Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

The two of them headed toward the stern of the ship, where Garrick was usually seen giving orders.

But instead, they found someone else.

An old woman sat casually atop a large wooden crate near the railing, one leg crossed over the other.

It was Barbara.

There was a thick cigar rested between her weathered fingers, as wisps of gray smoke drifted lazily into the morning air.

She took a slow puff before exhaling with obvious satisfaction, her sharp eyes remaining fixed on the endless blue horizon.

Despite her age, there was an unmistakable aura surrounding her... calm and experienced.

It was the kind of presence forged through countless years of surviving the unforgiving sea.

Noticing the approaching pair, Barbara didn’t even bother turning her head.

”So, the two little lovebirds finally decided to leave their cabin?” Barbara said teasingly.

Hearing those words, Jake coughed awkwardly.

”...Was it that obvious?”

Barbara snorted.

”This old lady has been sailing longer than you’ve been alive, brat. You think I can’t tell?”

Grace’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson.

She lowered her head in embarrassment and instinctively hid slightly behind Jake.

Barbara finally glanced at them, a teasing grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

”Heh... no need to look so embarrassed. You’re both young so better to spend your energy on each other instead of causing trouble on my ship.”

Jake rubbed the back of his neck with a helpless smile before his expression gradually became serious.

”Barbara, we actually came looking for you.”

The old woman’s playful smile faded slightly.

”Oh?”

Jake glanced around to make sure no one else was close enough to overhear, before lowering his voice.

”It is about this person name... Patrick.”

Barbara raised an eyebrow but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

”I don’t have any proof that he’s done something wrong,” Jake admitted.

”But ever since we met him, something about him has felt... off.”

He briefly recounted everything that had happened since Patrick approached them the previous day, the man’s unusual friendliness, his insistence on teaching Jake aura manipulation, and how he had once again tried to recruit them into his newly formed group that morning.

Then Jake’s expression hardened.

”And the way he looked at Grace seemed rather strange.”

Grace unconsciously tightened her grip on Jake’s arm as she said softly,

”It felt... like he was evaluating me.”

Jake nodded.

”Exactly, like a merchant inspecting expensive merchandise.”

At all of those words, Barbara quietly took another pull from her cigar.

The ember at its tip glowed brightly before she exhaled a slow stream of smoke.

”I see...”

She didn’t dismiss Jake’s concerns outright.

After all, there was no such thing as a completely righteous man on the sea.

Greed, desire, and ambition were common among sailors and adventurers.

And Barbara wasn’t particularly surprised that some men might have improper thoughts toward Grace.

Even in her own eyes, Grace was an exceptionally beautiful woman whose presence would naturally attract attention wherever she went.

Instead, her weathered eyes became noticeably more thoughtful.

She knew Jake possessed an extraordinarily unusual kind of luck.

Whether it was instinct, intuition, or simply fate whispering a warning, Barbara had long since learned not to ignore such things.

Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

”Interesting...”

She tapped the ash from her cigar over the railing before looking directly at Jake.

”Alright. I’ll let Garrick know about this, and we’ll pay a little more attention to that man.”

Barbara studied Jake for a moment after giving her answer.

She noticed it immediately... the slight hesitation in his expression.

It was subtle, but after spending decades sailing with countless people, she had learned to read even the smallest changes in someone’s face.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled.

”Something else bothering you, brat?”

Jake fell silent for a moment.

After a brief pause, he sighed.

”Actually... there is something else. I was hoping you could introduce me to the leader of the Vivian Caravan.”

At those words, Barbara’s expression became intrigued.

”The Vivian Caravan leader? Why would you want to see her?”

Jake scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

”Well... actually, it’s about money.”

Barbara blinked.

”Money?”

Jake nodded.

”I need gold coins.”

For a moment, Barbara simply stared at him.

Then she let out a short laugh.

”After all that serious talk, I thought you were going to ask for some secret information or a dangerous mission.”

She took another puff from her cigar.

”But you’re telling me you want to meet the Vivian Caravan leader because you need money?”

Jake coughed awkwardly.

Barbara shook her head with amusement.

”So? What exactly do you plan to do? Ask the leader to lend you money?”

Jake immediately shook his head.

”N-No! I don’t want to borrow anything.”

His expression became more serious.

”I have an idea. Something that I think could be valuable to a large merchant organization like the Vivian Caravan.”

Barbara’s teasing expression slowly faded, replaced by curiosity.

”An idea?”

Jake nodded.

”Yes, and I was hoping to sell it to them.”

The old woman stared at him for a few seconds.

Then she leaned slightly forward, her interest clearly awakened.

”So you believe you have something that can catch the attention of the Vivian Caravan’s leader?”

Jake hesitated for a moment before replying.

”...I think so.”

He looked toward the busy deck, where merchants and crew members moved around carrying supplies.

”From what I’ve seen, the Vivian Caravan is involved in trade, transportation, and traveling between different regions.”

He turned back toward Barbara.

”If I can provide something that helps them make more profit, then it should be worth something.”

At those words, Barbara remained silent.

Normally, she wouldn’t bother Madam Vivian with something like this.

The leader of the Vivian Caravan was not someone who had time to listen to every random idea brought forward by every traveler they encountered.

Her schedule was already filled with countless responsibilities, so requesting a meeting for a simple business proposal was almost unreasonable.

But...

Barbara looked at Jake carefully.

After all, Jake wasn’t just some nobody.

Slowly, a faint smile appeared on the old woman’s wrinkled face.

”Just what kind of idea could make you so confident?”

Jake hesitated for a moment before replying awkwardly.

”I can’t really explain it properly without showing it.”

At those words, Barbara raised an eyebrow.

”So it’s something physical?”

Jake shook his head.

”Not exactly. It’s more like... a concept.”