Captain – Chapter 445 – The Lions’ Feast

Although the number of people attending the gathering was countless, making even the incredibly spacious plaza in front of the palace seem somewhat crowded, once the clock chimed and people entered the palace, that crowded atmosphere disappeared.

Of course, this wasn’t because anyone left or was barred from entering, but because the palace was truly too vast.

Just the reception halls inside numbered no fewer than five, while dance floors, dining rooms, and private conversation chambers were as intricate as the network of cells in a honeycomb, arranged almost perfectly according to aesthetic principles and structural weight-bearing requirements.

This effectively dispersed the flow of people.

Those who came purely to enjoy food and drink and celebrate the gathering would conscientiously remain in the outer areas.

Meanwhile, those of higher status who intended to meet members of the Anderson family or visit Mr. Rowell would naturally be led deeper into the palace by servants.

Though Roy didn’t consider herself a dignitary, and her First Mate might have once been among them, they still followed the increasingly sparse crowd inward in order to meet Anderson.

To avoid drawing attention, the two didn’t blend into the queue but trailed distantly behind.

The further inward they went, the fewer outside guests they encountered, until finally only servants standing silently on both sides with lowered heads remained, with faint music audible from ahead.

After some time, the corridor, as spacious as a hall, finally reached its end.

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What greeted everyone’s eyes was a towering archway, beyond which emanated the much stronger soft light of crystal chandeliers, hazy like phantom mist. Within it, one could vaguely see circular arrangements of ancient wooden tables, leather high-backed chairs, and a dance floor surrounded by floating gauzy veils.

However, with guests yet to arrive, the dance floor appeared somewhat empty.

Amidst the maids’ gentle welcomes, the queue, now reduced to only a few dozen people, slowly passed through the gates.

The outside guests removed their hats and outer garments, handing them to the greeting servants. Their lips curved in warm, self-assured smiles, and their faces seemed enveloped in a layer of light, full of subtle prideful colors.

Those who had the qualifications and confidence to reach this point in the Anderson family’s hall were all genuine figures of power. Though they numbered only a few dozen, if one were to calculate carefully, they likely controlled nearly half, if not almost all, of the Federation’s wealth and power.

And sitting beyond that arched doorway were the most powerful members of the Anderson family’s direct and collateral lines, or the sole heirs to certain positions within this massive family.

Of course, there was no shortage of young ladies slightly removed from the family core who, after receiving various forms of training, were brought by their parents in hopes of establishing connections—just like the background Roy had feigned on Frans Island, which was not something she had made up on the spot.

“Captain, you’ve arrived.”

Soon, the crowd ahead had passed through, and it was the turn of Roy and Caine, who followed at the end of the queue and seemed completely unaffected by the scene. Standing at the archway to greet them was Theodore.

“You’ve worked hard, Mr. Butler.”

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Grinning at the old butler, the girl waved off the approaching servants, declining their offer and indicating that she and her companion had nothing that needed attending to, then sauntered in with her First Mate.

Whether due to fireplaces lit somewhere or special warming structures, this deepest chamber of the palace not only lacked any hint of winter but felt as warm as spring—no wonder people removed their outer garments.

Now, with the arrival of outside guests, the previously quiet chamber instantly became lively.

Young people, led by their elders to first greet Mr. Rowell at the distant main seat, then freely mingled with the Anderson family’s younger generation, with hushed laughter audible throughout.

Meanwhile, the family head and the elders of the Anderson family took those dignitaries of similar status away from the chamber, leaving it to the younger generation while they sought places to discuss important matters.

Though it was called an annual gathering, in the captain’s eyes, it resembled more the division of spoils when pirates returned to their island—except that the interests and power these dignitaries divided far exceeded mere loot.

This wasn’t the feeding of jackals, but the rare feast of lions.

However, although well-versed in the dealings hidden beneath the glamour, Roy had neither the time nor inclination to interfere. Instead, the departure of the elders provided her considerable convenience, eliminating concerns about being watched by countless eagle-like eyes when speaking privately with the ship’s doctor.

Standing beside the archway, Roy quickly scanned the chamber and soon spotted the “long-unseen” ship’s doctor standing directly opposite the dance floor, currently surrounded by many people.

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As the sole heir to the Anderson family head, this position naturally attracted countless envious eyes, some with ill intentions, but equally, it meant endless flattery and sycophancy.

Not to mention outside guests—even the younger generation of the Anderson family, no matter how much they disliked this young master, had to at least maintain appearances, offering toasts and exchanging polite pleasantries.

Because as the ship’s doctor had said, his father was the family head, so Hipalia was his territory, as was the Anderson family.

Peers and even elders might be waiting for him to reveal a weakness so they could push him down, and at that time, all manner of violent means might be employed, but the prerequisite was… they couldn’t show their own tails first.

Otherwise, the miserable fate they envisioned might first befall themselves.

“It seems our young master is very busy. We’re in for quite a wait.”

Watching Anderson barely suppressing his impatience and acerbity, continuously responding to his peers while having to drink several glasses, the captain folded her arms and leaned against the wall, smiling mischievously.

She was no stranger to such situations, having participated in plenty when she infiltrated Auran territory for those dignitaries’ banquets—though usually, she was the one offering toasts to obtain needed intelligence.

As for Caine…

Glancing at her First Mate beside her, still maintaining his cold expression like a butler, Roy thought that any gathering he attended would probably drop in temperature by several degrees. She wondered how the top Auran nobles had felt when facing this Imperial Lion in his prime—surely quite embarrassed.

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“Captain, I don’t think it will take too long.”

Unaware of the girl’s secret mockery, the First Mate nodded toward an area not far from the group surrounding the ship’s doctor, suggesting she look in that direction, while saying: “It seems your earlier guess was correct.”

Uttering a confused “hmm,” Roy looked in the direction he indicated and immediately spotted that young lady, the eldest daughter of the York family, patiently waiting for everything to end.

As if she knew that afterward, he would have all the time in the world for her.

“Oh…”

Under the First Mate’s slightly perplexed gaze, the captain rubbed her forehead with an expression of “this is terrible.”

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing the young man still in the dark, the girl gave him a weak glare and explained: “Look how considerate Miss York is of Anderson—as attentive as if they’d been married for decades. With such deep feelings, let’s not even discuss whether she’d be willing to let the ship’s doctor leave again…”

“At the very least, those sweet nothings won’t be finished tonight.”