Red-Haired

The ship sailed silently on the sea.

Kozuki Hiyori leaned against the ship's railing, gazing leisurely at the distant sea. The gentle sea breeze caressed her beautiful emerald-green hair, and the air seemed to gain a touch of brilliance.

"What are you looking at?"

Maria walked over and asked with a smile.

"It's nothing," Hiyori a smile, raising her head and looking up at Maria.

The two have a huge height difference; Hiyori is less than two meters tall, while Maria is a giant of about eight meters, making it very difficult for them to have a conversation.

So Hiyori could only leap up, step onto the gunwale, and jump onto Maria's shoulder to sit down. She smiled and said, "I just think the sea is really beautiful."

"That's true, Hiyori's your first time at sea, so it's natural to find it exciting,"

Maria said, "You'll get bored after watching for a while. When Yamato first set sail, he was very excited, but after only half a day, he was already shouting that he was bored."

"Because what's truly captivating at sea is the unknown scenery and the interesting people." Hiyori had a smile on her face ever since she set sail.

"Sirius said something similar," Black Maria said with some surprise. "Could it be that you Hiyori Sirius actually get along very well?"

"I think my father is the one I get along with better."

Hiyori laughed heartily, "I often heard my father say things like this when I was little, and I remembered them."

While the two women were chatting there, on the other side of the deck, between the two masts, Yamato shouted excitedly, "It's done!"

Yamato, Ulti, Page One were gathered together.

Between them, a black cloth was spread on the deck.

"Sirius, come quick! Our pirate flag is finished!" Yamato and dragged Sirius, who was fishing with Jack, over.

"Then let me see what you've accomplished in these two hours."

Sirius said this, but his expression remained calm, showing no sign of expectation whatsoever.

Isn't that obvious?

This is a combination of Yamato and Ulti!

Ulti and her brother made way for them, Page One very excited, "Big brother, how are you feeling?"

"Cheer for my art!" Ulti said proudly, tossing her little head up.

Sirius stopped, lowered his head, and finally saw clearly the pirate flag designed by his companions.

Wow.

Sirius couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, and spontaneously clapped his hands, "Truly, a masterpiece of craftsmanship."

"Is it really that powerful?"

Hearing Sirius's assessment, Jack, somewhat curious, put down his fishing rod and came closer, using his height advantage to see the black cloth on the ground clearly from behind Sirius.

"Pfft--hahahaha,"

Then, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Is this what you've accomplished in two hours? Sailing with this pirate flag, are you trying to make us a laughingstock?"

"Hey, Jack, stop laughing."

"I think it's pretty good," Sirius exclaimed.

"You bastard, aren't you laughing too?!"

Ulti glared at Sirius's upturned lips and gleaming white teeth, and said angrily, "He's been smiling from the very beginning, he hasn't stopped at all!"

"Huh? When?" Sirius in surprise.

"Stop pretending to be stupid!"

"Isn't it pretty?"

Yamato surprise at their work, "I think it's great! It combines the creativity of all three of us."

"Fool."

Sirius smiled and raised his hand to wipe away the paint that had somehow gotten on her face. He pointed to the piece of black cloth that could no longer be called a black cloth.

"Collaboration doesn't mean simply drawing whatever three people want to draw on it."

The black cloth was stuffed full, and the area was divided into three sections by three lines.

The first area features two enormous chibi-style heads: a big-eyed girl wearing a mask and a boy also wearing a mask.

Without a doubt, this is Ulti's masterpiece.

In the second area, this time there was only one head; Sirius could vaguely make out that it was a wolf's head?

This must be Page One's work.

The third area was quite something; it was a series of heads arranged in a ring. Sirius had to guess and make a rough estimate before he confirmed that it was probably the portraits of everyone on their ship.

Of course, this part is Yamato's work; it's quite a team effort, as they drew everyone in it.

"Is that not allowed?"

Page One dejected. "I wasn't helpful again."

He's only ten years old and the weakest on the ship, so he hasn't been able to help much.

Sirius rubbed his head. "Pay-tan, do you know why people need companions?"

