Captain – Chapter 13 – Ship Hijacking

There were indeed people on the solitary island.

Even with Eda’s eyesight, somewhat damaged from years of looking at accounts, he could clearly see the two people waving their hands and the black smoke rising from the fire they had lit to alert the people on the merchant ship.

Looking through the monocular telescope, Eda immediately felt relieved, because they were neither burly, fierce-looking bandits nor bare-chested, grass-skirted primitive tribespeople, but a particularly pleasing-to-the-eye young couple.

The silver-haired young man appeared to be just over twenty, while the beautiful golden-haired girl beside him looked like she had just come of age. Coupled with their somewhat worn clothes, they looked every bit like children from wealthy families who had been stranded on the solitary island due to a recent natural disaster.

Perhaps they could even give directions to him and his crew.

With this thought, Eda’s heart, previously sunk in despair, felt as if it had been fished out of ice water, regaining its warmth and vitality. He turned the rudder while instructing the sailors to prepare to lower the sails, drop anchor, and dock.

Only the experienced old sailor continued to lean against the ship’s railing, observing the approaching pair.

After carefully examining their attire, the old sailor secretly sighed in his heart. He was well aware of the captain’s intentions. With just the people on board and an unreliable captain-cum-navigator, it was impossible for this merchant ship to return to its course. But…

Could such a strange combination—a pirate and an Auran Empire naval officer—really be trusted?

The old sailor’s concerns were soon confirmed.

Rеad oո ΚаtRеаⅾіոɡСafе

When the double-masted merchant ship stopped near the eastern coast of the solitary island, the woman of the pair, like a cheetah that had been gathering strength for a long time, propelled herself powerfully and plunged into the icy seawater.

After just a few glimpses, she had already reached beneath the merchant ship, swiftly climbing up along the wooden joints, then grasping the static rope used to secure the mast and leaping upward, half-crouching on the ship’s railing. This frightened several nearby sailors, who continuously retreated, falling to the ground with their mouths agape.

Witnessing this scene, the old sailor couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly.

Such explosive power and speed, even in the Pronora Federation Navy, would be considered first-rate. And among pirates, she likely held the rank of combat team captain under some pirate captain.

This was not good news. Compared to such a fierce character, the hired-gun guards on the ship were merely harmless lambs.

Indeed, those sailors hired as guards, after witnessing this woman’s agile moves and noticing the Isk curved blade and short pistol at her waist, confirming her identity as a pirate, all retreated toward the rear, fearing that the captain might dispatch them to fight to the death.

From the pirate jumping into the sea to reaching the ship’s railing, less than a minute had passed.

By this time, Eda had just reacted, hurriedly releasing the rudder and rushing to the beautiful woman’s front, nearly tripping over a rope on the way, looking as flustered as one could possibly be.

“No cannons, no armored hull—clearly a merchant ship built for maximum profit. The model is the Pronora Federation’s Transporter Type III, am I right, Captain?” Roy wore her signature smile, looking at Eda, who was nervously wringing his hands.

Rеaⅾ oո KаtRеаⅾiոɡCafе

“Yes, yes, yes, madam is truly knowledgeable, able to report all the information about my ship without the slightest deviation.” Eda laughed dryly and flattered her. It was only now that he noticed the curved blade and short pistol at Roy’s waist. His already corpulent body instantly broke out in cold sweat, soaking a patch of his distinctively patterned Parei wool coat.

“Good. Now, this ship, including the sailors on board and the cargo in the hold, all belong to me until we dock. Does anyone have any objections?”

Roy patted Eda’s shoulder, nimbly jumping onto the deck, scanning everything on the deck as if returning home while speaking.

The sailors on the deck didn’t have the courage to stop her at all. They all made way for her, until only those hired guards remained, trembling as they gripped the swords at their waists, too nervous to draw them out. They could only watch with woeful faces as the captain barely managed to keep up with Roy’s fast-paced steps.

“Calm down, calm down, everyone put down your weapons.” Eda repeatedly beckoned to those few guards, and they, as if granted a great amnesty, dropped their swords on the ground, offering ingratiating smiles to Roy.

What a bunch of oddballs.

Roy secretly mocked. Throughout her time roaming the Eastern Seas, she had never encountered such timid and obedient guards.

Even when facing the fierce combat team members from the Mermaid, those proud knights from the Auran Empire dared to take up their straight swords in resistance. How unlike these cowards from the Pronora Federation, who were terrified of even a lone young woman.

As if guessing Roy’s thoughts, the old sailor who had been leaning against the ship’s railing gripped the hilt of his sword. Although he had boarded as a sailor, this old companion, symbolizing the honors received throughout his lifetime of battles, had never been abandoned in a dim corner.

Rеαԁ οn КαtRеаⅾiոɡСαfe

“Pirate lady, although the Pronora Federation has many cowards who fear death, it has never lacked warriors willing to die.”

Roy turned her head with some surprise, looking at this old but still robust sailor, the worldly smile on her face gradually receding.

She recognized him as an old soldier who had experienced life and death, because that kind of temperament couldn’t be erased by loose sailor’s clothes. So she offered her respect to this old soldier: “You’re right. Enzo once told me well about stories from the Western Seas, among which were many fearless heroics of the Pronora Navy.”

After speaking, she also placed her hand on the hilt of her curved blade. She knew that the threat posed by this old soldier might be far greater than all the thirty-plus sailors on deck who feared death.

“I must say upfront, my principles have never included bullying the elderly, but if you are determined to fight me, I won’t show mercy.” Roy was not joking in the slightest.

“Though the old man is not young anymore, he doesn’t need a woman to go easy on him.” The old sailor showed no weakness.

Hearing the word “woman,” Roy’s face darkened, no longer having any interest in displaying gentlemanly courtesy. Her body leaned slightly forward, very much like a leopard preparing to pounce on its prey.

The atmosphere on the deck suddenly congealed, pressing down on people so that they could hardly breathe.

Would there really be bloodshed? The sailors thought anxiously.

Rеаⅾ οո KatRеαdіոɡСafе

Of course, the fight didn’t break out.

The chubby captain stood between them, waving his hands, looking like a dancer performing a farce: “Let’s talk this out, let’s talk this out, don’t draw your swords.”

Seeing Eda’s pleading gaze, the old sailor, after a moment of silence, released the hilt of his sword and continued to direct his gaze toward the sea, watching the silver-haired young man who had also reached the bottom of the ship, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Roy also withdrew her aggressive posture. In her view, although this old soldier was still robust, under the ravages of time, he was far from as swift as in his youth. She was confident she could take his life within three attacks, but… he was still an old man.

Without special circumstances, Captain Roy was quite respectful toward the elderly and loving toward the young.

“So, madam, what you said earlier… about everything belonging to you until we dock, does that mean you’ll return everything to me after docking?” Eda asked with a woeful face, posing a question that even he found stupid.

“Of course not.”

Roy smiled sweetly, not looking at all as intimidating as before: “The people can leave, but the ship and cargo must stay.”