Captain – Chapter 118 – Old Path

The calm and peaceful night quickly passed.

The recruitment drive continued with great enthusiasm. The crew members recruited during the previous two days, except for Anderson who needed to stay behind as an examiner, had all boarded the Osprey and begun familiarizing themselves with this twin-masted merchant vessel that was entirely inconsistent with the captain’s offered compensation and even somewhat shabby.

However, no one raised any questions because, to stabilize morale, Roy had already withdrawn a large sum of silver from the Volkin Bank branch in Yadris and distributed this month’s wages and allowances in advance.

Gold and silver were the best stabilizers—a principle every captain understood deeply.

As long as crew members could spend and enjoy freely, order on a pirate ship would be guaranteed. Add to that appropriate authority and rewards, and people would become utterly devoted to their captain, without any complaints.

The morning sunlight pierced through thin clouds, traversed the slightly cool and damp air, shone upon the Banshee’s Eye’s distinctive sign, and also upon the yawning applicants who had clearly been waiting for a long time.

The tavern entrance was as busy as yesterday.

Pirates who typically refused to follow rules, who would fight over the slightest disagreement, who liked to intimidate weaker people into giving up their places—today they were exceptionally well-behaved. They formed two long lines starting from the Banshee’s Eye’s entrance, extending along Horn of Plenty all the way to the square in front of the port.

Even the usually chaotic square had become much more orderly, as other ships’ crew members and the troublemakers who stirred up trouble daily didn’t want to offend so many dangerous individuals simultaneously.

“Tap, tap…”

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Footsteps came from the port, quickly crossing the wooden pier and reaching the smooth surface of the square, becoming quite crisp.

The people in line turned their heads to watch the figure jogging along the queue, while quietly discussing among themselves.

“Whose fledgling is this, heading toward the Banshee’s Eye? Don’t tell me he’s trying to cut in line?” one man said with slight dissatisfaction.

“Are you brainless? Miss Joyce already said if anyone doesn’t follow the rules, they’ll never enter the tavern again. Could this little one be an exception?” a gaunt man beside him sneered.

“You’d better keep your comments to yourselves. This young fellow is one of the captain’s subordinates. He’s been carrying messages back and forth several times these past few days.”

Hearing the friendly reminder from the person in front, the two men who had been at odds immediately fell silent. They watched the gradually receding small figure, their eyes filled with intense jealousy.

Damn it, why could someone so young and so skinny get on the ship?

The small figure running along the queue was Daniel. He was currently carrying something wrapped in blue cloth, which occasionally moved and emitted a few disgruntled low cries.

After crossing the square and running along Horn of Plenty, Daniel quickly arrived at the entrance of the Banshee’s Eye.

The guards at the door were already familiar with this young man. Not only did they not stop him, they even pushed open the heavy wooden door for him, joking with a smile: “What things have the captain made you deliver this time?”

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Daniel smiled and shook his head at the guards without answering, but the blue cloth in his arms trembled a few times and transmitted a low yet sharp curse.

“You’re the thing, your whole family are things!”

Under the guard’s bewildered gaze, the boy sheepishly clutched the blue cloth tighter and ran into the tavern.

Evading the maids’ teasing and cheek-pinching attacks, passing through the long corridor decorated with paintings of waves and ships, pushing through the silk curtains, Daniel finally entered the great hall.

While catching his breath, he called toward the spiral staircase that wound down along the edge of the hall: “Captain, I’ve brought Alfie!”

Before the boy’s voice faded, the blue cloth in his arms flew up, floating gently to the ground, while a swift black shadow flapped its wings, flying toward the young woman who was leaning against the railing.

Reaching out to catch the impatient raven, the captain gently stroked its glossy black feathers, then scratched under its chin: “Good girl, did you miss me?”

Alfie made a contented low sound from her throat and lightly pecked at the young woman’s finger: “Missed you terribly, missed you terribly!”

“I missed you too, little one.”

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Roy smiled and placed her on her shoulder, allowing the raven to affectionately nuzzle against her cheek.

She walked down the spiral staircase, arriving between two round wooden tables not far away, casually glancing at the documents on the table, looking at the two pirates whose expressions were tense, as docile as pet dogs: “Gentlemen, you both passed. Go find some fun, whether it’s drinks or women, it’s all on this captain.”

Hardly believing their ears, the two pirates exchanged glances, neatly pressed down their handprints, and then exclaimed in unison: “Thank you, Captain!”

Watching the pirates who had been strangers but now seemed like a pair of close brothers, walking arm in arm toward the newly recruited crew members, Caine frowned slightly at Roy: “Captain, what’s wrong?”

Although that man had no major black marks in his past, Caine still needed to ask some questions to determine his reliability. Now that Roy had interrupted him, something important must have come up.

“Has your former bosun arrived?” Anderson tossed the contract to Caine and asked the captain with interest.

Having become Captain Roy’s financial backer, he naturally gained her trust, at least superficially, so he also knew the general situation regarding Old John.

“No, but he will soon.”

Roy leaned against the white pillar behind her and instructed Daniel: “Go tell Andre that today’s recruitment will be delayed for a while. Ask the good fellows to wait patiently. Oh, and don’t forget to have the guards distribute some rum. Don’t let the gentlemen go thirsty.”

Daniel acknowledged the order and left the hall. The captain lowered her eyelids slightly: “As for us, let’s wait patiently for the big fish to take the bait. When the time comes… we’ll also give our Old John a big surprise.”

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Whether it would be a pleasant surprise or a frightening shock, nobody knew.

Noticing the unusual behavior of the captain and the other two, the five crew members who had just passed their interviews exchanged glances, then silently put down their cups and gathered around the three.

The most important skill a pirate needs to learn is to read the room. Only by pleasing the power figures on the ship could one live more comfortably, and those who could pass the examination of the First Mate and Ship’s Doctor were naturally shrewd people who understood this principle well.

Time ticked by second by second. Finally, a hidden door opposite the curtain in the hall opened, and Cecilia, red as fire with an equally bright gauzy dress, entered with several guards and a middle-aged man who kept his head lowered and had an honest, simple appearance.

“Bude, my informant planted beside Old John.”

Standing before the captain, Cecilia briefly introduced the man beside her, then continued: “According to his report, Old John once again chose to come through the old path. He should be less than five minutes away from the tavern now.”

The so-called old path was a secluded alley leading to the Banshee’s Eye’s secret door. Even on the Mermaid, only a few core members knew of its existence.

“Very good.”

Roy smiled, her gaze sweeping over Caine, Anderson, and the crew members, her tone extremely cheerful.

“Gentlemen, bring your weapons. We have guests coming to visit.”