A little over ten minutes later.
In the vast, gloomy Level 6 of Impel Down, Eternal Hell.
Director Nicholas arrived in a hurry with Deputy Director Magellan, Warden Chief Shiryu, and a group of guards, stopping before the massive cage where Shiki the Golden Lion had once been held.
The three of them froze at the sight before them.
The huge stone cell was completely intact, without the slightest sign of damage. Yet Shiki the Golden Lion, who had been imprisoned inside, was gone.
Everyone's expressions immediately turned grim.
"Are you kidding me? How did he escape?"
The guards stared at the now-empty cage in disbelief, unable to make sense of it.
Magellan turned to Hannyabal, who was standing nearby, and asked, "You're the one who discovered this?"
For the first time, so many eyes were on him. Hannyabal did not waste the opportunity. He straightened his back, saluted, and answered loudly.
"Yes, Director Nicholas, Deputy Director Magellan, Warden Chief Shiryu! My name is Hannyabal. I'm the guard in the monitoring room assigned specifically to Level 6..."
Hannyabal briefly explained what had happened.
Magellan reacted at once and said to Nicholas, "So it's only been a little over ten minutes? Director, Shiki may not have escaped yet. If we seal off all of Impel Down right now, we can definitely capture him again."
"Good. Handle the arrangements, Magellan."
"Yes!"
Magellan quickly began issuing orders. Everyone sprang into action, and a tense atmosphere settled over all of Impel Down.
At that moment, Nicholas looked at the undamaged cage in front of him, then turned to the guards.
"Open the door!"
"Aye!"
Once the cage door was opened, everyone stepped inside.
Just then, Shiryu seemed to notice something. His eyes lit up, and he walked forward, picked up the shackles left on the ground, and examined the clean, even cut across them.
"Looks like the one who rescued Shiki was a master swordsman."
Everyone was startled, but no one doubted Shiryu's judgment.
Judging from Hannyabal's account and the scene before them, Shiki had clearly not escaped on his own. The most obvious evidence was that the Seastone handcuffs from Shiki's body had not been found in the cage.
If Shiki had broken out by himself, why would he have kept wearing the Seastone handcuffs that had restrained him for half a year?
That also proved one thing.
"Looks like someone infiltrated Impel Down..."
The three of them reached the same conclusion almost instinctively, and their faces darkened.
Someone had infiltrated Impel Down right under their noses and rescued Shiki the Golden Lion. This was nothing less than a challenge to all of them.
Even Nicholas, who had effectively been placed under house arrest in Impel Down and did not care much for the job, looked furious at the provocation.
At that moment, Shiryu looked around the cage, which showed no signs of damage, and said, "But how exactly did they take Shiki away without breaking the door...?"
Once Shiryu said that, Nicholas, Magellan, and the surrounding guards all fell into doubt.
Just then, one guard suddenly spoke up.
"Do you think it could be that?"
His voice was very low, but everyone present had sharp ears.
Magellan, in particular, turned his head immediately and looked toward the guard outside the cage who had spoken.
"What are you talking about?"
The guard jumped in fright, but he still answered cautiously.
"Well... reporting to the Deputy Director. It's a rumor that's been going around Impel Down for the past decade or so. Every now and then, prisoners who couldn't move at all would suddenly disappear without leaving any trace behind... It was so strange, and no clues could ever be found, so people started calling it the Ghost Tugging the Sleeve..."
The moment the guard finished speaking, Magellan froze.
Nicholas's expression changed, while Shiryu watched the scene with great interest.
"What...? Something like this has happened here? Why didn't you report it to me?"
"Magellan, that was my doing."
Nicholas's words drew everyone's attention. He looked at Magellan and smiled.
"You hadn't come here yet at the time, and the incidents were simply too bizarre. I sent people to investigate for a long time, but they couldn't find any clues. Instead, it only made everyone panic, so I ordered them to stop discussing it."
"Is that so?"
Magellan nodded doubtfully. He felt that something was off, but he could not see anything unusual on Nicholas's face.
Even so, he said, "Director, we can't just let this matter go. We have to investigate it thoroughly. If this really is connected to Shiki's escape, then it means they may have been planning this for more than ten years. That would be extremely dangerous."
Nicholas's gaze stiffened almost imperceptibly, then he nodded.
"You're right, Magellan. In that case, I'll leave this matter to you."
"Understood, Director. I'll get to the bottom of it."
Shiryu, who had watched the entire exchange from beginning to end, suddenly smiled strangely and asked, "Then what about Shiki's escape? Should we report it to Headquarters and the World Government?"
At that question, everyone froze.
It should not even have been a question. A Great Pirate like Shiki had escaped from Impel Down, so of course they had to report it to their superiors immediately. But doing so would deal a devastating blow to Impel Down's reputation. The name of Impel Down as a fortress of bronze and iron, built with great difficulty through the efforts of Magellan and Shiryu, might collapse overnight.
Nicholas, Magellan, Shiryu, and many others would all have to bear responsibility.
At that moment, Nicholas made his decision.
He looked at everyone and raised one finger.
"Twenty-four hours. One day. Find Shiki within that time, and we may still be able to preserve Impel Down's reputation as a fortress of bronze and iron. Otherwise... I may have to say goodbye to all of you."
Everyone froze, understanding what he meant by "goodbye."
Then Nicholas continued, "Of course, we also have to pray that Shiki still hasn't left Impel Down. Magellan, Shiryu, I'll leave this to you."
With that, Nicholas left without looking back.
Watching him go, Magellan suddenly felt that something was strange.
It was normal enough for a superior to give orders while his subordinates ran themselves ragged, but as the Director, wasn't Nicholas leaving a little too quickly?
Still, Magellan had no time to think about it. They only had twenty-four hours.
"Shiryu, you take the Impel Down exit, the above-sea first level, and Levels 1 and 2. I'll handle Levels 3 through 6. Any problem?"
"No problem."
Shiryu left with a calm expression.
Only then did Magellan look at Hannyabal in front of him.
"Your name is Hannyabal, right? You did well today. Without you, we might not have reacted in time. Starting today, you'll work under me."
"Aye, Deputy Director Magellan!"
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