Captain – Chapter 345 – The Real is Not False, Yet the Most False is True

After expressing her helplessness drifting in the ocean of fate and praying that she might be that blind cat fed by heaven, Roy had finished discussing serious matters.

Or rather, when she spoke such words to Caine, she never expected any response or help—it was simply an unburdening.

Like finding a hollow tree to whisper into.

Having expressed her feelings, Roy immediately shed her melancholy, stretching lazily. Then, looking at her still-serious First Mate, her eyes rolled slightly as “wicked thoughts” suddenly sprang to mind.

Just like a cat that never learns its lesson.

Since entering the Ice Sea, the young woman had managed to be serious for a while, but upon seeing this rare opportunity, the mischievous nature suppressed in her heart jumped out again.

“You know, Caine, throughout this journey, you’ve been with me the longest and seen the most. Do you ever feel that your Captain is… a bit too changeable?”

Roy gathered her slightly disheveled hair, trying to make it as smooth as possible, then slightly bent her legs, hugging her knees with both hands, her tone betraying no emotion.

The young woman rarely showed her vulnerable side to others, even to the two generations of First Mates who were like family to her.

So even though she adopted this slightly defensive posture, her brows remained smooth, without the slightest hint of dejection. Her eyes were calm as still water, and coupled with that serene and indifferent tone, it truly seemed as if she were discussing something completely unrelated to herself.

It even… resembled a superior’s routine questioning of a subordinate.

But Caine wouldn’t think that way.

He knew her better, able to distinguish between her various emotions that seemed similar but contained extremely subtle differences.

This time was no exception.

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He very accurately captured the “self-mockery” and “nervousness” hidden in the young woman’s words, and then naturally followed her lead, beginning to recall the various scenes of their time together, searching for the source of this statement.

He had taken the bait.

This wasn’t to say the young man was easily fooled, nor that after being toyed with by the young woman so many times, he still hadn’t learned his lesson. It was just that he had previously sensed something off about the Captain’s mood, and this preconception influenced his thinking.

They say concern clouds judgment, and he was no different.

“Changeable” wasn’t an accurate word to describe Roy.

Because whether it was her performances that seemed so natural and genuine, or the countless masks she used to disguise or protect herself like concealing mist, none of these were false in the ordinary sense—mirages that dissipate at a touch. They were all the real her.

The genuine article.

The her who pleased her elders, the her who held goodwill toward ordinary people, the her who escaped imprisonment and death with iron will, forging legendary tales… the charming, passionate, optimistic, pitiable her—weren’t they all her?

All were Elizabeth Roy.

“You have never changed, so how could you be called changeable?”

The young man’s gentle voice rippled out. He gazed at the young woman’s golden hair that hung like a waterfall, swaying with the Mermaid’s rocking, and smiled as he said: “Whether performance or change of heart, if it’s not real enough to fool yourself, how could it fool others?”

Fool… herself?

Not expecting such a serious answer, Roy was momentarily stunned, then tilted her head slightly, privately considering this viewpoint.

Just like the schemes set by strategists—if they are to be truly perfect, to deceive heaven itself, then they cannot be known to anyone.

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Not even oneself.

Only when the schemer enters their own scheme, melts into it, and then plays—no, becomes—the role required by the grand scheme, only then can they leave no trace, deceiving people, the world, and even…

Deities.

Her eyes brightened slightly, and Roy frowned a bit, seeming to have captured something but unable to decipher it for the moment. She could only continue to focus her thoughts on herself.

So the question was, how to deceive oneself?

Hypnosis, curses, amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, and such.

These were all external forces or uncontrolled accidents. If one actively or passively endured them, perhaps it could be achieved, but unfortunately, although her journey of growth had been somewhat miserable, she didn’t have congenital illnesses or such experiences.

But without external forces, could anyone completely deceive themselves?

Impossible.

The young woman thought silently, and then understood.

In fact, there wasn’t so much falsehood and deception. She could play those roles, play them flawlessly, without revealing any errors, making figures like Federo and Robert fall deeply into them, because… that was her.

The authentic self cannot be false.

But conversely, the utterly false approaches the true.

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“Or… it is true.”

Murmuring softly, Roy’s eyes gradually brightened. She felt the fog shrouding her vision showing signs of dispersing, felt that the devil who had been high above, transforming into thousands of forms, revealed a glimpse of his true face.

So her ancestor was that kind of person.

Great, glorious, despicable, vicious, and most importantly, supremely ruthless.

One who can be a devil is inherently not human.

No longer pretending to be “melancholy,” Roy shifted to a kneeling position, crawled forward, and threw herself into the young man’s arms, tightly embracing his neck.

“The blind cat really stumbled upon a dead rat.”

Hearing the delighted whisper from the young woman in his arms, the confused Caine put his arms around her and asked: “What dead rat?”

Sitting up, Roy smiled and said: “Intuition? No, not accurate. It should be this Captain’s extraordinary insight that has helped me understand some things.”

“Hmm… of course, your answer was helpful too.”

Seeing the First Mate growing more bewildered, the Captain added: “Let’s say you provided the brick that drew forth the jade. When the matter is settled, I’ll credit you with a merit.”

Hearing this, Caine finally understood something, his eyebrows slightly raising as he asked: “You’ve made your choice so quickly?”

Choice, naturally referring to the choice of her path ahead.

Devil, deity, or…

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“Yes, I’ve decided. This Captain chooses neither.”

The young woman’s face glowed with a unique radiance, no trace of irritation or distress to be seen.

She grinned and declared: “To hell with deities and devils, the Lady and my ancestor. Since they’re all just using each other—no, even if there are true feelings, what does that have to do with me?”

“Because of a blood relationship from who knows how many generations ago? Come on, in that devil’s eyes, where is there any blood kinship? All descendants through the ages were probably just disposable chess pieces, pitiful sacrifices for his escape from imprisonment.”

“Just like my father, and those devil descendants who left no trace.”

Roy’s smile gradually faded as she said coldly: “Why should I? Just because he wants to become a god? For this, we must one after another step onto a path of no return?”

“This Captain refuses.”

The young woman’s words, though seemingly spoken in a fit of pique, contained an unshakable determination.

“So what if he chose me? If not for that worn-out hat, for those priceless jewels, I would never have gone to that lonely island. He watched me for three years… probably using all his cunning to calculate my every move for three years?”

“It sounds nice to say he sought some amusement, made a bet with me, used blood ties as foreshadowing, placing pieces everywhere, subtly guiding at every turn. But plainly speaking, it was all for himself.”

“Using this Captain’s life to bet on his own victory.”

Her fingers, gripping the First Mate’s clothes, tightened slightly. Roy lowered her eyes and expressed her dissatisfaction with four hushed words.

“To hell with him.”