Captain – Chapter 615 – Negotiation and Transaction

“He’s going to die”—who was “he”?

The Great Captain?

Looking at that phrase, Roy remained motionless for a long time.

She felt it was impossible, felt that this world was changing so rapidly it was almost absurd.

No one except that man himself could explain these words. Even Victor, who had learned of it first, was probably just immersed in irrepressible shock and bewilderment.

After all, in the pirates’ eyes, that man who was history itself should live forever, should always sit upon that throne in that half-sleeping state.

Even Roy had thought so.

And because she had already awakened, she should be the person in this world who, aside from that departed night curtain, most understood and could most directly feel how powerful that person was.

An existence possessing such great power, even if not nearly eternal, could live for thousands of years.

There was absolutely no reason he would reach life’s end so soon.

Unless…

He himself had embraced death.

After a long while, the captain finally came to her senses and slowly put down the letter.

She didn’t ask why in her heart, didn’t contemplate and investigate deeply as she had when seeking a way out earlier, because this had nothing to do with external matters—it only concerned that man’s intentions.

Only by going to see him personally and asking him could she possibly get an answer.

“Meow.”

Reаⅾ οո ΚαtRеаⅾіոgCafe

The cat got up and came forward, reading the letter’s contents.

Then it raised its face, meeting the young woman’s seeking gaze, and called out softly, saying this was what it meant—that second sentence it had said earlier…

No, perhaps it won’t take that long after all.

Yes, it wouldn’t take that long, because he simply couldn’t wait until ten years later.

Hearing this, Roy lowered her head slightly, thinking silently.

Actually, even without the cat’s confirmation, she didn’t doubt the truth of these words, because that man was different from the devil—he was never bothered to tell lies.

Never had been.

However, just as Victor had anticipated, though this news had great impact and could throw the current situation and even the entire Islands into chaos…

It was indeed that clue—that final piece of the puzzle that turned the gamble back into a way out.

Enough to make Roy resolve her determination.

“Alexis, turn around and head forward. Follow the route on the sea chart.”

The young woman’s low words, carried by the gentling sea breeze, slipped out through the captain’s quarters’ porthole, wound around the ship building upward, and finally fell upon the helmsman’s ears.

So the massive ship that had been “blocking” the strait entrance began to slowly turn its bow toward the only entrance leading to the holy land, ultimately passing through the checkpoint under the tense watch of pirates in the fortress and disappearing into the distant sea fog.

Again without going through relevant procedures or even giving notice.

But facing the approaching massive ship, the nearly hundred warships blocking the warning line unanimously cleared a path, following alongside or behind it as they all headed toward Providence together.

Rеaԁ оո ΚаtRеadiոɡСafе

No warnings, no negotiations—just quiet accompaniment.

Like an escort, more like a grand welcome.

But they didn’t choose to stay at the holy land’s port. After approaching this massive island, they circled the shoreline and silently traveled east for a very long time.

Only when they reached the “forbidden zone” did the fleet stop, watching the massive ship depart.

Only the Black Rose, flagship of a legend, still followed the massive ship at a moderate distance, accompanying it through the hidden waterway toward that inner sea.

At this point, the massive ship finally slowed its pace.

Perhaps out of respect, or perhaps sensing that person’s will, it ultimately stopped before the passage, not venturing deeper or approaching that secret place any closer.

The Black Rose likewise stopped nearby.

After that, a wooden boat was lowered from the massive ship. Though no one rowed it, it seemed pushed by an invisible hand, heading toward the depths of wind and rain.

The candle flame at the bow feared neither wind nor rain, burning steadily, visible even from far away.

In the boat’s body were one person and one cat.

The wooden boat advanced lonely but steadfast, entering shallow waters, passing under shadows cast by sea cliffs and the shore reef where the wooden house stood, heading toward a river leading into the island.

Not far from that river, on the sea surface concealed by heavy rain curtains and night, a warship painted entirely deep blue with all lights extinguished stood quietly.

Naturally, this was the Nightmare King.

“Finally here. I told you—most of the time, I think the same way she does.”

Rеаd οո КαtReαdiոɡСαfе

“As long as she’s still alive, she’ll definitely come see the old man.”

“Come ask him for clarity.”

On the Nightmare King’s deck, Richi and Vivian stood together, watching that point of light approaching from afar. He smiled with an “I knew it” expression.

Though from his tone, one could still hear undisguised relief.

As if a sword hanging over his heart had finally been moved away.

The young woman was the same, her blood pupils reflecting the wooden boat and that familiar figure as she said faintly: “She came at just the right time. No, she’s always been like this.”

“Always making grand entrances at the most critical moments.”

Hearing this, Richi couldn’t help but shrug and tease: “The eve of our departure also counts as a critical moment?”

Seeing Vivian give him a harmless eye roll, the youth laughed in compromise: “Alright, alright. Speaking of which, if we had just left, perhaps we really would have missed each other forever.”

According to their plan, if they couldn’t wait for Roy for a long time, they could only assume she had slept forever in the great triangle and should set out to find a cure for the curse.

Once gone, they might never return to the present world.

“But honestly, the current situation isn’t optimistic.”

Withdrawing his gaze and looking toward the sea again, watching that candlelight enter the river and finally disappear among dense tree shadows, Richi’s smile gradually faded as he said in a slightly hoarse voice.

“Why isn’t it optimistic? Didn’t you also hear that story?”

Hearing Vivian’s puzzled question, the youth sighed deeply and said bluntly: “That’s just a story. It can make us accept it but can’t convince her.”

Reαⅾ оո КαtRеαⅾіոɡCαfе

“After all, she’s the one who’s in the middle of it all. And just like that guy Caine said, the past and present are ultimately two different things—they can’t be used as reasons.”

“Of course, I think the old man doesn’t care about any of this at all.”

“For him, there’s no need to convince anyone. But very unfortunately, the current Roy probably thinks the same way, so it becomes a deadlock.”

Richi calmly stated his judgment, then after a moment, concluded: “So this meeting definitely won’t feature any tearful family reunion scenes. To be precise, all past events and warmth will be cast aside.”

“Only cold negotiations will remain, or even transactions. And negotiations and transactions…”

“Always have the possibility of breaking down.”

Patting the ship’s rail, Richi turned around and walked toward the bridge.

At the same time leaving behind words that were emotionally complex yet incredibly cold and resolute.

“And if it comes to that, what we need to do is find a way to fish her out.”

“From that death ground closest to the abyss.”

Also turning around to look at the youth’s back and hearing his firm declaration, Vivian fell silent, knowing that whether because of the Lady or because of emotion and the future, they would and could only stand on Roy’s side.

Though this seemed somewhat… overreaching?

Shaking her head and casting off distracting thoughts, the young woman looked toward the water ghosts and the pirates who had guessed something and showed traces of fear, took a deep breath, and ordered expressionlessly: “All hands…”

“Prepare for battle.”