Dawn was just beginning to break.
On the vast, surging sea, four warships sped across the waves.
Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Borsalino stood on the bow deck of one warship, facing the sea breeze as they gazed into the distance.
Compared to Sengoku's grim expression, Borsalino looked as calm as ever.
Still, he turned to Sengoku beside him and asked with some curiosity, "Admiral Sengoku, are you really sure you don't need me to go on ahead?"
With the help of the massive whirlpool connecting Impel Down, Marine Headquarters, and Enies Lobby, the warships could reach an astonishing speed. It would take only two hours to travel from Marine Headquarters to Impel Down. Even so, compared to the speed of Borsalino's Pika Pika no Mi, they were still a little slow.
Under normal circumstances, Borsalino would usually take the lead in a situation like this, but this time Sengoku had refused.
"No need…"
Sengoku seemed lost in thought. After answering, he turned to the Marines behind him and asked, "What's the latest intelligence from Impel Down?"
"Reporting to Admiral Sengoku. According to the message from Impel Down, ten hours have passed since eight o'clock last night. Shiki the Golden Lion was stopped by Impel Down's Deputy Director Magellan and Chief Warden Shiryu. He remains inside Impel Down and has not escaped. They are still fighting…"
After hearing that, Sengoku's expression did not relax at all. Instead, it grew even darker.
"Something's wrong… This is all wrong…"
Borsalino and the Marines behind him were taken aback.
Then they heard Sengoku explain, "It may sound like I'm praising the enemy and undermining our own side, but as Shiki's old rival, I know his strength better than anyone. Those two young men are no match for him. Once he gets the chance, the people in Impel Down won't be able to hold him back. His Fuwa Fuwa no Mi makes even the Calm Belt and the sea meaningless obstacles."
"Huh?"
The Marines had yet to react, but Borsalino had already understood. "Admiral Sengoku, are you saying Shiki still hasn't left Impel Down because he has some special objective?"
"That's right. That's the only explanation. I know him. He clearly has the ability to leave Impel Down, yet he hasn't. That isn't his style… That's why I'm keeping you here. If something really does happen, your ability will be the most useful. Keep a close watch on Impel Down and notify me immediately if there's any news."
...
Impel Down Level 1, Crimson Hell.
It was a red hell made of crimson sword trees as sharp as blades and needle grass that could easily pierce through the human body.
Countless ruins and pieces of wreckage floated in the sky, and the man known as Shiki the Golden Lion drifted arrogantly among them.
Across from him, Magellan glided swiftly along a path formed by poison mist, closing in on Shiki. Shiryu, a swordsman, stepped across the floating debris in the sky and swung a full-force slash at Shiki.
"Doku Fugu…"
"Blood Slash…"
Poison swirled through the air, slashes collided, and explosions rang out across Level 1, Crimson Hell.
But at that moment, both Magellan and Shiryu sensed that something was wrong.
"Why… does it feel like he's just playing with us…?"
"He could pass over our heads, reach the sea, and escape Impel Down…"
"What exactly is he waiting for…?"
...
At that very moment, on the level above the sea.
In the monitoring room, Nicholas, who had been watching everything unfold, also sensed something.
His eyes were fixed on Shiki on the screen, as if he, too, were thinking about what Shiki's true objective might be.
Around him, the terrified voices of the jailers and guards kept ringing in his ears.
Fortunately, the news that Admiral Sengoku was about to arrive at Impel Down soon calmed everyone down.
"Great, it's Admiral Sengoku. In that case, Shiki definitely won't be able to escape…"
"Huh… Is it only Admiral Sengoku? What about Garp-san? Can he really stop Shiki by himself…?"
"Don't be ridiculous. That's an Admiral…"
"But I heard it took both Navy Hero Garp and Admiral Sengoku to capture Shiki back then. If it's only one of them…"
"Damn it, how did that monster even get out…?"
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Nicholas rang at last, and a panicked voice came through.
"This is bad, Director…"
"What happened?"
"Just now… following your orders, we temporarily transferred the prisoners from the damaged LV3-2 to LV5. Then, from the prisoners in LV5, we heard something unbelievable…"
"Say it."
"Yes! According to the prisoners' statements, several pirates secretly infiltrated our Impel Down. As for their leader, based on the information provided by those prisoners, we can confirm that it really is Yemu, captain of the Sky Pirates, who is currently being pursued with all their strength by the Marines and the World Government. His bounty is 980 million Belly…"
The moment those words came out, Nicholas was not the only one utterly shocked. The surrounding guards and jailers looked as if they had been scared stupid.
"Huh… You've got to be joking…"
"How could Yemu, the captain of the Sky Pirates, be in Impel Down…?"
"How did he sneak in here…?"
Just then, another piece of news came through the Den Den Mushi, making Nicholas's expression change drastically.
"There's one more piece of intelligence. According to the prisoners, the captain of the Sky Pirates seems to be searching for something… Someone saw them burrow underground…"
"Burrow underground…"
Those words stunned everyone, but Nicholas already understood everything.
So that was it. That old man Furumi, and Shiki too, were both because of him…
At that moment, a guard's voice sounded beside him.
"Um, Director, what do we do now…? Should we report this to Marine Headquarters…?"
Nicholas snapped back to his senses at once and forced himself to remain calm as he addressed everyone.
"Not for now. I'll go down and confirm it myself first. Until I return, none of you are allowed to tell anyone about this."
Then, without another word, he hurried toward the elevator.
That left all the guards and jailers at a loss.
Everyone looked at one another, and in the end, no one did anything.
Meanwhile, Nicholas, as the Director, took the elevator straight down to LV5, Freezing Hell.
Facing the guards and jailers who were staring at him curiously, Nicholas wasted no words.
"I'm here to confirm the intelligence you just obtained. Watch all the prisoners closely. Don't move around."
After saying that, Nicholas quickly walked off in one direction under the puzzled gazes of the surrounding jailers and guards.
"Huh… If he's here to confirm the intelligence, shouldn't he be interrogating the prisoners?"
The guards, who had already been preparing to claim credit, were stunned by the sight.
Beside them, the prisoner who had hoped to tell them everything in exchange for a slim chance of survival was also left frozen in place.
Everyone looked in the direction Nicholas had gone.
"Isn't that where the Director's office used to be? What is the Director going there for…?"