Captain – Chapter 182 – The One Who Betrayed the Divine

“Annisdora… why does it feel like everything comes back to her? Caine, are you certain your judgment isn’t flawed?”

Roy pursed her lips, seemingly annoyed by this name.

Even the most beautiful person becomes tiresome when seen day and night without pause, let alone a name that has nothing to do with oneself yet clings like bad luck.

“I’m almost certain.”

The First Mate recalled the story told by the Black Emperor and analyzed coldly: “If Solomon’s words are true, then the witchcraft performed by the witch he mentioned could indeed be considered a genuine miracle.”

“She saved Solomon after his heart was pierced, and made him a promise that if he could bring back what she desperately desired, she would grant him eternal life. And what she sought was hidden on an unknown island.”

Listening to Caine’s analysis, Roy gradually stopped walking and frowned in thought.

By now, the two had reached a bustling plaza filled with bare-chested pirates and sailors, sweating profusely as they drank and gambled, celebrating the liberation of Yadris with wild abandon.

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“If everything is as you suspect, then those blessed with witchcraft—no, those granted divine gifts—wouldn’t they become Death-Fearers like Bivis?”

Roy’s eyes flickered slightly as she quickly continued with the First Mate’s speculation: “As for the object of her desire, it must be the magic box buried on Satin Island. I heard from the Pirate King that the misfortunes and disasters hidden in that box are actually the majority of Annisdora’s power that was taken from her.”

Upon hearing this, Caine raised his eyebrows slightly and said with surprise: “Taken? But according to imperial ancient history, the box was the Lady’s creation. She gave it the power to release disasters capable of instantly destroying a massive fleet, yet could recall that power at any time.”

“If that’s the case, how could it have been ‘taken’? Moreover, what kind of person would have the courage and ability to steal or seize power from a deity? This is simply…”

At this point, the First Mate’s blue eyes suddenly froze. He remembered the ancient historical accounts of the war between the Auran fleet and the pirate fleet, and recalled the boundless disaster that had befallen the Imperial First Fleet under his command.

The one who opened Annisdora’s Box, effortlessly reducing the imperial enterprise to ashes, and the one who exercised great power to send dozens of warships, including the Tyrant, to the bottom of the sea, was the same person—the Pirate King, the true Devil…

Captain Edward.

“Yes, that damned devil.”

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The young woman, noticing the youth’s sudden silence and looking toward him, seemed to see through his thoughts and said softly: “The stories passed down among us pirates are very different from the texts written by Auran scholars based on imagination and speculation.”

“In our legend, the box was indeed the Lady’s creation, and the power contained within did come from her blessing. Her purpose in creating the box was for a transaction. The content of that transaction is unknown, but the identities of the parties involved have been precisely recorded.”

At this point, even without the young woman saying more, Caine could guess most of it. He frowned slightly, his eyes still showing disbelief: “According to you, the participants in that transaction were Edward and Annisdora?”

This was too shocking. It’s worth noting that hundreds of years ago, Captain Edward wasn’t a devil but merely a mortal. Yet as a mortal, he managed to persuade a deity to trade with him, not only using the Lady’s power to defeat the imperial fleet in one stroke, but even…

Stealing her power!

“Correct. After defeating the Empire, that devil somehow cast an extraordinary curse on the box, sealing it and the great power it contained, then hiding it on a solitary island that even Annisdora couldn’t find—what scholars call Satin Island.”

Roy took a deep breath. At this point in her analysis, she was already convinced that the witch mentioned by the Black Emperor was the legendary Lady Annisdora. Everything was too coincidental, coincidental like an inescapable fate.

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Although the young woman sneered at the doctrine of predestination preached by the Holy Church, she didn’t completely deny the existence of fate. In her view, those unavoidable things were fate, while making choices according to one’s own will and trampling them underfoot was the process of cutting through destiny.

The entanglement between her and Annisdora had begun many years ago when she and Enzo broke through eternity. It continued when she met the Devil, became cursed, then reunited with the Victoria and encountered the Death-Fearer Bivis. Everything was gradually pushing her toward the Lady.

Now, the Black Emperor’s words were like a sharp silver sword, piercing through the misty veil between her and the Lady.

“Since Solomon mentioned the Lady, did he provide any other clues?” the young woman asked softly, without a trace of panic in her voice.

If Annisdora needed to rely on someone like the Black Emperor to search for Satin Island for her, then she must have had reasons for not appearing herself. The most likely possibility was that she had been severely wounded by the Pirate King’s betrayal, or even afflicted with a terrible curse like the scholar.

If that were truly the case, then Roy wouldn’t need to care whether the Lady existed or if she already knew of her objective.

“He said the island is surrounded by curses and fog. Without a token, it would be difficult to find the island, or one might sink from hitting reefs before approaching Satin Island.”

Looking at the young woman’s slightly brightened eyes, Caine smiled slightly: “Of course, before he left this world, I learned from him what this token is and where it’s located.”

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“And then you pierced his throat with a sword, or perhaps his heart, didn’t you?” the young woman asked with narrowed eyes and a smile.

“Yes, Captain, following your teachings precisely.” Caine pressed his hand to his chest, leaning slightly forward, drawing closer to the young woman’s face.

“Not bad. You’re becoming more and more like a true pirate. Just don’t end up like that little bastard, eventually leaving even me behind,” Roy whispered dreamily as she gazed at the handsome face approaching her.

“The reason I became a pirate is because of you, and only because of you, not for wealth, fame, or anything else. You know, Elizabeth, those things were easily obtainable for me.”

Tenderness like the ocean appeared in the young man’s eyes. Their faces drew closer and closer until they could feel each other’s warm breath.

“Good.”

In response to her First Mate’s declaration, the Captain replied with just these words, then reached out to touch his face and without hesitation, kissed him.