Captain – Chapter 66 – Devil’s Training

“Devil’s training?”

In the captain’s quarters, around a short wooden table that had been abandoned for who knows how long and was so damp it had grown white mold, four people were seated: the captain and first mate of this twin-masted merchant vessel, plus a newly recruited skinny youth and a bandit chief.

This was clearly a routine meeting commonly held on pirate ships, attended only by the captain’s confidants and capable officers.

Of course, for Captain Roy at present, her crew consisted of only these three members, so there was no need to distinguish between important and unimportant.

Among these three, the loyalty of the first mate went without saying. Daniel had sworn allegiance to the captain shortly after coming aboard. What Roy hadn’t expected, however, was Ben’s attitude.

This bandit chief, who made his living through robbery and murder, had joined this legendary pirate’s journey of revival without hesitation after learning Roy’s true identity. His decisiveness genuinely surprised the young woman.

According to Ben, this was simply a gamble where the benefits outweighed the risks. As long as the captain could reclaim what belonged to her, he too could rise to prosperity.

“Yes, devil’s training indeed.”

Meeting the varied emotional gazes of the three, Roy leaned back in her chair with folded arms, eyes slightly narrowed as she responded to her first mate’s question.

“Regarding… what?”

Although this was also his first time participating in such a gathering of a pirate power hierarchy, Caine showed no particular novelty, nor did he display the excitement that filled Daniel’s small face. He inquired about his confusion in that calm and rational tone of his.

“Combat, of course it’s about combat.”

Roy looked at him as if he were an idiot, clearly not expecting her usually astute first mate to ask such a question.

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Hearing this, Caine’s brow furrowed even deeper: “Captain, as far as I know, every pirate ship has a fighting squad specifically responsible for combat, or gunners…”

“The problem is that we only have four people now. We can’t have Captain me rolling up my sleeves every time there’s a fight, can we?”

Roy interrupted her first mate, speaking matter-of-factly: “Moreover, I don’t want people I’ve painstakingly trick—trained to be finished off by some nobody’s blade.”

This matter wasn’t something the captain had decided on a whim. It was a conclusion drawn from experience during their last encounter with her old rival, when she had shot and killed the opponent’s first mate.

Seeing her first mate fall silent, Roy displayed a victorious smile: “So, does anyone else have questions?”

The raven standing on the wooden frame chimed in with practiced ease: “Who objects! Who objects!”

All three sitting opposite the captain raised their hands simultaneously.

Roy’s smile stiffened slightly: “Alright then, one at a time.”

Daniel asked eagerly: “Captain, can I participate too?”

The captain looked the youth up and down, then snickered: “No, my little sailor. The special training organized by Captain me is very rigorous. With that small frame of yours… you’d better eat and bulk up first.”

Daniel was quite deflated by Roy’s words and hung his head dejectedly. Sitting beside him, Ben tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing what he considered to be a kind smile: “Captain, I don’t think I need any training.”

Fighting and combat were obviously this strong man’s specialties.

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After brief consideration, Roy nodded slightly: “Fair enough, then you don’t need to participate either.”

Hearing the captain’s declaration and feeling the gazes of the three upon him, Caine slowly lowered his raised hand and asked with a darkened face: “So in the end, I’m the only one who needs special training?”

“It appears so,” Roy’s smile was somewhat mischievous.

After clearing out the miscellaneous items from the captain’s quarters and bringing in a wooden barrel filled with weapons, a simple combat area was set up.

“Here, go pick a suitable weapon. Captain me will teach you hands-on.”

Caine glanced at the grinning young woman, then casually pulled out a gleaming rapier from the barrel. This slender weapon designed for thrusting attacks wasn’t favored by Auran soldiers, but the arsenal on Frans Island still stored a few samples.

Indeed, all these weapons in the barrel had been collected by the captain herself, who had persuaded and pressured the garrison on Frans Island to hand them over.

Caine held the rapier upright before him: “Captain, neither combat nor training were included in the contract we signed.”

After boarding the ship, the two had signed a contract covering various aspects, listing all sorts of obligations and rights, as well as past agreements they had reached. However, this contract clearly didn’t mention the first mate’s participation in combat.

Roy defended herself indignantly: “I’m doing this for your own good. If someday I’m not by your side, would you really just sit there waiting to die?”

I think you’re just bored and looking to have fun at my expense.

Caine thought silently, while saying in a tone that brooked no refusal: “I’ll practice with you, but I want compensation.”

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“Compensation?”

Roy repeated those two words through gritted teeth. At some point, the young man’s behavior had started to resemble her own.

“What’s wrong, Captain? Trying to exploit free labor? Then I must decline.”

Seeing the young woman’s reluctant expression, the first mate slowly put down the rapier in his hand, appearing ready to leave if she didn’t agree.

“Alright, alright, you can have compensation, but let’s be clear—our funds are meant for recruiting people.” Faced with her first mate’s resolute attitude, even the captain had no choice but to compromise.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want money.” Caine’s lips curved into a smile.

Hearing this, Roy breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t money, anything could be discussed. But her relief didn’t last long, as she was startled by his next sentence.

“I want you.”

Upon hearing this, Daniel, who was observing from the side, slightly widened his mouth. Ben held his forehead and pushed open the door to leave, no longer wanting to stay in the captain’s quarters where the atmosphere had turned so strange.

On a pirate ship, overhearing forbidden conversations could result in having one’s ears cut off.

“You… you…”

The captain pointed a trembling finger at her first mate: “I don’t warm beds for men.”

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This statement was already quite explicit. Even the usually calm Caine couldn’t help but momentarily freeze, then said with an unnatural expression: “Who said anything about warming beds?”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Roy’s gaze held a hint of understanding, as if she had seen right through the young man before her.

“Nothing much. After crossing swords, there should be some way to relax, so… how about a dance together?”

Caine twirled the rapier in his hand, his expression betraying no unusual feelings.

Their dialogue made Daniel feel like a redundant lantern at a candlelit dinner. So, finding an excuse to scrub the deck, he grabbed the raven from the wooden frame next to him and dashed out of the captain’s quarters.

“But I’ve completely forgotten the steps to imperial court dances.”

Recalling the miserable experience of dancing practice that day, Roy’s eye twitched as she made her excuse.

“Then it seems I’ve also forgotten all the sword techniques I learned since childhood, Captain.” Caine smiled, refusing to yield an inch.

“You’re ruthless,” Roy gnashed her teeth like a hamster, then her eyes shifted slightly, revealing an exceptionally gentle smile that somewhat alarmed the young man.

“Let’s do it your way then. Let’s begin, my dear first mate.”