Captain – Chapter 675 – Imperial Seal

The self-mockery in the young man’s cold words was clear to Roy’s ears, but she had no intention of asking about it.

That was probably a very complicated story.

Involving human hearts, imperial power, and even great righteousness—it would certainly be fascinating and captivating, but the problem was that for the young woman, it was merely another variation of repetition.

Because she had already experienced many such things and was still trapped within them even now.

Why bother listening to such tedium again?

Therefore, after the Crown Prince finished expressing his stance and fell into silence, Roy took over the conversation and said bluntly: “Your speculation is correct. My ancestor and I can indeed be considered mortal enemies.”

“And I’ve come here not only to deal with that broken ship, but also to end his life and history. From this perspective, we do have reason to join forces.”

“This is why we’re having this meeting.”

Picking up the wine pot, the captain fumbled with it for quite a while before successfully refilling her cup. After taking a sip, she said: “But there’s one more thing—I don’t like complications.”

“Whether in negotiations or combat. So please get to the point from here on.”

With those words, Roy said no more, only raising her small cup slightly toward the other party.

Indicating that he should proceed to the main topic and try to persuade her.

Though the young woman’s direct words were brief and didn’t tear away all the veils surrounding this negotiation, the Crown Prince understood all the hidden meanings within them.

The word “complications” wasn’t difficult to interpret.

In negotiations, it meant she didn’t want to hear old stories or more meaningless emotional outpourings, and when it came to combat… it simply meant she didn’t want to be burdened with dead weight.

But in other words, this was tantamount to asking what bargaining chips he had that could attract her.

Or threaten that ship of the dead.

Perhaps having anticipated this scene, faced with the captain’s calm yet blade-like questioning, the young man across from her only pondered for a moment before beginning his explanation.

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His words were incredibly clear and organized, as if he were drawing a leaf before Roy’s eyes.

The veins were complex, yet connected without confusion.

First came the objective.

“When the envoy went to see you earlier, he had already conveyed my intentions, but you probably only know that I came for that ship, not knowing my true desire.”

“In fact, what I seek is a certain object hidden within it, and I don’t care much about whether it’s Prince Deming’s claw or what fate it will face.”

Though the young man used these words to distance himself from the hatred between Roy and her ancestor, this didn’t make the captain feel uncomfortable or alienated.

Rather, she became much more willing to accept and trust him.

After all, for pirates, shared enmity was far less solid than an alliance of interests. This negotiation, or rather this transaction, was inherently about each party getting what they needed.

So after the Crown Prince finished speaking, Roy asked at the right moment: “What is it that you seek?”

“An imperial seal.”

In this candid negotiation that was filled more with cold rationality, the young man had no intention of keeping secrets. After speaking plainly, he added: “In the dynasty’s legends, it contains supreme national fortune—whoever obtains it can sit upon the highest throne.”

“Only long ago, it was stolen by a foreign guest.”

“No one knows where it’s buried.”

This was naturally official talk, and presumably those legends were spread by certain interested parties.

And Roy, who was already one of the “protagonists” of these old stories, understood without explanation that the foreign guest was her ancestor, and the burial place was naturally the ship of the dead.

She also vaguely guessed that the so-called “theft” could definitely not be the truth.

The answer was soon revealed, coming from the Crown Prince’s own mouth.

“You and I both know that the legend is false, merely used to deceive those who don’t know the truth.”

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“In reality, that imperial seal… was personally handed to Prince Deming by my father the emperor.”

Thinking of the old history and truth he had spent countless effort, energy, and nearly paid with his life to uncover, the young man’s eyes couldn’t help but fill with emotion.

Because that was the real reason he had come here and endured twelve long years.

“Though I have no way to make time flow backward and personally hear the agreement those two reached in their secret talks, I know some of the hidden details.”

“That imperial seal is not a state artifact, nor some symbolic luxury item, but the vessel for my father’s magical power within his body, the source of the royal bloodline curse.”

“Only by obtaining it can I have a chance to advance further, or make him fall from his divine pedestal.”

At this point, the reason this Crown Prince would leave his homeland and expedition against the ghostly ship became clear, and in his subsequent narrative, Roy confirmed her guess.

