Captain – Chapter 373 – The Incomplete Divine Path

Roy was not stupid.

She knew perfectly well that no one could take the sea chart from her ancestor’s hands, but the problem was that its security would soon become her responsibility.

Although she was already a pirate legend, even revered as the Golden-Eyed Devil, at the end of the day she was still just a mortal, without her ancestor’s great power.

She could command the Mermaid, destroy attacking warships, even engage with the Empire’s First Fleet, but that was because Auran showed restraint.

Once word of this mystical sea chart—a strategic item capable of shaking a nation’s foundations—leaked out, the agreements between the Southern Islands and the outside world might no longer hold.

At that point, facing the machinery of nations and even pressure from close elders, all she could probably do was dutifully hand over the chart.

In the name of the Pirate King’s relic, surrendering it to the Great Captain.

With that pirate “emperor’s” reputation, no one would likely question it, nor would anyone have the leisure to cause her trouble.

But wouldn’t she still be the one losing out?

Although her relationship with the Great Captain was close, even like father and daughter, but…

Even family members need to keep clear accounts, don’t they?

Grumbling silently, Roy didn’t respond to the Devil, putting on a face of “lesson learned,” then looking at him expectantly, her meaning couldn’t be clearer.

Ancestor, I don’t have your abilities, I can’t protect such a treasure, so why don’t you… offer a bit more?

“Quite the dreamer.”

Knowing her thoughts, the Devil laughed and said: “What do you call this? Taking advantage and acting coy. Already wanting more when you haven’t even kept what you have. I don’t have time to make you a lock.”

“No, wait.”

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Hearing this, Roy quickly gathered up the sea chart, pressing the ruby-embedded clasp, holding it tightly in her arms like a little miser.

“I want it, of course I want it, Ancestor.”

Seeing the young woman’s nervous appearance, afraid he would take back the chart, the Devil didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry, finally sighing in resignation.

“Don’t treasure it too much. This chart isn’t anything rare, just the most basic application of a deity’s power, or rather, the rules.”

The Devil said indifferently: “I could easily make dozens or hundreds of such things before I was sealed. What does it matter if one is lost?”

Like the Lady’s replica of the Eye of Lamia?

Listening to her ancestor’s boasting—well, stating facts—the young woman couldn’t help but recall the black cat’s eye stone she had seen in Solomon’s treasure room.

That jewel, capable of transmitting images, sounds, and even a deity’s will at will, beyond what people could imagine as a treasure, was actually just a replica of a divine object.

Apparently one of the least effortful kinds.

In that case, how powerful must true divine objects and artifacts be?

“However… if you really want to control this chart, there is a way.”

Her thoughts interrupted by these words, the young woman was momentarily stunned, then her eyes suddenly brightened like a cat discovering fresh fish, staring unwaveringly at the Devil.

“Think about it, child, this is my creation, infused with my power…”

Seeing he had piqued the young woman’s interest, the Devil’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he guided her: “With this, I can know its location at any time, even make it temporarily become a useless piece of paper.”

“This way, unless I allow it, no one can make use of it.”

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Roy listened in confusion, and finally couldn’t help but ask: “But Ancestor, isn’t all this just for you? I don’t have…”

“No, you do.”

The Devil whispered, his eyes gradually brightening.

At the same time, the young woman’s dark golden pupils and the ancient symbols on the back of her neck all lit up, followed by her feeling the rush of blood and a…

Power beyond description.

It was magic deeply engraved in her bloodline, so ancient its origins couldn’t be traced, influencing almost every aspect imaginable.

Strength, physique, vitality, will, judgment, thinking speed, and many more complex aspects, even realms humans have yet to reach.

Like the soul.

In that moment, Roy seemed to be reborn, from mortal to devil, able to perceive, command, and even look down upon the entire world.

And naturally born with that lofty feeling was the detachment of the non-human.

Through this, the young woman finally understood why those things that mortals cherish and cannot abandon were viewed as smoke by the Lady and her ancestor.

Because they were not on the same level.

In their eyes, those things people desire, despise, and fear were nothing but grains of sand, scattered by the wind.

Unless it could be eternal, all things were merely passing guests.

The Devil’s great power didn’t remain with her for long.

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It came like a shocking tidal wave and departed like an ebbing tide, seemingly lasting a long time but actually just a flash, and Roy fell back to the mortal world.

As if having experienced an exhausting battle, the young woman breathed rapidly, her eyes full of shock, the back of her clothes soaked with cold sweat.

This brief moment was even more difficult to endure than the wind and snow she had experienced while climbing the iceberg.

Because it wasn’t an external force, not a test of her iron will, but simply placing before her the abyss between humans and gods, a chasm with no visible end.

If that period had been a little longer, she might truly have lost her emotions as a mortal.

“How did it feel?”

As the Devil’s amused voice reached her ears, Roy’s breathing slightly calmed as she frowned and asked: “What… what was that?”

“That was the enlightenment hidden deep in your bloodline, the great path to becoming divine offspring.”

The Devil laughed freely, showing a childlike demeanor: “Child, once I become a deity, that incomplete and hard-to-find path in your bloodline will be completed.”

“When that happens, you will become a true devil. By then, not just controlling a sea chart, you could even control…”

“The entire world.”

Another temptation.

But this time, what the Devil offered was an extremely aboveboard yet almost irrefusable temptation, even transcending the world itself.

“I hope there won’t be a next time, Ancestor.”

Roy still refused, her breathing steadying, but her voice carrying a chill.

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At this point, the young woman was truly somewhat afraid.

Someone like her, accustomed to controlling everything, having been manipulated in body and bloodline to the point of nearly succumbing—this was truly terrifying…

And completely unacceptable.

As for the temptation to step onto the divine path and become immortal, as the Devil had once said, though it drove countless people mad, some viewed it as venomous.

Roy happened to be among the latter.

“Alright, alright, as I said, child, you truly remind me more and more of my beloved.”

This time there was no silence; the Devil rather innocently spread his hands, speaking with a mischievous smile on his lips, as if the previous incident had been merely a prank.

“So… I won’t see you out?”

Since the main business was concluded, the temptation ineffective, and the young woman had obtained what she sought, it was naturally time to leave.

Yet Roy still didn’t rise.

She just quietly looked at the Devil, at those dark golden pupils so similar to her own, saying nothing for a long time.

For some reason, the Devil smiled even more brilliantly.

As if he had long anticipated this moment.

This crucial moment.

“Ask, child, I’ll answer anything you want to know.”