Chapter 357: The End of 1485 AD, New Changes

The Congo River awakens from its slumber in the early morning, and the mighty river is full of vitality. Platinum mullets shake their silver scales and chase the peculiarly shaped elephant-nose fish. The Congo sunbird spreads its colorful feathers and catches transparent frogs between the water trees by the river.

Large mammals live comfortably in the rainforest, enjoying the newborn sunshine. There are large groups of hippos in the water, and small groups of African forest elephants on the shore. The Congo River is a real river of life. Tens of thousands of strange species thrive in the fertile tropical land.

On the river bank, three caravels are busy. The crew took up the anchor, raised the sails, and set sail to the west again. Everyone is so impatient that the sailors on the mast keep adjusting the angle of the triangular sail, just to leave this devil's land faster.

On the leading flagship, the boatswain Diego looks proud. He sat with his legs open at the bow, eating the captain's sumptuous food while directing the sailors to work. Next to Diego, there were several trusted sailors gathered around, eating, drinking and laughing together.

After a while of chatting and laughing, a sailor raised his right hand to imitate the nobles and performed a strange captain's etiquette.

"Dear Captain Diego, the guys greet you! We are about to pass the village of the black natives. When will you take the guys ashore to do it again? Foda-se! We have been to this village for supplies before, and those chiefs have valuable rubies!"

"Haha!"

Hearing the captain's address, Diego laughed with satisfaction. He reached out and patted the sailor's head heavily, and laughed and scolded.

"Foda-se! You idiot! There are not only rubies in this village, but also dozens of warriors wearing chicken feathers! There are only a few of us now, what can we get on the shore?"

"Boss, we can pull the sailors from the other two ships and do it together! Anyway, we are on the way back, we will leave after we finish the job, and the natives can't catch up!"

"The other two ships"

His eyes flashed. If you can win over the sailors from the other two ships, you don't have to return to Lisbon. Just kill Diogo, the old dog, and Bruno, the stupid cow, and then kill all the nobles on the other ships. At that time, with the captain's top-secret sea chart, whether you go to the Moors across the sea, or find the Spaniards in the east, or even join the pirates in North Africa, it will be better than returning to Portugal. Maybe, I can also become a noble.

After thinking for a moment, Diego grinned, revealing sharp yellow teeth.

"Okay! But the indigenous tribes in this area are too powerful, brothers, please bear with it for now. When we reach the estuary, we will find two weak indigenous villages and have a good fight! Kill all the men, old and young in the village, search for gold, silver, gems and food, and get a few young women on board, then brothers can have fun every day! Anyway, we have the final say on the ship now!"

"Foda-se! Let's do it!"

"The captain is right!"

"I can't wait!"

Hearing about getting women on board, the trusted sailors' eyes lit up and they cried and howled together. Diego laughed with satisfaction. As long as he won over the sailors, then...Haha!

After thinking for a while, Diego suppressed his excitement and shouted to his trusted people beside him.

"Go, ask the chef to send some wine so that the brothers can continue to eat and drink!"

A sailor immediately stood up and walked to the deck. The deck was not far from the captain's room at the stern, where the imprisoned captain stayed. The sailor glanced in the direction of the captain's room, and the habitual awe surged in his heart. He couldn't help but bow his head and salute, and hurried down to the deck.

The captain's room was quiet. The deck and blankets were cleaned, and a piece of cardamom newly obtained from the Kingdom of Congo was lit. A faint fragrance drifted away, covering the moldy smell of blood.

Captain Diogo straightened his spine, wearing a freshly washed captain's suit, sitting on the wooden bed. His hair was combed meticulously, and his face was as calm as a sculpture. At this moment, he was looking at the sea chart he drew by hand, staring at the river where the exploration ended, without saying a word.

The noble knight Bruno knelt on one knee on the deck of the captain's room, also without saying a word. His expression was full of guilt, and it seemed that he had been kneeling for a long time.

The cabin was silent. It was not until the wild laughter of the boatswain Diego came from afar that Diogo put down the sea chart in his hand and sighed softly.

"Bruno, what are you doing here?"

"Respected Captain."

Bruno raised his right hand and saluted the captain.

"In four or five days, the fleet will reach the mouth of the Congo River."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Diogo raised his eyebrows slightly and repeated in a low voice.

