"Hunger…! Using that Devil Fruit takes way too much stamina.
But at least I succeeded this time!"
The grimy little figure crouched in a corner.
Under the dirt-streaked clothes was a delicate, childlike face.
After confirming no one was around, she pulled a thick wad of cash from her shirt.
"One million Berries… two million… three—"
Her hand suddenly froze mid-count.
"Wait… something's definitely wrong with these numbers."
She rubbed her eyes hard, checked again, and sucked in a sharp breath.
"The smallest bill… is 100,000 Berries?! What is she—some mine owner's daughter?!"
"Crap… If I'd known it was this much, I would've stolen just one bill!
Now that I took so much, they'll never let this go!"
The girl's small face twisted in panic.
"And worst of all… who's going to break bills this big so I can buy food?!"
Meanwhile, Longinus was still quietly digesting the fact that Tina was, in fact, a tiny rich tycoon.
That was when a whole squad of men in black clothes, black pants, and black masks—looking like they were terrified that people wouldn't notice they were criminals—burst out of the surrounding alleys.
The festival crowd screamed and scattered instantly.
"Captain Ginyu! The little brat ran off again—what do we do now?"
one masked man asked resentfully.
"What do we do? What do we DO?"
The larger man slapped him hard on the head.
"WE CONTINUE CHASING HER!
She's our most valuable product—and she stole the Captain's Devil Fruit!
If we don't catch her and sell her for a high price, the Captain will skin us alive!"
"Right! She's worth more than giants and fish-men!
Big shots in the Underworld are all after her!
If we lose her, the Captain will kill us in the worst way!"
It was clear from their trembling voices that losing all of them still wouldn't equal losing that little girl.
Suddenly, one of the masked men noticed Longinus and Tina.
He leaned in to whisper—loudly—
"Captain! It's the Marines! Should we take that brat out?"
The captain-like figure glanced nervously at Longinus, noting the Justice coat draped over civilian clothes.
"Don't stir up trouble!
That kid's wearing a Justice coat over casual clothes—that privilege is only for officers.
No idea how he pulled it off, but we do NOT drag Marines into this!"
The group quickly withdrew.
Tina stared at their retreating backs, expression completely blank.
"Are those pirates… stupid? They didn't even lower their voices!
Did they WANT us to hear them? Were they trying to lure you, Big Brother Longinus?"
Seeing Tina's anxious expression—as though she feared some elaborate trap—Longinus patted her head lightly.
"Don't overthink it.
That's simply the average intelligence level of pirates.
You'll get used to it."
"However…"
Longinus's voice cooled.
"These aren't normal pirates.
They're slavers—human traffickers."
Tina wrinkled her nose in pure disgust.
"Ugh… the worst kind of scum."
But she didn't demand anything or throw out reckless suggestions.
Tina knew very well:
Bossy girls are annoying.
She absolutely didn't want Longinus to dislike her—even by 0.1%.
So she simply asked:
"Big Brother Longinus… what should we do?"
"As a Marine, I will never ignore crimes happening right before my eyes."
Longinus's words rang with righteous certainty—while his mind analyzed the details.
"That Devil Fruit signature… what exactly was it?"
"I knew it! Big Brother Longinus is a true hero!"
Tina cheered silently in her heart.
Then she took a deep breath and suggested:
"Tina might just get in the way.
Why don't I run back and call for reinforcements from the Marines and the Royal Guard?"
"No."
Longinus rejected immediately.
"There's no time.
If Marines or soldiers show up, the slavers will panic and take the festival-goers hostage.
The casualties will multiply."
More importantly—
"This place is far from the royal castle.
With the streets in chaos, if you go alone, you're the one in danger.
I promised Uncle Louis that I would keep you safe.
I won't abandon you—not even to save strangers."
He sighed softly.
"It's funny… Everyone calls me a hero.
But when it comes down to it… I can't sacrifice a friend just to save people I've never met.
I'm just an ordinary person with a little strength."
Tina—being a girl in the vulnerable age range of 10–14—
was instantly and thoroughly moved.
Her eyes grew damp.
"U-un! Tina will absolutely NOT hold Big Brother Longinus back!"
"Don't worry. Those pirates are weak.
Protecting you while fighting them won't be difficult."
And that wasn't boasting.
Based on what Longinus sensed earlier, a hundred of those slavers wouldn't scratch him.
The culinary festival grounds were almost deserted now.
In the empty plaza stood two masked men.
"Well? Did you find the brat?"
"N-No… That kid is too good at hiding.
We won't find her quickly."
"Damn it!
Those bloodhound Marines will sniff us out soon!
We don't have much time left."
He made a decision.
"Block every exit!
Tell everyone here—
if they can't help us find that little monster…
we'll just kill them all!"
"Brilliant plan, boss!
I'll go tell everyone right away!"
The shorter masked man ran off enthusiastically.
"…Idiot."
The leader muttered.
"What do you mean 'help us,' you moron?
They're not helping, they're—
they're—"
He stopped, realizing he didn't know the correct word.
"…Whatever!"
Tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps echoed behind him.
His brows knitted.
"Back already? Didn't you hear what I sa—"
He turned—and froze.
His first reaction was extremely professional.
"Two… premium products!"
Then his brain caught up.
"No—
It was ONE set of footsteps!
So how are there TWO of you?!"
Cold wind whistled across the empty pavilion.
Sweat ran down the slaver's masked face in sheets.
Before him stood—
Longinus.
And Tina.
Both silent.
Both staring at him without emotion.
The slaver swallowed hard.
This—
was very, very bad.
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