Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The February long wind blew across the highlands, unlike the warm coastal lowlands, it carried a hint of chill. The young King sat solemnly on the throne within the grand tent. He surveyed the two submissive, downcast Vastec girls before him with scrutinizing eyes.

The two girls resembled each other closely, clearly sisters, so similar at first glance that they were easily confused. The one on the left was slightly older, her figure more pronounced, her lips lifting slightly in a smile, as alluring as a white orchid in summer. The one on the right appeared somewhat younger, her lips pressed tightly together, looking uneasy, as pristine as a daisy in early autumn.

At this moment, faced with the fearsome reputation of the Great Chief of the God of Death, the two girls pressed their shoulders together, their expressions tense yet carrying an indescribable expectation.

"Hmm? Are you the daughters of Chief Papata of the Silver Raven Tribe, Liuyu and Liuyao?"

Xiulote observed for a while, then asked in a calm tone the sisters who nodded like little deer.

"Where is the noble lady of the Silver Raven Tribe, betrothed to His Highness Little Quetelawak, now?"

"Honorable Great Chief of the God of Death, my sister Liulin is already being escorted by more than a dozen warriors from the tribe, headed to the magnificent Lake Capital City by another route."

Liuyu, the elder sister, raised her head and cautiously glanced at the Great Chief of the God of Death above. He did not seem particularly fierce, nor especially robust, yet carried an aura of inherent authority. She pinched the feathers of her short skirt, gathered her courage, and spoke loudly.

"Great Chief, our father respects the Alliance, admires your bravery and renown! He sent my sister and me here to express the tribe's respect for you, to stay by your side, dance and sing for joy, attend to your needs closely... We wish to give you strong warriors and beautiful daughters together!"

"...Cough."

Hearing these candid words, Xiulote's eyelids twitched, he lightly coughed, looking at them with slightly more attention.

The sisters before him were only eighteen or nineteen years old, just at the age of youthful beauty. They came from the warm lowland Crow City, wearing only light short clothing and feathered grass skirts. From their slender arms and calves, and their graceful, upright posture when standing, it was evident they had been trained in dance from a young age. A circle of shiny shells was tied around their ankles, ringing like crisp waves as they walked. On their toes was a faint purple color, from the juice of seaside mollusks, akin to Carthaginian purple dye.

"Cough! Someone, bring them priest apprentice robes and change them into cloth shoes. The weather on the highlands is unlike the lowlands, don't go barefoot all the time..."

Xiulote waved them off, shifting his gaze away. Then he lowered his head slightly, pondering Papata's intentions and the coastal Silver Raven Tribe.

Undoubtedly, Chief Papata of the Silver Raven was showing goodwill to the Kingdom, expressing extremely sincere intentions. However, this sincerity was somewhat sudden, and also overly "earnest."

"Papata's actions were surely a reaction after seeing the Kingdom's fleet. But to directly send two daughters to serve is too... decisive. According to tribal traditions, when a leader sends a daughter, it signifies an alliance or submission. And an alliance with the Silver Raven Tribe, which has tens of thousands of people, occupies a key coastal town, and controls the Rivermouth of the cat owl..."

Thinking of this, Xiulote raised his eyebrows. The Kingdom was in the west, the Silver Raven Tribe in the east, with no direct conflict of interest between them, and this unequal alliance posed no disadvantage for the Kingdom. If Bertade led his troops eastward, he would need a reliable coastal shipbuilding base and a departure port for Cuba, and the location of Crow City was just right.

Of course, there are no benefits in the world without reason, nor beauties sent for no purpose... Thinking of this, Xiulote looked at the two again, his expression serious, asking in a deep voice.

"Clan Leader Papata of the Silver Raven, always respectful to the Alliance, has converted to the Supreme Main God! In my opinion, his loyalty and piety are exemplary for all the Alliance's vassal tribes!... Liuyu, Liuyao, did you bring any other messages on this visit?"

"Yes! Powerful Great Chief of the God of Death, Father says he has always admired your bravery! He is willing, like a reef shark in the great sea, to follow the strongest head shark roaming the vast coast! He wishes to join your hunting army, to hunt sea fish for you, to discover the Holy Land in the sea together, and will not ask for any food he cannot consume..."

The white orchid, Liuyu, was the first to speak. Her voice was clear and lively, like a lark. Then, she quietly stretched out her hand and tugged at Liuyao's grass skirt.

"Ah! Strong... Great Chief... Father says he wants you to manage the lower reaches of the Rivermouth of the cat owl, and lead the southern Mistec tribes to thoroughly convert to the Chief God! The Mistec tribes in the north are plundered by the Canine Descendants, and in the south oppressed by the Telascallan and Tototanak people. And the Alliance, having destroyed the Telascallan tribes, also has the strength to destroy the Tototanak people..."

The daisy, Liuyao, lowered her head, reciting Chief Papata's message as if she were reciting a book. Though somewhat nervous at first, as she spoke, her eyes shone brightly, her words became clear and coherent, and she spoke fluently.

"Great Chief, Father says the King is an unprecedented divine bird, shining fiercely upon the world like the lowland sun! The great army of the Alliance attacks everywhere, invincible like the tides of the sea, unstoppable. The only constraints on the Alliance are the long distances and rugged terrain."

"Wise people do not oppose the tides. Thus, the Silver Raven Tribe longs to enter the Alliance, to become feathers of the divine bird, accompanying it in high flight. And our tribe is not strong enough, lacks the qualifications to directly become the feathers of the divine bird's neck... Great Chief, you are the strongest wings of the divine bird, possessing large ships able to sail the sea. In the future, you will become a divine bird too! Therefore, we wish to follow you, to be your brightest long feathers in the East!"

After speaking, the sisters exchanged a glance, each plucking a red feather from their skirts. Then they bit the feathers in their mouths, holding hands, stepping lightly, coming before Xiulote. Under the watchful eyes of Ecatl, the two girls gracefully prostrated themselves, lifting their heads, biting the red feathers, revealing wheat-colored necks and heaving chests. They gazed expectantly at the young King seated above, their voices tender and melodious, subtly laced with anticipation.

"Mighty (Strong) Great Chief, we wish to offer you our first feathers together!"

"Hmm?"

Xiulote held the Bronze Axe in one hand and grasped the Divine Staff in the other, looking at the two with some suspicion. Watching their actions, he was slightly perplexed until his eyes fell on the blood-like red feathers, and he suddenly realized.

"..."

The young King was silent for a moment before formally responding.

"The Kingdom of the Lake is willing to ally with the Silver Raven Tribe. This alliance is not to be inscribed in drawings or writings, but witnessed by the Chief God! Papata's expansion, I will support. Fifty sets of bronze armor, one hundred fine longbows, and two hundred bronze battle axes are my gifts to him, the testament of our alliance!"

"As for you two... the maids by my side will be involved in drafting the Kingdom Documents, need to know how to read, understand arithmetic..."

Hearing this, Liuyu and Liuyao exchanged surprised glances. A strange and ominous premonition rose in their hearts, seeming to foreshadow future hardships.

"Therefore..."

Xiulote's mouth curved up slightly, as he spoke slowly, assigning the youthful and lovely sisters the most suitable and beneficial task for their well-being.

"You must first go to the Divine Power University in the Capital City... to learn languages, classics, mathematics, rituals, and Divine Revelation knowledge. I hear you are excellent in singing and dancing, so you don't need to learn music and arts... Well, in total, it will be a four-year course!"