At this point, the scar-faced pirate simply stopped pretending.
He was a pirate—why would he care about reputation or righteousness?
As long as he had enough treasure and power, his pirate crew would snowball in size and strength.
That was the only "name" he needed.
When he heard the location of the treasure map, Rock actually looked relieved, waving dismissively.
"It's just a treasure map, right? You should've said so earlier—
why bother putting on a loyal act?"
The corner of the scar-faced man's mouth twitched—
his web of scars wriggling like centipedes as he snarled,
"Quit running your damn mouth!
Tell me where the map is before I blow your brains out!"
"In the captain's room," Rock said flatly.
"Right side of the entrance, behind the third wooden plank.
Hidden compartment.
Take it—just don't bother me again."
"That idiot actually knows how to set up a hidden stash?"
Bart muttered, cursing under his breath.
But seeing Rock's impatient expression, he couldn't help adding,
"Freak."
Rock ignored him completely and turned to Longinus with a pathetic eagerness.
"Major Longinus, sir… can I leave now?"
"Take him away," Longinus ordered the escort squad.
But Bart had just realized something troubling—
now that the treasure's location was revealed,
the surrounding pirates had begun eyeing him with greed.
His instincts screamed danger.
"Move! We're leaving!" he snapped.
"Wait."
Longinus' calm voice halted him mid-step.
Bart swallowed hard.
"L-Longinus… what now?"
"You can leave," Longinus said,
"but the civilians stay."
Bart barked a brittle laugh, fear sharpening into hostility.
"You think I'm stupid?
These people are my shield!
If I release them, you'll lock me up the next second!
I'm not falling for your righteous Marine crap!"
"And why," Longinus countered sharply,
"should I trust you?
Pirates are fickle and cruel.
Leaving these people in your hands
would be the greatest irresponsibility I could commit."
Bart clicked his tongue, but his confidence returned.
"But you have to trust us, don't you?"
He smirked.
"Otherwise these civilians die."
Longinus fell silent for a moment.
Then, decisively—
"No.
Even assuming you meant your words—which you don't—
even if you released them on some deserted island,
they'd never make it back alive.
That would only cause a greater tragedy."
Bart panicked.
"W-Wait!
I didn't say anything about deserted islands!"
Longinus' voice cut through him like a blade.
"With this many eyes watching,
the moment news spreads,
you'll be hunted not only by the Marines—
but by every pirate coveting that treasure.
Do you really dare escort these civilians back
while putting a target on your back?"
Bart opened his mouth…
and closed it again.
He couldn't refute a word.
Tension coiled through the plaza—
thick and suffocating.
Just as Bart's anxiety reached the breaking point…
Longinus reached into his coat—
and tossed out two pairs of handcuffs.
Bart stared, dumbfounded.
"Longinus…
what are you trying to say?
You want me to shackle myself and surrender?
Don't even think about it!
I'm not a coward like that useless captain!"
"Relax," Longinus said.
"Check them yourself.
Those cuffs are made of seastone."
Bart's expression changed.
Suspicious but curious, he picked them up
and fastened one around the wrist of his Devil Fruit-using combat leader.
The pirate collapsed instantly like a puppet with its strings cut.
"…It really is seastone."
Bart's voice trembled.
"So?
You showing off Marine wealth now?"
Longinus shook his head.
"You know how hard seastone is.
Harder than diamond.
Even a Supreme Grade blade can't cut it."
That got Bart's full attention.
His mind raced.
"…Throw them back," Longinus said.
Bart hesitated—
But then realized what Longinus was proposing.
"You're not… seriously…"
Longinus picked up the cuffs himself.
"I will use myself as the hostage in exchange for the civilians.
These cuffs were prepared for me."
He locked one pair around his ankles.
Then the second pair around his wrists.
Metal clinked.
The seastone closed tight.
"When bound hand and foot,"
Longinus continued calmly,
"my combat power is reduced to a tenth of normal.
Surely in this state…
I no longer frighten you."
Silence crushed the plaza.
Even the pirates—
men who walked the line between life and death—
felt something twist in their chests.
To throw away one's advantage—
to bind oneself—
to walk willingly into danger…
for strangers.
For ordinary people.
Even enemies could admire that.
Behind Longinus, his own Marines panicked.
"Major Longinus!
Don't do this!
These men are pirates—
they don't understand honor!"
Even the civilians being used as hostages cried out—
"Major Longinus, please stop!
You've done enough!
Let us face our fate ourselves!"
But Longinus had already snapped the final lock closed.
He looked at Bart, composed as ever.
"Release the civilians.
I go with you.
As a Marine Major,
I will shield you not only from immediate pursuit—
but also from every Marine patrol that comes after.
And capturing me…"
he added with faint irony,
"…would do wonders for your reputation, wouldn't it?"
Bart's pulse thudded.
A Marine hero—
the "Light of the Marines"—
as a hostage?
That was worth far more than the frightened townsfolk.
And the man was crippled by seastone.
Harmless.
He licked his lips.
Then barked the order—
"Release the civilians!
Take the Major—
he's coming with us!"
"Damn it…
Major Longinus is still the same as ever—
always sacrificing himself for useless people like us!"
a freed civilian sobbed.
"Major Longinus is too great!"
another cried.
"In Westwind Town too—
he went behind enemy lines to rescue the captured soldiers!
He took dozens of bullets for it!"
"You damned pirates!" a Marine roared.
"Listen well—
if Major Longinus suffers even a scratch,
the entire G-2 Branch will hunt you to the ends of the sea!"
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