"That's right." Avis, who approached, also heard his words, and exclaimed gentlemanly, "This is Hathaway, known by people near and far as the real Rose Girl." ”

Hathaway covered her lips and giggled, her graceful figure leaning back and forth slightly with her movements, and the bell on her body rang non-stop, "You're so kind, Avis." ”

"Oh, beautiful young lady, don't be presumptuous, this is the praise you deserve—and I agree with what people say about you." Ives replied sincerely, and turned back again, "Ann, you know, the news of the captain is always circulating in the harbor, and Hathaway also heard that there was a female captain from the south of the sea, so she was very curious, and it happened that when I was looking for you, we met and exchanged two words, so I—" he blinked, "and could not resist the request of the Rose Girl, and brought her here." ”

"Yes, Captain Ann, please forgive me for my presumptuousness." Hathaway lifted the corners of her skirt, saluted gracefully, and said enthusiastically, "Your fleet has been in the limelight in the South China Sea recently, and it is also recorded in the newspapers, and I have met many captains, but it is always rare for a girl to be a captain. She blinked, and then raised a big smile, "I couldn't help but hear that you came to this city this time, and I saw Avis, I saw your picture in the newspaper, so I begged him to bring me to meet you, and I'm really sorry to disturb you." ”

"No, no, not at all." She was a little at a loss. There were many unexpected things, and I didn't think that their fleet had already been published in the newspapers, and I didn't think that there would be such a beautiful girl who paid such attention to them.

"It's all right, Miss Hathaway." She also slowly pursed her lips and smiled, "It's our honor to get your care." ”

Ives laughed, "But—where did Frank and Noah go?" And this one is—"

"This is Cyril, our new crew." She smiled and introduced, "This is what Frank found for us." As for them, Frank went looking for food in the outer neighborhood - he seemed to be a little hungry after a fight. And Noah went to explore the more hidden markets here — you know, our business. Although the price is agreed, you still have to look at it locally. "But they should be coming by now—we've agreed that I'll introduce Cyril here first, and they'll meet here later." ”

……

In the end, things turned out to be a little unexpected.

Because of Duke Hill's affairs, they hurriedly purchased the new boxes of foreign guns recommended by Bertram, and said goodbye to Bertram, who was very sorry for not being able to entertain them and had other important matters.

On this trip to the Western Continent, there are two new members on board - one is Cyril and the other is Hathaway.

Although she is a sought-after rose girl, Hathaway is quite warm and cheerful, and it is very pleasant to get along with and talk to her.

That's why Hathaway didn't hesitate to say yes when she offered to go with their ship to perform in a city she liked in the South China Sea before leaving.

It's just that what she didn't expect was that when everyone didn't care, Ives had come to her in private once, and seriously put forward the opinion of not suggesting that Hathaway be on board.

"Ann, I'm about to return to the Southern Continent, just find a random city and let her get off the ship." Avis frowned, leaning back on the table, looking at the girls who were sorting out the money they had collected from the various city chambers of commerce in the last month about what they had gained under their influence.

"Avis." She raised her head helplessly, "I don't understand - when you were in the Herman Empire before, didn't you also have a good impression of her?" ”

"I do admire her, but that's not enough to make me let my guard down against her." Ivis tapped his knuckles on the table, and replied thoughtfully, "I've been suspicious of her since she offered to take our ship. No, don't look at me like that, Ann, I'm telling the truth. Didn't you find out? She knows us so well that I know you want to say it's because it was published in the newspaper - I looked at the newspaper too, and our news was only in a corner of the corner, and the photo was so small, she was able to remember it all? ”

He spread his hands, "It's not likely at all, and now I also think that she and I met too deliberately, I used to be in a casino, I don't understand what fraud is, trust my instincts, Ann, I don't think it's all that simple." ”

She looked down at the letter in her hand, she couldn't read it anymore no matter what, she pursed her lips and promised, "Avis, don't worry, I'll think about it and try to let her leave as soon as possible." ”

It's just that things change in the end.

Because of the problem of shipping routes, the western continent and the southern continent must pass through the eastern continental border. And one night when they were at the junction of the southeast and were about to return to the South China Sea, something happened.

The sea in the middle of the night is quiet and mysterious, the waves crashing against the reef, the steamer rowing through the waves, the small spray of the waves, the whimpering of the wind, can be heard clearly. The blue night sky, dotted with stars, crumpled on the sparkling sea.

However, not far away, the flames were so bright that almost half of the sea and sky were dyed red.

The panic of the crowd and the sound of wild laughter were mixed together, and with the sea breeze blowing, it was faintly palpitating.

"Captain! It seems that there are pirates slaughtering the village ahead! The lookout hurried to report.

When she heard the siren, she briefly straightened her own girl, unfolded the map she had drawn in her hand, frowned, and asked, "Which village is it?" ”

"Not indicated, Captain." "It's a very small island on the map," replied the lookout, "and it has been discovered that it does not provide food and water, so if it weren't for today, we probably wouldn't know it would be inhabited." ”

"And—" the lookout grimaced, "we've found out that the pirates are Heinrich's fleet!" ”

"Heinrich?" Noah, who hurriedly put on his coat, was a little stunned at the door.

- They all hurried to the captain's quarters when they heard the movement.

"No, I heard that after the last battle with Brent, Heinrich chased directly to the Hermann Empire, why did he come back so quickly?" Avis couldn't help but rub the tears that had welled up in the corners of his eyes due to sleepiness.

"It should be his fleet." An Ning Ning thought for a moment and wondered, "It's just why did they slaughter such a hidden village?" ”

"Either way, we have to save them." Noah looked at the fire outside the window that burned half of the sky, and said in a low voice.