Captain – Chapter 245 – Changing Circumstances

The brightening morning light spilled through the slightly opened carriage curtain, illuminating the profile of the girl who was sound asleep, hunched over the table.

After experiencing the rather alarming carriage hijacking, being informed of various secrets and truths, and being kept up late “chatting” with Black Raven, plus the already poor sleeping conditions in the carriage, the captain slept deeply but wearily. Even her eyes had faint dark circles beneath them.

“Creak.”

The carriage door opened at some point, making a slight noise. Although this sound was very soft, Roy still opened her eyes instantly like a startled rabbit, her dark golden pupils filled with vigilance, without any trace of morning drowsiness.

After confirming the visitor’s identity, the wariness gradually faded from the captain’s eyes. She sat up straight, gave a small yawn, and said in a lazy tone: “To be able to eat breakfast prepared by your own hands is truly an honor, Mr. Shelley.”

“I don’t hear any sense of being flattered in your tone.”

Black Raven bent to enter the carriage, casually closed the door behind him, then placed the tray on the table and sat opposite the girl, smiling as he said: “Besides, I didn’t get up early specifically to prepare breakfast for you. You’re not Gloria; you don’t merit such special treatment.”

“Alright, alright, I know you have deep feelings for the Founder, but is it necessary to mention her day and night?”

Sighing helplessly, Roy tore off a small piece of white bread and stuffed it into her mouth, asking indistinctly: “So you went to collect intelligence?”

“Of course, including some news that even surprised me.”

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After saying this, Black Raven smiled without elaborating, clearly putting on an act of being mysterious, as if he wouldn’t continue unless he heard further questions or encouragement.

It had to be said that although this man of unnamed but real power in the Federation was over forty, his temperament remained as arrogant and difficult as a spoiled young noble.

Seeing this situation, Roy couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, pretending to ask: “What kind of shocking news could surprise even our illustrious Chief Executioner—Black Raven?”

Having received the response he wanted, Black Raven nodded with satisfaction and said: “According to our scouts’ reports, the Mermaid left the port of Elvet last night and is now heading west along the Loyce Canal.”

“What?”

Hearing the words “the Mermaid,” the captain paused. She slowly lowered the rum that was already at her lips, her brow furrowing involuntarily as she repeated somewhat incredulously: “You’re saying… the Mermaid left Elvet?”

Seeing him nod, Roy knocked her wooden cup on the table, complaining with displeasure: “After everything I told him, how could he still be so impatient? He really gives me no peace of mind.”

“After all, when one’s beloved is suddenly taken away and being escorted to the distant, barren west by someone who once caused her great suffering, I think any man would struggle to contain his anger upon hearing such news and would take action, wouldn’t he?”

Seemingly very familiar with the various details between the girl and that young man, Black Raven’s words carried quite a teasing tone.

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Then, he took a sip from his cup of rum and, after displaying an obviously unaccustomed expression, continued: “But in my view, he’s been calm enough. If Gloria were in such a predicament, I might find it difficult to suppress my urge to make certain people pay the price.”

Propping her chin, Roy swirled the liquor in her cup and said flatly: “Then I guess at that point, the Founder’s mood would probably be no better than mine… with the plan being disrupted again and again.”

“He’s worried, Captain.”

Seeing the captain’s mood become somewhat irritated by this matter, the raven who had been pecking at a piece of white bread raised its head and called out softly.

Hearing this, Roy’s expression softened. She lightly tapped Alfie’s little head and said gently: “I know.”

“Captain, in my view, the Mermaid may only be tracking our trail. Barring any unexpected situations, they won’t take further action. In the current situation, this might actually be a good thing.”

Black Raven put his wooden cup back on the table, inconspicuously pushing it further away, smiling as he said: “After all, we can’t count on the Auran military’s assistance now, and once the organization’s power is exposed, its threat will be greatly reduced. So having such a force that can be mobilized at any time and is powerful enough will be very helpful to our plan.”

Hearing the implication in his words, Roy slightly narrowed her eyes, gently stroking the raven’s smooth feathers while asking: “Are you saying… the old Auran Emperor has agreed to let the Mermaid open fire within imperial territory?”

“If innocents aren’t harmed.”

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Black Raven added in a lowered voice, and then smiled somewhat strangely: “But even with this prerequisite, that old fellow only suppressed his urge to have you brought to Saint Caloie for trial because of the Founder and the Elder, and gave some conditions that didn’t touch his bottom line.”

“Conditions?”

The captain looked up at him: “But you didn’t mention these last night.”

“Because they’re completely unimportant—just some pleasantries about letting bygones be bygones, plus a meaningless title. But the cost would be that your lover must return to the military and assist the new emperor after his ascension. I don’t think you’d be willing to accept such an unequal exchange, would you, Captain?”

Watching the increasingly odd smile on Black Raven’s face, Roy slightly lowered her eyelids: “This is the first time I’ve found your words somewhat unreliable. After all, though the Emperor of Auran is old, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to offer conditions that I would never possibly accept. But you’re right about one thing, which is…”

“These things really don’t matter.”

Lifting her chin toward Black Raven, the captain said flatly: “I need to write a letter to my first mate, telling him about the current situation without mentioning the Black Raven Society as much as possible. So where are the writing materials you prepared?”

Black Raven smiled, reached out to open the carriage window, took paper, pen, and ink from a subordinate who was already prepared, arranged them all on the table, and pushed them in front of the girl.

Pushing the tray aside, Roy picked up the quill pen and bent over to write on the paper. Amid the scratching sounds, Black Raven continued his narrative.

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“Besides the news about the Mermaid, there’s another extremely important piece of intelligence concerning Governor Naren.”

“Our organization’s spies in Elvet saw a black carriage enter the city last night, heading toward the port, and after a brief period, leave the city again.”

“During that time, our organization’s visibility in Elvet was heavily suppressed. That should be the work of imperial assassins. Combined with the letter Governor Naren sent three days ago, we can basically confirm that this is related to Federo, who should have already withdrawn from the political stage.”

Hearing this, the captain stopped writing. After her gaze flickered for a moment, she looked at him and asked: “Did Governor Naren leave the city with that carriage?”

“That should be correct,” Black Raven said slowly.

“Where to?”

Black Raven looked out the carriage window at the vast plains and answered: “Generally westward like us. Because of those assassins, our agents couldn’t track them. But if I were to guess, that carriage’s destination…”

“Should be the Garcia family estate.”