Captain – Chapter 57 – Person of Auran

“It seems the rumors are true, Captain Roy truly is quite captivating.”

The old man finally smiled, a hint of amusement spreading across his withered face as he looked at the increasingly embarrassed young man: “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, she is quite different from those noble ladies you’ve met in the past.”

“She is independent and confident, lacking neither in combat skill, tactics, wealth, nor loyal subordinates. If we disregard her roguish temperament, her character is quite acceptable. Such a radiant person is indeed incomparable to those delicate young ladies. Add to that the time you’ve spent together, I’m not surprised she has captured your heart.”

Listening to Federo’s detailed analysis, Caine’s expression gradually became uncomfortable.

What the old man didn’t know was that the legendary pirate had already lost her original wealth and was now practically destitute. As for her subordinates… currently there should only be himself plus one raven.

Of course, none of this could be said, otherwise this elder would certainly change his mind again and do everything to prevent him from joining this pirate journey with an uncertain future.

As for capturing his heart…

“You misunderstand. My promise to follow her, apart from being a commitment, is more for myself,” Caine tried to make himself appear colder.

The old man saw through the officer’s deliberately feigned calmness in an instant, finding it quite amusing: “If she would reform herself and quietly engage in business, or establish some sort of security agency, she might be considered an excellent marriage prospect. Your father would probably be more accepting of that.”

“Her? How could she possibly be willing to…”

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Caine was halfway through his sentence when he realized the old man’s emphasis, and said with a solemn face: “I told you, that’s not what I meant.”

“Alright, alright, my little lion has the final say.” Federo supported himself on the desk as he stood up and went to a nearby bookshelf. He reached into the gap between two books and, after some searching, actually retrieved a bottle of wine.

This was a scene Caine had grown accustomed to in his childhood.

To escape his wife’s nagging, Naren always liked to hide his beloved wine in specially constructed gaps behind bookshelves. After all his subordinates had left, he would secretly enjoy a glass. Of course, this father never hid from his son’s gaze, binding him with the “secret between men.”

Although few people knew about this secret, Federo was clearly among them.

Seeing the old man return with the wine and begin to leisurely uncork it, Caine couldn’t help but frown: “The doctor has long advised you to avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible.”

“Of course it’s not for me to drink.”

Federo poured the wine into a glass and pushed it in front of the young man, then stopped him as he instinctively reached for it: “It’s not for you either.”

Feeling Caine’s slightly confused gaze, the old man waved his hand as if shooing away an annoying squirrel: “Our conversation ends here. Go and ask Captain Roy to come in. Next, I want to have a talk with her.”

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Now Caine understood, but he didn’t immediately rise to leave. Instead, he frowned and asked: “A talk? Haven’t you already…”

“Already what? Already agreed to let you leave with her?”

The Governor slowly shook his head: “No, not yet. To take you away, your will alone is not enough. It also depends on what price the Captain is willing to pay for it.”

Seeing that Caine wanted to say something more, Federo interrupted him with an expressionless face: “You were raised by my hand. Now that you’re to be transferred to another’s care, I naturally need to take a good look and see if she is qualified. If she cannot satisfy me, then you still cannot leave.”

Caine knew that receiving the old man’s care and training was a fact, and that such a request was reasonable. So he didn’t try to persuade him further, only quietly looking at that aged face, as if waiting for a promise.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for her.”

Having received the old man’s assurance, Caine nodded and rose to leave.

Even after that figure disappeared behind the door, Federo had not withdrawn his gaze. Those terrifying emerald eyes now contained no trace of coldness or ferocity, only a faint sense of acceptance, or perhaps a hint of apology.

“What? That old…”

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Feeling Caine’s somewhat displeased gaze, as well as the stares from the naval officers in the corridor, Roy sheepishly changed her words: “Uh, Governor wants to see me? What business does the venerable gentleman have?”

Caine gently shook his head, indicating he didn’t know, while removing the raven from her shoulder: “You’ll know when you see him.”

The captain, extremely reluctant, was ushered into the study by her first mate. After vigilantly surveying her surroundings and confirming there was no third person in the dimly lit room, she finally sat down casually opposite the Governor and picked up the wine glass, swirling it a few times: “Good evening, Governor.”

Federo scrutinized this captain, his gaze like a sharp sword, as if trying to see through her completely: “I’m not in as good a mood as you are.”

Hearing these meaningful words, Roy’s mouth twitched, and she wasn’t tactless enough to further provoke the displeased old man.

On the way back, she had already heard Todd’s embellished account of Caine’s actions. That captain had described with extremely exaggerated tones how the Admiral had struggled internally, and how he had burst through the door in his Admiral’s uniform, facing the downpour with dignity.

Although she didn’t understand the captain’s hidden intention to fan the flames in his words, Roy had listened to the story with great relish. But as much as she had delighted in the misfortune then, the Governor before her was equally displeased now—this was obvious.

Anyone would be in a bad mood if the child they watched grow up had outmaneuvered them, especially when sitting across from the very person who triggered the event.

“You can’t blame me for this. After all, weren’t you planning to repay kindness with enmity first? Besides, you surely know Caine’s stubborn nature better than I do. If even you can’t control him, how could I possibly?”

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After brief consideration, the wise Captain Roy decided to take the initiative and absolve herself of all responsibility, truly embodying her rogue nature to the fullest.

Unfortunately, the old man wasn’t falling for her tactics.

“But you’re the one who wants to take him away. That’s enough.”

Ignoring the young woman’s skill at making trouble, Federo took a sip of his strong tea and said with unreadable emotion: “And compared to this matter, I’m more curious about you, Captain Roy.”

Roy wasn’t particularly surprised that he addressed her by her identity, as the analysis by Sand Fox and the youth at the Black Raven Society’s base had already made things crystal clear. What surprised her was his preceding statement: “Me? Why would the Governor be interested in a pirate like me?”

In the captain’s view, the reason this powerful and terrifying old man had his eye on her was simply because of her hostile stance toward the Empire. But from the old man’s tone, it seemed not to be merely that.

Federo’s eyes reflected that fair face, reflected those dark golden pupils that were particularly bright in the darkness, and he spoke a truth that few people knew.

“Because I very much want to know why, as a person of Auran, you are so hostile toward the Empire?”