Captain – Chapter 665 – The Greatest State Affairs

The secret letter sent to the Federation successfully reached the Anderson family head, but to forward it to Mr. Shelley, who was currently traveling the world with unknown whereabouts as stated in the letter, would require considerable effort even for that ancient family.

The letter sent to the Empire required no such trouble.

When Governor Naren, who was aboard the Pilgrimage patrolling the coastal waters, finished his business and returned to the captain’s cabin to see and read the letter that had suddenly appeared on his desk as if materializing from thin air, he immediately found a reason to redirect the ship back to the capital’s harbor.

Within less than a month, the carriage carrying the Empire’s only governor and a possibly glorious future arrived at the royal palace under heavy military escort.

It was exactly noon at the time.

But even as the sun set and night fell, Naren still hadn’t returned. Regarding the contents of that letter, he had actually spent an entire half day discussing it with the young emperor.

Even His Majesty’s originally scheduled audiences and arrangements for the day had all been postponed.

The reason given was naturally state affairs.

The greatest state affairs.

St. Caloie, Royal Palace.

In that simple room that had witnessed countless negotiations and compromises, even shameless conspiracies, young Emperor Curtis sat facing Governor Naren.

Setting down the thick letter that had been read many times since noon and whose exact contents could now be recited from memory, the young emperor—who had matured considerably compared to two years ago and now showed hints of imperial dignity—let out a gentle breath and nodded to the governor.

“Uncle Naren, I never doubt your loyalty to the Empire. I naturally trust and agree with your judgment, but I still want to ask you a few questions…”

“Just regarding this matter, where exactly does your position lean toward?”

“Auran, or Young Master Howard?”

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Having discussed this far, regarding the letter’s contents and whether to accept the islands’ proposal, how to proceed with subsequent arrangements and negotiations, the two had already reached consensus.

It could be said this matter could come to a perfect conclusion.

But before everything ended, or began, Curtis still asked this question.

Although as he said, toward the person before him, whether himself or the already-abdicated old emperor, they had always given the greatest trust. Even if Naren opposed, the youth would still insist on treating him with the courtesy of a close elder.

Rather than as sovereign and subject.

But now, this matter was too significant, and Caine’s shadow was indelibly present within it. Even if the governor’s words were completely objective, partiality could still be detected.

Before such a fierce tide, this kind of partiality could completely change the direction of the Empire’s great ship, could cause many people and matters to deviate from their proper course.

So he had to ask, even if this question was like a blade that might sever all harmony.

Faced with such questioning, even Naren couldn’t help but fall silent.

After all, looking across the Empire and even the world, no one had ever asked him this before.

Even his former comrade-in-arms, that old emperor, when most unable to see through him, had never brought such questions into the open, but only observed silently.

However, it seemed this youth before him, who was willing to endure countless obstacles to bring new winds to Auran, was indeed different, showing more confidence and vigor.

Daring to speak directly about questions that old men considered thorny and subtle.

Without engaging in those mostly meaningless probes.

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But on the other hand, this was also trust.

“In such major matters, I will only weigh the pros and cons in my capacity as Imperial Governor.”

Without much consideration, Naren spoke straightforwardly, not shrouding his position in mist.

The young emperor who received this answer smiled knowingly and asked no more.

From his perspective, this answer naturally wasn’t the best.

Because merely pointing out “major matters” meant that on certain issues, the other’s will might conflict with his own, might part ways with the Empire.

But presumably that boundary would run very deep, only reaching bottom when touching certain people’s life and death.

So he was already quite satisfied.

Whether in scheming or habit, when facing those close to him, the youth never liked to conceal emotions like the old men did. With his worries gone, his expression became much more comfortable. From a container beside him that resembled an ink bottle, he drew out an old paper scroll.

Then he unrolled it and spread it before him.

That paper was obviously very old, yellowed throughout, with some areas severely damaged. Even the drawn lines had become so blurred as to be difficult to distinguish.

Only vaguely could one still roughly identify it as an abbreviated map.

“Since that person from the islands has abdicated, and Captain Roy has embarked on her journey, though there are few records, I imagine… that so-called old covenant is about to end.”

The youth’s finger traced across extremely faint lines that could still be seen as the outline of the Auran Empire, crossing the geographical “Storm Corner,” finally stopping at a vast sea that was even broader than the entire known ocean.

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“I just don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for it to become that big cake.”

Looking at that sea, the young emperor’s clear eyes showed a different kind of light—a longing that had almost never appeared in him since childhood.

As the most ancient and powerful royal family in the present world, the Alexander family could not possibly know nothing about those old matters hidden behind history and related to devils.

In fact, countless years ago, it was the youth’s ancestors who had promoted the Empire’s participation in the decisive battle against that Pirate King after Ancient Auran, that is, the Stephen royal family, fell from power.

Only for certain reasons, the royal family had not been, or was unwilling to be, incorporated into the old covenant, thus avoiding complex constraints, but also thereby distancing themselves from that old history.

Only some absolutely secret records and this ancient map remained.

“But regardless…”

Recalling the ancient secrets he had inherited from his father just two years ago, looking at that novel sea region, the young emperor looked up at the governor and smiled: “When it’s time to divide the cake, the Empire must have the largest piece.”

“This is my only reason for accepting the invitation. I think you feel the same way, don’t you?”

To this, Naren nodded slightly, having no objection.

Though without guessing, he knew this feast with the new world as stakes would definitely involve the Southern Islands, Empire, and Federation as three joint participants.

But from any perspective, only Auran could be the main player.

This was also why he agreed and immediately returned to the capital to meet with the youth.

Relatively speaking, Caine’s role in this matter wasn’t that important—he just understood his father better, thus making the letter’s effect optimal.

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Just as had been demonstrated over this half day.

“Since it’s settled, then Uncle Naren, please go rest first. This journey must have been exhausting. As for this matter, there’s no need to rush arrangements.”

“When there’s progress on their end, they’ll surely send another letter.”

Following the young emperor’s suggestion, the governor took his leave, while the youth’s gaze returned to the ancient map, his gentle smile gradually fading.

Though the half day’s discussion had decided many things, he never thought this cake would be so easy to divide, because that Pirate King was still alive.

Curtis still clearly remembered how shocked he had been—nearly having all his old knowledge overturned—when he learned this news from his father and read through documents that even Auran’s most senior historians weren’t qualified to see.

He didn’t know whether Roy’s expedition could succeed, or what the scene would be after failure.

More importantly…

The youth’s finger on the map continued moving, like a bird sweeping across that empty sea, landing on the more eastern area where there were no lines at all.

Only blankness, pure blankness.

This place with no records, which even his father didn’t know about, actually had a…

Great civilization that would make even Auran pale in comparison?

What a tremendous “surprise.”