"What! Rumors of the white-skinned tribe?! We have roaring giant beasts, thundering thunderbolts, huge snake boats... Does this mean cavalry, firearms, and large sailing ships?... We also impersonate Envoys of the Divine Spirit, extremely craving gold and silver, raising the Cross of the Fake God, bringing slaughter and death?... Ah? This... This!..."

"Damn! Damn! Columbus, that fool! How much burning, killing, and looting did he do behind the back of his nautical logs? How many people did he capture, and how did he reveal all our secrets so thoroughly?... No wonder these native tribes see us like they've seen a ghost!..."

"Foda-se! This group of sheep-stealing Castilians, they do everything so crudely, even killing is sloppy! They don't know how to cover things up at all, leaking information everywhere... As a result, the native tribes are all aware, ruining the Lord's reputation and even trapping us!"

Guide Shushu cautiously translated the local tribes' responses. He naturally wouldn't use the original phrase "white-skinned demons," but instead used the term "white-skinned tribe." However, upon hearing such detailed and pointed rumors, Bruno and the adjutants exchanged a glance, the expressions on their faces instantly changed.

In the Southern Continent, the Portuguese also engaged in burning, killing, and looting, plundering the native tribes' possessions and gold. But with their seasoned experience on the West African Coast, their acts of slaughter and looting were always cautious, neat, and clean, never leaving so much noise and exposing so many secrets!

In fact, they were very selective, never offending powerful native kingdoms. They were better at understanding the relationships between various native tribes, inciting tribal killings, pulling one group to fight another, and shifting the killings onto hostile tribes, thus forming alliances with many native allies!

Just like along the West African coast, the Kingdom of Portugal has always maintained a friendly relationship with the emerging Sanghai Kingdom through periodic gift-giving and arms trade. In the Central African region, Portugal treated the strong Mwenembe Congo with great respect, actively drawing them in. Just this year, Portugal again sent a batch of missionaries to Congo and secretly allied with the Congo Prince Mpemba Kasi, who converted to the Lord, supporting him to gain power in the Congo Kingdom...

This meticulous way of doing things is partly due to the limitations of Portuguese national strength and partly to Portuguese cultural tradition. They are a seafaring nation skilled in diplomacy, completely different from their straightforward Castilian neighbors. In some ways, they are somewhat like their reliable ally from a century-old alliance, the English.

"Um... well... Captain Leader... according to what they said... this isn't a rumor, it's a prophecy!"

"... these messages were spread not last year... but four years ago, even before Columbus Capitao arrived... it had already spread from the Great Island in the west!"

"It is said that this is the... um... most powerful Death God Shaman on the Great Island in the west, who, after receiving Divine Revelation, divined this prophecy! Four years ago, that powerful Shaman knew you would come!"

"O que! What! A Satan's Apostle with demonic mana?! Four years ago, he predicted our arrival?!"

"Lord, how is this possible! How could there be such a powerful Satan's Apostle?!... Where is he? On an even larger Great Island in the west? Waiting for our arrival in his native kingdom?!"

Hearing the prophecy spoken by Shushu, Bruno's entire body shook, his face full of disbelief! He immediately held the Silver Cross on his neck, praying devoutly for the Lord's shelter. Then, he exchanged glances with Boatswain Haloduo, Quartermaster Matim, and Old Carpenter Ivo, their hearts swirling with a nightmare-like fear, unable to speak for a long time.

At this moment, those faces, looking exceptionally terrible, clearly recalled the unforgettable experiences deep within the Congo interior, remembering the end of that journey of death! In that extremely evil Voodoo Temple, that ancient and immensely powerful Satan's Apostle, the aged Voodoo High Priest, infinitely feared by the Congo natives!

"Boss! Maybe... on this deep-sea continent, where the Lord's glory doesn't shine, there is really a Satan's Apostle with powerful mana, just like on the Devil's Southern Continent! And where the Satan's Apostle is located, there must also be a powerful Devil Kingdom, just like the Congo Kingdom!"

"Yes, yes! Captain! Although Columbus is foolish, he is adaptable, and the Castilians are always capable fighters... The Castilian Exploration Fleet he led was beaten so severely by the natives this time... It must be the Satan's Apostle using demonic evil power, thereby cursing him!"

"Exactly! Captain!... It seems the native kingdom that attacked Columbus is on the Great Island west of here! And the Eastern booklet he obtained might also be related to the Satan's Apostle!... Lord, the Great Island to the west is too dangerous! Why don't we just avoid that island altogether, or even... head back?"

Old Carpenter Ivo shrunk his neck, lowered his voice, and suggested returning. Haloduo and Matim's eyes lit up, both looking at Captain Bruno. Bruno frowned deeply, his face showing clear worry and unease, yet he seemed to have some concerns.

"Boss, we have already discovered a vast land, maybe even a huge new continent! Such an astonishing discovery is enough to report to King Joao, and even make the King satisfied!"

