Captain – Chapter 519

The emotional issues between the two always started intensely but passed quietly in the end.

With just that casual phrase like “let it be,” they lightly brushed past the seemingly unsolvable problem. Whether influenced by their life experiences or not, this pair of equally rational young man and woman quickly shifted their attention.

They focused their minds on serious matters and even began what could be called a somewhat cold negotiation.

“As Captain Enzo said, what awaits us at the end is a fork in the road. I assume you have no questions about going our separate ways?”

Hearing the captain’s bland words, Caine nodded slightly to show his agreement on this point.

The reason they would travel together, or rather, the reason the girl had agreed to this proposal, lay right here. She didn’t want to miss out on the divine artifact due to her own stubbornness, so the matter of going separate ways had been decided long ago.

Traveling together would naturally be safer, but it would be meaningless.

“Good, then let’s talk about…”

Having received an answer, Roy seemed to relax somewhat, saying: “The specific issue of splitting paths.”

“I’ll take the path leading to hell.”

Without any prior communication, without even hesitation, the two almost simultaneously stated their choice, then instinctively looked at each other.

Each was surprised, yet felt it was within expectations.

The reality of heaven and hell remained to be seen, but judging from Enzo and Vivian’s accounts during that meeting, the Putrid Abyss definitely existed.

And it was connected to that hidden path leading to the deep sea.

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Therefore, Roy and her companion instinctively felt that it must be an extremely dangerous and fierce place, and according to general adventure stories, danger should coexist with treasure.

Only in their case, that treasure was replaced by a shield.

Given this, it wasn’t strange that they would make the same choice due to unspoken thoughts, and in fact, both had long anticipated this situation.

So it came down to who could convince whom.

“Don’t give me that ‘your turn this time’ routine. This captain isn’t injured to that extent right now.”

Roy slightly raised her hand, stopping the young man from speaking while taking the initiative: “This isn’t some role-playing game. This is a very serious matter that might even involve life and death. If you want to snatch this path from me…”

“You need to give me a reason that can convince me, otherwise it’s out of the question.”

Despite being blocked like this, the first mate remained calm, showing no trace of distress. He said in a deep voice: “Though I don’t want to say this, Captain, as things stand now, I, who can awaken great power at any time, seem to be stronger than you.”

“Similarly, I also have a better chance of surviving in a place of death, don’t I?”

This really wasn’t fair.

Hearing this, Roy’s eye twitched slightly as she cursed silently in her heart.

As a devil’s descendant, she was now trapped in a “forbidden dream.” Without awakening, she couldn’t access magical power and would be constrained for life. Yet her first mate, having merely suffered a curse, could use it at any time. This was simply too absurd.

Although…

Her eyes rolled as the girl thought of something, putting on an expression of disbelief: “Awaken great power? You mean the kind you displayed when fighting Enzo? Forgive me for being direct, Caine, but that was really a bit…”

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The captain didn’t finish, but the young man knew that whatever followed those words “a bit” wouldn’t be anything good. He frowned slightly and said: “Although both time and upper limits are restricted, at least there’s a chance for a desperate fight. You can’t deny that.”

“Really? Perhaps that’s just your wishful thinking.”

Supporting herself against the boat’s edge with both hands, Roy leaned back slightly, wearing a lazy smile: “Moreover, that limited power really isn’t impressive before my ancestor. In comparison, understanding him is more important.”

“I’ve met with him several times, openly and secretly, and have had quite a few confrontations. Naturally, I understand his intentions and methods better, so I’m more suitable.”

Hearing this, the young dragon lying at the bow turned its head, its gaze wandering between the two, finding this conversation quite interesting yet somewhat incomprehensible. After all, who would compete for the chance to face danger without yielding?

Except for these two “remarkable people.”

Shifting its gaze back, the young dragon lazily yawned, curling up its body, thinking that since they wouldn’t finish talking anytime soon anyway, it might as well sleep some more.

For some reason, it had been increasingly drowsy lately and always had an urgent feeling that fate was approaching, or perhaps it was precisely because of this feeling that it wanted to grow up faster?

But clearly, that thing was still far away from them.

Just what could be the reason…

No one could hear Nidhogg’s inner voice, and Roy and her companion had long grown accustomed to its sleeping habits. However, what they didn’t know was that because of this, they missed extremely important intelligence that could even determine success or failure.

That was that what lurked in the depths of the Death Silence Triangle wasn’t that ghost ship.

But something else entirely.

The negotiation for “ownership rights” to the path to hell continued.

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“Since you put it that way, Captain, let’s not talk about power or lack thereof for now. Just from this point alone, while you understand Captain Edward, doesn’t he equally understand you? One might even say that path of death…”

“Was specifically designed by him for you, precisely to exploit your psychology.”

The first mate’s words were naturally things Roy had considered, as she had already suffered greatly in this regard. She had deliberately glossed over them to convince the other party.

“Besides, how can you be certain that the devil won’t do the opposite, burying that divine artifact above the waterfall rather than in the more obvious seabed?”

The premise of their negotiation was built on the assumption that the devil made no attempt to hide his murderous intent, including hiding the treasure beside the Putrid Abyss that led directly to the River Styx.

He was certain the girl knew his thoughts, certain she would go to hell without hesitation, and ultimately be buried on the seabed with no possibility of ever awakening.

But as the first mate said, what if…

The truth was exactly the opposite?

“You’re overthinking, first mate.”

Putting away her smile, Roy said seriously: “As you said, I understand my ancestor, so I know he’s someone who fears trouble, or rather, disdains beating around the bush. Even his conspiracies appear straightforward in his hands.”

“When they’re revealed, they make you realize that most of what he said wasn’t false—he just added some very simple yet unavoidable traps.”

“It was so in the past, and this time won’t be different.”

The captain lowered her eyelids slightly, saying in a low voice: “So this journey is essentially an open game.”

“But he wouldn’t expect me to travel with you, would he?”

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Caine keenly caught the key point, or perhaps had been waiting for these words all along. He said in a slightly heavy voice: “Much less would he expect someone else to go to hell.”

“Thus the board is disrupted, and all destined events will be rewritten because of this.”

“This is our opportunity, Captain.”

Gazing into those blue eyes, watching the lightning flickering within them, the girl had to admit he was right. If this game was something her ancestor had prepared for her hundreds of years ago, he definitely couldn’t have anticipated that dream.

Couldn’t have imagined that she didn’t sink into that dream but instead gained her own… ordained one, just like Isaac the first mate who would turn into stardust to stop him.

No, rather, after leaving the dream, even if he could guess, it would already be too late.

With his heart set on the crumbling seal, separated by vast seas, what could he do no matter how great his power?

Yes, this indeed had the possibility of breaking the deadlock.

Watching the girl’s hands gripping the boat’s edge tightly, knowing she had accepted his viewpoint but was still struggling internally, unwilling to decide just like this, Caine said softly: “Trust me, Captain. I’ll bring that shield back… alive.”

“Trust me.”

Another whispered repetition, like an incredibly gentle hand lightly plucking Roy’s heartstrings. Yet the soft melody it produced didn’t make her thoughts more chaotic, but instead soothed the worry in her heart and her flickering gaze.

So in the end she said nothing, only nodded.

She agreed.