"So this is Level Three."
jin looked around, rubbing his chin.
"I didn't expect it to be a huge desert."
What kind of hell was this supposed to be?
"This level is so hot!"
Looking at the vast desert ahead, Mr. 3 stuck out his tongue and said,
"For someone with wax powers like me, this place is pure torture."
Even before entering the desert, Mr. 3 already felt like he could barely endure it.
"Where's the path to the next level?" Luffy asked.
"How would we know something like that?!"
"Let's go ahead and take a look first," jin said. "It's better than staying here."
As he spoke, jin glanced back at the massive gate behind them and complained inwardly,
'I don't know how this gate was designed. They didn't even add some kind of cover above it. They just let the sunlight shine straight in.'
Hiss… wait.
Why was there sunlight here?
jin raised his head and looked upward, a trace of doubt appearing in his heart.
Where was this light coming from?
Thinking of this, jin asked,
"Do either of you know how sunlight gets in here?"
"How would we know that?" Mr. 3 said helplessly. "Maybe the Marines used some special method."
"Maybe it's something like the Sunlight Tree Eve," Buggy guessed.
"Sunlight Tree Eve?"
"Mm."
Buggy nodded.
"We went to Fish-Man Island back then and saw a similar scene there."
"That place only has light because of the Sunlight Tree Eve."
After saying this, Buggy paused briefly before continuing,
"That plant absorbs sunlight from the surface of the sea and then releases it through its roots."
"That's why Fish-Man Island has sunlight."
After saying this, a trace of nostalgia appeared on Buggy's face.
Fish-Man Island… that had been decades ago, hadn't it?
Before he realized it, so much time had already passed.
"So that's how it works."
jin rubbed his chin.
"This world really does have all kinds of strange plants."
First, there were the Sword Trees and Needle Grass on Level One. Now this level had something similar to the Sunlight Tree.
He wondered whether even more interesting things would appear later.
"You've actually been to Fish-Man Island?"
Mr. 3 looked at Buggy in shock.
This guy did not look like a pirate with a bounty over one hundred million, yet he had actually been to Fish-Man Island?
"Yeah. But that was when I was a kid."
Buggy waved his hand.
After saying that, Buggy walked forward without looking back, clearly having no intention of explaining the details to Mr. 3.
After all, the fact that he had been a member of the Pirate King's crew absolutely could not be exposed.
Otherwise, the Marines would definitely come after him!
'When he was a kid?'
Mr. 3 stared at Buggy's back and fell into thought.
His intuition told him this man might not be simple.
But now was not the time to think about such things. Even if he wanted to figure out the other party's situation, it would have to wait until they escaped.
Thinking of this, Mr. 3 gave up thinking and quickly ran forward to catch up with the others.
"Hey, Luffy, slow down!" jin shouted.
"Hurry up! I see prison cells up ahead!"
Luffy, who had rushed far ahead, looked toward the distant cells and said,
"Maybe someone there knows the way down."
"Cells?"
Mr. 3 and Buggy exchanged a glance, then rushed toward Luffy together.
If there was something that could block the sunlight, they would not be so hot.
"Cells, huh?"
jin rubbed his chin.
"Then let's go take a look."
If they could get the route down from these people, they would not need to search for the gate across this vast desert.
Thinking of this, jin quickly rushed forward.
Soon, everyone reached the area of cells Luffy had seen.
"Why do these people look so wrinkled?"
Luffy looked at the people inside the cells and said,
"They look like Granny Nyon."
jin: "…"
"Show some respect to Granny Nyon, you guy!"
"Sorry…"
Seeing jin raise his fist, Luffy decisively apologized.
The speed of that apology left Buggy stunned.
'This is how this guy acts as captain?'
jin shook his head and did not bother with him anymore.
Seeing that jin did not punch him, Luffy immediately regained his energy. Then he turned toward the cells and said,
"Hey, you guys! Do you know the way to Level Four?"
Unfortunately, after hearing Luffy's words, those people merely glanced at him before closing their eyes again. They had no intention of speaking.
Luffy: ???
What did that mean?
"Looks like they've been here for a long time," Mr. 3 said. "They probably don't even have the strength to speak."
"What do you mean?"
"This is Level Three, the Starvation Hell," Mr. 3 explained. "Not only are they denied food and water here, they also have to endure this extreme heat."
"After enough time passes, even these powerful pirates with bounties over fifty million will end up in this miserable state."
After saying that, Mr. 3 turned his head and pointed toward a skeleton nailed to a wooden post in the distance.
"That is their final fate."
After speaking, Mr. 3 sighed.
He only hoped they would not end up like these people, dying miserably in this place.
"How do you know so much about this?"
jin glanced at Mr. 3.
"Don't tell me you know the way to Level Four."
As he spoke, jin's gaze became unfriendly.
If this kid knew but had not reported it, jin would not mind beating him up.
"Unfortunately, I don't know," Mr. 3 said helplessly. "I only heard this information from others."
People like them, who had been imprisoned for a long time, could occasionally obtain information about this place.
It was also one of the ways they passed the time.
Hearing this, jin nodded and said nothing more.
