Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1915 1387: Plate Armor Beyond Imagination! The Last Night!

"Sailing at first light tomorrow? … Ah, this… this is too sudden, isn't it? … Boss… I already agreed with that chieftain… 200 ducats…""Ahem! Esteemed Scholar Martin, your suggestion is indeed very reasonable! … We have indeed stayed here too long, and it's too dangerous… It's just that the fleet still needs to replenish some food, and the likelihood of anything unexpected happening on the last day is not great… So how about this, the fleet will trade with the natives one last time tomorrow, and instead of staying overnight, we'll leave after the trade in the afternoon?…"

"...Captain Bruno, since you've made up your mind, and the boatswain has also stated his stance… I can't say anything further, nor dare I say anything more! … Just for safety, before dark tonight, let's change our anchorage once more, shall we? Sail further into the deep sea for a bit, then extinguish all the torches… Being more cautious means more security for everyone's lives!…"

"May the Almighty protect us! You are right indeed! Then let's turn due west and sail 1.5 leagues (14.4 kilometers) into the sea… Not only should we extinguish the torches at night, but also set up double sentry posts, with shifts to guard vigilantly!…"

"Hmm, everything is up to you, captain… May the Almighty bless us!…"

The lure of gold is right before them, like an invisible whirlpool, making it hard for the Portuguese fleet to decisively leave. Yet, the scholar's reminder of danger made Bruno even more cautious.

On one hand, he notified the sailors of the decision to return the next day, reiterating the fleet's discipline, forbidding any sailor from leaving the ship without permission. On the other hand, he rearranged the anchorage and watch positions, slyly positioning Silvira's subordinate ship closer to the shore to provide an extra warning for the flagship.

The night descended, its dark veil covering the sky, swallowing the sailors' vision. On the vast and profound sea, there was no light, and the distant sailboats were not visible. It was an exceptionally long night. Shushu waited anxiously through the night. He finally dozed off at dawn, only to be suddenly awakened by the old carpenter Ivo patting his cheek, opening his terrified eyes wide as unexpected laughter rang in his ears.

"Shushu, you guy, why are you so timid, like a frightened quail? … Time to get up! Your tribesmen working on the deck have already cleaned it twice… Sailor Chief Haloduo orders that later, you'll still be the translator, accompanying him ashore… Tsk tsk! Those involved in the trade will get extra shares… Over the past few days, you've really hit the jackpot!…"

"Entendi! Deus abençoe! I understand! May the Almighty bless us!…"

"Haha! You guy… really amusing!…"

The tropical sun brilliantly ascended to midday. The Portuguese fleet once again arrived at the coast of the native village, where some native militia had long been waiting on the designated trading beach.

After a brief exchange, a shiny and bright suit of plate armor was hoisted by two robust sailors, transported from the flagship to the small boat, and then from the boat to the shore. This beautifully curved armor, like a masterpiece created by the Demon, captivated everyone's attention, leaving them in awe!

"Oh Almighty! What is this?… The knight's plate armor?…"

"Damn it! Where did Bruno get this valuable plate armor, selling it to the natives? Could it be?… Ah! This bold guy is even bolder than me!… I, Silvira, need to go personally find him! One way or another, he has to give me a share of the gold!"

"It's really strange, isn't it? How could there be plate armor on the flagship?… Could this be goods brought for trade as well? I've never seen it before…"

"Shh! It's 'goods' that only the captain can use… granted by Your Majesty, initially meant to be gifted to… ahem!"

Sailor Chief Haloduo's gaze silenced the talkative sailor immediately. Then, under the watchful eyes of many native warriors and militia, he personally donned the plate armor to demonstrate the true symbol of martial prowess for knights across the Europe, that ultimate defense!

"Bang! Bang! Clang! Bang!…"

Quartermaster Matim wielded the sailor's curved knife, constantly hacking at the front, sides of the plate armor, and on the steel helmet, steel arm armor, and similarly steel leg armor! However, no matter how hard he slashed, the plate armor that Haloduo wore was able to perfectly resist the attacks!

The specially designed steel curves not only deflected the blades at an angle but also significantly dissipated the impact from the strikes, epitomizing the pinnacle of armor design of this era!…

"... Oh, Chief Divine! Is this indeed the most powerful armor prophesied by Your Majesty?… That 'plate armor'?"

Seeing the defensive capability of the plate armor, the chieftain of the tribes was shocked to a stupor, and the armored warriors widened their eyes as well. Even the "ordinary militia" also showed surprise, even a bit of awe!

This absolutely surpasses everyone's imagination of armor, unafraid of swords and axes. Except for a few vulnerabilities at the neck and joints, it was nearly flawless!

