Captain – Chapter 140 – Now

The delicacies on the wooden table had barely been touched before they were ordered to be cleared away, leaving only a few unopened bottles of rosé wine.

Caine left early to prepare for tomorrow’s crew meeting, leaving only the solitary young woman in the spacious room, looking out through the glass at the downpour outside while casually sipping her wine.

“Is this really okay?”

The door to the room opened silently, and a gentle question reached her ears. Roy turned around to see Cecilia approaching and smiled, asking: “What?”

Coming to the captain’s side, the proprietress pulled out a chair and sat down: “We both know what’s going on, so there’s no need for pretense anymore, is there?”

Hearing this, Roy shrugged, looking at that cool face with a mischievous smile: “I thought you would hold back from asking. What, you think what I’m doing isn’t honorable?”

“Honorable… it’s quite rare to hear such words from your mouth.”

The proprietress reached out to take the crystal glass from Roy’s hand, refilling it halfway: “For people like us, as long as the profit is enough, we can disregard face and reputation. But precisely because of this, I can’t understand your choice.”

Taking back the glass, the captain gazed at the swirling liquid, looking at the somewhat blurry reflection within, and smiled: “So you know everything?”

“Your every move with Old John, the whereabouts of the subordinates you’ve sent out, including most of the intelligence exchanges—I know it all. It’s not difficult to deduce your intentions.”

Cecilia spoke calmly, as if all the secrets of the person before her were nothing more than a line of records on an account book in her eyes—clear and obvious.

“Whether it’s the arrangements for the crew these past few days, or everything you’ve shown to your first mate, they’re all just smokescreens. Deep down, you never intended to let them participate…”

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At this point, the proprietress drew her conclusion: “You want to resolve all of this yourself.”

“Oh, completely correct. As expected of my little Ceci. But darling, I’ve told you many times, a girl who’s too clever will frighten men.”

Roy continued to smile carelessly, as if this scene were all too familiar.

In the past, whenever she wanted to conceal something from the crew and make an extremely risky decision, Cecilia would appear at the right time to analyze the risks for her and to perfect the plan as much as possible.

But this time seemed different.

The proprietress frowned and asked: “But why? This isn’t the optimal plan, or to put it more harshly, it’s downright foolish. This isn’t about raiding a treasure ship or finding some island—this is war, my captain, a war that will cost lives.”

“I know, little Ceci, don’t be hasty, listen to me…”

Cecilia interrupted Roy, saying expressionlessly: “What is this? Overconfidence? Unwillingness to let your crew die? Wanting to protect your first mate? Or is it that you’ve never trusted them at all? Whichever reason it is, I find it hard to understand.”

After a long silence, the captain finally spoke again: “It’s none of those.”

“Actually, I did consider the plan you drafted. Even just a moment ago, I was still hesitating, until this storm began.”

Roy looked out the window at the heavy rain curtain and said softly: “This rain won’t stop anytime soon, and as long as it doesn’t, the sea will be controlled by gales, huge waves, and whirlpools. You know, little Ceci, in a storm, the Mermaid is invincible.”

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“Relying on disguise to get close, using lives as shields—even then, the Osprey would struggle to approach the Mermaid, let alone with the Constantine watching like a tiger nearby. So comparatively, with Old John’s help, my chances of boarding alone are actually greater, and as for Caine and the others…”

Roy paused, then continued casually: “They can just serve as bait, safely staying in the port of Yadris, diverting Richi and Solomon’s attention. That’s enough, more than enough.”

Seeing this, Cecilia laughed coldly: “You can’t even convince yourself, yet you’re trying to convince me. Captain, think about it some more.”

Having said that, the proprietress stood up and walked toward the door, saying: “The previous plan was already according to your wishes, just to fool people. If we were to redraft it, I would have a safer and more effective strategy.”

Reaching the door, Cecilia stopped, turning her head slightly: “Even if you insist, the so-called bait could play a greater role. Even if it’s eventually destroyed by the Mermaid and the Constantine, it could still buy you valuable time.”

“An emotion like mercy shouldn’t belong to you, Captain. To win, to reclaim everything, we must use any means necessary, even if many will die.”

Roy still gazed out the window, showing no reaction.

“Think it over carefully.”

Receiving no response, Cecilia sighed inwardly, but after turning her gaze back, she couldn’t help but add one more comment.

But just as she was pushing the door open, about to leave, the captain’s voice suddenly sounded.

“This is between him and me, little Ceci.”

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Roy’s tone was flat, revealing no emotion, with nothing further to add.

But the proprietress understood. Her amber eyes dimmed slightly, and with a “suit yourself,” she closed the door heavily.

Rain slammed against the window, driven by the fierce wind, making pattering sounds. Roy watched the streams of water continually flowing down, as if seeing that rain from many years ago, seeing the small beggar curled up in the rain, clothes in tatters, face gaunt, extending a hand toward her.

Seeing those beautiful blood-colored eyes.

The blood-red eyes rippled slightly as the young man quietly stared at the window, lost in thought at the sudden downpour.

The plate before him was already empty, the traces of blood at the corners of his mouth had been wiped clean. The noisy and intense negotiation sounds around him seemed to be separated by that violent rain curtain, becoming blurry and distant.

“Alright, alright, although a decommissioned two-masted warship doesn’t pose much of a threat, the people who have recently joined that devil’s ranks are all genuinely skilled. If they tail us, some accidents might truly happen.”

Cassius pressed his hands, gesturing for everyone to quiet down, then looked at the Black Emperor: “So, Captain Solomon, what the Constantine needs to do is to intercept that vessel, and all ships that might fight for him, is that alright?”

Solomon nodded slightly: “Of course, Cassius. But the question is, can you really ensure that Roy will choose to board alone, rather than using other more threatening methods?”

“Certainly. Although we’re not clear about his specific plan, judging by his requirements of Old John, this is an absolute certainty. After all, if he wants to win, he can only rely on a surprise attack, a… surprise attack beyond imagination.”

Cassius smiled, spreading his hands: “Only by killing Captain Richi can the crew possibly turn to his side, and unfortunately, we don’t intend to give him such an opportunity.”

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“We will appear in the expected place at a time he can’t anticipate. We will turn the Mermaid into an isolated island, building his final tomb.” The young man’s smile gradually faded, his tone becoming as eerie as a ghost’s whisper.

“Let’s hope everything is as you say, Cassius.”

The Black Emperor put down his cutlery and wiped his hands clean with a napkin: “So, when have you decided to set sail to meet your dear former captain?”

“That’s for the captain to decide.”

As if he had never shown such a cold expression, Cassius smiled slightly, turning his gaze toward Richi: “What do you think, Captain?”

The calls in his ears grew clearer and clearer, until finally, like a sharp knife, they stabbed directly into the young man’s memories, slicing them to pieces.

“Captain?”

Richi finally extracted himself from the past. He looked at his first mate beside him: “Where were we?”

“Captain Solomon was asking when we will set out for Yadris.”

The young man slowly shifted his gaze, looking toward that fierce face with its thick beard—a face that chilled one just by looking at it. He raised his chin slightly and spoke hoarsely.

“Now.”