Captain – Chapter 247 – The Carriage’s Whereabouts

The letter wasn’t long.

After a brief complaint at the beginning, the girl briefly described the various changes that had occurred during their separation, the current direction of all parties, the shifting situation, and explained their plan to pass through a town to help the Mermaid locate the carriage’s position.

“Your captain is fine! Don’t worry needlessly!”

The raven’s slightly sharp calls echoed above the deck as it conveyed Roy’s greetings to the crew.

The young dragon, who had missed Alfie over the past few days, was flapping its increasingly powerful wings, chasing after the raven’s tail feathers, circling the Mermaid’s main mast together with it.

“If something goes wrong, or the ship gets damaged, you’ll be held accountable!”

The raven kept repeating these two sentences, while the young dragon howled as if cheering it on. Though its roar was still somewhat immature, it already carried considerable authority.

Glancing at the restless pair, then looking at the crew members who were gazing up at them, listening with utmost attention, not wanting to miss a single word, Caine shook his head with a smile. The gloomy mood he’d carried these past three days finally lightened somewhat.

Looking again at the letter in his hand, at the portion about his father, the First Mate’s smile gradually faded, replaced by mild concern.

In her letter, Roy hadn’t mentioned a single word about the Black Raven Society, only saying that a group of people with unclear identities had hijacked the carriage, replacing those soldiers to continue escorting her forward, conveying to her the will from Saint Caloie while also telling her some news about Governor Naren.

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The captain’s words were filled with misleading implications, making it easy for the young man to mistakenly identify the organization’s people as imperial assassins.

In Caine’s view, if this was an arrangement Federo had prepared in advance, then it wouldn’t be hard to explain why His Majesty would be wary of Robert and respond immediately after he made his move.

The captain had accepted His Majesty’s decree and was being escorted by imperial assassins who once took orders from Federo—this was undoubtedly good news. And coincidentally, the town they had chosen to pass through was precisely the small town called Flensmeir ahead.

This also meant that perhaps after a brief period, the Mermaid would be able to determine the carriage’s whereabouts and track it in the days to come.

In this way, the purpose for which they had weighed anchor and left port could be successfully achieved.

But not all the news in this letter was good.

Because apart from ensuring the captain’s safety, the letter also said that Governor Naren had left Elvet by carriage last night and was now heading west.

Although the girl hadn’t written Black Raven’s speculation in the letter, based on his father’s recent actions and their conversation before the Mermaid left port, Caine could easily guess that his destination was the Garcia family estate, where he intended to meet that elderly friend to launch a counterattack against Robert.

This meant that the old lion had finally stopped concealing his claws, but it also meant great and unknown danger.

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Letting out a light sigh, Caine temporarily set aside his hidden worries. He turned around and gave a loud whistle.

Immediately, the calls echoing above the deck disappeared.

The raven fluttered down and perched on the young man’s shoulder, while the young dragon landed beside his leg, looking up to meet Alfie’s downward gaze. The pirates, whose attention had been drawn by the two little creatures, also turned their heads, focusing their attention on him.

“Gentlemen, I’ve received a letter from the captain. She says the carriage she was riding in was hijacked last night, but don’t worry—the hijackers are on our side. So in other words, not only is her safety now guaranteed, but she has also regained her freedom.”

Hearing the First Mate’s account, the pirates finally breathed a sigh of relief, and any remaining worry on their faces completely vanished.

“In addition, the captain also said that to help us track her position, the carriage she’s riding in will pass through the town ahead. So now, we need to drop anchor immediately, then send some men to watch around the town. When they spot the carriage, some should return to report, while the rest continue to follow.”

Scanning the faces of the crew members, Caine said in a deep voice: “After this, to avoid losing track of the carriage, we’ll maintain this state for a long time, of course, with personnel rotation. This is our arrangement for what’s next. Does everyone understand?”

“Understood, First Mate!”

Hearing the crew’s spirited response, Caine nodded with satisfaction and said to Ben, who stood in the front row: “Make the arrangements.”

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“Yes, sir.”

Under the Bosun’s orders, the sailors furled the sails and dropped anchor, mooring the Mermaid in the countryside not far from the small town. Subsequently, a group of over a dozen men rowed a small boat ashore, quickly disappearing among the crude and sparse buildings.

After all matters were settled, the sailors gathered at the ship’s railing. Despite facing the blazing sun, none planned to go to the lower deck or find a shady spot to rest. Even Caine himself stood at the bow, holding the railing, silently gazing toward the town.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second. Until the sun set in the west and the evening glow reddened the horizon, several shifts of people sent to scout the town had changed, but the eagerly awaited news had still not arrived. Each sailor who returned to the deck only shook their head in disappointment.

Just as Caine was about to ask something of the wide-eyed raven that was putting on an innocent look for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Daniel’s somewhat excited report came from the lookout post. Like a stone striking the water’s surface, it instantly enlivened the somewhat subdued atmosphere on the deck.

“First Mate, people are returning, just three of them!”

Hearing this, Caine’s gaze focused slightly, and his hand gripping the ship’s railing tightened involuntarily.

There were sixteen men sent to scout the town, and each time half of them—eight people—were replaced. This time Daniel only saw three people. Did this mean they had already discovered the captain’s position and followed according to plan?

The answer clearly couldn’t be derived from guesswork.

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Therefore, when the three men climbed onto the deck, panting heavily, the First Mate pushed through the crowd, quickly approached them, and asked with slightly urgent tone: “How’s the situation? Why did only you three return?”

The sailor standing at the front took a deep breath and said to the young man: “First Mate, we saw that carriage. Willie and the others are following at a distance.”

Though suddenly receiving this news, Caine didn’t lose his composure but instead asked more calmly: “Can you confirm the captain is in the carriage?”

“They stopped in the town for some time, probably to purchase food and water. We were observing from not far away and saw the carriage curtain open a bit, and sitting in the carriage…”

As if still feeling somewhat unreal, the sailor swallowed and said excitedly: “It was indeed the captain!”

“Very good.”

Caine let out a light breath and said loudly to the crew members gathered around: “Did you all hear that, gentlemen? Now get moving! Weigh anchor, lower the sails, full speed ahead! This time…”

“We won’t lose her again.”