At the port of the Sunrise City.
Columbus's expression, lit by hope, gave me a moment of relief. Although Earth's future in my past life had been chaotic after the encounter, my mind was put at ease knowing that first contact was taking a peaceful turn. The news, upon reaching the Catholic Kingdom and informing them of the existence of the Suaza Kingdom, its advancements, and its riches, could lead to a diplomatic path to avoid conflict, and the idea of starting this way brought me some measure of solace.
"This could buy us some time," I thought, looking at Columbus's excited face.
The idea of forming an ever-larger kingdom, or at least helping local cultures grow and defend themselves, could take a more progressive and less accelerated course.
Looking again at the ships in the harbor, I approached Columbus. I told him I greatly appreciated his offer and that I would accept his help in this endeavor. Columbus, with a satisfied smile, assured me he would take care of everything, and, in a subtle way, he asked again if they would be released soon.
"Young Chuta, I thank you for your kindness," Columbus said, his voice full of confidence, "But when can we depart to inform the kings of your Kingdom?"
I paused, my mind calculating. The sound of waves breaking against the pier, the cry of gulls, the creak of the pulleys on the kingdom's ships, the wind whispering through my clothes—all came together to create a moment of tension.
I looked Columbus in the eyes, with a calmness I didn't feel inside, and said: "I will try to have you ready to leave in two weeks."
The relief on his face was palpable. It wasn't a simple smile; it was a display of joy at having a deadline. There was nothing more frustrating for a sailor than not knowing when they would sail again.
"I thank you, Young Chuta. You will not regret this gesture," he said with a bow, and he left with the group.
As for me, I walked away again, this time with Zasaba.
Zasaba, with his ordinary silhouette and his always-attentive gaze, seemed like a shadow by my side. I stopped in front of the port and focused on the horizon, looking beyond the blue water and the clear sky. The stillness of the moment was the calm before the storm.
"Zasaba," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Many years ago, I taught you about infiltration, surveillance, and the manipulation of people to obtain information. Do you remember what I told you about the importance of this division?"
"I always keep it in mind, Young Chuta," he replied. "A good leader is one who knows the truth, and a great leader is one who knows how to use it to their advantage. That's what we Shadows are for, and that's what we were taught."
"Exactly," I nodded, knowing Zasaba would answer this way. The loyalty and efficiency of his division were unquestionable. "That is why we must always be prepared. Now more than ever."
"Your plan, the infiltration of our agents into the territories of the Mayas, Aztecs, Tarascos, the peoples of the Northern Quyca, and also the Incas, is underway, and with excellent results... Is this what you mean? Or are you speaking of the Spaniards?" Zasaba asked after a moment of thought about my words.
"I am referring to the Spaniards," I replied with a firm tone. "Now, Zasaba, we must take this infiltration to the next level. We no longer only need information about our brothers, but also about these kingdoms on the other side of the ocean. If these men are just an advance party, we must know what their Kingdom is like, their people, their customs, and their mentality... And above all, know their plans before they put them into motion."
The next day, at Chuta's office.
Silence filled the office. The only sound was the creaking of the wooden chairs and the faint rustle of my fingers on the polished surface of the desk.
Zasaba stood before me, his posture impeccable, his gaze fixed on my eyes, analyzing my words. The leader of the Shadows was a man of few words, but his presence spoke of loyalty and an efficiency that bordered on the inhuman—something that was indispensable for his position.
"I've been thinking, Zasaba," I began, my voice low so as not to break the calm atmosphere. "The arrival of the outsiders forces us to accelerate our plans. The initial proposal of the governors, ministers, and generals—that peaceful but cautious approach—remains the main path... At first, we will try to keep much information about the Kingdom hidden and only encourage mutually beneficial commercial treaties. The idea is to keep the wolves away from our door."
Zasaba nodded, his face expressionless.
"I understand, Young Chuta. It's an appeasement strategy, but what about the envoys? If peaceful contact comes into effect, it is inevitable that they will seek to establish formal embassies or envoys. Will we accept their priests? Their merchants? Their soldiers?" Zasaba asked me continuously. His discomfort was reflected in a small frown on his brow, a subtle sign of his doubts.
I took a moment to reflect. I knew history; I knew that religion and the greed for riches would go hand in hand with exploration. At first, I was not worried about this happening, as I had managed to control the results of Columbus's first expedition, but in the long run, it would be a threat. In the future, I would like this Kingdom to be a beacon of knowledge for the world, but for that, more time was needed.
"You are right," I told him. "At first, the best plan is to stay calm and ensure they understand that the Suaza Kingdom is not a civilization that can be easily bent. Then, we will only accept commercial and military relations—no permanent embassies or envoys."
"I understand, Young Chuta," he said.
"And as for us," I continued. "We won't send many people either. At least not officially."
Zasaba looked at me, the discomfort on his face dissipated and was replaced by admiration. His respect for the Kingdom's religion was so great that he couldn't even question what I was saying.
After a small break for some snacks and drinks, the important part of the meeting arrived.
"Zasaba, I must speak to you about how society works in Europe," I said, my voice dropping to an almost inaudible whisper. "I have analyzed the conversations, the deductions of our men, and the knowledge that was delivered to me. Most of the power in the foreigners' kingdoms is held by the nobles and, especially, the kings. Religion there is not like in our land. There, people's faith is their own, while the power of their religion lies only in its assets and riches."
