Diego’s eyes showed a cold killing intent, but he quickly lowered his gaze, concealing all emotion. After a few moments, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Bruno, you are a nephew of our lineage, and I have always valued you highly. I remember that recently, you married a Moorish woman and moved to Lisbon, did you not?"
"Ah? Yes, captain. She is the sister of the former Sailor Chief Paulo, and we moved to Lisbon together..."
"Hmm, do you like her?"
Diego asked with a smile.
"Yes. She is beautiful, with delicate features, and kind to me. Holy Mother bless! She was pregnant before I left..."
Speaking of his wife, Bruno’s face lit up with a happy smile.
"Holy Mother bless! Very good."
Diego affectionately patted Bruno’s shoulder. Then, with bright eyes and a grave tone, he said,
"Bruno, now that you are married and have a child, you have become a true man, understanding the meaning of responsibility! In our last contact with the native Kingdom, you earned merit and showed sufficient courage. To bear responsibility and to have courage are the two most important virtues for a man of Aviz!..."
"We are sailing on the Demon’s land, and we must muster the courage to fulfill the duties bestowed upon us by the Kingdom! This voyage is so crucial. Our duty is to find Elder John’s Kingdom, even if it costs noble lives... because it concerns the fate of the Kingdom, the support from the Holy See, and the future of we Portuguese!... Cough, cough!"
While speaking, Diego suddenly started coughing violently. Bunoru stepped forward to support the captain but was stopped by a gesture from him.
"Cough, cough, I’m alright!... Under the protection of the Holy Mother, honest and brave fishermen, farmers, and mountain people—all Portuguese will stand together, never submitting to the neighbors from the East. My child, think about it, if Spain were to absorb us, the Inquisition would come along with them. What would become of your wife and child then?"
Hearing this, a chill ran through Bunoru. He gazed at captain’s resolute face and could not help but kneel on one knee and loudly vowed,
"Captain! I will muster the courage to fulfill my duties and continue to sail steadfastly!"
"Good! Bruno, you differ from those common sailors... within you flows noble blood. I have always held high hopes for you."
Diego smiled and laid his hand on Bunoru’s shoulder. Then, with a solemn expression and cold eyes, he said,
"Bruno, keep a close watch on the sailors aboard. Identify the ringleaders plotting in secret, and then... tell me."
Upon hearing those words, Bunoru felt a chill down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly bowed his head and prayed devoutly.
"Holy Mother protect us! We will surely find Elder John’s Kingdom!"
"Holy Mother protect us!"
"Go now, there’s much work to do on the ship."
After bowing, Bunoru turned and left. He exited the cabin and looked up at the sky. The tropical sun was so hot that his back was soaked with sweat. He walked a few paces with a worried heart, scolded a few sailors on the deck casually, and then went down into the cooler ship cabin.
Bunoru fretfully walked around the ship cabin for a while when a trusted sailor came up to him.
"Boss, Quartermaster Matim is looking for you."
"Matim looking for me? It’s not time to repair weapons, is it?"
Bunoru was somewhat surprised. A quartermaster is an essential position on every ship, responsible for the storage and distribution of weapons. In the early days of the Age of Exploration, the origins of common sailors were diverse, and their loyalty was not reliable. For most of the journey, their weapons were confiscated and kept by the quartermaster, only to be issued before combat.
"Boss, Matim said he just fixed some weapons, and he wants you to pick a couple before they’re all gone!"
"... Alright. I’ll go pick a couple for you as well. Where is he?"
"In the forward storage room."
The storage room wasn’t far ahead. Bunoru didn’t hesitate and walked briskly towards it.
The light below deck was dim and murky, and the air was foul. Two sailors were guarding the door of the cabin, each with a dagger at their waist. Seeing Bunoru approaching, they opened the door halfway and invited Bunoru in.
"Ha ha! Matim, you finally remembered..."
Bunoru walked into the dimly lit cabin, smiling at the silhouette in front of him, but his words suddenly stopped.
In the cramped cabin interior, four brawny men were standing, their gazes coldly fixed on him. Bunoru recognized them after a moment, and cold sweat began streaming down the back of his neck.
"Quartermaster Matim, Sailor Chief Diego, Chief Cook Haroldo, Carpenter Ivo... you, all of you are here?!"
The cabin door slammed shut behind him, plunging the room into darkness. Only a faint candlelight illuminated the grim faces of the four men. The shadowy figures danced on their faces like the power of the Demon.