"Right, Captain! We've also found so many islands with things like redwood, dye, shell, pearls... We can make a report to the court and the Church about these! As for that dangerous native kingdom, why not compile these acquired messages, pretend we've already encountered them, and report to the King!"

Bruno looked solemnly at his old comrades as they all made excuses for retreating. In this era, the threat from the devil is indeed more fearsome to sailors than firearms and swords!

Because, when killed by firearms and swords, there's still the chance of soul judgment and redemption, and the opportunity to go to Heaven. But if one dies from the devil's power, with the soul being tainted by the devil's power, one would never rise again!...

"Lord witnessing! This is just the testimony of two natives and possibly nonsense, the devil's lies... We can't be scared by people's threat, unable to discern truth from falsity, and immediately turn away, can we?"

Bruno surveyed the crowd, his tone full of reassurance. After all, the rebellion against Captain Diogo stemmed from fear of the devil's curse, prompting everyone to conspire together! With such experience and lessons, he certainly wouldn't dare ignore the important crew members' consensus...

At this moment, he first offered some reassurance and encouragement, then suddenly lowered his voice and made a clear promise.

"Everyone here is my brother, Bruno's brother! ...The Devil's power, only a few of us have seen it on the Southern Continent! That potion we drank... cough!... Remember this well, we're tied together, forever brothers!..."

"And on the other ship, whether it's that fool Silvira or the other naval officers, they haven't seen the Devil's might. They are foolish and ignorant, always talking about the Lord's glory and majesty!... If we return immediately, when they report to Lord Joao back in the Kingdom... we'll have a hard time explaining ourselves, might even be severely punished!..."

"How about this! Let's stay vigilant on the ship and sail further west, see if we can gather more information! And I'll try to scare Knight Silvira, it'd be best if he suggests returning first, taking on that responsibility... If that doesn't work, I'll find a way to frighten Scholar Martin, and have him suggest turning back!..."

"Lord protect us! Let's walk further west and explore more! Hopefully, we can get our hands on an Eastern booklet to report to the King... Brothers, I guarantee you! I won't risk the Devil's curse by going to that big island in the west! I will lead you, away from the Devil's lair, ensure you sail home alive!... The Devil bears witness!"

Upon hearing Bruno's promises, everyone exchanged glances for a while, then nodded in agreement. Afterwards, Bruno maintained his smile and signaled to Matim.

"Don't let the natives here know about the situation on the ship..."

"Understood, Captain!"

"Ah!!..."

A few moments later, under Shushu's horrified gaze, the sharp scimitar slashed across the yellow neck, blooming with a glaring red! Two East Sun Tribe members who were just eating meat and drinking wine, warmly hosted by the captain, barely uttered a sound before the sailors slit their throats and tossed their bodies into the sea!

"Hmm... Guide Shushu?..."

Bruno, with a kind smile, touched Shushu's neck, finally pausing at the wooden carving of the cross. And Shushu, trembling like a leaf, stared wide-eyed in terror, sweat streaming down his forehead. It was as if the chilling, imminent end was resting right on his neck.

"Lord protect us! Shushu, you're our ship's translator and a believer in the merciful Lord... you're one of us on this ship!..."

Bruno squinted, scrutinizing Shushu's fearful and submissive expression, gently clasping the man's neck. Meanwhile, Matim, wielding a dripping scimitar, stood smiling behind Shushu.

Then, Bruno, word by word, staring at the native guide who had been checked by priests and converted to the Lord, slowly spoke.

"The Native Kingdom on the big island in the west likely harbors a powerful and evil Satan's Apostle!... And according to this evil white-skinned prophecy... that Native Kingdom, who knows what wicked means they've used, has eyes on us! Our fleet is in grave danger now!..."

"Shushu! You're the ship's only translator, you must stay cautious and alert! You must help the fleet gather intelligence on the natives, find out about the big island in the west, the Native Kingdom's intelligence, and watch the natives' reactions! About the fleet, you mustn't leak even half a word to the local natives! Or else, if something happens to the fleet... Even if we don't kill you, that evil Native Kingdom surely won't spare a convert like you!..."

"Do you understand?!..."

"Ah!... Entendi! Deus abençoe! I understand! Lord bless!"

"Good!..."

Hearing Shushu's clumsy Portuguese prayer, Bruno studied him briefly, then finally smiled. His hand finally left Shushu's neck, warmly patting the man's shoulder, and promised with a grin.

"Shushu, as long as we make it back safely this time... I'll have my Moorish wife introduce you to a Moorish woman with similar skin!... And as soon as this ordeal is over, you'll be one of Bruno's brothers as well!..."

"Entendi! Deus abençoe!..."

"Haha! Good!..."

Bruno's laughter pierced the night sky, and the anchored fleet set sail again. Where the fleet had once moored, no bodies sunk in the water were visible, only faint traces of blood reflecting the dark night light~

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com