Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

A huge ship carrying the Vivian Emblem could be seen slowly approaching the harbor.

Jake stood near the railing, eyes fixed on the approaching port.

Haunfen City stretched out before them.

Stone docks lined the coastline in neat rows, crowded with merchant vessels, fishing boats, and armored escort ships.

Beyond the harbor, tall buildings of brick and timber rose in uneven layers, their rooftops catching the morning sun.

Flags of various colors fluttered above warehouses and guild halls, while the low roar of a living city already reached the deck.

The sight of this big and bustling city was different.

Nasha Town felt like a small settlement compared to this city.

Beside him, Grace held onto the railing with both hands, her golden eyes wide as she took in the sheer scale of the city.

”...It’s huge,” she murmured.

Even as someone from the mainland, the scale of this city could be compared to the capital of the kingdom.

And this was the first time she had seen such a huge city other than her birthplace, so she couldn’t help but look around in admiration.

Jake nodded slowly.

”Yeah. No wonder Madam Vivian said this is a major city...”

From the upper deck, members of the Vivian Caravan moved with practiced efficiency, preparing for docking.

The familiar creak of ropes and the shouts of sailors filled the air as the ship gradually slowed.

Soon,

The ship finally docked with a heavy thud against the wooden pier.

Ropes were thrown, anchors secured, and the gangplank lowered with practiced efficiency.

One by one, passengers and crew began to disembark.

Jake adjusted the sword at his waist and stepped onto the solid wooden planks of the dock.

The moment his boots touched the ground, he let out a quiet sigh.

This was only the second time he had gotten off a ship...

And already, he had arrived at another island and a completely new city.

The realization settled over him with a strange weight.

Not long ago, he had been struggling just to survive in the Nasha Town.

Now he was standing in the harbor of Haunfen City, surrounded by the noise of merchants, sailors, and laborers moving about with purpose.

”The world really was vast...” He murmured softly.

Grace stepped down beside him, her golden eyes still filled with quiet curiosity as she looked around the busy port.

Just as Jake was about to take in more of the busy harbor, a familiar voice called out from behind them.

”Hey, wait!”

Jake and Grace turned around.

Barbara was walking toward them with her usual smile.

When she reached them, she held out something in her hand.

”Here. Madam Vivian told me to give you this.”

Jake took it carefully and looked down.

It was a strangely beautiful card... smooth to the touch, with refined silver patterns along the edges and the emblem of the Vivian Merchant Guild carefully engraved at the center.

Even at a glance, it didn’t look like something given out casually.

Jake blink curiously.

”What’s this?”

Barbara crossed her arms lightly and replied in a straightforward tone.

”If you decide to visit the Vivian Merchant Guild, show them that. You’ll be treated as a VIP.”

She glanced between the two of them.

”Madam Vivian made the arrangements herself. So don’t lose it.”

Jake smiled faintly as he looked at the card once more before carefully putting it away.

”Appreciate it.”

Grace also stepped forward slightly and bowed her head with a warm smile.

”Thank you, Barbara.”

Barbara gave a small nod in return.

”Don’t mention it. Just make sure you use it properly when the time comes.”

With that, she turned and walked back toward the rest of the caravan members who were still busy unloading supplies from the ship.

Jake watched her leave for a moment before glancing at Grace.

”...Looks like Madam Vivian really went out of her way.”

Grace nodded softly, still holding a faint smile.

”Mm. She’s a good person.”

Just then, Jake noticed a familiar figure stepping down from the ship.

It was the dwarf girl who had been their neighbor during the voyage... Lucy.

The moment their eyes met, she paused briefly.

Then Lucy gave a slight nod.

She already understood that if not for this young man, the situation on the ship might not have ended so well.

She knew how to repay a favor, even if only with simple courtesy.

”...Thanks for before,” she said in a short but polite tone.

Without waiting for a long conversation, she adjusted the bag on her shoulder and walked past them, quickly blending into the busy street as she headed deeper into the city.

Jake watched her small figure disappear into the crowd and let out a wry smile.

And speaking of familiar faces...

Jake couldn’t help but think of that strange fellow... Patrick

Throughout the entire voyage, despite the clear warning from his Instinct skill back then, there had been no unusual movement from him at all.

Jake frowned slightly as he scanned the crowd once more, but the man was nowhere in sight.

”...Could it have been a false alarm?” he murmured under his breath.

It was possible.

Instinct wasn’t absolute, and the situation at the time had been tense.

Still, the lingering sense of unease refused to completely disappear.

For now, however, there was nothing he could do about it.

