"Report, Warden Magellan! Vice Admiral Momonga's warship has reached the Gates of Justice!"
"They're already here?"
Inside his office, Magellan opened his eyes. Then he rose to his feet.
"Open the Gates of Justice. Let them in."
"Yes, sir!"
The communications officer nodded, then hurriedly left.
Judging by his expression, however, he looked less like he was leaving and more like he was fleeing in panic—as if there were something terrifying inside that office.
"The Pirate Empress…"
Magellan rubbed his chin.
"Tell me, do you really think she came to Impel Down just to see Fire Fist Ace?"
"How would we know?" one of the jailers said helplessly.
"Forget it. It doesn't matter. As long as I personally follow her, she won't be able to stir up—"
Before Magellan could finish speaking, his stomach suddenly growled.
His expression changed at once.
"Damn it. Of all times…"
The nearby jailers' faces also changed. With practiced speed, they grabbed gas masks and put them on.
"Hurry! Bring the portable toilet!"
As jailers who had worked here for years, they knew exactly what was wrong with their superior.
The warden, who had eaten the Venom-Venom Fruit, suffered from sudden diarrhea every day. They had long since gotten used to it.
"Haa…"
Once Magellan successfully sat down on the portable toilet, he let out a long breath.
"Refreshing!"
The jailers: "…"
Hearing the sounds coming from inside, the jailers showed expressions that were difficult to describe.
"Warden… can you still go receive the Pirate Empress?" one jailer asked carefully.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's order had been for Warden Magellan to accompany Boa Hancock from beginning to end. That way, even if something went wrong, Magellan would be able to handle it immediately.
But in his current state… he clearly could not leave.
"How am I supposed to go like this?"
Magellan said with a headache.
"Have Hannyabal go in my place. Remember to make Boa Hancock wear Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs."
Hannyabal's strength was not weak. Combined with the Sea-Prism Stone restraints, there should not be any problem.
Thinking this, Magellan gradually relaxed.
Of course, by the time he finished here, those people should have already taken the elevator down to Level Four.
"Yes, I'll notify Vice Warden Hannyabal immediately!" the jailer said.
"Wait."
As if remembering something, Magellan added,
"After they reach Level Four, have Hannyabal bring them to see me."
For a place like Level Six, he had to be present to keep things under control. Otherwise, those lawless prisoners might cause trouble.
"Understood!"
"Don't worry. Tell that guy I'll be there very—"
Before Magellan could finish, another surge rolled through his stomach.
His expression changed again.
"Run. Hurry, run."
Seeing purple smoke rising from the toilet, several jailers turned and bolted.
Even with gas masks on, they did not dare get close to Warden Magellan at a time like this.
Otherwise… they really might be poisoned to death.
"Sigh…"
Hearing the commotion outside, Magellan let out a deep sigh.
If he had known that fruit was the Venom-Venom Fruit, he would never have eaten it even if someone beat him to death.
Damn it!
…
Creak—
Bzzzz—
Following the order, the Gates of Justice in the Impel Down sea region slowly opened, allowing the outside current to flow in.
The warship moved along the massive current, rushing toward Impel Down at tremendous speed.
"So that is Impel Down?"
Standing by the window and looking into the distance, Hancock frowned.
"What a grand formation."
There were already ten visible warships alone. That was almost on the scale of a Buster Call.
With so many forces stationed here, could jin and the others really leave safely?
Thinking of this, worry surfaced on Hancock's face.
At that moment, Vice Admiral Momonga's voice came from outside the door.
"Boa Hancock, we have arrived at Impel Down."
Momonga said,
"You may come out now."
Outside the door, Momonga stood honestly one meter away, not even approaching the small window on the door.
"I understand."
Hancock rubbed her face lightly, restoring her calm expression before opening the door and stepping out.
"Follow me."
Momonga turned and walked toward the connecting platform.
"We don't have much time. We must hurry."
Their luck this time was not good. The current was clearly slower than expected, so they were pressed for time.
Once this woman finished seeing Fire Fist Ace, they would have to immediately depart for Marineford.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"We're later than scheduled."
Momonga explained without turning his head.
Hearing that, Hancock subconsciously frowned, but she said nothing. She only glanced worriedly toward the Gates of Justice.
