Captain – Chapter 68 – The Captain is Playing with Fire

“It’s been about a month since we left Frans Island, hasn’t it?”

Although this twin-masted merchant vessel was fully equipped with basic necessities, it had no dedicated ballroom for entertainment, nor any bands to perform music. Thus, in the captain’s quarters, apart from the quick rhythm of dancing footsteps, only the conversation between the captain and her first mate served as accompaniment.

Hearing her first mate’s question, Roy reluctantly turned her head, meeting those ocean-blue eyes: “Thirty-two days.”

“If there are no major deviations, we should reach Yadris in another two months. Do you have any plans, Captain?”

Caine guided the young woman through a gentle half-turn, feeling the slightly warm sea breeze blowing in through the porthole as he asked in a soft tone.

“Plans? None.”

Roy lowered her eyelids in thought for a moment, then shook her head lightly: “It’s not like we’re doing something major that requires such meticulous planning. We’ll just improvise.”

Upon hearing this, Caine’s dance steps faltered, but he quickly matched the young woman’s rhythm again: “But the Mermaid is hardly a small fish that can be easily dealt with. As its former captain, you must understand this. If we were to directly confront them…”

“So what? Caine, you’re not afraid, are you?”

The captain interrupted her first mate’s warning, challenging him with a provocative gaze.

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The young man ignored the captain’s taunts and continued calmly: “If the Mermaid’s fighting strength doesn’t differ much from the information collected by the imperial military, forgive my frankness, but in a direct confrontation, we don’t stand a chance.”

“Tch, don’t put too much faith in the military’s judgment. You should know that in this Eastern Sea, in this industry concerning pirates, even if all the military strategists of Auran were combined, they might not match up to me.”

Roy clearly held her first mate’s former employer in contempt. Following the young man’s extended arm, she drew closer, gently wrapping her hands around his neck. Their bodies were now pressed together, faces almost touching.

“Pirates aren’t naval officers, and they certainly don’t follow established disciplines. To make such ferocious people—who would use skulls as drinking cups—obey, apart from severe punishment for fundamental violations, what you rely on is personal authority and strength.”

“Whoever is strongest, their word becomes the discipline. Do you understand, my first mate?”

The captain’s pupils showed no emotion, filled only with a tiger-like dominance.

The young woman’s gentle breath brushed against his face. Caine remained silent for a moment, releasing his hand from her shoulder, watching this captain—who could be as beautiful as an angel one moment and as terrifying as a devil the next—move away again: “Understood, Captain.”

“If this journey truly leads us to encounter the Mermaid and meet that little troublemaker, then you should congratulate me for taking a significant step forward on the path to my comeback.”

As the imperial court dance ended, Roy stopped, her fair face breaking into a signature smile: “After all, I don’t believe he would still have the courage to defy me after seeing me.”

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“In that case, what fate awaits the Blood-Eyed Butcher?” Caine asked, with specific implications.

Seeing through her first mate’s thoughts, Roy smiled mischievously: “What outcome would you prefer for him?”

“Everything naturally depends on the captain’s wishes.” The first mate’s answer could not have been more perfect.

Feeling the young man’s hand still not releasing from her waist, Roy’s dark golden pupils flashed with playfulness. She didn’t urge her first mate to let go as usual, but instead drew closer once more, her slender fingers climbing one by one up his chest.

“As for how to deal with traitors, we pirates naturally have corresponding measures… Marooning, have you heard of it?”

Their posture became increasingly intimate as Roy actively moved closer. If the previous embrace and cheek-to-cheek could be considered a step in the imperial court dance, then this time it symbolized a certain attitude from the captain.

Gazing at the exquisite face so close to his own, and the soft, wave-like emotions rippling in those golden eyes, Caine instinctively lowered his voice: “Of course. A secluded island known to no one, and a pistol with just a single bullet.”

“Yes, considering our years of friendship, I’ll give him the best gun from the Mermaid, and abandon him on an island with the highest chance of encountering merchant ships. And the position of the future first mate of the Mermaid will of course be yours, my dear.”

This time, the captain’s term of endearment no longer included the words “first mate,” naturally carrying a different meaning.

The young woman’s hand was restless, sliding over the first mate’s chest and slowly caressing his well-defined face, causing Caine’s eye to twitch slightly.

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“Captain, stop fooling around.” The first mate’s expression finally showed some discomfort due to the captain’s behavior.

“What’s wrong, don’t you like this? I thought… if I were more proactive, you would find it easier to accept.”

Roy paused with perfect timing, then revealed a hint of apology, as if worried she might have angered the young man.

“Why would you think that?” Seeing her reaction, Caine hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly, asking with a bitter smile.

“Why else? The Governor said you’ve been shy since childhood. Expecting you to say these things yourself would be almost impossible, so Captain me might as well unveil this layer of gauze personally.” Roy’s cheek gradually drew closer, and both could feel the other’s warm breath.

“Are you… serious?” Caine still had his doubts.

“Of course. Actually, it’s not just you. From our first meeting, relying on each other on that lonely island, to our journey to Frans Island, I discovered that I…”

At this point, Roy bit her lower lip as if somewhat embarrassed, but her tone remained firm, as if she had made up her mind: “I discovered that I had unknowingly fallen in love with you.”

“Can you understand my feelings? It’s as if the Auran Goddess truly exists. When I experienced the greatest change in my life, feeling lost and directionless, fate sent you to my side, dispelling the fog ahead and preventing me from sinking into confusion. Looking back now, it all still feels unreal, like a dream.”

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“I dare not say that what we’ve experienced is soul-stirring, nor dare I say that being together would be a good choice, but what I want to say is, if you can accept my feelings, I will never regret it for a moment. So let us be in love, my love.”

The faces of the captain and first mate drew even closer, and just as Roy had anticipated, those azure eyes revealed intense emotions, filled with struggle, longing, hesitation, and…

A smirk?

Roy blinked, noticing the mischievous smile spreading across her first mate’s face. For a moment, she couldn’t quite react, unsure of what had gone wrong with her series of actions.

Seeing the captain’s puzzled expression, the smile on Caine’s face grew a bit wider: “Captain, using the second paragraph of Carina’s monologue from Act Three of ‘The Nightingale’s Low Cry’ to tease me? Do you really think I’m so shallow and ignorant?”

“Uh…”

Seeing that her prank had failed, Roy’s mouth twitched, forcing an awkward smile: “It seems you know a bit more than those young ladies. Since you’ve seen through me, how about letting me go now?”

Without realizing when, Caine’s hand had already cupped the young woman’s face, as he slowly lowered his head, his voice lingering by Roy’s ear like a dream whisper.

“That won’t do, after all, you’re the one playing with fire, Captain.”