"We are about to reach the mouth of the sea."

"Yes, Captain."

"After going out to sea, are you going to return to Elmina Castle?"

"Quartermaster Matim wants to return to Elmina Castle for supplies, but the boatswain Diego wants to plunder the villages along the way and then return directly to the kingdom."

Bruno nodded, hesitant to speak.

"Oh, I see."

Diogo glanced at him indifferently.

"So, you are here today to send me off and return to the embrace of the Lord?"

"Ah, Captain"

Bruno was stunned, and sweat immediately oozed from his forehead.

"Then do it."

Diogo calmly took out a dagger from his arms, and then threw it to Bruno's feet with a "dong".

"The sacred doctrine does not allow me to commit suicide, otherwise I would have ended my life long ago. It is better to die in your hands than in the hands of others."

"Captain, I, that's not what I meant."

Bruno knelt on the ground, looking at the captain who calmly died, and seemed to feel the glory of the Virgin again.

"Come on, child! Don't be burdened. You are helping me to escape. I have been cursed by the devil and I cannot hold on much longer."

Diogo smiled. He reached out and took off the silver cross Dias gave him from his neck, and then put it on Bruno's neck.

"Through redemption, the Lord shows His grace between the ages and eternity. Bruno, you still have the light of redemption in your heart! Hold on to the cross around your neck and don't let it go out in the darkness of the devil."

After speaking, Diogo took out a bottle of olive oil, drew a cross on his forehead, and prayed.

"Per istam sanctam unctionem, indulgeat tibi Dominus quidquid deliquisti, Amen."

This is the last prayer anointed with oil. There was no priest on board, so Diogo did it himself. Then, he closed his eyes quietly.

"captain!"

Bruno's eyes filled with tears again. After two voyages and several years, the captain's teachings and promotions flashed in his mind, and he finally made up his mind. Kneeling, he stepped forward and took Diogo's hand.

"Captain, please temporarily put aside your courage to die. The responsibilities of the kingdom and the church do not allow you to stop here! There is more than one route to the kingdom of Elder John! After reaching the seaport, you leave the devil's land, The crew no longer has to fear the power of the curse. We can continue south, around the border of the African continent, and then to the east!"

"oh?!"

Diogo's eyes opened instantly, revealing a lion-like gaze. He suddenly grabbed Bruno's arm with his backhand and asked in a strong voice.

"Are you willing to explore south?"

"Yes I do."

Bruno nodded affirmatively.

"But you said that Matim wants to return to Fort Elmina and Diego wants to return directly to the kingdom?"

Diogo's eyes were shining brightly as he stared at Bruno's expression.

"Yes, they want to go back north."

Bruno looked at the captain with a sincere expression.

"Captain, although we work together to persuade you to return, we are not the same group! You are my captain, elder, and teacher. My heart will always be with you. They and I are different!"

Diogo lowered his eyes and tilted his head slightly, hiding all the changes in his expression. After a while, he slowly nodded and asked in a low voice.

"So, Bruno, you want to get rid of Mattim and Diego?"

Hearing this, Bruno's face froze and he looked at the captain with some awe. Although the other party was imprisoned in the captain's cabin, he seemed to be able to see through everything on the ship. Thinking of this, he stopped beating around the bush and nodded solemnly to answer.

"Captain, Diego is too cruel. He has a dozen sailors under his control, acts recklessly, and threatens all of our lives! So, he must die! Mattim is a quartermaster and can repair weapons, and his people also Not much. As long as his position and power are taken away, he can be spared."

Having said this, Bruno licked his lips. He looked at the captain earnestly and said respectfully.

"Dear Captain, as long as you get rid of them, your rule on the ship will be restored!"

Diogo didn't speak or get excited. He looked calm and looked at this nephew who had promoted everything with his deep eyes. From the other person's eyes, he saw the growing ambition, the burning desire, and the deepening darkness.

The cabin fell silent again. The flagship flowed down the river, bringing with it the sound of rushing water; the long wind blew through the wooden windows, and Diego's laughter could be heard. After a long time, Diogo asked calmly.

"Bruno, tell me, Captain Reynaldo, how did he die?"

Bruno was shocked when he heard this question. He knelt on the ground, not daring to look into the captain's eyes.

