Captain – Chapter 341 – The Guardian

“You’re right, I still have time, and I need to consider this carefully,” Roy nodded slightly, following the “Old Pirate’s” previous suggestion without making an immediate decision based on the devil’s evil deeds or the First Mate’s sincerity.

Because this matter had such far-reaching implications, she truly needed to think it through thoroughly.

With both important and trivial matters now discussed and the Captain having given her response, this negotiation was considered concluded. The outcome wasn’t necessarily perfect, as the two sides hadn’t reached complete consensus, but there had been positive development—no breaking of ties or loss of life.

What followed were questions and answers that, while unrelated to her choice, were still extremely important.

“What is this wooden carving?”

Picking up the goddess statue before her, Roy examined it carefully, slightly marveling at its craftsmanship before looking toward Isaac and asking curiously.

After the “Old Pirate’s” previous narrative, the young woman certainly knew it was made by the devil’s hand, a vessel containing a deity’s tear, and moreover the key to breaking the Box’s curse. But the question was… what exactly was it?

Was it the key to open the Box and return boundless power to the deity?

Was it the token to reverse the curse and allow the devil to take his final step?

Or… was it the crucial element in Isaac’s plan?

“It is the true killing move in this chess game, the object both the devil and the Lady must fight for.”

The “Old Pirate’s” explanation was somewhat ambiguous, but Roy understood his meaning.

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“That’s quite the hot potato…” the Captain looked again at the goddess statue and gave a bitter smile.

If both the devil and the Lady had fixed their gaze upon it, then this object was naturally the key to unlocking the seal, perhaps even determining where the magic would flow—the crucial element in the endgame.

But that also proved that this object had nothing to do with destroying the Box.

“Take it,” Roy thought silently for a moment before finally tossing the wooden carving to her First Mate. Then, meeting Isaac’s surprised gaze, she explained with a smile: “Whether he keeps it or I do, there’s no real difference.”

At first glance, these words seemed to contain nothing beyond trust and closeness, with no hidden meaning. Even Caine thought the Captain was simply too lazy to carry it, without considering any deeper implications.

Of course, even if he had tried to think more deeply, he probably wouldn’t have reached any conclusion.

Because the true meaning here was related to the devil, and unless one had been tainted by the devil and knew the inside story, one couldn’t possibly guess the young woman’s intentions.

Isaac was one who understood the truth, and so his gaze toward the young woman grew increasingly gentle.

Roy carried a curse, with the devil’s power hidden deep within her.

Although she didn’t know that when the power deep in her bloodline began to flow, her eyes and the characters on the back of her neck would glow brilliantly, she wasn’t so obtuse as to ignore the astonishing changes happening to her body—changes that could be called miracles.

The illusion she fell into on Frans Island, the endless vitality that surged from within when surrounded on the Mermaid, the thinking speed that transcended time and human limits in the Acherousian Lighthouse and many other places…

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Not to mention she could hear the Siren’s song and ignite that deep blue liquid with her blood—all this indicated she was far from ordinary.

And all these extraordinary qualities came from that curse, from that fateful meeting on Devil’s Island.

Now, through the “Old Pirate’s” words, she understood Captain Edward’s terrifying nature and the extraordinary significance of this wooden carving. Naturally, she couldn’t keep it on her person.

Because even though the curse had not harmed her until now, who knew if, at the moment of decision, at that most crucial instant, it might suddenly control her or forcibly change her thoughts?

So she gave the wooden carving to her First Mate, and even planned to have him execute her choice after obtaining the Box.

This was her trust in him, and equally her wariness toward the devil.

“There’s no need to be so tense. No matter how powerful Captain Edward is, he’s now nothing more than a tiger in a cage. His great power cannot leave his prison, and even his body can only remain in frozen slumber. The curse he placed on you might have the ability to mobilize your bloodline, but he absolutely cannot control you.”

Pleased with Roy’s choice and understanding her concerns, Isaac tapped the table and offered his gentle assessment.

Though he called it an assessment, it wasn’t far from the truth.

“Besides, he’s not a deity after all. Heaven doesn’t favor him, and he’s not benevolent to others. His fanatical followers have either been transformed into ghosts or become neither human nor ghost—mere skeletons combined into that terrifying undead ship, unable to venture too far from the Cursed Sea.”

“On today’s seas, there might still be some ‘lone souls’ who worship him wandering about, but they dare not show themselves due to the Guardian’s presence, posing little threat.”

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This was the first time Roy had heard these secrets, heard Isaac speak of the current situation, so she was particularly attentive.

Only when she heard a new term did the young woman’s eyes show bewilderment, and she repeated: “Guardian?”

“That’s the ruler of each generation of the Southern Islands.”

The “Old Pirate” explained briefly, then realized this description wasn’t appropriate and smiled as he corrected himself: “No, that’s not the right term. Since Edward was sealed away, those great figures established rules that there would be no new king from then on.”

Hearing this, Roy’s thoughts gradually drifted away. She wondered, if that were the case, wouldn’t it mean that even if she had brought her ancestor’s hat back from Devil’s Island, she still couldn’t have become the Pirate King she longed to be?

Blinking, the Captain’s chaotic thoughts in her mind suddenly converged, replaced by an irresistible idea that even escaped her lips: “This Guardian you speak of… is it the Great Captain?”

“Oh? That’s a good name for him.”

Isaac nodded slightly, believing it must be this person.

“This is terrible, the Great Captain is actually on the Lady’s side. If he knows my identity, wouldn’t everything be over…”

Having received the answer, Roy’s face immediately fell, putting on a miserable expression while muttering at such a rapid pace that even her First Mate beside her couldn’t catch it clearly.

The “Old Pirate” likewise didn’t know what the young woman was muttering about, otherwise he would have at least offered some comfort, saying that the successive Guardians weren’t devotees of the Lady, but merely descendants of those legendary figures from the past—simply the devil’s mortal enemies.

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Although the final conclusion seemed no different.

The reason Roy was so distressed about this matter was because the Great Captain was the most revered figure among all pirates, and for her, that impossibly lazy, towering man whom she often called “old fellow” held a deeper relationship.

Perhaps an alternative form of yearning for paternal love?

The Captain’s worry didn’t last too long.

Because she then thought, if the Great Captain truly wished to eliminate the devil’s lineage without delay, then no matter how remarkable her father was, he couldn’t have had any future, let alone led the Southern Islands’ captains against Auran.

And he wouldn’t have been so kind to her either.

Just as Roy’s mood had begun to settle, Isaac’s following words made her feel the pressure mounting like a mountain, and her future seem worrisome.

“The Guardian’s duty is to prevent the truth about the Pirate King from coming to light.”

“If those ‘lone souls’ behave themselves, he won’t interfere. But if they, or anyone else, try to uncover those deeply hidden secrets, attempting to find ways to reduce the seal’s power or even release Edward, then…”

“Naturally, it would be time for him to take action.”