Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"Good! Nuno, you truly are the one among us who understands His Majesty the most! If not for the previous worry of you tattling... I should have brought you into this a lot earlier!"

"...Don’t say any more! Let’s go! Let’s go now, the sooner the better!..."

Joao II spent over ten years selecting these outstanding chief aides. And when the shift in power occurred, these seasoned chiefs did not ’disappoint’ Joao II’s judgment. They displayed exceptional operational capacity, a profound comprehension of all factions, and robust control over Lisbon Royal Capital.

"Hmm?..."

Bruno, utterly puzzled, watched as the Godfather and Duarte, like enemies, entered the secret room. Yet after talking through the night, they emerged side by side as if they were brothers from different fathers and mothers.

"Godfather?..."

"Don’t ask too much. Take half the people and come with me to the Lucena family’s estate. Hmm, Duarte is now standing with me. We’ll go together..."

"Yes!..."

The armored soldiers moved out again, while the two chiefs donned cloaks headed to another ’old friend’s’ home. As the first ray of dawn illuminated the streets of the Alfama Noble District, the bell of the Lisbon Cathedral rang "dong," marking that the cloaked Royal Household chiefs had grown from two to three.

"Godfather? Where are we heading now?"

"To the Royal Palace!..."

"Ah! These armored soldiers?"

"Bring them along! Duarte has a pass, and most of the palace guards are under him!..."

"This..."

"Don’t ask more questions! Move!"

"Yes!"

The glare of dawn in the East was rather piercing, and that striking sunlight made it hard for people to look directly at it. The three chiefs kept their heads lowered, leading over a hundred fully armed soldiers to the Royal Palace beside Saint George Castle. The palace guards saluted them, asked a few questions, and let them pass, knowing they were direct supervisors themselves. Subsequently, the accompanying soldiers joined the guard ranks, like two streams converging into a river.

"Bruno, you wait outside this room! Wait for us to come out!"

"Yes! Godfather!"

Bruno gritted his teeth, nodded in agreement, clutching the sword at his waist. Despite his confusion, he could sense the night’s turbulent and ominous situation.

The three chiefs thus moved forward with heads down under the light of the rising sun, toward the quarters where Joao II was taking refuge during his illness. They carried no soldiers or weapons, nor did they need to. When the King was as gravely ill as he was, the entire palace was filled with their people.

"..."

Bruno paced back and forth nervously, as at that point, everyone had more or less guessed what was happening, though none paid him any mind. Occasionally, he tip-toed to peek through the costly stained glass, surreptitiously catching a glimpse of the scene inside the quarters.

The three chiefs appeared to be shorter, as if they were kneeling, facing a certain direction. Then their vague silhouettes seemed to freeze, not moving for quite a while. No one knew what was said or what was done in those moments.

"Dong!..."

The muffled bell rang once more, but this time it came from nearby Saint George Castle, not the Lisbon Cathedral. Bruno looked up and saw that the soldier ringing the bell seemed to be the officer who previously confronted him—Duarte’s subordinate. Undoubtedly, the castle was filled with soldiers loyal to His Majesty and controlled by the Royal Household chiefs, essentially their own people.

"Dong!"

These two noonday bell tolls seemed to shatter a twilight’s stillness. When Bruno turned back, he was shocked to find the three chiefs had already emerged from the quarters, each holding a sheepskin scroll with gold lines, clearly bearing the format of a Royal Decree. At this moment, the eyes of all three chiefs were red, with evident tear marks on their faces. Of them, Little Vasco wept the most bitterly, muttering as he cried.

"Almighty witness! Your Majesty... I will surely protect Prince George’s safety! Even if it takes my life..."

"Vasco, stop crying! Everyone outside is watching!..."

Duarte, with reddened eyes and a face full of shame, half-covered his face with a hat, unwilling to let his subordinates see. Meanwhile, Nuno Chief lowered his head, covering his face with force, and let out a long, muffled sigh.

"Alas! Your Majesty! Our wise and discerning King... We will take care of Prince George, as long as we live..."

Seeing this scene made Bruno increasingly nervous, fearing to step forward and question them. The three chiefs thus sighed for a moment, before wiping their tears away one by one. Ultimately, it was Nuno Chief who spoke first. Unconsciously, he had replaced Duarte, becoming the one assigning tasks among the three.

"Duarte, at this point, try your best to handle the forthcoming matters well! With His Majesty’s Royal Decree, summoning the City Defense Army becomes even more logical. Vasco, you take the guards and first protect Prince George, then go find Duke Manuel... No! Find Bishop Diogo first! Duke Manuel is certainly being watched by the Church, you can’t hide from them. First, discuss our terms with the bishop, yes, His Majesty’s terms! Be sure to avoid the Duke of Braganza’s men; those greedy fools will only mess things up. We must make terms with the Church first, then face those Great Nobility... As for me, I’ll take His Majesty’s Royal Decree and mobilize the Navy!"

"Alright! Let’s proceed!"

"Holy Mother! I will surely protect Prince George well!"

The three chiefs convened in hushed tones for a moment, before setting into action once more. Power births its own will, a consensus to which even their former master must conform. Even the perfect monarch must relinquish control of power at life’s end. Whether in Asia or Europe, in the Old Continent or the New, it’s inevitable!

"Godfather? These decrees, are they from the King?"

"Yes. The King’s decree commands us to mobilize the Kingdom Navy... to ensure the safety of the blessing mass the day after tomorrow. And, for the blessing mass dedicated to His Majesty the day after tomorrow, bring your men along and join me in attending!"

"Ah? The Church’s mass? But... I don’t have an invitation from the bishop?"

"You will have one!"

"Then... Godfather, how is the King’s health? Is he alright?..."

Nuno Chief turned around, fixing an eagle-like gaze on Bruno’s face. Bruno was startled, presenting a blank look of confusion. Nuno stared sharply for a moment, then suddenly relaxed his aura. He let out a deep sigh, layers of wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes, as if aging three or five years in that breath.

"Alas! Almighty protect His Majesty! He is a sacred King. His soul belongs to the Lord and to the beautiful Heaven... Unlike us..."

"Ah?..."

"Let’s go! Bruno, my child. You know all the Navy officers, accompany me! Perhaps you’ll have the chance to become an officer of these officers one day..."

"Almighty! Godfather, you mean?!..."

"Carry out each task I assign! Protect me well!"

Under the noonday sun, Nuno Chief walked with his hands behind him, hunched over, like an elderly man, appearing much older than before. However, his words were firm, lacking the prior hidden demeanor.

"Bruno, come with me! Once everything is accomplished, there will be a seat for you at the new King’s coronation ceremony... The road ahead is still long!"