Captain – Chapter 472 – The Pocket Watch

“How could two completely different, unrelated dreams possibly have a day where they intersect?”

Closing the booklet in his hand, the scholar slowly raised his head, his eyes showing deep regret, saying with some apology: “Moreover, the dreams you and your captain are in are fundamentally different in nature. How can a false world be incorporated into reality?”

“So, even though it’s been confirmed that you are her anchor point, I still see no hope beyond a miracle, because if you can’t even reach the starting point, how can you talk about anything else?”

The hope that had just arisen was extinguished by cold water before it could ignite. Even someone as determined as Caine couldn’t help feeling some frustration, but still unwilling to give up, he asked: “But Admiral, you said ‘almost,’ which means there’s still some possibility.”

“Yes, there’s always a turning point in everything.”

Nodding in agreement, the scholar placed the old booklet on the pile of books in front of him and said gravely: “But unfortunately, we don’t know, and it’s impossible to find a method to reverse the situation.”

“Because that’s a journey belonging exclusively to the devil, and we…”

“Are just mortals.”

Rising and coming to the window behind him, the scholar turned his back to the first mate and explained: “We know nothing about how that world came to be or the principles of its operation, because it can’t be explained by normal logic. Even though I was fortunate enough to enter the dream, what I recorded was mostly just observations.”

“And there’s no method to trace it back.”

Hearing this, Caine was not discouraged and sincerely asked: “Then, Admiral, can you tell me what that world looks like in your eyes?”

“Of course, this is one of the few things I can help with.”

In the scholar’s deep pupils, lightning flashing across the sky was reflected, and in that surging electric light, changing shadows could be vaguely seen—those were the dusty old times.

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“That world has no logic to speak of. Truth and falsehood are indistinguishable, time is unstable. You will travel through past paintings, and the people and events in these paintings might develop according to old memories, or they might quietly change direction due to certain uncontrollable factors.”

“But even if a certain day in the past changes, as you continue forward, everything you encounter will still align with reality, unaffected. Simply put, it’s as if you’ve been thrown into a storybook with countless pages, each recording separate, unconnected stories.”

“I, or I should say you too.”

Turning around, the scholar pointed at the first mate and said earnestly: “We are both just passers-by in that world, playing roles written by the story, unable to change anything from beginning to end.”

“Of course, we can also leap out from one time period into another page of the storybook, but the essence doesn’t change. Compared to the constant changes in that world, it’s just standing in place. In contrast, the master of that dream can come and go as they please.”

“This strong contrast between motion and stillness is the origin of that ‘ship and anchor point’ metaphor.”

Spreading his hands, the scholar didn’t dismiss the possibility entirely, but judging by his expression, he clearly held little hope: “Child, how can an anchor point moving like a snail possibly catch up with a ship?”

“Even if you had the ability to foresee the future, to wait in advance where the ship will dock, how could you see each other’s silhouettes between two dreams without intersection?”

“Unable to see, unable to touch, let alone communicate.”

Caine couldn’t answer these questions, nor did he know the solution, so he could only remain silent.

He knew that the admiral said these things not to dampen his confidence, but merely to state the cold reality. The difference between humans and devils was simply too great, and that dream was too complex and obscure. Without preparation, it was hard for the other to take action.

So all hope had turned to bubbles…

No, perhaps it hadn’t reached that point yet.

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Turning to look at the cat, which had also heard Isaac’s narration but was still leisurely licking its paw, as calm as before, the first mate hesitated for a moment before asking: “You should speak up now, right?”

The reason he had come to see Admiral Isaac was because of the cat’s guidance, and through the scholar’s words, Caine could easily understand that it did so only for convenience.

In other words, it was lazy.

Too lazy to convert the captain’s current state into an understandable metaphor or situation for him to comprehend.

So now, with the scholar clearly expressing that hope was slim, even completely out of reach, it was naturally time for the cat to make its appearance, though the first mate didn’t know why he thought so.

Relying on a cat felt very strange.

But throughout their journey, its performance had shown that it was no ordinary cat. It had the ability to bring him into the dream, so it should naturally be able to…

Break the deadlock.

“Meow.”

Faced with the young man’s inquiry when he had no path forward, the cat stopped licking its paw and called to the scholar.

“Non-natural entry into the dream?”

Contemplating the fragment hidden in the cat’s call, the scholar said thoughtfully: “You’re saying Captain Roy didn’t willingly take this path, but was led by some inducement.”

“Or rather, it was deliberate, it was… Edward’s doing?”

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“Meow.”

The cat said yes, she woke too early, that person intervened too much, which is why the situation became like this.

“Intervene… why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Seeming to think of something, the scholar quickly sat back at the table, picking up the old booklet again, opening to the first page where his first meeting with that devil was briefly recorded.

The church dungeon door burst open, accompanied by the cheers of followers. Golden-eyed Edward came to his cell, bringing a cat and a pocket watch containing his old photograph.

Speaking of the old photograph, he had no impression of it, and coincidentally, he in the photograph…

Looked exactly like a ferocious pirate who would become famous across the seas.

“Pocket watch…”

Seeing the scholar’s flickering gaze, hearing his realization, Caine couldn’t help asking: “What pocket watch?”

“A pocket watch that’s now so old it looks like junk, containing my photograph. That was fate, no, I should say it was you who created the medium that intertwined my future with Edward’s.”

“Meow.”

Seeing the scholar direct his words at itself, the Siamese cat responded lazily, sounding somewhat proud.

“Then that is the key to everything.”

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Receiving confirmation, the scholar looked back at the young man and said seriously: “Edward was a bit too impatient, to have such an oversight. Now it seems that although he cut off the connection between the ship and the guide, because he was too deeply involved, his old dream was also dragged in.”

“This way, time and space become increasingly chaotic, but similarly, many things will overlap…”

“Just like that pocket watch.”

Taking over from the scholar, the first mate’s eyes gradually brightened. Under the guidance of the man and the cat, he gradually captured that opportunity, remembering that the captain indeed seemed to have such a pocket watch—the only item that didn’t turn to dust after she left the Victoria.

The question was, where was it now?

“It’s in the captain’s outer coat.”

Murmuring to himself, Caine quickly lifted his head and said to the cat: “We should go back, Mango.”

“Meow.”

Helplessly calling out, the cat once again protested against this name, still lying motionless.

“Oh, child, not the one in reality.”

Shaking his finger, the scholar looked into his blue eyes and said gently: “You need to find it in the dream.”

“In your own dream.”