Captain – Chapter 168 – Leave It to Me

After a long while, their lips finally parted.

Glancing at the raven that had perched on the nearby railing at some point, tilting its head and staring at her and her mate, Roy cleared her throat lightly and wiped away the spots of blood on her lips: “Alright, let’s get to business. Though I sent Alfie to notify you, how exactly did you manage to catch up to the Mermaid with that broken ship?”

The captain knew full well the Mermaid’s speed in a storm, so after calming down, this became her first concern.

This was no small matter. If someone had truly found a way to overcome the Auran Goddess’s protection, that would be equivalent to grasping the Mermaid’s lifeline. If this method became known to those with ill intentions, the resulting danger would be unimaginable.

“It was a miracle.”

As if guessing the captain’s worry, Caine explained: “Under Bivis’s prayers, Lady Annisdora bestowed a miracle. She opened a sea route to the Mermaid for us, where all obstacles—whether storms, giant waves, or whirlpools—vanished.”

“Annisdora…”

Softly repeating the name, Roy’s gaze flickered slightly: “It seems the scholar’s abilities far exceed my imagination. But since he’s already signed the contract, he can’t escape too far. We’ll talk to him once everything is settled.”

“Before that, we have another problem to solve.”

Leaving her mate’s embrace, Roy leaned against the ship’s railing, arms crossed, with not a trace of excess emotion on her face, transforming back into that confident, powerful pirate captain: “Caine, while pursuing the Mermaid, did you encounter any trace of the Constantine?”

This was another point that puzzled the girl. From Old John’s words, she had learned that Solomon’s target was the Osprey.

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Even with misleading intelligence, if what Caine said was true—that the goddess symbolizing disaster and fate had bestowed a miracle—the commotion would definitely be substantial, impossible to hide from the cunning Black Emperor.

If so, why were they able to approach the Mermaid smoothly, without even spotting the pursuing Constantine?

“While chasing the Mermaid, we saw a massive three-masted warship, which must be the Constantine you mentioned.”

Caine glanced toward the stern: “It was hiding in a bay—a natural ambush point. When we approached that area, it tried to block our path. If not for another pirate ship that suddenly appeared to intercept it, the Osprey might indeed have been caught.”

“Another pirate ship?” Roy raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. In Yadris, I met One-eyed Captain Rex Varen. If I’m not mistaken, the pirate ship that blocked the Black Emperor’s party for us should be the Orca.”

Having once held a high position in the Auran military, Caine had knowledge of these infamous pirate captains and their warships, so he easily named Rex’s vessel.

“Rex?”

Now Roy’s eyebrows raised even higher. She instinctively glanced toward the main mast, then withdrew her gaze, saying with some reluctance: “What’s that fellow doing getting involved?”

“Repaying a life debt!” the raven chimed in at the perfect moment.

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“Come on, Alfie, you really believe his nonsense? I think he’s just worried about his own offspring, afraid I might chop Victor down with one slash.”

Roy shrugged, knowing that few people were privy to the secret that the Mermaid’s marksman—Victor Varen—was the one-eyed captain’s son. Apart from the father-son pair, only she, Richi, and the late Captain Ilias knew this on the entire Mermaid.

“Still, he came to help me, so I can’t just watch him get blown to bits.”

Roy sighed, straightening up and walking toward the helm, saying: “That guy lost his most elite men at Frans Island. Now the Orca is severely undermanned compared to the Constantine. Hoping to win through boarding combat is simply a fool’s dream. If we don’t…”

After just a few steps, the girl suddenly blacked out. If Caine hadn’t quickly steadied her, she would have collapsed in front of everyone.

“Captain, your body can’t take anymore. In my opinion…”

Only now did Caine suddenly realize how serious the girl’s injuries had become. Without prompt treatment, forget about fighting—even her life might be in danger.

“No, no, First Mate, don’t worry. It’s just some blood loss. Compared to injuries I’ve sustained before, this is nothing,” Roy shook her head, smiling as she explained.

But no sooner had she finished speaking than the captain’s vision blurred again. She shook her head forcefully, only temporarily dispelling that uncomfortable feeling.

“Leave it to me this time, Captain.”

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Recalling the various dangers she’d faced in previous life-and-death battles due to her declining physical condition, Roy unconsciously pressed her lips together.

In truth, upon waking on that lonely island, she had already noticed the changes in her body, knowing her strength had diminished considerably after becoming a woman. But out of pride and dignity, she had always pretended not to care, believing that her remaining power was still sufficient to intimidate enemies.

Step by step from the island, she had defeated many enemies deftly and impressively.

Whether easily overcoming Scorpion Lion and the Black Raven Society’s assassins, violently defeating Rex and his subordinates, or taking Bazel’s life amid a pirate encirclement—each success further solidified Roy’s belief, making her feel no different from the Golden-Eyed Devil of the past.

Until returning to the Mermaid, trapped in desperate straits amid enemy encirclement, nearly approaching death several times during the fight with Richi, until now when even standing had become difficult—she finally admitted and accepted this unchangeable fact.

“Just this once, alright?”

Feeling her mate’s pleading yet undeniable gaze, the captain sighed deeply, then laughed freely: “Fine. Let me see just how formidable the Empire’s youngest Admiral really is.”

Hearing this, Caine finally relaxed, smiling in return: “I won’t disappoint you.”

After helping the girl back to the captain’s cabin to rest, Caine exited the room, gently closing the wooden door. Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, he walked back to the deck, his gaze sweeping across faces both familiar and strange: “How many of the Mermaid’s original crew can still fight?”

The sailors gradually parted, making way. Old John slowly approached the young man; his facial injuries had been simply treated.

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This old sailor stood perfectly straight: “Reporting to the First Mate, excluding the wounded, two hundred and seventy-one sailors, fourteen original Fighting Squad members, all awaiting orders!”

“Harriet?” Caine’s gaze fell on the Squad Captain.

“Reporting to the First Mate, including myself, a total of fifty-three Fighting Squad members, all unharmed!”

“Very good. Then relay my orders…”

Caine nodded slightly, his azure eyes cold and sharp: “All personnel from the Osprey board the Mermaid, then cut the grappling hooks. Fighting Squad, conceal yourselves entirely—no action without orders. All sailors to your positions. Lower the foresail to reduce speed. Open all gun ports!”

The raven spread its wings and soared toward the Osprey.

The Fighting Squad members dispersed under Lance’s arrangement, quickly disappearing into various inconspicuous corners.

The Mermaid’s original crew returned to their posts. The heavy sails were lowered. All gun ports on both sides of the Mermaid opened, with the muzzles of bronze cannons extending through.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, but just as the Osprey’s personnel transfer was nearing completion, Daniel ran up to Caine, wiping away raindrops flowing into his eyes, and looked up saying: “First Mate, there’s still one person refusing to transfer. He says he wants to see the captain, and he also wants…

“He also wants a brand new contract.”