Captain – Chapter 723 – You’ll Ride on My Ship

“The Door?”

After hearing the young man’s words, Richi repeated it with confusion.

He had naturally come through the “Door” himself, so he was clear about the truth of that gateway. His question wasn’t born from wanting to understand the concept, but because the plan had gone awry.

Yes, setting the rendezvous point at Hipalia had not been some calculation from the beginning.

It was simply the arrangement they had already agreed upon before parting ways with Roy.

Because in the girl’s view, coming to seek reinforcements from the Islands—their bastion of support—would undoubtedly gain agreement and unite all hearts, regardless of which side they stood on.

The reason was simple: the “Door” had opened and had remained for a full twenty years.

In that case, the former Great Captain naturally stood on their side.

And with the last Guardian of Law taking his stance, the Federation—controlled by most of the old covenant families—had no reason to stand by coldly and would inevitably follow in that man’s footsteps.

Thus, the Islands and Federation required no further consideration.

The only one to consider was the Empire.

After brief deliberation among everyone, they finally decided that if Auran was willing to send troops, they would set the fleet convergence point at the great port of Hipalia.

On one hand, this was convenient for all three parties; on the other, Caine could use this as justification to set the Empire fleet’s course westward from the start.

This would maximize the shortening and bypassing of those troublesome explanations or meetings.

But what was this situation now?

Seeing this, Victor’s smile became even more mysterious: “Yes, Mr. Shelley and I unanimously agreed that the initial, or rather pre-war negotiation location should be in front of the Door.”

Rеaԁ οո КаtReаԁіոgCafе

This statement revealed many hidden implications, particularly regarding political affairs and gaining the initiative.

But falling on Richi’s ears, it was simply that the Shelley family head had chosen a day to visit the Islands, and more likely had “happened” to be here when Alfie arrived.

Coincidental beyond all possibility.

Then the raven had landed, the letter delivered, and two supreme power holders had conversed, overthrowing the plan that Roy and they had originally set.

But what was the reason?

Knowing that the young man, like his former captain, had low awareness of political matters, Victor didn’t keep him in suspense, smiling as he explained: “The reason is simple—this way, we can be one step faster than the Empire.”

“Faster to reach the front of the ‘Door’ and conduct negotiations in the Empire’s absence.”

“After all, regardless of whether Deputy Caine needs to explain more because of this matter, or whether the Empire will hold more meetings, our moving first will definitely secure the initiative.”

“This is the joint consideration of the Islands and Federation.”

After hearing this, even Richi, who was normally slow about such matters, sensed the calculation within, couldn’t help but click his tongue twice, and looked at the young man with slightly strange eyes.

“I say, that’s quite underhanded of you.”

Although Auran would likely be an ally, although these troubles would ultimately fall upon their own people, the young man’s tone still carried some schadenfreude.

This matter wasn’t significant in itself, and in terms of actual material losses, there were none at all.

It was just that even if Caine wasn’t angry, he would surely find it annoying.

Political confrontations weren’t always stormy; more often they were plain and tedious.

Reаԁ οո KatReαdiոɡСаfe

Just like this utterly boring chess move.

Hearing this, Victor leaned back into his chair again, saying leisurely: “Things like being honorable—even merchants don’t emphasize them much, let alone us pirates.”

“Besides, with this easy exchange, the situation for dividing the cake is about to change again.”

“Why not do it?”

At this, Richi nodded in approval, said “yes” twice, then asked the young man: “So our dear Great Captain, shall we set out immediately?”

The young man had said earlier that everything was ready and they could depart once they packed up.

The Nightmare King had little to pack—not counting the water ghosts, it had enough food for him and Vivian to eat for several years, and if they didn’t mind it being hard, they could set sail at any time.

So, shall we go?

Seeing Victor exchange glances with “Black Rose” before nodding at him, Richi lightly tapped the table and prepared to stand, but then thought of another question.

“I forgot to ask—Great Captain, whose ship will you ride for this journey?”

Since some unknown year and month, the Islands had developed an unwritten rule that successive Great Captains, after taking office, could no longer have warships belonging to themselves.

Of course, this was only from appearances; even many pirate legends didn’t know if there were hidden circumstances behind it, after all, the previous Great Captains were all Guardians of Law.

Responsible for monitoring the Islands and the world, they rarely left, and even when they did, it was seldom known.

Feeling the curiosity flowing from the gazes of that young man and woman, as well as Captain Fia beside him, Victor helplessly spread his hands.

“I know what you want to ask, but the fact is… even though I’ve taken this position, I’ve never seen any legendary so-called Great Captain’s exclusive vessel.”

“So right now I’m just a man without a ship to call home.”

Rеαⅾ оո ΚаtReаԁіngСаfе

Learning the truth, everyone’s faces showed nothing but boredom.

“So will you board our ship, or your father’s?”

Facing Richi’s question, Victor pondered for a moment, wanting to say that although this was an expedition, to avoid suspicion, he should still board the Orca, after all, his father now also served as his acting representative, and this would likely be more convincing.

But before he could speak, the complex thoughts in his mind all froze.

Leaving only a blank void.

He wasn’t the only one with this reaction—everyone in the room was the same.

Because just as Richi’s question fell and the young man was about to explain, an extremely faint sound that fell on everyone’s ears like thunder gradually spread.

It was the friction sound of a wooden door being pushed open.

“Creak.”

So the crowd, who had been looking at each other, asking questions or waiting for answers, were all startled, immediately turning their gazes to freeze on the slowly opening door, to freeze on…

That familiar, imposing figure.

Then all were beyond words with shock, instinctively rising to their feet. Richi, who had been sitting in the wooden chair opposite the head seat, left his position the instant he saw the visitor.

He stood calmly with Vivian as if he had never touched that seat from the beginning.

Only in the depths of his clear blood-red pupils could one still see some embarrassment and hidden timidity.

The timidity of a child facing a stern father.

Rеаⅾ on КаtRеadіոɡСafe

Only the raven still standing on the table didn’t fall into this panicked atmosphere, but rather felt quite close, looking up at the visitor and calling out respectfully twice.

“Great Captain, Great Captain.”

At this time, Victor was at its side and rear, so the Great Captain it spoke of…

Was naturally the old one.

That is, the name Anderson had once seen on the modern covenant.

Captain Tiger Royell.

Although he had abdicated for over a year, although in the pirates’ eyes he seemed more like a legend compared to the past, when the man appeared, those who saw him realized that this great figure hadn’t changed at all.

Whether it was his age, appearance, clothing…

Or his supreme status.

All remained as before.

So when this man appeared, everyone in the room, including Victor, had the first reaction of calling him Great Captain, as if it had long become habit.

As the raven’s call fell, the room fell into brief silence.

Standing outside the door under the starlight, not yet entering, the man’s gaze swept over everyone, pausing only briefly on Richi, seeming quite satisfied with the young man’s self-awareness.

Finally he looked at Victor, his tone as lazily as ever.

“You’ll ride on my ship.”