Captain – Chapter 295 – Setting Sail Again

Bartholomew Shelley, a man of broad vision who remained composed even in the face of great events, this other pillar supporting the Black Raven Society, the unofficial but true power behind the Shelley family in the Federation, was momentarily at a loss for how to respond when he heard the woman’s words.

Due to his status and the power he wielded, Black Raven rarely failed to obtain what he wanted, and naturally would not experience the emotion of seeking but not receiving.

Until his first meeting with her, when this situation changed.

At that time, Black Raven suddenly discovered that not everything in the world was as easy as playing a game, that not everyone would be completely obedient to him without opinions of their own, and that…

Such treasures still existed in the world.

From that moment, he began to pursue her without hesitation, even putting aside his so-called grand ambitions.

He stayed by her side constantly, taking care of her life, providing the support she needed, only to discover somewhat discouragingly that her gaze, filled with adoration, was never directed at him, but always accompanied that man.

That man was Captain Gerard Roy, the greatest pirate captain of modern times, the most remarkable explorer. When he was still sailing his warship across the seas, the radiance he emitted outshone even Black Raven himself.

He had defeated the Auran Navy, plundered the Federation’s largest treasure ship, battled ghost ships and monsters never seen by human eyes, and returned from the Death Silence Triangle where no one had ever survived…

Those brilliant victories and indelible deeds portrayed him as a myth, a true legend.

Rеαⅾ οո КαtRеadіոɡСafе

Therefore, he naturally had countless admirers, and even the Auran princess Gloria, who had isolated herself from the imperial capital and vowed to accomplish great deeds with self-reliance and independence, was just an inconspicuous wave among the vast sea of people.

Black Raven didn’t feel much resentment about this, because the Founder’s love for that man began with a chance encounter, just like the reason he had fallen in love.

However, Gerard had met her earlier, standing behind her when she most needed support, and it was precisely for this reason that she admired and deeply loved that man, while maintaining a distance from Black Raven.

Even though they had become close friends, he could feel the actual chasm between them.

This was something that could not be reversed or changed.

Bartholomew understood this point, yet never gave up because of it, nor was he discouraged. He still did everything within his power to support her, carefully maintaining a distance so as not to annoy her or disturb her life.

He had done this for more than a decade.

Although he understood the Founder’s feelings, knowing that even if that man got married, even if that man never returned, he would still have no chance, he still didn’t leave her, because these things seemed to have become a habit, a spiritual support for him.

So when he heard her words of acceptance, he was so shocked that he couldn’t come to his senses for a long time.

Until the sea breeze gently brushed his face and the cries of seagulls came from afar, Black Raven seemed to return to the present. After rubbing his ears, he asked somewhat uncertainly: “Are you serious?”

Rеаԁ οո KаtRеаⅾiոgСafе

Without answering the man’s question, the Founder looked again at Roy in the distance and said softly: “Neither the Auran royal family nor the Shelley family would probably like to have another child to bring up those troublesome matters, and of course…”

“I wouldn’t like it either.”

What this meant, even a fool would understand.

The shock in Black Raven’s heart seemed still not fully dissipated. With rare nervousness on his face, he fidgeted somewhat awkwardly with his fingers and smiled: “If you don’t like it, then we won’t have one.”

Even in this situation, this man who had once been so smooth in matters of love hadn’t forgotten the things that needed attention. His words didn’t mention Auran or family at all, focusing only on whether she liked it or not.

He was indeed happy, but wouldn’t let this cloud his judgment. Of course, he wouldn’t consider this as charity from Her Highness the Princess, because neither of them was that kind of person.

For them, yes meant yes, and no meant no, whether it concerned affairs of state, trivial matters, or matters of the heart.

Since she had expressed her attitude and let go of that past, she naturally wouldn’t deceive anyone, much less go back to pick it up again.

Looking at the small wooden boat that slowly approached the jetty and finally stopped completely in front of Roy and Caine, the Founder seemed to see again that elegant warship slowly approaching the shore.

Rеαⅾ оո КаtRеаⅾingСαfе

That man waved from the warship, but not to her—to his true love, to that child still in swaddling clothes.

You should have let go long ago, Gloria.

The Founder thought silently, then smiled gently, as if saying goodbye to that friend, and also to her past self.

Then, she turned away from the window and walked toward the spiral staircase leading downstairs, naturally “instructing” Black Raven who followed closely: “I don’t want to stay in Auran, nor will I stop in the Federation. I’m tired of these scenes, and weary of those matters. From now on, you’ll make the arrangements.”

“Then… how about traveling around the world?”

The man’s delighted question gradually faded, soon disappearing around the corner of the corridor. This residence, quiet for many years, once again fell into silence, who knows how many years before it would be broken again.

Waves gently pushed against the hull, causing the small wooden boat to sway slightly, making the pirate who had come to pick them up drowsy, looking like an enlarged cradle.

Caine boarded the small wooden boat first, and just as he was about to turn back to help Roy, he found her still standing on the jetty, looking back at a certain building not far from the port.

Gazing at that building, looking at the empty scene behind a certain glass window, the captain’s brows unconsciously furrowed.

In the previous moment, she had suddenly felt a gaze, coming from the window she was now looking at.

Rеаⅾ oո KαtRеаdіոɡCαfе

Roy couldn’t quite explain why she was so sensitive to that gaze, because around the port, too many people were watching her, with occasional conversations or sincere well-wishes coming from them.

All she knew was that the person seemed different from the people gathered around the port, having a special significance to her, or rather, harboring deep emotions.

But when she turned to look back, she didn’t see the person’s figure, only the empty corridor through the glass window, and so her mood also became empty, feeling as if she had missed something extremely important.

“Captain, what are you looking at?”

Hearing her first mate’s concerned question, Roy blinked and came to her senses. She then turned around, leaving the jetty with his assistance, sat in the small wooden boat, and said dismissively: “Nothing, I just felt like someone was watching me just now, but I couldn’t find them.”

Seeing that the maiden didn’t care about this matter, the young man didn’t ask further and gave a command to the pirate who was almost unable to keep his eyes open.

Upon receiving the first mate’s order, the pirate immediately became more energetic, rowing the oars to propel the small wooden boat toward the Mermaid not far away.

Soon, the three returned to the ship, and the small wooden boat was also retrieved.

Accompanied by the sound of water and wind, the iron anchor rose from the water, the white sails unfurled to full, the pearl-white hull pushed through the waves, and the Mermaid turned its bow, sailing toward the distance, gradually becoming an indistinct silhouette, until it could no longer be seen.