Captain – Chapter 366 – No Answer

After a while, the laughter subsided.

Roy finally escaped her slightly embarrassing situation, but not wanting this elder to continue teasing about it, she quickly asked: “First Mate Isaac, were you just discussing matters with the captain?”

Earlier, through deduction, she had determined that this New Year celebration was very likely the beginning of that conversation between her ancestor and First Mate Isaac—the conversation that changed the course of history.

But now, looking at the glass of liquor in the man’s hand and smelling the strong scent of alcohol on him, the young woman couldn’t help but wonder if that conversation had already concluded.

Actually, that conversation had lasted three days. Though seemingly very long, when placed against twenty years of time, it was merely the blink of an eye.

Tonight could be the beginning, but it could also be the end.

“Why would you think that?”

Isaac smiled and shook his head, saying: “I was just celebrating the New Year, drinking and making merry with the crew.”

Hearing this answer, Roy blinked in slight confusion, not knowing whether to be happy or disappointed.

What? So tonight is just an ordinary day, with no connection to any beginning, ending, scheme, or great undertaking…

Ancestor, are you playing with me?

Just as Roy was thinking this and feeling somewhat uninterested, Isaac’s next words made her pupils dilate slightly.

“However, after the New Year celebration ends, I do have some matters to discuss with the captain.”

“What matters?”

Roy spoke almost immediately, her gaze fixed directly on him, afraid of missing anything.

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But the next moment, she sheepishly lowered her head, stroking the Siamese cat to dispel some embarrassment.

Although she was concerned about this matter and her reaction was too sensitive, directly questioning an elder was still very impolite no matter what.

Moreover, this was in the past, and First Mate Isaac didn’t know her at all, so there was no reason for him to tolerate her.

“That I don’t know, since it was his invitation.”

Despite Roy’s abrupt question, the man showed no anger, still smiling kindly as he answered: “But knowing his nature, I imagine it’s not something trivial.”

Captain Edward was a very casual person.

He didn’t care about the environment or atmosphere when discussing matters. Usually when gathering people for meetings, he would speak wherever they happened to be, never having had such a private and solemn invitation before.

Especially not for someone as close as Isaac.

So what they would discuss must be significant, perhaps concerning the present and future of the Southern Islands.

This was the First Mate’s guess.

He took another sip of his drink, the smile gradually fading from his face: “I don’t know how many people and matters this meeting will involve, so even I can’t help feeling a bit nervous.”

It will affect the entire world.

Roy thought silently, then raised her head, secretly examining this legendary figure.

After careful observation, she was quite surprised to discover that this incredibly remarkable First Mate and commander was perhaps only a few years older than Caine.

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He was still just a hot-blooded young man.

But with his unkempt black beard and the gloominess between his brows and eyes, he appeared much more mature and reliable.

But indeed, this was twenty years before the curtain rose.

At such an age, to decide the life and death and fate of thousands of people would certainly create enormous pressure, even if he was already an important figure among pirates.

Even if he was Isaac Hedler.

“What about you? Are you here to find him too?”

As Roy was thinking about age-related questions, she was suddenly startled by the man’s question. She tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing an awkward smile: “Me? I also have some matters to discuss with him.”

Matters between a daughter and father?

Isaac thought but didn’t say aloud, instead asking: “If that’s the case, why not go see him?”

“I’m not ready yet.”

Hearing this, Roy was silent for a moment before saying softly.

This scene, in the man’s eyes, naturally evolved into a grand drama: an illegitimate daughter enduring hardships and grievances, finally discovering her father’s whereabouts, but too afraid to face him after finding him.

So Isaac’s gaze grew softer, and he said gently: “Don’t feel too much pressure. Captain Edward… he’s a very good person.”

More accurately, a perfect person.

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Isaac thought silently. Since you’re his child, having endured hardships to finally find him, he will surely compensate you and ensure you suffer no more.

The young woman didn’t know what the man was thinking. If she could hear his praise for her ancestor, she would certainly retort: He is indeed perfect, but perfect like a devil.

“You don’t understand. My relationship with… Captain Edward is very complicated, very difficult to unravel. I can hardly imagine what the outcome of this meeting will be.”

After hearing Roy’s troubled confession, Isaac suddenly felt that the captain wasn’t as flawless as people believed, at least not as a father.

Otherwise, this child wouldn’t be so worried.

“Well, can you tell me what’s troubling you so much? With my understanding of the captain, I might be able to give you some advice.”

After thinking for a moment, Isaac raised his hand, using his rough but warm hand to ruffle the young woman’s hair, his gaze very gentle, as if looking at his own child.

Feeling the pat and the tolerance in those eyes, Roy felt somewhat dazed, finding that the man’s seemingly fierce countenance was gradually overlapping with that “scholar” aboard the Mermaid.

So First Mate Isaac was truly a very peaceful person.

With this thought, the young woman smiled, as happy as a child who had received candy.

“First Mate, if the captain insists that I choose—whether to follow him in the days ahead or continue living with my… foster parents—how should I choose?”

With a slight flicker in her eyes, Roy used a gentler approach to present that extremely cruel choice to the young Isaac.

Or rather, this was a rehearsal of his conversation with Captain Edward.

“If that’s the question, then I might not be able to answer it.”

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Thinking he understood the source of the young woman’s troubles, Isaac pondered for a moment before smiling bitterly and shaking his head: “Because I’m not you, I don’t know which you prefer…”

“I love them both.”

Roy, as if mustering her courage, rushed to say: “Whether it’s Captain Edward or my foster parents, I love them both, so…”

She paused, her tone gradually lowering: “So, I really don’t know how to choose.”

After the young woman spoke, the stern fell into silence.

After a long while, Roy asked softly: “First Mate, if you were in my position, needing to choose between the captain and foster parents, how would you… choose?”

Everything finally came to the crucial point.

This question was actually no different from the one she had asked Caine.

The captain was blood-related, the closest person, while foster parents, though without blood ties, were still people who loved her and whom she loved, impossible to part with.

And if placed on the First Mate’s shoulders, it would be between lover and world, deity and mortals.

Isaac was the most remarkable person in this era besides Captain Edward, so after pondering for a moment, he understood as if personally experiencing it.

After another period of suppressed silence and lengthy waiting, he finally sighed and said:

“There is no answer, child. I think even the captain couldn’t choose.”