Captain – Chapter 406 – A Brand New Tomorrow

As Vivian departed, this gloomy night finally passed.

The captain, having endured multiple physical and mental shocks, was utterly exhausted. The moment her head touched the goose feather pillow, she fell into dreamland.

After a wordless night came a brand new tomorrow.

Accompanied by the raven’s call, Roy’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as she awakened. As soon as she opened her eyes, the bright daylight made her squint.

The eternal night had passed, the downpour had ceased, and the long-absent blue sky finally reappeared. On that azure horizon, there was even a hint of warm color.

It was sunlight, like hope itself.

Roy sat up, the process somewhat difficult. The weariness in body and mind had not yet fully faded, perhaps due to the intense emotional fluctuations of the previous night, or perhaps due to the weakness caused by the departure of great power.

Yawning, the girl casually swept her gaze around the room.

The First Mate, as always, was not there, having risen early to arrange matters.

Unlike before, however, he had not returned to wake her after finishing his tasks, even though judging by the daylight, it was nearly noon.

Perhaps… this was a special privilege to sleep in for one day?

Thinking this, Roy smiled, covered the young dragon still soundly sleeping on the inner side of the large bed with the blanket, then sat up at the bedside and began changing her clothes.

After making herself look like a proper captain, she sat at the table and began to enjoy the simple meal and water, unsure whether it was breakfast or lunch.

Although he hadn’t awakened her, everything else had been done as usual.

Roy glanced at Alfie, and upon receiving confirmation that it had been fed, she thought to herself while chewing the bread without tasting it.

Soon, the captain finished her meal and came out onto the deck.

By now, the sunlight that had earlier been somewhat pallid had claimed most of the blue sky, spilling onto the sea and dispelling much of the cold.

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“Ben, how are things?”

With the ban lifted and the clear weather unseen for so long, the temperature had risen, and quite a few people had gathered on the warship’s deck.

Seeing the captain appear, the bosun who had just finished his work approached.

Hearing Roy’s question, Ben glanced at the pirates gathered in small groups and reported: “Captain, nothing major.”

This meant everything was normal.

Just like every ordinary day since they had sailed from Yadris toward the icy sea—quiet, peaceful, harmonious—the only difference being the additional warship to the side ahead.

It was the Taranhof, leading the way.

Her gaze passed over the deck and fell on the ship ahead. Looking at the Taranhof’s gray sails that had shed their deathly appearance and become somewhat mottled, Roy was quiet for a moment, then smiled and said: “That’s good.”

Having witnessed great power and confronted the devil, the captain suddenly felt that those seemingly uninteresting, mundane days of the past had become much more colorful.

Perhaps… ordinariness was also a kind of happiness?

At least it was better than being used as a pawn, living on the edge of death, never finding peace.

Startled by the captain’s unusually gentle demeanor, Ben was stunned for a moment before asking: “Captain, the First Mate is in the cabin, shall I go…”

“No need, let’s wait until he’s finished his work.”

Awakening from her reflective mood, Roy shook her head lightly, indicating to the bosun not to mind her, then walked toward the bow.

Returning to her most frequent spot beside the exquisite mermaid figurehead, the captain leaned against the railing, gazing absent-mindedly at the sea surface that had shed its dark color and now sparkled with light. Before her eyes flashed scenes from her life, from her earliest memories until the previous night.

Looking back now, those tragedies, hardships, and even legends all had a certain grayness to them, with lingering shadows that couldn’t be dispelled.

The devil’s shadow.

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Fortunately, after this battle, the mark inscribed on her body and the curse deep in her bloodline seemed to have finally departed.

Because of that Hero’s Song, that flash of fire.

To hell with you, Edward Roy.

Thinking of that darkness surrounded by ghosts she had seen after crossing the boundless sea, and of the First Mate who had willingly ignited himself for her sake, the captain’s somewhat dreamy eyes suddenly focused, turning cold.

Now, the hatred between her and the devil had deepened considerably, beyond reconciliation.

The passing of the previous night perhaps signified the end of the thousand-year storm, but it certainly didn’t mean that matters between her and him were settled.

