Captain – Chapter 48 – The True Traitor

The person outside the stone door walked in with elegant steps, leisurely entering the secret chamber. Although the crystal chandelier had been mostly extinguished by Mountain Demon’s shot, it still illuminated his face.

That kind of elegance, seemingly ingrained to the bone, could only be cultivated by someone immersed in aristocratic air throughout their life. So this middle-aged man, nearly fifty, who walked into the dim light, was undoubtedly a genuine nobleman, one of the most revered figures in the Empire.

He was the executioner Roy had seen before that shocking incident, the mastermind behind Federo’s assassination—Viper, who was also the renowned Duke Darren!

Darren nodded with a smile to the surprised Roy, then turned his gaze toward the youth whose slightly lowered head concealed his expression: “Elder, I’ve arrived earlier than planned.”

According to the original plan, after killing Federo, Darren, as the host of the ballroom, still had many matters to handle—to cleanly disassociate himself from the affair. Since he had appeared ahead of schedule, it naturally meant the assassination had failed.

“How many survived?” the youth asked flatly.

“Including the severely wounded, thirty-five in total.” Darren’s tone gradually became heavy.

One hundred and thirty-two assassins not only failed to kill Federo but lost ninety-seven people in the ambush. This made Viper, who was responsible for training and commanding assassins in the organization, bleed inwardly.

But now was clearly not the time to mourn the losses.

“We must leave immediately. Apart from those who died in the breakout, about seven hundred naval soldiers are approaching the town. But the more troublesome ones aren’t them, but…”

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Darren paused, looking meaningfully at Roy who was listening quietly: “But a pirate ship that has already docked, with nearly sixty pirates skilled in combat.”

“Oh?” Roy raised an eyebrow, asking curiously: “Which ship?”

Whoever could be termed “troublesome” by Duke Darren was surely no nobody. Among the pirate captains with reputations across the two oceans, the infamy of their warships was universally renowned.

“The Orca.” Recalling the scout’s report, Darren sighed and said with a bitter smile: “It’s your nemesis, Captain Roy.”

The Orca was a famous pirate ship in the Eastern Seas, and its fame stemmed from having a group of fierce and brave elite warriors, like killer whales. Once drawn into a boarding battle with them, even the Mermaid under Roy’s command would struggle to gain an advantage.

Moreover, due to having a merchant ship seized, Roy and the captain of the Orca weren’t on good terms. Back then, whenever they met at sea, a fierce battle was inevitable.

However, after Richi gradually grew into his role, the captain of the Orca became less willing to directly confront the Mermaid. No one knew where that butcher might poison them once he boarded their ship—that sly fellow particularly enjoyed adding something extra to the enemy’s food and fresh water during battles.

“They’re hardly nemeses, just a bunch of fellows who got chased around by the Mermaid.” Roy curled her lip, emphasizing their weakness.

Ignoring the captain’s childish pouting behavior, Darren continued to the youth: “Perhaps in a direct battle these pirates are no match for regular troops, but when it comes to close-quarters combat in confined spaces, these fifty-plus people are far more dangerous than seven hundred naval soldiers.”

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“I understand.” The youth raised his head, looking at the disdainful captain: “Captain Roy, will you leave with us?”

The meaning of this question was clear. If they left together, even if Roy was unwilling to join the Black Raven Society, she would owe them a significant favor. But before she could answer, Mountain Demon, who had been lying by the round wooden table, propped himself up with both hands and sat up with difficulty.

“You won’t escape.”

A dry voice slowly emerged from the disfigured youth’s mouth, deep and cold like a vengeful ghost: “Every exit from this base has been heavily guarded. Even with her, and after sacrificing those thirty-five assassins, you still can’t fight your way out.”

Roy knelt on one knee and moved closer to him, asking puzzledly: “Whose side are you really on?”

“The Elder has… identified me as a traitor, so whose side… could I possibly be on?” Mountain Demon laughed bitterly as blood mixed with broken teeth spewed from his mouth with his words.

“Actually, before you drew your gun and pointed it at me, I hadn’t truly seen through your real identity.”

The youth’s voice grew closer. Mountain Demon raised his head with difficulty, looking at his former superior who stood directly before him like a judge, and asked somewhat confusedly: “What?”

“The traitor I spoke of wasn’t you, but the person you mentioned who was supposed to be the traitor.”

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The youth’s pitch-black eyes reflected Mountain Demon’s pale face as he whispered like in a dream: “Caine Howard.”

Mountain Demon’s pupils contracted slightly. He realized he had made a grave error. When the youth had spoken earlier, it wasn’t to expose his identity, but to continue his argument, making his reasoning more compelling.

“Caine?”

Roy was momentarily stunned, then asked in confusion: “Why is he a traitor?”

Mountain Demon suddenly laughed sharply, then abruptly stopped, saying indifferently: “Even if I slipped up, you were supposed to die anyway. I just didn’t expect this captain’s reaction to be so quick.”

He cast his gaze toward that exquisitely beautiful face: “When exactly did you realize something was wrong? Purely based on reflexes, it would have been impossible for you to throw such a punch.”

This was true. Anyone facing a gun suddenly pointed at them would instinctively dodge, not deliver a punch to the gunman’s face.

“Uh, I didn’t realize anything was wrong, I just… just purely wanted to punch you, because your expression was extremely punchable.” Roy touched her nose, somewhat embarrassed about her reason for throwing the punch.

Mountain Demon was stunned. He couldn’t have imagined the captain’s answer would be this. It wasn’t until the youth spoke again that he hazily came back to his senses.

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“Since you’re from the Auran military, explain properly why, according to you, that admiral would be a traitor?”

Mountain Demon lowered his head somewhat dejectedly. Ten years of infiltration and planning, defeated by such a random punch—anyone would struggle to accept such an outcome. But hearing the youth’s question, a cold smile spread across his lips.

“Traitor? No, how could the commander be a traitor? He is the Empire’s future hope, the doom of your Black Raven Society. But I pity you… Captain Roy.”

“What do you mean? Make yourself clear.” Roy frowned as she questioned.

“What more explanation is needed? Without the commander’s orders, how would seven hundred naval soldiers seal off the town? How would those crude and disrespectful pirates dare to so openly set foot on imperial territory? So, Miss Elizabeth, the commander betrayed you, not the Empire!”

After saying this, without waiting for Roy to press further, Mountain Demon’s constantly lowered hand suddenly rose, stuffing a blood-red pill into his mouth. What little color remained in his face drained away in just a few breaths, leaving only deathly paleness.

“Hey, you…” Roy grabbed his collar and reached out to check, only to find his breathing had stopped.

Releasing Mountain Demon whose eyes had already glazed over, Roy stood up silently, her mind filled with the hysterical roar of this imperial spy before his death.

Was what he said true… Caine?