Robin stood there small, pitiful, weak, and helpless.
She didn't even try to explain herself—she had never stolen anything from anyone, and her Devil Fruit ability was certainly not something she could "share."
After being captured, she understood clearly: if her Devil Fruit power was exposed and she was shackled with Seastone, escape would become impossible.
So she had hidden her ability with extreme caution, waiting until those pirates finally relaxed before using her powers to slip away.
But those pirates had instinctively assumed she had stolen their captain's Devil Fruit—so stupid that they never even tried to confirm it.
Robin also knew that even if the other slaves didn't say it out loud, they probably blamed her too.
But it didn't matter anymore. She had long lost hope in this world. There was no need to care how others saw her.
(It seems many readers weren't satisfied with yesterday's explanation about Robin not eating her Fruit in Ohara, so… does this count as a forced patch? (☆^ー^☆))
The doors were suddenly kicked open.
"You brat, you were right—the only thing that's ever been wrong is this damned world!"
A black-clad man dragging a spiked mace across the floor—sparks flying—walked in with a large group of pirates.
"I also wanna know—why wasn't my dad the richest man in the world? Why wasn't my mom a high-ranking government official? Why wasn't I born a noble who could play with women every day? It's because life's unfair from the moment you're born—THAT'S why we became pirates!"
"If we had a choice, who wouldn't want to be a good person?"
"HAHAHAHA! Boss is right—we really ARE good people!" the other pirates jeered.
The noisy, chaotic prison instantly fell silent.
Even the boy who had been shouting earlier became as quiet as a mouse. In the end, he was just a bully who feared the strong.
"Heh! This brat could be trained. From my experience, the ones who put the most effort into catching slaves are kids like him."
Seeing the trembling boy too scared to answer, the black-clad leader lost interest and continued toward Robin with his spiked mace.
"Little girl, looks like we've treated you too nicely before—you didn't appreciate the privilege. Not only did you run away, you even stole the captain's Devil Fruit. This time… I'll have to break one of your legs."
"After all, those big shots only care about what's inside your head. As for the rest…"
"Longinus-nii, we…"
Seeing Captain Ginyu raise the mace high, ready to smash it down onto Robin's tiny frame, even Tina couldn't bear it and let out a small cry.
"Mm! I'll—"
"AAAHHH!!!"
Just as Longinus was about to act, a heart-rending scream tore through the room.
The despair in that scream was so chilling even Longinus's body trembled.
Looking over, he saw the spiked mace lying on the ground.
Ginyu himself was bent over, clutching his lower body, face paper-white, sweat dripping like beads off his forehead.
Longinus suddenly recalled the memory from that otherworldly soul—the "shocking move" Robin would one day learn in the original timeline.
The same fate Franky once suffered.
"According to that otherworldly soul… this guy is now the 'Christmas Eve victim,' huh."
A chill ran down Longinus's spine—not from fear, but the instinctive reaction any man would have.
"G-Get… get that damn brat! I-I'm going to smash every bone in her body!"
Ginyu shrieked hysterically, voice already leaning unnervingly high-pitched.
The surrounding pirates looked at each other—none dared step forward.
That punishment was WORSE than death.
"You useless trash! Do you all WANT to die?"
Ginyu roared, while the pirates lowered their heads guiltily.
—Now!
Longinus seized the opening.
He leaped from the corner, shattered Ginyu's heart with a clean, precise strike, then appeared among the densest cluster of pirates and swept out with a whip kick.
The force—enough to break steel—instantly crushed their limbs.
Blood sprayed.
Flesh flew.
The scene was brutally gruesome, drawing terrified screams from the captives.
And this was the limitation of a pure martial artist—without having learned Marine Rokushiki yet, lacking any decisive area-of-effect attack, Longinus couldn't afford to hold back.
The other pirates finally snapped out of it.
The stench of blood sent many into violence-driven frenzy as they charged at Longinus, while a few smarter ones quietly slipped toward the back to escape.
The more he killed, the calmer he became.
Longinus first targeted the most dangerous ones—the gunmen.
Not because they could threaten his life, but because they could threaten his flawless rescue operation.
In his lightning-fast assault, the seven pirates carrying pistols didn't even manage to fire a single shot for fun before they were all eliminated.
With the gun threat gone, the cages—originally confining the slaves—became their safest protection.
Longinus could now unleash his full power.
In just three seconds, every pirate who hadn't fled was dead.
"It's… it's the Marines! They're here to save us!"
"We're saved—we don't have to become slaves!"
"Mom… Dad… I want to go home!"
Though the scene was bloody, except for a few overly soft-hearted people, none of the slaves felt any sympathy.
In fact, most wished the pirates would die a hundred times over.
"M-Marine…"
In all the cheering, Robin alone turned pale, shrinking back until her back pressed against the cold iron bars, as though that was the only place that could protect her.
"Longinus-nii, here's the key!"
Tina proudly held up the keyring she had taken from the "dead eunuch."
"Then the job of freeing everyone is yours, little Tina."
"Tina guarantees success!"
Longinus walked out.
He needed to deal with the loose ends he'd intentionally left earlier.
Bang bang bang!
"Damn it! That idiot Ginyu locked the door!"
The fleeing pirates pounded on it furiously, having long forgotten the strict hierarchy aboard their ship.
"Why… why is the fighting outside completely gone?"
One pirate trembled. "D-Did they all get killed?"
"Don't scare yourself! It hasn't even been that long!"
"But Ginyu was taken out in one hit! That Marine brat is a monster!"
"Hurry up and get this door—"
Without warning, the pirate speaking collapsed instantly.
"Damn! A silenced pistol—take cover!"
"Six pirates… six bullets. All yours."
With his powerful Observation Haki and lacking ranged abilities, Longinus would never waste the advantage a gun offered.
Even though the pirates hid tightly behind cover, they were completely exposed under his Haki.
With a few dull thuds, the bodies hit the floor.
The battle was over swiftly.
Longinus walked back into the prison at a relaxed pace.
The eagerly watching Tina and the trembling rescued slaves erupted into cheers.
"Great! We're saved!"
"Thank you, Marine big brother!"
Longinus smiled gently—his warmth carrying a calming force that soothed everyone around him.
"Everyone, rest here for a bit. Soon, Marines will arrive to escort you home."
"However… before that, there is one last sinner who must face judgment."
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