That gamble was not yet over, or rather, it was only just beginning.

After some time, those familiar footsteps finally reached her ears.

The captain turned around, placing both hands on the railing on either side, the coldness in her eyes long gone, smiling as she greeted the approaching First Mate.

“Are you… alright?”

Standing in front of the girl, Caine looked her up and down, his gaze finally settling on her mouth, that lazy curve at the corner of her lips.

“Hmm?”

Hearing this, Roy raised an eyebrow, not understanding his meaning.

The First Mate carefully chose his words and explained: “I mean, now that it’s just the two of us, you don’t need to… deliberately suppress your emotions.”

When she had awakened from that dream, first peaceful then sorrowful, she had put on a relaxed, even energetic demeanor, but while that might fool the sailors, how could it fool him?

At that time, the captain stood alone in the pouring rain, smiling and announcing in a natural tone that everything was over, indeed possessing a unique charm.

But in Caine’s eyes, her figure was exceptionally lonely and weak, like a survivor from a desperate situation, as if she had just been crying.

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After returning to the captain’s cabin and hearing her account, the First Mate basically confirmed his suspicions.

However, last night she first had to reach an agreement with the Blood Craver, then “contend” with Richi. After seeing the guests off, before he could inquire, she had collapsed onto the goose feather pillow.

And then… she had fallen asleep just like that.

It was truly an exhausted state of sleep; even until this morning, as daylight gradually brightened, she showed no sign of waking, sinking like a log.

Unwilling to disturb her, he had let her sleep.

Only now, returning after finishing his work, did he find the opportunity to inquire about her condition.

First being deceived by the devil, bearing irresolvable guilt, then being manipulated by him, nearly at death’s door, and finally witnessing Isaac’s departure.

Such turbulent, thrilling experiences would likely have driven an ordinary person to the brink of mental collapse.

Even though Roy was different, with an iron will, she couldn’t simply laugh it off.

That could naturally cause problems.

“What nonsense are you thinking?”

Shaking her head, denying the First Mate’s speculation, Roy’s lips still carried a smile: “Not only am I fine, I’m actually very well, better than ever before.”

“Really.”

Seeing Caine’s completely disbelieving expression, the captain shrugged, turned back, rested both arms on the railing, her tone calm and natural.

Taking a few steps forward to the girl’s side, the young man gazed at her profile—the smile had faded but she still appeared relaxed—and frowned, saying: “But you clearly…”

“Clearly what? Clearly suffered so much, been deceived so many times?”

Gazing at the end of the sea, that misty line where sea meets sky, Roy narrowed her eyes like a cat and explained: “Please, Caine, this captain is the Golden-Eyed Devil, not some crying noble young lady.”

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“I’ve always only looked forward, never turning back to worry about things that have already happened and cannot be changed, otherwise I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today.”

“Besides, this outcome isn’t so bad, is it?”

As she spoke, the captain straightened up, slightly turned her face, and looked into those ocean-blue eyes, saying gently: “At least after that night, you, me, and everyone on the ship are still alive. Isn’t that good enough?”

“Moreover…”

As if thinking of something, Roy paused, then broke into a smile and said: “I found him, Caine. I finally discovered my father’s whereabouts. Although his current situation isn’t optimistic, but…”

“At least we have a direction now.”

As she finished speaking, the captain’s smile faded again. She lowered her eyelids slightly, remained silent for a moment, then added: “Finding him is also one of my reasons for going to sea.”

Perhaps the biggest reason.

Recalling her various emotions toward her unseen father at the Garcia family estate, the First Mate said softly: “We will find him.”

“Yes, I will definitely find him.”

Shaking her head to cast away the slight melancholy, Roy lifted her head and looked toward the fierce sun now visible ahead. Her dark golden eyes brightened slightly, with a momentary flash of intense color deep within.

Though faint, it seemed to contain boundless heat.

Like embers after the devil’s fire had burned out, like rekindled sparks.

“And then, I’ll settle accounts with that devil.”

The girl spoke with a smile, her voice soft and low, yet it resounded like thunderous cannon fire.

Just like a declaration of war.