The red-haired pirate captain let out a low, mocking chuckle.
"Heh… You dared fool me, old man.
Gotta say—
you've got guts."
He whistled, bent down,
and pressed the dark muzzle of his pistol against Captain Jones's forehead.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
Jones screamed like a dying pig, the shrill noise making even the red-haired captain frown.
He stepped harder on Jones's back.
"Shut up, you old piece of trash."
"Yes, yes! I'll shut up, I'll shut up!"
"Since you lot scared off many pirates with this little trick of yours…
that means this ship is untouched.
Which means…"
The red-haired captain leaned down, whispering into Jones's ear,
"…you've saved up quite a bit of treasure over the years, haven't you?"
"This…"
"Hm?"
"O-of course! Of course!
Such treasure naturally belongs to the mighty Captain Jack!"
Jones cautiously continued,
"It's just… if we hand it over,
surely the powerful and wise Captain Jack will spare our lives…?"
"Old man—are you trying to bargain with me?"
Captain Jack sneered and squeezed the trigger.
A bullet ripped into Jones's thigh.
"GYAAAH!"
Jones shrieked like a slaughtered hog,
startling even the pirates around him.
"No one in these seas dares negotiate with Captain Jack.
Got it?"
"Got it! Got it!
A-all the treasure has been converted to gold and hidden in the wall compartment of my cabin."
"Heh!
Old man, you really know how to play, don't you?
But since you're so obedient…
I'll give you a clean death.
When you get down below,
remember to thank Captain Jack for his generosity."
Seeing the barrel turn toward his eye again,
Jones panicked, abandoning even the thought of scolding Jack for breaking his word.
"You can't kill me!
If you kill me—none of you will live!"
"Oh?
Don't tell me you're some king's secret bastard?
Will an army come after me if I kill you?"
Jack widened his eyes theatrically, then snapped his fingers.
"Ah right—
at your age, you'd be the king's secret father, not his secret son."
"Bwahahaha!!"
The pirates roared with laughter.
"You… you…
don't think I'm joking!
There's a real big shot living on this ship!
If you disturb him—
all of us will die!"
Jones's trembling voice was filled with genuine fear,
as if even recalling that person was a trauma.
"A big shot, huh?
Who?
Pirate King Roger?
Whitebeard Newgate?
Or the Marines' new Fleet Admiral—Sengoku?"
Jack yawned as he mocked.
Jones stiffened.
Inwardly he cursed:
Since when are newbie pirates this arrogant?
Talking about Pirate King and Fleet Admiral like they're neighbors—
you little brat, screw you!
"That man is the one called the Traveler from Hell—
Demon-Blade Apophis!"
Though he spoke boldly, his voice weakened.
After all, Apophis had only risen meteorically a year earlier;
his fame still couldn't compare to the three titans Jack named.
"Apophis?
That murderer who calls himself a traveler?
Saw him in the papers."
Robin's heart clenched.
She had heard of him from the Black Hood Pirates—
a monster who hunted slave ships,
someone even their ruthless captain preferred to avoid.
The Black Hood Pirates had wanted to trade her for protection—
likely for this very reason.
"Old man, you really shouldn't be a ship captain.
With your talent for making up stories,
you'd make a fine third-rate comedian instead."
Jack tapped Jones's cheek mockingly.
"I'm not lying this time!
That person lives in the first-class cabin at the very front!"
Seeing Jack's growing impatience, Jones spoke faster and faster.
"Enough!
I don't care if you're acting.
Even if that second-rate adventurer is on this ship,
I'll send him right back to Hell myself!"
A bullet pierced Jones's skull.
The chubby captain died with his eyes wide open,
unable to believe he perished here.
"AAAH!"
Blood splashed across the deck.
Panic erupted at once.
Passengers covered their mouths,
terrified of making a sound—
but it was too late.
"Captain, what do we do with the rest?"
a green-haired, rooster-crested pirate asked, licking his lips.
"Kill them all.
I'm a pirate who keeps his word.
Since I said I'd slaughter anyone who resisted,
I intend to keep my promise."
"Hehe!
Got it!
I'll make sure they die nice and peacefully!"
The pirates didn't even lower their voices.
Everyone aboard heard their words clearly.
A middle-aged noble trembled as he stepped forward.
"S-surely you're joking?
We still have value!
We can pay ransom—please—"
"Who asked for your opinion, old man?"
The green-haired pirate blew the smoke from his barrel,
his grin becoming manic.
"Run!
If you don't run, where's the fun in the hunt?!"
Realizing the pirates truly intended a massacre,
the passengers finally scattered in terror.
"Help! Somebody help us!"
"Damn pirates!
I'll take you to hell with me!"
"Jump into the sea!
Maybe the currents will wash us onto an island!"
Huddled in a corner, Robin's face was ghostly pale.
She had just escaped hell—
only to plunge back into the abyss again.
Was she truly a "Devil Child"
bringing doom to all around her?
"No.
I can't die.
I promised—I would live carrying Mother's share as well.
I will live… better than anyone."
Wiping her tears, Robin looked toward the sea.
"No… I can't jump.
Others might survive…
but I'm a Devil Fruit user.
Jumping is the same as suicide.
Maybe if I—"
"Little girl, hiding here, are you?"
A greasy, pig-faced pirate loomed over her,
his grin becoming perverse.
"What a cute little thing…
Killing you feels like such a waste…
maybe I should— ohoho—"
A moment later,
the pirate fell to his knees, eyes rolled back,
clutching his crotch and convulsing violently.
Robin didn't wait.
"There's no time!
No matter what, I have to try!"
With determined eyes,
she dashed forward, weaving through the carnage with her small frame—
but still drew the attention of several pirates.
Seeing a blade-wielding pirate closing in behind her,
Robin no longer hesitated.
She threw herself forward and burst through the door
that the fat captain had spoken of.
"I… I'm not dead?"
Robin leaned against the door, heart pounding.
Suddenly—
a soft, melodic tune drifted into her ears.
Looking up,
Robin saw a man wearing a demon mask,
lazily reclining in a chair.
On the table before him,
a Den Den Mushi turntable played the gentle music.
"H-he…
he's Apophis?"
Robin stared, stunned.
This man looked nothing like
the cold-blooded monster
she had imagined.
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