Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 824: Hungry Wolves, Cunning Rabbits



The night sky was deep and obscured all traces of blood. After the brutal selections, only fifteen thousand prisoners remained in Coyote City. All potential resistance forces had been thoroughly wiped out during the indiscriminate three selections and two betrayals. The prisoners' wills had crumbled completely, leaving them with no courage to resist, like tamed turkeys.

At this moment, piles of bonfires were lit, and the faces of the survivors were full of fear and distrust as they curled up, lying between the camps watched over by warriors from each unit. They had nothing to eat, and no one spoke, as silent as the dead.

"Hmm, looks like they're almost tame. Let them starve for a night, and when we set out tomorrow, none will dare to escape. Even if they do, they won't have the strength. Then, one meal a day, just a few mouthfuls of grain—just enough to keep them from dying... I figure they can make it to Conical House City!"

Smoke rose as the air carried a strong smell of blood along with the faint fragrance of grains. Black Wolf Torc sat by the bonfire, softened a piece of cornbread over the flames, and devoured it in a few bites. Then he clapped his hands, stood up, and took another piece of bread toward a nearby fire.

Not far away, a group of silent Totonaq Warriors sat in grim silence. Most of their eyes were red, some stained with tears, some with hatred, and more with numbness. Forest Wolf Mayakun sat by the fire, surrounded by a few Coyote Tribe's trusted aides. None of them spoke as they roasted pumpkins and mixed grains, swallowing them in large bites, their wolf-like eyes fierce.

"Not bad! A few more rounds of battle, and these wolf cubs could be raised up!"

Seeing this, Black Wolf Torc's mouth curled upward. He approached the fire and, without hesitation, sat next to Forest Wolf, handing him the cornbread. Forest Wolf Mayakun's face showed surprise, feeling somewhat flattered. He accepted the bread but did not eat it immediately; instead, he looked respectfully at the Black Wolf Commander.

"Black Wolf Leader, where will the army march next?"

"Ha! March? What's the point, we're not advancing anymore! The army is retreating, pulling back to Conical House City. We're running low on food."

Black Wolf Torc spoke calmly and candidly. At this moment, he did not see Forest Wolf as an outsider, which Forest Wolf keenly sensed as a change.

"Too many tribes have surrendered along the way, and there isn't much grain left. In May, spring plowing is due, and preparations for seeding must be made. His Highness instructed me to ensure the execution of spring plowing in May! Nothing is more important than spring plowing, not even battle achievements!"

Upon hearing this, Forest Wolf lowered his eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions. After a moment, he lifted his head and genuinely expressed his admiration.

"His Highness is benevolent..."

Hearing this, Black Wolf nodded, gazing into Forest Wolf's eyes, his tone softened considerably.

"Forest Wolf, tomorrow the army sets out, and the main force of the Kingdom will march swiftly. You will lead the thousand Forest Wolf Camp, following behind, overseeing the fifteen thousand tribes that cannot keep up. I'll have Olin's two thousand White Serpent Camp go with you!"

"Yes, Black Wolf Leader!"

Feeling the trust of the Black Wolf Commander, Forest Wolf Mayakun was silent for a moment before nodding firmly. The formidable presence before him was known for his cold brutality and had killed countless Divine Descendants and chieftains of the Totonac. Yet, for some reason, at this moment, he felt not only a deep respect for Black Wolf but also a strange sense of gratitude, with surprisingly little hatred.

"By the witness of the Chief Divine, I will surely complete your mission!"

"Very good! The Chief Divine will protect us! To conquer a thousand miles of the coastline, to conquer the entire world!"

Black Wolf stood up, patted Forest Wolf on the shoulder, leaving him with a final encouraging word.

"Do well! His Highness treats all tribes equally. Even if you are a surrendered General, as long as you do well, you can govern a region, commanding hundreds of thousands! In my eyes, your devotion and martial prowess are worthy of more than this thousand Forest Wolf Camp!"

"From now on, you must break away from your original tribe, sever from the Totonac, and truly fight for the Chief Divine and the Kingdom! Forest Wolf, I shall give you more opportunities, as long as you remain loyal and achieve merit!"

