Captain – Chapter 71 – The Victoria

Those who could be recognized by Captain Enzo were all important figures with resounding reputations across both sides of the ocean.

Therefore, after having his background and surname revealed, Roy was extremely surprised and asked with flattered amazement: “Yes, Captain, but how do you know these things?”

The slightly damp sea breeze stirred Enzo’s black hair as he gripped the slowly turning helm with his left hand, gazing into the dense, impenetrable white fog ahead of the Ghost Scythe, and smiled: “I know everything about everyone who has ever come aboard the Ghost Scythe.”

“I see…”

The Ghost Scythe was so large, normally carrying eight hundred if not a thousand people. To remember everyone’s background and surname would require what kind of powerful memory?

Thinking of this, the admiration in the young boy’s eyes grew even stronger, feeling that Captain Enzo was truly the most remarkable figure among all pirates.

Of course, this thought was easily cast aside after meeting the Great Captain later, and after successfully becoming the captain of a three-masted warship himself, he believed Enzo had been simply making things up back then.

Just remembering the information of core members was challenging enough; who would have the leisure to remember the identity of every sailor?

Enzo certainly wouldn’t spend effort understanding every person who had boarded the Ghost Scythe. He had merely found a random excuse to fob off the young boy in front of him, because he knew deeply how curious this little fellow was. If he allowed him to pursue the matter to its roots, it would probably take a day and night to explain clearly.

So the captain chose the simplest solution, which was… not to explain.

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“Well, now that you know the secret of how I can guide the Ghost Scythe through the mist, is your little curiosity satisfied?” Enzo glanced at the young boy whose face was full of admiration, and asked gently.

For some reason, Roy detected a hint of fondness in this unfamiliar captain’s tone. He blinked and thought for a moment, but couldn’t find an answer, assuming it was simply this legendary pirate’s naturally good temperament.

So the young boy fully exploited his advantage as a pest, pestering him: “No, no, no, Captain, I want to know more.”

“What? You’re already fourteen years old, and you still need someone to tell you stories to coax you to sleep?” Enzo’s attitude toward the young boy was almost indulgent. It’s worth noting that this captain had always been known for his coldness and fearsome nature—when had he ever been so gentle?

It could only be said that Roy was very lucky. Due to certain past events, and also because of some harmless misunderstanding, this created this wondrous and interesting encounter.

Looking at the ingratiating smile on Roy’s face, Enzo shook his head helplessly and smiled: “Well then, tell me, what else do you want to know?”

With his scheme succeeding, Roy immediately became excited. He looked expectantly at the captain: “Captain, I want to know what exactly we’re looking for on this voyage?”

Although legends about the white fog had long been commonplace, their versions were varied and bizarre, making it impossible to sort out the truth. As for its true origin, and the treasures and secrets contained within, looking across the three pirate ships, probably only a dozen captains knew the truth.

Such confidential information, even with Ilias’s favor, Roy would not have known the slightest bit. Now with such a great opportunity, he certainly didn’t want to miss it.

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As if not expecting the little one’s appetite to be so large, Enzo was slightly startled, then smiled bitterly: “That’s truly a good question, but this isn’t much of a secret between us, so there’s no harm in telling you.”

“The Eternal Ship, the Victoria—have you heard of it?”

Roy had certainly heard these two terms. This was the most bizarre and also the most attractive to him among the dozen or so legends about the white fog.

According to legend, hundreds of years ago, in the era when Ancestor Edward still lived, the third emperor of the Auran Empire personally commanded the imperial navy and engaged in a battle lasting three days and three nights with the vast fleet commanded by the Pirate King in a location in the Eastern Seas. The vessel beneath him was the Victoria.

That battle was deafening with cannon fire, referred to as the Empire’s Twilight Battle. The powerful Pirate King led a fleet far smaller than the Empire’s, yet with overwhelming advantage, shattered that emperor’s hope of reclaiming the ocean, burying hundreds of imperial warships, including the Victoria, at sea, achieving unparalleled fame.

From then on, the golden age of pirates began and has continued until now.

Records of that battle had long been buried by time, and regarding the reason why Ancestor Edward defeated the imperial fleet, ancient scholars have offered their own insights.

Some believed it was because His Majesty was overconfident, causing the fleet to fall into a trap set by the Pirate King. Some believed it was because traitors appeared within the Empire, leaking secrets to Captain Edward in advance, which created such a grand victory. Others believed it was due to Captain Edward’s extraordinary leadership abilities…

Various speculations had their reasons, and all had found evidence that, while not comprehensive, was sufficiently strong. Only one speculation had never been acknowledged by any scholar and was only circulated among the pirates of the Southern Islands.

That was that Ancestor Edward opened Annisdora’s Box, releasing disaster and curses back to the sea, thus destroying the imperial fleet in one strike, and eternally cursing the Victoria, which served as the flagship of the fleet, sealing it in endless mist, never to be released.

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This speculation was too bizarre, even to the point where it could be called a legend, and naturally no one would believe it, except…

Certain powerful and insane individuals.

“Could it… could it be…”

Roy widened his eyes, filled with disbelief. He swallowed and asked with difficulty: “Is that legend true?”

“Countless legends circulate at sea. Some are lies fabricated by people with ulterior motives, while others are truths lost at sea for too long without being discovered.”

Enzo patted the pouch containing the pendant: “Like this skull forged from moonstone, imbued with powerful magic. So congratulations, little one, you’ve guessed correctly. The target of our journey is that eternally trapped Victoria, and the curse of immortality that surrounds it.”

“Immortality…”

Roy murmured softly, suddenly feeling a kind of inexplicable fear, as if merely uttering these four words had already offended some possibly existing deities.

This is also why in ordinary stories, immortality is a curse, not a blessing.

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Suddenly, the young boy saw a beam of silvery white light. That light was extremely cold, gently falling from the sky above, illuminating the face of the captain before him, as well as those amethyst-like eyes.

What light is this?

Roy looked up and discovered that the sky, which had been shrouded in white fog, had somehow split open a crack, and behind that crack, a moon could vaguely be seen.

A silvery white full moon.

“Look, child, we’re almost there.”

Hearing the captain’s reminder, Roy shifted his gaze from the full moon. Following the captain’s line of sight, he saw a spectacle that would be difficult to forget in this lifetime.

The white fog in front of the bow gradually thinned, beginning to disperse to both sides. At the end of the white fog, the brilliant moonlight transformed into a guiding lamp, showering upon that magnificent massive vessel, even more majestic than the Ghost Scythe, illuminating the black eagle flag that symbolized the Auran Empire!

Roy uttered its name almost like a moan, his face as pale as if covered with frost.

“The eternal… Victoria.”