Louis froze.
My secret? What secret do I have—
And then it hit him like lightning.
No way. She figured out I'm a transmigrator?
Robin believed Louis's "secret" was that he was an ambitious schemer plotting to overthrow Captain Medica.
But to Louis, there was only one possible answer.
When someone mentioned a secret, and you only had one secret worth mentioning, the conclusion was obvious.
So that's what she means…
Robin lifted her wineglass and took a delicate sip, red lips barely touching the rim.
If I reveal your secret, she thought calmly, Medica won't need proof. Suspicion alone will be enough to ruin your plans. So tell me—are you going to kill me?
She had only inference, not evidence. Even if she exposed him, at most it would heighten Medica's vigilance and complicate Louis's supposed conspiracy.
In truth, she simply intended to leverage this misunderstanding to make him do a few things for her.
A mutually beneficial arrangement.
Unfortunately, Louis was already spiraling.
How did I slip up? That's impossible. I haven't revealed anything. Unless… no, that's the only secret I have. Damn it. This can't get out.
There was only one solution.
Lure her somewhere private.
Silence her.
Then defect from the Tequila Pirates immediately.
Suppressing the murderous intent surging through him, sweat forming along his spine, Louis forced a crooked smile.
"Somewhere private? Sure."
Robin felt the killing intent immediately.
Her heart skipped.
He's this strong? No wonder he dares to covet the captain's seat.
Louis's strength—just slightly below Medica's—deepened her misunderstanding.
She couldn't precisely measure which of the two was stronger, but from comparison alone, she knew Louis possessed the power to suppress the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile, Louis was frantically reconstructing his entire life, searching for where he had slipped.
Robin's tone triggered an intense sense of déjà vu.
The classic scenario.
A "good man" has a secret exposed by a villain. Desperate to silence them, he considers murder—only for the villain to reveal that if they die, the secret will spread to the world.
And thus the good man descends into darkness.
Wait.
I'm not the good guy. I'm a pirate. I'm already the villain—what am I afraid of?!
Still—
This was exactly like those old dramas.
A chilling thought struck him.
Unless… she's also a transmigrator?
Louis narrowed his eyes.
Heh. So you're one too? Then you definitely can't live. There can't be two transmigrators on one mountain—
He paused.
Wait, she's a woman.
That didn't help.
What if she's some overpowered big shot? A real mastermind in disguise? Better kill first, ask questions never.
He had already reasoned it through.
If someone had told his past self that he was a transmigrator, he wouldn't have believed it.
Which meant there was no point in explaining.
Better to eliminate the problem entirely.
Robin, meanwhile, had her own calculations.
Now that I've grasped his weakness, using him is far more convenient than relying on Medica. There are things I can't ask others to do. He won't dare refuse while constrained by me.
She also knew she had no concrete evidence. Revealing her suspicions would only raise Medica's alertness.
So the atmosphere had to remain… moderately cordial.
She decided to offer reassurance.
Two minds.
Two entirely different delusions.
Both absolutely convinced of their own brilliance.
Before they fully left the crowd's sight, Robin spoke softly.
"You're plotting to take the captain's position, aren't you? Don't worry. I won't interfere forever."
Louis stopped walking.
His face blanked.
"…What?"
His expression went from stunned… to confused… to deeply perplexed.
I'm plotting the captain's position?
Did you grab the wrong secret—or the wrong person?
Yes, plenty of people in this world are blind. But I didn't think you were.
He exhaled in relief.
So that was it.
A false alarm.
This woman was insane.
The shock and confusion on his face only reinforced Robin's interpretation. She saw it as the reaction of someone whose hidden ambition had been exposed.
In her mind, he was shaken.
In reality—
Louis was trying not to laugh.
I just spent five million words worth of inner monologue analyzing whether you're a transmigrator and how my identity was exposed… and this is what you came up with?
What kind of imagination does it take to think I'm scheming for the captain's seat?
He suddenly felt emotionally betrayed.
Everyone knows I, Louis Bardell, am the captain's most loyal subordinate.
Cough.
Well—not loyal, exactly.
But he clocked in, did overtime, and fulfilled his duties.
Plotting a mutiny?
At least present evidence.
He let out a slow breath and gave her a mocking smile.
"You think I'm after the captain's position? I don't know how far your imagination stretches, but that's absurd."
Robin ignored the mockery.
She remembered clearly—his earlier order to purchase additional lifeboats and stockpile rum.
Preparations for escape.
Water supply and evacuation routes.
Classic contingency planning for a failed coup.
Her confidence only strengthened.
She had always trusted her judgment.
She had no intention of arguing.
Instead, she spoke calmly.
"I only need your help with a few matters. Once we reach the next island, I'll disembark. I'm merely borrowing this ship to leave this island. After that, whatever you choose to do has nothing to do with me. Isn't that fair?"
Help you? In your dreams—
Wait.
Disembark?
She was leaving?
You're leaving? You're voluntarily leaving?
Louis nearly burst with joy.
He suppressed it with effort and answered instantly:
"Deal. Once we reach the next island, you leave immediately."
Robin studied him.
The speed of his response.
The visible relief.
The faint panic that she might reconsider.
She smiled inwardly.
And you still claim you're not eyeing the captain's seat?
If you weren't, why would you agree so quickly?