"Holy Mother! The ticulously calculated circumference of the Earth was derived using the deviation of the angle of the sun at noon from two different locations on the sa longitude, factoring in their distance… This formula cannot be wrong! Moreover, scholars from Nuremberg and Ro have collaborated on calculations, using a distance of 1000 kiloters between two locations, multiplying by the full circle of 360 degrees, and then dividing by the solar angle deviation of 9 degrees 30 minutes. The result is also approximately 38,000 kiloters, not much different from our calculation of 39,000 kiloters..."
An astronor knelt on the ground, once again picking up a charcoal pencil, calculating on the stone slabs of Sintra Palace. His bewildered, incredulous expression and the constant trembling of his hands clearly showed that he had been utterly defeated by the "Eastern evidence" presented by Columbus. Could it be that the astronomy and mathematics he had believed in all his life didn't exist at all?...
"No need to calculate further! Our calculations cannot be wrong! Nor are the calculations of the scholars from Nuremberg and Ro!... The only possibility is... the Eastern Continent extends exceptionally long, stretching over ten thousand kiloters eastward... or perhaps it's an island in the Eastern ocean, which, despite being ten thousand kiloters apart, still maintains trade relations with the Eastern Seris!..."
The navigational scholar Leonor bit his lip, straining his brain to provide a reasonable explanation, yet unable to convince himself. anwhile, King João remained silent, his face grim, gripping the armrest of his throne tightly, lost in thought.
"Ahahahaha! This is indeed the script of the Seris! The island I reached by sailing west is the Xipangu Island of the East!... Ahahahaha! My brilliant navigational plan was indeed correct! Just by sailing west, one can reach the wealthy Orient... And I, the Great Navigator Don Christopher Columbus, am the first to discover this new route, to be eternally recorded in the annals of the Catholic World!... Ahahahahaha!..."
Upon seeing the reactions of the King of Portugal and the scholars, with faces either silent, astonished, or incredulous, Columbus instantly understood the answer. He couldn't help but burst into joyous laughter!
For this mont of triumph, he not only ventured deep into the Atlantic Ocean, risking death countless tis, but he also waited for ten years! A full ten years! Those Portuguese nobles who laughed at him, looked down on him, and dismissed him as a re jester will now be characters in history who serve as foils to the hero, mocked by countless future generations!
At this mont, Columbus raised his head high, standing tall for the first ti in the Sintra Palace of the Portuguese. He laughed out loud, without suppressing his naturally triumphant character. With a defiant gaze, he looked at everyone, like a monarch returned from the sea. He also boldly t the eyes of King João, who seed to be deeply shaken by his discovery, ashad into silence!
"Ahahahaha! Honorable King João! The Kingdom of Portugal's four generations of kings have spent nearly a century searching the endless Southern Continent for a new route to the East, yet have failed... And I, the wise and brilliant, courageous and fearless Great Navigator Columbus, reached the East by sailing west just once, taking rely two months!..."
"Ahahahaha! King João, had you believed earlier, adopting my navigation plan ten years ago... Then ten years ago, it would be the Portuguese fleets reaching the East, not the Kingdom of Castile!..."
"Ahahahaha! Alas! Under the denial of those foolish scholars, you missed , the true Great Navigator capable of reaching the East!... Yet the great, wise, and beautiful Queen Isabella chose with her discerning eye, trusting so profoundly. She not only ennobled but also appointed as the Castilian Admiral, entrusting the entire exploratory fleet to !..."
"The discerning Queen chose the true hero. While so seemingly wise kings regrettably missed out... Such a pity! And now, I have pledged allegiance to the Queen. Even if you say words of retention or pleas, I can no longer serve you! The new westward route to the Orient is destined not to belong to the Portuguese but to the Kingdom of Castile, and to the great Queen Isabella! The honor of being the first to navigate to the Orient does not belong to the Portuguese who explored for nearly a century but to a wise and brave Castilian noble from Genoa!..."
Hearing Columbus's taunt and this triumphant slap, King João II's face changed colors. He turned red with anger, then turned pale, and finally, a cold, fierce intent faintly erged.
The son of a commoner, this disreputable rogue, this insignificant being dared to mock him, the "Perfect Monarch"! Even more so, this ant dared to speak disrespectfully, ridiculing his three generations of predecessors in exploring new routes!
What filled him with even more fury, and even a murderous intent, was the likelihood that the mockery of this ant would indeed beco reality, recorded in the Catholic World's annals! Because, the opposing party indeed produced proof, not only delivered a stinging slap to his face but also validated the existence of the Eastern connection, further proving the westward new route!
"Ahahahaha!..."
Columbus's arrogant laughter echoed in the grand hall, subduing all Portuguese scholars and the noble Portuguese king into a stifled silence. Yet, he was unaware of the cost of the satisfaction of this slap and the consequences of proving his worth...
This truly stepped over the bottom line of the Kingdom of Portugal's interests! And as a true ruler, facing the imminent new route to the Orient... João II could not possibly, as in another tiline of history, lightly let him go!...
"Columbus, based on the sailors' account... you led the big ship along the Portuguese Kingdom's coast, committing theft and robbery, even harboring escaped slaves from the royal manor!"
"You led your fleet to steal royal navigational secrets, attacked the Kingdom's patrolling navy, clashed with the port of Lisbon, and hard the interests of rchant ships from various countries!"
"You brazen criminal, you have committed six major cris against the Kingdom, and as a criminal not protected by the Almighty, you must face a fair trial and punishnt!"
After a mont of silence, João II finally spoke in a cold tone, ticulously listing Columbus's "six major sins". Hearing these words, Columbus suddenly beca dumbstruck, as if a proudly crowing rooster had its throat abruptly choked. All his arrogant laughter ceased instantly, leaving only a bone-chilling fear sweeping over him once again.
"It's over! I... I've said too much again, enraged the King of Portugal! Is it really all over now?!..."
Columbus shivered, looking at the guards glaring at him, then looked at the evidently furious king. He paused, his knees imdiately going weak, rationality and fear swiftly returning, decisively kneeling in submission.
"Honorable King João! I... I had no intention of offending the Kingdom of Portugal or offending you! You are truly a rciful and forgiving king. Please forgive my previous nonsense..."
"Almighty witness! All cris must face a 'just' trial! Guards, soldiers!..."
"At your command, Your Majesty!"
"Arrest this criminal who has committed serious cris, and lock him in the deepest part of the prison! Without my permission, allow no one to visit him, nor allow anyone to take him away!"
"Yes!"
"Have the Warden personally co forward, 'thoroughly' interrogate him, and have him 'honestly' confess all his cris!..."
"Yes!"
"Take him away!!"
"Yes!"
"Ah! Your Majesty! Honorable King João! I plead for your rcy, I beg you!..."
In the face of true royal authority, the previous laughter was so arrogant, but now the plea is equally earnest. Yet, the cries for rcy faded increasingly into the distance as the soldiers dragged him away. After the brief thrill, the great navigator Columbus once again returned to his warm familiar ho, entering the pitch-black dungeon oblivion...
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