Captain – Chapter 51 – Take Him Away

“You mean that Federo wants the Howard family to replace the Auran royal family, that is… for Caine to sit on the emperor’s throne?”

Roy had always been insensitive to politics, but with Duke Darren explaining things to this extent, even the dullest person would understand the true meaning behind his words.

“But is this possible? Not to mention whether the princes and dukes with royal blood would agree, would the imperial military itself be willing to become a blade in the hands of traitors?”

After brief consideration, Roy raised her doubts. In her view, if things really reached that point, those soldiers with firm beliefs would probably no longer follow in the footsteps of the father and son, Naren and Caine.

“Princes and dukes? At the pinnacle of power in the Auran Empire, those closest to His Majesty the Emperor are Robert and myself. But many years ago, Robert already stood by Federo’s side, and I…”

The Duke paused, then said with a bitter smile: “I probably won’t survive this rainy night. As for the military… they’ve never needed to have their own will. As long as Caine can truly reach the position Federo envisions, even His Majesty the Emperor would find it difficult to reclaim military authority.”

Roy was silent for a long time, then looked at him with a complex gaze: “If what you say is true, then your emperor seems quite pitiful indeed.”

As distant relatives of His Majesty, Governor Robert and Duke Darren—one standing beside the old man who controlled the darkness, the other being Viper, an executioner of the Black Raven Society, the empire’s mortal enemy—and the emperor’s once sharpest swords, Federo and Naren, had now become the greatest threats to his throne. Such a situation could only be described as perilous.

If you added the imperial lion who would grow up in the future, the final outcome was predictable.

“From your tone, you seem very unwilling to see this happen?”

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Seeming to detect something, the captain’s tone carried more confusion: “Logically speaking, as an executioner of the Black Raven Society, the more chaotic the empire becomes, the happier you should be.”

“No, that’s not it, Captain.”

The Duke sighed, his face showing some fatigue: “People outside the organization don’t really understand the true meaning of the Black Raven Society’s existence. Let me ask you, when you discovered my true identity, were you somewhat surprised?”

“Yes, in fact, I cannot understand your choice. Although the position of a Black Raven Society executioner is prestigious, for someone who is an imperial duke, it shouldn’t be much of a temptation.”

Roy didn’t finish her sentence, but her hidden meaning was clear: to give up a respected position to become an organization’s mole in the empire for the minimal power and benefits granted by the Black Raven Society—was it really worth it?

For the captain, questions of allegiance weren’t really questions at all. What mattered most was benefit, the balance between what was given and what was gained. That’s precisely why she couldn’t understand this duke’s choice at all.

“Yes, I already possess power and wealth that most people in the world could never obtain in a lifetime, and I’ve enjoyed them for most of my life. So for me, these things have become like watered-down rum—bland and tasteless, holding no attraction.”

The gentle smile that seemed to always exist on Darren’s face disappeared, replaced by solemnity and… fearlessness.

“Why did I join the Black Raven Society? Why give up readily available glory and wealth to instead bear the name of an imperial traitor? Is everyone who enters the organization a traitor to their homeland?”

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“No, Captain. There are no traitors, only a group of people who have come together in pursuit of balance.”

Roy stared at him blankly, her eyes full of bewilderment, as if asking: The assassination of Federo was something you personally pushed forward—doesn’t that count as betrayal?

As if having already anticipated the captain’s confusion, Darren said calmly: “If Federo hadn’t been preparing day and night for that matter, if I had the ability to sweep away all obstacles to Auran stability and prosperity, I wouldn’t have become Viper, let alone been willing to turn my beloved manor into hell just to kill him.”

“As for the Black Raven Society… it has never existed to oppose any specific force. It merely adheres to the founder’s philosophy, existing to keep the world as balanced as possible.”

Having explained everything, Darren spoke no more and quietly waited for Roy to process it all.

After a long while, the captain sighed deeply: “I don’t understand. I really don’t understand how you people think. Is power really worth all this scheming and countless deaths?”

“Power is poison. It makes people sink deeper and deeper,” Darren explained softly.

“Maybe, but we pirates have never thought about sitting in the crude lounger of the great captain.”

Roy shrugged, then frowned and asked: “But have you ever considered that this is unfair to Caine? Whether it’s Federo or you, you old people seem to have never asked for his opinion. I don’t think he’s suitable… to be emperor.”

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“It doesn’t matter what you think, or what anyone thinks. He only needs a legitimate reason.”

Darren shook his head: “And do you really think the organization hasn’t taken notice of him? He should have died in that great fire twelve years ago, and Naren should have been silenced forever, not returning to the stage for the sake of his remaining child.”

“Even I have to admit that Federo’s scheme was indeed powerful. Under Mountain Demon’s deliberate indulgence, he allowed this little lion with undeveloped teeth and claws to survive, and step by step become today’s naval commander, becoming the Black Raven Society’s greatest threat.”

A strange smile appeared at the corner of Darren’s mouth. Actually, there was one thing he hadn’t told the captain: he and Federo were equally close, which was why the old man was willing to hold the ball in his manor.

Only that dark governor would never have imagined that this close friend was constantly preparing to take his life.

“And because of past events, that fellow will harbor endless hatred for the Black Raven Society. This way, Federo wouldn’t have to worry about him being willing to interact with you all. And if not for my appearance, he wouldn’t have come to Frans Island, and no one would have stopped Mountain Demon’s bullet…”

Roy pinched her chin, analyzing the situation methodically.

“And if the Elder’s authority was lost, Sand Fox and the others couldn’t have escaped from this secret chamber. Add to that the children who died on the island, and the Black Raven Society would suffer the heaviest blow in its history, to the point where it would no longer have the strength to block his path.”

Darren added: “At that time, our only hope would be to kill Caine, to make this shining star, most acceptable to the people, fall.”

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Roy looked at Darren with deep meaning: “No, there should be other paths to take, such as telling him the identity of the true culprit behind that fire, or telling Naren.”

That way, Caine might turn against the old man, and when Naren learned the truth, the empire might face its greatest turmoil in history. Under such circumstances, Federo’s plan would naturally fail.

“Yes, that would be good, except it would cause them even more pain, and the empire might pay too heavy a price for this conflict. So I’m unwilling to do this. Of course, perhaps it’s also due to a bit of selfishness…”

The two had walked for a long time in the darkness, and they could already faintly hear the clash of metal from above, the subtle sound of swords entering flesh, indicating they were very close to the secret door.

“But you’re right about one thing. Perhaps we do have another path we can take.”

The Duke stopped in his tracks, standing before the steps leading out of the secret passage, turning to look at that fair face: “And that is you.”

“Me?” Roy blinked, somewhat puzzled.

Duke Darren’s gray-brown eyes, identical to the emperor’s, rippled with incredibly complex emotions. And those feelings, as profound and inscrutable as church scriptures, finally all transformed into a simple sentence.

“Take him away, Captain Roy.”