Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1533 - 1074: The Voyage of 1492, Judgment Foretold

"Good! Columbus, this agreement is for you! The Almighty bears witness!"

After hearing the reply, Father Talavera handed the agreement to a wildly excited Columbus with a blank expression. Then, he lowered his gaze, abstaining from watching Columbus sign, merely reciting a sacred Latin scripture.

"In quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem eius remissionem peccatorum secundum divitias gratiae eius, quae superabundavit in nobis in omni sapientia et prudentia!..."

"Eh? The first chapter of the Book of Ephesians?... Through His blood, we have obtained redemption in Him, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. This grace is generously bestowed upon us with all wisdom and prudence!... Tsk tsk, what is God's grace? Talavera has layers to his words!..."

Financial Advisor Sir Luis blinked, glanced at Columbus engrossed in signing, then at Talavera reciting scripture, his face reflecting a thoughtful expression, yet he said nothing.

"Ha ha! Praise the generous Queen, praise God's grace! This sacred agreement is truly the grace granted to me by God!..."

Soon, Columbus lifted his head satisfied, kept a copy of the agreement, and his mouth curled high. He could understand the Latin prayers but wasn't well-versed in biblical meanings, so he spontaneously offered a prayer. Now that the Dual Kings' agreement was sealed, Columbus, looking at Father Talavera's rigid expression, no longer found it so detestable.

"Thank you, Father Talavera! Thank you for your initial introduction, allowing me to meet the beautiful and valiant Queen!..."

"Hmm. Sir Columbus, may the Almighty bless the Kingdom and also bless your nautical expedition!"

Father Talavera nodded faintly, kept the original agreement, a ritualistic smile graced his face, making a fitting response. Thereafter, maintaining a posture of bowing in prayer, he refrained from looking at Columbus again.

"Ha ha! Congratulations! Honorable Admiral, Don Christopher Columbus!"

Sir Luis chuckled, amiably patted Columbus on the shoulder. Columbus, full of excitement and joy, actually extended his hand to link arms with Sir Luis.

"Praise the Almighty! Honorable Sir Luis, thank you for your kindness, magnanimity, and assistance! You are the best teacher and friend of mine, Columbus!"

"Uh..."

Upon hearing this, Sir Luis's body stiffened, eyelids twitching, he smiled and nodded. Subsequently, he turned to fetch another royal document, unobtrusively withdrawing his arm.

"Sir Columbus, this document is from the King for your fleet! With this document, you may recruit two Light Sailing Ships from the town council of Palos City along the coast and receive sailors and supply provisions for navigation! All expenditures incurred during your voyage will be covered by the Castilian Royal Family and offset against the Crusade Taxes owed to the Kingdom by various towns..."

"The Almighty watches over! All ships, sailors, and provisions will be properly provided by June! As for Captain Juan's Santa Maria Clark Sailing Ship, it will also reach the coastal port of Palos City by June to join your exploratory fleet!..."

"Uh? Sir Luis, I am the Kingdom's Admiral, both Queen and King have granted me the supreme authority to manage the fleet...As per the agreement, Captain Juan must accept my leadership!"

Upon hearing this, Columbus raised his brows, assertively demanded.

"The Santa Maria Clark Sailing Ship is surely much larger than the two Light Sailing Ships...So this ship should serve as the fleet's flagship, and it should be me holding the captain's position, right?"

"Hm...Indeed, Sir Columbus. The Santa Maria Clark Sailing Ship as the flagship shall have you as the First Captain, while the former master Sir Juan shall serve as the assisting Second Captain...Of course, he will follow the Queen's orders, yielding to your command!"

Sir Luis, smilingly, acknowledged Columbus's regulation-compliant yet somewhat inconsiderate demand. Subsequently, he sped up his speech, pronouncing the Queen's final instructions.

"According to the Queen's request, official documents and letters from the two Kings to the monarchs of East Asia will also be placed aboard the Santa Maria Sailing Ship along with special royal gifts. Sir Columbus, the Royal Family's finances are tight, and gifts are quite limited...You need to cautiously make contact with potential East Asian monarchs, choose the powerful states among them, and present the national letters and gifts!"

"Alright, praise the Almighty! May His grace and blessing shelter you, discovering new routes to Khitan and India, bringing the Almighty's generous grace and blessing to Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon!"

"Uh...Praise the Almighty!...I will surely bring back God's grace for the Queen, bring back the good news of discovering new routes!"

Columbus opened his mouth, still having some demands to make. But seeing Sir Luis in prayer and performing ceremonial gestures, he could only bow his head in prayer, confidently issuing a declaration one last time before the two royal representatives.

