The slaves yearned for freedom, but they were still different from the prisoners imprisoned and tortured in Impel Down beneath the sea.
If they had been prisoners in Impel Down, the moment they got the chance, they would definitely have racked their brains for a way to escape.
But the slaves hesitated and worried about the consequences.
That was the fundamental difference between them and the prisoners of Impel Down.
Maud glanced at the silent slaves and said nothing more. He stepped over the gap in the iron bars and walked straight toward the transparent glass tank imprisoning the mermaid girl.
The slaves hesitantly watched Maud walk toward the tank.
"Then... can we go look for the keys?"
The speaker was still the male slave from earlier.
What he said naturally voiced the thoughts of the other slaves as well.
"Do whatever you want. You don't need to ask me."
Maud arrived in front of the transparent tank and tilted his head to look at the group of cowering slaves.
They even had to tread on eggshells when asking about something like this.
It was no wonder some people hated the institution of slavery from the bottom of their hearts.
"Thank you!"
Maud's words made the slaves feel as though they had been pardoned. They hurriedly stood up and went outside the cages, hoping to find the keys to unlock their shackles and collars from the bodies.
Inside the tank, the mermaid girl, unable to hear anything, stared at the scene in surprise.
Immediately afterward, she cautiously looked at Maud standing in front of the tank, her expression and movements filled with fear.
She did not know what Maud wanted to do.
But her instincts told her that the man before her would not hurt her.
Even so, she still