Captain – Chapter 643 – Consideration

Beautiful times are always brief, and wedding banquets cannot truly last all night.

So when the toasting ended and congratulations concluded, the theater that had been lively for most of the night finally quieted down again, with people saying farewell and leaving in small groups.

Some would stay in the great city for a few days before returning to their own lives, while the busier ones, like the proprietress who had to manage her business, had to board ship that very night.

The skeleton soldiers and water ghosts were the last to leave.

Under the dragon’s guidance, they walked one after another into the maze-like dense forest, heading toward the inner sea. As for Richi and his companion, who should have been responsible for their own crew…

They had vanished without a trace shortly after the banquet began.

Whether they had taken Roy’s suggestion was unknown.

“See off the guests, see off the guests!”

Accompanied by the raven’s cawing, as the last skeleton soldier disappeared at the end of the corridor, only the captain, her first mate, and Alfie remained in the entire ancient theater.

“Really not easy.”

Stretching somewhat wearily, the captain walked down from the performance stage with her first mate, saying with a bitter smile: “This was with everyone being my acquaintances, and everyone being pirates who don’t fuss much. It’s hard to imagine…”

“How troublesome it would be if we really held a wedding back in the Empire to announce it to the world.”

Without much guessing, most attendees then would be Auran royalty and nobles, or various representatives from the Federation—just thinking about it was headache-inducing.

“Captain, if you don’t want to, after we return, just gathering with family would be fine. For other aspects, just sending notifications would do—there are specialists who would handle it.”

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Following the girl up to the stands to the highest seats, Caine suggested softly.

The “family” he mentioned naturally referred to those now headed by his father and Federo—the main and branch lines of the Howard and Garcia families.

“It’s not really about wanting or not wanting. In the end, it depends on which kind you want.”

Reaching the highest point, Roy turned around and leaned against the short wall, now smooth as new after restoration, gazing at the theater still misty with candlelight but devoid of any human presence.

Night breezes either came through the corridors or from above, making the candlelight and tablecloths sway, empty bottles and cups roll, creating an incredibly desolate scene amid the cold leftovers.

Of course, this messy scene would be cleaned up tomorrow by people sent from King’s Inn.

This was through Mr. Monroe’s consideration.

“On my territory, you accommodate me in everything, so naturally it should be the same in reverse. For Auran, or even all three parties, the grander that wedding banquet, the better.”

“At least in the future, when any side wants to turn hostile, they’ll have to think about us before acting on any schemes.”

Hearing the captain’s analysis, Caine thought silently for a moment, then softly hummed in agreement, knowing that to smooth tensions as much as possible, this would indeed be an excellent move.

Though in the past, both had respectively been hostile toward the islands and Empire, and if given the chance to erase the other from the world map, neither would have hesitated.

But now with different positions, their views and thoughts naturally changed.

For them now, avoiding war between the two sides would naturally be best.

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“For this… I have a consideration.”

Getting the young man’s agreement and knowing his thoughts, Roy no longer looked at that “desolate” scene, but turned around, supporting herself on the short wall with both arms while gazing into the distance.

Also turning to look in the direction the girl was watching—toward the coast obscured by forest shadows and treetops—Caine asked with interest: “Tell me, what kind of consideration?”

“I’ve never been good at handling politics. If you think it won’t work, don’t laugh at me.”

Looking at the night sky gradually lightening with the pale of dawn, the girl warned, and only after getting assurance did she say: “I once read in books that if internal conflicts are hard to resolve, you can choose to redirect them outward, like through expansion.”

“Like in history, most of the Empire’s dozen-plus external expansions were for this purpose.”

“So… why don’t we consider the present world as one entity.”

Hearing this, the first mate who had planned to listen to Roy’s immature proposal as a story suddenly grew serious, instinctively becoming earnest: “Meaning…”

“Redirect the attention of power holders in the islands, Empire, and Federation elsewhere.”

“Like… the Cursed Sea?”

Knowing Caine far surpassed her in this area, the captain wasn’t surprised he could instantly grasp the key point, nodding slightly: “Right, that’s exactly what I mean.”

“Think about it, Caine. Didn’t you obtain Aegis? With that, the world barrier blocking the east—Storm Corner—is no longer a problem.”

“The Cursed Sea would naturally become like the new world that the Southern Islands were a thousand years ago.”

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“And that sea region might be far more vast and exciting than any known charts, not to mention that eastern civilization our ancestor mentioned.”

“Compared to the Cursed Sea and that mysterious civilization, the Empire, Federation, and islands—though they’ve had friction throughout recorded history—ultimately belong to the same side.”

“When there’s external impact or new territory to develop, they’ll naturally unite relatively.”

Speaking thus, as if feeling her idea was too naive and lacked sufficient persuasive power, Roy’s voice lowered somewhat as she guiltily added: “Besides, in recent times, the war between Auran and Pronora has just ended, and relations are rarely so relaxed.”

“I was thinking… could we find a way to bring the islands and Empire closer too? Not saying to abandon past grievances, but at least see hope for cooperation.”

“Then, then… oh, anyway, you understand.”

The first mate’s continued silence made the captain think what she said was truly absurd. Two sides that had been enemies since ancient times, even fought a world war decades ago—how could cooperation be easy? So she hurriedly concluded.

“Well, that’s my consideration. Go ahead and laugh.”

Finding it somewhat ridiculous herself, Roy sighed with some self-abandonment.

“No, this idea is excellent.”

Only now did Caine seem to wake from a dream, his voice growing louder.

“Ah?” The captain thought she had misheard, turning her head in slight confusion, but was met with a big embrace and an excited, passionate kiss.

After being entwined for quite a while until their breathing became somewhat rapid, the two separated.

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“I didn’t mishear just now, did I?”

Though surprised by her first mate’s rare initiative, after lightly touching her lips with her finger, Roy still focused her main attention on his earlier response.

“Of course, Captain.”

Holding the girl’s waist and bringing her to gaze into the distance, toward the horizon gradually occupied by warm light, Caine’s blue eyes showed hidden excitement, as if he truly saw a new world: “It’s just that to achieve all this, there are too many details to perfect.”

“We must advance step by step, steadily, and there’s one major prerequisite.”

Extending his other hand to block some of the light, looking at the blazing sun through his fingers, the first mate was silent for a while before saying gravely: “That is, the Cursed Sea…”

“Can truly become such a big cake.”

Squinting as she watched the awakening world, Roy smiled knowingly: “Oh, so the problem circles back again. We need to deal with Edward first.”

“Yes, an ownerless sea is the good bait to attract those politicians’ attention.”

Caine nodded, then smiled as he concluded: “Moreover, that devil…”

“Isn’t he also a sufficiently large target? One that…”

“Makes the present world share a common enemy.”