Captain – Chapter 20 – Of Course Not

If in the Auran Empire many years ago, Governor Naren was the wave-breaking sword displayed openly, then Governor Federo was undoubtedly the deadly poisoned blade hidden in the shadows.

He controlled all the empire’s covert forces. Whether it was intelligence, assassination, or torture for confession, all were puppets manipulated by his old, withered hands.

This pair of bosom friends, one overt and one covert, formed a powerful combination that made the enemies of the empire tremble with fear. Even an organization as mysterious as the Black Raven Society lost a crucial elder under their joint operation.

Unlike Governor Naren, Governor Federo had no family. So no matter how painful a price the Black Raven Society paid, they never achieved revenge on this old man as successfully as they had on Governor Naren.

Gradually, Governor Federo began to be mentioned in the same breath as the founder of the Black Raven Society, because they were equally dark, terrifying, and without weakness.

Understanding the Major’s meaning, Caine didn’t hesitate and said flatly: “I won’t attend the ball.”

This time, the Major didn’t try to persuade him, because he had already attempted it before. And apart from Governor Naren, no one knew the young master’s stubbornness better than he did. So he just laughed bitterly a few times, then rose to accompany him out of the study, walking toward the exit of the castle.

Three hundred soldiers still stood on both sides of the road, chests out at attention, yet unable to control their gazes from drifting toward the young commander.

In their eyes, besides respect and admiration, there was more longing and affection. After all, strictly speaking, this child had emerged from Frans Island, from among them.

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“Everybody disperse. No training today, it’s a day off. Meanwhile, prepare some supplies and a ship for the young master. But I warn you, don’t let me see anyone offering betel nuts to the young master, or I’ll break their legs!” The Major could easily see what this group of soldiers was thinking and laughingly scolded as he dismissed them.

After a unified cheer, the soldiers didn’t head toward the town with arms around each other’s shoulders as they usually did on regular holidays. Instead, they all crowded around, blocking the path forward for Caine and the Major so tightly that not even water could seep through.

Looking at the familiar faces that had aged considerably, Caine seemed to return to his happy childhood days. It felt like the same scene back then: as soon as he arrived, the Major would dismiss the soldiers, and then a group of people would run wildly into town, or go to the beach to search for beautiful shells.

It seems impossible to return early.

Caine’s expression softened, and he thought silently.

The sun gradually moved westward. Not until nightfall did Caine finally free himself from the enthusiastic encirclement of the soldiers. He walked along the brightening starlight, following streets and alleys imprinted in his mind that, even after more than a decade, hadn’t changed much, searching for the captain who had separated from him at dawn.

But the more he searched, the heavier his heart became.

Unexpectedly, Roy seemed to have vanished into thin air within the small town. No matter how thoroughly he searched every secluded corner, even returning to Eda’s merchant ship, he couldn’t find any trace. The only gain was Alfie, now standing on his shoulder, grooming its feathers.

“Where on earth could she have gone?”

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Caine stopped, looking at the vegetable stalls in front of the port that were beginning to close, and helplessly asked the raven on his shoulder.

Alfie looked at the officer with a proud gaze that seemed to say “still need me,” as if showing off its ownership of its master. Only when he became somewhat impatient did it shrilly call out: “Wherever there’s wine and women, there’s the captain!”

Wherever there’s wine and women?

Caine was stunned, then his face gradually darkened. He seemed to have forgotten the one place he hadn’t searched, and that place was exactly the forbidden zone that, under his parents’ strict requirements, he had never visited from childhood to adulthood.

It seemed this time would be an exception.

The shabby wooden door was pushed open, and stuffy, hot air hit his face. The small tavern was filled with people; this was the only place on Frans Island’s small town where people could indulge their desires.

The town’s lazy good-for-nothings, unreasonable ruffians, petty thieves, and pirates who occasionally came ashore to fence stolen goods were all regular customers of this tavern. Gambling and drinking contests were their favorites, and there were even presentable, hot-blooded girls in the tavern offering special services.

Caine forcibly suppressed the disgust in his heart. His gaze swept briefly around the tavern, and he quickly found his target.

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In such a place, a girl with noble-like golden wavy hair and exceptional beauty would obviously become the focus of everyone’s attention. Even the originally most popular girl in the tavern could only stand dejectedly at the bar, watching helplessly as the men gathered around, occasionally shouting with extreme excitement.

Within that heavy encirclement was a gambling game between three people. Severely faded playing cards were casually thrown on the pitted wooden table, and in front of the three gamblers were bottles of the tavern’s finest red wine.

“Excuse me, I win again.”

Roy smiled as she collected the chips handed over from across the table. By now, the chips and silver coins beside her had piled up like a small mountain.

“Sigh, the lady’s luck is really impressive. Originally, you borrowed chips from us brothers, but unexpectedly, now we owe you quite a lot.”

The two sitting opposite Roy were dressed in a manner that clashed with the atmosphere of this tavern. Their clothes were made of high-quality fabric, exquisitely and beautifully crafted. They clearly weren’t of the same ilk as those rascals, but rather seemed like nobles who occasionally came to Frans Island for vacation and relaxation.

This could be seen from the several serious-faced attendants standing behind them, equipped with sharp swords.

The one speaking now was the older of the two. His face, gaunt and pale from excessive indulgence, was smeared with thick powder. He smiled falsely and enthusiastically, as if coaxing a girl who knew nothing of the world.

Beside him, his brother, who resembled him about seventy percent but was much younger, couldn’t maintain his composure like his elder brother. His pair of brown eyes stared fixedly at Roy, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

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“Not at all, it’s just that you two gentlemen are too gentlemanly, always giving way to me, which gives me the opportunity to win so much. And it was your generosity in the first place, paying for my drinks and giving me some chips. Otherwise, how would I have had the qualification to sit at this gambling table?”

Roy’s smile was very powerful, even making the people around stare blankly, to the extent that no one noticed the sarcastic undertone in her words.

“Of course, we’re just playing for fun. When the time comes, if you just give us a little something, that would be enough. I wouldn’t want to really take so much money from you, would I? Let’s continue discussing the question we were talking about earlier…”

Hearing that she didn’t really intend to claim such a large amount of gambling winnings, the pain in the pale-faced young man’s eyes instantly vanished, and the false smile on his face became even more radiant.

He interrupted Roy’s question, assuring her: “Rest assured, lady, anything you want to know, as long as we brothers have heard of it, we will absolutely not conceal it. But this… I wonder if we could discuss it elsewhere? I happen to have an estate on this small island.”

Roy frowned almost imperceptibly, very dissatisfied with the young man interrupting her question. But hearing that his invitation suited her intentions, she finally nodded slightly under the two men’s delighted gaze, saying: “It’s an honor. Since the Baron has invited me, of course I…”

“Of course not.”

The cold voice from behind interrupted Roy’s response, causing her smile to suddenly freeze.