Zasaba leaned forward, his interest piqued.
"If that is so, Young Chuta, we could take advantage of that division of power. We could infiltrate the highest levels of their society," Zasaba said, immediately understanding what I meant.
At the end of the sentence, I noticed he became a little uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"Young Chuta... I fear we will have a problem," he said, a little ashamed. "In our civilization, we have been able to infiltrate all cultures, but there, in Europe, it will be very difficult. Our physical appearance is very different. We wouldn't be able to go unnoticed for even a moment."
I understood his concern; the difference between European and American phenotypes was very great. I took a moment to think about the need to create a long-term plan.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "We will not proceed as we did with the local kingdoms. In this case, we will use a different method. It will not be our agents who infiltrate... In Europe, we will use fallen nobles, orphans, and prisoners as supporters and agents of the kingdom. We will be their sponsors in the shadows, we will help them gain power, obtain information for the kingdom, and protect it from there."
"The agents will control everything from the shadows... After all, that is the place they belong," I added.
Zasaba nodded, a smile of respect forming on his lips. With my own words, I had just created a system of espionage that most countries of the future would be concerned about creating.
"I hope all of this doesn't backfire in the future," I thought, noting Zasaba's excitement.
Once Zasaba was on his feet, I stood up as well, moving my hands in a gesture of dismissal.
"Columbus and the others will only stay for two more weeks," I told him. "We need to prepare the men who will go. They must meet the requirements of learning ability, adaptability, and, above all, unwavering loyalty."
"Young Chuta, any agent who has the will to go on a mission meets those conditions. We have trained agents worthy of the Kingdom," he said. His voice was an echo of confidence, a declaration that admitted no doubts.
I nodded, completely satisfied with his answer. "Then, proceed. Let time be our ally."
Zasaba turned and walked toward the door, but before leaving he stopped at the threshold, turning to look at me.
"Young Chuta," he said in a tone a little out of character. "Who will be the victor in this encounter? Them or us?"
"The gods are with us, Zasaba," I replied with a firm tone. "Time is also on our side, and not only that—unlike them, our people also support us."
Zasaba looked at me with determination and withdrew, satisfied with my answer.
I sat down and spread out the papers that the Shadow agents had collected on their rounds through Sunrise City. The notes, written in our language, were a mosaic of conversations, fears, and hopes.
I traced the lines with my fingers, my mind analyzing every word. The fear of Columbus's men was palpable. It wasn't a fear of death, but a fear of the unknown, of the possibility of having fallen into a trap from which they could not escape.
At first, I had seen comments from some sailors who were somewhat audacious, ideas about stealing weapons or escaping in one of the remaining ships. I knew this situation was a ticking time bomb, and that it was only a matter of time before someone got desperate and made a mistake.
I decided the best course of action was a demonstration of power. I would give the order to Sogeking to organize a naval demonstration. I wanted them to see the true power of the kingdom's ships. I would also ask Michuá, the new general of the special zone, to show the European sailors a demonstration of the strength of his regiment in the city. Both would gladly accept the orders, as they were, after all, tired of training and waiting for an event they didn't know if it would happen.
One week later.
The worry on my face had disappeared. The reports from the Shadows arrived every day, and the results were more than encouraging. The naval power demonstration, with the Tequendama II firing its cannons and the escort ships moving in unison, and that of the army's elite force, had had a profound impact on the Europeans.
The arrogance and whispers of escape had been replaced by a fearful respect, a tacit resignation to their situation. Voluntary cooperation in interrogations and language classes became much greater, allowing the investigation of the Spanish language to progress exponentially.
I leaned back in my chair, a smile of satisfaction on my lips. The good treatment, the comforts, and the life of the citizens in the city had left them in shock. They had arrived expecting a savage world, full of barbarians who would kill them, however, the treatment they had received showed them that this place was different, that this place was a paradise.
The variety of foods, the cleanliness, the lifestyle, the products that were sold, the kindness of the people—everything was very different from the stories they had been told in their homeland. Some of the sailors, according to the Shadows' reports, even talked about staying, about the good life the citizens lived in comparison to the towns and cities of Europe.
I thought about the implications of this. The idea that some of the European sailors would stay brought me a new idea. Those people could be a help to Zasaba and the agents who would depart for Europe in a week to infiltrate. Not only could they serve as translators, but also as guides, to navigate the new world, and to infiltrate much faster. They knew firsthand how European society worked.
"This could work," I thought.
War was not won with swords and cannons, but with strategic minds and diplomacy.
.
----
.
[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
I don't have much to tell you for this chapter because what's coming could change in the future, and if I say something and then change it, it could affect your perception of the story.
I'll just say that we'll get a perspective from these men who want to stay in the Suaza Kingdom, but in many more chapters.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: As some of you may know, hygiene in Europe was zero or almost nonexistent. However, in the Suaza Kingdom, hygiene measures have been implemented throughout the kingdom, including the FRIRS islands, which includes Dawn City. By the way, there was already a printing press in Europe at this time (I know it has nothing to do with it, but I don't want to put a UFD about the printing press in the next chapter).
----
Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 79)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis. (Chapter 27)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 9) (PAUSED)
You can find them on my profile.]