"Because everyone has things they're not good at."

"Let your friends who can do what you can't do. You just need to do your own thing well. What Pay-tan should do now is grow up quickly."

Page One, his eyes brimming with tears, cried out, "Big Brother!"

Sirius grinned. "Let's leave this to the artists on our ship."

He turned around. "Maria, can I ask you for a favor?"

"There's really no other way,"

Black Maria tossed her hair, "I'll have to show a little more of my skills now."

"What do you mean by 'showing off a little'?" Jack's lips twitched.

"Sirius, help me mix the paint," the artist said.

Sirius rolled up his sleeves. "As you command, Maria Highness."

It must be said that Maria, as a woman who had spent her past life training Courtesan, was also quite accomplished in painting.

Soon, a new flag was unveiled.

"How was it?" Maria put down her paintbrush.

"Not bad."

Sirius stroked his chin and nodded.

"Indeed," Jack agreed.

Maria's banner is much more pleasing to the eye than the previous works by the mob.

It looks very similar to the insignia on Sirius's former flagship.

Two simple line drawings of wolf heads are howling to the left and right, with a greatsword and a Spiked Club crossed behind them.

"Cut."

Ulti crossed her arms and said dismissively, "It's far inferior to mine."

Does this person completely lack normal artistic appreciation?

Sirius laughed and said, "The captain has ordered that this be our pirate flag! Pay-tan, I have a task for you: hoist it up."

"Good!"

Page One enthusiasm.

"Then, great artist,"

Sirius pointed to the sails. "I'd also like to leave the markings on the sails to you."

"There's really nothing we can do."

Maria sighed softly, "Is this what they mean by 'the capable should do more'? Leave it to me."

"Now there's only one important question left!" Sirius's expression turned serious.

"What is it?" Yamato held his breath.

Sirius grimaced. "Who's going to cook? My stomach is growling."

He's good at eating, but not at cooking.

Yamato was suddenly startled. "That's right, it seems like none of us are good at cooking."

Even Maria, a Courtesan, wouldn't she know how to cook for herself?

"Please leave this to me."

Hiyori raised her hand and said gently, "I'm quite good at this."

After all, she's been hiding in the Flower Capital as a maid for the past few years, so cooking is basically a professional skill for her.

"Excellent! Hiyori, I hereby officially appoint you as the head chef of the Sirius!" the captain declared.

What is a head chef?

Jack rolled his eyes. "Is there a second cook on the ship?"

Sirius said seriously, "This means that when it comes to anything related to cooking, everyone must obey the head chef's orders!"

Hiyori smiled gently, "Well then, Captain, could you please help me chop the vegetables?"

"Of course, no problem!"

Sirius drew his greatsword from his back, grinned, and said, "When it comes to cutting things, I'm quite confident!"

"You bastard, are you trying to cut this ship up?" Jack's lips twitched.

"Because this sword is very sharp!"

Is that the problem?

"Okay! I'll help too!"

Yamato was in high spirits and pulled out his Spiked Club.

What kind of help do you want?

What an interesting group of people!

Kozuki Hiyori smiled gently.

The past few days have passed in the blink of an eye, and the journey has been smooth sailing.

After all, this wasn't Sirius's first time at sea; he was very experienced, and even the unpredictable weather of the New World didn't cause them any trouble.

Then, on this day...

Sirius and the ship's chief helmsman, Jack, are fishing.

"Brother! Ship sighted on the sea ahead!"

From the lookout tower atop the mast came the chief lookout's delighted voice, "It looks like a pirate ship!"

"Pirate ship?"

Sirius put down his fishing rod, then lightly leaped onto the mast. "Pay-tan, the binoculars."

Page One handed him the binoculars.

Sirius took it and looked at it.

The distant view instantly became clear, and a ship sailing on the distant sea came into his view.

The most striking feature is, of course, the pattern on the sail.

Skull pattern.

There are three scars on his left eye, and behind them are two patterns of crossed blades.

"This is--"

Sirius was very surprised.

"The Red-Haired Pirates?"