Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The night was deep, and the jungle was eerie. The exploration team treated the wounded and began to board the ships. The Mayapan people were still scouring the battlefield, collecting spoils of war from the corpses. The leaders of both sides gathered in front of a bonfire, staring at each other, waiting silently.

"The cost of compensation..."

The Mayan merchant Tikalo lowered his gaze, lost in thought and silent. He did have some aces up his sleeve to calm the kingdom's wrath. However, in the difficult situation of the remnants of the Mayapan, such aces were already scarce. Once given away, the value of the Mayapan remnants to the kingdom...

"Forget it! I really have no choice."

Tikalo's gaze swept past the Obsidian Dagger stained with blood in Priest Tomate's hand. This dagger had cut lobsters, etched divine runes, and naturally offered sacrifices. Faced with such a threat, he sighed lightly and looked at the young Divine Descendant Ti'aj Kin.

"Ti'aj Kin, have the people I instructed been brought?"

"Huh?"

The young Divine Descendant shook his head hard, finally awakening from the priest's ritual. After thinking for a moment, he understood who his uncle was referring to.

"Oh. They have been brought."

"Then bring them here!"

"Okay!"

Ti'aj Kin turned his head and gave some orders to the noble warriors behind him. Soon, a tall, slightly dark-skinned, middle-aged warrior with tattoos on his face appeared before everyone, holding an old tablet.

"Heavenly Serpent Divine bless! Praise you, Sun of Mayapan, exalted Chieftain Kekum!"

The tall middle-aged warrior placed down the tablet, knelt on the ground, and bowed to Ti'aj Kin. He raised his hands high, then laid them flat on the ground, showing heartfelt submission.

"Chief Divine bless! Kuba, the loyal warrior of Mayapan. Your ancestors have been loyal to the royal family for generations, and you have also been loyal to me for many years."

Ti'aj Kin maintained a calm expression, exhibiting the majesty of a Divine Descendant. He watched the prostrate Kuba, paused, then continued.

"And now, you must serve a more exalted Chief Divine, pledge your allegiance to the Navajo Priest from the Western Highlands. You are to follow him eastward, returning to the land of your ancestors, to spread the majesty and light of the divine to your still-ignorant people!"

"...Yes! As you wish, Sun of Mayapan!"

Upon hearing the word "Sun," Kuba seemed somewhat confused but respectfully bowed. Then, he followed the Sun's command and turned to bow to Priest Tomate.

"Praise you! Exalted Highland Priest!"

"Hmm?"

Priest Tomate looked at the bowing Kuba, then at the composed Mayan merchant Tikalo. He raised his eyebrows, pointed a finger, and asked in a deep voice.

"Tikalo, is this the price of your compensation?"

"Indeed! Priest Tomate, he is one of the compensations, and the most important one... He will certainly satisfy the kingdom and His Highness!"

The Mayan merchant nodded affirmatively. Then, he smiled mysteriously.

"Do you know where he comes from?"

"Hmm?..."

Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate's eyes showed a reaction. He looked at the old militiaman Chiwaco, who also met his gaze. The same guess surfaced in both their minds as they looked eastward.

"Could it be?"

"That's right! His name is Kuba, and he is from Cuba (cubao)! The meaning of 'Cuba' is the vast and fertile land. And that land is the Eastern Snake Island that His Highness yearns for!"

Tikalo spoke confidently, word by word. These plain words fell into Priest Tomate's ears like Thunderbolt.

"What! He is the Taino person His Highness spoke of?"

"You could say so. But to be more precise..."

Tikalo paused, forgetting that complex name for a moment. He then looked at the compliant Kuba and asked.

"Kuba, where do your ancestors come from? What is their tribe?"

"Praise you! Respected Divine Descendant. My ancestors come from the far west of Cuba. They are the Guanahatabey people. But to the east of the tribe, on the flat plains, are the Taino. However, their self-designation is Guanahani. Both Guanahatabey and Guanahani reside on the vast Cuba, both belonging to the fertile land of Cuba."

"Guanahatabey? Guanahani? Cubans?"

Priest Tomate's eyes widened, instantly filled with excitement. The Eastern Snake Island that His Highness longed for appeared before his eyes just like that! He recalled His Highness's earnest exhortations before departure, as if a surge of hot blood was coursing through his chest. After a while, he calmed down and asked solemnly.

"Kuba, are you from Cuba Snake Island?"

"No. Exalted Highland Chieftain, I grew up among the Lowland Maya. But I have returned to Cuba several times with merchant ships, visiting the West Mountain tribes where my ancestors came from."

"Ah? The West Mountain tribes of Cuba?"

Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate stroked his chin and asked.

"Where is the West Mountain?"

"Uh... the West Mountain is the West Mountain, the mountain to the west."

Kuba raised his head and gave Priest Tomate a curious look. Then he thought for a moment, and with Tikalo's hint, answered.

