Captain – Chapter 65 – Setting Sail

“What happened, Captain?”

Before Roy and the youth could begin their negotiation, Caine had already arrived at the entrance of the marketplace with Ben, frowning as he looked at the youth who avoided his gaze.

Alfie’s earlier piercing cries not only startled the vendors at their stalls but also reached the nearby port. That’s why the first mate, after quickly arranging the sailors, hurried over with this bandit chief who was eager to serve the captain.

Unlike Ben who looked bewildered, Caine had some understanding of the captain’s past. He knew that someone the raven would call a traitor must be a member of the Mermaid, and the one who could provoke such a reaction from the little creature was likely… Butcher Richi, who often appeared in Roy’s stories.

What kind of existence were legendary pirates?

They were powerful and noble. In terms of status and influence, they could rival any land-based nobility or even warlords. They were the most awe-inspiring figures on this vast ocean.

As for how dangerous they were, one only needed to look at the Golden-Eyed Devil right before their eyes.

“Relax, Alfie just overreacted and mistook this kid for that heartless little bastard.”

Roy understood what her first mate was worrying about and gave him a perfunctory explanation, then continued to focus on the youth before her: “According to the rules of our trade, for underage sailors, I only provide food and lodging, no monthly pay. If you can’t accept this, then there’s no need for us to continue talking.”

“I can, as long as… as long as I’m fed well, it doesn’t matter if there’s no pay.”

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Seeing the captain truly begin to discuss terms, the youth nodded his small head vigorously like a rattle drum, without any objection.

“Good. What skills do you have? Don’t say killing; with those thin arms and legs of yours, you couldn’t even match the poorest soldier in the assault team in a direct confrontation.”

Roy tilted her chin slightly, appraising the youth with a harsh gaze.

There was one thing she didn’t say: direct confrontation wasn’t everything. Even before his body had fully developed, Richi was already a notorious assassin in the Eastern Seas.

The youth before her was very similar to Richi back then, so perhaps out of personal sentiment, Roy had no intention of cultivating another figure like the Blood-Eyed Butcher.

“I can wash clothes, cook, and… and…”

The youth counted on his fingers, and after mentioning the second item, he hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying: “And I can pick locks. I can open any kind of lock.”

There were no particularly professional locksmiths on Frans Island, so the skill the youth spoke of must have been practiced through countless attempts and practical experience, with a purpose that wasn’t particularly honorable.

Roy’s eyes brightened slightly: “You can open any lock?”

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The youth’s tone weakened: “Basically all of them, Captain. If you ask me to open some treasure chest, I might not succeed…”

“That’s good enough. You can come on board with us, but I must warn you, on a pirate ship, people who steal will have all their fingers cut off.”

Roy patted the youth’s shoulder heavily, showing an expression of “I have high expectations for you.” At this moment, she had almost envisioned the wonderful life of indulging in an ocean of fine wine after opening the Great Captain’s wine cellar.

Hearing this, Caine finally understood the situation to some extent. He looked at the excitement on the youth’s dirty little face, then pulled the captain aside and asked in a lowered voice: “He wants to go to sea with us?”

“No, in fact, he wants to follow this captain. Speaking of coincidences, Richi also boarded my ship this way back then.” Roy didn’t notice Caine’s displeasure and reminisced about her past in a daze.

“But Captain, you’re employing child labor.”

Seeing her first mate’s alarmed expression, Roy finally remembered that he was a young nobleman who had received excellent quality education and military training from the Empire. It would clearly be difficult for him to accept the scene of exploitation and darkness on a pirate ship.

But of course, the captain had her methods.

Roy gently freed herself from the young man’s grasp while giving him a sidelong glance: “What’s the problem? I was only twelve when I first boarded a ship.”

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“How can you compare him to yourself?”

Caine was still hesitant. In his imagination, the Golden-Eyed Devil must have been extraordinary and fierce even at twelve years old.

“Why not? My physique was worse than his back then. I scrubbed the deck day and night, washed those indecent fellows’ dirty clothes. As long as I could get an extra piece of black bread, I didn’t mind doing double the work. And look, I’ve survived just fine, haven’t I?”

Roy looked at her first mate as if saying he was “making a fuss about nothing,” and spread her hands: “And who am I? I’m Captain Roy. Following me may not mean living in luxury, but adequate food and clothing are definitely not a problem. In these past few months with me, when have you ever gone hungry or cold?”

Even in such harsh conditions, didn’t I still hold you through it?

The captain didn’t say these words, but the meaning was crystal clear. So Caine sighed lightly: “Are you sure he’ll be better off on the ship than here?”

“Who can guarantee that? Maybe one day we’ll become prisoners of enemies, or even die directly at sea. These are the psychological preparations one must make when becoming a pirate.”

Roy became somewhat impatient and waved her hand: “If you don’t want to take him, then go tell him yourself. Consider all my previous promises null and void.”

Hearing this, Caine glanced at the youth who was staring at them eagerly, seeing the anxiety in his eyes and his tightly clenched little fists, and smiled helplessly.

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Breaking someone’s hope is an extremely cruel thing. He had already experienced that heart-wrenching pain twelve years ago and naturally didn’t want to inflict it on others.

So the young man walked to the youth, knelt down, and asked: “Once you’re on a pirate ship, there’s no chance to go back on your decision. Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

This was the question the captain had asked him that night.

“Yes, sir.” The youth’s answer was quick and decisive.

“Then, your name.”

By this point, the unease and worry in the youth’s eyes had finally receded, replaced by a pearl-like brightness. He said loudly: “Daniel Duncan, sir!”

The sun gradually climbed to its highest point, with bundles of golden rays falling on the azure ocean, making the calm sea surface shimmer with dancing light, brilliantly radiant. And on such a sea surface, a two-masted civilian ship left the port of Frans Island, slowly sailing toward the south.

Roy stood at the stern, one hand holding the rudder, all languor gone from her face, replaced by a quite charming smile. She narrowed her eyes, looking at the endless horizon, her powerful voice carrying across the deck with the sea breeze.

“Gentlemen, be quick with your hands and feet. If I see anyone slacking off, the consequences won’t be as simple as just deducting your pay.”