his wife back. Then, he gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear in his heart, and got into the Royal Family carriage he had never been in before.

"Clip-clop!..."

The four-wheeled carriage turned its head and steadily went towards Sintra Palace. Nuno, the supervisor, appeared calm and composed, lowering his eyes as if asleep. Bruno, on the other hand, was like an ant on a hot pot, only daring to sit on half of his seat. He glanced at Nuno, wanting to say something, but the other kept his eyes closed, not looking at him. After a while, he finally mustered the courage and respectfully whispered.

"Al...Almighty bless! Re...respected Nuno, supervisor, I don't know... what urgent business His Majesty has suddenly summoned me for?..."

"Oh...what His Majesty instructs is naturally of importance. As for what business...it's related to Columbus' fleet at the port from before. When you see His Majesty, you'll naturally understand..."

Nuno, the supervisor, spoke plainly, saying just a few words then closed his eyes again. Seeing the attitude of the Royal supervisor, Bruno's fear grew stronger instead of easing. What kind of major issue could it be, falling upon someone like him, an ordinary Royal Knight, that even requires a direct use of the Royal carriage to pick him up? Could it be related to the goods he smuggled before...

"Clip-clop!..."

The carriage continued forward, the carriage interior quiet as if asleep. As Sintra Palace appeared on the horizon, the evening shadows slowly enveloped the East... the anxiety in Bruno's heart finally burst forth. He gritted his teeth hard and "thump," knelt in the narrow carriage, humbly performing a grand gesture towards Nuno, the supervisor.

"Respected Nuno, supervisor! With the King's summoning imminent... I beg you, instruct me on what to expect!..."

"Oh? Instruct you?..."

Seeing Bruno kneeling, a slight smile finally appeared on Nuno's face. He tapped the window twice, and the carriage speed suddenly slowed down, while Sintra Palace, which was not far away, also seemed to become distant.

"Bruno... do you know... what wrong you have committed?..."

"Ah! I've committed wrongs? Respected Nuno, supervisor, I have always been loyal to the Royal Family, always diligent in my duties..."

"Forget it, since you don't want to confess, I'm not forcing you... let's go! His Majesty is waiting..."

Nuno's expression turned cold, and he closed his eyes again. Bruno felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, quickly grabbing Nuno's leg. Stuttering, he confessed, trying hard to recall his wrongdoings.

"Nu...Nuno, supervisor... I've... committed wrongs... I've committed wrongs!... I... Columbus' ships at the port... I snuck in with my brothers and two other ships, looted the wealth from the ships? I took a small bag of gold from the captain's chest... I'll hand it over to the Kingdom right away!..."

"Hmm... is there more?"

"More... there's more? I... I didn't..."

"Today, as I came here... I saw the Venetian Company's horse carriage... leaving from outside your estate... Bruno, you have actually colluded with the Venetians, selling out the Kingdom's interests?!..."

Nuno stared closely into Bruno's eyes, speaking in a ghostly tone, his voice suddenly severe. Bruno shivered at once, his body trembling violently, cold sweat breaking out on his back!

"Ah! Oh this?… Nuno, lord… I… I haven't sold out the Kingdom's interests… I swear to the Almighty! I was merely… selling… selling some… contraband from the Southern Continent… I just wanted to earn some Gold Coins… Almighty! I know I was wrong! I'm truly wrong! I'll hand over all the money from the smuggling to the Kingdom, all to you!..."

Bruno was terrified to the core, clutching onto Nuno, the supervisor's leg, crying pathetically. Nuno furrowed his brows, tapped the carriage bed again, and the carriage completely stopped.

"Speak then! Over the years, how much have you smuggled and how much have you earned?"

"Nuno, lord... I... over the years, I've only returned from the Southern Continent three or four times... each time smuggling just one cabin of goods… no precious ivory, gemstone or gold… mainly inconspicuous spices, pepper, black pepper, and some beeswax and scented wood… sell them to the Venetian Company, priced two-tenths higher. And the money earned must be shared with the whole crew… it's not just us, practically all the captains do this!..."

In the carriage, Nuno squinted, listening to Bruno stammering through his confession of all these years of smuggling. Listening, his brows did raise again. The maritime trade from the Southern Continent, with the value of the returned goods so high, even a little bit of it being smuggled meant wealth flowing out in hundreds or thousands of Ducats... even Nuno, this not lacking money Royal supervisor, felt tempted.

Just smuggling goods and secretly selling them turned out to be too wide-spread, early on becoming a tacit rule among the Kingdom's maritime nobility. Lord Ruo Ang must know well, as long as it doesn't get too excessive, he can only approve silently. Right now, he's just intimidating this inexperienced Bruno, but couldn't possibly tear open the window paper, offending all of the Kingdom's maritime nobility all at once.

"Almighty! In just a few years, you've greedily amassed so much? Bruno, do you realize this number could get you hanged a few times during the Royal trial?!..."

"Ah! Nuno, lord, I was wrong! I dare not do it again! My loyalty to His Majesty, my fidelity to the Kingdom, truly, is more real than True Gold indeed!..."

"Hmm..."

Having grasped Bruno's mistakes, Nuno examined him carefully again, seeing he is genuinely afraid and terrified... then he softly spoke, turning the conversation to the main point.

"Bruno, you've traveled on the Southern Continent, enduring the Demon's Curse, bringing shiploads of wealth back to the Kingdom... your loyalty to His Majesty, your fidelity to the Kingdom, is seen by His Majesty as well... being greedy for some wealth, as long as it's not excessive, doesn't really matter. But you must never make a major mistake!

"What constitutes a major mistake? Colluding with the Castilians, the Venetians, leaking the Kingdom's secrets, that's a major mistake that warrants execution! Especially since His Majesty will soon summon you, entrusting you with a crucial task: to explore the new route westward as per Columbus' nautical records, finding that Great Island which has ties to the Native Kingdoms of the East…"

"This is a critical matter for the Kingdom, a secret that must never be divulged!... I've recommended you to His Majesty because I value your ability and loyalty, considering you as a talent worth cultivating... huh? No need for salutation, no need to bow… what? Hand over half of the smuggled proceeds to me? What nonsense are you speaking! How could I accept… seventy percent? Hmm…"

"Haha! Bruno, you're not bad! Understand gratitude, and you'll receive the Almighty's blessings!… As long as you can return alive from the Atlantic Ocean, bringing back information on the new route… His Majesty's rewards, the Kingdom's honors, will not be scarce!… Even the rank of Baron, further opportunities, I'll strive for them for you… Of course, the premise is, you must find that Great Island, completing His Majesty's maritime mission!..."

"Go now! Have the audience with His Majesty! Be honest and respectful. Whatever His Majesty asks, answer truthfully, hiding nothing, for you'll fail to hide… His Majesty is an exceedingly wise monarch. As long as you're useful to him, he'll use you, not minding your background!… Bruno, remember, your greatest asset is your maritime experience and expertise, be sure to seize it tightly!…"

The four-wheel carriage slowly entered Sintra Palace. The royal guard led Bruno until the grand hall under the night sky, resembling a hazardous lair. After an audience of an entire Hour, Bruno finally retreated with his head lowered, drenched in sweat. At this moment, he has an additional nautical log and interrogation records of more than ten crew members.

Yet a maritime task of life and death difficulty has already descended heavily upon his shoulders. At this moment, he was full of worries, staring into the ink-black night sky, like standing on thin ice, peering into the abyss of the sea.