Dialogue (Yes, all this chapter is dialogue, be careful)

Appearing at the bottom of the steps was a rather interesting figure, so much so that Apophis laughed softly.

This marine's identity is none other than the highest fighting force of the Marine Headquarters - Hitsujiza Longinus!

"Why are you here?" Apophis asked with interest.

"It seems that someone has discovered the connection between us in the Marine Headquarters." Longinus' face was grave.

"That's what you should be worried about, what are you doing running over to me at this time?"

"It was a mistake on your side, and I suspect there' s a marine infiltrating your side."

"So what, what are you going to do?"

"Take me to a thorough investigation, I have a way to find the mole."

"What confidence! All right then, follow me." Apophis said, stepping down from the throne and walking towards the outside of the palace.

Seeing Apophis turn his back on himself, Longinus' eyes flashed and followed in step.

There were no words along the way.

At the moment of walking to the end of the palace, and about to step out of the gate;

Longinus moved, and from nowhere appeared the light of his sword, slashing at Apophis's unsuspecting back.

However, Apophis was faster than him.

The sword and light collided, and Longinus was instantly knocked out.

The battle fluctuations did not reach the outside world; it seems to be shielded by the fruit power.

After a moment of silence, Longinus stood up, "Is there a problem with the content of the conversation? The tone of voice, movements, and even habits, there should be no breakage."

Apophis shook his head slightly, "Not really."

"Then it was because I was too impatient and exposed my breath?"

"Neither."

Longinus asked again, "And why is that?"

"Luck, to be precise!"

"Luck?"

"Because, I happen to be here!" A voice suddenly appeared, and a third person came out from the back hall.

Seeing this scene, "Longinus" had a stunning expression on his face, and then, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "After so many years of preparation, he lost to luck in the end?"

After saying that, "Longinus" body light flickers, the tall body began to shrink, and finally turned into a tall woman.

"You don't look surprised, sensei!"

"Don't let anything mess up your mind, isn't that what I taught you?" Longinus stepped out of the shadows and slowly sat on top of the throne, "Kuina!"

Seeing that Apophis did not stop Longinus's action, Kuina's delicate little face showed a horrified look, then laughed bitterly once again, "I really still can't do what you said in peace, only, Sensei, you're hiding it too deeply."

"Even with my rich imagination, I would not have thought that the most mysterious of the Goko, the Demon Sword Apophis, would be your subordinate!"

Longinus and Apophis remained silent, seemingly acquiescing to the statement.

"In fact, I sensed it at a very early stage."

Seemingly knowing that escape was hopeless, Kuina said reminiscently, "Do you still remember, sensei? Back then, you blocked it with your body in order to change the forward trajectory of the last slashing blow, and you were seriously injured. I also found out at that time that the blood flowing out of your chest, sensei, was very similar to the scent of the puddle of blood left on the ground when I arrived."

"Awakened Kenbunshoku Haki at that time? What an outstanding talent!" Apophis, who was standing on the side, exclaimed.

"Compared to that little green-haired guy, you are indeed much too sharp!" Longinus also appreciated.

Kuina did not deny it and continued, "At that time, I was also just ignorantly guessing, that's why I thought to follow your side, sensei, to continue to explore the truth, but the more time passes, the more I feel that my deduction is wrong."

"Why do you say so?" Longinus asked with interest.

"Because you, sensei, are just too good to us, or rather, you are too good to everyone, and in all of our hearts, you are the best person in the world, and even I myself am not willing to break this wonderful illusion."

"Even now, I don't want to believe this fact. As long as you say, sensei, you were deceived, coerced, no matter what the reason or excuse is good ..." Kuina took out a Den Den Mushi to, biting her lips to look at Longinus, "as long as it is you who said, I am willing to believe, the voice recorded before , I can not send out either."

"Tsk, surprisingly, is a Den Den Mushi?" Apophis sighed.

"It's come to this point, and you're still willing to trust me?"

"I can appreciate that the care and love you have for us, Sensei, is definitely not a fake, and in my heart, Sensei and Father have long been equated." Kuina turned her hateful gaze to Apophis, "It must be all you, that made Sensei turn out like this!"

"Change? Actually, I never changed. It's just that ... any of you don't understand my true nature." A sighing voice came from the throne.

Kuina shifted her body with a pale face and looked at Den Den Mushi in her hand but eventually put it on the ground.

"Aren't you going to press it?"

"I am indeed just a weak person, unwilling to have even the once beautiful illusions broken by my own hands. Let's leave this task to someone else!" Kuina pressed her hands on the hilt of her sword.

"Desire, indeed, is the most distant emotion from understanding!"

"Sensei, can you answer my last question?"

"Of course."

"I would like to know when I revealed my flaw."

"When you noticed it, that's when I noticed it." Longinus smiled.

"What?" Kuina snapped her head up and asked incredulously, "You knew what I was thinking from the very beginning, sensei?"

"Even the current you, the thoughts in your heart are hard to hide from my eyes, let alone back then when you were only 11 years old, although you were already trying to hide your inner thoughts, but in my opinion is rather cute anyway!"

"That's not possible!" Kuina shouted, "If that's true, why did you take me in? Why do you still want to teach me to practice?"

"Is that a contradiction?" Although it was beyond the scope of the "last question", Longinus didn't mind, "I want to kill Koushirou, not you, so it would be against my justice to kill you just for fear of revenge."

"Justice? Is it really appropriate to say justice now?"

"This world does not lack justice under the sun, but justice in the darkness is rarely seen forward."

Kuina's mind flashed an aura, "Could it be that ... the extremely high rate of damage to the Demon Sword Pirates is actually a deliberate attempt by you to make a move to work together?"

"That's right."

"What about my father? He was just an ordinary dojo master, why did you guys want to kill him?" Kuina questioned.

"On that point, if you survive ... I will tell you the answer." Longinus got up from his throne and turned towards the back hall.

"What do you mean?" Kuina tried to go after him but was stopped by Apophis.

"The meaning is simple, if you can kill me, you are entitled to know everything!"

Published in Qidian, September 26, 2019