'jin…'
"Thank you for your hard work, Vice Admiral Momonga!"
"Mm."
Hearing the voices from the warships on both sides, Momonga nodded calmly.
"Wow! Everyone, look! Is that the legendary Pirate Empress?"
"She's so beautiful…"
"If a woman like that could become my wife, I'd gladly give up ten years of my life!"
"Bastard! You think a mere ten years is enough to win Lady Hancock's favor?"
One Marine shouted,
"You have no resolve at all!"
"I'm willing to give up my entire lifespan!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
"Lady Hancock!"
'These idiots…'
Hearing the shouts around him, Momonga felt his head start to ache.
Did they really think this woman was some harmless little lamb?
She was a poisonous snake.
"How noisy."
Hancock glanced at the crowd and said coldly,
"What a group of loud, worthless trash."
"May I turn them all into stone?"
Momonga: "…"
As expected.
With his back to Hancock, Momonga sighed. Then he turned and looked at her.
"Please spare me. If more people are turned into stone, it will bring shame upon the Marines."
If this woman truly turned all these men into statues, he would lose all face.
Hancock snorted coldly, but she did not make any move to petrify the Marines.
After all… this was indeed not the right time to cause a major disturbance. Otherwise, it might interfere with jin's plan.
Seeing this, Momonga breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as this woman did not act recklessly, everything else was manageable.
Then Momonga said seriously,
"You still remember what I told you earlier, correct?"
"You mean the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs?"
"Yes."
Momonga nodded.
"And after entering, you will also need to undergo a body search."
"A body search?"
"That's right."
Momonga said,
"Don't misunderstand. This is not aimed specifically at you. Every visitor who comes here receives the same treatment."
After saying that, Momonga paused, then continued,
"But don't worry. The person responsible for searching you will be a female jailer from Impel Down."
Hancock did not speak.
She simply looked at Momonga with an expressionless face.
Only after a drop of sweat slid down his face did she finally say,
"I understand."
"That's good."
Momonga sighed in relief.
At the same time, he thought to himself,
'What a troublesome woman…'
If there were a next time, he definitely would not come to escort this troublesome woman again.
Whoever wanted to do it could do it!
Suppressing the thought in his heart, Momonga said,
"Let's go. We'll finish this quickly."
Then he turned and walked toward Impel Down's main entrance.
Creak—
Bzzzz—
As the massive gate opened, the dark tunnel appeared before Hancock.
'Impel Down…'
Even standing at the entrance, she could feel that oppressive atmosphere.
As expected of the place known as the pirates' hell.
"Lady Hancock, please be careful on your way!"
"Shut up, you insects."
Hancock said coldly.
"Ah~"
"Even the way Lady Hancock insults people is so charming~"
The Marines who were scolded were not angry at all. Instead, they became even more excited, twisting around on the warships.
After all… Hancock was simply too beautiful.
"What a noisy bunch."
Hearing Hancock's words, Momonga's head hurt again.
Fortunately, she did not do anything unnecessary.
Soon, the two passed through Impel Down's long corridor and arrived inside the prison.
The moment they entered the inner gate, all kinds of screams rang out.
"Help! Someone save me!"
"Hurry… just kill me!"
"Please, I won't do it again!"
"I don't want to go into that boiling water! I'll die!"
"Ahhh!"
Those screams alone were enough to make one's scalp tingle.
'This heavy atmosphere…'
Momonga swept his gaze around with a solemn expression.
'So this is Impel Down, the place known as the pirates' hell.'
Even as a Marine Vice Admiral, he felt somewhat uncomfortable in a place like this.
'It must be hard on the Marines stationed here.'
Living in this place year-round must create immense psychological pressure.
Unlike Momonga, whose expression was grave, Hancock did not react at all when she heard those screams.
After all… she was a woman who had fought her way back from hell.
At that moment, Hannyabal arrived with Domino.
"Welcome, you two, to my Impel Down!"
"Ah!"
"Oops, saying 'my' exposed my ambition."
Hannyabal said,
"For now, I am the Vice Warden of Impel Down. Please take care of me~"
'Is this man an idiot?'
Hancock frowned as she looked at Hannyabal, feeling that something might be wrong with his head.
"I am Momonga."
Vice Admiral Momonga reached out and shook Hannyabal's hand.
