Captain – Chapter 15 – The Captain Is Dying

“So you’re saying, you’ll guarantee the safety of my property, including the ownership of this double-masted merchant ship, and you’re willing to purchase my cargo using your family’s status?”

Since learning Caine’s true identity, Eda’s face no longer showed fear or anxiety, only respect and a hint of excitement. He interlaced his fingers, looking at Caine, happily repeating the other’s promise.

“Yes, the Auran Navy guarantees that every traveling merchant will receive fair and just treatment within imperial territory, naturally including the safety of property and life.”

Caine nodded, then continued: “This is the guarantee I can give you, and similarly, I need your promise to ensure that my partner and I will have a quiet and safe environment on the ship. She… needs to rest well for a period of time.”

Recalling the details of their time on the solitary island, Caine had to admit that Roy’s care for him was indeed meticulous, to the extent that many times she herself didn’t have adequate rest time or food and water. Only when his injuries had mostly recovered could Roy relax and rest with peace of mind.

Caine still remembered the day he first took over the chores; Roy, like a squirrel, hugged her knees and slept soundly in the small stone cave for nearly half a day. So despite the pirate’s agile movements and sustained explosive power earlier, her nerves and body were actually stretched to the limit of fatigue.

She needed ample rest, not constant scheming day and night.

Caine reconfirmed his purpose and looked up at Eda’s chubby face: “What do you think, Captain?”

Eda finally awoke from his dream-like joy. His ship had lost direction due to the previous disaster, and by the time they reached the Auran Empire, the consignee at the port would have long exceeded his waiting time. He had been worrying about how to sell his cargo when heaven sent the young master of the Howard family right to him—it was as if the goddess of wealth was protecting him.

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“I have no problem. I will do my utmost to fulfill your request and absolutely not allow those clumsy fellows to disturb the two masters. But… regarding that lady…”

Seeing Eda mention Roy, Caine was silent for a moment, then said: “I will handle everything.”

“Then deal—no, happy cooperation, Mr. Howard.” Having received the officer’s guarantee, the captain stood up, extending his oily palm, smiling brilliantly.

“Happy cooperation, Captain.” Caine also rose, reaching out to shake his hand lightly.

Everything went as Caine had predicted. When the captain’s orders were passed down, the exhausted pirate was led to her small room. Not minding the wooden bed as hard as stone, she simply laid down some straw, and fell asleep immediately.

This sleep lasted nearly half a day. Not until the sunset turned the sky red did she rub her sleepy eyes and knock on the naval officer’s door.

“Come in.”

The young man’s voice was as calm as usual, without using the “please” that imperial people customarily used, but rather in a commanding tone, using it so naturally, which again confirmed his extraordinary identity from another perspective.

Roy yawned as she pushed open the squeaky poor-quality wooden door, immediately seeing the naval officer sitting on the bed, reading a thick book titled “The Making and Appreciation of Wheat Wine.” After closing the door, she casually sat on the other side of the bed, curiously asking: “Where did you get this book from?”

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“Borrowed it from the captain.” Caine answered without lifting his eyes.

“Borrow? Why borrow? This ship is already mine, so naturally everything on the ship is mine too. You should just treat it as your own.”

Roy smiled and waved her hand, then followed with a puzzled question: “By the way, what did you discuss with the captain in the captain’s cabin?”

Mentioning business, Caine finally put down the thick book and recounted the previous promises and deals, only hiding the part about preserving Eda’s ownership of the ship.

In his view, these matters could wait until they reached shore, saving him from Roy’s constant nagging.

“Tsk, how could you give the cargo back to him? You know, that was supposed to be my startup capital for making a comeback. But… it’s fine. Since you’ve already promised, we pirates aren’t those who don’t keep our word. But next time if there’s something like this, you’re not allowed to decide privately without telling me.”

Not knowing that she had been “sold out” in some way, Roy continued to boast about those nonexistent virtues of pirates, while also admonishing this newly joined first mate, hoping he would prioritize her decisions. Her sincere demeanor instead made Caine feel a rare sense of guilt, causing him to quickly find an excuse to drive her out.

“What’s with this guy, looking so guilty?” Pushed out of the room, Roy rubbed her nose, deeply suspicious of the naval officer’s motives.

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Time passed quickly. Half a month had passed since Roy and Caine boarded this merchant ship.

Under the guidance of the knowledgeable naval officer and pirate, Eda and his crew finally escaped the waters of that island, which was no longer Devil’s Island, successfully returning to the route depicted on the sea chart.

One day, bright sunlight broke through the mist and fell on the deck of the double-masted merchant ship. Under the reverent gaze of more than thirty sailors, the naval officer, now in clean uniform, stood side by side with the captain. His ocean-blue eyes swept across the sea surface of the same color, occasionally guiding Eda on direction.

This situation had continued for exactly fourteen days.

Except for the first day when the concerned pirate came to observe, delightedly discovering that this first mate she had newly picked up not only possessed much orthodox military knowledge but was also an excellent navigator, she had never again appeared before the rudder, going about her own carefree business.

Assuming that today would not bring many changes, even if Roy wasn’t painfully drinking the wine that made Eda’s heart ache in the captain’s cabin, she should be on the other side of the deck arguing with the old sailor. But that piercing cry that broke the tranquility disrupted Caine’s sea-like calm state of mind.

“Dying! Dying! The captain is dying!”

Without any hesitation, Caine only had time to say “sorry” to Eda before rushing towards the direction of the cry. Navigating around the obstructing mast, down the stairs, he only had a chance to catch his breath when standing before a tightly closed poor-quality wooden door.

He looked at Alfie, who had been driven out of the door and was frantically flapping its wings: “What happened?”

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Although this raven somehow disliked him, Caine had to admit it was indeed a bit too clever, even capable of simple communication with people, so he addressed it.

“Blood! Blood! The captain is bleeding a lot!”

Alfie was obviously dazed by the unprecedented scene. Its small head couldn’t comprehend why the captain would bleed for no reason, as if cursed by the devil in the Bible.

It truly believed the captain was dying, so it screeched frantically, seeking help from the previously despised “Mola.”

Bleeding? Could it be that she accidentally broke a wine bottle while secretly drinking wheat wine, or did she engage in a real sword fight with the old sailor after a disagreement?

Caine couldn’t figure out the reason, so he pushed the wooden door open forcefully, wanting to see exactly what had happened.

“Captain, you…”

But the moment he entered, he stood there stunned, as if his soul had been captured by a legendary sea nymph. Even his thinking stopped, leaving only a blank in his mind.