To break such perfect armor, aside from using heavy muskets to bombard it, or using heavy crossbows and armor-piercing arrows up close… perhaps only using a heavy hammer to smash it, or waiting for the plate-armored warrior to exhaust their stamina, could potentially bring them down.

And if a group of warriors, donning such plate armor, charged in formation, even just a few dozen, it would be an unimaginable force! It would be exceedingly difficult to defeat them before these armored warriors exhausted their stamina!

At this moment, the "ordinary militia" momentarily lost focus. He had truly witnessed the power of the Evil Demon and genuinely understood that the Evil Demon Prophecy recorded in Divine Power University was not exaggerated in the slightest. By the time he managed to regain his senses, the trade on the beach had already moved to the stage of counting sand gold.

The gold of a Half-Chief Divine Talisman, exchanged for such a bottom ballast treasure, is definitely worth it!

In these five days, these two ships of White-skinned Demons have already traded 41 standard scimitars, 10 matchlock guns, 10 sets of breastplates, 1 set of refined leather armor, 1 two-pound cannon, and 1 set of knight plate armor... Almost all the military supplies on their ships have been completely traded. And the price paid by the Kingdom was merely 5 Gold Talismans, a mere 5 pounds of gold! Such a deal, strengthening the Kingdom's force, could not be more worthwhile! Moreover, whether this fleet of Evil Demons can actually leave with the gold is still an unknown...

"Cough! The War God of Huitzilopo, bless us!..."

"Chief Divine bless!..."

The ordinary Militia responded softly. Then he glanced at the White-skinned Waterman Chief examining the gold's quality and pulled a giant sea clam from his chest, stuffing it into Shushu's arms.

"Uh? What's this?..."

"This is a pearl clam, and inside it is a big pearl! If our conversation is discovered again... you just take this out and say it's a token of gratitude from me! As long as they open the clam to get the pearl, they will be attracted and won't suspect you..."

The ordinary Militia quickly explained a few sentences. Then, without changing his expression, in a low voice, he asked.

"Where did you anchor last night? We dispatched a scouting boat but couldn't find your location."

"Ah! There's a White-skinned Eduduzo on the ship, a very high-status Shaman, extremely vigilant and cautious!... He temporarily changed the anchoring position and requested to leave as soon as possible... after today's trade of this plate armor and replenishing food... the fleet will leave by dusk!..."

"What? The fleet won't stay overnight, leaving at dusk?!..."

Upon hearing this response, the ordinary Militia's expression visibly changed, showing a hint of urgency. Calmly, he looked around at the scattered dozen or so Samurai and then at the three or four White-skinned Demons who came ashore for the trade.

At present, capturing these landing sailors is easy, but capturing the Evil Demons' fast-moving sailboats, these exceptionally agile and alert prey? Only with ambush in dangerous places or nighttime stealth attacks are viable options!

After all, on such open waters, pursuing a trained Evil Demon sailboat... with the Kingdom sailors' quality, it would be very hard to catch up! Unless they, like that reckless Evil Demon fleet before, plunged headlong into the lagoon bay, getting cornered by the Kingdom Fleet...

"Chief Divine bless! Can the fleet be delayed for a day? Even a night would do... maybe with more gold?..."

"Uh... They particularly like gold, but there's not much left on the ship to trade. That White-skinned Shaman seems to have become somewhat wary and suspicious... Oh! I remember, they seem to be looking for something, a book made of white leaves, with square characters and totem paintings, said to come from the East, a treasure their King specifically requested! If there is such an item, it might delay the fleet for another day..."

"White leaves? Book? Square characters? Paintings?... Uh! Are you talking about the Kingdom-printed book?..."

The ordinary Militia pondered briefly and guessed what Shushu was referring to. But the only book distributed by the Kingdom in Cuba and Haiti Island was the Kingdom's "Book of Ama Colley"!

But how did the White-skinned Demons know about this scripture? What do they intend to do with this Chief Divine Scripture? Is it seriously a treasure specially requested by their King? That's too strange! They surely don't plan to convert to the Chief Divine, do they?... Additionally, why the East? The Kingdom is clearly in the West...

"What is a book? I don't know... but they repeatedly mentioned it must have 'square characters'! As for the rest, it doesn't seem to matter..."

"Square characters? Hmm... I'll arrange for someone to test it out immediately..."

The ordinary Militia nodded slightly and glanced at the White-skinned Waterman Chief who was about to finish inspecting the gold. He then quickened his speech and finally instructed.

"Tonight, as long as the anchoring position can be found, it will..."

"If you have a chance, light a torch, even for just a moment, to reveal the firelight in the pitch-dark night..."

"But if there's no opportunity... don't startle the birds..."

"... Don't look back; someone is watching... raise the pearl clam in your hand, open it to look at the pearl inside! Look extremely delighted... Yes, just like that!"

"Chief Divine bless! If all goes well, we'll meet again soon!..."