Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1638 - 1167: Johan the Baptist, Antipa the Betrayer, and the Cunning Herodias

"Qué guarro! In the glory of the Almighty, I witness such ugliness and baseness, even the manure in pigsties and the corpse maggots in Hell are cleaner than the tears of your repentance…"

"Aha! Come on! Chachu, Carlo, Antonio! You actually bow to the barbaric Natives, seek forgiveness from the Fake God of the heathens… Ignorant and foolish deluded ones, do you fear the axe and knife of the Natives but not the judgment of the Almighty?! I will remember the names of your blasphemy, and so will the Lord!"

"Do it! You've all worshiped the Fake God and Evil Demon, what do you fear now?… The Almighty knows all and judges all! The fire of Purgatory has long been ignited for you!"

On the oar-sailed longship, under the gaze of dozens of Kingdom's Warriors, the scribe Rodrigo knelt on the deck, his aged head held high. Beside him, Royal Family steward Gutierrez pressed his lips tight, his face full of unease, anxiety, and fear.

Two steps away, Boatswain Qia Chu held a sharp Obsidian Dagger, his eyes shifting erratically, with the equally cowering Goldsmith Carlo and Carpenter Antonio behind him. They all knew the identity of the scribe Rodrigo, a Royal representative with a Church background, worlds apart from ordinary sailors! And if they really cut down this blow, then in the Kingdom of Castile, perhaps there would be no place for them anymore!…

"…non solum impiorum animae, verum etiam qui eorum corpora dilanient inmortales vermes…"

The scribe Rodrigo extended his right hand, thumb, index, and middle fingers gathered to one point, the remaining two fingers pressed against the palm, making a devout "sign of the cross." Then, with a gesture representing the Almighty, he pointed to the three hesitant and shrinking sailors, a disdainful laugh escaping his mouth. Thus he raised his head, hoarsely shouting, reciting verses from the Book of Isaiah in Latin, like a martyr facing death fearlessly!

"…Their worms do not die, and their fire is not quenched. All those with breath will despise them… Ah! Ugh!!! Ah!!…"

Blood splattered, three fingers suddenly fell off, accompanied by uncontrollable cries of pain! Boatswain Qia Chu trembled all over, even his legs were somewhat unstable. This fierce, resolute blow seemed to have exhausted all his strength, even the sharp Obsidian Long Dagger was chipped by the finger bones. However, when he looked back, his eyes were ferocious like the red of a wild beast, without any hesitation and without any fear!

"Carlo! It's your turn!!…"

Seeing Qia Chu's reddened eyes, Goldsmith Carlo felt a chill in his heart, catching the blood-stained incomplete Stone Dagger. He wanted to step forward, but it was as if his feet had taken root. As a Goldsmith, he was not like the rootless Boatswain Qia Chu. Not only did he have a position on the ship, but even ashore, he was a respected metal craftsman, a rural contract worker. Actually, such a respectable profession was family inheritance, he was connected to a whole bunch of apprentices, relatives, parents, wife, and children. And this blow…

"Carlo!!…"

"You bunch of rotting maggots!… Ah!!!…"

Goldsmith Carlo bent his waist, arms trembling, both hands stained red. This blow dragged on, almost like sawing with a saw. But when the blurred bloody finger was completely cut off and fell onto the deck, Carlo gradually stopped trembling, his body straightening up.

"…Gold fell into fire, there's no retreat…unless…"

Goldsmith Carlo bit his lips, with a cold and vicious gaze, looked intensely at Rodrigo, then at the shocked and terrified for the first time Gutierrez. Then he turned around, using a sinister voice squeezed out from Hell, speaking to the last person.

"Antonio, stop crying!… Hold tight to this dagger! The last pinky finger remains…"

"Almighty!… Sob! Respected scribe Rodrigo, please forgive me… Sob! I too… have no choice… I want to live! The Natives are so fierce, I can't die here… Sob! You… You are a martyred Saint, I am the assistant helping your martyrdom… When you meet the Almighty, please say something for me…"

"You…all…such…weak and pathetic…Antipa!…Johann the Baptist…dedicated and submitted to…Jesus Christ and His Kingdom…Ah!!!…"

Carpenter Antonio sobbed, feared, and chopped off the last pinky finger. Then, his hand trembled, the broken Obsidian Dagger fell onto the deck, soaked in warm red. He quickly stepped back two steps, moving his tearful eyes away, as if avoiding some terrible venomous snake. However, that blood stuck to his hands, stuck to his feet, had long turned him into part of the snake, the most striking red tongue…

"Respected, powerful, brave Lord Xipangu! I obeyed your command, cut off the fingers of the Royal representative! From today onwards, I am your steel blade, whether for cutting hands or cutting heads, I am fast and good!"