Following this, Sir Luis with a poised smile, watched Columbus gesticulating exuberantly, accompanying two royal guards, striding out of Mesaar Hall.

One of the guards, Alvaro, the Royal Knight who retrieved Columbus, will personally escort Columbus, the "Admiral," along with several chamberlains to the southwestern coastal port of Palos. After all, amidst the rampage of the Holy War Army and the Cross Mercenaries on the southern Peninsula, without the escort of the guards, this newly-appointed "Admiral" might "heroically perish" before reaching the sea...

"Et cecidimus omnes in terram, et audivi vocem loquentem mihi, et dicentem in lingua Hebraea : 'Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris ? durum est tibi contra stimulum calcitrare!..."

Watching Columbus stride away, Priest Talavera raised his head, his gaze deep, and recited a passage of Latin scripture again. After the Latin recitation, he calmly repeated it in Spanish. The previously passionate Spanish prayer, fervently proclaimed, seemed like the cold first snow of October or the merciless judgment of the Inquisition when spoken by Talavera.

"... We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew: 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads!'"...

Upon hearing this passage from the ninth chapter of Acts, Sir Luis touched his nose and withdrew the friendly smile he had for Columbus. He watched the figure walking out of the palace, shaking his head slightly, and with a meaningful smile, asked.

"Respected Archbishop Talavera, the grace of God has yet to descend, and the nautical exploration of kicking against the goads has not succeeded... Is the Castilian Royal Family, the holy Kingdom Church, ready to judge 'Saul'?"...

Upon Luis's inquiry, Priest Talavera did not answer directly. He merely looked at Luis, asked with profound significance.

"Sir Luis, what is the grace of God?"...

"Ah? What is the grace of God?... Haha! Saint Paul says, 'To the one who works, his wages are not counted as grace but as his due.' So the so-called grace is naturally unearned but freely bestowed by God!..."

"Hmm, Sir Luis, you are correct!... If the opening of new routes yields results, naturally it will be the grace granted to the dual kings by God... And whose grace is Columbus's? Is it from the merciful Lord?... Is he deserving?..."

"Haha! Of course not!... The grace of the Lord... He is undeserving!..."

Upon hearing this, Sir Luis laughed heartily and nodded knowingly.

The order and way of Christ are not interpreted by saints or the gospel, but by the nobility and priests of the present. The grace Columbus seeks far exceeds the portion his ability and status warrant, naturally sowing seeds of judgment and destruction long ago.

And a so-called exploration agreement can be issued by the Queen and the King and naturally can be overturned by the Archbishop's judgment! No matter how long the document is, no matter how many lengthy promises and authorizations it contains, before "God's judgment," it is all meaningless...

"God bless! Luis, I will meet the Queen to report the final agreement document... You should also see the King and explain what happened today..."

"Haha! I will pray to God for a while longer; a slight delay is fine... The esteemed King actually does not mind the results of today's final negotiation..."

"Hmm... Compared to the King, the Queen is always more softhearted and adheres too strictly to treaties!... Just like the surrender agreement signed with the Moore heretics, she does not even allow me to judge the heretics in Granada! It seems we have to wait for the Queen's caravan to head north before we can act freely... Luis, the interest on this year's arrears, the Kingdom of Aragon must increase a bit more!"...

"Uh... Respected Archbishop Talavera, for such major matters, I have no authority to decide! When I return, I will report well to King Fernando... He will definitely discuss candidly with the Queen as well..."

"Haha! The King? Candid discussion? Hehe!"...

Priest Talavera raised his eyebrows and chuckled. He said nothing more, only gathered up all the agreement documents, lifted the archbishop's scepter, and strode away.

In the ancient Mesaar Hall, the gentle refracted heavenly light hung down like the Almighty's dignified gaze. Sir Luis looked up, gazing at the pure light of the dome, seemingly seeing in the Almighty's gaze those above Him, the noble kings, great nobility, and archbishops, the true rulers of the Catholic World!...

"Tu autem secundum duritiam tuam et cor impaenitens thesaurizas tibi iram in die irae et revelationis iusti iudicii Dei!..."

"Due to your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of God's wrath and His revealed judgment, retribution for each according to their deeds..."

After reciting this prayer from Romans chapter 2, Sir Luis shook his head and sighed with pity.

"Columbus! May you return alive, and may you have not too much success... Otherwise, you will surely face the Almighty's final judgment!"

"And the cause of this judgment is not only because of your foolishness, nor merely because of your greed, but more importantly, because of the original sin of your birth... A humble, stubborn, and pitiable commoner's son!"...