Captain – Chapter 45 – The Youth and the Elder

The space behind the stone door wasn’t large, just a narrow room.

A crystal chandelier hung down for illumination, positioned over the center of a round wooden table, emitting a soft glow that lit the black walls.

The round wooden table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth, on which stood eleven crystal goblets containing amber-colored rosé wine, symbolizing the eleven most powerful figures with the highest authority in the Black Raven Society.

This was almost identical to the meeting room of the Round Table Knights depicted in the holy books.

Roy walked into the room along the light cast by the crystal chandelier, her gaze sweeping across the table, seeing the three remaining figures who had plotted this grand affair, besides Sand Fox.

Two of them were the merchant and slave master she had seen in the town tavern, while the other was someone she had never encountered before, emanating a faint fragrance of lavender mixed with bitter herbs. This person was presumably the only remaining Elder of the Black Raven Society, except…

This Elder seemed too young, possibly not even sixteen years old, just a youth dressed in mature attire.

Feeling the captain’s gaze full of surprise and scrutiny, the youth gently sipped the fragrant wine from his glass, a gentle and harmless smile spreading across his face: “Please sit, Captain Roy.”

Although the youth’s tone was warm and soft, Roy still sensed the deep detachment hidden beneath that thin veil—that seemingly innate coldness and nobility made the captain realize that the other was, like herself, a person extremely skilled at disguising themselves.

Roy chose the seat furthest from the three and casually picked up the crystal glass beside her, swirling it a few times, displaying an equally warm smile like a spring breeze: “So you’re the last Elder of the Black Raven Society. It’s truly unexpected to see you in this form.”

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Curiosity flashed in the youth’s eyes: “Then may I ask, in the captain’s eyes, what form should I have taken?”

“An old man, as old as can be, like Federo, an old fellow exuding decay and sourness.”

As she finished speaking, Roy drank the fine wine in one gulp, then her eyes brightened slightly as she praised: “Witzmer’s finest. You Black Raven folks really know how to enjoy life.”

Witzmer was a small country independent from both the Empire and Federation, possessing vast fertile lands specifically for growing grapes and producing wine. Even Roy had only secretly tasted one bottle of their finest from the Great Captain’s wine cellar.

Seeing that the captain showed no concern for possible lethal poison in the wine, the indifference deep in the youth’s eyes dissipated somewhat. He knew this was the other party showing sincerity, and for negotiation or trade, sincerity was the most important bargaining chip.

The stone door rumbled shut behind them, and Sand Fox also came to the round wooden table, sitting next to Roy and refilling her glass: “This wine was specially opened for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been willing to use my private collection to satisfy their cravings.”

Hearing that Sand Fox showed no particular respect for the youth, Roy found it highly amusing: “Even if your Elder ordered it, you wouldn’t be willing?”

“Of course, even if I wanted to drink it, he would use insufficient funds as an excuse.”

The youth timely picked up the conversation: “Captain, your understanding of our Black Raven Society only stays at a relatively superficial outer layer. In fact, although the hierarchy within the organization is strict, the interaction between upper and lower ranks is not as rigid and cold as in the Federation and Empire.”

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“In our organization, every person, even mercenaries who linger at the outer edge of the organization, has their unique, indispensable role. Therefore, no matter who meets whom, there’s no need for formalities or bows.”

At this point, Roy seemed to see a different kind of light on the youth’s face.

“After all, we’ve all gathered together because of his call, to pursue the same goal.”

The person who could command such respect from this Elder was naturally the renowned founder of the Black Raven Society, that legendary figure whom even the Great Captain admired.

As the youth’s speech grew increasingly lofty, nearly reaching the point of detailing the organization’s glorious objectives and fearless spirit, Roy quickly interjected: “Hold on, hold on, Elder. Why does it sound like you’re, um, trying to recruit me?”

The youth was momentarily stunned, then smiled bitterly and shook his head: “I was merely stating facts, and you’re not wrong. I had Sand Fox bring you to meet me…”

“Indeed with the intention of recruiting you.”

Now it was Roy’s turn to be stunned. When she regained her senses and frowned at the youth, she found that there wasn’t the slightest hint of jest in his eyes.

Only then did she notice that this overly young Elder possessed an extremely rare pair of pitch-black eyes, looking like bottomless whirlpools that seemed capable of sucking in one’s soul.

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“You… you’re joking?”

Roy wasn’t doubting, but questioning.

The youth seemed to have anticipated this question from the captain and answered naturally and confidently: “I know you have doubts, after all, even a few days ago, and for a long time before that, there have been frictions between you and the organization, even enmity. But in my eyes, that doesn’t really matter.”

“Doesn’t matter…”

Roy repeated these words, the smile on her face gradually cooling: “Although I know the dignitaries of the Black Raven Society are cold-blooded and ruthless, I’m not naive enough to be dazed by such a statement. If it truly ‘doesn’t matter,’ then after that Elder died back then, why would you hysterically seek revenge?”

Knowing Roy was referring to that hellish fire, and perhaps silently questioning about her First Mate, the youth’s smile gradually faded: “Captain Roy, these two matters are not of the same nature.”

“Scorpion Lion’s death was merely an accident. Before that assassination attempt, neither he nor the organization knew your identity.”

The youth lowered his eyelids, his tone suddenly becoming much deeper.

“But Edwyn’s misfortune was not an accident, but the result of a shameful betrayal. It was also the catalyst for the conflict between the Empire and our organization. Therefore, we had to retaliate to demonstrate our stance. Otherwise, how could we intimidate the Empire? How could we appease the anger of our members?”

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Edwyn was the name of Naren’s mentor at the military academy, and also the Elder of the Black Raven Society who died in the Empire’s surprise attack.

Betrayal?

Roy’s eyes narrowed slightly, keenly capturing the core of this statement. She had never imagined that an organization as deeply hidden in shadows as the Black Raven Society would also have traitors, or rather… be infiltrated.

“But the fact remains that your people died by my hand. Surely, Elder, you won’t use the excuse that ignorance equals innocence to brush me off?”

Suppressing the doubts in her heart, Roy continued the previous topic expressionlessly.

The youth was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: “Must the captain hear me say, ‘There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests,’ to accept the organization’s change in attitude?”

Believing she had finally torn away the other’s hypocritical mask, Roy leaned back contentedly against the soft chair: “That’s more like it. As long as it doesn’t touch fundamental interests and principles, for a pirate like me, what are allies and enemies anyway?”

But to her surprise, the youth didn’t reveal his true dark nature as she had expected, but instead gazed at her with an extremely complex look.

“No, Captain, the organization’s attitude toward you has actually never changed.”