Chapter 446

Chapter 446: Father Was a Joker.

Duncan was just about to step into the captain’s cabin when he suddenly stopped and turned to look over his shoulder.

There seemed to be some movement from the bow deck. Through the faint sense coming from the Vanished, he could tell that the noise came from Shirley and Dog.

But nothing was actually wrong over there.

“So much fuss over a bit of homework.” Duncan muttered this, shook his head, and then walked toward the enchanted sea chart.

Goathead, who had been steering carefully at the edge of the chart table, let out a burst of squeaking wood. He turned his head toward Duncan, and his two black obsidian eyes almost seemed to light up: “Ah! The great Captain Duncan has come to the side of his loyal First Mate—what have you gained today…”

“No fish today.” Duncan glanced at Goathead. “After all the commotion before Frostholm, we probably won’t be able to catch any fish around here for a while.”

The string of flattery Goathead had just brewed up was forced back down at once. His wooden neck creaked as it swayed from side to side twice. After a long moment, he finally choked out: “Ah… then at least you have gained a quiet morning. The sea breeze is pleasant today, and the sunlight is good. It is a fine day to roam the sea. If you are interested, we could sail near Cold Harbor…”

“Not interested. For now, I don’t plan to let the Vanished get close to any city-state.” Duncan cut Goathead off just as he was about to start rambling again. Duncan’s gaze fell casually onto the enchanted sea chart in front of him.

Mist slowly rose and fell on the enchanted sea chart. In the drifting haze, a clear route was marked out. It showed the path the Vanished had taken on its way north. Around the phantom image of the ship that stood for the Vanished, there was the projection that represented Frostholm, and another that glowed with a faint green light: the Sea Mist.

At that moment, the Sea Mist was moored at the edge of the city-state of Frostholm.

“The Sea Mist looks pretty quiet over there…” Duncan’s eyes rested on the projection of the Sea Mist. The corner of his mouth suddenly lifted a little, as if he had thought of something amusing. “Seems like everything is going smoothly.”

“Smoothly? Ah, Captain, I feel you have come up with another great plan?” Goathead perked up at once. He craned his neck toward the enchanted sea chart and started chattering: “What are you planning? To topple a city-state that is still weak and shaken? Or to take this chance to fully reclaim the Sea Mist, which once left the fleet without permission? As expected of you. What you plan is never only…”

Duncan gave Goathead a silent look. “Are robberies and schemes to overthrow things the only ideas in that head of yours? Are there no positive options?”

Goathead thought for a moment and changed his wording: “Do you plan to personally help Frostholm rebuild order so it can get through this crisis? Or will you give Tyrian some mental guidance, so he can shed his shameful rebel status and return to the proper and glorious path?”

Duncan looked at him with a strange expression. “How did you come up with that?”

“Captain, maybe you haven’t noticed, but I do have some powers of observation. And after spending this time together, I have come to understand you better and better.” Goathead slowly turned his neck. His dark eyes could not show any feeling, but his tone clearly carried a bit of pride and ease. “You won’t just ignore Frostholm as it is now. Unlike Pland, Frostholm suffered far more damage in this disaster. If you really left it alone, there would be big trouble. And you…”

He paused here, as if searching for the right words. After a short while, he went on slowly: “And you are full of humanity.”

For a moment, Duncan said nothing. He simply fixed his calm gaze on Goathead’s eyes, which were so black they seemed able to swallow light. After a long time, he finally broke the silence in a low voice: “Your observation is sharp.”

Goathead hesitated. Then there was a crack from inside his neck: “Th-this… this sounds like the kind of thing someone says right before silencing a witness…”

But Duncan laughed and shook his head. “See? You still don’t understand me enough. I don’t mind a sharp-eyed fellow. It saves me a lot of trouble.”

After he spoke, Duncan waved his hand and did not bother with whatever reaction Goathead might have next. He stood up and looked toward the ancient round mirror not far away.

A pale flame rose quietly in his gaze. The mirror’s surface grew deep and black. In the calm spreading light and shadow, the hurried figure of Tyrian running over slowly came into focus.

“Good morning, Tyrian. I hope I did not disturb your rest.” Duncan looked calmly at the “Pirate Lord” who had clearly run all the way to the mirror. A slight smile touched Duncan’s lips. “How did you sleep last night?”

Tyrian in the mirror looked nervous. He took several deep breaths before he calmed down. His stiff smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Fa… Father, good morning. I was just about to look for you—oh, I slept well enough last night. Thank you for asking.”

