Captain – Chapter 264 – The Second Choice

“I came back for my own reasons: to ask you some things, to tell you certain truths, or perhaps… to try to persuade you again.”

Having torn away that thin veil, Roy seemed much more composed. She looked at the cold-faced, imposing Governor and smiled: “I just don’t know if you still have the patience to listen.”

After a moment of silence, Robert picked up the crystal glass in front of him, took a light sip of wine, and replied indifferently: “Let’s hear it.”

Given permission, Roy’s smile grew brighter. She slowly leaned back in her chair, revealing a lazy yet confident demeanor.

This appearance, compared to the previously outspoken yet still obedient and respectful young woman, was like an entirely different person.

“First, I did indeed escape custody, which gave me the opportunity to come see you. But exactly how I escaped, the details, differ somewhat from what you guessed or arranged.”

The captain said softly: “In fact, I had already planned to visit you when I first left Elvet, but on my own, I had no way of knowing your whereabouts, let alone determining a route or formulating a plan.”

“Fortunately, just as I was troubled by this, someone stepped forward, not only revealing your true arrangements in full, but also using the letter you sent to deduce your approximate location.”

Hearing the word “letter,” Robert’s gaze suddenly focused.

A moment later, uncontrollable anger churned in his eyes, and even the hand holding the crystal glass had turned somewhat white from excessive force, with a few blue veins faintly visible.

Rеαd οո КαtRеаԁіոgСаfe

“Yes, exactly as you’re thinking, that person was Colonel Berney.”

Knowing the Governor had already guessed the person’s identity, Roy chuckled and said: “After spending some time with him, I must admit, though he looked like a useless fop, he was actually quite helpful.”

“He was alert, able to smell danger and detect shifts in the situation. Therefore, after quickly discovering he had been abandoned by you, he confessed everything to me, seeking forgiveness and survival in this storm.”

“Besides that, he possessed keen observational skills. Just from that last sentence in your letter, he determined you must be somewhere not far from the destination. From there, with my understanding of you, it wasn’t difficult to guess you were here.”

After listening, the Governor asked coldly: “So he was the one who unlocked your shackles and released you not far from here?”

“No, no, no. Although that was indeed my initial plan, some unexpected events occurred that completely ruined it.”

Roy hurriedly waved her hands and explained: “About ten days ago, when the carriage was passing through a wilderness, a group of unreasonable assassins took advantage of the heavy rain as cover to attack the convoy and hijack the carriage.”

At this point, the young woman’s face showed a trace of regret: “The escorting soldiers were completely wiped out trying to protect me. Quite unfortunately, Colonel Berney also died under the assassins’ blades, unable to see the rainbow after the storm.”

Hearing this, Robert frowned and asked: “Who were they?”

Rеaԁ οn KatRеаdіոgСаfе

“To others, these people’s identity might be unfamiliar, but I think you must know about… the organization called the Black Raven Society.”

With Tomb Bat, one of the organization’s executioners, under his command, and the incredibly mysterious founder of the Black Raven Society being an old acquaintance from long ago, the Governor naturally had a deep understanding of this deeply hidden organization.

So upon hearing this name, Robert’s expression immediately became much more grave.

Seeing this, Roy spread her hands: “Indeed, it seems you’re also aware of those rats’ existence. In terms of detesting them, our positions are aligned, but…”

“As the saying goes, when under someone’s roof, one must bow one’s head. Moreover, with shackles on my hands, facing those wolf-like thugs, I could only submit and be forced to cooperate with them.”

Hearing the young woman’s somewhat aggrieved tone and her genuine aversion toward that organization in her words, the Governor’s expression softened a bit. He asked gravely: “What did those people… want to cooperate with you on?”

“They told me about the current situation, saying they would ensure my safety and deliver me to my original destination. But in exchange, I had to cooperate with their assassin’s actions, in order to, in order to…”

Seeing the young woman’s cautious demeanor, Robert raised an eyebrow and said dismissively: “Just say it. I won’t misunderstand so easily.”

As if relieved, Roy continued: “In order to end your life.”

Rеaⅾ оn KαtRеadіnɡСαfе

Although he had already guessed it, upon hearing the captain’s answer, the Governor’s expression still darkened considerably. He asked coldly: “In less than a year, to assassinate two Imperial Governors in succession—are they trying to turn the world upside down?”

“No, Uncle Robert, this time seems somewhat different.”

Hearing the young woman’s meaningful words, the Governor’s gaze flickered slightly as he asked: “What do you mean?”

Roy said in a heavy tone: “Because according to the information I received, this isn’t merely the Black Raven Society’s wish, but has received… the unanimous consent of the Founder and the Auran Emperor.”

Even this typically composed man seemed shocked by this sudden news, just like the young woman’s reaction when she first heard those secrets from Black Raven’s mouth.

After a brief moment of stupefaction, Robert came to his senses, his tone still containing some surprise and doubt: “Are you sure their words can be trusted?”

“Yes, Uncle Robert. Only the Founder could make that person with the codename ‘Black Raven’ set foot on Auran soil and come specifically to negotiate with me. And I think… the Founder would never lie to me.”

If an outsider unaware of the inside story heard the young woman’s words, they would certainly be bewildered, unable to grasp the direction.

But when these words reached the Governor’s ears, he instantly understood everything.

Reaԁ oո KatRеadіոɡCаfе

Because for Robert, Black Raven’s identity, his relationship with the Founder, and even the love and hatred between that Princess who left St. Caloie alone and Captain Gerard, were all no secrets.

Yet there was still one point he couldn’t understand.

In today’s world, apart from himself, the old man sitting on the throne simply couldn’t find a second successor candidate who could both maintain Auran’s splendid prosperity and be as acceptable to him as possible.

Yet under such circumstances, that old man had so suddenly and resolutely issued an edict to extinguish his gradually rising flame before the storm arrived. What exactly was this due to, and what did it mean?

“It means the Emperor has found a second choice, a choice that makes him unhesitatingly abandon you.”

The pleasant voice sounded timely, interrupting the Governor’s thoughts. He looked up at the smiling young woman and, after a long silence, asked: “Who is he? Is it our politically inept Prince Ulysses, or the long-absent Princess Gloria?”

“No, it can’t be them.”

Before Roy could answer, Robert slowly shook his head, negating his own guess, and then slowly spoke: “Then tell me, child, his name, his identity, and everything you know…”

“About him.”