Captain – Chapter 112 – Conflict

Sure enough, after hearing the first mate’s words, the smile on the young man’s face froze.

He seemed to disbelieve his ears, his mouth corner twitching slightly, yet he still maintained a polite smile: “I apologize, I was a bit distracted and didn’t hear clearly what you said. Could you repeat it?”

Caine repeated expressionlessly: “Please leave.”

This time, the smile completely disappeared from the young man’s face. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the interviewer who hadn’t left him any room for negotiation: “Are your ship’s recruitment criteria based solely on your personal likes and dislikes?”

Caine was clearly prepared for such a question: “No, I strictly follow the captain’s requirements, treating each applicant with respect and as much fairness as possible.”

“Then why are you so eager to send me away without even asking about my identity?”

The young man sneered at the first mate’s explanation, considering it merely an excuse to fool idiots.

“The captain said we don’t accept people of unknown origin.”

Caine seemed completely unconcerned by the hostility the young man displayed, even though the other’s clothing and accessories indicated he was genuinely an important figure.

Unlike the servants and maids at the tavern’s entrance, while Caine had no interest in luxury goods from high society, his frequent attendance at imperial upper-class banquets had given him a certain familiarity with such impractical items.

He could tell that the young man’s black suit was the work of the Federation’s famous master tailor Jay, with fabric and ivory buttons as white as jade already quite expensive, not to mention the labor cost of that old tailor who had long faded from public view.

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The cane placed beside the armrest was very similar to the one owned by Governor Federo, even more exquisite in craftsmanship and carving.

Just these two points were enough to prove the young man’s powerful wealth and high status. After all, to have such master craftsmen work for you, mountains of gold and silver were far from enough.

However, even if the other party had impressive connections and powerful backing, so what?

For Caine, who had once served as the Imperial Navy Commander, worldly power was not something to be revered—merely a web spun by people to satisfy their desires.

As for the captain… well, that pirate who dared to infiltrate the Black Raven Society’s stronghold alone naturally dared to raise her sword against any powerful figure in the world.

“Unknown origin?”

The young man leaned back in his chair and said with a cold smile: “You want proof of identity? Simple, I have plenty of ways to prove who I am. If you’re too impatient to wait, you could just send someone to…”

“Don’t trouble yourself. Besides intelligence collected by Miss Joyce, our captain believes nothing else.”

Caine, as if having lost interest in the young man, buried his head back into the documents on the table. His dismissive words seemed like he was driving away an insignificant ruffian: “Andre, see our guest out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chief Guard Andre, who had once been punished for turning a blind eye to the Constantine crew’s atrocities and was now assigned as this interviewer’s assistant until the recruitment fair ended, respectfully responded and gestured toward the door curtain to the young man with the unpleasant expression.

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Having witnessed the proprietress’s attitude change toward the captain and first mate who had suddenly appeared and seemed to have prior connections with her, Andre clearly understood what a huge mistake he had made. Now he certainly needed to perform well to earn this first mate’s forgiveness.

“You… how dare you? Stop! A person like you dares to touch me?”

The young man’s reaction was extraordinarily large. He angrily pointed at the first mate, then coldly glared at Andre. The brewing storm in his dark golden pupils made the chief guard shiver, momentarily afraid to step forward.

“See him out. If this gentleman is unwilling, teach him a lesson.”

Caine’s voice was calm, but his words made the young man’s heart skip a beat: “This is Yadris, not the territory of noble lords.”

Realizing that the first mate truly wasn’t afraid to use force against him, the young man’s indignation gradually subsided. The corner of his mouth curved into a strange smile: “Noble lords… if I remember correctly, aren’t you also a true scion of a prestigious family, Commander?”

Hearing this, Caine slowly raised his head, stopping Andre’s impending rough actions with a wave of his hand, gazing at the young man with calm, deep eyes: “It seems you know me quite well.”

“I not only know your background like the back of my hand, but I also know your captain’s true identity. As her first mate, you should be very clear about the consequences if this information gets out.” The young man smiled slightly, certain he had leverage over the first mate.

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

Caine recognized this was undoubtedly a threat, so he put down the confidential report and slowly stood up, leaning on the round wooden table.

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Under the young man’s composed gaze, the first mate simply drew the pistol at his waist and pressed the cold muzzle against the other’s forehead.

This pistol was one he had taken from the Osprey’s armory, far less precise and stable than his former service weapon, but sufficient to blow a hole in the young man’s forehead.

This scene shocked many people. Even the well-trained chief guard felt his heart tremble at the sight, not to mention the guards who were equally adept at reading the situation.

Just a few words of conflict, and this first mate was already turning hostile, planning to kill this clearly influential and noble person!

At Andre’s signaling glance, several guards tremblingly left the hall, hurrying through the secret door to notify the proprietress.

Meanwhile, the few sailors who had been enjoying fine wines they’d never tasted before in their lives also stood up, approaching with unfriendly expressions, hands resting on curved swords or matchlock guns at their waists.

“Have I offended you in some way?”

The young man showed no fear of the gun barrel, but was also not naive enough to think the other wouldn’t dare shoot, so he softened his tone somewhat, showing a rare hint of compromise.

“No,” Caine shook his head after a moment of silence.

“Good, then can you put the gun down first? Damn it, I came to apply for a position, not to cause you trouble. If I didn’t know your identities, would I, a young master, stoop to come to this shabby place?”

Several blue veins bulged on the young man’s temples as he growled through gritted teeth: “If I meant you harm, would I be stupid enough to deliver myself to your doorstep like an idiot for you to kill? Aren’t you supposed to be tactically and strategically superior to ordinary people, even surpassing your governor father? How have you become like those reckless fools now? Can’t you use your brain and think properly?”

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“Admiral Caine Howard.”

Seeing the disappointment in the young man’s eyes, Caine raised an eyebrow, not expecting to hear such words from him.

After a brief hesitation, Caine put away his gun, and the sailors who had gathered around whistled and dispersed, as if there had never been a conflict on the verge of explosion.

“Well then, young master, please state your name and background.” Caine sat back in his chair and asked neutrally.

From this moment, their conversation finally got on the right track. What seemed incredibly absurd to Andre standing by the table was that just a moment ago they had been at daggers drawn, like a powder keg about to explode, but now they were acting as if nothing had happened, becoming completely cordial.

These two were beyond ordinary understanding.

Andre thought silently, and after bowing to request leave, he hurried toward the secret door his subordinates had used.

If the proprietress arrived to find such a peaceful scene, he and his subordinates would surely be in big trouble!

Seeing that Caine had put away his hostility, the young man patted his face lightly, relaxing his somewhat stiff facial muscles.

“Don Anderson, first in line of succession in the Anderson family. I am honored to meet you here, Imperial Lion.”