Captain – Chapter 24 – Dance Partner

“What good show?”

Looking at the increasingly malicious smile spreading across the captain’s face, Caine knew what she was talking about certainly wasn’t anything good, and it likely had some connection with the governor he had just mentioned. So he inquired with complete solemnity.

The rumors Roy had heard were true. Federo and his father could be considered friends despite their age difference, with a relationship so harmonious it was almost like that of brothers. For this very reason, he had received no small amount of care and help from this old man since childhood.

Governor Federo, who appeared like a demon in others’ eyes, was one of the few elders Caine could entrust his emotions to. So he naturally began to consider the old man’s interests.

“Well… aiya, anyway, we’re leaving the day after tomorrow, so this matter has nothing to do with us.”

Roy seemed to recall something unpleasant, started to stammer a bit, and appeared reluctant to discuss it further.

“Captain, Governor Federo is a very important elder to me.”

Caine continued to stare at her flickering dark golden pupils, stating his position in a deep voice, which meant there was no room for negotiation on this matter.

Roy poked at the remaining bits of steak with her knife and fork, her face full of regret, as if saying “I shouldn’t have told you about this.” However, faced with the naval officer’s firm attitude, she finally sighed helplessly and said: “Let me say this upfront, I’m telling you, but don’t act impulsively, okay?”

After receiving Caine’s guarantee, Roy lowered her voice and said: “Remember the tavern just now? You might not have noticed, but when I first entered that tavern, I discovered two rats disguised as humans hiding in a secluded corner.”

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Caine raised his eyebrows slightly, asking uncertainly: “You mean… some kind of mythical creature? But the holy books have never depicted monsters similar to rats.”

“How could they be mythical creatures? They were just two people, but we pirates collectively refer to those who crawl out of that filthy hole as rats.” Roy said mysteriously: “As for the name of that hole, your empire seems to call it…”

“The Black Raven Society.”

Caine suddenly stood up, staring straight at Roy, unable to accept this fact for a moment.

The Black Raven Society he had sought for years, as mysterious and untraceable as the Shadow Gate from mythology, the Black Raven Society he hated to his core and had never given up on consigning to a sea of fire, had actually appeared just like that!

If he went back now, he might still be able to catch those two people. No, he should immediately notify the Major to seal off the entire town, but would that be in time…

Caine’s thoughts were in chaos; he had never been so bewildered.

Ask yourself: if an enemy you had harbored resentment against throughout your childhood and youth, one whose memory not even time could erase, suddenly appeared before you, could you still remain calm?

“Sit down, Caine!”

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Roy’s low command pulled the naval officer back from chaos to reality. Looking at that face that had never displayed such a serious expression, he seemed to see the true appearance of this pirate captain when she commanded the Mermaid and roamed the Eastern Seas. So he took several deep breaths and sat back down in his seat.

“I apologize for my loss of composure,” the first mate apologized sincerely.

“I understand your feelings very well. After all, they are the mortal enemies of your Howard family, no, the entire Auran Empire. But you must understand, since we’ve already been exposed before them, our every move from now on won’t escape their eyes, unless you think my identity can be concealed.”

Roy resumed her usual smile, looking relaxed as if on a date with a boyfriend. This was her most adept disguise when dealing with certain gazes hidden in the darkness.

What she didn’t realize was that the one whose identity had been exposed this time was not Captain Roy, but Admiral Caine.

Understanding Roy’s meaning, Caine gradually calmed down. He observed the surrounding scene with his peripheral vision and quickly locked onto a visiting traveler who was haggling with the owner over the cost of accommodation—the only other guest in this inn besides themselves.

“You guessed wrong, it’s not him.”

Roy displayed a smug smile, as if having won a big victory in a bet with her boyfriend: “It’s the owner.”

Thinking of the inn owner’s sycophantic manner when serving food, Caine’s pupils contracted slightly. He suppressed his restless emotions and asked in a low voice: “Are you sure?”

“Yes, the Great Captain once taught me how to identify these rats, and that’s by their smell.”

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Roy’s slender fingers lightly tapped the side of the wine glass, unreservedly sharing her insights with her first mate: “These people all carry a scent to indicate their identity. For example, the lowest-level scouts of the Black Raven Society, like that owner, still have a faint hint of blackcurrant scent on their left arm, very similar to red wine, with only subtle differences.”

“As for those two we saw in the tavern, hmph, I could smell that concocted violet perfume from three tables away.” Roy pinched her small nose, showing a disgusted expression: “They should be what are called executioners.”

Blackcurrant is a common ingredient used by Auran Empire chefs, often made into jam and the like. As for violet perfume, that’s even more popular among nobles and wealthy merchants.

Therefore, whether it’s the blackcurrant scent on the owner or the violet perfume attached to those two dressed as merchants and slave owners, these are all extremely common phenomena within the empire’s borders. No one would deliberately sniff for them.

“Since the differences in scent are all very subtle, how did you, Captain, detect them?” Caine caught a hint of a problem.

“Why do you have so many questions? Believe it if you want, or don’t.” Roy waved her hand, revealing a displeased expression. Did she have to tell him that she had been forced by the Great Captain to smell such scents for a whole three months?

Those were truly dark months, from morning till night, apart from eating and sleeping, she was learning how to distinguish the scents on Black Raven Society members. She didn’t know where the Great Captain found the leisure time; well, in fact, this non-nominal emperor of pirates had nothing to do all day except drink and eat meat.

Seeing Caine fall into silence, Roy felt her head starting to ache. Given the naval officer’s temperament and his hatred for the Black Raven Society, he absolutely wouldn’t miss this troubled water. She had really asked for trouble by mentioning this…

“I’ll go pay the bill. We’ll talk more in the room later.”

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As if having realized something, Caine rose and walked toward the owner. By now, that guest had also completed the arduous task of bargaining, carrying his luggage up the stairs, leaving only the owner wiping his false sweat and the expressionless naval officer gradually approaching at the counter.

Roy watched this scene nervously, fearing that her first mate might deny all association and finish off this scout of the Black Raven Society.

Fortunately, Caine didn’t do such a rough and foolish thing. He conversed amicably with the inn owner, settled the bill for food and wine, then beckoned to Roy.

They went up to the second floor inconspicuously and entered the reserved double room. After carefully checking all the minute details and confirming there were no small holes for peeping or eavesdropping, the two sat on their respective beds.

“Your decision was very correct. You know, things like the Black Raven Society can’t be shaken off. No one knows how many people they’ve planted on this island, so it’s best not to startle the snake in the grass.” Roy placed Alfie on the soft bed, speaking softly to her first mate.

“Besides that, I also know that members of the Black Raven Society are not necessarily professional sentinels or swordsmen. Most of them are ordinary people, just undertaking tasks arranged by the society for handsome salaries.” Caine wasn’t moved by the captain’s praise and lowered his head in thought after speaking.

After an unknown period, thinking Caine had no intention of speaking further, Roy finally turned over on the bed and yawned slightly: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll sleep first. Remember to extinguish the oil lamp.”

But just as the captain lay down on the bed, cushioning her head with her arm, closing her eyes, and preparing to enter the realm of dreams, Caine’s somewhat awkward voice suddenly reached her ears.

“Captain, would you… be willing to be my dance partner?”