Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

Vivian’s eyes remained steady on him.

"As such, you deserve a proper reward. So tell me, Jake... what is it that you wish for?"

Jake heard her words and paused for a moment.

His mind turned carefully over the offer.

Right now, the only thing he truly wanted was to grow stronger.

And among the many requirements needed to advance beyond his current Elite class... there was one that stood out clearly in his thoughts.

A Grade-A Ship.

Jake’s thoughts continued quietly.

Upgrade Points weren’t a problem.

Gold coins... he could work those out somehow, whether through missions, looting, or other means.

Even recruiting another crew member felt manageable with time and the right opportunities.

But a Grade-A Ship...

He still didn’t fully understand what that classification even meant in this world.

Yet something told him it wouldn’t be simple to obtain.

Ships of that level were probably rare, expensive, and likely tightly controlled by powerful factions or wealthy organizations.

This might be his best opportunity to cover that requirement.

Jake lifted his gaze and looked at Vivian.

After a brief hesitation, he opened his mouth.

"...If it’s possible," he said carefully, "I would like a Grade-A Ship."

At those words, the cabin fell quiet for a moment.

Vivian’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in clear surprise.

She studied him for a few seconds, as if reassessing the young man sitting across from her.

"...A Grade-A Ship?" she repeated, her tone calm but edged with genuine interest. "That’s not a small request."

Vivian’s expression remained composed, but a clear spark of curiosity appeared in her eyes.

She leaned back slightly in her chair, studying Jake with greater interest than before.

"...Pardon my intention, but why do you even need such a large ship?"

Jake coughed lightly, clearing his throat as a faint awkwardness crossed his face.

"...It’s my dream," he said after a short pause. "...To become a real pirate."

Vivian blinked once.

For a moment, she simply stared at him, as if she hadn’t quite expected that answer.

Then a soft laugh suddenly escaped Vivian’s lips.

It wasn’t mocking, but genuine amusement mixed with mild disbelief.

She covered her mouth lightly with one hand for a moment before lowering it again.

"A pirate, is it?" she said, still smiling faintly.

"Most people who survive an encounter with a Deep Aberration would ask for gold, status, or a recommendation to a powerful faction. And yet... you ask for a Grade-A Ship because you dream of becoming a pirate?"

She leaned back in her chair, studying Jake with renewed interest.

"You truly are an unusual young man."

Grace, sitting quietly beside him, glanced between the two of them, her expression a mixture of curiosity and slight nervousness.

She could sense that Vivian’s mood had shifted from formal evaluation into something more genuine.

Vivian’s smile slowly faded into a more thoughtful look.

"Very well," she continued.

"I will not dismiss your request outright. But you should understand something first, a Grade-A Ship is not something that can be casually handed over, even as a reward. Such vessels are rare, heavily regulated, and usually take a great deal of time to build..."

She rested her chin lightly against her fingers, her expression turning thoughtful.

"Still... after what you’ve accomplished, and if this is truly what you wish for, then I will do my best to obtain one for you. However, you will have to wait a little."

"I will need to check with a certain shipyard in the next city we are about to arrive at. They are one of the few places capable of handling vessels of that grade."

Hearing such good news, Jake smiled and nodded.

"No hurry, no hurry. I can wait."

He then turned slightly and looked at Grace with a warm smile.

Grace blinked once before offering a soft, happy smile in return, clearly pleased that things were going well for him.

Vivian watched the exchange quietly.

And after a moment, she couldn’t help but ask:

"...But still, a Grade-A Ship is quite a large vessel. Are you sure just the two of you could handle it?"

Hearing that question,

Jake thought to himself for a moment.

’Since my class specifically requires a Grade-A Ship... there must be a reason for it.’

It wouldn’t demand something so specific without purpose.

Outwardly, however, he simply answered in a calm tone.

"I plan to recruit more personnel over time. It won’t just be the two of us forever."

Hearing that, Vivian’s eyes glinted slightly as she shifted into a more serious, business-like tone.

She leaned forward a little, resting her hands neatly on the table.

"In that case... allow me to propose something."

Jake and Grace both looked at her attentively.

"The next city we are heading to is Haunfen City," Vivian continued.

"It is a big major city and also the location of our headquarters... the Vivian Merchant Guild. As one of the larger merchant organizations operating across several coastal regions, we regularly handle transport requests, escort missions, resource procurement, and various other commissions that require capable people."

She paused briefly, making sure Jake was following.

"If you are planning to expand your crew and operate independently, then working with us could be mutually beneficial. From time to time, the guild receives requests that are either too dangerous or too specialized for ordinary mercenaries. In those cases, we prefer to entrust them to reliable partners."

Her gaze remained steady.

"I would like to propose a formal cooperation between you and the Vivian Merchant Guild. Nothing that would restrict your freedom, of course."

"But when suitable work appears like escort duties, special retrievals, high-risk commissions, and the like, we can prioritize offering those requests to you. In return, you would gain steady opportunities, access to information, and a degree of support from the guild’s network."

She tilted her head slightly.

"What do you think?"

Jake’s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.

His thoughts turned inward.

’Hmm... the fact that she suggested this after hearing about my goals means there really are lawful pirates and unlawful ones in this world...’

From what he had observed so far, people like Captain Henry seemed to have registered themselves under the Merchant Guild.

That status gave them a certain legitimacy... the ability to take official requests, dock in major ports without constant suspicion, and operate more openly.

As for unlawful pirates, he hadn’t encountered any yet.

Not directly, at least.

That alone made him suspect they either stayed far from normal trade routes or deliberately avoided places where guild influence was strong.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!