Captain – Chapter 624 – An Era’s End, the Gentle Opening of a Wooden Door

“Aren’t you afraid?”

After a brief silence, that man unexpectedly broke the quiet.

He asked quite abruptly, just like when he had explained to the young man why the giant warship stopped at the strait, saying “because she fears death” as if seeking confirmation.

Are you truly fearless of death, or do you still move forward while harboring fear?

For over a hundred years, he had rarely wanted to know an answer this much.

Wanted to know the girl’s thoughts, or rather, the heart of that young one who had stood before him awkwardly many years ago.

“Afraid, of course I’m afraid.”

Hearing this, Roy lowered her eyelids slightly, saying softly: “Who in this world wouldn’t fear death? If there are any, it’s only because there are things more terrifying than death… or countless times more important, pushing them ever forward.”

“To the point where they have no spare heart left to taste fear.”

Speaking thus, the girl smiled somewhat bitterly, candidly admitting: “But I’m not among them, because I’m not easily driven mad by fear, nor am I noble enough for that.”

“It’s just that too much information and evidence supported me, step by step walking before you, transforming this originally unsolvable death trap into a gamble.”

“And as you know, I’ve never lost a bet, no matter who sits across from me.”

Unconsciously, Roy’s mode of address toward him had regained its original respect.

But hearing those words, the figure on the throne sighed and shook his head, using invisible magic to manipulate the wine bottle, pouring himself another drink, as if he had lost interest in this matter.

As if saying he never would have expected to receive such an absurd answer.

Simply childish to the extreme.

“Are you that disappointed?”

Hearing that sigh, Roy glanced at him with displeasure, then frowned slightly in explanation: “That’s just one of the reasons, something I used to convince myself.”

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“Thinking about it now, betting my life on the table based on just those analyses and self-hypnosis was indeed somewhat mad, but that was the only way available.”

Seeing the man hesitate for a moment before taking his wine glass with his left hand, the one farther from her, the girl thought she had guessed something, and her furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

Then her tone became lighter as she continued: “You also know about the matters in the ice sea and the devil’s situation, so you should know I don’t have much time.”

“And to find a shortcut over the mountain as quickly as possible, there’s no other way but taking risks.”

As if unwilling to see herself talking here while the other party leisurely enjoyed his wine, the girl’s mouth twitched, and she turned to look out the window, her tone suddenly shifting.

“But don’t think I came here completely unprepared, with nothing but passion and tragic heroism. If Victor hadn’t specifically come to see me and told me…”

Her words paused, Roy pressed her lips together, ultimately not bringing that matter to light: “And told me that news, I wouldn’t have made up my mind so quickly.”

“Because that news was like the final piece of the puzzle, finally letting me see everything clearly.”

“See your choice, though it wasn’t because of me.”

“Therefore, even though I was afraid, I still came.”

After speaking, Roy turned around, her back to that man, as if unwilling to let him see even a trace of her expression or movements. Only then did she continue this heavy topic.

“But even knowing your choice, even… guessing at your possible vision, I still don’t understand and will never accept everything you’ve done.”

“Because even the most beautiful future shouldn’t come at the cost of sacrificing anyone.”

“I know you’ll think they were all willing—that dead man for me, Enzo for my father, and of course, that madman at his final moment…”

“Must have been thinking of me too, but you can’t deny that he came to find me because of you.”

“You can’t deny that you had already seen his ending.”

“So I won’t forgive you.”

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When he heard the girl mention that night curtain, the figure on the throne’s fingers turning the crystal glass paused extremely briefly, but quickly returned to normal.

Whether it was because he inevitably felt some sentiment about his passing, or perhaps…

Something buried deeper that even he couldn’t be certain of.

Having finally voiced her feelings, Roy breathed out lightly, raised her slightly lowered head, and her tone became somewhat lighter: “But those things are ultimately in the past now.”

“Whether for that dead man or Enzo’s wish, I can’t stop in place, watching helplessly as the devil breaks free and then being too late to save anything.”

“So let’s end these matters, Great Captain.”

Turning her face slightly, Roy said sincerely: “You’ve been busy and toiling your whole life too. Don’t worry about the remaining time—just peacefully enjoy your twilight years.”

