Taking "Risks" Personally

The matter has come to this. Scarface is busted. Anyway, he's a pirate, what kind of reputation for decency does he need?

As long as he had enough wealth and power, the fleet in his hands would grow as quickly as snowballs.

Hearing Scarface's words, Locke, on the contrary, looked as if he was relieved and said without any concern, "Isn't it just that treasure map? You should've said so earlier instead of pretending to be nice!"

Scarface's mouth twitched, the scars on his face as hideous as a centipede, and he snapped with extreme rage, " Stop giving me crap, I'll shoot you if you don't say anything!"

"The treasure map is in a secret compartment to the right of the captain's cabin entry door, behind the third panel, and don't ever bother me again when you get it!"

"Damn, this idiot even knows how to place a secret compartment!" Scarface cursed under his breath and then couldn't help but curse again upon seeing Locke's impatient face, "Nuts!"

But Locke didn't care and said to Longinus's backside, "Ensign-sama, can I leave now?"

"Take him away!" Longinus said to the soldier who escorted Locke.

Scarface was keenly aware that ever since Locke had revealed the whereabouts of the treasure map, those pirates around him had begun stirring, and couldn't help but say with a loud call to attention, "Let's go!"

"Wait, don't you forget something?"

Scarface didn't stop and looked at Longinus brazenly and said, "What do you mean, Longinus?"

"You can leave if you want, but first you'll leave those people behind."

"Humph! Do you think I'm stupid? These guys are my shields now, let them go, and I might be thrown in jail by you next. I can't trust you with your title as a marine." Scarface said with a smirk.

"Then how can I trust you? The pirates have always been inconsistent, and it is the greatest irresponsibility to entrust the lives of these people into your hands!" Longinus countered with "righteousness."

"But you can only choose to trust us, can't you?" Scarface felt that he had taken hold of Longinus' lethal line, and his tone was arrogant and reckless.

Longinus was silent for a moment and said resolutely, "I refuse! Not to mention whether or not pirates like you are trustworthy, even if you did release this populace onto the island, it would be difficult for them to return to the island alive, and that would only lead to an even greater tragedy."

Scarface panicked a bit and said hurriedly, "Calm down, I didn't say I would exile them to the island!"

"The rumors circulating here that you're facing another enemy, other than the Marine, there are pirates who also target the treasure. In this case, do you dare risk being exposed and under attack by sending these people back to the other islands?" Longinus hit the nail on the head.

Scarface opened his mouth, wanting to speak, yet stop talking without feeling like his words could fool him.

The atmosphere was a bit severe and tense for a moment, and just as the fear in Scarface's heart was about to push the limits, Longinus pulled out two pairs of handcuffs and matching keys and threw them over.

Scarface said with a gloomy face, "Longinus, do you mean, do you want me to surrender with my hands tied? Don't be delusional. I'm not intimidated by you, don't compare me to that loser captain!"

"Check yourself, both pairs of handcuffs are made of Kairoseki."

Scarface couldn't figure out what Longinus meant, but took it easy and picked up the handcuffs, finding the combat captain who had eaten the Devil Fruit to test them, and found that he did turn into just plain weak-kneed instantly.

"It is indeed the legendary Kairoseki, so your goal is to show off the Marine's power and wealth to us?" Scarface asked in an ill-tempered tone.

"Since you know about the Kairoseki, you should have learned that its hardness is even higher than diamonds and that even the legendary Saijo O Wazamono would have difficulty cutting it apart." Longinus continued.

Now Scarface had a vague idea of what direction to take, and although his face was static, his mind was already vibrant.

"Throwback the Kairoseki handcuffs."

"Are, are you going to..."

"Using me as a hostage to substitute that populace back, I know you may not have the courage, so these Kairoseki handcuffs are actually for myself." Longinus picked up the handcuffs, first locking one pair at his ankles and then actively restraining his hands as well.

"Although I'm not an ability user, after being bound with my hands and feet, I'm not even strong enough to survive in one piece, so you're probably no longer afraid in this situation, right?"

The conversation came to a close, not to mention the surrounding people, the Marine. Even the pirates couldn't help but feel their hearts tremble. They who were walking on the edge of darkness could never imagine why someone could put themselves in that kind of danger for a group of ordinary people they had never met before.

Even if they were on enemy sides, they could not help but admire him.

The Marine who followed Longinus objected strongly, "Ensign Longinus, don't risk your life! These guys are cruel pirates, and there will be a lack of morality to speak of!"

Even the people who were taken as hostages couldn't help but respond with grateful cries, "Ensign Longinus, please stop, you've done enough for us, let us face it alone next."

However, without waiting for them to speak, Longinus had already locked his handcuffs fully in place and calmly looked across at the pirates and said, "Release the civilians, and I'll go with you. I'm a marine ensign, and with me as a hostage, you can even dodge the pursuit along, and if I can be captured, it will be beneficial to your fading reputation, right!"

Scarface is a bit impressed, a future star called the light of the navy is worth much more than the old and sick, and the guy is already tied up, there is no reason for them to be afraid of a "loser", right?

Seeing Longinus moving with trouble, Scarface gave a very decisive order, "Release those ordinary people and take our ensign of the Marine with you and leave this place. I will treat this marine friend well, hahaha!"

"Damn it! Sure enough, Ensign Longinus was willing to sacrifice so much for us guys who would only slow him down as before!" The exchanged hostage snotty said.

"Ensign Longinus, he's... so great! Last time, too, in Westwind, to save the captured soldiers, he went deep behind enemy lines and ended up taking dozens of bullets before rescuing everyone!"

"Damn pirates, remember this, even if any trace of damage is done to Ensign Longinus, our entire G2 branch will not spare you!"

Published in Qidian, February 20, 2019