"Time is tight. Let's begin immediately."
"Understood."
"This is Chief Guard Domino."
Hannyabal pointed at Domino beside him.
"This time, the two of us will guide you."
"Once we arrive at Level Four, that bastard Magellan—"
"Ah, no. I mean Warden Magellan will take you to the final level."
After saying this, Hannyabal turned and glanced at Domino, signaling for her to take Hancock for the body search.
"Vice Admiral, please follow Vice Warden Hannyabal for your search."
Domino said,
"Lady Hancock, please come with me."
Looking at Momonga leaving with Hannyabal, surprise flashed through Hancock's eyes.
She had not expected that even a Marine Vice Admiral would have to undergo a body search.
For Impel Down, should the Marines not be considered their own people?
Perhaps seeing what Hancock was thinking, Domino explained,
"In Impel Down, no matter who comes here, they must undergo a body search before going down to visit."
"That is the rule. Even the Marines must obey it."
It was precisely because of this rule that Impel Down would not easily encounter problems caused by outsiders.
Hancock remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
"I'm glad you can understand."
Domino breathed a sigh of relief.
Then she led Hancock away, heading deeper inside.
Seeing Hancock look curiously at the cells behind the Sea-Prism Stone bars, Domino explained,
"If prisoners are brought here, they will be sent inside."
Pointing to the cells, Domino continued,
"These prisoners will be pushed into one-hundred-degree boiling hell water for baptism."
"Only after being sterilized and disinfected will they be sent to the prison cells on each level."
"So those screams are coming from there?"
"Yes."
Domino nodded.
"Of course, there are also some people who do not even furrow their brows during the baptism."
"For example, former Warlord Crocodile, Knight of the Sea Jinbe, and… Fire Fist Ace, whom you are visiting this time."
"Their endurance was indeed admirable."
"All right, we're here."
After pushing open the door in front of them, Domino walked inside and said,
"Next, I will conduct the body search here. Please cooperate."
As she spoke, Domino looked over Hancock's clothes, then said,
"Do not worry. I will not do anything unnecessary."
"However… you must first put on the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs."
"Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs…"
Looking at the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs and keys hanging on the wall, Hancock narrowed her eyes.
"Fine. I will cooperate."
…
At the same time, elsewhere.
Buggy the Clown, who was inside Impel Down, began his escape plan.
Glancing at his cellmates, who were lost in thought for some reason, Buggy quietly came to the door.
Then, activating the power of his Devil Fruit, he slipped free from his handcuffs and shackles before squeezing through the gap in the iron door.
"Hmph. Those Marine idiots."
Once outside, Buggy grinned.
"They never imagined that this great me is a Devil Fruit user."
Fortunately, during all his years in East Blue, he had kept an extremely low profile. That was why the Marines had never discovered he was a Devil Fruit user.
Otherwise, they would definitely have put Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs on him!
Thinking this, Buggy could not stop himself from laughing.
At that moment, the pirates inside the cell noticed Buggy standing in the corridor and were immediately dumbfounded.
"Eh?!"
"Buggy, how did you get outside?"
"Damn it! Are you a Devil Fruit user?"
"Shut up, you bastards."
Buggy glanced back at them and said,
"This great me is escaping now. I don't have time to chat with you here."
"Bastard! Are you abandoning us?"
"Abandoning?"
Buggy tilted his head and looked at them.
"Don't joke around. Since when was this great me so close to you?"
"Bastard! Even so, you can't just leave us behind and run by yourself!"
"Yahahaha! So what if I do?"
Buggy laughed with his hands on his hips.
"If you're unhappy about it, then escape like this great me!"
"Huh~"
"What?"
"You can't do it?"
Buggy turned around, patted his backside with his hand, and mocked them.
"What a shame~"
"You bastards can just die here!"
"Yahahahaha!"
Buggy's behavior was full of provocation, angering the pirates so much that they wanted to rush out and beat him to death.
Unfortunately, trapped behind the cell bars, they could not get out at all.
"Looks like you're very angry~"
Buggy grinned.
"But too bad. You still can't touch this great me~"
"Yahahahaha!"
"Goodbye, idiots!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Buggy fled without hesitation.
"A mere Impel Down can't possibly stop this great me!"
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