Boatswain Qia Chu withdrew all ferocity, respectfully knelt at Puap's feet, kneeling in Rodrigo's blood. With both hands raised high, holding the bloodstained sacrificial remnant dagger, face striving to display a submissive smile.

"Praise Almighty of Vizilopo!… Praise Knights of Vizilopo!…"

"Yes, yes! Praise Vizilopo! Praise the Red Bird!…"

"Uh…Praise you, mighty Knight Xipangu Cid!…"

"Hmm..."

Listening to these incomprehensible compliments, Huitu Puapu stroked his chin, looking with interest at the three sailors kneeling in surrender.

These Evil Demon sailors hesitated only for a moment, and without any coercion needed, decided to act against the tribe's esteemed Priest! Meanwhile, the Priest from the Evil Demon Tribe was clearly chanting a spell, cursing these surrendered sailors, but the sailors seemed not frightened...

"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! They seem to have no reverence for the Divine, lacking any sense of loyalty... Hmm, just like the coyotes in the jungle that bite, they are dogs that need to be whipped!..."

The wise Puapu pondered for a while, allowing the three sailors to remain kneeling, and first instructed the trusted aide Pulu.

"Go! Properly bandage that Evil Demon Priest who fainted from pain, using the best hemostatic herbs!... With the Chief Divine's blessing! These sailors can't use a dagger properly, their cuts are too rough, don't let such an important sacrifice die..."

"Yes! Boss!... By the way, what about the other Evil Demon noble?"

"The other one? Let me think, let me test his quality... I've got it!"

Huitu Puapu squinted his eyes, examining Royal Family steward Gutierrez as if assessing prey. Then, his eyes lit up, and he grinned.

"Give him this dagger for cutting fingers!... Tell him to either cut his own throat or that of the tribe's Priest!"

"Yes!..."

"Oh Almighty! Holy Mother! Please save me! I am your devout follower... Don't... end up like Rodrigo..."

Sweat dripping from his forehead, Gutierrez's eyes darted around, avoiding the cold gaze of the native leader. He silently recited the name of the Almighty, praying with unprecedented devotion. The fate of Rodrigo had profoundly shaken him, shaking the faith he once thought was firm. Little did he know, an even harsher bloody shock was yet to come...

"Ah! You evil, Hell-bound barbarian!... What do you want to do?... What? A dagger?... No! I will never betray the Almighty, nor harm... what? Either slit my own throat, committing suicide?... Ah, this?!!..."

Gutierrez exclaimed, his face rapidly changing colors like a vibrant palette. The native leader watched him with ill intent, the native warriors glancing menacingly at him, the three sailors staring intently at him, and Rodrigo lay unconscious at his feet...

"Ah!... Holy Mother save me! Vizilopo..."

A moment later, under the astonished gaze of everyone, Royal Family steward Gutierrez suddenly yelled something vague, seemingly mentioning the Chief Divine's name. Then, he foamed at the mouth, collapsing heavily on the deck with a "thud." His unconsciousness was so deep, it was as if he had been called by the Almighty, falling into an endless dream. No matter how the trusted aide Putu repeatedly slapped him, "smack smack," he couldn't awaken him from his slumber.

"Huh?... Why did he faint?..."

Huitu Puapu widened his eyes in shock, looking at the unconscious Gutierrez, unable to determine what sudden ailment had befallen him. After a moment, he couldn't be bothered to think further, snickering disdainfully.

"Haha! What a spineless creature! He looks like a noble warrior but is more timid than an armadillo... Frightened so much he foamed at the mouth and fainted... Ugh! What's that smell? Did he wet himself out of fear?... Ugh!!..."

"Damn! Take him away, take him away!! Such bad luck... If this cowardly Evil Demon noble wets himself out of fear on the sacrificial altar, won't that anger the Chief Divine?... Truly damnable!"

Frowning, Huitu Puapu completely lost further interest. He stood up, walked to the kneeling Sailor Chief Qia Chu, and nodded with satisfaction. Then, he extended his sturdy hand, gripping Qia Chu's hair forcefully, just as the Majesty would grasp his hair.

"Very good! You're a man-eating wolf, the fiercest, most warrior-like among the Evil Demon captives! Truly deserving of the name Ah Gou..."

"From now on, follow me!... The Chief Divine is generous! As long as you devoutly believe in the Chief Divine and make great achievements in the fight against Evil Demons... Fiefs and titles, they are within reach!..."

"Go, Ah Gou! Teach the Tainu sailors to set sail and bring these two large ships back! That will be your first notable achievement!..."