Captain – Chapter 115 – Misunderstanding Cleared

Anderson’s face turned terrifyingly cold, clearly misunderstanding the captain’s meaning.

In the young master’s view, that friend was among the world’s top merchants, and with the power backing him, even his own father would treat him with politeness and courtesy.

But the problem was that wealth, background, or influence derived from gold and silver might have some deterrent effect on large families or even the Federation and Empire, but would absolutely not prevent a fearsome pirate captain from causing harm.

Of course, Antonio’s enormous wealth might serve as a talisman, guaranteeing his survival until he handed over the ransom, but merely survival and nothing more.

“So his name is Antonio? This is the first time I’ve heard that.”

Seeing Anderson’s unfriendly expression, Roy sniffed and said uncertainly: “As for what happened to him? He used this information to repay his debt, then headed to the port. He should have set sail by now, right?”

Debt?

Anderson fell silent for a moment, truly unable to imagine how, with Antonio’s wealth, he could owe a debt to a pirate captain.

And to use information about him as collateral? Damn it, was Antonio short of money?

Anderson’s mouth twitched, and he asked with slight displeasure: “Captain, you know Antonio?”

“I suppose so. The Black Raven Society’s Sand Fox—I even led people to hunt him down in the past. But later, due to some circumstances, I accidentally became his creditor.”

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Roy spread her hands, fabricating a story with a straight face, as if that young man really owed her a substantial sum: “Since you came with him, you must have learned some information about me through the Black Raven Society. You know I’m short on money recently, so I wanted him to withdraw a hundred thousand gold coins from the Volkin branch in Yadris, as debt repayment.”

Hearing this, Anderson roughly understood the situation: “But Antonio was escorting me to Yadris, secretly sailing without the organization’s knowledge. If he gave you this hundred thousand gold coins, the Black Raven Society would definitely notice something unusual.”

In fact, for him and Sand Fox, a hundred thousand gold coins wasn’t much. What mattered were the serious consequences they would face after withdrawing such money.

“Yes, just as the young master thought. So, he sold you out, letting you repay the debt for him.”

The captain said with a smile. Previously she had said Sand Fox used information to settle the debt, but now she changed her story, setting her sights on the Anderson young master.

Anderson didn’t have any particular reaction to this. He picked up the silver cup in front of him, drank the wine in one gulp, and smiled composedly: “That’s certainly no problem. A hundred thousand gold coins, haha, a mere hundred thousand gold coins…”

“It’s definitely not a problem, but with one prerequisite—I must be allowed to join the ship.”

“Deal,” Roy said without hesitation, so quickly that even Anderson hadn’t reacted.

“Captain.”

Hearing her first mate’s call, Roy’s hand, which was extended toward Anderson, paused in mid-air. Her fingers trembled slightly, and she finally withdrew it awkwardly, turning to look at the expressionless Caine: “Wh-what is it?”

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After just a moment, the captain said with sudden realization: “Right, right, right, the problem—so, what exactly is the problem between you two?”

Seeing the opportunity to join the ship slipping away again, Anderson’s eye twitched a few times, and he said somewhat frantically: “Ask him yourself, how would I know what the problem is?”

“Caine?”

Feeling the questioning gaze of the captain, Caine slowly sat up straight, his tone revealing no emotion: “He’s here for you.”

“Here for me?”

Roy blinked, looking as confused as Anderson, but seeing the strange hostility in those azure eyes, she instantly understood something. She turned her head somewhat stiffly and asked Anderson: “Uh, well, young master, do you… have feelings for me too?”

Silence. Complete silence around the round wooden table.

Apart from the young woman with an awkward expression, both young men fell into a brief daze. Caine was once again stimulated by the captain’s straightforward words, while Anderson…

“Huh?”

Anderson looked the young woman up and down, as if wanting to know where she got the confidence to ask such a question, but quickly shifted his attention to the first mate: “From the captain’s words, you thought I came to pursue her?”

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“Aren’t you?” Caine was silent for a moment, suddenly realizing something might have gone wrong.

Anderson’s face twitched, and even the hand holding the silver cup trembled: “Where did you get that idea? I don’t believe I’ve ever shown any romantic interest in the captain.”

Caine frowned at him: “Didn’t you say your reason for wanting to join the ship was similar to mine?”

Eyes widening, Anderson’s dark golden pupils moved back and forth between the captain and the first mate, then he smiled rather strangely: “Hehe, hehe, so that’s how it is.”

Made somewhat uneasy by his laughter, Caine and Roy exchanged a glance, then said: “Stop laughing. If that wasn’t your purpose, why do you want to join the ship?”

By now, even a fool would know this was a misunderstanding. Caine’s previously indifferent tone softened considerably, with a touch of embarrassment added.

“I thought you were like me, both unable to stand the control of our families, or rather our old men, and that’s why you escaped. Who would have thought…”

Anderson finally managed to stop laughing, teasing ambiguously to get revenge for the other’s deliberate targeting earlier.

“I thought you two had some past grudge. So it was just a misunderstanding—that makes things easier,” Roy sighed in relief, coming to her first mate’s rescue.

With the captain stepping in, Anderson stopped teasing the first mate, after all, he was still hoping to join the ship: “Sigh, although admittedly, Captain, you are quite good-looking—among the beauties I’ve seen, you could rank in the top three—but unfortunately…”

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Glancing at the wine bottle in the captain’s hand and recalling her drinking posture earlier, Anderson hesitated for a moment, but still put his silver cup back on the table: “I’m already engaged to Miss Marcia Harris, so you don’t need to have that concern.”

Harris was also a noble family in the Federation, primarily involved in government affairs, with as many as six members serving as representatives in the Assembly. Marriage to such a family would elevate the Anderson family’s influence another level.

“With an engagement and secured inheritance rights, you still ran away from your family? Your father had no reaction?” Caine asked carefully, having calmed himself.

He could leave with peace of mind partly because his revenge had concluded, and partly because of Governor Federo’s tacit approval. With that old man’s backing, neither his father nor His Majesty the Emperor would trouble him too much.

But Anderson was different—he had truly slipped away, just like some willful young lady who had run away from home after being upset.

“Precisely because of this, I sought you out. Only on a legendary pirate’s ship would the old man be unable to drag me back, while also not having to worry too much about my safety.”

Anderson smiled and said: “Of course, my situation is still slightly better than yours, after all, my old man won’t be blinded by anger. I can still freely use the family’s wealth.”

Caine showed no reaction to the other’s implicit mockery, the corner of his mouth lifting in a mysterious smile: “Indeed, my family won’t support me in being a pirate, but similarly, I won’t have to return in ten or twenty years to take over the complicated affairs of the family. By then, I might still be sailing the seas, or perhaps settled down in some peaceful place. As for you, young master…”

“I’m afraid you’ll still be laboring mentally and physically handling family matters, and suffering headaches over training the next successor.”