Captain – Chapter 266 – Thus Far and No Further

As the young woman’s words fell, a long silence descended upon the round table, with only the sound of the pouring rain becoming increasingly clear.

After an unknown period, the Governor finally withdrew his mind from that persuasive speech.

He looked Roy up and down with a gaze full of doubt, disappointment, and slight unfamiliarity, then asked flatly: “Using the name of country and family, and the feelings between us to coerce me, to make me lay down all resistance and fawn upon those selfish, inconsiderate people…”

“Elizabeth, is this truly your purpose in coming to see me?”

Hearing the man’s cold words, the turbulent emotions in Roy’s heart gradually cooled.

She knew very clearly that this attempt at persuasion was destined to fail before it even began, because in this man’s eyes, that goal he was determined to pursue for his entire life was far more important than all emotions and everything else.

“No, that’s not it.”

Despite this, the captain still felt somewhat unwilling. She said with utmost sincerity: “Uncle Robert, if you’re willing to yield, even if it’s just temporarily setting aside prejudices and swords, I’m willing to do my best to persuade the other side, to prevent all this from happening.”

“When this storm subsides, I promise to set aside all my dissatisfaction and bias toward you, and sincerely return to your…”

“Enough, Elizabeth.”

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Seemingly no longer patient enough to hear the young woman continue, Robert interrupted her expressionlessly, leaving no room for negotiation: “If this is your so-called advice, your so-called only method, then stop wasting your effort. Thus far and no further.”

“Uncle Robert…”

Seeing Roy’s somewhat dazed appearance and hearing that trembling voice, the man’s face showed not the slightest hint of being moved.

He seemed to have completely transformed into another person, becoming so cold, so unyielding, without a trace of the gentle elder remaining.

“If this is their intention, then listen well. I, Robert Alexander, will never give up anything. Whether threats or assassination, I will quietly wait here, wait to see their ridiculous failure.”

“And if…”

After a pause, the Governor narrowed his eyes, his tone becoming much deeper: “This is your intention, then child, I must ask you: after experiencing these long and arduous ten years, how do you still remain so naive?”

“Asking me to lay down the power in my hands—what a laughable suggestion. Have you already cast aside everything I taught you in the past? Have you forgotten the pain and hardships you experienced back then?”

Robert’s tone gradually rose, his words becoming more intense, but just as he said the words “heart” and his questioning reached its peak, he suddenly reined himself in.

Leaning slightly forward, the man looked directly into the young woman’s intensely flickering eyes and said gently: “But I can’t blame you. I can only blame those people’s sweet talk for blinding your eyes, causing you to have such thoughts.”

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“But child, you should know that even if I were truly willing to lay down everything in my hands for you, willing to return to an idle life, in the end I still couldn’t escape that old man’s poisonous hands.”

“You don’t understand the shadows hidden beneath the royal family’s glory, nor do you understand how despicable that old man sitting on the throne, seemingly just and wise, truly is inside.”

“For him, anyone who defies him, regardless of relationship or purpose, will ultimately be discarded after their value is exhausted, pursued to the bitter end.”

At this point, Robert sat up straight, sighed lightly, and said rather emotionally: “In this regard, even I admit I’m inferior to him. At least I couldn’t maintain such an expressionless face upon learning of the death of a close relative, twisting facts and shielding the murderer.”

“And this, just to preserve the royal family’s face, to ensure no stain remains during his reign, nothing more.”

Seeing the young woman’s silence, the Governor said flatly: “With such a person, do you think that now, after we’ve already broken ties, he would be willing to set aside his dignity to negotiate with me, even reconcile?”

Without waiting for the young woman’s answer, the man shook his head lightly: “It’s absolutely impossible.”

“Child, you might know some inside information and think that since he could forgive Federo and let him live out his days in peace, he should also forgive me, considering I’m a distant relative.”

“But on the contrary, precisely because my veins also flow with the blood of the Alexander family, he would be even less willing to spare me, because this bloodline is the greatest threat to the permanence of royal power, and because I… am too similar to his past self.”

“So for that child’s rule, to prevent the royal power from falling to others, even if that old man doesn’t eliminate me this time, before his death, he will certainly find ways to remove my threat to the royal family.”

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“And dead men, have always been the safest.”

Hearing the Governor’s conclusion, the light in Roy’s eyes finally dimmed, becoming motionless, leaving only calmness and slight resignation.

Perceiving the young woman’s subtle change, feeling her indifferent emotion as if she had truly let something go, Robert’s brows unconsciously furrowed, and his tone became much colder: “Even knowing all this, you still insist on your naive thoughts?”

“No, Uncle Robert.”

The captain resumed that irreverent demeanor, smiling and saying: “I know my thinking is naive, have known from the beginning, but the naive part isn’t the proposal itself, but in wanting to persuade you.”

Hearing this, the Governor was silent for a moment, then asked coldly: “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. With your level of comprehension, I shouldn’t need to explain further.”

Having seen through his true nature and being thoroughly disappointed, Roy’s words also became sharp, like a series of pointed engraving knives, beginning to chip away at the thick barrier surrounding him.

“You said so much earlier, but ultimately it still revolves around two words: ‘power.'”

“You’re unwilling to give up power because it represents too many things—your dignity, your pursuit, and your enormous ambition. Before these, any emotion or noble goal must give way.”

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“You can break with your family for it, force a capable governor to step down, and even resort to the most violent, coldest methods. Naturally, you can also easily abandon me, just as you did ten years ago.”

“If so, how are you any different from His Majesty the Emperor?”

Looking at the Governor’s somewhat ugly expression, Roy calmly added: “You needn’t defend yourself, because from the beginning of this conversation until now, I’ve at least confirmed one thing.”

“That is, you truly haven’t changed at all. Just like the man I knew in the past, you’re still so powerful, so understanding of human hearts, so ambitious, and of course, equally arrogant, hypocritical, and detestable.”

“I don’t know how many masks you’ve put on for yourself, whether among countless identities such as the ambitious man with designs on the world, the gentle and kind elder, and the cruel and tyrannical executioner, you can still find your true self.”

“I once wanted so much to understand the truth within, to approach your true heart, but now, I’m truly tired and no longer want to know.”

Under the Governor’s indifferent gaze, the captain pushed away the wooden chair, stood up, and said softly: “Then as you said, let it end here, Uncle Robert.”

“At the same time, I hope that in consideration of my cooperation and revealing all that important intelligence, you won’t come to entangle me anymore, won’t come to disturb my life. Let’s consider ourselves even, let’s consider…”

“That there was never a child like me.”