"Cuba is a long, flat fertile land. It indeed resembles a snake, with its head facing east and its tail facing west. There are great mountains at both ends, while the middle is quite flat. The snake's head is the East Mountain, and the snake's tail is the West Mountain."

"Ah, I see!"

Priest Tomate nodded, pondered for a while, and asked again.

"Kuba, can you speak Taíno Language?"

"Highland Chieftain, I can speak Mayan, Guanahatabey, and Taíno Language."

"Hm? Guanahatabey?"

"Oh, it's the language of my ancestral tribe. The tribes on Cuba's western side speak Guanahatabey, while in the middle and eastern parts, they speak Guanahani, which is Taíno Language. The two languages are different."

"Ah, I see!"

Priest Tomate nodded repeatedly, a smile once again appearing on his face. He looked at Kuba who was prostrated, his eyes shining as if he were gazing at an unrivaled beauty. The devout Priest pondered for a moment, then couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked.

"Kuba, would you like to convert to the Chief Divine?"

"Huh? Convert to the Chief Divine?..."

Kuba looked up, bewildered. Then, seeing Priest Tomate's glowing gaze, he shivered all over.

"I..."

"Ahem! Honorable Priest Tomate..."

Tikalo chuckled, interrupting at the right moment. He picked up the old map board on the ground, took a reminiscent glance, and then respectfully handed it to Priest Tomate.

"Look at this. Another item that may satisfy you."

"What is this?!"

"This is the sea chart to Cuba. It marks the sea route to Cuba and the names and locations of thirty tribes on Cuba!"

Upon mentioning this, Tikalo pressed his lips together, his eyes somewhat nostalgic, his tone far-reaching.

"When the Mayapan Kingdom was at its peak, it had frequent trade exchanges with the tribes on Cuba Island, especially those on the western side. The kingdom's fleets traveled back and forth between the east and west, and many tribes on the island recognized the Royal Family's emblem and traded goods with the kingdom. Some chieftains even submitted to the Royal Family, sending their young kin. Kuba's ancestors were among them..."

"Although trading with Cuba means crossing the seas and risking stormy waves, the profits are extremely high! The kingdom could acquire tobacco, cotton, pineapples, cassava, fish, and feathers produced on the island at very low prices... This sea chart of Mayapan is the ultimate treasure that all Mayan merchants dream of having!"

"The sea chart to Cuba... the ultimate treasure..."

Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate muttered repeatedly, a glow of joy on his face. He eagerly lowered his head to look at the map board in his hands.

On the far left end of the board is a port of departure, Ekab. Then, several squiggly lines lead from the north and south to the east, until a narrow piece of land. Maya numbers are marked on these lines, which, according to Tikalo's translation, range from six hundred to eight hundred li.

"From Ekab towards the east, travel six hundred to eight hundred li, that's Cuba!"

Upon seeing this, Priest Tomate was invigorated. He eagerly continued to look down. The length of 'Cuba' was exceedingly narrow, extending over two thousand li to the southeast. Along the coast were various Maya characters, likely markings for different tribes.

"Tikalo, where is the West Mountain Tribe where Kuba originates?"

"Here! Arriving at the westernmost end of Cuba, head east along the Southern Coast; the first large tribe at the mountain's base is the West Mountain Tribe!"

Priest Tomate extended his hand, pressing on the location of the West Mountain Tribe, staying there intently for a while. His gaze then traveled eastward until reaching the end of Cuba, noticing a distinctly marked spot at the East Mountain.

"Huh? What is this marked spot?"

"Oh! Decades ago, the fleet of the Mayapan Kingdom collected some sparkling black gemstones here that attract and repel each other."

Tikalo's expression was somber as he reminisced about a long-lost tale. Life is unpredictable... His face showed a smile with a hint of regret.

"I once chose two black gemstones as gifts for His Highness. Upon seeing them, His Highness was quite excited. He asked where they came from, but I didn't mention the exact location; I simply said they were from the Eastern Snake Island..."

"But now, the kingdom has called the place where these gemstones are found an iron mine! The kingdom recognizes the iron mine, where even a small piece was considered an immense treasure by His Highness. But at this marked spot, the iron ore... it stands exposed, forming a mountain!"

"Ah? The hard black iron formed from the Feathered Serpent Divine's fangs after its death? A mountain formed from iron ore?!"

Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate suddenly gripped his scripture tightly, shouting in amazement. His face showed an intense fervor, his eyes brightening sharply, causing even Tikalo to slightly lower his head.

"Yes! Here, right here! His Highness once had a Divine Revelation, prophesying to build a city here! The fleet must arrive here, the Kingdom's Warriors will also arrive... smelting iron ore, building a fortress, guarding against white-skinned demons, and suppressing the Feathered Serpent Divine's corpse!"