Captain – Chapter 200 – The Franrote Fortress

The bright full moon hung in the sky, casting silver-white light that illuminated the dark sea with a deep blue glow.

On the shimmering surface, a pearl-white hull pushed through the waves, slowly sailing along the path lit by moonlight. About one nautical mile ahead of the magnificent warship, a grand fortress stood silently in the night’s embrace.

That was Franrote Fortress, guarding the gateway from the ocean to the Empire’s interior—the final defense line to the Loyce Canal.

After completing a day of preparations, the Mermaid had officially set sail from Yadris. It took over two months of voyaging to finally cross the Empire’s southern border marked by Frans Island, enter waters under Auran rule, and after numerous days and nights, arrive before this fortress in the evening.

Accompanied by the sailors’ low calls, the white sails were gathered, heavy iron anchors cast into the sea, and the warship gradually slowed until stopping on the water less than five hundred meters from the fortress.

“This is my first time visiting the Auran Empire’s inland. I’m really looking forward to it.”

At the bow of the Mermaid, a young woman dressed in a simple snow-white high-necked gown adorned with pearl buttons, wearing a white-gold tasseled necklace and a pale blue sapphire silver ring, gripped the ship’s rail. She gazed at the Franrote Fortress, which resembled a crouching beast in the darkness, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Behind the young woman stood a young man wearing a pitch-black formal suit, awkwardly leaning on a black wooden cane. He asked in confusion, “Captain, aren’t you from Auran? There were even rumors that you appeared at various noble balls. How could this be your first visit inland?”

Standing at the bow, dressed like touring nobles, were none other than the Mermaid’s captain and first mate.

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To conceal their identities, Roy and Caine, with the ship doctor’s help, had disguised themselves as a young master and young lady from the Pronora Federation’s upper nobility. Under the pretext of coming-of-age training, they accompanied a Federation treasure ship to trade valuables with the Auran Empire.

To match their disguise, the pirates on the Mermaid had also changed their appearance, donning the Federation’s popular light blue sailor uniforms. Compared to their previous coarse linen shirts, their spirits seemed dramatically lifted, as if they had truly washed away their ferocity and become honest, hardworking laborers.

Additionally, the Mermaid, notorious in the eyes of the Auran military, had undergone some modifications.

The most conspicuous mermaid figurehead had been covered and tightly bound with gray cloth under the pretext of “preventing religious conflicts.”

All gunports remained tightly closed, and most of the gray-white hull was covered with blue and white fabric, sprinkled with fishing nets, to show that the owner of this “treasure ship” harbored no hostility toward the Auran Empire.

With identity documents casually produced by Anderson and a pass bearing Governor Federo’s personal signature, everything seemed flawless.

The only flaw was the first mate, who didn’t enjoy this attire and looked more like a stern butler than a noble young master.

“Tsk, you need to act, Caine. Since we’ve disguised our identities, we must perform wholeheartedly. When they come to inspect the ship, make sure you don’t slip up.”

The captain’s innocent expression instantly vanished as she pursed her lips and earnestly admonished her deputy.

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“Yes, yes, I understand, Lady Isabella,” Caine tugged at his tight formal wear and sighed helplessly.

To save money, all his attire came from young master Anderson. Although they were similar in height, compared to that slender, effeminate youth, his physique—once an Auran soldier—was more robust, making the suit somewhat small.

“That’s more like it. So, Master Carl, are Alfie and Nidhogg well hidden?”

Roy smiled with satisfaction, then turned to look at the approaching Auran warship flying a black eagle flag, asking softly.

To prevent their identities from being recognized, the identity of Anderson’s collateral family’s young lady couldn’t be used again. She casually borrowed a surname from another Federation family and changed her name to Isabella, while Caine was renamed Carl.

Caine looked back at the mainmast: “Alfie and the others are on the crossbeam at the top of the mainmast. I doubt the soldiers will have the leisure to climb that high for inspection.”

Under the fluttering blue flag with white roses symbolizing the Federation’s Commerce Guild, Nidhogg lay sprawled on the crossbeam, dozing with half-closed eyes.

During these nearly three months, the young dragon had grown significantly in size, now resembling a half-grown tiger. The raven stood on its back, occasionally pecking lightly at its head.

“Very good. Now let’s prepare for the inspection.”

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Shortly after the sentinels at the fortress detected the Mermaid’s trail, a medium-sized warship named the “Wanderer” sailed out from the port, quickly approaching this warship that resembled an ordinary Federation merchant ship in appearance but was surprisingly large in size.

“My goodness, wasn’t Jenny Skate’s destination Port St. Marc? Why has it come here?”

Looking at the increasingly close and intimidating Mermaid, Colonel Arman, captain of the Wanderer and commanding officer of Franrote Fortress, drew a sharp breath and said irritably, “And shouldn’t a giant like this usually be supervised by a large warship? How did it pass through the Empire’s naval defense line?”

“Colonel, this doesn’t seem to be the Jenny Skate. That ship arrived at Port St. Marc several days ago.”

Hearing his adjutant’s reminder, Arman paused slightly, then narrowed his pupils. After exchanging a glance with him, he turned and coldly ordered his soldiers, “Prepare to board. Be ready for the worst.”

Finally, the Wanderer stopped at the Mermaid’s port side. Arman, accompanied by fully armed soldiers, climbed up the spiral ladder hanging from above and arrived on the warship’s deck.

To the soldiers’ relief, they weren’t greeted by Federation soldiers with guns and swords, nor by ferocious pirates, but by a group of extremely honest and reliable-looking sailors. Dressed in Federation-style sailor uniforms, they wore friendly smiles.

The thirty-odd sailors greeting the soldiers had been carefully selected by Roy for their plain appearances. Leading them was “Captain” Lance, wearing a captain’s coat and looking “brave” and “upright.”

“Hello, you must be Colonel Arman.”

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Lance extended his hand with a full smile, shaking hands with this colonel who embodied the iron-willed style of Auran soldiers. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Charles Not, captain of the White Rose, fully responsible for planning this voyage.”

Hearing this completely unfamiliar name and feeling the other’s enthusiasm and sincerity, Arman frowned slightly and probed, “I’ve never heard of your name, Captain Charles. Is this your first time doing business in the Empire?”

“Indeed. To be frank, I’ve always been a private mariner for the York family. Taking on the role of captain for the White Rose this time is at the family’s request, to bring the young lady to see the world.”

Lance spoke with a straight face, and when mentioning “young lady,” the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Oh? So you’re guests from the York family. May I have the honor of meeting your young lady?”

As Roy had predicted, upon hearing this surname, the wariness in Arman’s eyes gradually receded. His gaze swept across the deck, finally resting on the approaching young woman who was so dazzling she seemed to dim even the starry sky.

The young woman stood before the soldiers whose gazes were slightly entranced. She held up her skirt in a curtsy, her voice as crisp as a singing lark.

“Isabella York, at your service, gentlemen.”