Captain – Chapter 429 – Remembering Bitter and Sweet

Given the captain’s orders, the pirates immediately scattered in twos and threes, like birds and beasts dispersing. Who knows where they would go to make mischief after receiving their allowances.

Along the corridor illuminated by crystal lamps or the bright flames from pure gold candlesticks, Roy and Caine walked toward the exit of the chapel.

Along the way, they could still see many priests wearing gilded robes, carrying thick “sacred books,” passing them by.

“Looks like this… Money-Grubbing Religion has quite a few followers.”

Arriving at the chapel entrance, discovering that besides those priests, there were actually many followers gathered outside who weren’t wearing church robes or registered with the church, eagerly looking inside, Roy couldn’t help but marvel.

It seemed that contrary to her thoughts, this religion that was absurd from top to bottom wasn’t struggling to find followers, begging people to join, but had temporarily closed due to the Anderson family’s request.

And looking around, these followers standing at the door waiting for the chapel to open were all dressed in splendid clothes, well-maintained, yet still came here, pursuing wealth as if drawn to it.

“It’s the Golden Religion, Captain,” Caine corrected the young woman’s “slip of the tongue” and, feeling the hot gazes gathering, reminded her in a low voice: “Also, blocking their doorway like this is quite impolite.”

After careful observation, seeing that these “noble people” weren’t actually looking at them but past them to the rear of the entrance, Roy couldn’t help but look back and indeed saw the pope.

However, that middle-aged man clearly still remembered what she had said and that intimidating glance, hiding far away and unwilling to approach.

And obviously, the pope was quite distressed that the young woman had suddenly stopped at the door, blocking him from welcoming the followers.

“You’re right.”

Turning her gaze away from the man who kept wiping away nonexistent sweat, Roy nodded earnestly to the first mate, then quickly led him forward, pushing through the sea of people to reach the more open street.

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“But I still don’t understand. Judging by those people’s attire, if not wealthy, they’re definitely well-fed and free to enjoy entertainment. Why would they need to squeeze into crowds to come here and believe in such a religion?”

Finally escaping those strong perfume scents that made it difficult for her to breathe, Roy continued to fan the air in front of her nose.

“Simple, because no one thinks they have too much money, just like you, Captain.”

Walking westward along a street wide enough for eight ordinary carriages to travel side by side toward the harbor, Caine explained rather calmly.

Obviously, the example wasn’t very good, earning him a roll of the eyes from the young woman.

But this was indeed the truth. After all, whether it was Solomon’s treasure or the antiquities obtained from Vivian before parting with the Taranhof, selling just a few items would be enough for her to enjoy a lifetime.

Yet despite this, if a shining, ownerless mountain of gold suddenly appeared before her, she would still pounce on it without hesitation.

Being greedy for wealth had become a habit?

After a few low “hmph” sounds, unable to find words to refute, the young woman said coldly: “That may be so, but explain to me, what money can they earn by believing in that Golden Religion?”

“Just by looking at that pope, I know this religion is purely for collecting money. If not for that, why would I let such an opportunity pass?”

Hearing this, Caine shrugged expressionlessly, praising without any sincerity: “Then I must say, Captain, you truly have foresight.”

“But I think, since that religion can attract so many followers, it must have its own set of evangelizing methods. The people of the Federation are mostly shrewd; if there were no benefits, they wouldn’t get involved at all.”

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“I know what you want to say, Captain.”

Seeing that the captain wasn’t convinced and wanted to argue, the first mate spoke first, cutting off her words: “Among them, of course not everyone is like that. If some gain, naturally others lose.”

“So, among those people gathered at the door, there must be some who have been fooled, who accidentally fell for it, or who know the inside story but only seek spiritual comfort, completely regardless of the expense—idle people.”

“The reasons are bizarre and varied, the crowds a mix of all sorts. It’s the same everywhere.”

Listening to the first mate’s extremely rational analysis, Roy finally had nothing to refute. She pouted and said: “Seeing things so clearly, dissecting everything so precisely, isn’t always a good thing.”

“Of course not. I’m just addressing this issue, or rather the outside world. For people like you, Captain, who have a… different relationship with me, there’s no need to be so precise, or no need to dissect at all.”

Hearing this, the young woman finally stopped arguing and muttered:

“That’s more like it.”

Although it was night, this giant city was still lit up everywhere, bright as day. The seemingly omnipresent soft golden warm color was even more brilliant and intense than the night view of Elvet.

Especially the marble-paved ground of the harbor, which, when illuminated by that light, appeared hazy, even giving the illusion of gem-like translucence.

By now, the blockade orders implemented by the Anderson family due to the young master’s return had long been lifted. Everywhere in the square, you could see dignified nobles and merchants selling exquisite goods, as lively as a fair.

And such a scene was just an inconspicuous silhouette within this giant city.

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If you stood in the middle of the square and looked along the central avenue, you could not only see the clock tower lit with a phosphorescent glow like a starry sky, but also beyond it, the light soaring into the sky in the city center.

Its source was the Pronora Grand Opera House, famous throughout the world for its operas.

However, after arriving at the harbor, Roy didn’t focus her attention on the prosperity of the giant city, but immediately spotted ordinary people struggling for a living among those elegantly postured nobles.

Those small handicraft vendors who peddle goods everywhere, facing rejection at every turn; those children carrying fresh flowers, darting back and forth among the crowds; and the most commonly seen at the harbor, sailors loading and unloading goods.

Just like every period of history, every mighty city, beneath those infinitely bright and magnificent scenes were the shadows of diligent workers.

She had once been one of them, which is why she noticed them at a glance.

Hearing the soft sigh from beside her, Caine was startled, turning to look at the young woman, only to find that on her face, which appeared especially gentle under the warm light, a faint melancholy had appeared.

“What’s wrong, Captain?”

Pulling her thoughts back from the fragments of memory, Roy smiled and shook her head without speaking, only—to the first mate’s surprise—taking his arm and leaning herself lightly against him.

Looking at her slightly lowered eyelashes, Caine seemed to guess something and asked softly: “Are you thinking about the past again?”

“Mm.”

Hearing the young woman’s low response, having no experience in comforting people, especially her, Caine remained silent for a moment before blurting out: “It’s all in the past, isn’t it? Everything’s fine now.”

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Whether it was the hardships of childhood, the burdens shouldered in adolescence, or even the nightmares and loneliness that still haunted her in the deep night after becoming a captain—all of it had passed, like dawn following the dark night.

Even those hands that had manipulated her fate had been cut off one by one.

She was truly free now.

“Look at you, why? Does your captain look like someone who needs this kind of nutritionless comfort, who needs constant care for a fragile heart?”

Hearing the first mate’s reassurance, the young woman blinked, then burst into laughter.

“Then you…”

“I’m fine. Although I don’t have the habit of remembering bitterness to appreciate sweetness, I still feel that my current life… is not bad.”

This was yet another time, countless times already, when the young woman beside him interrupted and took over the conversation. But the young man, as always, showed no annoyance, only shook his head, expressing helplessness toward her pride.

The captain was truly a contradictory person. If you said she cared about face, when facing those important figures and handling those major matters, she could be so shameless it was unbearable to watch. But when it came to her inner self…

She was like a child with paper-thin skin, unwilling to give an inch.

However, just as she said, he also felt that her personality…

Was not bad at all.