Captain – Chapter 482 – The Turning Point

I found myself in what seemed like a dream, a story within a book, a world separate from reality yet strangely authentic. But in truth, these were merely embellishments to help understand the path more easily.

More precisely, this path was the Captain’s awakening process.

From mortal to devil, from ordinary to transcendent.

This was the core of everything.

For this reason, regardless of whether the people in this grand dream were real or false, whether they were as close to him as in the real world, when it came to finding the girl, they would not extend a helping hand. In fact…

They would instinctively prevent him from doing so, just like the Major now, who firmly believed the young man had been severely injured in the assassination attempt and was hallucinating, earnestly urging him to return to his room and rest.

From beginning to end, this was a journey against the current.

Ignoring the Major’s advice, Caine asked for directions and headed straight to the third floor of the mansion, arriving outside Governor Federo’s room. After a moment’s hesitation, he knocked on the wooden door.

In his memory, the ball had ended late, and it should have been the old man’s usual bedtime, especially since in this page of the story, the shocking events had not occurred.

“Come in.”

Surprisingly, after the knock, the old man’s calm invitation came from behind the door.

Without any reaction time or preparation needed, it naturally indicated that not only was he awake tonight contrary to his usual habits, but he seemed to have been expecting an important visitor, waiting until now.

This lifted Caine’s spirits somewhat after being rebuffed by the Major.

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Pushing the door open, he found the old man still in formal attire, sitting behind a desk that had been placed even in the bedroom, though he wasn’t looking at the mountain of documents before him, instead sipping bitter tea to stay alert.

“Grandfather Federo.”

Without those conspiracies, without the Little Lion’s rebellious roar, there was no need for the young and old to face each other as enemies. After quietly addressing the old man, the young man naturally took a seat.

There was nothing special to say at first, merely inquiries about recent events, concerns about health, and regarding the First Mate’s quiet departure from the First Fleet, the old man didn’t mention it at all.

As if understanding what was on the First Mate’s mind, after the pleasantries ended, the old man smiled and changed the subject.

He began to speak of the girl.

“I don’t know why, but the moment I saw her, I felt something irrepressible, as if I had seen her a long time ago, and knew she would appear tonight.”

“So when she arrived uninvited, I wasn’t surprised in the least, it just seemed natural.”

Seeing the old man seemingly hearing his thoughts, addressing the main topic directly and expressing having strange feelings, Caine couldn’t help but feel hopeful, wondering if he had awakened.

Just like Admiral Isaac, and the other Captain who had miraculously understood her situation.

But after a simple probe, he was disappointed.

“Dream? What dream? Could it be you’ve slept too long and haven’t fully awakened, child?”

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Hearing the old man’s kind laughter, Caine forced a smile and said, “Perhaps being unconscious for too long has made my thoughts muddled. Please consider my words nonsensical.”

“Please continue, Cap— about that young lady, what happened to her afterward?”

With the old man’s keen observation of details, he easily caught the young man’s unusual emotions and the flaws revealed in his words, but he showed no intention of dwelling on them, as if something far more important was at hand: “Although I too am an atheist…”

“When predestined events occur, I still find myself unable to maintain rationality for a while. When that child appeared before me, I never doubted anything she said.”

“So I learned that she is your fiancée, but due to some… unspeakable reason, she cannot remember your identity, appearance, or even your name.”

“She only remembers that you have many promises, and the engagement is just one of those promises. Therefore, no matter what, she wants to remember you, to find you, which is why she came to see me.”

Observing the gentleness in the old man’s eyes and his pity for the young lady, the First Mate felt the strong sense of frustration at waking to find he had missed everything gradually dissipate.

In its place came a newfound clarity, like a young sprout defiantly growing from between rocks.

With Governor Federo’s narration, even the violent rain outside seemed to soften: “I’m very sorry, child. Although I knew of her intimate relationship with you, until she rose to leave, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to stay or tell her you were here.”

“It was like a joke played by the goddess of fate.”

“But.”

Whenever this word appears, it often signifies a turning point. In Caine’s perception, from this moment, the lightless ocean that made breathing difficult finally brightened.

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Like a painting where the morning sun rises from the horizon, dispersing the fog of despair.

“But at least that goddess, whether she exists or not, did not cover my eyes or plug my ears. At least I remember that child’s request and where she was headed.”

Seeing the young man’s brightening eyes, the old man didn’t keep him in suspense, saying with a smile before he could ask: “Before leaving, she requested that I send someone to take her to your former residence.”

“You mean my father’s old home?”

Upon hearing this, Caine almost stood up, but noticing the rare teasing in the old man’s eyes, he coughed lightly in embarrassment and somewhat awkwardly changed the subject: “But Grandfather Federo, she left in the middle of the ball, and now the ball has been over for quite some time.”

Knowing what he was worried about, the old man took a sip of bitter tea and said: “No need to be anxious, child. Since you happened to wake at this time, it means this was arranged by fate long ago.”

“She will wait for you, regardless of reason.”

Taking the old man’s words as mere consolation, Caine sighed softly: “If it were truly predestined, she… we wouldn’t have experienced this, still having to search desperately for each other.”

“Well, let’s end our conversation here.”

Knowing the young man had been patient enough, the old man stopped teasing him, rubbing his temples as he said: “You know where she might be, so go find her. I’m quite tired and will rest now. This old body isn’t what it used to be…”

“Oh, right.”

Seeing Caine push back his chair, about to rush out, the old man called him back with reassuring words: “I almost forgot, the one who took your fiancée was young Merri.”

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“He hasn’t returned from his mission yet.”

This meant the girl was very likely still at the old residence, not having left.

In that small attic.

Quickly descending from the mansion, passing through empty halls, the First Mate didn’t even have time to explain anything to the Major before finding a warhorse in the stable and galloping toward the old residence.

Soon, the Howard family’s former home appeared in the distant rain.

The hooves crossed the main gate without pause, splashing water that startled the dozen or so drowsy Frans Island garrison soldiers who had been stationed there. After recognizing the rapidly disappearing figure, they looked at each other in confusion about the young master’s late-night visit.

Expertly passing through rice fields and around the main house, the First Mate arrived at his childhood home, covered in rain and wind. Dismounting with a pull of the reins, before entering, he saw the young officer leaning against the wall by the door, head lowered, waiting quietly—his father’s former subordinate, Merri.

“Young master? How did you…”

Looking at the approaching young man, Merri was clearly surprised, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by the other’s slightly hoarse question due to nervousness: “Is she… is that young lady still inside?”

After a brief yet seemingly eternal wait, Caine finally received a response. The answer, which the Admiral gave with slight hesitation thinking the young man was in a bad mood, sounded like heavenly music to his ears.

“I believe so, young master.”