"Marines?
Are you here to make trouble…?"
The masked man forced himself to stay calm, inching backward as his gaze flicked nervously past Longinus and Tina.
"Looking for your subordinates?" Longinus asked gently.
"You don't need to. They won't be waking up again."
His footsteps fell slowly—unhurried, steady, but each one landing like a hammer on the man's heartbeat.
A suffocating pressure weighed on him, sweat forming along his brow.
It no longer felt like he faced a teenager…
but a man-eating beast that devoured life.
"S-silently taking out my men… What a troublesome brat…"
The masked man fought to keep his voice from shaking.
Tina blinked in confusion.
"You don't even recognize Big Brother Longinus?
Are you new to the Grand Line—or did you get beaten back from the second half?"
"Heh… sounds like this Marine brat is pretty famous around here."
The man sneered, puffing out his chest.
"But listen up, little girl!
We're no failures!
Our captain—the 'Night Reaper' Felix—commands the Black-Cloth Pirates!
Even in the first half of the Grand Line, he's known as a demon drenched in blood!"
"…'Black-Cloth Pirates.'
Truly, pirate naming sense never disappoints," Longinus thought silently, unimpressed.
Tina folded her arms and stabbed straight through their ego.
"I don't know who your 'Black-Cloth Pirates' are supposed to be,
but only useless losers resort to human trafficking!"
The masked man snarled.
"Watch your mouth, brat! Offending us means you die in pieces!"
"You're the one who needs to think before speaking," Longinus said, stepping closer.
"Do you really think reconciliation is still an option?"
"Damn Marine punk!
You think I'm afraid?!"
The man whipped out two swords—clearly a dual-blade fighter.
"Hyah!!
Tiger–Leopard Twin Slash!"
Screaming a battle cry more for courage than intimidation, he shot forward in a wind-splitting dash.
Longinus blurred.
In the next instant, he appeared above the swordsman.
His fist dropped like lightning.
BOOM.
The man cratered into the ground, knocked unconscious in a single hit.
Longinus casually grabbed a fistful of his hair and hauled him upright.
The pirate hung limply, like a cat caught by the scruff.
Tina stared, speechless.
Yes, she knew the swordsman wasn't Longinus's match—but losing this fast and this clean…?
Was that idiot really supposed to be a ruthless pirate?
Longinus's tone was cool.
"I ask.
You answer.
Understood?"
"I-I understand!
Ask whatever you want, Marine-sama!"
The man's eyes flicked around—completely ignoring the fact that his mask was torn open.
He clearly had no intention of cooperating fully.
Longinus ignored the deception.
"Who is the girl you're hunting?
Why panic over one escaped slave?"
"How would I know someone like me?
All I heard is that big shots in the Underworld want her real bad!"
"How many men can your crew mobilize?
Where are they positioned?"
"We brought… about six hundred this time!
Aside from fifty guarding the plaza, the rest are split among the three entrances so she can't escape!"
"And your captain?
His powers and trump cards?"
"Captain Felix has an eighty-million-berry bounty!
His abilities are tied to shadows—night—fear—I don't know the details!
Anyone who's seen his real power is dead!"
Longinus fell silent.
The slaver sensed an opportunity.
"H-hey… Marine-sama…
Look, I cooperated, right?
Why not just let me go?
I can change!
I can totally be a good—"
"You think," Longinus said lightly,
"that if you act pitiful in front of a woman,
I'll show mercy, don't you?"
The pirate froze.
Longinus smiled gently.
"That's what you were thinking… correct?"
"H-h-h-how do you know that?!"
The slaver choked, panicking.
"N-no! I-I mean—"
Longinus continued as if he hadn't spoken:
"She knows ancient writing—something countless Underworld factions desire.
You want to use her to climb upward… into deeper darkness."
"Second, your captain took most of your fighting force to intercept rival pirate crews trying to steal the girl.
Meaning fewer than two hundred remain on the island… mainly guarding the other slaves."
"Lastly—your captain's ability revolves around fear.
That's why he spreads rumors of terror."
The masked man's knees buckled.
"W-who ARE you?!
How do you know all that?!"
Longinus tilted his head.
"You told me."
"I—I WHAT?"
Realization struck like lightning.
"I… thought the answers!
You… you can read my mind?!
So you knew I was lying…
and kept asking…
because every question made me think the real answer!"
Longinus nodded.
"And I'm surprised, actually.
You're quite loyal.
You would rather die than expose your captain's secrets."
"D-die…?"
The pirate's voice cracked.
"No—wait—give me another chance!
I can be a good—"
CRACK.
Longinus twisted his neck cleanly.
Tina didn't even flinch.
Born in a military household, death was nothing new to her.
Instead, her eyes sparkled.
"Waaah!
Big Brother Longinus, you can read minds?
That's amazing!
Is it a natural talent?"
Longinus blinked.
"You're not afraid?
Most people don't want anyone peeking into their thoughts."
"Why would Tina be afraid?" She tilted her head innocently.
"Tina doesn't have any shameful thoughts!
And Tina knows—whatever Big Brother Longinus does must be right!"
Then she added—very seriously:
"But if Big Brother Longinus doesn't want others to know…
Tina will absolutely help keep the secret!"
Longinus chuckled.
"Is that so?
Then thank you, Tina."
He patted her head again, though his thoughts darkened.
What a pity…
If she could enlist now, instead of four years from now…
With her unwavering trust, she'd be even easier to mold than Gregory and the others.
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