Captain – Chapter 249 – The Source of All Tragedies

With glasses emptied and casual conversation concluded, the two men’s discussion about the approaching storm officially began. However, this conversation didn’t start by directly addressing Robert, who was the source of the matter, but instead turned to the tragedy that had been concealed by the royal family for sixteen full years.

“Sixteen years ago, you still held the position of Naval Commander, stationed at the naval defense line west of Doflen, directly facing the threat of the Federation fleet. Being a military man far from political circles, you also had little contact with Saint Caloie, so there were some things you didn’t know.”

Setting the empty wine glass aside, Federo said in a low tone: “But despite this, you should have heard about one incident. According to the story circulated outside, it was an accident that led to a change in the royal heir, and indirectly triggered the unexpected Flendo Naval Battle.”

Hearing the old man mention that naval battle, Naren’s gaze couldn’t help but focus. Even though he had relinquished his Admiral title for so long, he still couldn’t forget that extremely brutal war.

Just as the old man said, sixteen years ago, he led the fleet with its back to the Empire’s western center—the giant port of Flendo, guarding the western naval defense line bordering the Federation’s waters.

At that time, the war between the Empire and the Federation had ceased for several years. Due to the signing of the ceasefire agreement, political cooperation, and economic exchanges, both sides increasingly couldn’t do without each other.

Because of this, in the eyes of everyone at that time, war seemed to have no reason to break out again, and peace would ultimately become the only choice for these two behemoths leading the world.

To confirm this point, in late spring that year, witnessed by countless people, Prince Carlos of the Auran royal family and Princess Hefra of the Federation’s Shelley family married, symbolizing the friendship between both sides and a firm attitude toward maintaining peace.

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The union of that young couple was the first marriage alliance in the history of Auran and Pronora, extraordinarily significant while also allowing many citizens to see hope for peace and set aside prejudices in their hearts.

If not for that accident, perhaps peace would have descended sixteen years ago, rather than arriving gracefully only a few years ago after experiencing a series of cruel wars.

What no one expected was that the good times would last less than a year.

As winter descended, on an ordinary dark night, the Federation fleet tore up the ceasefire agreement and, under the cover of night and heavy snow, launched a surprise attack on the Empire’s naval defense line.

That war came so quickly, and the Federation’s attitude was so resolute, that by the time Naren reacted and organized the troops to meet the battle, the naval defense line had already been torn open.

Hundreds of Federation warships swarmed in, pressing the insufficiently prepared Auran navy to retreat step by step, until they finally established a defensive line in front of the giant port of Flendo, barely holding off the opponent’s offensive.

That naval battle lasted a full five days. Relying on sufficient supplies, Naren gradually regained the initiative and finally successfully repelled the Federation fleet at dawn on the fifth day, claiming a rare pyrrhic victory during his time commanding the navy.

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That war later became known as the Flendo Naval Battle, and was also the beginning of the Empire and Federation falling back into the flames of war.

Several days after the end of that war, Naren received urgent news from Saint Caloie, learning the “reason” that triggered this naval battle—an accident that led to the eternal rest of Prince Carlos and Princess Hefra. In the Auran royal family’s explanation, it was an unpredictable maritime disaster.

“It wasn’t an accident.”

The old man’s words interrupted Naren’s memories. He frowned and asked slowly: “What do you mean?”

“Prince Carlos and Princess Hefra indeed had a cruise at that time, and the ship they were supposed to board did happen to hit a reef and sink shortly after. But the problem is that the place where they met with misfortune was halfway along the canal near Saint Caloie.”

Gazing at the Governor’s slightly flickering eyes, Federo said with an unclear emotion: “So they didn’t die in a maritime disaster at all. It wasn’t an accident, but a meticulously planned, utterly despicable murder to seize the right of succession to the throne.”

“And this is the source of all tragedies.”

Looking at the complex emotions in the old man’s emerald-green eyes, the Governor was silent for a long time before speaking somewhat with difficulty: “Continue. Tell me everything.”

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“The impact brought by that murder was extraordinary, and the royal family’s subsequent cover-up even caused the Empire and Federation to break apart again, triggering a series of wars starting with the Flendo Naval Battle, and dragging you, Caine, and many more people into this storm.”

Sighing lightly, the old man said softly: “But in this matter, what is most disheartening isn’t the truth itself, but His Majesty’s attitude.”

“If he hadn’t forcefully suppressed the facts and strongly shielded the culprit for the sake of the royal family’s face, or to keep his reign untarnished, perhaps everything would have been different.”

With a self-mocking smile, Federo said coldly: “Of course, now I can see through him. I fear that in his eyes back then, the sacrifices and turmoil this murder would bring were simply negligible.”

“Because at that time, his strength was undiminished, he had me and Robert by his side, and at Auran’s borders, there was the invincible Imperial Lion. Of course he could afford not to care. And facts prove that he wasn’t wrong, at least in his judgment that Auran would emerge victorious.”

“The Empire ultimately won, but the seemingly increasingly powerful Empire, in the eyes of outsiders, had already become thoroughly corrupt internally, with dispersed loyalties.”

Saying this, a trace of sorrow appeared on the face of the old man known for his coldness. He asked in a slightly hoarse voice: “Do you remember the Black Raven Society?”

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His azure eyes contracted slightly, and Naren’s fists, hanging below the table, suddenly clenched tightly and didn’t release for a long time.

Although he had let go, although that girl had already executed the culprit who caused that hellish fire with her own hands, deep in the Governor’s heart, there remained an indelible sadness, like a cold iceberg. It’s just that now most of it had been submerged beneath the surface, no longer recalled.

After an unknown length of time, the Governor finally relaxed again. He nodded slightly: “Of course.”

“Because of His Majesty’s actions, Princess Gloria, who had already lost her royal brother and was utterly grief-stricken, became completely disillusioned. This was why she resolved to leave Saint Caloie and single-handedly established the Black Raven Society, to promote the doctrine of balance while also uncovering the truth of that year’s events.”

Hearing this, Naren already had a general understanding of the ins and outs of the Black Raven Society’s establishment and subsequent events. So he raised his hand, stopping the old man from continuing: “Regardless of the Black Raven Society’s origins or what its purpose is, it has nothing to do with me anymore, and I don’t want to have any more entanglements with them.”

Looking at his friend’s increasingly aged face, a hint of loss flashed in Naren’s eyes. He asked in a deep voice: “Now I just want to know one thing, which is during these sixteen years…”

“What role have you been playing?”