Captain – Chapter 712 – Farewell, Vision, and Departure

With the door opened wide, the proposal for aid naturally became a reality.

But there was no opening meeting, nor tedious voting. Both the general and detailed arrangements were all concise and clear, settled with just a few light words from the young woman.

The giant ship and everyone aboard, especially Roy and her father, would naturally remain to guard the door.

This was to prevent the present world’s fleet from immediately crashing into a tide of ghost ships upon arrival, suffering heavy losses before the battle even began, causing the barely gathered morale to instantly scatter.

Although given the current situation, that devil had no reason to take such a risky action, who knew whether that unpredictable fellow might suddenly go mad?

To guard against all possibilities, Roy and Gerard remaining to hold the position was the most suitable choice.

Conversely, those returning to the present world this time would naturally be the Nightmare King and the Ark. As for the letters to be sent, there would be three representatives of each party.

Richi, Caine, and Anderson.

According to that simple arrangement, they would split into two routes.

The Nightmare King would head to the islands, bringing Roy’s will and news of Captain Gerard’s return, while the Ark carrying Caine and Anderson would travel along the Federation’s western coastline, first delivering the ship’s doctor before continuing back to the Empire.

Of course, to let all three powers prepare, the real letters had to be sent first.

The Federation needn’t be mentioned—after the Ark’s first landing, the ship’s doctor naturally had ways to contact Federation spies, then inform the Anderson and Shelley families.

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The Empire would be more troublesome.

Due to certain considerations, Roy didn’t plan to use the Black Raven Society’s hidden channels without telling her first mate. If so, they could only take a detour through the islands.

So this time, the cold crow would travel with Richi. Before the Nightmare King arrived, it would inform the people of Providence of the general situation, then have that side send letters north.

Of course, actually speaking of letter delivery, Nidhogg was equally skilled. If they weren’t afraid of it alarming ordinary people, it could even handle a limited stretch of the journey.

But unfortunately, this time it had more important tasks and couldn’t roam freely.

The general process was like this, and the final result would depend only on the messengers.

It seemed that before that door showed activity, no one could predict whether what would come through would be only Roy and her father’s supporters, or the support of the entire western world.

Although the journey this time wouldn’t be as long and perilous as when they came, simple farewells were still necessary. So on the deck that had become more spacious after the crowd dispersed, the captain, first mate, and ship’s doctor still stood together, speaking softly.

However, it was mostly that pair of lovers talking, with Anderson making clicking sounds of admiration from the side.

And because this journey wasn’t like the past, where they had to face storms directly and separation might mean death, but was relatively safe, the farewell was nearing its end in a relaxed atmosphere.

After finishing their sweet words, Roy stepped forward and lightly embraced Caine, saying “take care.”

After separating slightly, she even gave him a light kiss openly before many watching eyes, causing the nearby ship’s doctor and Gerard in the distance to both look away.

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Their reasons and feelings were naturally different.

“Hey, I say, Captain, don’t you plan to give me a more formal farewell?”

After the two had finished their “lingering,” Anderson shifted his gaze back and asked teasingly under their gazes, though beneath his mischievous tone hid genuine reluctance.

“After all, you and he won’t take long to meet again, but I’m not so certain.”

Hearing the emotion in the ship’s doctor’s words and knowing his hidden meaning, Roy and her first mate exchanged glances and both smiled. Then the young woman left her lover’s embrace and stepped forward.

Coming before Anderson, Roy straightened his collar, then looked over his attire, confirming it had enough spirit before nodding with satisfaction.

Today he was acting out of character, not wearing the simple shirt similar to the crew members, but dressed in black from head to toe, holding an antique wooden cane in his hand.

As if he had transformed overnight from a ship’s doctor who wasn’t afraid of hardship and was dutiful and responsible, back into a pampered young master, back to how he was when the two first met him.

This was a transformation of identity, and what it meant couldn’t be clearer.

Just like he had said before, he was different from Caine. After this parting, meeting again wouldn’t be so simple, and many things would change.

But some things remained unchanged, like old friendships.

Just like those old men on the mountain peak, who still cherished the past despite the flow of time and changing circumstances.

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Watching the young woman express ritualistic closeness, the ship’s doctor’s smile didn’t diminish, but his face could no longer show its usual sharpness. He lightly tapped the ground with his cane and instructed: “Captain Roy, don’t forget to find another ship’s doctor after I leave.”

“Although I must say, finding someone as excellent as me will probably be impossible.”

Hearing this, Roy shook her head and laughingly scolded him with “still being glib at a time like this.”

To this, Anderson shrugged indifferently, but after a moment of silence, finally couldn’t suppress his feelings of departure and said softly: “Also, you two mustn’t forget me.”

“Otherwise all the grief I’ve suffered here and the money I’ve spent on you two will have been wasted.”

The young woman, who had been feeling somewhat moved by his earlier words, rolled her eyes at him after hearing this and said: “Rest assured, we’re not fish who forget things in a moment.”

“But you, go back and settle down. When you become family head, who knows, we might have matters that require troubling you in the future. Don’t drop the ball at crucial moments.”

After replying “How could that be possible, I’m so reliable,” Anderson gave Caine a look, indicating they should go, then tapped his cane and walked toward the side of the ship.

“Go on, be safe.”

Withdrawing her gaze from that future family head’s back, seeing her first mate looking over, Roy nodded slightly in instruction, then couldn’t help but add after thinking.

“Also, don’t feel too much pressure. Even if you can’t convince the young emperor, it’s fine. Think about our journey—haven’t we relied on ourselves the most?”

Saying “don’t worry,” Caine chased after the ship’s doctor who had turned around and was waving at him.

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Watching these two young men who had helped her the most in every way since returning from Devil’s Island, walking together side by side toward the end of the side rail, the captain’s gaze gradually softened. She asked the man who had come to her side: “My eye for people isn’t bad, right?”

Whether companions or beloved, they were all first-rate and trustworthy people.

One was the future Anderson family head, half the sun hanging in the Federation’s sky; one was the former Imperial Admiral, who might soon command vast fleets again as the new Lion King. And now, they would both sail far for her sake.

“Of course not bad. How could my daughter’s eye for people be poor?”

With important people about to journey far, Gerard naturally came to the young woman’s side, not leaving even a moment for loneliness. He looked at Caine and the other man, nodding approvingly and saying with a smile, his eyes showing undisguised appreciation.

“They, including your followers, especially that red-eyed little fellow, are all excellent, not inferior to the brilliant ones of the past.”

“Combined with those who will come, I believe we won’t repeat our predecessors’ mistakes.”

“Our world will ultimately be decided by us.”

The man’s calm words gradually spread, as if also dispersing some of the surrounding water mist, making the starlit seascape within that door increasingly clear and real.

Before long, everyone was in position. Accompanied by the cold crow’s reluctant yet excited calls, the Nightmare King and the Ark sailed toward the door under the pirates’ gaze.

And then… became scenery within the painting.