Captain – Chapter 721 – Setting Forth Fully Equipped

West, the great waterfall…

Hearing these words, the bewilderment in Merri’s eyes deepened. After hesitating for a moment, he said: “But Marshal, according to military reconnaissance, that’s a dead end.”

Though they knew little about the conspiracy Roy’s group had stepped into or the terrifying specters they had encountered, that tsunami which had destroyed the Death Silence Triangle and made the entire western sea treacherous could hardly be concealed from the Empire.

Therefore, after learning of this disaster from various sources, Auran immediately dispatched several expedition ships toward that region that had originally been a dead zone.

Then they received even more shocking news.

That desperate place which had been shrouded in black fog and storms for centuries…

Had simply vanished, leaving only peaceful water mist.

At the end of the mist stood the great waterfall.

Afterward, before Caine’s return, Auran’s military had made many attempts around that waterfall, but the conclusions they reached were all the same.

Whether viewed from the front or above, this was an insurmountable wall.

The true end of the world.

So why would the three-party fleets travel so far to specifically rendezvous before that waterfall?

Wasn’t this completely contradictory?

Facing the admiral’s instinctive questioning born from confusion, Caine pondered for a long time but still didn’t know how to explain, only saying “you’ll understand when the time comes.”

Watching Merri walk away with doubts to notify the signal officers and announce the temporary change of arrangements, Caine shook his head helplessly and turned back toward the bow.

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He didn’t explain not because that door had been opened by the former Great Captain, which might cause some resistance, but because Auran’s soldiers…

Were the most absolute atheists.

To make them believe those myths truly existed—not just a few words, but even dozens of meetings and lectures would struggle to achieve this.

Caine felt this deeply himself.

For such determined materialists who believed in ships and cannons, only witnessing the truth with their own eyes could make them abandon old concepts.

From this perspective, those Federation fellows would be more likely to accept this transformation.

However, as long as transcendent power was displayed before their eyes from this moment, combined with that door, presumably the Empire’s elite would quickly adapt.

After all, as he had once said, when it came to fleets, Auran had always been the strongest.

Whether facing people or ghosts.

With this thought, Caine hesitated no more and made his decision.

Since the original plan to rendezvous with the Federation and then use the water ghosts on the Nightmare King to transform the soldiers’ concepts had fallen through, then let it begin now.

“Marshal, everything has been communicated.”

Before long, Merri finished delivering orders and returned to the bow.

Though the destination had changed, the first part of the route didn’t need much alteration.

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They would still first turn toward Hipalia’s great port, and the subsequent route could be discussed and decided en route. However, regarding the supplies mentioned in the meetings…

After reporting, Merri thought about how the food and water prepared for this journey probably wouldn’t be enough for hundreds of days of consumption by four fleets. With the Federation fleet having departed first, he wondered whether Hipalia would still honor the agreement, and couldn’t help but feel somewhat worried.

He even wondered if that so-called agreement was simply something Caine had made up.

Though this thought was quite disrespectful, given the importance of the matter, the admiral still decided to ask clearly before departure. After all, losing some face privately was better than…

But just as Merri took a deep breath, preparing to inquire, he suddenly held back his words.

Because after learning everything was ready, Caine showed not the slightest hesitation, but stepped forward to stand beside the eagle-shaped figurehead.

He surveyed the familiar coastline and familiar sea, very much like a lion king about to journey far.

There wasn’t half a sign of being trapped.

So the admiral knew he had been overthinking.

But thinking about it, with the young master’s strategic ability, how could he make such a mistake?

Thinking silently, Merri’s mood gradually settled, and he only solemnly watched Caine’s back, waiting to receive his orders. But the next moment his calm was shattered again.

Because after a brief silence, having organized his emotions, the young man beside the figurehead slightly raised his hand, grasped the hilt at his waist, and then calmly gave the order.

“All forces, depart.”

Such a plain, natural command naturally couldn’t shock Merri. What truly stunned him was that the voice didn’t seem to come from ahead.

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But had suddenly sounded right beside his ear.

When Merri turned around and looked at the other crew members and soldiers on nearby warships, seeing their astonished expressions, he realized it wasn’t just that.

That command… had sounded in everyone’s ears.

What on earth was happening?

Just like Caine’s reaction when he first went to sea with Roy and encountered those strange and eerie phenomena, all soldiers, generals, and even Admiral Merri, who already showed some of the bearing of the Howard father and son from years past, fell into a daze.

It wasn’t until people either recognized or learned from their superiors’ and others’ reactions that this was Caine’s voice that the stalled warships began to stir.

It must be said that Auran soldiers’ qualities in all aspects were indeed terrifyingly strong.

Facing the military order in their ears, after confirming its source, though still bewildered, they still executed it meticulously. Hundreds of warships set sail and left port.

After sailing into sufficiently spacious waters, they began forming up and heading westward.

Of course, during this process, or rather immediately after hearing that command, the Ark reacted fastest—the pirates were already familiar with such procedures.

However, after raising sails and weighing anchor, following alongside the Pilgrimage as they went to sea together, Wyatt and the crew members all focused their attention on what they held in their hands.

In the pirates’ hands, or on some people’s bodies and heads, were azure military uniforms and military caps, obviously recently delivered by the Imperial military.

Because it wasn’t until the meetings concluded and the expedition was about to begin that the various generals remembered them.

In the generals’ view, this flagless three-masted warship of decent construction was naturally a supporter of the new marshal, so it should now belong to the Empire.

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Hence the distribution of military uniforms and flags.

But for the pirates, this was awkward to the extreme.

Though their stance could change due to interests at any time, and they felt no guilt about such matters, having to wear Auran uniforms and fly Imperial flags to become part of these four fleets still inevitably created a sense of upheaval.

Like a wanderer suddenly transformed into nobility.

“Alright, stop overthinking and put them on first.”

Meeting the pirates’ gazes, Wyatt sighed, putting on the military uniform and donning the colonel-rank cap and insignia while saying to them with a bitter smile.

Seeing some still struggling, particularly those who had followed Enzo and were most at odds with Imperial military power figures, Wyatt helplessly persuaded: “Right now we’re under their roof, so let’s just play the part if we can.”

“When we rendezvous with the Islands’ fleet, we can transfer over then.”

Hearing this, those people felt it made sense and began changing uniforms.

Wyatt, properly dressed in military uniform and wearing a solemn expression, truly looked somewhat like an officer. After glancing at the Pilgrimage, he cast his gaze southward.

Wondering how preparations were going on the Islands’ side.

Those who had always supported Captain Gerard would undoubtedly set out without hesitation, but… what about those who supported the Great Captain—no, the former Great Captain?

After all, twenty years had passed, and that sacred land guard was the Islands’ strongest force.

So, would they mobilize?