The two groups eventually merged into a single procession.
At the head walked Brigadier General Adkin, accompanied by the kingdom's General Louis, who enthusiastically introduced the local customs and the location of the coming alliance conference.
Following behind them was Longinus, quietly observing and memorizing every detail around him.
Suddenly, a small sneaky figure slipped through the crowd.
"Big Brother Longinus! Tina really missed you!"
Tina skillfully wrapped herself around his left arm, gazing up at him with sparkling eyes.
Longinus sighed inwardly.
His Observation Haki instantly registered a flood of heated gazes behind him.
The curious, gossip-filled looks came from his fellow Marines,
while the jealous, burning stares belonged to the nobles of the Hisca Kingdom.
His exasperation had nothing to do with fear of trouble—he hardly believed any petty noble could trouble him.
He was simply mourning the future of this kingdom.
Had lolicon tendencies already infected the entire aristocracy?
Sensing the commotion behind them, Brigadier General Adkin turned around, eyes shimmering with pure gossip.
"So you're Tina? I've heard plenty! That little girl who keeps visiting our G-2 base—and brings gifts to the soldiers every time she comes. Many of them call you our 'Little Angel,' you know!"
Tina showed no stage fright at all. She snapped off a perfect salute.
"Brigadier General sir, this is what I should do!"
At that moment, Louis also turned back—
his "sharp," fatherly gaze locking onto Longinus.
Do it. Get mad. Come on, explode already.
The nobles silently cackled inside, waiting for the Marine to be scolded.
But in the next instant—
Louis strode forward and wrapped Longinus in a hearty embrace.
"Hahahaha! Brother Longinus, it's been far too long! I knew you'd find your place in the Marines!"
"Uncle Louis, long time no see. You look even more energetic than before." Longinus chuckled.
The nobles felt their world collapse.
What is this? Why such blatant favoritism?!
But none of them dared voice a complaint.
A Marine brigadier general and the kingdom's highest-ranking general—
those were not people minor nobles could afford to offend.
Soon, the group was chatting with easy familiarity.
Once inside the royal city, Tina leaned close to Longinus's ear and whispered:
"Big Brother Longinus, you came at the perfect time! Our kingdom's Grand Culinary Festival just started yesterday. All the surrounding kingdoms brought their special dishes! Tina will take you there to try everything!"
"I think you're the one who wants to go eat," Longinus teased, patting her head.
"Hehehe! Maybe… both!"
"But will Uncle Louis agree? He doesn't exactly let you out of his sight."
"Don't worry! As long as it's with you, Dad will definitely say yes!"
Before Longinus could reply, Tina rushed forward and grabbed Louis's arm, shaking it gently.
"Dad, I want to go to the culinary festival! I've been waiting forever!"
Louis frowned slightly, hesitating.
"It's far from the castle… and I can't leave right now. If something dangerous happens—"
"Big Brother Longinus will be with me! Dad, you know how strong he is!"
Louis nodded after some thought.
"That's true. If it's Brother Longinus, I can relax a little. But…"
Brigadier General Adkin stepped in with a knowing smirk.
"Longinus, go keep the young lady company. Just make sure you're back before the meeting starts."
Longinus felt the corner of his eye twitch.
"I see. Understood."
The Culinary Festival
Tina wasn't exaggerating—the festival really had drawn delicacies from all across Saintin Island's neighboring kingdoms.
Even Alabasta's famed Scorpion Roast was available.
Longinus sampled it lightly; the flavor, at least, was novel.
"Tina is sooo happy! I've waited for years to come! Every time the festival starts, Dad is always busy—and never lets me leave the castle."
"With Uncle Louis's personality, letting you out today is already a miracle."
"That's true." Tina nodded gravely, then brightened with curiosity.
"Oh! Big Brother Longinus—the newspaper talked about you risking your life to save those hostages! Can you tell Tina what really happened?"
"You know my strength. 'Risking my life' is a bit dramatic. Those pirates were—"
But Tina continued staring at him with stubborn sparkle in her eyes.
Longinus gave up, raising his hands.
"Alright, alright. It went like this…"
After his vivid retelling, Tina's eyes shone like stars.
Even the roasted meat in her hand had gone cold from neglect.
"Tina is sooo jealous! I want to become a Marine who protects justice too! But Dad said I can't enlist until I'm sixteen…"
Just then—
"Ah!"
Tina stumbled as a filthy little child crashed into her.
Her reflexes saved her from falling.
But when she turned, the culprit had already vanished into the maze-like side streets.
"That rude little brat!" she huffed, stomping her foot in embarrassment.
It wasn't that he was dirty—
it was that she'd been startled in front of Longinus!
Longinus's expression sharpened.
"Check your pockets. I sensed a strange ripple… it felt like the aura of a Devil Fruit."
"Devil Fruit? No way!"
Tina couldn't imagine such a treasure in the hands of a dirty street kid—but because she trusted Longinus absolutely, she checked anyway.
"…That thief! He stole the spending money I brought to treat you today!"
"It's just a bit of pocket money? Then it's not so bad," Longinus said, relieved.
"It was only 30 million Berries, but still! He bumped into me AND stole from me—Tina won't let that slide!"
Longinus almost choked on his own saliva.
"…How much?"
"Thirty million, of course! Don't worry, Big Brother Longinus, it's just my allowance this month. Tina's not upset about the money—only the insult!"
Longinus stared at her in silence.
He wasn't actually short on funds.
In these two years, the combined bounties of the pirates he defeated exceeded 300 million Berries.
Though the Marines didn't pay bounty hunters' rates, his accumulated service bonuses still approached 100 million.
Even so—
Tina casually carrying 30 million as "spare change" was on another level entirely.
No wonder the nobles looked at him strangely.
Turns out in their eyes…
he really was just a handsome freeloader living off a rich girl?!
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