Captain – Chapter 124 – Changed and Unchanged

Old John had gone back.

Roy didn’t know what this former bosun was thinking when he betrayed her, but in her view, as long as she kept an eye on that girl, he wouldn’t dare harbor any disloyal thoughts.

Afterward, no commotion emerged from Yadris’s council hall, no crew members from the Constantine appeared seeking revenge, and even the spies from the Mermaid were all withdrawn without a trace.

Apart from these inconspicuous changes, everything seemed no different from before.

The line outside the door remained lengthy, not shortening despite applicants’ successes or failures.

In the hall, crew members who had passed the inspection laughed loudly and indulged in revelry. Those who had gone to the secret room with the captain and learned her true identity kept their mouths tightly shut under the First Mate’s warning, not daring to speak carelessly.

The interviewers were still the same two people, and the captain still played the role of an absentee boss, occasionally massaging the First Mate’s shoulders and earnestly offering words of encouragement.

Of course, young Master Anderson received the same treatment, but the one responsible for rubbing his shoulders wasn’t Roy, but Sarah, the charming head maid.

“Very good, you’ve passed. Please sign your name on the contract.”

Caine handed a helmsman’s contract to the young man in front of him, smiling as he spoke.

“Thank you, First Mate,” the nervous young man breathed a sigh of relief, thanking him sincerely.

Although he knew that with his excellent steering skills, there was a high probability of passing the interview, seeing the dejected looks of those who failed and left the tavern, he couldn’t help feeling anxious.

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After all, a job with such generous compensation—if missed, he might never encounter such an opportunity again in his lifetime.

“Our ship is in great need of helmsmen, so don’t lack confidence. Do your best.”

Caine patted the young man’s shoulder, encouraging him gently.

After the new helmsman left, the First Mate glanced at the round wooden table nearby. Seeing Anderson asking something to the man in front of him with a disgusted expression, knowing that the interview wouldn’t end anytime soon, he sighed softly and took the time to look elsewhere.

The first floor hall of the Banshee’s Eye was spacious, but Caine, with his sharp eyes developed from years of military service, quickly found the target he was looking for.

Roy was near the group of crew members who were throwing cards and engaged in some gambling activity. She leaned against the windowsill, holding a bottle of Black Rum in one hand, watching the crew members’ unified commands, gazing at the gradually reddening sky outside, taking occasional sips of the liquor.

A gentle breeze caressed her soft, pale golden hair. The crimson setting sun illuminated her exquisitely beautiful profile, making it radiant. She seemed to have become a scenic view in the midst of a clamorous world, peaceful and beautiful.

There were pirates who shifted their gaze from the gambling table, stealing careful glances at the young woman, but their attention was solely on her breathtaking beauty, without noticing certain concerns in her heart.

Caine noticed it, and frowned with worry.

He didn’t know what the captain and Old John had said to each other during that morning conversation, concealing it from them, but he knew that the young woman wasn’t as confident about reclaiming the Mermaid as she appeared to be.

The Blood-Eyed Butcher wasn’t an easy opponent to deal with, not to mention the Black Emperor watching covetously from the side.

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Such a situation would be difficult to handle even for another legendary pirate at the peak of their power, let alone Roy, who had lost her warship and been transformed into a woman by the Devil.

What exactly are you planning, Captain?

Caine wondered silently, staring somewhat absentmindedly at that figure, to the extent that he didn’t respond even after the person beside him called him three times.

“Hey, have you looked enough?”

That person was just short of roaring in the First Mate’s ear, though the voice was still loud enough to make one’s eardrums ache.

Caine covered his ears and turned around, looking puzzled at the ship’s doctor: “What is it?”

Anderson scolded him impatiently: “You’re asking me what? Neglecting your duties, just staring endlessly at your lover—can you stare until flowers bloom?”

The ship’s doctor stood up, leaning on his cane, stuffing the stack of contracts in his hand to the First Mate: “The time is about right. Let’s end here for today. If you want to share a room with your dear captain and explore the mysteries of human emotions, then hurry up and finish organizing. This young master won’t accompany you anymore.”

With that, the ship’s doctor hummed an aria from a well-known Federation melody, walking toward the spiral staircase leading to the second floor.

Struck by the ship doctor’s somewhat obscure and somewhat caustic words, Caine smiled bitterly and shook his head.

The First Mate first asked Andre beside him to go outside the tavern to notify people, then spent a very short time reviewing the contracts in his hands. After having several accurate figures in mind, he rose and walked toward the group of boisterous pirates.

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“Harriet.”

Deeply immersed in the gambling game, his entire body leaning on the wooden table, staring unblinkingly waiting for the cards to be turned, Harriet suddenly stood straight and responded with full vigor: “I’m here, First Mate!”

“Daniel showed you our ship today. When you’re done playing, lead the crew members back to the ship. No one is allowed to stay overnight in Yadris, understood?”

Today’s Yadris was Richi and Solomon’s territory. Although Roy’s identity was well-hidden, no one could guarantee it wouldn’t be leaked, especially in a situation where her whereabouts were known to that old sailor.

So as a precaution, they required all crew members to return to the Osprey at night, to ensure it always had the combat power to resist a night attack.

Having learned Roy’s identity, Harriet was clearly aware of this point. Although he was somewhat disappointed with that frail little vessel, his face revealed nothing: “Understood, First Mate!”

“Very good, carry on.”

Nodding with satisfaction, Caine passed through the gaps between the pirates and came to the window: “Captain.”

The First Mate’s voice reached her ears, interrupting Roy’s thoughts. She paused slightly, then turned to look at the young man, asking with a smile: “What is it?”

“Today’s recruitment is over. The number of people boarding is more than the previous two days combined, a total of sixty-three, among them…”

“That’s enough, no need to report to me. As long as you’re clear about it, after all, I’m not good at handling this kind of thing.”

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The captain took the contracts from Caine’s hand, interrupting his report, saying with a smile: “You’ve worked hard. Go dine with our young master.”

Under the proprietress’s arrangement, the ship’s doctor and the two of them all had specially prepared luxury suites on the second floor of the tavern, so they didn’t need to dine in the first-floor hall, which would become quite noisy when business resumed at night.

“Then… what about you?” Caine didn’t leave, but asked in confusion.

Generally, after concluding the recruitment, the captain would return with him, but today was different, clearly something was amiss.

“Me?”

Roy looked back out the window, watching the sky gradually being taken over by the pitch-black night and stars, saying absentmindedly: “I still need to think about some things, Caine. I need… to think carefully on my own.”

The young woman’s voice was very soft, almost like sleep-talking: “Give me some time, let me figure everything out, First Mate.”

Everything… what exactly does that “everything” you speak of mean, Captain?

Caine very much wanted to ask this, but seeing the captain’s slightly melancholic eyes, in the end he only sighed silently and complied with her wishes.

“I understand, Captain.”