“I’ll end Edward’s life, obliterate his soul, bury his curses, sins, the times and history he represents, and all his accomplices…”

“All of it into the sea, in the pirate way.”

“Then I’ll ask the Lady to leave, sever the curse in the bloodline inheritance, return the world to future generations. From then on, the archipelago will no longer need a guardian. I think you chose Victor because you saw this vision too.”

“Isn’t that right?”

After speaking, the girl said nothing more, only waiting quietly.

Just like before the negotiation, when she asked if he had anything he needed to explain to her, waiting quietly and patiently, even though that answer might never come.

Perhaps she hadn’t guessed correctly at all, perhaps…

“Yes.”

But all speculation dissipated before that lazy, indifferent response.

At this point, all storms ceased, and an era…

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Came to an end.

Getting the answer she wanted, the girl with her back to the throne stiffened, then quickly turned around, reaching out her hand toward the man as if afraid he might change his mind.

“Then it’s a deal?”

Looking at that extended pale palm, the figure on the throne’s fingers swirling the wine glass paused, then never resumed. The scene between them seemed frozen at that moment.

As if he felt somewhat stunned for the first time.

Seeing this, Roy moved her somewhat stiff fingers awkwardly, asking: “Uh, you took the wine with your left hand… didn’t you want to shake hands with me?”

“I remember you’re not left-handed…”

The girl’s voice grew lower and lower, her confidence seriously lacking.

And just as she was about to withdraw her hand and pretend nothing had happened, she suddenly felt an invisible force strike her palm heavily, producing a crisp “smack.”

Withdrawing his gaze from the girl who was grimacing, sucking in cold air while rubbing her palm, the man unhurriedly took a sip of wine before speaking faintly.

“Deal.”

Silently “tsk”ing in her heart, Roy shook her somewhat reddened palm that had been “struck,” leaped down from the table, and after one last glance at that man, walked toward the other side.

While walking, she didn’t forget to say: “Then it’s settled. You absolutely mustn’t go back on your word.”

But even though at this moment, this meeting and all the undercurrents flowing beneath it had ended and subsided, when Roy passed the cat and reached the far end on the other side, she still stopped and remained motionless for a long time.

As if experiencing great psychological struggle, a struggle between dignity and emotion.

During this process, neither the cat looking at her and guessing her thoughts, nor the Great Captain who continued drinking by himself, had any intention of interrupting with words.

Finally, the girl still took a deep breath and turned around, though very reluctantly.

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Looking at the man who waited patiently and even had a hint of amused smile at the corner of his mouth, Roy sighed lightly, lowered her eyelids, and looked at the ground before her boots.

After a long while, she finally spoke with some difficulty: “I… I have something I want to ask of you.”

“Oh? That’s quite rare. Let’s hear it.”

Hearing those words that clearly already knew what she was thinking yet pretended ignorance, the girl was irritated to the point of gnashing her teeth, but ultimately lowered her stance and said: “You should know that after Richi, I had a new first mate.”

“In the Death Silence Triangle, he went into the devil’s trap with me. After we separated, I haven’t seen him since, so I want to ask you to tell me…”

“Is he still alive? If so, where in the world is he now?”

“Please.”

Hearing that final plea that was obviously somewhat awkward yet could still be considered submissive, the figure on the throne chuckled lightly, as if his entire body had become much more comfortable.

Then he said lazily: “You mean your lover? Don’t worry, he’s still alive, and living quite well. Right now he should be…”

Hearing the man say her first mate was fine, even with just those simple few descriptive sentences, Roy was stunned for a moment, then suddenly relaxed, feeling as if the boulder that had hung over her heart for months had finally settled. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and breathe a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, the man’s final two words made her suddenly open her eyes, full of astonishment, then somewhat stiffly turn her head toward the wooden door.

“Outside the door.”

And just as those three words settled and the girl turned her head, that old wooden door that had remained tightly closed since the negotiation began, with no movement whatsoever from the outside…

With a slight “creak,” slowly opened.

What followed was a call that suppressed emotion yet remained gentle as water.

“Captain.”