Warning: spoilers for One Piece Episode 929, "The Bond Between Prisoners! Luffy and Old Man Hyo!" now streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu and VRV.
Luffy is often regarded as one of the most generous and friendly of shonen protagonists. While he is a gluttonous pirate who sails across the high seas, he's known for making sure those who are put upon by society are given their fair share. His treasure is friendship and happiness, not money.
Earlier in the Wano Arc, Luffy captured an entire cart full of food intended for Orochi and Kaido's men and gave it to the poor folks of Kuri Town, forced to eat polluted, corrupted food. Now, in Wano's prison camps, Luffy again did something generous and kind. However, much like last time, it resulted in horrific things happening. Last time, Luffy's actions drew the attention of Kaido and resulted in his capture; this time, Luffy's generosity to Old Man Hyo results in the old man being tortured by prison guards.
The Act of Kindness
At the prison camp, Luffy and the others are forced to break bricks apart and other menial tasks of labor in service of Kaido. However, few people are like Luffy, gifted by the power of the Devil Fruits and in the prime of their lives. Many, who are unable to serve, struggle throughout their days. As a result, they earn fewer food waivers, which means they can barely eat.
While Luffy is able to use equipment intended for multiple people all on his own, old, frail men like Hyogoro struggle along. So Luffy, seeing the old man struggle to accomplish anything, gives him his food waivers so he can eat. Hyogoro, almost in tears, accepts, eating seven dumplings -- the most he's eaten in an incredibly long time.
On the surface, this seems like an unambiguously good thing.
The Down Side
The night prior, Eustass Kid escapes the prison. The guards, perhaps fearful that there might be further insurrection from the other prisoners, interrogate the lot of them, trying to inspire fear of their authority. One guard interrogates Luffy, only managing to annoy the straw-hat pirate by getting smelly spit all over him.
Hyogoro, however, is less fortunate. He is cornered by Daifugo -- the vice-warden of the prison camp. Daifugo publicly humiliates Hyogoro in front of the rest of the prison, trying to turn the whole prison against him by arguing that their system of giving food to those who work hard is fair -- that it's fair that those unable to contribute to the prison's work should die of starvation.
But Daifugo wants to know who gave Hyogoro those waivers, so he kicks Old Man Hyo down to the ground and starts stomping on him, all as Hyo, in a pitiful expression of defiance, swallows the rolls down. This is all while Luffy watches, which, as the episode comes to a close, seems to snap something in his mind. Luffy looks angry beyond words as he approaches Daifugo and the episode ends.
