Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1528 - 1069: The Voyage of 1492, Retrieval Beneath the Pine Bridge, Journey into the Atlantic Ocean! (Part 2)

"Yes! The Almighty bears witness! My name is Christopher Columbus, destined to discover Khitan and India, and to find new sea routes as a great navigator!..."

"Ahaha! Alright! Great navigator, I am Reinhardt von Litter, somewhat of a name within the Holy War Army. Hmm, under my command, there are over a hundred brothers, all capable of riding horses into battle, killing, and beheading!..."

Reinhardt stroked his chin, looking down at the impoverished "great navigator" Columbus, and casually offered a suggestion.

"Holy Mother bless! It's impossible for you to pay off the high-interest loans from Jewish merchants! Such interest rolling over, even to death, you would pass the debt to your sons. That's the hateful aspect of Jewish moneylenders, like leeches sucking you dry. I've seen plenty of them back in my hometown!..."

"But! If someday you manage to gather two hundred gold ducats, and find me... I might just lead my brothers to act once and erase your debt for you!..."

"What? You ask how to erase it? Isn't it simple! For us Bavarian knights, no matter how much you owe, if you can't pay, just kill the lender's entire family and the debt is gone! It's just a Jewish merchant, do it discreetly, take care of the bodies, what's so troublesome? The dead can't talk... Ahaha!..."

Reinhardt laughed heartily, leaving Columbus with a uniquely German way of debt elimination. Then he wanted to curse the Jews further but heard an exclamation from a nearby mercenary.

"Ah, Captain! Look east! People are coming from the east! Look at that flag, it seems like some royal cavalry!..."

"Hmm? Really, royal cavalry? Strange, they don't usually come this way? Let's go! We won't deal with these troublesome folks!..."

Reinhardt turned his head and indeed saw a rising dust cloud in the distance, faintly showing a royal flag of Castile. He frowned, glanced at the "Queen's great navigator" Columbus, and prepared to ride away. But Columbus suddenly gritted his teeth, straightened his chest, and shouted courageously.

"Reinhardt!"

"Hmm?"

Reinhardt squinted his eyes, looking at Columbus, silently placing his hand on the hilt of his great sword.

"May the Almighty bless! If... I'm saying if! If one day I discover a new route to Khitan, become the Queen's Admiral and Governor of India!... Would you come and join me?!..."

"What?! What on earth?..."

Upon hearing this, Reinhardt's eyes widened in disbelief, almost thinking he was hearing things. He looked at Columbus, so ordinary yet so confident, and after several moments of astonishment, burst into loud laughter.

"Ahaha! Ahahaha! You expect me? Expect me, the captain of a great mercenary group, to follow a pauper like you?... Ahaha! It's killing me with laughter!..."

"Reinhardt! Marco Polo said, Khitan and India are filled with gold and spices, flowing with milk and honey, a rich land promised by the Almighty!... And if I discover Khitan and India, you follow me there to get rich, you'll surely earn much more than by raiding these Moors!..."

"Ahaha! Khitan and India? Follow you there to get rich?... Ahaha! It's so funny! Killing me with laughter!..."

"Captain! We must go now; those royal cavalry aren't far away!..."

"Reinhardt! Do you dare answer me? Do you dare to make a bet with me?!... Do you dare to agree with me, claiming to be a brave Bavarian knight!..."

"Hmm?..."

Reinhardt was about to leave on his warhorse when he heard Columbus' final provocative shout. His eyes sharpened, and he gave Columbus a cold look, causing Columbus to shrink his neck. After a few moments, Reinhardt's mouth curled into a smile, he squeezed the horse's belly and rode away, leaving only a meaningful remark.

"The Almighty bears witness! If you truly discover Khitan, and come back alive, becoming some damn Admiral... then send someone to the tavern in Barcelona to contact us! Remember, bring enough money!..."

"Dada-dada!... "

Hoofbeats crossed the pine bridge, gradually fading to the west. The bloodthirsty mercenaries soon turned into little dots on the western horizon. Meanwhile, several royal knights from the East turned from small dots to figures, gradually approaching until they reached Columbus' side.

"Halt, halt!... Hmm? It seems like those Shenluo mercenaries?"

"Many in number, moving fast, all competent... these snarling hyenas!"

"Indeed! After the Holy War, it's time to drive these hyenas away... What they took are our wealth!..."

Three armored knights stopped their horses' hooves, gazed for a while at the departing dust in the west, and then looked at the two disheveled men with scattered bundles in front of them.

"The Almighty bless! I am the Royal Knight of the Queen, Alvaro de Salamanca. You are... Christopher Columbus?..."

Royal Knight Alvaro dismounted, observed Columbus' appearance for a while, and quickly confirmed his identity. As one of the Queen's loyal guards, he certainly remembered Columbus.

This stubborn so-called "great navigator" persistently clung to his westward exploration plan, year after year, repeatedly seeking an audience with the Queen. Even though Columbus and his absurd nautical proposal were always a joke among the royal knights, it gradually gained some notoriety.

After all, having a name is better than none. Even if it's a reputation for foolishness, stubbornness, and absurdity, being remembered offers the possibility of being considered by others.

"Yes! Almighty bless! I am Christopher Columbus... Esteemed royal knight, are you looking for me?..."

Columbus pressed his lips, looking at the royal knight in front of him, a bit uneasy. In the presence of a royal knight, he dared not claim the title of "Queen's great navigator." Though he was a chatterbox and loved to curse "foolish fools," he always managed to adjust and be humble when facing true authority.

"Oh! Esteemed great navigator... I'm not the one looking for you, it's the esteemed Queen seeking you!..."

Upon mentioning "great navigator," Royal Knight Alvaro's mouth curled up. However, being professionally trained, he quickly suppressed his smile, speaking in an official tone.

"On behalf of Queen of Castile and King of Aragon, you are summoned once again, great navigator Columbus, to discuss the westward maritime proposal!"

"Ah! Oh, this! They're... They're reconsidering... my proposal?!"

On hearing this, Columbus stood dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss, stammering. He wanted to laugh with joy, but recalling the humiliating rejection of his proposal not long ago, he genuinely found it hard to laugh.

"Bu... but? Before... when the proposal was rejected... wasn't it by...?..."

"Oh! Esteemed great navigator, this time your proposal is being reconsidered due to the joint efforts of the King's financial advisor Luis de Santangel, and the Queen's chief auditor Alonso de Quintanilla!..."

Royal Knight Alvaro blinked and smiled at Columbus. At this moment, in Columbus' eyes, he seemed like a long-awaited, yet charming angel, speaking the most enchanting divine melody.

"Oh! Merciful Almighty bless! What?!... The King's financial advisor and the Queen's chief auditor's joint efforts?!... Doesn't this mean...? Almighty! Ah!!..."

"Yes! Merciful Almighty bless! Congratulations, esteemed great navigator!..."

Royal Knight Alvaro smiled again, but this time, there was more sincerity in his smile.

"Praise the Almighty! With the endorsement of these two esteemed financial officers, your proposal to explore the western ocean has already been... approved in principle!..."