Captain – Chapter 747 – Right and Wrong (Part Six)

Just as the world turned upside down and she began to fall, the scenery in the young woman’s eyes suddenly changed.

Still bright, but no longer the omnipresent, cold and heartless starlight.

Instead it was the warm afternoon sun that made one drowsy, lazily spilling down, illuminating her pale cheeks and reflecting in her eyes the most familiar face.

That face was fierce, and that person’s reputation even fiercer, capable of stopping children’s nighttime crying.

Moreover, he had a fiery red beard that perfectly matched his fierce reputation.

Yes, the one who pulled the young woman up in this desperate moment was the famous Red Beard pirate, the beginning of her legendary journey—Captain Ilias.

“How old are you now, still carelessly falling off the deck? What if I hadn’t seen you?”

Roy stared blankly at that face drawing ever closer as she was pulled up, no longer knowing what to say, her eyes involuntarily reddening.

This old captain who was long gone could be said to be the only light that had shone into her dark childhood and stayed with her for a long time. Seeing him again, he was still so warm.

So warm that one couldn’t help but want to cry.

Only after being pulled onto the deck, when that person’s helpless, indulgent words reached her ears, did the young woman come to her senses, quietly admitting her mistake as the old man took her hand and led her toward the captain’s cabin.

Everything was as before, just like those days.

Though she had been wrapped in flames after igniting the divine fire, that gentle fire couldn’t warm the fuel—Roy had felt as if she were in an ice cellar the entire way.

And as time passed and her life force gradually scattered, that coldness became increasingly bitter and bone-piercing.

Until the moment of falling, it seemed to become tangible, like a terrifying creature about to devour her.

But after being rescued by the old captain and led toward the cabin, that coldness suddenly disappeared, as if melted by the warmth transmitted from that large hand.

The flames on Roy’s body not only didn’t dim, but burned more vigorously. What amazed her even more was that they didn’t drain away her remaining life force.

Instead, they made her “broken” body surge with threads of vitality.

At least enough to let her walk another stretch of road and grip the black blade in her hand a little tighter.

Like a miracle, like redemption.

As Red Beard led her across the deck of the old Mermaid, Roy tilted her face slightly, looking at the old captain whose form was actually smaller than hers due to his aged, hunched posture, looking at his graying temples, not knowing how much she wanted to say.

But time and distance were too short.

Before the young woman could organize her thoughts and say something, the two had reached the cabin door. In the next moment, everything except this door faded and drifted away.

The large hand she had been gripping tightly due to nervousness and excitement also suddenly became empty.

The flames on her body suddenly dimmed, and cold loneliness returned.

As if unable to accept it for a moment, the young woman with strong reluctance remained bewildered for a long time before withdrawing her slightly trembling hand, lowering her head and forcibly suppressing the sadness in her heart.

After a moment, knowing that the old captain ultimately couldn’t return and had only taken her one last stretch of the road, Roy collected her emotions and bravely raised her head.

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Then she pushed open the door and walked in.

The door closed behind her, but what she saw was not the cabin she could never return to, but a small room with bookshelves and a wooden desk covered with books.

Behind the desk sat a scholar in snow-white robes, earnestly turning the pages of a book.

Naturally, this was Bivis, who had accompanied her in this form—that is, First Mate Isaac.

At this moment, seeing her push the door open, the scholar stopped turning pages, raised his eyes, and smiled warmly at her. Just like being held by the hand before, under that warm, unforgettable gaze, the young woman’s body, once again shrouded in coldness, came alive again.

But unlike the old captain, the scholar didn’t scold her. Instead, as if knowing the situation both she and he were in, he gently reminded her: “Don’t get trapped too deeply, child.”

“This is merely a dream. We in the dream are just manifestations of your attachments, so don’t stop, don’t be held back—you have your own path to walk.”

After receiving the young woman’s obedient agreement, the scholar nodded slightly, indicating she should continue. But before lowering his gaze, he paused and still said warmly:

“Also, I’m very gratified by everything you’ve done.”

Having said this, the scholar lowered his head again to read the ancient texts, as if instantly forgetting everything.

Seeing this, the young woman no longer lingered and continued forward as he had said.

Walking past the scholar absorbed in reading, the young woman stopped before the porthole behind him.

