“Satisfied.”

Roy grinned, flashing her pearly white teeth, and admitted it without a hint of self-awareness.

To Kain’s surprise, she didn’t get angry. She merely frowned, sat down beside him, and asked, “What good does this do us?”

Though the captain had inexplicably played him for a fool, the first mate knew Roy well enough. She was stingy with her feelings to an extreme. If she was willing to go to such lengths to deceive the major, she must have a reason.

As for marrying him? A pirate captain with no sense of herself as a woman, who spent her days bragging about how she’d once deceived noble ladies, would never seriously entertain such an idea.

Seeing that he’d seen through her, Roy’s smile gradually faded. “Of course, my dear first mate. This captain’s only willing to take the loss this time because of you.”

Remembering the pitiful act she’d put on earlier, Roy shuddered. It had worked splendidly, but even someone as shameless as her had trouble stomaching that performance.

“Think about it. How could I sneak into a ball hosted by a governor without a proper identity? And I have to fool that old hawk, too. However you look at it, being your fiancée is the perfect cover.”

The blue sapphire teardrop ring was reflected in Roy’s eyes. She added, “Of course, it also happens to put your major uncle’s suspicions about me to rest.”

“But why the Anderson Family?” Kain asked, looking at the captain, who seemed like a completely different person.

“First, my eye color is almost the same as that of the Anderson children. That’s powerful evidence in my favor.”

Roy counted off her reasons on her fingers. “Second, that military-industrial family has enough clout to deal with the Howard Family. Even if I’m only from a collateral branch, the Anderson name is such a golden brand that they won’t give me too much trouble.”

“Besides, you know perfectly well what a far-reaching impact it’d have on the Orlan Empire if a woman from the Anderson Family married into it from abroad.” Roy glanced at Kain, who had fallen into thought, and smiled slyly.

“That’s right. If you really were a collateral-branch lady of House Anderson, and you were engaged to me, neither the Federation nor the Empire would object in the slightest.” Kain nodded, agreeing with her analysis.

In recent years, the Empire and the Federation—the two most powerful forces on the continent—had continued to clash over interests and skirmish along their borders. Even so, they had largely maintained peace and mutual respect, though their relationship had yet to develop any further.

If a marriage alliance suddenly appeared now, both sides would welcome it and do everything they could to see it through.

“But have you considered what kind of trouble we’d be in if the Anderson Family exposed your identity?” Kain changed tack and asked in a low voice, voicing his concern.

“You idiot. We’re just finding an excuse to attend a ball. It’s not like we actually have to go through with the engagement…”

Roy broke off mid-sentence. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at Kain like he was some kind of monster. “Kain, you don’t…”

“You’re overthinking it.” Kain lowered his eyes slightly and answered calmly.

“Oh, good. I knew an upright officer like you couldn’t fall for a pirate who’s done every kind of evil.” Roy let out a relieved breath and waved a hand with a smile. “Still, you’d better think of me as your brother. On a pirate ship, there isn’t much difference between men and women.”

“Got it. Continue with what you were saying.”

Kain calmly steered the conversation back, giving the captain no hint of the faintly complicated feelings inside him. “By your reasoning, getting into the ball shouldn’t be a problem. Even if the Empire investigates, the distance between Hipalia and the Empire means a round trip would take over two months. We’ll be long gone by then.”

“Exactly.”

Roy praised him, but the approving look on her face quickly faded, replaced by a solemn expression. “But there’s one thing you’ve been overlooking.”

Kain had never seen the captain look so grave. He pushed his lingering thoughts aside and asked seriously, “What?”

“Have you ever wondered why the Black Crow Society would rather risk a distinguished Executor and throw decades of work within the Olan Military down the drain than reveal themselves ahead of time?”

As Roy’s words sank in, Kain’s pupils contracted slightly.

That was right. Why would they risk losing an Executor just to kill him before the ball?

It was to make sure nothing could possibly disrupt the ball.

Even without a personal guard at his side, Cain Howard was still a lion who’d shed his cub’s softness—dangerous and fierce.

“They want to kill Governor Federo. At any cost…” Kain murmured. He’d expected this ball to be exceptionally dangerous, but he hadn’t imagined the Black Crow Society would be willing to make such a huge sacrifice.

No. The Manticore’s death might only be the beginning.

Just then, wings beat outside the study’s wooden window. Roy got up to open it, and there, waiting quietly outside, was Elfie, who’d been gone all day.

The Jackdaw flew down onto the captain’s shoulder, crouched low, and shrilled out a number.

“One hundred and thirty-two, Captain.”

Kain watched in silence. Only now did he understand why Elfie had left so early. It must have gone to gather intelligence on the Black Crow Society. But what did that number mean?

“Elfie’s especially sensitive to the smell of blood. If you’ve killed someone, it can still smell it, no matter how thoroughly you wash. And the stench on those people is far stronger and darker than that of ordinary assassins.”

Hearing the number, Roy turned back to Kain and gave a bitter smile. “Kain, maybe we should stay out of this after all. We can round up a few people and set sail tomorrow morning. The Black Crow Society won’t abandon its grand plan just to hunt us down. Once I’ve taken back the Mermaid, I can go after them later.”

Seeing his usually fearless captain say that, Kain pressed his lips together. After a long silence, he asked, “Has something gone wrong?”

“One hundred and thirty-two. One hundred and thirty-two assassins. The Black Crow Society is pulling out all the stops.”

Roy knew her first mate wouldn’t leave early just because she urged him to, not even with danger looming. She let out a deep sigh and revealed the shocking truth.

The Black Crow Society’s assassins were the most skilled killers in the world. They lived in the shadows and had slain countless powerful figures from both the Empire and the Federation with poisoned blades.

As the organization’s strongest fighting force, their elite assassins numbered fewer than two hundred—not to mention those who had died during the assassination attempt on Governor Naren.

And now, no fewer than one hundred and thirty-two assassins were hidden on this cramped little island. The scale of the Black Crow Society’s resolve was plain to see.

Not counting the two they’d already encountered and the Manticore, who’d died, that made three Executors in total. To kill a governor of the Empire, the Black Crow Society might even have brought its last mysterious elder to Fran Island.

Even Roy felt a chill at the thought of such a terrifying force.

Kain understood why the captain was urging him to leave. He knew Roy was right. Unless the Empire sent a large force of regular troops to protect them, he’d be no help at all on his own, with more than a hundred Black Crow Society assassins lying in wait. But…

Kain didn’t need long to think it over before speaking again. “No, Captain. I’m staying.”

“Even if you die horribly?” Roy asked through gritted teeth.

“Yes.” Kain’s expression was utterly resolute. “An Imperial soldier never fears death.”

“But you’re a pirate now. You’re so stubborn.”

Roy looked like she was grinding her teeth in frustration, but in the end, she chuckled. Her words were like a devil’s whisper. “But this is exactly the kind of first mate I picked… I suppose this captain can make an exception and go along with you this once.”

A flash of light suddenly flared beyond the wooden window, followed by a low, terrifying peal of thunder. As Roy turned to look, it brought back the night they had first set foot on Devil’s Island.

The dark sky looked so much like that one. A storm might sweep in at any moment and utterly destroy the whole of Fran Island, along with this cozy, peaceful little town. But the captain didn’t care. She leaned against the window frame and silently thought to herself:

I hope you don’t let me down, Kain.