Jake let out a quiet breath and turned his attention back to the busy harbor of Haunfen City.

Then he glanced to the side and noticed Grace’s expression.

Her golden eyes were bright with curiosity as she looked around the bustling harbor, taking in the tall buildings, crowded streets, and constant movement of people.

She looked just like a little country bumpkin who had just arrived in a big city for the first time.

’Well that the same for me.’

Jake couldn’t help but chuckle.

”You’ve been staring like that for a while now,” he said lightly. ”Should we explore the city a bit?”

Grace blinked, then turned toward him with a slightly embarrassed but eager smile.

”Yes!”

_

_

_

Elsewhere in Haunfen City...

Inside a dimly lit hidden house on the outskirts of the city, the atmosphere was heavy.

Patrick sat alone at a wooden table, a communication crystal glowing faintly in front of him.

The soft blue light flickered as the connection stabilized.

A moment later, an angry voice rang out from within the crystal.

[What the hell is going on!? Why is that Vivian bitch still alive!?]

Patrick’s expression remained calm as he casually wiped his nose with a finger.

A faint smile soon curved his lips.

”There was an... accident on the ship,” he replied in a relaxed tone. ”Things didn’t go as planned.”

The crystal fell silent for a brief moment.

Then the voice exploded again, even more furious than before.

[An accident!? Do you think I’m an idiot!? We paid good money for this operation! Vivian was supposed to die at sea, not walk into Haunfen City alive!]

Patrick leaned back in his chair, still looking completely unfazed.

He tapped a finger lightly against the table as he replied.

”The situation changed. There was unexpected interference.”

[Interference? From who?]

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Patrick’s mouth.

”A young man. He was traveling with the Vivian Caravan... and he was stronger than expected.”

The other side of the crystal went quiet for a second.

Then the voice came back, colder this time.

[...Name.]

Patrick’s smile widened slightly.

”Jake.”

Patrick’s smile remained calm as he continued speaking in a casual tone.

”But it wasn’t only the young man.”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table.

”We also encountered a powerful Deep Aberration beast. That thing wiped out all of my crew before attacking the ship.”

The crystal flickered for a moment, as if the person on the other end had frozen.

[...A Deep Aberration?]

”Yes,” Patrick replied lightly. ”I thought those bastards had run away since I couldn’t contact them, but by the time things settled down, I found out that my men were already gone... killed by that beast, and the plan had completely fallen apart before it even began.”

He tapped the communication crystal with one finger, still wearing that same relaxed smile.

”In short, the operation failed.”

The voice behind the crystal was filled with clear disbelief.

[A Deep Aberration... in that stretch of the sea?]

There was a short pause, followed by a low, frustrated breath.

[How the hell are you that unlucky!? Our men were carefully hidden along the Dead Sea Line! That route was supposed to be clean! And you’re telling me a Deep Aberration just happened to show up and wipe them all out??]

Patrick’s expression didn’t change much.

He simply gave a small shrug, still looking completely unbothered.

”That’s exactly what happened.”

The voice behind the crystal grew sharper.

[Then why didn’t you take action when the beast attacked!?]

There was clear dissatisfaction in the tone.

[Vivian must have been unguarded at that moment! All her men and that bastard Garrick would have been busy dealing with the Deep Aberration. That was the perfect chance to finish her!]

Hearing that, Patrick rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, still speaking in a casual tone.

”Didn’t the agreement say I could retreat and change the plan if my life was threatened?”

He tapped a finger lightly against the table.

”If I killed Vivian then and the ship collapsed, who was going to help me sail past that dangerous stretch of sea and actually reach the city?”

Then a faint, mocking smile appeared on his face.

”I’m not interested in dying for someone else’s plan.”

[You...!]

Before the furious voice could continue, Patrick’s faint smile widened slightly.

”I’ve already completed what I could. Consider our cooperation finished.”

With that, he casually cut the connection.

The soft blue light of the communication crystal faded, leaving the room in silence once more.

Patrick let out a quiet sigh and leaned back in his chair.

After a moment, he turned his head and looked behind him.

In the dimly lit space, a group of people stood silently.

They were the same group Jake had once seen when Patrick first gathered his followers on the ship.

Men and women of various ages... including that beautiful woman who had stood out among them back then.

But now, their eyes were completely empty... vacant and lifeless.

As if their souls had already left their bodies.

Patrick gazed at them for a moment before murmuring under his breath.

”...How regretful.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of genuine regret flashing across his face.

”That Grace woman... she might have fetched quite a high price. Maybe I would have even kept her personally as part of my collection.”

He clicked his tongue softly.

”Ahh... What a pity.”