Captain – Chapter 548 – Negotiation and Gazes

Just like Captain Gerard.

When Wyatt heard this meaning from the captain’s mouth, he completely gave up hope.

Because this wasn’t an excuse, wasn’t even a reason meant to convince him, but the Night Curtain captain’s definition of his entire legendary life after looking back at the past.

Eighteen years later, that fledgling young captain had become the second most powerful person in the islands.

Power, wealth, honor…

No matter from which aspect, he no longer needed to follow anyone’s footsteps or be called that person’s follower.

The Southern Islands, and even all the notable figures in the Federation and Empire, believed that Night Curtain Enzo would become the new Great Captain, would lead all pirates and even the entire world’s steps forward.

But… only he himself didn’t think so.

He didn’t want to control anything or command anything, but only wanted to be like that departed person—free and unrestrained, never regretting, able to do what he wanted to do.

To do those things he couldn’t let go of, even if it would ultimately lead to his ruin and destruction.

The light rain gradually intensified, soaking the black cloak. After saying those words, Enzo felt he had finished explaining and cast his mind back to the matter at hand.

Speaking of which, it’s all related to you.

He thought quietly, thinking of eighteen years ago, when that person’s departure was because of you, willing to face that devil directly to free you from the bloodline curse.

And now, I’m staying for you too.

Fate, oh fate… does such an ethereal thing really exist?

“I’ll stay with you.”

The First Mate’s voice came from behind, emotionless.

This close associate who had wholeheartedly wanted to persuade Enzo to leave, upon knowing he couldn’t change his mind, changed his own thoughts and decided to follow him to the end.

Very contradictory, very unreasonable.

Yet it seemed like the proper scene between this captain and First Mate.

“Denied.”

His thoughts interrupted, the man showed no surprise, only slightly turned his face and spoke indifferently.

Hearing this, Wyatt’s brows rose, wanting to say something, but was preempted by the other’s half-smiling words: “First mate, one of us has to go back.”

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“Otherwise, what about the crew? If conflict arises, the Mermaid might capsize too.”

Listening to his deliberately casual words, the First Mate clenched his fists, unable to suppress his anger any longer—not because of his apparent disregard for the crew.

But because he had calculated his situation perfectly.

Certain that he would turn back.

Captain Enzo was a complete madman who could abandon all responsibility and life and death for his goals, but Wyatt couldn’t do that.

He had to consider the crew, had to be responsible for mediation, had to lead them back alive.

So he couldn’t stay—this was a destined parting.

“Go. Don’t bring any message for me.”

Turning his gaze back, Enzo casually waved his hand, like shooing away a seagull.

The First Mate ultimately left.

No, it should be said that from this moment, there seemed to be no more legend of the Night Curtain and Death Scythe on this sea, and he was no longer Captain Enzo’s most trusted shadow.

No matter what kind of legend, there was always a moment when the curtain fell.

This was an iron law of history.

Without any warning, as if suddenly taking divergent paths, the two warships gradually moved apart. That Mermaid swam gracefully away, with no intention of looking back.

Only, who knew whether that ghost ship was as calm and cold as it appeared.

In the wind and rain, the sound of flapping wings approached.

At this moment of parting, the raven broke through the light rain and landed on the severely damaged ship rail beside the man, then raised its head to look at him obediently.

Since Wyatt’s departure, the Ghost Scythe had been abandoned.

Logically, there was no longer any need for communication between the two warships.

But the raven still came.

Only this time, not to deliver messages or persuade, but for its own captain. It believed that Captain Enzo always had something to say about the girl.

“Captain.”

Hearing the raven’s sad call as if it sensed something, the man slightly turned his face, raised his hand, watched it stand on the back of his hand, then smiled gently: “If you must say something to her, then tell her for me…”

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“As long as you’re alive, there’s hope, Elizabeth.”

As his words ended, Enzo suddenly raised his hand, releasing the raven and stirring up a shower of raindrops.

Finally, some peace…

Feeling he had handled everything, the man breathed a sigh of relief, restrained the smile at the corners of his mouth, squinted slightly, and gazed at the giant serpent that was already very close and menacingly fierce.

If nothing unexpected happened, in a while, it would brush past the Ghost Scythe.

And would never turn its head to look at him.

But he would always find a way to make it lower its gaze.

With this thought, Enzo gently caressed that black ring, and the night surrounding the sea surface seemed to sense his intention at this moment, gradually becoming chaotic and agitated.

But change… ultimately still occurred.

The sound of flapping wings that had just departed approached again, only with slight differences in tone.

Sensing something, the Night Curtain captain turned around, his expression rarely grave, because behind him, where there had been nothing, on the rope hanging from the mast…

At some point, a raven stood.

