Captain – Chapter 197 – The Course

“Reporting to Captain, all treasures have been unloaded.”

Taking inventory of Solomon’s treasure consumed a full day and night. By the time the Mermaid returned to the independent port west of Yadris, loaded with treasures, it was already dawn of the following day.

Roy turned her face while yawning, looking at the Squad Leader whose eyes were bloodshot yet whose spirit was exceptionally vigorous, and smiled: “Well done. At Alfie’s speed, she should have already reached the Banshee’s Eye by now. Apart from our own share, have the crew move the remaining jewels and gold coins to the warehouse and prepare them for handover to little Cecilia’s people.”

Of such enormous treasure, Roy left only a portion for the Mermaid, as a reward for the crew and extra expenses for the voyage.

As for the majority, it would be handed over to the proprietress, then operated through the Banshee’s Eye to develop Yadris’s economy and support the expenses of the Captains’ Covenant and the Council Hall.

“Yes, Captain!” Harriet responded loudly, nimbly climbing down from the deck.

Hearing that response as though she’d been injected with adrenaline, Caine, standing beside the captain, shook his head: “Her eyes are practically gleaming with gold.”

“Isn’t this dangerous profession of piracy all about wealth, wine, and women? If not for these things supporting them like beliefs, who would be willing to place their necks on the edge of a blade day and night?”

Roy shrugged and took a swig of rum that served as her breakfast drink.

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Although this former Naval Admiral had undergone significant changes in temperament and philosophy after killing the Black Emperor, he still found it difficult to understand the pirates’ almost fanatical pursuit of these glittering worldly possessions.

“You have a point.”

Caine pondered for a moment, then, under the girl’s surprised gaze, took the bottle and gulped down a mouthful.

After a fit of violent coughing, the young man wiped the liquor from the corner of his mouth, raised the bottle to the busy pirates on the island, and said with narrowed eyes: “So here’s to wealth, wine…”

He paused, then calmly gazed at the captain: “And women.”

With a twitch at the corner of her mouth, Roy snatched back the bottle of rum that belonged to her: “What kind of drunken fit is this? Don’t waste it if you’re not drinking. My supply isn’t abundant.”

On a pirate ship, there were almost harsh regulations regarding each person’s share of food, fresh water, and most importantly, rum, because these were the most fundamental safeguards for the pirates’ lives during their time away from land.

Therefore, even the captain had no right to snatch alcohol from other crew members.

“I can give you all my share if needed. I can’t handle drinking anyway.”

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Caine smiled, then looked toward the gradually gathering pirates: “Seems like the unloading is finished. Next should be the distribution of spoils.”

Glancing at the girl beside him, finding that she was still drinking her alcohol with no intention of moving, Caine shook his head helplessly and walked toward the gangplank attached to the hull.

Watching the young man leave the deck, Roy sighed somewhat dejectedly, muttering: “Your share has long been consumed by me. It seems this voyage should better follow the coastline. I don’t want to run out of alcohol three days after setting sail.”

“The captain seems to be in a good mood?”

An enthusiastic greeting suddenly sounded from behind.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Roy couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Someone who could utter such words without even seeing her expression—besides that rigid, formal scholar who liked to make pleasantries, there probably wasn’t a second person on the entire ship.

Roy turned around and leaned against the railing, glancing at the young dragon that excitedly ran to her side, affectionately rubbing against her trouser leg, then shifted her gaze to Bivis and the priest following closely behind him: “I don’t know if my mood is good, but you certainly seem to be living quite pleasantly.”

After spending who knows how much effort showing friendliness to the young dragon, preparing food to its taste, and even playing with it almost obsequiously, the little creature that previously wouldn’t let him touch it at all had very reluctantly accepted the scholar’s goodwill and was willing to be his observation subject.

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This was also the reason why the girl said his life had been good. Just from Bivis’s radiant face, one could see how joyful he must be, both physically and mentally.

Thinking about how she had nearly been mentally disturbed by the Lady’s power in Solomon’s treasure chamber, and comparing it to this guy’s comfortable life without leaving the ship, Roy’s face grew increasingly gloomy, almost like dense storm clouds about to rain.

Sensing the situation wasn’t right, Bivis cleared his throat and smiled apologetically at the girl with her unfriendly expression: “I’ve basically understood what happened with the cat’s eye stone from the First Mate. This is absolutely a misunderstanding, Captain. Hundreds of years ago, when the Lady had just been stripped of her power, it would have been impossible for her to influence the outside world through such a defective product, so…”

“So this danger was caused by your misconception. I’ll let it go this time, but if there’s a next time, I’ll have to question your position, Bivis.”

Roy waved her hand, interrupting his self-defense, then asked calmly: “Enough nonsense. You came to find me to discuss Satin Island?”

“Yes, Captain. In between observing Nidhogg’s living habits, I’ve drawn a rough course on the nautical chart and wanted to show it to you for review.”

Seeing that the girl had no intention of pursuing the matter, Bivis wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and gestured for the priest to hand the nautical chart to the captain.

Hearing the word “nautical chart,” Roy’s eyebrows slightly raised with interest as she took it, smiling and saying: “Good thing you haven’t forgotten the main task, otherwise I’d have to reduce your research time. Come on, let me see where exactly Satin Island…”

But the moment she saw the chart, the captain’s smile froze. She looked up at the scholar, her eyes curving into dangerous arcs: “Are you playing me?”

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On the chart encompassing all known seas today, a thick black line began from Yadris, extending straight north, passing through imperial territory, and finally landing in a blank sea area in the north.

If that was all, it would have been fine. The problem was that this black line wasn’t a traditional route. It unapologetically covered large areas of land and islands. If any ship could truly reach the destination via this route, it would have to be a legendary ghost ship capable of flying, tunneling through earth, and diving underwater.

Unfortunately, although the Mermaid was also known as a ghost ship, it didn’t possess such mighty powers.

Rather than saying this was drawn by the scholar in his spare time, it was more like he had randomly chosen two points on the nautical chart and connected them with a straight line just before submitting the task—a crude product.

“No, Captain, I can assure you the destination’s location is accurate. As for the detailed route, that should be discussed between you and the First Mate. After all, I don’t understand navigation, nor am I familiar with the current situation of the Empire.”

Seeing Bivis’s terrified expression, which didn’t seem feigned, Roy suppressed her displeasure and asked: “So you’re saying Satin Island is at the location on the map, just in… the northern part of the Empire?”

Taking a deep breath, the scholar cautiously said: “No, this isn’t the location of Satin Island, Captain, this is…”

A gust of wind struck his face, interrupting his explanation—it was the fist of the girl who could bear it no longer.