Since things had reached this point, Scarface finally made up his mind to give up.
After all, he was just a pirate. What use did he have for a reputation of benevolence and righteousness?
As long as he had enough wealth and power, his fleet would naturally expand—like a snowball rolling downhill, growing larger and larger.
Hearing Scarface's words, Goliath Kroll seemed to relax instead and said carelessly,
"It's just a treasure map, isn't it? You should've said so earlier. Stop pretending to be some righteous leader."
Scarface's mouth twitched violently. The scars on his face writhed like a grotesque centipede as he roared,
"Shut up! Say one more word and I'll shoot you dead!"
"The treasure map is hidden behind the third wooden plank on the right side of the captain's cabin entrance," Goliath Kroll said coldly. "Once you get it, don't bother me ever again."
"Damn it, this idiot even thought to make a hidden compartment!" Scarface cursed under his breath. Seeing Kroll's impatient expression, he muttered resentfully, "Crazy bastard."
But Kroll didn't care about that at all. Instead, he turned toward Leon Fang with an ingratiating smile.
"Major, may I leave now?"
"Take him away," Leon Fang said to the Marines escorting him.
The moment Kroll was taken away, Scarface sharply noticed that the pirates behind him began to stir restlessly.
Alarm bells rang in his head.
"Move!" Scarface shouted impatiently.
"Wait," Leon Fang's calm voice rang out.
"Have you forgotten something?"
Scarface halted abruptly and turned back, his eyes filled with apprehension.
"Kung Fu T Leon Fang… what do you mean?"
"You may leave," Leon Fang said evenly, "but leave those civilians behind first."
"Hmph!" Scarface sneered darkly.
"Do you think I'm stupid? These people are my protection now. If I let them go, I'll be thrown into prison the very next second. I don't trust you so-called righteous Marines."
"Then how do you expect me to trust you?" Leon Fang retorted with righteous indignation.
"Pirates are fickle by nature. Entrusting the lives of these people to you would be the height of irresponsibility!"
"But you have no choice except to trust us, don't you?" Scarface laughed arrogantly, convinced he held Leon Fang's weakness firmly in his grasp.
Leon Fang fell silent for a brief moment.
Then he spoke decisively.
"I refuse."
"Putting aside whether pirates like you are trustworthy—" his voice grew colder, "—even if you truly release these civilians onto some island, the chances of them surviving are slim. That would only lead to a greater tragedy."
Scarface panicked slightly and hurriedly said,
"Calm down! I never said I'd abandon them on a deserted island!"
"If news spreads," Leon Fang continued sharply, "you'll be hunted not only by the Navy, but also by other pirates coveting that treasure. In that situation, are you really willing to risk exposure and attacks just to send these civilians back safely?"
Scarface opened his mouth, then closed it again.
For the first time, doubt appeared in his eyes.
The atmosphere instantly grew taut and oppressive.
Just as Scarface's fear was about to reach its limit, Leon Fang suddenly reached into his pocket, pulled out two pairs of handcuffs along with their keys, and tossed them over.
Scarface stared at them gloomily.
"Kung Fu T Leon Fang, what is this supposed to mean? You want me to surrender with my hands bound? Don't even think about it. I'm not that useless captain!"
"Check them yourself," Leon Fang said calmly.
"They're both made of Seastone."
Scarface hesitated, but still picked them up. He tested them on one of his subordinates who had eaten a Devil Fruit.
The moment the cuffs snapped shut, the man collapsed weakly to the ground.
"It really is Seastone…" Scarface muttered.
"So what, are you showing off the Navy's wealth and strength?"
"Since you know what Seastone is," Leon Fang continued evenly,
"then you should also know that its hardness surpasses even diamonds. Even a Supreme Grade Sword would struggle to cut it."
At this point, Scarface vaguely grasped Leon Fang's intent. His face remained stiff, but his mind was racing.
"Throw the Seastone cuffs back," Leon Fang said.
Scarface's pupils shrank.
"Don't tell me you're planning to—"
"Use me as a hostage in exchange for the civilians," Leon Fang said directly.
"I know you might not have the courage. That's why these Seastone cuffs were actually prepared for myself."
As he spoke, Leon Fang calmly picked up the cuffs, locking one pair around his ankles, then fastening the other around his wrists.
"Although I'm not a Devil Fruit user, with my hands and feet restrained, I'll be left with barely one-tenth of my strength."
He looked straight at Scarface.
"Under these circumstances… are you still afraid?"
The moment his words fell, shock rippled through the crowd.
The civilians froze.
The Marines were stunned.
Even the pirates couldn't help but feel shaken.
They lived on the edge of darkness, yet none of them had ever imagined that someone would willingly place himself in such danger—for a group of complete strangers.
Even enemies couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration.
The Marines behind Leon Fang immediately protested.
"Lieutenant Commander Leon Fang, please don't do this!"
"These are ruthless pirates with no bottom line!"
Even the hostages cried out with tears streaming down their faces.
"Major Leon Fang, please stop! You've already done enough for us!"
"Let us face this ourselves!"
But before anyone could stop him, Leon Fang had already secured the cuffs.
He calmly faced the pirates opposite him.
"Release the civilians," he said evenly.
"I'll go with you."
"I'm a Marine Lieutenant Commander. With me as a hostage, you can even evade the Navy's pursuit."
"And capturing me," he added coolly, "will do wonders for your rapidly collapsing reputation."
Scarface was tempted.
A rising star hailed as the pride of the Navy was infinitely more valuable than a group of old, weak civilians.
Besides—
This man had already bound his own hands and feet.
What was there to fear from a 'crippled' hero?
Scarface made his decision.
"Release the civilians," he ordered sharply.
"Take the Marine Lieutenant Commander with us!"
He laughed wildly.
"I'll make sure to give our naval friend a very warm welcome, hahaha!"
As the civilians were released, tears streamed down their faces.
"Damn it… Major Leon Fang is still the same as ever!"
"Always willing to sacrifice himself for people like us!"
"He did the same thing in Xifeng Town!"
"He went deep behind enemy lines to rescue captured soldiers—he was shot dozens of times before bringing everyone back!"
One Marine clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with rage.
"Damn pirates… remember this!"
"If Major Leon Fang suffers even the slightest injury—"
"Our entire G-2 Branch will hunt you down to the ends of the sea!"
--------------
T/N:
Access 30 chapters in advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/FicTale
(Replace @ with a)
Thanks :)