Their bodies knelt and bowed uncontrollably, leaving every slave trader utterly horrified.
Their foreheads slammed heavily into the ground. After that, it was as if strong glue had been applied to them in an instant. No matter how hard they struggled, they could not lift their heads from the ground.
"It's the power of a Devil Fruit..."
The bizarre situation instantly made the slave traders realize what was happening.
Only...
Their bodies could not move.
Their heads were pressed hard against the ground.
Their vision was restricted to a patch of ground no larger than a palm. No matter what they did, they could not see what Maud would do next.
But...
They could clearly hear Maud's slow footsteps approaching.
Like drumsticks, each step pounded against their hearts.
Before they knew it, cold sweat streamed down their cheeks.
Nearby, the slaves stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
What had happened?
How had this group of brutal slave traders suddenly prostrated themselves?
The slaves could not understand.
They watched Maud approach one step at a time.
Although they had no idea what had happened, surely this man had made the first move, right?
For a moment, they looked at Maud with hope in their eyes.
This might be their only chance to regain their freedom.
Facing the slaves' hopeful gazes, Maud showed no reaction. Instead, he looked toward the slave traders kneeling on the ground.
As if sensing Maud's gaze, the slave traders' prostrated bodies suddenly began to tremble.
Only a middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader remained relatively composed. He spoke up in accusation.
"Bagard. Maud, we have no grudge against you. Why are you..."
"You were in the way."
Maud cast a sidelong glance at the middle-aged man who had spoken.
"W-What!?"
The middle-aged man's face was filled