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As the chains on his body began to fall to the ground, even when he stood up, he looked unkempt. In the night, it was impossible to make out his face.

"Is it done?"

Anos turned his head and asked in a low voice to Daiki.

"It's done, Your Majesty."

The once-empty space in the room was now filled with various small boxes and exquisite furnishings.

At this moment, they had no intention of measuring the value of these items. Time wasn't abundant for them.

"Abona, we'll head back soon. As for the Seastone handcuffs on your wrists, we can't remove them just yet, or the noise would draw too much attention."

Anos said in a low voice.

"What Master says is true; Abona understands!"

There was nothing Abona could be dissatisfied with now. Since the collar was removed, he felt as if he had been reborn. His master's words moved him deeply.

Anos waved his hand, and the collected items on the ground vanished instantly. Being new, Abona wasn't surprised; he took it as a matter of course.

"We don't have much time let's move!" Anos said to them, waving his hand as a blue vortex appeared in front of him.

Before Abona left, he glanced at Carlos, lying lifeless on the bed. Anger filled his eyes; he wanted to cut the body into pieces but chose not to.

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Daiki was the first to jump into the vortex, followed shortly by Abona.

Anos left a parting "gift" in the room before stepping through.

Their ship had been sailing outside Mariejois's reach for a day now, heading away from its original course.

If not for the signal in the room, Anos might've had no choice but to use his spatial powers to jump them here.

The three of them reappeared in their cabin on the ship, a moment of true freedom.

In mere seconds, they'd jumped hundreds of kilometres, and no one would think to look in their direction regarding Mariejois.

The ship had departed in the morning, far enough that no one from the Tru Kingdom would think about it being connected to events at Mariejois, kilometres away.

Back in the cabin, Anos finally got a good look at Abona in the light.

Abona was a man around thirty, looking thin to the point of gauntness. Without clothing to add bulk, he appeared to be all skin and bones.

His face was dirty, his hair hung unkempt over his shoulders, covering much of his face, and his grey clothes looked worn beyond recognition.

Despite wearing Seastone handcuffs, Abona didn't seem like a Devil Fruit user at all; Haki-enforced Seastone would typically make such users collapse, let alone communicate.

"Your Majesty, isn't it risky for us to take this person along?" Daiki asked.

"Don't worry," Anos replied, casting a calm look at Abona, who remained in his shabby state. He made no move to remove the Seastone cuffs on Abona's hands.

"Now you can properly introduce yourself. We're at least hundreds of kilometres away from Mariejois, entirely out of their control. If what you say is true, then from now on, you are free to live in this world again," Anos said coolly.

He sat back in his chair, awaiting Abona's response.

Daiki, still cautious, observed Abona. Though Abona was once a slave in Mariejois, he might possess a hidden identity.

Abona understood the need to explain himself. He felt grateful toward the young master who had freed him from Mariejois's brutal life, a life that had worn down almost all his resilience. Freedom had once felt like an impossible dream.

Abona knelt on the floor to show respect, but Anos stopped him, turning to Daiki. "This man was once a hero; give him a chair. I don't want him to carry this habit forward."

Daiki silently grabbed a chair and placed it behind Abona, who looked momentarily shocked.

Kneeling was something he'd grown accustomed to an action he did almost every day. Aside from sleeping, his face had always been to the ground.

"Sit. We don't have many rules here, but I expect honesty. Taking you from Mariejois wasn't a simple decision, so be truthful."

Daiki added sternly.

"My name is Abona. I was born on the Grand Line, sailing since childhood. I was a pirate from birth, setting out on my own at fourteen."

"Back then, the seas weren't as chaotic. We sought only freedom and adventure."

"Twelve years ago, for aiding Roger's escape, the Marines placed a bounty on me 170 million Beris."

"My captain was later killed by Fleet Admiral Zephyr in an encounter. Four years ago, our crew was captured by the Marines. During transport, we encountered the Celestial Dragon Carlos. That encounter led to what you see now."

"Over time, my comrades perished one by one. I am the only survivor. If not for meeting you, Master, I would've barely lasted another two months."

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