Captain – Chapter 176 – A True Pirate

Whether it was the young man’s intention or the Black Emperor’s reaction was too quick, the lead bullet ultimately failed to shatter his heart, instead hitting slightly lower. Fresh blood gushed between Solomon’s fingers as he clutched his wound, quickly staining his light blue Federation officer’s uniform.

With a slight friction sound, the gun was returned to his waist and the rapier unsheathed again.

Caine walked forward expressionlessly, piercing the wrist of the hand reaching for a gun with one thrust, then driving his knee into the tyrant’s abdomen, causing the man accustomed to looking down on others to collapse powerlessly to his knees.

Completely disregarding the other’s beast-like howls of pain, Caine violently pulled the silver sword from the Black Emperor’s wrist. Blood immediately sprayed out, splashing onto his snow-white cuffs.

“No… no, you haven’t heard all my conditions, Mr. First Mate, you still…”

Seeing the bright silver blade thrusting toward his throat, Solomon no longer cared about the gunshot wound in his chest or the excruciating pain in his left hand. He gripped the cold blade with all his might, yet still couldn’t stop its steady advance.

“I don’t think we have any conditions to discuss. Why should I abandon the benefits within my reach and risk betraying Captain Roy to believe in your vague promises?”

Hearing the First Mate’s indifferent words, the Black Emperor’s eyes showed not despair but a glimmer of hope. “Benefits… of course there are, more tangible benefits that could change your mind.”

Staring into the young man’s emotionless azure eyes, Solomon hissed: “Money, power, and a cat’s eye stone as brilliant as the starry sky that can prove my words true and break through the curse and fog surrounding that island—isn’t that what you want?”

Feeling the force on the blade gradually weakening, the dying captain smiled. Blood stained his teeth, making his smile uniquely terrifying.

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“I know you wavered. You crave that position. If you spare my life, everything I have will be yours, and all your desires will be fulfilled… Mr. First Mate.”

The rapier stopped completely. Caine looked down at Solomon: “Cat’s eye stone?”

“Yes, the witch’s cat’s eye stone. Without this token, even if you could find the exact location of that island, you would lose your way in the fog and curse, ultimately crashing into the reef.”

The Black Emperor slowly released the blade, not even glancing at the sword tip less than half an inch from his throat. He said softly: “There’s a treasure room beneath my palace. After entering the doorway, follow the right wall to the end, dig through the gold coins, dig through the sand, and you’ll find a worn box. The stone is in that box.”

His gaze flickering slightly, Caine asked puzzledly: “Why are you telling me this?”

“Sincerity, cooperation… the most important thing is sincerity.”

Solomon felt waves of cold from blood loss, breathing weakly as he pleaded in a low voice: “Spare me, help me treat… treat the wound, and you can leave, go find that stone. Once you see it, you’ll believe everything I’ve said.”

“And what about you? How do I explain to them your situation of neither being seen alive nor dead?”

The young man’s sword tip gradually lowered, as if persuaded, and he asked somewhat helplessly.

“You just need to leave the captain’s quarters, walk out like a victor, say that I was stabbed by you and in desperation… jumped out the window into the sea. No one would… doubt it. How would those fools… dare to question your words?”

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Solomon’s voice grew increasingly faint, his speech becoming fragmented: “Then, take the Constantine back. During this… time, I’ll stay in a hidden place on the ship. You only need to… bring me some food and water when you can. It’s not difficult.”

“Once you believe me, we’ll discuss what comes next. Now, quickly, help me…”

Knowing his life was ending, the Black Emperor roared with a final burst of strength. He reached out a trembling hand toward the young man, his eyes full of survival desire. But the next moment, the hope, ambition, and coldness hidden in their depths all transformed into disbelief.

“Thup.”

The sound of the blade piercing a human body echoed in the captain’s quarters. The silver sword that had slipped from the Black Emperor’s throat didn’t fall to the ground, but imperceptibly brushed past his chest and, when he reached out for help, cleanly pierced his heart.

“Thank you for your sincerity, but I’m sorry. Since I already know everything, why would I keep you alive?”

Watching the hatred churning in those eyes, Caine lowered himself slightly, pushing the sword tip deeper: “As for the wavering you mentioned… while my acting might not fool the Captain, it’s good enough to deal with others. After all, my teachers at the military academy thought I had potential as a spy.”

The Black Emperor’s eyes finally darkened completely. His raised hand fell, hitting the floor heavily.

After confirming the tyrant no longer breathed, Caine withdrew his rapier. Still-warm blood splashed all over him, even covering much of his face. In the lightning’s illumination, he looked entirely like a true pirate who cared nothing for killing.

Slowly standing upright, sheathing the blood-soaked silver sword, Caine touched the sticky blood on his face and softly declared victory to the Black Emperor whose eyes refused to close even in death: “Farewell, Black Emperor. I will find that island for you, but for the Captain, not for that witch.”

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After speaking, he twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a somewhat stiff, malicious smile.

But soon, the curve of his lips disappeared.

Returning to his calm, indifferent demeanor, Caine sighed softly, patting his somewhat stiff cheeks. He felt such an expression would certainly look more natural on the Captain’s face—he still couldn’t master that confident, composed, yet malicious smile.

Still, there was progress. He looked like a genuine pirate now.

Thinking silently, the First Mate grabbed the Black Emperor’s wrist, dragging him out of the captain’s quarters back into the rain.

Cold rain beat against his face, washing away the bloody marks. Caine dragged the cold corpse down the spiral staircase to the deck, then walked toward the open center of the deck.

The battle on deck continued. The Black Emperor’s remaining forces resisted exceptionally stubbornly. Even now, more than a dozen men fought desperately, even temporarily forcing back the pirates surrounding them with reckless determination.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out.

The captives who should have been staring at the deck curiously looked up, but upon seeing the sight that caused the exclamation, their bodies involuntarily trembled as if plunged into an ice cellar.

Even those engaged in combat temporarily separated, looking toward where everyone was staring, and witnessed a scene they would never forget.

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“Thud.”

Forcefully throwing the Black Emperor’s corpse onto the deck, Caine stood in the wind and rain, his body soaked by rainwater and stained red with blood. Yet those azure eyes remained calm and cold, as if he had killed not a tyrant whose notoriety could stop infants from crying at night, but merely an insignificant wolf.

After the clatter of metal against wood, those who had sworn to fight to the death no longer held swords.

Wherever Caine’s cold gaze swept, enemies turned pale-lipped, trembling as they crouched down and obediently held their heads.

The death of their captain, whom they had regarded as a deity, completely shattered their will to resist.

The crew members from the Mermaid and the Orca looked at the fallen Black Emperor, then at Caine, their gazes changing. Even those accustomed to facing death couldn’t help but show admiration, and…

Fear.

Harriet also swallowed hard, but after glancing at the intimidated crew members unable to speak, she suddenly came to her senses. She raised her fist forcefully and shouted cheers with her dry throat.

Suddenly, the Constantine’s deck erupted. Everyone celebrated the victory and offered their most heartfelt congratulations to the Mermaid’s future First Mate.