Captain – Chapter 654 – One Year

Each time in dreams, the flow of time always differed from reality.

Sometimes long, sometimes short, like a joke.

Therefore, when Roy’s eyelashes trembled slightly and she opened her eyes to wake, she heard from the cat’s mouth a length of time that left even her bewildered, as if separated by lifetimes.

“I slept for… nearly a year?”

“Meow.”

Hearing the rising girl’s murmur, the Siamese cat licked its paw and replied, telling her not to be too surprised – this was actually fast compared to her ancestor.

A caterpillar takes nearly twenty days to transform from cocoon to butterfly, let alone ascending from human to god.

“Has there been any movement from that side?”

Hearing this, Roy took a deep breath to calm herself and asked in a low voice.

One year, even for mortals, wasn’t too long. Moreover, the giant ship was equipped with the Horn of Plenty, so food, wine, and even culinary pleasures wouldn’t be lacking. With Caine watching over things, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

What she cared more about was the reaction of those mortal enemies in Storm Corner and the Cursed Sea.

She had walked through ice stairs and snowy plains, witnessed the world’s true nature, and seen those blazing suns. But conversely, they had also coldly observed the entire process.

This year had arguably been the most vulnerable period for her and her supporters.

So, what reaction had that specter and devil shown?

“Meow.”

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As if truly tired of the captain’s cabin this past year, the cat smoothed the gray fur on its face, then rose and leaped down from the wooden table, walking toward the door while leaving only a faint meow.

It said there was none.

Seeing this, the girl was slightly stunned, but quickly understood.

Yes, time was important to herself, but equally so to that spawn and ancestor.

And although they were near Storm Corner, even just one step away from the Cursed Sea, they were ultimately in the present world, under that old man’s gaze.

With him watching, who would have the courage or ability to do anything?

But…

Thinking of what that old man had said about his approaching end before leaving Providence, Roy’s pupils couldn’t help but dim slightly, thinking they were much closer to that line now.

Or perhaps he had already foreseen this scene, which was why he spoke that way when parting.

“Go ahead and do what you must, child. I’ll be watching…”

“Until the very last moment.”

The dreamlike whisper seemed to still echo in her ears, but the girl didn’t remain downcast for long. Instead, those slightly dimmed golden pupils regained their brightness.

Because of the great power within her body and the winds that had surrounded her during slumber, even having slept for nearly a year, Roy remained completely fresh and untainted by dust.

Therefore, without needing to tidy up, she leaped down from the bed and walked directly toward the ajar wooden door.

“Creak.”

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Pushing the door open, she was still greeted by wind and rain.

But compared to before, the captain could not only sense that intimacy from within, but could also faintly “see” light streams of green or blue interweaving and flowing down.

Those were all manifestations of laws.

Without needing to seek out anyone nearby, or even send crew members to notify, Roy simply focused her thoughts and whispered a phrase that reached the ears of all important figures.

“Everyone, meeting.”

After a series of surprised or stunned reactions, the power figures led by her first mate immediately passed down this news and began arranging the meeting.

The giant ship fell into chaos due to the captain’s appearance, but quickly returned to calm.

After all, these people who could coexist peacefully with skeletons and water ghosts, willingly following her on an expedition against the devil, had unquestionable courage and loyalty. If they could return safely from this journey, even without achieving their goal, they would qualify to be recorded in history.

Just like those who had followed Edward or her father many years ago.

After reuniting with her first mate, briefly expressing their longing, and receiving that young couple from the Nightmare King, Roy set off for the meeting room.

The leaders from the former Mermaid and Ghost Scythe, along with several skeleton officers of the highest rank, had already gathered, waiting for them for quite some time.

Everyone took their seats, and the meeting began.

This was a relatively simple mobilization meeting to arrange combat against Hydra.

After briefly understanding the situation over the past year and learning as expected that nothing major had occurred, the girl nodded slightly and thanked everyone for their hard work.

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Then she quickly moved to the combat arrangement phase.

“My situation has been communicated to all of you, so I won’t repeat it here. I’ll just tell you the result – after this period of time…”

“I now know how to deal with that spawn.”

Hearing this statement, the pirates looked at each other, surprised despite being prepared.

Or rather, pleasantly surprised.

Aside from the transcendent beings who knew or could guess the details, and Richi’s pair, regarding this slumber, Roy had announced to the power figures that she needed time and a sufficiently quiet environment to find a method.

A method to truly eliminate “Hydra.”

But including Caine and the captain herself, no one had expected this process to last nearly a year. Fortunately, everyone held absolute trust in her.

Because they had witnessed the sea calm for her, and the giant serpent retreat in panic.

In the crew’s eyes, she was no different from a deity of the present world.

Of course, this statement wasn’t wrong now either.

“Although I can guess the result, let’s still follow the old rules and vote.”

Her gaze swept over everyone, watching as the former Ghost Scythe members’ expressions shifted from surprise to wild joy. Roy thought of that person again and couldn’t help but lower her eyelids slightly, saying in a calm voice: “Those who agree to wage war against that spawn, raise your hands. Otherwise, don’t move.”

“Begin.”

Without whispering among themselves or discussion and debate, the meeting room remained solemn, with only arms thick or thin rising like new shoots.

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Without surprise, unanimous agreement.

“Good, I’ll briefly arrange matters. The exact plan will be presented to everyone later.”

Watching this scene, feeling the crew’s burning gazes that had been dormant for a year, perhaps longer, now igniting like wildfire, Roy leaned forward slightly.

She placed both hands on the table, looking at Richi and Vivian: “This operation will center around the Goddess Hestia. The Nightmare King will temporarily not enter Storm Corner.”

“So Captain Richi, you’ll pilot the ship and wait on the perimeter. No problems with that?”

Before using Aegis to open the gate, those thunders and lightning wouldn’t stop for a moment. The giant ship could force its way through relying on divine grace, but the Nightmare King could not.

Of course, having reached this step, the captain had the ability to protect them amidst countless electric serpents, but that would necessarily cause distraction, dispersing part of her great power.

That was unacceptable.

After all, her combat plan, while ostensibly centered on the giant ship, would actually fall to her and her first mate and giant dragon who could withstand that thunder sea for a period. All other external forces were just for temporary distraction.

In such circumstances, the Nightmare King temporarily not accompanying them was the best choice.

Seeing the young man nod, Roy turned her gaze to look at everyone and solemnly announced: “Then we’re dismissed. After the combat plan is communicated, we’ll advance… inward.”

This word that ended the mobilization meeting seemed imbued with magic. Rather than dissipating, it echoed again in the ears of everyone on the giant ship after a long while, when Richi’s pair had returned to their ship and all matters were concluded.

So facing the torrential rain and giant waves, thunder and lightning, the giant ship advanced toward Storm Corner…

Moving forward without hesitation.