Captain – Chapter 146 – I Want to Talk to You First

The curtain was heavily lifted, and with rapid footsteps and the sound of raindrops shattering on the ground, two figures quickly entered the first-floor hall of the Banshee’s Eye, attracting everyone’s attention.

Everyone in the tavern recognized those two people. The one walking in front was the mysterious captain who had recently stirred up turbulence in Yadris, and close behind her was someone who commanded even more respect.

It was Snow Lion Diamond, the veritable guardian of Yadris.

Although this old captain hadn’t personally intervened to stop the butcher’s atrocities, everyone knew that if not for him and the Lion Heart, if not for his silent yet powerful resistance against Captain Richi’s ferocity, this island would have long since turned into hell, a paradise for the likes of the Black Emperor.

Simultaneously, people throughout the tavern rose to their feet. Whatever they had been doing just moments before, they now removed their hats and headwraps, placing them or their hands over their left chests, their faces showing genuine respect.

“Greetings, Captain Diamond.”

“Good afternoon, Captain Diamond.”

The calls rang out one after another. Seeing this scene, the old captain behind the young woman smiled gently, similarly removing his hat in return: “Good afternoon, everyone. Though I apologize for disturbing your meals, I must announce something to you.”

“From now until we issue further notice, the Banshee’s Eye is temporarily closed to guests. Please understand.”

The tavern patrons exchanged glances. Captain Diamond indeed owned a twenty percent share in the Banshee’s Eye, but whether to close the business should ultimately be the proprietress’s decision.

Despite this, the patrons replaced their hats and headwraps, retrieved their belongings, and made their way to the exit without complaint.

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In their hearts, the effect of Snow Lion’s reputation was even more powerful than that of the beautiful proprietress.

Since the old captain had made such a request, they naturally wouldn’t go against his wishes.

Feeling the gazes of the other guards, Andre’s face twitched a few times as he watched the leaving patrons, unsure of what to do. But soon, the beautiful voice like a lark’s song coming down the spiral staircase made him breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank you for your understanding, gentlemen. The first floor of the Banshee’s Eye is temporarily closed as of today.”

Cecilia, with hair as red as fire and a face as cold as frost, descended the spiral staircase to announce this news to the patrons.

Before long, the once bustling hall grew quiet. The maids, after observing the situation, also quietly left, yielding the space for Yadris’s important figures to converse.

In the end, only one table of guests remained in the hall.

The young man who had been reviewing messages from the crew looked up with a slight frown, while Harriet, serving as his guard, stood behind him like an iron spear.

At the proprietress’s signal, Andre led the guards to spread out and guard all entrances and exits of the Banshee’s Eye, leaving the five of them gathered at one table.

Seeing Harriet somewhat flattered to be seated, Diamond cast an inquiring look at Roy, but it was the young man beside her who answered his unspoken question.

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“Allow me to introduce Harriet Murphy, currently our Fighting Squad Captain.”

Hearing this, Roy smiled dismissively, seemingly unconcerned about the change in such an important position. She raised her hand toward Caine, introducing him to the old captain: “Caine Howard, my current first mate, formerly known as the Imperial Lion.”

Hearing that title, Cecilia, who had never known the young man’s true identity, slightly raised her eyebrows, while Snow Lion narrowed his eyes and gazed deeply at him: “The Imperial Lion? So… Naren’s son?”

“Yes, but he’s no longer a man of the Auran Emperor now; he’s my man,” Roy explained before her first mate could answer.

In the past, the relationship between the imperial military and pirates had been far from good, especially during the period when Governor Naren still served as the naval commander and had intended to completely purge all pirates in the Eastern Seas.

Although that intention was ultimately shattered by the joint efforts of many captains, and the Empire no longer dreamed of eradicating the pirates operating in the seas, the enmity forged through gunpowder and bloodshed was not easily dispelled.

“Is that so? How interesting.”

Hearing the subtle defense in Roy’s words, Diamond was silent for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile: “If Naren and Roy knew that their children, these archrivals, now work together with one heart, I wonder what they would think.”

The “Roy” the old captain mentioned in his sentence naturally didn’t refer to the young woman, but to another long-disappeared old friend, and he deliberately emphasized the phrase “work together with one heart.”

“Huh, I don’t care what that dead guy thinks, but as for Governor Naren…”

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Roy curled her lip, but halfway through her sentence, she suddenly came to her senses and said with an awkward expression: “Now, now is not the time to discuss these issues. Can we focus on the current matters at hand?”

The young woman’s reaction was somewhat telling, but undeniably, her words effectively diverted everyone’s attention.

Roy raised her chin toward the old captain with smiling eyes: “Captain Diamond, Snow Lion, equally renowned as Red Beard, currently Yadris’s defense officer, and also the strongest supporter standing behind me.”

The name Snow Lion was widely known in the Auran military department, so Caine naturally had heard of it. His gaze flickered, looking at the young woman with special meaning.

“No, no, no, Caine. Even if Captain Diamond and his crew agree, the Lion Heart cannot be the main force in this operation. Richi and Solomon are thoroughly familiar with its shape and specifications. If it were to set sail at such a time, they wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate a potential future threat.”

Hearing Roy’s analysis, Caine pondered briefly, then nodded slightly to indicate his understanding.

Although the Lion Heart was far stronger than the Osprey, without the veil of disguise, trying to approach the Mermaid would inevitably face the combined firepower of it and the Constantine. In that case, their chances of victory would be even more remote.

“So, clearing out the patrons, calling such an urgent meeting—what exactly has happened?” the first mate set aside the idea of borrowing a ship and asked calmly.

“How are those arrangements I asked you to make coming along?” Roy didn’t answer her first mate’s question and asked her own instead.

“About fifteen people are constantly watching Old John’s daughter, and the rest of our men are already stationed near the council hall, ready to act at a moment’s notice,” Caine replied.

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At this point, he hesitated briefly and frowned: “But with just these men, trying to block all the exit routes around the council hall, as well as the secret passages provided by Old John, will be too difficult.”

“It’s fine, just make the arrangements. I’ve already solved the manpower issue. Including Captain Diamond, a total of three captains and nearly eight hundred men will participate. You’re responsible for the handover of intelligence and the arrangement of personnel. We’ll act at nightfall.”

Roy waved her hand, tossing this heavy burden onto the young man.

“Nightfall? Why so sudden? According to the intelligence provided by Old John, there should still be…”

“One more day,” Roy interlaced her fingers in front of her and said seriously. “That is, by noon tomorrow, the Mermaid will approach Yadris, and that will be the time for us to formally implement our plan.”

As the young woman finished speaking, Diamond nodded slowly: “Yes, so before then, we need to cleanly and decisively eliminate all hidden dangers, whether at the council hall or that old fellow’s daughter.”

As the two spoke in harmony, Cecilia’s amber eyes wavered slightly, but until the end, she maintained absolute silence, as if she hadn’t noticed anything.

“Understood.”

Though somewhat surprised, Caine didn’t dwell on his astonishment for too long. After nodding, he said in a deep voice: “Later, I will discuss the details with Captain Diamond, but before that…”

“I want to talk to you first, Captain.”