Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

Barbara, seeing the interested look in Vivian’s eyes, suddenly blinked.

She looked between the two of them.

"...Wait. You’re telling me people would actually pay money just to solve a little puzzle?"

At those question, Vivian looked up.

"They would."

Her answer came without hesitation.

"After all, humans are curious creatures. They enjoy challenges, they enjoy showing off."

"And they especially enjoy owning something that others are talking about."

But Vivian didn’t mention another important factor.

The profit margin.

Nobles were often willing to pay large amounts of money for unique and interesting items.

Even if this toy wasn’t as entertaining as Jake described, but the novelty alone could still make it profitable.

Vivian didn’t take her eyes off the sketch.

She carefully folded the paper and placed it on the desk before looking back at Jake.

Her expression remained calm, but there was no mistaking the interest in her purple eyes.

"Mr. Jake, you said you came here to sell an idea."

Jake instinctively straightened at the sudden formality.

"Yes."

Vivian gave a small nod.

"Then let us speak as merchants."

The atmosphere in the room subtly changed.

Even Barbara stopped smoking and quietly watched.

Vivian folded her hands together as she tapped the sketch lightly.

"This concept... I’ll admit it has potential. I won’t claim it will become the next great sensation before seeing a working prototype."

"But I can already see several markets where it could be sold."

She paused briefly.

"And more importantly..."

"The manufacturing cost appears to be relatively low, while the selling price could vary greatly depending on the materials and craftsmanship."

Jake nodded.

Vivian smiled faintly and leaned back in her chair.

"So... how much do you want for it?"

Jake blinked.

"...Pardon?"

Vivian repeated calmly.

"The concept. If I purchase it outright... how much are you asking?"

Jake’s heart skipped a beat.

’She wants it!’

He kept his expression as calm as possible, but inwardly, he was grinning.

’Success! She isn’t questioning whether it’s worth buying anymore. She’s asking for the price.’

That meant she had already decided the concept had value.

Jake quickly forced himself to remain composed.

He had read enough stories and watched enough business negotiations to know one thing.

Never accept the first offer too quickly.

After a brief moment of thought, he looked at Vivian.

"Actually... I was wondering if we could make a different arrangement."

Vivian’s expression remained unchanged as she asked back,

"What kind of arrangement?"

Jake took a breath.

"Instead of selling the concept outright... I’d like to receive a percentage of the profits from every cube sold."

The room fell silent.

Barbara raised an eyebrow.

Even Garrick looked toward Vivian with interest.

Vivian, however, simply stared at Jake for several seconds.

Then...

She smiled and answer flatly.

"No."

The answer came so quickly that Jake almost thought he had misheard.

"...No?"

Vivian nodded calmly.

"I refuse."

Jake blinked.

"...May I ask why?"

Vivian folded her hands together.

"Because from a merchant’s perspective, that proposal is unacceptable."

She spoke without hesitation.

"If I purchase your concept, then I will be investing the capital."

"My craftsmen will spend months developing a working prototype."

"My workshops will manufacture it."

"My caravan will transport it."

"My merchants will market and sell it."

She looked directly into Jake’s eyes.

Her voice remained calm and professional.

"And if it fails... I bear every loss."

"But if it succeeds... you continue receiving a share of the profits while assuming none of that risk."

She slowly shook her head.

"That is not a fair arrangement."

Jake opened his mouth, but he couldn’t find a reasonable argument against her words.

Vivian continued.

"If you already owned a workshop, invested your own money, or shared the manufacturing costs, then profit-sharing would be a reasonable proposal."

"But at this moment... you are contributing only the idea."

She gently tapped the sketch on the desk.

"An idea has value. But it is only the beginning."

Barbara couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

"She’s right, brat. Turning an idea into thousands of finished products is the expensive part."

However, Vivian’s expression softened slightly.

"I’m not trying to undervalue your contribution. In fact, I respect it."

"Which is precisely why I’m willing to pay for it right now instead of simply having one of my craftsmen recreate it after seeing your sketch."

She gave Jake a small, professional smile.

"So... I am still willing to pay you a fair price."

"But perpetual profit-sharing is not something I will agree to."

At those words, Jake fell silent.

He had to admit...

The more he thought about it, the more Vivian’s reasoning made sense.

He was contributing the idea.

That was all.

Everything afterward, the research, the prototypes, the failed attempts, the materials, the craftsmen’s wages, the workshops, the transportation, and the marketing would all come from the Vivian Caravan’s resources.

If the toy turned out to be a complete failure...

They would be the ones losing money.

Not him.

Jake let out a quiet breath.

He had been thinking like someone from Earth, where licensing and royalties were common.

But this wasn’t Earth.

More importantly, he wasn’t in a position to negotiate from strength.

He had neither capital nor the ability to manufacture the cube himself.

His greatest asset was simply the idea.

Jake instinctively turned toward Grace.

Grace met his gaze but she didn’t say anything.

Instead, she simply gave him a small, reassuring smile and nodded once.

The meaning was clear.

I trust your decision.

Seeing that expression, Jake’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

He smiled back before turning his attention to Vivian once more.

"I understand."

Vivian gave a slight nod, appreciating that he hadn’t stubbornly argued.

"So..."Jake folded his arms.

"If profit-sharing is off the table... what kind of price did you have in mind?"

For the first time since the negotiation began, Vivian’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.

Jake prepared himself.

But what he didn’t expect... was how quickly the next offer would make him lose his composure.

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