He was indeed a “discarded piece”—no, perhaps he should be called a fearless challenger of authority?

In some ways, this Crown Prince’s circumstances were actually somewhat similar to her own.

Of course, the young man’s “laying all cards on the table” also let the captain know that these dozen or so warships were his remaining strength, while also using the phrase “the eastern gate has never opened, my father the emperor cannot influence this place” to resolve her concerns.

Having said this much, the Crown Prince had already given Roy sufficient reason to believe in their cooperation.

So… only the bargaining chips remained.

And when the young man, after a long silence, spoke a short phrase that was also the greatest capital he had planned to throw out before this expedition, even the captain was slightly stunned.

She then instinctively turned to make eye contact with Caine, who stood slightly behind to the side.

Both could see the surprise in the other’s eyes.

And the officer who had been silent all along, suppressing his displeasure, also changed expression drastically when those words fell, unable to contain his emotions any longer: “Your Highness, absolutely not!”

But faced with the young man’s silent stance, he ultimately trembled his lips and withdrew his words.

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Knowing that things had reached this point, any persuasion would be meaningless.

And that was originally the only method they had to lure out that ghostly ship for decisive battle.

The short phrase that made the officer lose color and caused the young woman to agree after contemplation…

Was “I’ll be the bait.”

That ship of the dead, even if acting purely on instinct, was definitely not an ignorant fool. It would only take risks that posed little threat and had room for escape.

Or venture into situations that, while having some possibility of being trapped, offered unimaginable rewards.

From this perspective, this Crown Prince was indeed the best bait.

But the risk was equally enormous.

However, no matter what, this negotiation finally settled with Roy’s “Deal,” and from then on, both sides could truly be considered companions.

The meeting concluded with a favorable outcome, and the hidden battle at sea wouldn’t need to be fought.

The “endgame” on the isolated island had dedicated personnel to handle it, and the relevant battle plans and voyage routes would only be determined after separate or joint meetings between both sides.

The two small boats naturally embarked on their return journey.

However, after reaching cooperation, though there was no need to worry about how to seek out the ship of the dead, Roy’s face showed no signs of much relaxation.

The young woman gazed at the sea surface glimmering with pale golden ripples, appearing quite absent-minded.

“What’s wrong, Captain? Are you dissatisfied with this arrangement?”

Seeing this, Caine asked with concern.

Though during this negotiation, he, like that officer, had remained silent, serving more as a witness, he still couldn’t find any fault with the agreement reached.

Because the real risk didn’t fall on their side—it looked good no matter how you viewed it.

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But the young woman seemed to have other thoughts.

“No, I’m very satisfied.”

Hearing this, Roy shifted her gaze to look at her first mate, gently shaking her head as she spoke.

But immediately after, she added: “I just feel… this was a bit too easy, like when you’re sleepy and someone just happens to bring you a pillow.”

Originally they could only follow the night, moving forward all the way.

Perhaps they’d encounter that ghostly ship, perhaps they’d miss it, but now they essentially had a guide, and one who had come to them seeking cooperation.

No matter how you looked at it, something seemed off.

Thinking this was her intuition, or what could now be called the sixth sense of a “divine being,” the first mate’s gaze sharpened slightly as he asked gravely: “Do you think this is another conspiracy?”

Having already seen and even personally stepped into that devil’s arrangements back in the present world, he knew how terrifying that person’s schemes could be, wondering if this was yet another repetition—if those eastern people had perhaps been unknowingly manipulated again.

But to this, Roy still shook her head: “No, this isn’t a pre-arranged coincidental meeting.”

“Methods like my ancestor’s past schemes can hardly deceive me anymore.”

“I just… have a bad feeling.”

Her hands gripping the boat’s railings on both sides gradually tightened as the young woman gazed toward the distant horizon, looking at that seemingly bright clear sky, and said in a low voice: “Because regarding both our arrival and that ship of the dead, my ancestor has made no moves whatsoever.”

“He’s too quiet, quiet like he’s already given up, already planning to calmly face his fate.”

“But you and I both know he’s not that kind of person, and will never become that kind of person. That leaves only one explanation—he’s already…”

“Made preparations to face us.”

Already holding victory in his grasp.