This time, starlight and cold did not return.

In the blink of an eye, the boring sea outside the window changed, and even the window itself transformed from a circular porthole to a large floor-to-ceiling window with an expansive view.

On both sides of the floor-to-ceiling window were also bookshelves, but taller ones filled with political classics.

When she recognized the scenery outside the window and identified who owned this study, Roy was somewhat surprised. After hesitating a moment, she turned to look at the nearby chair.

In the chair, Imperial Governor Robert was expressionlessly scrutinizing her.

Feeling that gaze, the young woman lowered her eyelids slightly, still stubbornly remaining silent. Even though she vaguely sensed that these deceased who reunited with her could help her, drive away the cold and guide her path, they could also drag her toward the abyss—she still wouldn’t speak.

She simply refused to admit fault, or rather, she hadn’t done anything wrong to begin with.

The oppressive silence, the frost-congealing coldness, didn’t last long.

That Governor, this “ghost” who had every reason to make her situation even worse, ultimately did nothing. He simply turned back to review documents.

At the same time, he said lightly, “Go on.”

So warmth fell upon the young woman, and the sprout-like vitality quietly grew stronger.

Roy pressed her lips together, finally responding quietly, then walked toward the study’s wooden door. It was at this moment that she truly accepted the concept First Mate Isaac had spoken of.

These deceased who reunited with her were attachments, people who accompanied her forward.

If that was the case, then who would her ancestor encounter?

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Due to chaotic emotions, Roy’s thoughts wandered until she pushed open the door and walked out of the study.

After that, she encountered many people.

There were unforgettable old friends and acquaintances, as well as mortal enemies who were very important to her.

Among those enemies, some only watched her coldly, giving up their “right of judgment,” like Cassius who had once betrayed her and ultimately died at Caine’s hand.

Some even surprisingly helped her, but more often she still faced revenge, like the first mate who had been loyal to Red Beard and whose authority she had seized.

But compared to the love she received, those scattered starlights really weren’t much.

She continued forward, the pyre burning ever more fiercely. The strength that returned drove away feelings of weakness and helplessness, making her steps more resolute.

Naturally, her grip on the black blade tightened as well.

But ah, though she kept First Mate Isaac’s warning in mind, when she entered the bustling market and took a woman’s hand, she couldn’t help but say many things. The distance she walked with that person was also the longest of the entire journey.

Because that young woman was her mother.

Evelyn Wilson.

On the market street, Roy talked non-stop, speaking about her father, saying don’t worry, she had found the old man and rescued him, and that dead ghost harbored deep guilt about their experiences.

But no matter what she said, the woman didn’t respond, as if she hadn’t heard anything at all.

Only when the young woman called her “Mom” would the woman turn her face and smile gently.

So Roy’s mood became dejected and gradually she stopped talking, just letting her mother lead her walking and walking, as if this road had no end, as if only this way could she spend more time with her.

After an unknown amount of time, the young woman reluctantly stopped. Feeling her mother’s inquiring gaze, she let go of her hand and retreated half a step forward facing the woman.

After a quiet moment, Roy lowered her head and, like a child who had done something wrong, said she had something she had to do, that she was leaving and wouldn’t come back.

But such heartless words still earned her the woman’s gentle smile. She reached out to stroke the face of the child who had grown taller than herself.

“Go on, don’t worry about me.”

Those soft yet strong words had perhaps been said once twenty years ago.

Roy, feeling very sad, gripped that cold hand once more before steeling herself to turn and leave. She looked back several times along the way until she could no longer see that graceful figure. Only then did she wipe her tearless eyes and walk toward fate without looking back.

At this point, this long road finally seemed to approach its end.

On the mist-shrouded Victoria, Roy saw the Lady standing by the side rail, with that familiar enormous throne placed beside her.

The former Great Captain was naturally in it, and without looking she could guess his lazy sitting posture.

From beginning to end, the two either gazed silently into the distance or lowered their heads as if half-asleep, not glancing once at the young woman behind them. But amid the vast life force and great power that suddenly surged into her body, she still felt their intentions.

So she stood for a moment, lovingly gazing at the two for a while before stepping forward again.

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Before she could reach the bow, she walked into a countryside.

