Captain – Chapter 319 – Bargaining Chip

“Then now, can we have a proper discussion?”

As those three words fell, the smile on Roy’s face faded considerably, her expression becoming serious and genuine, skillfully hiding that hint of mischief.

Since the young woman had spoken such words, expressing her disdain for those evildoers, it naturally indicated that she believed Roy’s story, had immersed herself in it, and felt some empathy.

Thus, it seemed she had also accepted Roy’s “difficulties,” changed her thinking, and there might truly be a possibility of success.

Of course, that success… would be entirely different from what she imagined.

“Perhaps it’s already too late.”

Whether recalling the depravity of pirates she had encountered in the past, or constrained by the warship chase already beginning at sea, Vivian ultimately shook her head, simultaneously stepping half a step backward, adopting a “keep away” stance. Her rejection was obvious.

“It’s not too late. As long as we make it in time, nothing is too late.”

Roy wasn’t disappointed. She knew what the other was worrying about and smiled, saying: “The Lady’s divine blessing is certainly remarkable, but to catch the Mermaid in a storm without effort is impossible. If I’m not mistaken, they haven’t engaged in combat yet.”

Understanding a ship doesn’t come from paper materials alone. When those numbers and words are put to sea, they always become pale and weak, difficult to rely on.

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Otherwise, wouldn’t victory be determined simply by comparing two ships on paper? Why would there be so many fierce exchanges of fire, brilliant reversals?

Therefore, just speaking of the Mermaid, even Lady Annisdora couldn’t understand it as well as Roy.

After all, when possessing boundless power, why would the Lady care about a small ghost ship? And when she truly needed to dig deep, she had already lost that opportunity.

Moreover, Roy had learned about the Osprey’s pursuit of the Mermaid from Caine, and after a series of detailed reconstructions, naturally knew the truth about the Lady’s blessing, drawing some equally paper-based but more practical inferences.

From that past event, even if the Lady still had magic within her, she absolutely couldn’t stir wind and rain from countless miles away. Otherwise, with a single thought she could destroy the Mermaid—why would she need the Death Silence to intervene?

Even if the Ocean Goddess’s blessing made the Mermaid impervious to storms and waves, what about lightning strikes from the sky?

When Edward destroyed the Empire’s First Fleet, he had used this supernatural heavenly might, causing those ships to burn fiercely, reducing even their keels to ash.

Therefore, Roy believed that even if the Lady possessed great power, it should be like the devil’s—only able to influence the area around that mysterious island, unable to reach farther. So the so-called divine blessing couldn’t be a manifestation of great power, but perhaps just…

The ocean’s respect for her will.

The sea respected, or rather cherished this transcendent child, so when she made a request, waves would part, fish would guide the way, even water ripples and sea winds would assist.

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This was the truth of the so-called blessing.

The Mermaid was different. It relied on a departed deity’s grace, magic that had diminished considerably over hundreds of years of storms, certainly incomparable to the Lady’s will.

So Roy had concluded that without unexpected circumstances, regardless of storms, the Mermaid couldn’t escape the Death Silence’s pursuit, but that would take time.

In a storm, the time would be longer.

That’s why she had left Caine with a plan to temporarily avoid combat, why she felt so confident coming to the lighthouse—this was her basis.

Given this, everything was naturally not too late; at least there was time to talk, to discuss matters.

Knowing the captain was right, Vivian’s gaze flickered for a while before she silently nodded.

Compared to the calculations and deductions the other relied on, she didn’t need to be so complicated, because she could constantly sense the Death Silence’s movements and situation. Even if some authority had been shared with Richi, she remained its only master.

Under flashing lightning and rolling thunder, amid surging waves, the two warships chased each other, now quite far from the lighthouse.

Though the distance between the Death Silence and the Mermaid had noticeably shortened due to that path of light, catching up to enter even the farthest cannon range couldn’t be accomplished quickly.

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Therefore, as Roy said, it wasn’t too late.

“But I don’t understand why you would make such a choice, or what qualifies you to negotiate with me. You should know that whether here or on the vast sea, the Lady holds every advantage. Once you’re eliminated, everything is settled.”

Vivian’s voice was cold, her words colder, yet one could find no point to refute.

Roy wanted to negotiate, surely understanding her side’s disadvantages.

In the Acherousian Lighthouse, she faced a non-human monster. Even if she herself had been called a monster, this was fundamentally different.

Compared to people who had only heard legends and relied on imagination to know monsters, the captain, having dealt with these beings numerous times, understood them more deeply.

Among those bizarre existences, some were invincible, some unkillable, lesser ones possessed immense strength and felt no pain, while the worst might appear frail yet were surrounded by curses and miasma—a mortal’s touch meant instant death.

Fighting such creatures, regardless of winning or losing, was definitely thankless labor.

As for the sea, because of the Lady’s blessing, the Mermaid had lost its only advantage, and it wasn’t a ghost ship skilled in combat. The situation’s favorability needed no explanation.

Because of these disadvantages and approaching dangers, Roy wanted to negotiate. But the question was… why would Vivian talk to her?

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Now that Satin Island had appeared, if she could kill the person before her, if Richi could sink the Mermaid, then everything on Satin Island would naturally belong to the Lady. Why would there be any need for treasure distribution? This was also why the young woman couldn’t understand.

What exactly was this renowned Golden-Eyed Devil planning?

“Yes, you have every advantage, while we see no hope. Logically, we have absolutely no bargaining position, but the reality is different.”

Roy turned and walked away, her tone very relaxed, as if holding a bargaining chip that even the Lady couldn’t ignore.

Seeing this, Vivian slowly followed, joining her in the center of the spacious room, asking: “Where does your confidence come from?”

“From lighting the fire earlier and discovering my unique role.”

Roy gracefully turned around, spreading her hands, the corner of her mouth lifting in a confident smile: “Do you know how I lit the lighthouse fire? It might be vastly different from what you imagine, and this is the major premise that allows our negotiation.”

The captain had no intention of being mysterious, immediately revealing the truth: “Because the fuel that lit the lighthouse fire wasn’t siren blood, but…”

“This captain’s blood.”