Captain – Chapter 481 – Missing Each Other

The Major, who had been struggling with how to persuade the young master to attend the ball, was relieved upon receiving his order and immediately began preparations with delight.

The man thought that with the persuasion of that elder and Rear Admiral Merri, the young master would surely reconsider.

Even if he didn’t, at least he would have done his utmost, and his old superior wouldn’t blame him.

Following this line of thought, regarding the letter with a sense of severance that Caine had mentioned earlier, the Major advised him to wait, at least until after the ball and meeting with that elder before making a decision.

Understanding the Major’s thinking, the young man nodded in agreement. He didn’t want this matter to affect him, and also because this was just a corner of a dream, with many things he couldn’t clearly explain.

Just as the world he inhabited was, logically speaking, nonexistent.

At this point, everything began to proceed as the first mate had hoped.

Barring any mishaps, perhaps at that ball, he would be able to see the young woman he had been pursuing, and lead her away from this grand dream, back to the world that belonged to them.

But if even matters in the real world seldom go as planned, how much more so in this dream that was gradually crumbling?

That day, after asking the Major that question and dealing with the clothing and invitation issues needed for the ball, Caine stayed in the room where he had once practiced dancing with the captain. He sat in the corner, leaning against the wall, not leaving even as the sun set and night fell.

He waited quietly and patiently for the Black Raven Society executioner who would come to assassinate him.

But even after the time had passed, he didn’t see the door open.

From beginning to end, the knife-wielding lieutenant never appeared, as if that heart-stopping assassination had never occurred.

Perhaps due to the space-time disorder, the trajectories of many events had changed.

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Including this assassination.

In the darkness, Caine lowered his head slightly, silently wondering if it might be because he hadn’t gone to that small tavern while searching for the captain, and therefore hadn’t been targeted by the Black Raven Society.

If so, what would change at the ball three days later? Would those conspiracies still exist?

His thoughts suddenly halted as Caine abruptly raised his head, looking toward the tightly closed wooden door. Lowering his breath to listen, he could barely hear some hurried footsteps and muffled sounds of struggle.

And also…

“Tick-tock, tick-tock…”

The moment he discerned that extremely faint watch sound, the first mate’s heart seemed to skip a beat. Without further thought, he stood up as quickly as possible and ran toward the wooden door.

He had used all his strength, but when he reached the door and pushed it open, it seemed he was still too late.

The lieutenant with the codename “Scorpion Lion” was already lying on the ground not far from the wooden door. His slightly disheveled clothes moved in the cold wind, and his still-open eyes were filled with shock.

Clearly, he was no longer breathing.

Quickly approaching the lieutenant’s side, Caine didn’t waste even a second on him. Instead, breathing heavily, he looked around, hoping to hear that watch sound again.

Unfortunately, it had completely disappeared.

Captain…

Knowing he was a step too late, Caine felt somewhat disappointed, but thinking of the upcoming ball, his tightly clenched fist gradually relaxed. Yet before he could take a few steps forward to find the Major to handle this matter, he suddenly felt the scene before him blur.

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Looking at his hand, feeling his increasingly blurred vision and that unpredictable weakness surging from deep within his body, Caine found breathing increasingly difficult. His heartbeat gradually drowned out all surrounding sounds, followed by a heavy darkness.

Identical to what had engulfed him after being hit by the giant wave.

Why… is this happening?

Before losing consciousness, the last thing Caine saw was soldiers running over with torches in panic. Then he once again fell into that quiet, lightless world, where he could only faintly hear the watch sound.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock…”

As if time was up, and the storybook had turned to another page.

Not knowing how long he had drifted unconsciously in that world, finally, the young man woke up.

“Hiss…”

His head hurt as always, but having become familiar with it, adaptation came much faster.

This time, Caine almost immediately regained his senses.

He held his head as he sat up, and after adjusting to the dark environment, began to look around. He found himself sitting on a soft bed in a luxuriously arranged room he had no recollection of.

Memories flooded in like a tide. Understanding what had happened, he couldn’t wait for his body to recover and grudgingly got out of bed, supporting himself against the wall as he reached the door and pulled the handle.

What greeted him was a soft, warm light, causing him to squint slightly.

“Young master, you’ve finally awakened!”

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An excited voice reached his ears. Caine glanced sideways and saw the Major, who had been guarding outside the door, obviously without rest for a long time, his eyes red. He raised his hand to refuse the Major’s assistance.

In just a brief moment, it was as if he had recovered from a serious illness; even his pale complexion had warmed somewhat.

“Where is this?”

Closing the wooden door, looking at the hallway adorned with crystal chandeliers and soft carpets, Caine frowned slightly and softly asked the question that concerned him most. He needed to immediately assess the situation.

To determine which fragment of the chaotic timeline he had drifted into.

“This is Duke Darren’s mansion, young master.”

Although concerned about the young man’s health, seeing his urgency, the Major hesitated slightly before responding.

Duke Darren…

Silently repeating this name, the first mate quickly realized that this was the venue for the ball, as well as the stage where the song of conspiracy would play. So, how far had things progressed now?

“The ball?”

Hearing Caine’s inquiry, the Major was momentarily stunned, then smiled bitterly and said, “Of course it’s already over, young master. After that assassination attempt, you’ve been unconscious for three days and three nights.”

“Only now have you…”

Before he could finish, Caine couldn’t wait any longer and hurriedly left along the corridor.

Seeing this, the Major had to tactfully stop speaking and followed closely beside him with a face full of worry.

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“Tell me what has happened these past few days.”

Due to his mood, the first mate’s face was very gloomy, and he asked in a tone that betrayed no emotion. Soon, through the Major’s account, he fully understood the situation of the past few days.

Unexpectedly, those conspiracies hadn’t occurred.

Duke Darren and Governor Federo drank together harmoniously, the servants also adhered to their proper roles without transforming into vengeful ghosts, and naturally, the hall didn’t become that terrifying purgatory.

No blood, no gunpowder, and consequently no lion’s roar, no devil’s dance on the knife’s edge. Everything was peaceful, as if it truly was just an ordinary ball among nobles.

Oh yes, that young woman came as expected, but after whispering a few words with Governor Federo and walking half a round without appetite, she left with a forced smile and an apologetic farewell.

As if disappointed at not finding her beloved.

“Why didn’t you keep her here?”

When the Major reached this point, Caine stopped in his tracks and asked with complete incomprehension, feeling that since he knew that young woman was his fiancée, why hadn’t he detained her?

Or simply told her that he was here.

The next moment, the first mate got his answer, but not from the Major’s explanation. Instead, it came from his constantly flickering gaze, where struggle and bewilderment were visible, and afterward…

The Major frowned slightly and said something that made Caine feel a chill throughout his body, as if seeing through the truth of the dream.

“You must be mistaken, young master. In my recollection, the ball never invited such a lady.”