The moment Longinus spoke, dust-covered memories resurfaced.
Every freed slave turned their hostile eyes toward the brat who had kept them from escaping.
A thousand fingers pointing—death without illness.
Forget an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy—even battle-hardened soldiers would lose their composure if so many wrath-filled eyes stared them down.
"W-What… what do you all want?"
Surrounded by furious glares, the boy was a far cry from the arrogant brat from before.
Earlier he dared defy the crowd because he knew the pirates would back him.
But now… that Marine didn't look like someone who tolerated nonsense.
"You still dare ask? If Marine big brother hadn't arrived in time, Robin's leg would've been broken by those pirates! She only ran back because she wanted to save us!"
"It's just a broken leg. She wouldn't have died. And she's fine now, isn't she?" the brat muttered resentfully.
"You—!"
Seeing several people approach with murderous expressions, the boy panicked instantly, mumbling, "F-Fine! I'll apologize, okay?"
"Hmph! Apologize? You think something like this can be solved with a simple apology? Because of your selfishness, all of us almost lost our chance to escape!"
"You guys are being unreasonable! I said I'll apologize—what more do you want?"
The brat suddenly exploded in indignation, momentarily forcing the others into silence.
Those who had scolded him earlier were now speechless and turned to Longinus for help.
Feeling a Marine at his back, the boy grew bolder.
"So what if they complain? I already apologized! What can a Marine do—kill me?"
Longinus rubbed his smooth chin and spoke words that sent chills down the boy's spine.
"Execution? Not impossible."
"You… you don't have the right to kill me!" The boy tried to steady himself, but the blood-soaked scene around him destroyed his confidence.
The other freed captives began whispering.
They hated the brat, yes—but killing him?
He was just another slave like them, not a bloodthirsty pirate.
Seeing him trembling, a few soft-hearted people even stepped forward to defend him.
"Marine sir… he's just a child. He doesn't understand—"
Longinus nodded with deep sincerity.
"Yes. He's just a child. So it's better to kill him."
Everyone's eyes bulged.
They could not believe such words came from a Marine—a symbol of justice.
"No more joking," Longinus said solemnly. "I said that because he's one of the Black Hood Pirates' remaining members."
"W-Wait. A remaining member?"
The crowd instantly retreated, hiding behind Longinus like he was a venomous serpent.
"He was a spy planted by the pirates among you—to sabotage your escape and report your every move."
Longinus's voice grew cold.
"If we let him go, he'll leak information again. The Black Hood Pirates' remnants may come after you."
"Despicable! Shameless!"
"No wonder he acted like that—he was one of them all along!"
"All those who failed to escape before and were hanged… it must've been him who told the pirates!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Ironically, the soft-hearted ones from before were now the most determined to kill him.
The boy paled with horror, crying anxiously:
"I'm not! I'm not a pirate! I really wasn't with them! I—I just envied that filthy woman for not sharing her strength with me! Please, believe me!"
But between a "pirate with a bad record" and a Marine representing justice, it wasn't hard to decide whom to believe.
Everyone glared at him with disgust; no one defended him anymore.
"Evil must be eradicated completely. I'm sure you all understand."
Longinus calmly reloaded his gun and aimed the black muzzle at the boy.
"E-Eradicate evil…"
Robin's small face turned pale.
For a moment, Longinus's silhouette looked like that of a demon.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please don't kill me!"
The boy collapsed, scrambling backwards.
A moment later—
"Alright. The 'pirate' has been eliminated. You can relax now," Longinus said lightly.
"I'll have the Marines record your information. In a few days, a Marine ship will send you home."
"Longinus-nii! Sister Tina! Thank you!"
The rescued captives thanked them endlessly as they rushed out to embrace the long-lost sunlight.
"Whew! So this is what it feels like to be a hero? It's amazing!"
Tina beamed. "Tina is so happy! The evil pirates are gone, good people can go home—just like a fairy tale!"
"No," Longinus said darkly. "Most of them will never return home again."
"Eh?"
Tina froze. She trusted Longinus completely, yet couldn't comprehend.
"But… the pirates are gone. Why?"
"Because most of them probably don't even know the name of the island they came from."
Longinus sighed.
In an era with no sea trains and terrible transportation, ordinary people who were abducted rarely found their way home again.
"Then… what will happen to them?"
"A few will be saved. Most will remain on this island, eventually giving up hope.
In time, they'll build new families here… burying their pain deep inside."
"W-Why would the world be like that?"
"Because beneath this world's gentle mask lies nothing but blood-soaked reality."
Longinus walked slowly toward the solitary Robin.
"Young lady, do you still remember your home?"
"Don't come near me!"
Robin pointed a small dagger at him, screaming hysterically.
Tina snapped out of her sadness and rushed forward like a protective hen, shielding Longinus behind her—even though Robin was the weakest one here.
"You little thief! What do you think you're doing to Longinus-nii? If he hadn't saved you, you'd already be torn apart by those pirates! Are you trying to repay kindness with betrayal!?"
"I don't know… I don't know anything…" Robin murmured in panic.
"But don't come closer! Stay away!"
Tina finally realized something was wrong.
The girl wasn't angry—she was terrified.
But with the pirates gone, only she and Longinus were here…
Could she possibly be afraid of Longinus-nii?
The thought made Tina laugh.
How could anyone be afraid of someone as kind as Longinus-nii?
"Is it because you stole my money and are afraid he'll arrest you?"
Tina waved dismissively. "Forget it! It wasn't much anyway. Just treat it as a gift."
Some of the fear faded from Robin's eyes, and she finally escaped from the nightmare—though the dagger never left her hand.
"Thank you… I know you're good people. But… I can't trust anyone anymore."
Using her Devil Fruit power, Robin sprouted an arm and tossed a delicate wallet in front of Tina, then turned and ran in panic.
"Ah! My wallet!"
Tina picked it up and watched Robin flee with worry and confusion.
"She ran off alone… should we chase her?"
Longinus shook his head lightly.
"No. Unless I take off the Justice Cloak on my back, she'll never stop running."
Tina suddenly understood.
"So she isn't afraid of you—she's afraid of the Marine uniform?"
"But… Marines represent justice. Why would anyone fear justice?"
"Who knows?" Longinus said as he walked toward the exit.
"Justice only counts as justice… when people need it."
Just like he knew very well the boy had nothing to do with the pirates.
But what did that matter?
Justice was merely a tool used by those in power.
It was justice only when convenient—
at all other times, nothing but two pale, powerless letters.
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