Captain – Chapter 713 – Separation, Grand Plan, and Carriage

On the other side of the door, in what was once the depths of the Death Silence Triangle.

Also being the end of the world, the great waterfall that was inverted in height compared to that “wall” in the far north suddenly changed, with its mirror-like water curtain continuously rippling.

Like countless pebbles falling into the sea.

And within those undulations and turbulence, two vague warship silhouettes appeared and disappeared, gradually approaching as time flowed, with the sound of breaking water growing louder.

“Bang!”

Finally, accompanied by simultaneous explosions, the great waterfall, which remained peaceful even when specters manifested, suddenly burst open two similarly sized holes.

In the rain curtain formed by splashing water, the Nightmare King and the Ark revealed their forms.

But when the water droplets finished falling and the waterfall returned to tranquility, everyone on board was surprised to discover that they and the deck, which should have been soaked through, remained dry as before, without even a trace of moisture.

Only now did people vaguely guess that what flowed in the waterfall wasn’t real water, but more like some kind of manifestation of divine grace, similar to the giant ship’s power source.

But this wasn’t the most shocking thing.

What truly left the pirates, and even the slow-witted water ghosts, unable to recover for a long time was that sense of displacement—time flowing quietly while space changed dramatically in an instant.

Yes, in their perception, returning from the old sea was a matter of blinking an eye.

And what made this feeling real was that starry sky with its solitary moon, exactly matching their memories, with even the distribution of light clouds unchanged.

This feeling was miraculous, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the urgency of bearing heavy responsibilities.

So gradually, the pirates came to their senses and looked toward the important figures ahead.

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“I have to say, going to sea with you all was truly the most correct choice I’ve ever made. Being able to see those monsters and have such experiences was really thrilling.”

“There will never be such opportunities again.”

Using the hand not gripping his cane to wipe his face and finding no moisture on it, the ship’s doctor finally came to his senses. He spoke to Caine, who had finished giving orders to the crew and returned, his tone full of emotion but without regret.

These few years were what that old man had allowed him through turning a blind eye—his greatest and final indulgence before returning home to marry and assume his position.

Having personally experienced so many miraculous things, what more could he be dissatisfied with?

If he had to mention something, it would be not bringing along an artist to record all this.

Not knowing how to respond to such sentiments, Caine only patted the ship’s doctor’s shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look, then walked to the side rail and raised his hand in signal.

This counted as bidding farewell to the Nightmare King.

It wasn’t until the sea breeze filled the sails and the two warships had separated by quite a distance, becoming black dots in each other’s vision, that Anderson figured out the meaning of that look.

He said irritably: “I’m not going to prison, I’m going back to become the family head, okay?”

But what responded to him was still that same sympathetic look.

The warships gradually sailed away under the starlight, and the ship’s doctor’s annoyed words and Caine’s occasional sarcastic remarks became increasingly faint, gradually fading into the peaceful sound of waves.

It seemed that even with separation approaching, this pair of adversaries had no intention of changing.

As if they were still like when they first met and every moment they spent together, bickering over trivial matters.

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And time also flowed gradually through their daily quarrels.

During this period, the Ark sailed diagonally upward, and within ten-odd days encountered Federation warships on routine patrol. Although it wasn’t recognized as Captain Gerard’s vessel due to the passage of time, they nearly got detained for flying no flag.

Of course, if they hadn’t removed the black flag in advance, the trouble they encountered might have been even greater.

After confirming their identity documents, those military men’s suspicion and vigilance naturally disappeared, and they escorted them to the westernmost port of the Federation.

The Ark accordingly stopped there for several days, replenishing food and water while also sending a letter through the Anderson family’s secret channels to Hipalia.

Whether due to concerns about certain conspiracy theories or wanting to spend more time with this first mate who they couldn’t see eye to eye with but could also be considered a close friend, Anderson refused the Federation military’s escort offer and continued eastward with the pirates.

But even the longest journey has an end.

After who knows how many cycles of sun and moon, that magnificent port city guarded by ring-shaped reefs finally came into view as their speed gradually slowed.

The parting came on a clear night.

The small boat tied with ropes had already been lowered to deck height, but the elegantly dressed young master at the side rail didn’t immediately board to escape that annoying fellow.

Instead, he lightly patted the ship’s rail, turned his body, and asked Caine: “Hey, now that we’re really parting, don’t you have any… sentimental words to say to me?”

Looking at the ship’s doctor’s complex, hopeless eyes, the first mate was silent for a long time before managing to say: “Bow your head when you should, just like on the ship.”

This was certainly no longer sarcasm, though it sounded very much like it.

The meaning was simply that when meeting Mr. Rowell, he shouldn’t stubbornly argue with him and ruin the captain’s grand plan. However… it also had another layer of meaning.

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That is, if the pressure encountered—economic, networking, especially safety pressure—became too great, he might as well bow his head first to those making threats.

When Roy and he learned of it, they would naturally help him vent his anger.

Hearing this, Anderson smiled bitterly: “Are all your sweet words to the captain like this?”

“Alright, I understand. You take care of yourself and don’t mess things up.”

After saying this, the ship’s doctor boarded the wooden boat, smiled and waved at Caine, gradually disappearing below the ship’s rail. Before long, the Ark slowly turned and parted ways with the small boat.

It wasn’t until that warship—though not the Mermaid, it seemed to carry these few years of time and memories—disappeared at the island ring’s exit that Anderson suddenly realized.

Not to mention being a companion, they hadn’t even left him a single oar.

Although he wouldn’t drift on the inland sea for a lifetime, he was still quite displeased.

Before long, the family’s escort ships, having already learned of the young master’s return, quickly surrounded them, picked up Anderson, and sent him into the grand city.

Returning to land bustling with human voices and burning with the fire of civilization, and to his long-missed hometown, the ship’s doctor smiled with complex emotions. Leaning on his cane with both hands without moving, he only gazed distantly at that clock tower, as if appreciating a precious collectible.

And indeed, not just that landmark building, but all of Hipalia and the family’s influence hidden beneath the sea surface would ultimately belong to him.

But before that, he had to handle that cake matter perfectly.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this was also what the old man intended.

Without waiting too long, accompanied by the snorting of warhorses, that dark gray carriage drove out along the shadows and stopped before the quietly contemplating Anderson.

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“Welcome home, young master.”

At the same time, old butler Theodore’s laughter, somewhat hoarse with age but still spirited, came from beside the carriage, rarely showing undisguised joy.

The old man quickly stepped forward, but this time, he changed to the other side of the carriage.

So the old butler no longer needed to avoid the carriage window, but gently opened the door of the dark gray carriage, respectfully inviting him to board. What surprised the ship’s doctor even more was…

The gauze curtains swayed slightly inside the carriage, candlelight flickered, yet his own old master wasn’t sitting there.

This was specially to pick him up?

But one should know that according to family tradition, this carriage was a symbol of the family head. Even if some distinguished persons could board, that required the old man’s approval first.

There was never precedent for receiving guests alone, and given his father’s temperament, exceptions were impossible.

So there was only one meaning.

“Isn’t this too hasty? I’m not going to run away again.”

Thinking this, Anderson collected his emotions and muttered helplessly.

But in the end, he still boarded the carriage, his movements showing not a trace of hesitation.

A moment later, the carriage door closed silently, the gauze curtains stopped fluttering, the candlefire gradually steadied, and the dark gray carriage drove back into the shadows, soon blending into the night until it could no longer be distinguished.