Not Alfie.

Looking at the raven’s black eyes like deep pools, looking at the dark gold light flow faintly visible in their depths, Enzo was silent for a moment, choosing not to call its name.

But chose another address.

“You come now—do you think you can still get something from my hands?”

“Captain Edward.”

Hearing the man’s cold words, the usually humble and gloomy raven Carlos, contrary to its nature, raised its head high, gazing down at him from a superior position.

After a long time, it spoke coldly.

“Negotiation.”

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

This real scene began to gradually blur and distort, and even the strange square stone faint traces on the black fog could no longer peer into the scene on the Ghost Scythe.

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Only that indifferent “negotiation” still echoed faintly.

“Negotiation. Guess what they could negotiate about?”

Still that wooden house, that throne, and the youth standing before the throne.

Hearing the question thrown out by the person on the throne, Victor, who had been silent since this great affair began, finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

He could no longer care whether this questioning was a test or something else, only stared intently at that deep shadow with an incomprehensible gaze.

Then questioned mercilessly.

“Old man, have you really gone mad?”

The youth’s breathing was somewhat rapid. He stepped forward, pressed both hands on the desk, looked directly into the other’s indistinct eyes, and warned word by word: “The islands cannot afford such losses.”

Although the images and events presented by that square stone ring were incomplete, even so, he could still feel the boundless danger on the other side of the ocean.

The girl who had gone deep into the waterfall with unknown fate, the youth whose warship was paralyzed and temporarily lost the power to resist, and the man who now planned to face that specter directly but was interrupted by the devil’s incarnation—all made him feel the approaching storm.

Golden-Eyed Devil, Blood-Eyed Butcher, Night Curtain captain.

In this brief time, these three emerging legends had all fallen into predicament, even mortal danger. If the situation changed slightly, the islands would very likely lose them all.

This was unbearable pain, not to mention…

Calming his emotions, though the youth’s face was still pale from agitation, it had become much calmer and more rational. He analyzed with maximum effort.

“This matter can’t be hidden from the Empire and Federation, especially Mr. Rowell. Even if the Mermaid’s journey can be concealed, the Ghost Scythe’s westward voyage absolutely cannot escape his eyes.”

“Great Captain, you understand that family head better than I do. You should be very clear about his abilities and methods.”

“Even setting aside Captain Roy’s hidden identity in the islands and Empire, even if you can suppress the turmoil caused by losing three legends overnight, how should we explain to Governor Howard and Mr. Rowell?”

The former Imperial Lion and the next Anderson family head—their ability to board the Mermaid despite opposition was partly due to their personal will, yes.

But this wasn’t the main reason.

The important figures behind them and what those people represented in other aspects truly drove this matter, and bringing the three most outstanding young people together was also groundwork for the future.

But if those people discovered that both of them, including Captain Roy, had perished in the Triangle, died in a terrible conspiracy…

What kind of storm would this bring?

Could the islands, having already suffered a heavy blow, withstand such a price?

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Though worried, this thought passed in a moment.

Looking at the unresponsive Great Captain, the youth pressed his lips together, knowing that even if he reasonably raised these points, they meant nothing in his eyes.

Internal shocks to the islands, external storms—none could shake him.

But…

“But you’re already very old, Great Captain.”

Lowering his eyes, after saying this, Victor took a deep breath and said respectfully: “Sorry, I was somewhat out of line. I’ll go outside to get some fresh air.”

Saying this, he really turned and left the wooden house.

Although before that person’s will, all his words and thoughts were so pale, he still had to speak, had to tell the other: You’re already very old.

Just as time had proven.

As long as this pirate emperor was here, the islands would be fine.

But the problem was, he had lived too long, even his age buried by dust. No one, perhaps not even himself, knew how much longer he could sit peacefully.

If not for this, why would he choose a proxy?

Facing the youth’s questioning, evidence, persuasion, and even final words of disappointment, the person on the throne had never expressed any opinion from beginning to end, listening as if dozing.

Just as the other had despaired, he knew these things but still wouldn’t do anything.

Just watching, coldly watching.

Then he saw the scene he wanted to see.

The dark gray square stone slowly rippled, and the image that had been obscured by great power and difficult to see clearly became clear again.

The man in black still stood straight in the rain, holding a short pistol in his hand, the muzzle pointed toward where the raven Carlos had stood earlier.

At this moment, there was no longer any black shadow there, only a few bloodied feathers falling from mid-air, floating and floating, like a commemorative flower rain.

The next moment, that man standing among the dancing falling feathers, radiating fierce intent, casually threw away the short pistol, then dropped both hands and slowly raised his face.

Across the black fog, the square stone, and an unknown distance of many miles, their gazes…

Met.