"Whenever we put out to sea, I only took two-thirds of the sailors and left one-third behind. Who got to come along and earn extra allowances depended on their usual performance.
"That way, even if the Blue Avenger didn't need sailors, they still worked hard to prove themselves. For example, keeping the ship clean, going to bed on time instead of singing at midnight or playing cards all night. Some sailors even tried to get friendly with me when we went ashore, inviting me to the Red Theater or similar places."
Leaning against the railing at the bow, Alger gazed at the seawater split apart by the sharp prow as it rushed past on either side and spoke in a low voice.
"Did you go?"
Klein looked expressionlessly at the empty deck and asked casually.
The night before last, Angel had inexplicably stirred his desire with "Pleasure." While they studied Ancient Feysac and Fourth Epoch history every day, she had also kept provoking him, only to use worries about the Ghost Ship's surveillance as an excuse to sleep in separate rooms every night. It left him unable to take an interest in anything even now.
"I..." Alger had not expected that to be the point the other man cared about, and he nearly failed to keep his expression steady. "...I needed to mingle with my men. If I acted too aloof, they might think I didn't fit in and secretly report me to the Church."
"So you went."
"Yes..."
Alger instinctively looked away as he answered. Then he remembered that neither his identity as a pirate nor as a Storm Believer required him to feel ashamed of visiting such places, so he turned his face back.
"Did you call me up here just to confess all that?"
The corner of