Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1675 - 1193: The End of 1492 AD—We Are the Almighty’s Blessed Companions!
"Merda!…Only fools would believe the words of a viper!…"
Columbus gritted his teeth fiercely, cursing himself before glaring at De La Cosa and asking.
"De La Cosa, are you not afraid that I will accuse you of treason before the Queen?…"
"Oh? Treason?…"
De La Cosa laughed dismissively, retorting.
"Then, how many are guilty of treason? The Pinzon brothers beheaded by the natives? The royal steward and notary taken away? The entire exploration fleet, regardless of whether dead or alive, all the crew members?…"
"Damn it! The foolish Pinzon family is long dead! The royal steward and notary are also gone forever!…Now, I only need to accuse you alone!…"
"Oh? Accuse me alone?…"
De La Cosa chuckled, watching Columbus gradually regain his composure, and responded.
"But Commander, what good does it do to accuse me, the only surviving vice-captain?…"
"De La Cosa, you conspired to betray me! You must be punished!…"
"And what about you? Your own crimes?…"
De La Cosa lightly laughed and shook his head, asking meaningfully.
"The Almighty bears witness! After just one voyage, betrayed by everyone, do you still qualify as the naval commander? Will the Queen trustingly entrust the kingdom's fleet to you again? And if I honestly recount everything that happened during the voyage—the guilt of losing the royal steward and notary, rashly waging war against the Xipangu Kingdom, losing the Queen's charter—how will you bear it?…"
"Holy Mother!... Betrayed by all... losing the Queen's trust... all my fault?…"
Upon hearing this, Columbus opened his mouth, recalling the highs and lows of this oceanic exploration, his expression dazed. In that instant, he stared blankly at the natives' wooden houses, at the solitary, desecrated idol wood carving, as if he vaguely saw his own future—an outcast returning from the glory of the East, yet not accepted by high society...
"Ah! I... I'm innocent! How could I be guilty?! I discovered the East, I found India, I did nothing wrong!... Clearly, it was all of you! You betrayed me one after another! You disobeyed my orders, just like the foolish Pinzon who went to war with the natives on his own, just like the royal representative who left the flagship without permission..."
"Indeed! Commander, you truly did nothing wrong! Your unwavering belief truly guided the fleet to discover a brand new East... But alas, you were born with original sin, difficult to accept by the kingdom!…"
"My original sin?…"
"Oh!..."
De La Cosa sighed lightly, as if sincerely lamenting for Columbus. At that moment, he genuinely gazed into Columbus' eyes and softly seduced him.
"Commander, you are an outstanding navigator... But regrettably, you are not a Castilian! Nor are you of noble blood!… With such limited origins, no matter your talents, how can you command the kingdom's fleet and make all Castilian captains obediently follow?…"
"Your contributions hardly translate to commanding the fleet... But once you are guilty, once you err, everyone will remember!… For no one ever has regarded you as one of the kingdom's own!…"
"Even if the Queen appreciates you! Even if the Queen believes in you! But even Elijah, the Prophet of God, would waver in the face of Jezebel's evil... And just one time! Just one failure, you'll fall off a high cliff, with no chance to climb back up..."
"So, dear Commander Columbus! You, alone, truly need allies, allies born of Castile!… And after we have jointly endured this difficult exploratory voyage, survived the natives' cruel and dreadful slaughter, and ultimately lived through it together, we are truly partners blessed by the Almighty!…"
"At present, all significant people from this voyage are dead, leaving only us two captains alive... But if we join forces, properly 'organize' the voyage's progress and discoveries, and submit to the Queen and royal nobles a report with no faults to find!… Then we both will be rewarded by the Queen, share the honor of new routes, and gain leadership on the next voyage together!…"
