Isabel is confident that she will learn the basic information about the islands of Cape Verde, the Portuguese colony to which the fleet is going, such as the geographical location of the archipelago, how many degrees north latitude, how many degrees west longitude, how many miles it is from the African continent, how large the archipelago is, how long the coastline is, how many people it is, natural resources, climate and temperature, and so on. 35xs

At present, she is most interested in what the Cape Verde Islands looked like in the 16th century. To be exact, which of the archipelago was now the main slave trading market, and which bay was the best port of call. So, when the conversation turned to the Cape Verde Islands, Isabel asked the navigator Cassiano to explain the situation in the Cape Verde Islands.

The navigator was still sitting in his place, sipping his wine unhurriedly. When he listened quietly to Isabel's words, he took the opportunity to increase the price for himself, "Miss Brenda, you and the captain are going to the slave trade center in Cape Verde, and I agree with you. However, perhaps my honorarium should have been increased. ”

The navigator, known as the tactician in sailing in the sailing era in which Isabel lived, was the strongest brain in a team. Most of them are experts in meteorology, skilled at working with data and analysing risk factors. During the sailing process, they can ensure that the fleet is in the best position with the sea breeze and currents, and that the wind and currents are as fast as possible along the way. A good 35xs navigator can accurately grasp the early signs of weather changes in advance, and thus ensure that the fleet chooses the most ideal route.

Hundreds of years ago, during the Age of Discovery, the role of the navigator and his position on board still clearly showed his importance. If Isabel had been given a modern ship, she could have thrown the slave-owning navigator she hated into the sea at once, without his guidance.

However, this was not in the era in which she lived, and she still needed every word Cassiano said about the climate, the direction of the wind, and the route of the voyage. To put it simply, the navigator's brain is the most valuable nautical treasure of the moment. Captain Hawkins frowned slightly, and was about to speak when he saw Isabel giving him a look.

Isabel shook her head with her eyes fixed on the captain, and then smiled at the navigator sitting across from her, "Sir, we can pay you a higher honorarium if you can take us to safety." ”

Kasiano raised his eyelids and glanced at her, "No problem. I believe that gold will always be the most important place in this secular world. ”

"It is a pity, sir, that at the moment we have only pounds sterling, no Spanish silver coins, and no Viceroyalty of New Spain (the first viceroyalty of 4,500,000 square kilometers in the Americas, established by Spain in 1535, including Mexico and the southern part of the United States)."

"Well, okay. At the moment, we are on the right route, and we can reach the island of Sant Antão in the northwest of Cape Verde. Cassiano took another sip of his glass, "Santa Antão Island, the second largest island in Cape Verde. Volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, and Talafal to the southwest is the best anchorage on the entire island. ”

Knowing that was enough, Isabel smiled as she put down her glass, "Thank you very much, sir." ”

Cassiano Aviglianano, a descendant of the ancient inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, grinned and glanced at her, "Miss, why should you be grateful for my head...?" ”

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After making the final tactical direction arrangement, the "Nemesis", led and commanded by Isabel, will serve as the lead ship of the fleet. In this case, it was only natural that Cassiano, as the navigator, would have to work as a navigator on her ship. After dinner, Cassiano followed Isabel back to her ship with her suite.

By this time, Isabel had had had people hide the looted belongings from Cassiano's plantation in a safe place. Even if the navigator had walked into any of the cabins, including the captain's cabin, it would have been impossible for him to find that his priceless belongings would inexplicably appear in the English cabins.

As night fell, the sea outside the ship completely lost its daylight at all, and the inky black water looked like a black trapped beast ready to attack. Sometimes it hits, sometimes it shakes every merchant ship, and it makes people shudder. What's even more terrifying is that the sea, which is black with the sky, is like a black hole with a strong suction, roaring to swallow everything around it.

Nestled up by the starboard fence, Isabel gazed quietly at the pitch-black sea, hearing the sound of the waves and the hollow sound of the waves crashing against the hull, and felt as if she had been swallowed by the sea. At this moment, the navigator walked up to her, looked at the endless darkness on the sea, and whispered, "Miss Brenda, you... You okay? ”

Isabel turned her head to look at him, "I'm fine. ”

The navigator, who has a typical southern European personality, turned his back to the sea in the dark, "Miss, I don't like the sea at night, maybe it has something to do with the nature that God has given each of us. ”

"Sir, you should go and rest early, there may be a sea battle tomorrow."

"Miss, if I'm not mistaken, you're not the daughter of an overseas merchant, you're a noble woman with noble blood, are you?"

Isabel turned to look at the navigator's unrestrained expression, and said reservedly, "Sir, I appreciate you telling me some thoughts about my identity. I'm sorry, but now I'm going to get ready for tomorrow's fight. ”

The Spaniard, who is good at controlling life and arranging life, turned his face, looked at Isabel who was leaving, and said a few words mockingly, "Saxons, who always keep their distance from others, you will never become the overlord of the sea under the protection of God." ”

After sunrise the next day, the Nemesis sailed to the front of the fleet. Under the guidance of the navigator, the fleet rode south to the northwest of the Cape Verde archipelago, riding the prevailing trade winds.

The sailors on duty at the foremast observation stand conveyed to the Navigator what he had seen: "Land can already be seen in the sea directly ahead. "When Captain John Hawkins immediately reported to the captain standing on the lookout in the stern, Captain Isabel told the gun commander on the gun deck to quickly open the gun holes on both sides and reload all the guns with gunpowder and pellets.

At this time, the navigator, who was also standing on the lookout of the stern, looked at the female captain with a smile, "Captain, the land ahead is Punta do Sol on the island of Santão Antão." ”