Captain – Chapter 141 – The Black Cat Old Shop

The night finally passed, but under the shroud of thick dark clouds, Yadris remained dim even during the day, with rare signs of people even on the main street of Horn of Plenty.

Pirates huddled in taverns drinking and making merry, merchants stayed in inns calculating their profits, and even light-fingered thieves were unwilling to wander outside in such weather.

Yet there was a group gathered on the beach east of the port, standing under hastily erected rain shelters, their bodies straight, solemn and silent.

Under the staggered shelters stood more than three hundred people in total. These were the crew members who had remained during the journey from Frans Island to Yadris, as well as those who had joined the Osprey during that grand recruitment drive.

At this moment, Caine was standing before all the crew members, waiting for the bosun to count the numbers.

Not far away, under a golden acacia tree, Roy was leaning against the trunk with folded arms, gazing in that direction along with the raven on her shoulder.

“Report to the first mate, except for the twelve on duty, including myself, there are three hundred and five people in total, none absent.”

Time flowed slowly with the sound of rain, and after ten minutes, Ben quickly walked back with the list to report the situation to Caine.

“Very good.”

Caine nodded slightly to the bosun, indicating him to stand behind himself, then looked at the variously dressed crew members: “Gentlemen, since everyone is here, I declare the meeting officially begun.”

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Hearing this, the crew members all turned their attention to the young man. Seeing the serious demeanor of the first mate, this group of normally lawless pirates was exceptionally well-behaved and quiet.

These people had varying levels of education, with the vast majority being illiterate, but those who had passed Caine and Anderson’s rigorous screening were naturally sharp-minded and clever individuals. None were foolish enough to transgress in such a situation.

“First, I want to tell everyone the captain’s true identity.”

Caine’s gaze swept across each fierce or resolute face: “Although among you, some already know, and others have their own guesses, I believe the vast majority still don’t know for whom you’re risking your lives while enjoying treatment far superior to all pirate ships in both oceanic domains.”

Listening to the first mate’s measured narration, except for a few individuals, most crew members instinctively exchanged glances with those nearby, their faces showing curiosity.

“Roy, Captain Roy, the former master of Yadris, the renowned Golden-Eyed Devil.”

The first mate’s announcement rang out forcefully, even overwhelming the downpour, extinguishing the thunder, stunning the crew into brief silence before an eruption of commotion, with exclamations heard everywhere.

They had considered this possibility, after all, in the world, those who dared to offend the Black Emperor, could make the ice-cold beauty of the Banshee’s Eye break her rule to assist, and still recruit people so unscrupulously in the current chaotic and dangerous Yadris, were few and far between.

And Captain Roy was the most likely and most hoped-for candidate among those people.

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But when this conjecture transformed into fact, placed before the crew, the powerful impact still left them astounded.

After the brief shock, a feeling of pleasant surprise quickly spread through the crowd. People cast their gazes toward the golden acacia tree in the distance, toward the young woman who was smiling at them, and began to discuss animatedly.

Their beloved Captain Roy hadn’t died after all, and had returned to Yadris.

Although they didn’t know why she had become a woman—well, perhaps she had only been disguising herself too well in the past—but this wasn’t important. What mattered was, did the Golden-Eyed Devil’s return signify the end of Captain Richi’s brief rule? Did it mean that the Black Emperor would have to leave again? Did it mean that Yadris would return to its former state?

The crew’s thoughts were optimistic. They anticipated the transfer of power, anticipated Captain Richi returning the Mermaid, and had already envisioned their future prestige and comfort.

But some people frowned, their expressions gradually becoming grave. Some knew more, while others had guessed something.

Captain Roy had returned, yet no news had spread about it, especially not a hint of information from the council hall’s side. Not long ago, she had dispatched people to control the Horn of Plenty area. All of this was quite intriguing.

“Silence!”

With Ben’s loud call, the discussions under the rain shelters gradually diminished, finally quieting down completely.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your aspirations, gentlemen, but I must say that currently, Yadris has completely fallen under the control of the Blood-Eyed Butcher. Even with the captain’s return, this is a reality difficult to reverse.”

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Caine spoke calmly, looking at the crew members who seemed to have been doused with cold water: “At this moment, whether it’s the crew aboard the Mermaid, or the butcher who was once loyal to Captain Roy, they are all our enemies, the mountains we must face.”

“To reclaim the Mermaid, to reclaim Yadris, war is inevitable!”

At this point, the first mate’s voice suddenly deepened considerably: “I hope all gentlemen are mentally prepared.”

Watching the crew members who had returned to silence, listening to the first mate’s powerful speech, Roy smiled and said: “I told you, he’s very suitable for this kind of thing. By the end, he might really gather a hundred people for himself.”

“Wishful thinking! Wishful thinking!” the raven cawed softly.

“Well, to be honest, it’s very difficult, after all, such a task is virtually the same as going to one’s death. Even I wouldn’t want to do it, but… at least it’s not without hope.”

The young man’s speech got on track as he began to describe the betrayal Captain Roy had suffered, the efforts she had made to return to Yadris during this period, and the various evil deeds committed by the Blood-Eyed Butcher.

Under his powerful narration, the crew members who had initially worn worried expressions were unwittingly immersed in those stories, engulfed in anger toward the betrayers and the tyrant, temporarily casting aside all thoughts of the potential dangers they might face.

Caine, I hope in the end, you won’t blame me.

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Looking at her first mate who was so earnest, as if motivating an army before battle, Roy smiled gently, thinking silently. She beckoned to the ship’s doctor who was standing idly behind Caine, then turned and walked toward the city.

Walking through the still bustling square, Roy navigated the complex streets and alleys on one side of the Horn of Plenty for some time, finally stopping in front of a dilapidated tavern.

On the tavern’s sign were the crooked words “Old Shop,” with a crudely drawn black cat beside them.

This was the legendary Black Cat Old Shop, the meeting place for powerful figures in Yadris.

However, in the past half year, after the Blood-Eyed Butcher mercilessly killed many opponents who questioned the truth about Roy’s death, many disheartened captains had left, making this already quiet tavern even more lifeless.

Standing in front of the tavern’s dim yellow, moldy wooden door, Roy took a deep breath, then forcefully kicked the door.

“Coming, coming, who on earth is it? If you damage my shop door, you’ll pay for it!”

Hearing that aged, familiar, curse-filled coughing voice, the captain secretly sighed in relief, her face blossoming into a gentle smile.

“Captain Diamond, it’s me!”