Captain – Chapter 378 – Captain, Long Time No See

The visitor appeared, at the endpoint.

Like a wall, separating life and death, hope and despair.

Logically, Roy should have put down both the cat and the magical box, preparing wholeheartedly for battle, to break down that obstructing wall.

But from beginning to end, she didn’t move.

She only stared blankly at the candlelight, gazing at that swaying shadow, with an overwhelming sense of familiarity that wouldn’t dissipate.

To recognize someone just from their shadow changing with light, insubstantial and unreal—this level of familiarity was akin to family.

More than family.

It was countless days and nights of companionship, countless times fighting side by side, knowing each other’s thoughts from just a gesture or a glance.

Only this could explain recognizing someone from just a shadow.

If… if it’s you, then everything would make sense.

The fire from the Death Silence in the great whirlpool, the quick retreat afterward, the terrifyingly strong decisiveness, and that mysterious pirate aboard.

If it truly is you, everything should be like this.

But how is this possible? You clearly already… already…

Roy’s thoughts were in chaos.

Before that familiar shadow, not knowing whether to feel joy, bewilderment, or caution, she could no longer remain calm.

“Tap.”

Unconsciously, she took a step forward, then another, approaching step by step with a tangled heart.

Approaching that door, and the truth.

“Meow?”

Since seeing the candlelight and that figure, the Siamese cat had narrowed its eyes, pupils gradually contracting to needles, wanting to jump down from Roy.

Now that the uninvited guest had appeared, a bloody battle would inevitably follow.

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Although the young woman’s embrace was comfortable, the cat wasn’t selfish or foolish enough to let her carry it into battle.

That would harm not only her but also the cat.

But no matter how it struggled, the young woman showed no intention of letting go, even holding it tighter, as if to alleviate her tension.

Like clutching at the last straw.

So it called out questioningly, but received no response.

Finally, Roy arrived outside the door.

She looked inside with a complex expression, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, appearing somewhat cautious, as if fearing this was a dream.

Then, she saw that person.

That person stood with his back to her at the wooden table, seemingly having just lit the candles.

His back was thin, a size smaller than his clothes, causing the blood-colored cloak he wore to look somewhat loose.

The tricorn hat on his head was equally blood-red, though she couldn’t tell if those blood-red eyes still burned with blood fire.

But no matter how she looked at him, he appeared no different than before they parted.

Still a youth.

Hearing footsteps stop behind him, the youth turned around, the wind stirred by his clothes disturbing the candlelight, causing the light and shadows to tremble beautifully.

Until finally, the light no longer changed, gently spilling onto his face.

Still the same slightly sickly pale complexion, as clean and refreshing as ever.

As her gaze met those blood-red eyes, Roy confirmed her suspicion, understanding many things, then fell silent, remained silent.

“Captain, long time no see.”

Only when the youth’s familiar, slightly hoarse voice sounded did time seem to flow again.

“Are you… human or ghost?”

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Roy came to her senses, neither stepping forward nor putting down the cat to assume a fighting stance, just standing there in a daze, her voice trembling.

She was truly shocked, more surprised than when she saw the Devil.

The young woman had seen people who had returned from the brink of death, seen those who feared death but couldn’t die, seen undead, monsters, even spirits.

But she had never seen someone resurrect from death, never seen someone wake from eternal sleep, or climb out of hell.

This was impossible.

Yet the problem was, he stood before her, smiling as he said: “Of course I’m human, as real as can be.”

After another long period of silence, the young woman finally calmed down. She slowly stepped forward, coming to the edge of the table.

She seemed unworried that he might be an enemy who would suddenly attack her, as if there had never been a rift between them.

This was truly wonderful, yet also natural.

Feeling the embrace loosening, the Siamese cat tactfully leaped down, jumping onto the table, then lazily curled into a ball.

By now, even a fool could see these two had issues.

Reaching out her hand, forcefully pinching the youth’s cheek until it turned slightly red, showing some human color, Roy finally let go.

As if confirming whether he was real.

“Tell me, what’s really going on?”

Hearing the captain’s question, Richi seemed to finally react, rubbing his still-painful cheek, his expression not looking good.

Is this a greeting gift?

“Tell you what? With your analytical abilities, you could guess most of it, couldn’t you?”

The youth sat on the wooden table, looking at that face so close to him, familiar yet different from the captain in most of his memories, and spoke.

Roy had indeed guessed much.

Although her emotions had been chaotic earlier, once she had that suspicion, she assumed it to be true and began to trace its source.

The truth was actually very clear.

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The little bastard returning from hell—this was a scene that could only appear in mythology, a miracle that could only happen in legends.

Even the strongest curse in this world, of which mortals could barely glimpse the tip of the iceberg, couldn’t accomplish such a feat.

Even divine power couldn’t do it, nor could the Devil.

It was a miracle among miracles, transcendence above transcendence.

It was the rules.

The rules that were the origin of all things, the source of the world, the true form of deities beyond any life form.

And in this world, there was now only one deity left.

Lady Annisdora.

It was she who lifted the youth from the abyss, she who bestowed upon him life and authority.

For what purpose?

Naturally to use his power to counter his former captain and win the game.

The brilliant shot from the Death Silence, that inextinguishable ghostly fire, was undeniable evidence—his handiwork.

Wasn’t this another betrayal?

At this thought, Roy suddenly became angry, raising her hand and forcefully hitting the back of his head, saying with displeasure: “Ungrateful wretch.”

“What are you talking about? How am I an ungrateful wretch again?”

Suffering another attack, Richi’s joy and warmth from the reunion instantly vanished. He moved his body, sitting further away.

“Look, Captain, can’t you change that temper of yours? Always hitting people without asking why, without distinguishing right from wrong.”

“I’m not your punching bag.”

Hearing this, Roy’s eyebrows raised high as she said righteously: “Haven’t you heard that the eldest brother is like a father? Can’t I discipline you anymore?”

“Besides, you’ve already sided with outsiders once, and…”

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Pausing, the young woman’s emotions suddenly lowered as she said softly: “Before leaving, you said you wouldn’t betray me again, but now it all seems like empty words.”

Departure wasn’t separation in life, but parting in death.

Roy remembered that night, remembered the grief and loneliness that almost engulfed her. Her anger was gone, replaced only by dejection.

“When have I ever spoken empty words to you?”

Sensing her change in emotion, the youth pulled his collar up slightly, covering his chin, and said equally softly: “Haven’t I come back now?”

“Come back for what? To steal my things, or to persuade me to surrender?”

The young woman asked with downcast eyebrows and a flat voice.

“To see you.”

Richi looked at the Siamese cat beside him, smiling as he said: “You don’t know how much trouble I went through to find this opportunity.”

“Those water ghosts aren’t easy to fool, and the Lady is even more discerning. Only that girl is different, more naive… easier to deceive.”

From his description, Roy knew he was talking about the Blood Craver.

She was indeed quite gullible.

This pair of captain and first mate who grew up together were very similar in many ways, such as in judging people, or in shamelessness.

Of course, for pirates, shamelessness was high praise.

“So you used that girl as a breakthrough?”

“Something like that.”

Richi shrugged, being vague, then continued: “Since boarding the ship, although I was given the position of captain, I had no real power.”

“Even those water ghosts could boss me around. To change this situation, I needed to establish authority.”

A new captain needs to command respect, naturally needs to establish authority—this principle applies equally to pirates, navy, and even water ghosts.

“So, after careful consideration, I still decided to open fire.”