"Reynaldo. Everyone was worried about him and worried about his manpower, so they killed him together."

"Oh? Unfortunate child."

Diogo took a deep look at Bruno and meant something. Then, he folded his hands and prayed somewhat sadly.

“May Our Lady save his soul!”

“May the Holy Mother save!”

Bruno lowered his head and prayed quietly.

After praying devoutly, Diogo straightened up and asked in a deep voice.

"Bruno, how many people do you have?"

"The chef Haroldo and his logistics sailors, the carpenter Ivo and his apprentices, plus several of Renaldo's men, and my own cronies. There are about twenty people in total."

Bunoru's eyes flickered. Because only in the name of the captain can he command the manpower of Ivo and Reynaldo.

Although Captain Diogo was imprisoned in the captain's cabin, his prestige for more than ten years was still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Previously, the crew members united to resist because the captain insisted on exploring eastward, regardless of everyone's life and death. Now that the fleet has returned, the crew is gradually moving away from the devil's land, and the captain's authority has been somewhat restored. What's more, they also want to return to Fort Elmina for supplies in an honest manner, and return to the Kingdom of Portugal and their hometown in glory.

The status of captain is silently restored in people's hearts. Bruno was keenly aware of this, and that's why he paid today's visit.

"About twenty people."

Diogo nodded slightly. He pondered for a moment and showed a melancholy smile common among Portuguese people.

"It's not enough. Noble knight Bunoru, since you came to see me today, you must have other preparations."

Bruno lowered his head, countless messy thoughts emerged in his mind, and then quickly fell silent. Facing the lion-like captain, he couldn't hide it at all. And once the male lion is released from the cage, how can he ensure his own safety? He hesitated for a while, and it was not until he once again held the cross on his neck that the captain personally put on him that he made a complete decision.

"Dear Captain. I am responsible for contacting the other two ships."

Bruno gritted his teeth and said.

"Two noble captains, Pero Anais and Pero da Costa, have always been somewhat suspicious of the situation on the flagship. As long as I send them your secret message, both ships will send elite sailors to the flagship. Come and obey your command and put down the rebellion for you!”

"Invite Pero Áñez and Pero da Costa and send sailors aboard the flagship?"

Hearing this, Diogo raised his brows and carefully looked at Bruno in front of him, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Very good! Bruno, you are very brave. Taking such a big risk, what do you want to gain?"

"Captain, I want to become a glorious and honorable royal knight like you!"

At this point, there is no need to hide anything. Bruno raised his head, not hiding the desire and ambition in his eyes.

"Captain, I believe in you too. I believe that the piety in your heart and the responsibility on your shoulders can overwhelm the hatred for our rebellion!"

"oh?"

Diogo looked at Bruno, his eyes narrowed, and he showed a lion-like smile.

"Bruno, what do my piety and responsibility have to do with you?"

"Dear Captain, after the rebellion is put down, I will assist you to go south and continue exploring! If you die of illness during the voyage, I will dock to the east and erect the last padro for you, the explorer pillar! Again! Bury you in the land where you last arrived."

Afterwards, Bruno put one hand on his heart, held the cross around his neck with the other, and swore to God devoutly.

"Witness the Lord! It's not just this time! I will inherit your responsibility and continue to explore new routes to find the country of Elder John in the East! I will also follow the teachings of Prince Enrique, explore new seas, and find the ownerless country. land. Expansion at sea for the future of our Portuguese people!”

Diogo put away his smile and looked solemn. He stared into Bruno's eyes, as if he wanted to completely see through the man in front of him. After a long time, he nodded calmly.

"Bruno, a real man should keep his word. I don't have much time left, and I can't see your future. And your oath, your promise, I will believe it for the last time. In order to survive, you can choose to betray; For ambition, you can be ruthless; for faith, you can even kill cruelly."

"I can forgive you for all this, and the Lord will also forgive you. But you must remember that you are a noble knight and a good man of my Avish! Your courage and your responsibility must not be let down! "

"Go down and prepare. May the Holy Mother bless you! Noble knight, Bruno."

"The same goes for you, my dear Captain Diogo. May the Blessed Mother!"

Water birds chirp, hippopotamus roar, and the jungle of animals is full of fights. And the Congo River surges past, rushing westward, never to look back.