Captain – Chapter 678 – Blazing Bright as Torches

That large ship finally entered the ring island.

After that ship’s silhouette completely vanished into the mist and the abyss-like gorge entrance, Roy withdrew her gaze, leaned against the bow railing, and began waiting with lowered eyes.

At this point, the “bait” was in position, and this not-too-complex scheme had entered its proper course.

That invisible, intangible ship of the dead that followed them like a ghost at every moment could appear at any time, pushing this drama toward its most spectacular climax.

But until then, even the young woman who was already near the other shore could only continue waiting.

Waiting for that calculated… or arranged moment to arrive.

The interior of the ring-shaped reef was full of mist.

And whether due to the terrain or not, the fog within, though as still as a painting like the outside world, was much denser—as if layers of white veils hung before one’s eyes.

If not for the tower ship fleet’s discovery and exploration of this place during their initial probe into the mist, and their charting of the general terrain, the large ship would have long since struck hidden reefs.

Then been pushed by the occasional undercurrents to the center of the ring island, onto those “tombstones” literally piled up from sunken ships, becoming one among countless vengeful souls and tragedies.

Even so, this journey remained fraught with danger at every step.

Of course, when formulating the plan, everyone was well aware that these strange “traps” held no meaning for that ghostly ship. They only wanted to rely on the natural cage formed by the island to limit the opponent’s range of movement as much as possible.

That Crown Prince and his fleet had been in the Cursed Sea for twelve years.

Naturally, they had also fought that monster for a full twelve years.

Though all actions ultimately ended in failure, the sacrifices of countless retainers and soldiers still brought back valuable intelligence, including the ghostly ship’s weaknesses.

Such as its inability to come ashore.

And most fatally, once contaminated with the aura of the present world—such as fresh life—as long as it couldn’t shake it off, it couldn’t return to the mist.

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It would briefly become part of this world.

And this was the only opportunity they had to harm, and even destroy it.

There was no other way.

The times these eastern visitors came closest to success relied on using life force as bait, making that ship of the dead temporarily unable to depart from the world, battering it to pieces until it nearly perished. Only the method of using that “bait”… was truly too tragic.

In just those few battles alone, countless people died.

It was only after that Crown Prince learned of this and flew into a rage, issuing a prohibition, that this chapter was finally closed.

From then on, though casualties in each scheme were much reduced, and often the “bait” could even return safely, they grew ever more distant from that vision.

By several years ago, after that ghostly ship underwent strange changes, they could hardly see any chance of success.

This was what led to that resolution and the meeting with Roy’s group.

But this time, given the young man’s determination, this would very likely be the final act of both this expedition and his life—all chips, including that cruel method, would have to be used.

The officer who defied the death order to accompany him, and all the generals and soldiers on the ship, thought the same. They had even directly chosen this ring island as their battlefield.

Because it was originally the burial ground they had selected for that monster after several bloody battles.

Only that plan was rejected by the furious Crown Prince before it could be implemented.

Therefore, when discussing the specific battle plan for this expedition, the young man was not present—it was discussed between the generals and pirates, because they knew His Highness would not agree.

What they didn’t know was that afterward, the young man had also met with Roy.

They had discussed certain secret matters.

The large ship, top floor of the superstructure.

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That Crown Prince, the officer responsible for commanding the overall situation, and nearly half the generals all stood at the front, silently gazing at the mist before the ship. The atmosphere seemed very oppressive.

The young man stood further forward than everyone else, leaning against the railing, looking somewhat lonely.

But his usually calm and profound black eyes now contained something called “interest”—this rare fascination was naturally directed at that ghostly ship.

In fact, aside from the brief glimpse of that ghostly thing when the fleet first entered the mist, confirming that the imperial seal was aboard it, he had never left land.

Naturally, he’d had no chance to observe it closely. All the information he knew came from his subordinates’ reports.

Of course, this was all due to those remonstrations unto death and the earnest pleas of his retainers and brothers. But now, all those familiar people were gone.

