Chapter 20: The Captain’s Philosophy

Facing those unnerving gazes, I drew a deep breath and steadied my nerves. Then, I spoke:

“I am Miss Cassina’s maid. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to handle the moving according to my specific requests?”

At the sound of my voice, the sailors ceased their work.

One man, appearing to be their foreman, approached me. He wiped sweat from his brow before stating gruffly, “Miss, you just need to give us the orders; we’re here to get the job done.”

The man standing before me was exceptionally tall. When he took his place, he almost completely eclipsed the sunlight.

Compared to him, I felt like a mere child, forced to crane my neck just to see his face.

“Uh… yes, alright…”

My overly cautious and flustered demeanor seemed to amuse the sailors, who began to chuckle softly amongst themselves.

In my embarrassment, I felt my face flush deeply, drawing even more gazes in my direction.

Nevertheless, the sailors’ work ethic was truly commendable.

Perhaps it was due to the Longwind Fleet’s captain’s excellent training, but these sailors worked with remarkable diligence, unlike any others I had encountered before.

Before long, our luggage had almost entirely been moved onto the *Longwind*, neatly stacked.

“It’s finally done…”

Having concluded several days of arduous work, I let out a long, weary sigh and stretched luxuriously.

The sunlight on the ship grew increasingly dazzling, making the bright day feel glaring even through squinted eyes.

Seizing the opportunity while the Young Miss rested in her carriage, I quickly found a secluded corner on the deck. I crouched down, hugging my knees, and allowed myself a moment of repose.

I rarely indulged in such idleness, but today, I was utterly exhausted.

Days of continuous physical and mental strain had virtually drained all my energy.

“Sigh…”

‘This damn job is undoable.’

That’s likely what I would have said in my previous world.

Suddenly, I realized how much I yearned for that old world.

Though life there had also been difficult, it was a place where a small individual like me could at least live in peace, unlike this world of the strong preying on the weak.

There, I didn’t have to fear sudden famines or worry about senseless wars. Even with exploitation, laws generally provided a final safeguard.

Compared to this ‘man-eat-man’异world, my former modern world suddenly felt like paradise.

It was truly unimaginable…

“Are you slacking off?”

A sudden voice startled me, ringing in my ear.

“Ah! No… no!”

An electric jolt made me shoot to my feet.

Just as I was about to explain, I saw that the person who had spoken was not the Head Maid, as I had assumed.

With a meticulously groomed beard, keen blue eyes, and a refined demeanor, I instantly recognized the man who had just addressed me.

“Captain Thor? What are you…”

“Haha, I was just returning to the deck for a patrol, and I happened to spot you, child, hiding here,” he said, smiling gently at me. “You’re quite clever; this spot is difficult to see from outside. It’s an excellent place to slack off.”

“Slacking off? Oh, no, I… I just finished my work, and then…”

I found myself at a loss for words, my tongue tied in clumsy knots. My hands gesticulated wildly as I tried to convince him of the ‘fact’ that I wasn’t slacking.

“Haha, why hide it? When I was a boy, I often hid in spots just like this!” he chuckled heartily, reaching out towards my head.

The next instant, I felt a pressure on my scalp, as if my head had been vigorously patted. The motion reminded me of how I used to pet cats, with a similar amount of force.

Though it felt strange to have a man pat my head, I merely offered a polite, dry laugh, refraining from complaint, as he was an elder and seemed to have no peculiar intentions.

Fortunately, he quickly withdrew his hand, then pointed towards the sailors diligently carrying out various preparatory tasks behind him, and asked me, “What do you think of my lads?”

I followed his gaze, then pondered for a moment before offering a candid assessment: “They? Ah… they’re all very good. Strong, efficient, and…”

After a brief pause, I added, “Unlike any sailors I’ve seen before.”

“Of course!” Captain Thor nodded, his eyes gleaming. “My sailors are different from other sailors, and so is my fleet. Across this entire sea, our Longwind Fleet is truly unique, which is why so many families are willing to hire us for escort.”

“Unique?”

My eyes slowly widened, a puzzled expression on my face.

Perceiving my confusion, Captain Thor mused for a moment before explaining, “In truth, there are many fleets like ours in these waters. Many possess better ships, more crew members, and more experienced captains than we do. Some even have histories of battling pirates.”

“Yet, despite all their advantages, our Longwind Fleet remains the most trusted by clients in this region. The sole reason isn’t my own excellence as a captain, but rather that my crew members… are exceptionally reliable individuals.”

Captain Thor sighed wistfully. “Child, you may not realize it, but in our world of seafaring, most sailors are slaves with no personal freedom, bound to a wealthy merchant, toiling arduously on the vast ocean. That merchant, whom they are bound to, is often called ‘captain.'”

“The captain holds ultimate authority on the entire ship, deciding all matters. It’s no exaggeration to say that far from land, on the ocean, the captain is the ‘king’ of that world.”

“It is precisely because of this personal subservience that sailors see no future. They often become lazy and depraved, many rushing to squander their wages in brothels. Over time, they inevitably contract various illnesses and bad habits, rendering their past excellence meaningless.”

“Even as a child, I witnessed numerous such cases: some fleets, despite being formed with experienced sailors and well-funded captains, would decline within a few years, never to recover.”

“That’s when I understood a crucial principle: human talent is the most vital factor determining a fleet’s value. Therefore, from the moment the Longwind Fleet was established, even though most crew members were initially bought, I offered them the chance to achieve freedom through labor. As long as they adhered to our fleet’s regulations and met the necessary conditions, they could work as free citizens, both for me and for themselves.”

“Without free individuals, there cannot be a fleet that champions freedom; without a fleet that champions freedom, there will be no courage or motivation to venture into the boundless ocean; without the courage and motivation to venture, the endless wealth and opportunities of the sea will never be encountered; and without that wealth and those opportunities, a fleet can never truly grow and flourish!”

At this, Captain Thor’s expression suddenly hardened, his gaze instantly becoming complex.

His finger pointed towards my neck.

My eyes followed the direction he indicated.

Oh, he was pointing at the item on my neck.

“Child,”

His tone was deeply earnest,

“I hope that one day, you too can be as free as my sailors, as free as the wind across this ocean.”