"Yes! Yes!! Black Wolf Leader!"

With gratitude on his face, Forest Wolf Mayakun knelt respectfully. Not until Black Wolf strode away did he stand straight and hold the corn cake, remaining silent for a long time.

"Breakaway... fight for the Chief Divine and the Kingdom... achieve merit..."

Forest Wolf lowered his eyes, feeling the wind in the darkness, the wind he was familiar with in this Totonac Rainforest. But the scent of blood and smoke in that wind was the destruction of the fallen City-States and a future with no retreat.

"My future?... I have slaughtered my tribe, completely losing its support. Now, I'm leading a wolf army, fighting for the Mexica. With such reputation spreading, the Totonac in the East won't have a place for me anymore!"

Silent, Forest Wolf sat cross-legged. Slowly, bite by bite, he chewed the cornbread in his hand. A familiar face silently emerged in his mind. He had earnestly advised that person to endure until the Mexica army left. He had even suggested hiding a few hundred trusted warriors among the surrendered Conical House City tribe, embedding them in the newly established garrisons...

"I had plotted tirelessly, operated secretly... But now, all of that has become my threat?... No, no! It's also my opportunity, a chance to go further!... Phew!"

Forest Wolf closed his eyes, deeply inhaling the wind filled with blood and the fragrance of grains and exhaled slowly. And in that breath, the familiar face was stained with blood in his mind, becoming a meal for wolves...

"Chabo, why bury them when they're already dead?"

The night was deep, and the red was covered by yellow soil, with bodies disappearing into the earth. Red-haired Hunter Mique stood by the pit, muttering and grumbling as he chewed half a piece of bread.

"There's already a lack of food in the army, isn't this a waste?"

"Stop talking nonsense! Why the fuss?"

Red-haired Trusted Aide Chabo glared and shouted.

"I asked, and not only is this the Leader's order, but it's the command of the God of Death Great Chief! Would you dare ignore the Great Chief's words? It'll take your soul!... "

"Uh! The Great Chief?..."

Learning it was the Great Chief's order, Hunter Mique finally closed his mouth and didn't say another word. For them, the God of Death Great Chief's words were almost like divine decrees, never mistaken.

"Alas! With just this bit of food, it's never enough... but at least, it's better than the wilderness... Back then, when the cold wave swept south, we didn't have a decent meal for half a month, even chewed the bark clean..."

Soon, half of the cornbread disappeared into Hunter Mique's stomach. After mumbling a bit, his eyes lit up suddenly.

"Chabo, did you get anything good from those Feathered Serpent Priests you interrogated?"

"..."

Hearing this, Trusted Aide Chabo pursed his lips. He quietly looked around, nodded lightly, and whispered.

"Got a few pieces of Green Jade carved with snakes, but no Gold Dust or gemstones, not sure how many cocoa beans they'll fetch. Unfortunately, from their curses before death, it seems a big fish got away. I heard that guy was the mastermind behind the new chieftain's rise and had planned an arson in advance... a High Priest of the Feathered Serpent!

"Ah! A big fish got away? A wealthy High Priest?!"

Upon hearing this, Hunter Mique got anxious. He gripped the dagger at his waist and shouted eagerly.

"Let's go! Let's ask the Leader for permission to catch that big fish! There must be something valuable on a High Priest!"

"Catch? How? The guy slipped away four or five days ago, before the army even encircled the place! He ran faster than a rabbit! If he had our stamina, he'd be three to four hundred miles away by now! How can we chase through these vast forests and swamps?"

"Huh? Ran so fast?... A sly rabbit indeed!..."

"Isn't that right! I heard he wasn't one of those Priests you just dealt with... He escaped all the way from the Feathered Serpent Ancient City!..."

"Chief Divine! Slipped away from the Feathered Serpent Ancient City? Hiss! He really is a sly long-legged rabbit!"

The moon rose, casting cold moonlight. Its chilly rays fell on the lumpy earth covering the pit, and on the two men speaking in low tones. As the two hunters lifted their heads to the source of the moonlight, it was toward the East.


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