She stood on a small hill. Ahead was the setting sun of dusk about to fall, and not far away was an ancient, dilapidated small city, as if returning to a thousand years ago.

But whether the setting sun or the ancient city, neither could capture the young woman’s attention for a moment.

She stared unblinkingly at her feet, afraid that if she wasn’t careful, the other party might quietly slip away again. At the same time, she knew this small hill…

Was the last station before the finish line.

Because appearing at her side was…

“Meow.”

A Siamese cat made especially soft by the evening sun, with a small dried fish placed in front of it. At this moment, seeing Roy looking over, it raised its little head and responded.

Saying it’s been a while, young woman, you really did it.

“Mango.”

Hearing this, Roy called out quietly, her tone slightly trembling, seeming rather aggrieved.

“Meow.”

Seeing this, the cat quickly called out softly again to comfort her.

Saying it’s okay, it’s okay. Although the fire burning on you is fierce enough to burn everything, the cat will protect you. Even if it can’t keep its form, it will guard your soul. Maybe you won’t even lose your memories, just need to sleep for a while.

So don’t be afraid, keep going, go truly erase the shadow that person left behind.

Mm, the cat supports you, as always.

After hearing its childlike comforting, Roy couldn’t help but laugh softly, then shook her head and said: “When you say sleep for a while, it’s probably going to be several hundred years.”

“But thank you, Mango.”

Saying this, the young woman knelt down, picked up the Siamese cat, gently kissed its forehead, then put it down and stood up, walking down the hill toward the half-set sunset.

At this point, all the scenery before and behind became blurred and dispersed like reflections in water.

Roy returned to the starlight, her forward steps more resolute than ever before. Even as cold and loneliness fell upon her again, her eyes still burned unextinguished.

She gripped the black blade that would end everything and walked toward all attachments and destiny’s guidance.

Walked toward the finish line.

And at her ears, she vaguely heard prayers or support from the hearts of the living who had never appeared before but were still intimately connected to her.

“You better be okay.”

This was Cecilia, who was in the islands and suddenly felt something, silently praying for her.

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“Show that bastard what’s what, Roy.”

This was that little rascal Richi’s impertinent command.

“Just one last step to go, don’t mess it up, little Roy.”

Enzo was always so unreliable, and no matter when, always treated her like a child.

“I never doubt you can do it, never have, child.”

Father’s words were still the nicest, but couldn’t he not be so guilty every time?

Finally came Caine’s soft words, full of worry: “You have to come back, Captain.”

Sorry, dear first mate, this time the Captain might really have to break her word.

To those surging voices, Roy thought silently, taking it as her response.

Moving forward against the starlight, the young woman forced herself to maintain her spirit, not letting the cold defeat her. That swaying faint light, and the blurry figure walking from the opposite side, also wanting to pluck the golden apple, finally came into her sight.

This made her spirit lift as she laboriously raised the black blade, gripping it tightly with both hands in reverse.

Two pitiful invalids, shuffling along, finally about to reunite at the finish line.

Perhaps because the people she loved gave her more support, while what that devil encountered should all be enemies and obstacles, or perhaps this time the goddess of fortune finally smiled upon the young woman—she arrived earlier than her ancestor.

But from beginning to end, she never turned to look even once at the starlight that might save her and elevate her to godhood, instead staring fixedly at the man without ever looking away.

Even because of the shared attachments of the Lady, the gray cat, Edward’s crew members and others, or simply because she and the devil had been connected by inextricable threads of fate since hundreds of years ago, Roy saw and stepped onto…

That ancestor’s divine path, then silently blocked his way forward.

With starlight blocking her view, the young woman couldn’t see his expression clearly, but could imagine him regretting, even fearing, or desperately thinking of reasons that could persuade her.

Sure enough, the devil spoke, his voice trembling slightly.

“I think we can still talk, child…”

But Roy didn’t even give him the chance to finish those pale words. She gathered all her remaining strength and charged into his embrace like a small beast unafraid of tigers.

“Thud.”

So came a muffled sound—the black blade pierced his heart.

At this moment, not far from the two, witnessing this tragic scene, the faint light rippled, like water, like mist. Starlight no longer cold due to regret enveloped them.

From within the soft starlight came a gentle sigh, no longer satisfied as in the past.

Full of ethereal melancholy and regret.