“You sound far too stiff when you talk to me. No need to be so tense.” Duncan adjusted his sitting position and looked at the figure in the mirror with a half-smile. “What is it? Did my other form scare you?”

“N-no!” Tyrian straightened at once, like a student who had suddenly been called on in class. “I just feel a bit more respect and awe for you…”

“That’s enough. I only hope you can relax a little. None of my forms should make you this nervous.” Duncan shook his head. “You said you were just about to look for me. Is something wrong?”

Tyrian hesitated. He seemed to be sorting out his thoughts and weighing how he should start. After a moment, he spoke in a careful tone: “It’s about Frostholm. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but it seems they want to…”

The Pirate Lord got stuck. He did not know if some things should be said or not. But just then, Duncan’s voice suddenly sounded and cut him off: “Let me guess what your next position will be. General of the city-state of Frostholm? A high-ranking official in City Hall? Or… did they simply ask you to be Governor?”

Tyrian, who had been struggling over how to phrase things, froze and looked up in shock.

“How did you…”

“Simple. It was my idea—to let the Sea Mist fleet enter the city.” Duncan looked completely open about it. “Otherwise, what else could have pushed that chaotic City Hall to move so fast and agree so easily? You know how their procedures work.”

The expression on Tyrian’s face changed in a very visible way. In his eyes there was clearly a mood like, [I spent the whole night scratching my head over my life and future, and in the end I find out my own father was just having fun with it.] He opened his mouth several times as he stared at the mirror, but in the end he did not dare voice that disrespectful thought. He only looked at Duncan with a tangled, confused expression. “Why would you do that…”

“It’s simple. Frostholm needs you, and you need Frostholm.” Duncan put away the faint smile at the corner of his mouth that belonged to a man who enjoyed the joke. His expression turned serious as he looked at Tyrian. “Inside the city, the chaotic situation needs a strong enough force to calm it and comfort the people. From the outside, Frostholm’s navy has been badly hurt. The whole city-state urgently needs strong protection. So who else has both a firm hand and experience in ruling, and also commands a powerful fleet?”

Duncan shifted his position a little and leaned forward, looking into Tyrian’s eyes.

“It looks like you have already accepted their invitation. Just as I said, Frostholm needs you—and you need it.”

Tyrian’s gaze seemed to dodge a little. “I’ve been a pirate for fifty years. Changing my way of life doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Tell the truth.”

“…After all, you personally protected that place. I don’t want to see your effort wasted…”

“Tell the truth.”

“I admire the tenacity the people of Frostholm showed. In the face of disaster, they did not back down. Even before you stepped in to help, they never surrendered. I admit it. I don’t want to see those people suffer in the days to come.”

Duncan did not speak. He only looked quietly at Tyrian.

Tyrian shrugged. “On the other hand, I don’t want to see a place Her Majesty Ray Nora once protected fall into a long, hopeless Dark Age.”

Duncan still did not speak.

“All right…” Tyrian finally sighed, looking helpless. “All of the above.”

“Good. Be an honest man, especially in front of me.” Duncan looked away, and his posture relaxed again. “So, what is your position now?”

“They want me to be Governor.” Tyrian tugged at the corner of his mouth in a complicated smile. “They even… took out a whole stack of plans they had prepared long ago.”

For a moment, Duncan said nothing, as if he had fallen into a short thought. After a few seconds, he let out a slow breath. “They are a bit bolder than I expected.”

Tyrian hesitated. There was a hint of inquiry in his eyes. “Do you have any advice for me?”

“Why ask for my advice?” Duncan laughed. “You once served the Queen of Frostholm. You have led the Sea Mist fleet for fifty years. You have dealt with every city-state on the Frost Sea. I don’t think I can give you any tips about being Governor.”

“I just want to hear your thoughts.”

Duncan fell silent in thought. After a brief pause, he spoke softly: “Then do the job well. Do all you can. In this cold world, there are already very few things people can rely on.”

“…I understand.”

“Good.” Duncan answered casually. Then he suddenly turned his head and glanced at the enchanted sea chart beside him. “Also, there is one more thing.”

Hearing this, Tyrian straightened up at once. “Please, tell me.”

Duncan looked at the enchanted sea chart. On it, at a point almost overlapping with the Sea Mist, the phantom image of the White Oak was quickly coming into view.

He turned back, smiling at Tyrian. “In a moment, make sure you hold on to something.”

Tyrian froze. “Huh?”

Duncan waved his hand and casually dispelled the flame in the mirror. At the very instant the fire faded, Tyrian’s muffled shout came from the other side of the glass—

“Hey, wh—what’s going on?!”