Captain – Chapter 616 – Present Scene and Past Sight

That point of candlelight left the inner sea, entered the dense forest, and sailed along the river toward the deepest part.

Although the curtain of rain, the night veil, tree shadows, and even the distance spanning the entire sea blocked clear sight.

But during this process, there were still countless “gazes” cast from every part of the archipelago, and even from all directions of the world.

Countless people, whether informed or merely sensing the approaching storm, whether great or humble, were all watching Providence, waiting for the archipelago’s imminent future.

Wanting to know whether it would remain calm and strong, or develop cracks from within that could never be mended.

But whether it was the worried and oppressed pirates, or the important figures who obtained intelligence through various channels and far-reaching connections and deduced fragments of the turmoil in the Death Silence Triangle and Providence, they were all too far, far too far from this stage.

Unlike those within the situation, who could feel more and could watch the girl step onto an unclear path ahead.

In the secret land of Providence, besides that towering cliff facing the sea, there were also continuous black mountain ranges leaning against the dense forest, like slumbering giant beasts in the rainy night.

And atop that “giant beast,” stood two figures with vastly different builds.

Amid the thunderstorm, a low growl gradually arose.

With a crisp “crack,” a sharp claw stepped through a puddle, even leaving clear and deep marks on the hard mountain rock.

Upon discovering that point of candlelight, and the great power that began spreading somewhat casually from the small wooden house as its source after its arrival, starting to envelop the entire secret land as if to extinguish that firelight, that giant shadow stepped forward.

Its wings slightly spread, and its magnificent purple pupils locked onto the wooden house, with violence flickering within.

“Relax, Nidhogg, if everything goes smoothly, she’ll be fine…”

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“We’ll be reunited with her soon.”

Just as the giant shadow revealed its fierce expression, a slender yet strong hand reached through the rain curtain, gently landing on the side of its face, while the person beside it spoke in soothing tones.

Whether it was the eye-catching candlelight or the vast great power, from beginning to end, that person paid them no attention, but only gazed calmly, or rather suppressing incredibly intense emotions, at the person in the boat who appeared and disappeared among the tree shadows.

Gazing at that girl who held the cat and kept her head lowered, as if going to meet her destiny.

She quietly “traveled” through the wind and rain, traveled through that invisible, ocean-like boundless great power, like a lone piece of wood drifting in the waves, liable to capsize at any moment.

Although accompanied by the cat, she still seemed so lonely, even somewhat fragile.

Because at this moment, what she had to face directly was the most unshakeable mountain in this world, and the irresistible history contained within the mountain’s cast shadow.

Being in the “ocean” of magical power, she was like returning to that world with only darkness remaining, unable to perceive anything else except herself and the cat in her arms.

Unable to perceive the concern from elsewhere in the world, unable to perceive the warships waiting quietly in the inner sea that might unleash their ammunition at any moment, and naturally unable to perceive him and it.

Thus lonely, yet not weak, but rather filled with more wordless stubbornness and persistence.

Seeing this scene, how could the person standing on the mountain peak truly be as calm and unruffled as his words and expression suggested, how could he not be concerned.

Although as he said when comforting the giant shadow, if things went smoothly, everything would soon come to an end.

There would be no “divine war,” no bloodshed.

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But watching the candlelight drawing ever closer to its destination, watching the person he thought of day and night, he ultimately couldn’t suppress his slightly anxious mood and slowly raised his other hand…

Finally pressing it on the sword hilt at his waist, never letting go again.

Thus in the tranquil ocean composed of great power, an inconspicuous splash arose, though it couldn’t possibly stir up waves, or even leave the slightest ripple.

But at least it could express an attitude—madness, treating death as if going home.

Like a male lion about to roar before facing an enemy.

Although in the inner sea and on those familiar yet never-climbed mountains, close people were all using their attitudes and actions to support her without hesitation, trying to escort her or cut off retreat routes, Roy was unaware of it all.

She only sat quietly at the bow, feeling the cold rain falling on her and the immense great power.

Thinking that it really was very similar.

Such similar situations, similar journeys—how many times had she already experienced them?

In the manor beside the small town called “Loriton,” in that boundless great dream, and the approaching wooden house, as well as more people and events that didn’t manifest in reality but constantly entangled her, trying to change her.

Again and again, tirelessly.

As if sensing her thoughts, that candlelight, which remained stable despite enduring the baptism of violent wind and rain, began to flicker and waver, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

But in the end, it regained its calm, its light still as bright and gentle as it was initially.

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Illuminating the girl’s serene countenance and her slightly raised eyes that were bright as stars.

At this point in the journey, she finally no longer kept her head down, because of her instantly renewed firm intentions and beliefs, and also because… the wooden boat struck the shallow sand.

Many years ago, the girl who left harboring great ambitions had finally returned to the starting point.

Returned to the beginning of that story, that legend.

Taking the cat that had been lying on her legs into her arms, needing no mental preparation, the captain naturally stood up, left the wooden boat, stepped onto the beach, and walked toward that old wooden house with no candlelight visible.

Not far from where the girl disembarked, two figures were quietly waiting for her.

Naturally, they were the heir of the one in the house, and the gentle, charming yet deadly “Black Rose.”

The two met Roy’s gaze, nodded in greeting, then passed by each other with no further interaction.

Turning around, Victor watched the girl’s gradually distant figure, making no effort to hide his heavy mood. Apart from the two people at the storm’s center, no—or rather, he was the person here who best understood and cared about the archipelago and even the world situation.

Knowing that after a brief time, this storm might stop, or it might…

Never stop again.

Until it invaded every corner of the present world, destroying all the old scenes completely.

“You know, a similar scene like this has happened before.”

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But before the young man could become calm enough to think about probably useless but necessary remedial measures, a sigh-filled voice sounded beside his ear.

So he slightly turned his face, looking toward Fia who had suddenly spoken with a trace of a smile.

Catching sight of the young man’s expression from the corner of her eye, sensing his bewilderment that turned thoughtful after a moment, the “Black Rose’s” lip curve rose even more.

“It seems that even after choosing a proxy, the old man doesn’t intend to mention some old matters again. But then again, fewer and fewer people know the inside story of that affair.”

After expressing her emotions, Fia had no intention of keeping him in suspense. She watched the girl who was only a few steps away from the wooden house door, speaking in a somewhat light tone.

“Eighteen years ago, there was also a ship, or rather it and the fleet protecting it, that just like today, broke into the forbidden land with complete disregard for the rules.”

“They even entered the inner sea, surrounding the waters near the wooden house so tightly that not even water could leak through. Of course, compared to them, there were far more ships surrounding the outer perimeter of the forbidden land.”

“Three layers inside and three layers outside—much more lively than this scene.”

Listening to her account, the young man vaguely remembered something. He recalled that at the time on the Mermaid, when he was still an inconspicuous ship worker, he had squeezed to the side rail with pirates whose faces were full of fear but showed no intention of retreating.

Fortunate to witness that moment together with Captain Ilias, whose spirit remained strong.

At that time, there was also a wooden boat that was lowered from the foremost warship, heading toward that river through wind and rain under the gaze of the archipelago and even the entire world.

Only on that wooden boat, it wasn’t a girl and cat nestled together, but stood an incomparably magnificent figure, as if even time and history needed to make way for him.

Captain Gerard.