Captain – Chapter 308 – Eyes Aglow, Door Ajar

Lighthouses were typically built on shores or reefs, serving to help ships avoid them and prevent accidents.

The Acherousian Lighthouse was no exception. It stood on a small mountain in the ice plains. The mountain’s sides were as steep as cliffs—looking down from the lighthouse’s top floor, one could see the dark, deep seawater directly below, with ice formations sharp as knives scattered throughout.

Under these conditions, naturally no one could climb up from there, and even the Mermaid had difficulty approaching, forced to dock at the shore tens of meters away from the lighthouse.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, the door to the captain’s quarters opened.

Roy walked out casually, having changed into a neat short shirt. At her waist hung only that curved saber and an exquisite small pouch, presumably containing flint for lighting the lighthouse.

The raven stood quietly on the young woman’s shoulder. Additionally, the young dragon that had been “hibernating” for half a month on the large bed had emerged from under the blankets and followed her onto the deck.

Roy’s gaze swept across the faces of the crew members, finally landing on her first mate.

The Mermaid was temporarily docked, the iron anchor dropped, and the helm secured, so he didn’t need to keep watch and could say farewell to the captain.

The young woman didn’t say much, just gently patted his shoulder, said “I’m off,” and then nodded slightly to the crew members before passing through the crowd and stepping onto the railing.

Using a swinging rope, Roy’s figure quickly disappeared, landing in the dark icy sea with a deep splash.

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Coming to the side of the ship with the captain’s steps, Caine watched that figure reemerge from the water and gradually move away until she disappeared into the ice plains shrouded by rain and night fog. Only then did he finally withdraw his gaze and issue orders to the crew members watching him: “Raise anchor and set sail. We continue forward.”

This order obviously caught the pirates by surprise. They had assumed they would remain at the shore, waiting for the captain’s return before setting sail again.

But Caine clearly had no intention of explaining. He quickly returned to the helm, unlocked the wheel, and gazed at the dark path ahead, lost in thought.

Seeing this scene, the crew members became somewhat noisy.

“Do as the first mate says. Everyone move quickly!”

Ben looked at the young man personally taking the helm, remained silent for a moment, then gave loud orders to the hesitant sailors.

Although he hadn’t heard the conversation between the captain and first mate, nor did he know that a shadow was currently following the Mermaid, lurking somewhere unknown, he understood clearly that regardless of the situation, the first mate would never betray the captain.

Even if Caine sometimes disobeyed her orders, fundamentally it was still for her benefit.

Lance and others also understood this point and remained quiet in support. With these important figures taking a stand, the sailors’ doubts dissipated, and they began to work efficiently.

Soon, the Mermaid set sail again and, at Caine’s signal, reduced speed, heading toward the outer waters approaching the lighthouse.

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The Death Silence could appear at any time. In this situation, if the Mermaid remained stationary in one place, it would become the most obvious target, possibly unable to even raise anchor before being destroyed by enemy cannon fire or boarding.

Given this, they naturally needed to return to the sea. As long as they weren’t far from the ice plains, Nidhogg should be able to bring the captain back.

Thinking silently, Caine glanced at the young dragon lying on the railing beside him. He noticed it had grown another size without anyone realizing, now approaching the size of a young adult cheetah. Its strength must have increased significantly too, likely preventing a situation like last time when it lacked sufficient power.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. He just hoped nothing unexpected would happen with the captain.

The first mate turned to look at the lighthouse not far ahead. His azure eyes revealed a trace of worry, but quickly returned to calmness as he steered the Mermaid gradually farther away.

The ice plains were covered with a thick layer of snow. The air temperature was very low. Roy, soaking wet, ran toward the lighthouse, occasionally shivering when hit by the cold wind. Fortunately, the continuously falling rain remained warm, preventing her from freezing.

She wondered why the accumulated snow and ice hadn’t melted in the warm rain—not even a hole appeared when raindrops fell on the thick white snow.

Alfie hadn’t been soaked by the cold seawater. It had taken flight before the captain leaped down into the sea, only returning shortly before. It didn’t seem to fear the cold much, likely also because of the warm rain falling from the sky.

Roy’s landing point wasn’t far from the lighthouse. Even accounting for obstacles to bypass and difficult mountain paths, it only took her two or three minutes.

Climbing that small yet exceptionally solid ice mountain, the tall, star-like lighthouse finally came into the young woman’s view.

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Dark golden pupils reflected the deep blue light. Despite having seen it before and being mentally prepared, when she came close, Roy couldn’t help but exclaim in awe—the clear and profound intertwined eternal ice truly resembled the world’s finest diamond.

“Hit the jackpot?”

The raven called softly, seemingly uncertain whether the captain could bring such a large “diamond” back to the Mermaid.

“Silly bird, this is ice, not actual jewelry.”

Roy moved closer, approaching the lighthouse’s outer wall. Despite her words, she couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it, then drew her curved saber to see if she could pry off a piece.

After all, ice that could glow and never melt was a remarkable object. If she could take some away, it might cause a worldwide sensation and fetch a good price.

Unfortunately, despite Roy’s meticulous examination, she couldn’t find a single crack in the ice wall. Without a point of leverage, once the blade tip touched the curved wall, it would slip, unable to pry off even a sliver of ice, let alone an intact piece.

After several fruitless attempts, Roy reluctantly sheathed her curved saber, patted the ice surface again, and sighed with great regret.

This solid ice was indeed as Bivis had described—not particularly cold or slippery, smooth as jade, but truly hard. Not just blades, but perhaps even cannonballs might fail to destroy it.

Truly the work of a devil.

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With this thought, the young woman hesitated no longer. After glancing upward, she withdrew her gaze and thoughts, beginning to search for the entrance to the tower.

Perhaps because Captain Edward was too confident, believing no one but his chosen one could reach this place, or perhaps he simply didn’t care, Roy hadn’t even circled the lighthouse once before discovering the recessed ice door.

The ice door was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting even more brilliance, projecting the young woman’s image upon it. Especially her eyes, which shone like stars, glistening on the ice surface.

The young woman didn’t notice anything unusual, assuming the brilliance in her eyes was due to the properties of the solid ice. She didn’t realize that in the previous instant, her pupils had actually brightened slightly, radiating light.

And on the back of her neck, that character which had been dormant for a long time appeared again, dispersing a pale golden color—whether gas, light, or intangible dust, no one could tell.

The light in her pupils faded, the character on her neck disappeared, and just as Roy reached out, attempting to push the ice door, she suddenly felt a weak yet unmistakably clear vibration.

The ethereal song that had guided her, constantly echoing in her ears, vanished. The lighthouse’s faint blue glow also disappeared, turning dark and profound.

Accompanied by the wind flowing through her clothes, accompanied by bone-chilling cold, the door of the Acherousian Lighthouse, after hundreds of years, finally…

Opened silently.