The subsequent interactions between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Marine Tribe appeared even more "friendly" and "smooth". After receiving sharp scimitars, the natives brought a small amount of dried fish, so cassava flour, and once again, they delivered two small pieces of sand gold!
"Oh Lord! There must be more gold, more shiny, beautiful, and valuable gold in this native's great tribe!..."
Although the sand gold that appeared the second ti did not even amount to a hundred grams in total, all the sailors realized or fantasized that there was more gold in the native's village!
It's worth noting that a Crusader gold coin minted by the Kingdom of Portugal was only 3.55 grams. The over a hundred grams of gold obtained in these two exchanges were already worth at least 40 gold coins! If distributed per person, each could receive one, enough to feast for a month in the sailor's district of Lisbon Port with all the whale at and malt beer to their heart's content!...
The shining gold, like a flashing "magnet", firmly attracted the "iron slag" sailors, making everyone reluctant to leave. After two ti-consuming and laborious contacts, the sun had already set on the Western Sea, and it was about to get dark.
The native tribe on the shore also seed to lower their guard. Most of their mobilized militia had already disbanded and were busy in the village as usual. Sparse smoke from cooking rose from various places in the village, bringing a mouth-watering aroma of food. The aroma of these foods seed to include certain spices, especially tantalizing the appetite.
"Captain Capitao! The native Great Chief has sent an envoy! He says that the Great Chief likes our weapons very much! The Great Chief wants more weapons, and he also has more of the yellow stones that the fleet likes..."
"Ah? This is... He actually invites us ashore! He says we're welco to go to the village for a delicious dinner together! There will also be enthusiastic won!..."
"...Gold, dinner, and won?!"
Upon hearing such a tempting invitation, the sailors of the fleet were all smiles, each looking rather eager. Bruno, too, hesitated for a mont, looking at the envoy's simple and kind face, unsure of what decision to make.
But soon, reason triumphed over the temptation of gold. Bruno smiled decisively and refused the envoy of the native chieftain, sending soone to escort the rowing envoy away. Later, he looked around at all the crew mbers on the ship, emphasizing discipline with a serious expression!
"The Lord is my witness! This is a powerful native tribe! Although they indeed don't seem malicious and also wish to trade with us... once you leave the large ship and go ashore! Then your lives are in soone else's hands!"
"Think about their numbers, and then think about our numbers! They not only have shiny gold but also cold-glinting tal weapons and heavy bows and arrows that look very large!... Once ashore, if they suddenly launch an attack, none of you would survive!..."
"Follow my orders! No one is allowed to disembark, and you must not privately contact the natives! Tell Silvira that if he dares to disobey orders, I will directly report his misconduct to King Joao, and to Nuno Chief!..."
"Sailors, raise the sails! The fleet shall sail into the deep sea, at least half a league (5 kiloters) from shore! Then anchor and stay! Take turns on watch at night with caution against the natives' small boats!..."
Soon, under the golden sunset, the Portuguese fleet raised its sails and left the native town with the gold. Yet the revealed gold, like a cracked rotten egg, most attracted the greedy flies, lingering and unable to leave.
The new anchoring position was not far, and shortly after, light smoke rose from the kitchen on the ship. The head cook threw the food given by the natives into a pot, poured in seawater, and added random seaweed, then boiled it into a mush. Then, Bruno squinted, scooped two spoons with an iron plate, and, with a half-smile, placed it in front of the laborer sailor Ah Yue.
"The Lord blesses! The food, for you, eat it!"
The laborer sailor Ah Yue looked up at the smiling captain, at the captain's hand resting on his sword. Then he looked around, seeing several other captured native laborers, also being forced to eat the sa food by fierce sailors. He pursed his lips, slightly shivering as he picked up the iron plate and grabbed so mush to his mouth with his hand...
"Eat it! Eat! Swallow!!..."
"..."
Ah Yue gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and stuffed the mush into his mouth. The familiar taste of cassava lingered in his mouth, with no special feeling, just the fishy stench of dried fish. Yet, this simple fish mush was the best thing he had eaten during his days of captivity! He paused, then started to gobble it down with a murmur. Today, even if poisoned, he'd rather die full!
"Burp!..."
"...?"
Bruno patiently waited for a while, and even after Ah Yue was full and burped, he didn't see any signs of poisoning. Only then was he relieved, silently mocking his paranoia. At the level of enlightennt in this native tribe, could they concoct any poison that wouldn't be neutralized by a pot of boiling seawater?...
Well, maybe not! After all, the more primitive Caribbean tribes had concocted rare and potent poisons in the Catholic world, like the "dusa Arrow Poison" that could paralyze and kill!
"The Lord blesses us with abundant food! Let's eat, rest early after eating! Take turns for the watch... Tomorrow morning, we'll contact this golden native Great Tribe again! No one is allowed to sneak ashore!"
The moon rose and fell, a peaceful night without incident. The next day, the Portuguese fleet returned to the Marine Tribe's side for another round of "friendship-deepening" contact. Bruno once again sent Haloduo and Shushu to thank the natives for yesterday's food and generously gifted a set of finely crafted leather armor!
This leather armor was typical of the traditional Portuguese style. It was divided into two layers, the inner layer being Yami's cloth armor and the outer layer being hardened leather armor with thickened and raised shoulders. Accompanying it was a round-topped leather helt with straps covering the ears and thigh-length leg armor, including arm armor for forearm protection.
In fact, if a steel chest plate were installed on the front of the leather armor, or if scale armor plates were used instead of leather, it would be the standard equipnt for a "Portuguese sergeant," roughly equivalent to the military's centurion. And if all the leather armor were replaced with iron armor, extending the arm and leg armor, it would be the most powerful fighting force of this era in Europe, the full armor knight's suit!
"Captain Capitao! The native Great Chief is particularly, particularly, particularly fond of this leather armor! He specifically sent his most trusted chieftain to thank us! They also brought so gifts we would surely like, more shiny yellow stones!..."
Shushu stamred, translating the envoy's words for Sailor Chief Haloduo beside him to hear.
The eting place was still the beach on the coast, each side with two people. Among the envoys on the opposite side, one was wearing a feathered headgear, dressed in brightly colored leather armor, with a golden axe tucked in his waist, clearly an important Taino chieftain!
"Hmm? This chieftain's axe? This color, is it bronze?... Really strange, seems like the chieftains with high status here all use bronze weapons?"
Haloduo smiled, blinking eyes, staring at the leading tribal chieftain. The sturdy arms, tall and strong stature, and especially intricate facial tattoos clearly indicated he was a formidable warrior!
However, Shushu's gaze shifted past the leading Taino chieftain, focusing instead on the ordinary militia following behind. Although dressed in the Taino tribal costu, the figure was inconspicuous, and the appearance was ordinary... yet there was always a strange feeling. He looked carefully for a while, always feeling that the face didn't belong to a Taino, a difference in deanor indiscernible to non-Tainos!
Seeing Shushu's scrutinizing gaze, the "ordinary militia" smiled slightly, nodding to him but saying nothing. The smile seed peaceful, yet perhaps full of aning, with a mysterious warning, or perhaps it was just Shushu overthinking...
Shushu pursed his lips, slightly bowed his head, and never looked at the militia again. He diligently translated the conversation between Haloduo and the chieftain, maintaining a respectful smile on his face but filled with thoughts inside.
"Oh ancestors!... That smile, that militia... could it be?... Could it be...?..."
"If it truly is... Should I... should I... say sothing... or not?..."
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