So he had come.

Looking at the mist that had once enveloped the palace but gradually retreated to hover only in the north, the young man became somewhat lost in thought, thinking this should be the second time he’d seen that thing.

Very likely also the last time. He just didn’t know which way the outcome would ultimately lean.

And while the Crown Prince was lost in his own reflections, the generals behind him occasionally exchanged glances, conveying their thoughts. In the end, most looked toward the officer at the front.

Because he stood closest to the Crown Prince—if anyone were to persuade him, he would have the best chance.

The “persuasion” here referred to that plan—that nearly cold-blooded plan.

To protect His Highness, prevent that thing from approaching him, and keep the opponent firmly trapped in the present world—aside from relying on this giant ship, they would mainly have to depend on…

Human lives. Hundreds, even thousands of human lives.

When they came here—no, when they left their eastern homeland to follow His Highness to this barren land—all of them had prepared to face this moment.

They lacked neither courage nor loyalty. All they needed to do was convince him.

Rеαⅾ οո KαtReαⅾiոɡCαfе

But whether it was heaven playing a joke, just as the officer behind the young man took a deep breath and prepared to step forward to explain, a sudden change occurred.

Not the tolling of death bells and the arrival of the ghostly ship, but the Crown Prince at the front taking a step back.

Thus the building became even more silent.

“Your Highness?”

And the officer who had planned to reveal the truth and persuade the young man to accept this arrangement found his heavy words transform into a concerned gentle call.

But that Crown Prince didn’t reply, only continued gazing forward as before.

Gazing at those mists that drifted near, then scattered across his face without any sensation or moisture, and mixed within them, almost indistinguishable here…

Pale white ghostly fog.

Somewhat like clouds in ancient scrolls, but more like the bloodless fingers of malevolent spirits.

Reaching toward his body, wanting to hook away his soul.

When had it appeared?

Thinking this, the young man took another step back, sensing in all directions while silently wondering:

Where… are you?

The young man’s bloodline was unusual, his perception extraordinary. He was the first to notice the changes in environment and aura, but the generals startled by his actions felt nothing.

They only spread out slightly following his steps, then looked at each other in confusion.

Only the officer, who understood the secrets hidden in His Highness’s background and royal bloodline better than anyone present, immediately reacted after a moment of stunned surprise.

His pupils trembled slightly, then he quickly turned and shouted loudly, signaling everyone to prepare for battle, before his gaze returned to the young man—tense but not daring to speak aloud.

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He knew that thing should have already arrived, but didn’t know exactly where it was hiding.

And moreover… why was there no bell sound?

Clearly, every time that thing appeared, it never concealed the sound of death bells or its form, always approaching head-on, arrogant as if it nothing in this world could oppose it.

But why was this time different?

As the officer’s thoughts raced, the young man who had been concentrating fully on searching for that ghostly thing’s location finally had an answer. So he stopped retreating and turned sideways instead.

Looking toward the mist outside the tower ship’s side.

That patch of mist, originally calm as a mirror, had now become countless times denser and began drifting and churning restlessly, with giant shadows faintly moving within.

But soon, that area returned to silence again, as if nothing had happened, as if the monster that had already entered the world had hidden back in the mist after being discovered.

The bodies of the generals and officers on this floor all stiffened with tension. Even after the mist settled again, they didn’t relax, only carefully looked toward the young man.

As if wanting to ask: Has it left?

But what chilled them was that the Crown Prince continued calmly gazing at the side rail, not blinking even once, the coldness and mockery in his eyes growing ever stronger.

As if certain that thing was right there, and issuing it a silent declaration of war.

So after a brief deathly silence, that patch of mist began flowing rapidly, dispersing in all directions.

Then, in the young man’s pitch-black eyes…

Another eye was reflected, somewhat larger than the height of one floor of the superstructure.

Within it blazed light like torches, as if the blazing sun.