Venturing into Danger

Things had come to this, so Scarface decided to smash the jar and be done with it. After all, he was a pirate—why should he care about having a reputation for honor?

As long as he possessed enough wealth and power, the fleet under his command would rapidly grow like a snowball rolling downhill.

Hearing what Scarface said, Locke instead looked relieved and said indifferently, "Isn't it just that treasure map? You should've said so sooner. Why pretend to be a good person?"

The corner of Scarface's mouth twitched, the scar on his face looking as hideous as a centipede. Enraged, he barked, "Quit your damn nonsense! If you don't talk, I'll blow your brains out!"

"The treasure map is in the secret compartment behind the third plank to the right of the entrance to the captain's quarters. Don't come bother me again after you get it!"

Damn it, this idiot even knows how to install a secret compartment! Scarface cursed inwardly. Seeing Locke's impatient expression, he couldn't help cursing again, "Freak!"

Locke, however, couldn't care less. He turned to Longinus and asked eagerly, "Major, may I leave now?"

"Take him away!" Longinus ordered the soldiers escorting Locke.

Scarface keenly noticed that after Locke revealed the location of the treasure map, the surrounding pirates began stirring restlessly. His heart immediately sounded an alarm, and he said impatiently, "Let's go!"

"Wait. Have you forgotten something?"

Scarface stopped in his tracks and looked at Longinus warily. "Longinus, what do you mean?"

"You can leave, but first, leave those civilians behind."

"Hmph! Do you think I'm stupid? These people are my shields right now. If I let them go, you might throw me into prison the next second. I don't trust sanctimonious Marines like you." Scarface gave a sinister laugh.

"Then how am I supposed to trust you? Pirates have always been fickle. Entrusting these civilians' lives to you would be the height of irresponsibility!" Longinus rebuked him with "righteous indignation."

"But you can only choose to trust us, can't you?" Scarface felt that he had seized Longinus's weak point, and his tone became increasingly arrogant and unrestrained.

Longinus fell silent for a moment before saying resolutely, "I refuse! Leaving aside whether pirates like you are trustworthy, even if you really released these civilians on a deserted island, they would have little chance of surviving long enough to return to this island. That would only lead to an even greater tragedy."

Scarface began to panic and hurriedly said, "Calm down! I never said I would definitely exile them to a deserted island!"

"If word of what happened here gets out, then besides the Marines, you'll also have to face pirates who covet the treasure. In that situation, would you really dare risk being exposed and attacked to send these civilians back to another island?" Longinus hit the nail on the head.

Scarface opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, wanting to speak but unable to find the words. He didn't think he could deceive the other man with his arguments.

The atmosphere grew tense and murderous. Just as the fear in Scarface's heart was about to reach its limit, Longinus pulled two pairs of handcuffs and their matching keys from his clothes and tossed them over.

Scarface's expression darkened. "Longinus, what do you mean? You want me to bind my own hands and surrender? Don't even dream of it! You won't scare me. Don't lump me together with that useless captain!"

"Inspect them yourself. Both pairs of handcuffs are made from Seastone."

Scarface couldn't figure out Longinus's intentions, but he obediently picked up the handcuffs. He found the combat squad leader who had eaten a Devil Fruit and tested them on him. As expected, the man instantly became weak-kneed.

"They really are the legendary Seastone. So is your purpose to show off the Marines' strength and wealth?" Scarface asked unpleasantly.

"Since you know about Seastone, you should also know that its hardness surpasses even that of diamonds. Even the legendary Supreme Great Swords would have difficulty cutting through it." Longinus continued.

At this point, Scarface faintly grasped the outline of the plan. Although his face remained impassive, his thoughts began racing.

"Throw the Seastone handcuffs back."

"Could it be that you intend to..."

"Use me as a hostage and exchange me for those civilians. I know you may not have the courage to do it, so these Seastone handcuffs were actually prepared for myself." Longinus picked up the handcuffs, locked one pair around his ankles, and then voluntarily bound his hands as well.

"Although I'm not a Devil Fruit user, after having both my hands and feet bound, less than one-tenth of my strength remains. In this situation, surely you aren't still afraid, are you?"

When he finished speaking, not only the surrounding civilians and Marines but even the pirates were shaken. Those who walked along the edge of darkness could never have imagined that someone would put himself in such danger for a group of ordinary people he didn't even know.

Even though they stood on opposing sides, they couldn't help but feel admiration.

The Marines following behind Longinus strongly objected. "Major Longinus, please don't put yourself in danger! These men are ruthless pirates. They have no sense of honor whatsoever!"

Even the civilians being held hostage couldn't help calling out through their tears, "Major Longinus, please stop! You've already done enough for us. From here on, let us face this alone!"

However, before they could finish speaking, Longinus had already locked the handcuffs completely. He calmly looked toward the pirates and said, "Release those civilians, and I'll go with you. I'm a Marine major. With me as your hostage, you can even evade the pursuit that follows. Besides, if you manage to capture me, it will be extremely useful for restoring your plummeting reputation, won't it?"

Scarface was tempted. A future star known as the Light of the Marines was worth far more than those old, weak, and infirm civilians. Besides, the man had already bound his own hands and feet. They had no reason to fear even a "useless" man, did they?

Seeing Longinus struggle toward them, Scarface decisively gave the order. "Release those civilians. Take our Marine major with us and leave. I'll be sure to give our Marine friend a proper welcome. Hahahaha!"

"Damn it! Major Longinus is just like before, willing to make such a huge sacrifice for us burdens who can only hold him back!" one of the exchanged hostages sobbed through his tears.

"Major Longinus... He's truly incredible! The same thing happened in Westwind Town last time. To rescue the captured soldiers, he ventured deep behind enemy lines and ultimately saved everyone at the cost of taking dozens of bullets!"

"Damn pirates, remember this! If Major Longinus suffers even the slightest injury, our entire G2 Branch will never let you off!"