Captain – Chapter 199 – The Truth About Satin Island

The distribution of spoils soon came to an end.

Looking at the pirates walking toward the Mermaid, Bivis’s expression gradually returned to calmness. “The reason Lady Annisdora and the Death Silence couldn’t find Satin Island despite searching the entire ocean is because this island isn’t actually on the sea at all.”

“Not… on the sea?” Roy repeated softly.

“Indeed. It’s hidden deep beneath the ocean, migrating with the passage of time and shifting with the changes of stars and moon. Its position is different at every moment, so even the most skilled captains knowledgeable in navigation and legends cannot approach that lonely island.”

Bivis took the displeased young dragon from the captain’s hands and said quietly, “Only by going to the Acherousian Lighthouse and lighting the fire basin at its top, allowing its light to pierce the eternal night, will Satin Island truly appear, located at the endpoint of the lighthouse’s guiding beam.”

“This is the truth about Satin Island. I hope you and your crew prepare early. As for whether to tell them everything, that decision is yours to make.”

These were the scholar’s final words before he turned and left with the priest.

What a strange man you are, Bivis. Are you the Lady’s devotee, or an enemy who can’t wait to see her in hell?

Roy watched the scholar’s figure disappear below the wooden door, thinking silently.

“Notify Ben and the others. Meeting in the captain’s quarters.”

After downing the last gulp of rum, the captain inconsiderately tossed the bottle behind her, then quietly ordered her First Mate who was approaching.

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Watching the young woman humming a cheerful tune as she walked toward the captain’s quarters, Caine furrowed his brow thoughtfully, then began to notify each core member of the Mermaid.

“The meeting begins!”

As the wooden door silently closed, and the raven that had somehow flown back and perched on Caine’s shoulder loudly announced, the meeting officially began.

Eight people participated in this meeting.

Besides the captain and First Mate, the remaining six were Ben, Daniel, Anderson, Harriet, Lance who had taken the position of Gunner Chief after the Mermaid’s power restructuring, and Alex Giles, who had demonstrated extraordinary helmsmanship during that storm as the helmsman for both the Osprey and the Mermaid.

Spreading the sea chart drawn by the scholar on the table, Roy’s gaze swept over those gathered around the wooden table, and she smiled, “Since this is just to inform you of some matters and not a formal meeting, we’re holding it in the captain’s quarters. I apologize for making everyone stand for a while.”

Seeing everyone shake their heads, not minding at all, Roy returned her gaze to the sea chart. Her finger slowly moved up along the thick black line, finally stopping at the blank area north of the Auran domain.

“Now to business. I’ve just learned that the destination of our voyage has been confirmed—a structure located on the Annalian Ice Plains called the Acherousian Lighthouse.”

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, their eyes revealing bewilderment.

“Captain,” Daniel raised his hand to ask, “Isn’t our objective the treasure buried on Satin Island? Why aren’t we heading directly to that island?”

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“Or is it because we can’t reach it directly?”

The ship’s doctor speculated, pinching his chin, “For legendary islands like this, if they were easily accessible, I fear the treasures would have been completely looted long ago. What would be left for us?”

“Anderson is correct. No one knows the exact location of Satin Island, including myself, because according to legend, it’s not only buried deep in the sea, but its position also constantly changes, making it impossible to determine.”

Roy attributed the truth she’d heard from the scholar to those complex and mysterious legends as vast as the stars.

“Only by lighting this lighthouse will Satin Island truly emerge. At that time, we need only follow the direction illuminated by the lighthouse’s beam to find that solitary island.”

After giving everyone time to digest this astonishing information, the young woman moved her finger back to the outline representing Yadris, then slowly moved upward, across the vast ocean, finally stopping at a certain customs point of the Auran Empire.

“This means we need to travel northward, pass through the Empire’s customs, proceed through Auran’s central canal—the Loyce Canal—then head west, sail along its western coastline, and enter the far northern waters through the Great Ravine under the watch of Fort Haynes.”

The captain’s finger traced along the winding canal westward, then up along the western border between Auran and the Federation, passing through a gap shrouded by blood-red skull markings, before entering a vast ice sea region not under imperial rule.

“Finally, we’ll sail through this ice sea for half a month to reach the Annalian Ice Plains. According to my rough calculations, the total voyage will take at least half a year, and this should be the safest route with the shortest time required.”

After finishing, Roy lightly tapped the table, “Alright, that’s my general plan. If you have any questions or opinions, speak now, because once we set sail, the plan won’t change.”

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Hearing the captain’s route planning, Harriet, Lance, Alex, and even the ship’s doctor displayed expressions of absurdity, as if they thought their ears were playing tricks on them.

“Captain, forgive my directness, but I don’t think the Empire would willingly allow a pirate ship to pass through their borders, especially fellows like us who rank high on their wanted lists.”

Lance frowned deeply, instinctively glancing at the First Mate. During his time back on the Mermaid, he had learned this young man’s true identity.

“Although the First Mate once held a high position in the Empire, he has now become a pirate, and probably has little say in this matter.”

The Gunner Chief’s judgment wasn’t wrong.

Because of the destruction of the First Fleet, Caine carried an extremely heavy guilt. If he were willing to meet the Emperor and explain the truth, with the full guarantee of Governor Federo and the military, he might avoid judgment and retain his position as Admiral based on his prestige and achievements.

But now that he had chosen to leave the Empire and become the Golden-Eyed Devil’s First Mate, none of that could happen. If his identity were exposed, he might even provide leverage for Governor Naren’s political enemies to attack.

With a cunning smile, Roy rummaged through a newly established bookshelf beside her, then tossed a snow-white scroll tied with gold-edged ribbon onto the table.

“Lance, see what this is.”

Hearing the pride in the captain’s voice, Lance reached for the scroll, untied the ribbon, and unfolded it before everyone.

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As his eyes scanned the lines of text, the emotions in Lance’s eyes kept changing. This warrior, who wouldn’t be moved even by pools of blood and corpses, now showed only shock and confusion on his face. He stammered, “The Empire… has gone mad?”

Issuing a travel document to the vicious pirate who had sunk seventeen imperial warships and indirectly caused the destruction of the Empire’s First Fleet—if that old man hadn’t gone mad, then there must be some extremely secretive, unspeakable exchange of interests between them.

This might be a deal unknown even to the Empire’s Emperor.

“Well, interests above all, interests above all! Whether pirate captains or governors, everyone needs to weigh pros and cons and make compromises that benefit both parties.”

Taking back the scroll from the stunned Lance, Roy grinned, her gaze falling on the silent First Mate. She thought that with such a mascot present, no matter how much the Auran military disliked her, they would have to show some leniency toward the Mermaid.

After all, if anything happened to this little lion, that old man might truly go mad enough to overturn the entire Empire.

“Does anyone else have questions?”

After waiting a while and seeing that no one else had anything to say, Roy smiled and finalized the decision, “Then we’ll stay in port for one more day. After we’ve replenished all the supplies we need, we’ll set sail immediately for the Annalian Ice Plains.”

“Now, dismissed.”