At that moment, Luffy's stomach growled loudly, immediately drawing the attention of the other three.
"Ahaha. I'm hungry."
Luffy scratched his head.
Without realizing it, all the food he had eaten earlier had already been digested.
"Then let's eat first."
"Eh?!!"
Mr. 3 and Buggy looked at jin in shock.
"You're actually thinking about eating at a time like this?"
No, they were inside Impel Down!
And where were they supposed to get food in a place like this?
Were they supposed to roast the people in front of them?
Damn it, they did not eat humans!
"Nonsense. If we don't eat our fill, how will we have the strength to fight?"
"That may be true, but—"
Before Buggy could finish, a strange sound rang out.
"The okama way!"
"The okama way!"
"My okama way!"
"No way. In this kind of environment, someone still has that much energy?"
Buggy said in shock.
"What kind of person is that?"
According to Mr. 3, people here could not obtain food or water.
Yet under those conditions, this person still had so much energy?
This was definitely no ordinary person!
"Why does that voice sound so familiar?" Mr. 3 frowned.
"What, you know him?"
"I feel like this voice belongs to a former colleague of mine," Mr. 3 said. "Straw Hat, do you remember the okama you met in Alabasta?"
"Okama?"
Luffy tilted his head and looked at Mr. 3, not understanding what the word meant.
"The one who could transform into other people, Mr. 2!"
"Is it Bon-chan?!"
After remembering who it was, Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
Then Luffy looked excitedly at jin and said,
"Hey, jin, quick! Let's go save Bon-chan too!"
He had thought the other party had already been killed by the Marines.
But now… he was still alive!
How could that not make him excited?
"Yeah, then let's go."
jin smiled.
He had not expected to meet that guy here. Perhaps… this was fate.
Mm. They might also be able to learn the route down from him.
Thinking of this, the group quickly ran forward and soon reached the target area.
"So this is the guy," Buggy said.
Looking at Bon Clay excitedly spinning around in the cell, Buggy's mouth twitched. He did not know what to say.
"What is this heat compared to anything? My okama way will never lose to this environment!"
"Gahahaha!"
"Bon-chan, it really is you!"
Luffy rushed to the cell and looked at Bon Clay excitedly.
"I'm so glad you're still alive!"
"Straw-chan?"
Seeing Luffy clinging to the cell bars, Bon Clay froze for a moment, then laughed loudly.
"Ahahaha! I didn't expect us to meet here, Straw-chan!"
"Gahaha…"
"Eh?!"
Bon Clay suddenly reacted and looked at Luffy in shock.
"Why are you here?"
"Ah, and Mr. 3 too!"
"Am I just an extra?" Mr. 3 complained.
Bon Clay ignored Mr. 3's words and said excitedly,
"Were you captured too?"
"Ah, no. I came to save Ace."
"Save Ace?"
"Yes!"
Looking at the two people happily chatting, Buggy glanced at Mr. 3 and asked,
"What exactly is going on with this rare beast?"
"He's always like this. You'll get used to it."
Mr. 3 shook his head helplessly.
For some reason, Mr. 3 suddenly regretted telling jin about this guy.
But now that they had come here, it was impossible to simply leave him alone.
"I didn't expect you to come here to save your brother. That truly shocks me."
Bon Clay wiped away his tears.
"In that case, allow me to lend you all my strength!"
"Really? Bon-chan, you're willing to help me save Ace?"
"That's right!"
Bon Clay said firmly,
"When a friend needs help, of course I must reach out!"
As an okama with principles, he would definitely help Straw-chan rescue Fire Fist Ace!
"Thank you so much, Bon-chan!"
"There is no need for thanks between Straw-chan and me!"
"Gahahaha!"
After laughing loudly, Bon Clay looked at Mr. 3 and said,
"Mr. 3, open my cuffs."
"I know."
Looking at the expectation in Bon Clay's eyes, Mr. 3 let out a deep sigh.
Meeting this guy… he really did not know whether it was a blessing or a curse.
"Let's go. First, we'll find a place to eat something," jin said.
"Where is there food?" Buggy complained.
"Don't worry. I brought some."
Looking at jin's confident expression, Buggy's eyes filled with confusion.
Where exactly was this guy keeping the food?
"There's food to eat?" Bon Clay's eyes shone.
"Mm. There is."
"Wonderful!"
Bon Clay excitedly began spinning around.
"I haven't eaten anything in ages!"
If he could eat his fill, he could unleash even greater strength.
In that case, the chances of rescuing Fire Fist Ace would become even higher!
"Right, Bon-chan, do you know how to reach Level Four?" Luffy asked.
"I know~"
Bon Clay grinned.
"I'll take you there later!"
"Yeah!"
…
"So this is Level Six, the Eternal Hell?!"
"That's right."
Hannyabal nodded.
"Those imprisoned here are basically all famous figures on the sea."
"I see."
Hancock nodded, but her brows instinctively furrowed.
'Level Six… According to what Magellan said earlier, Level Six is Impel Down's highest secret. Only a small number of people know about this place.'
In that case, could jin and the others still find their way here?
Damn it. If only she could pass the information to jin.
"All right, we're here."
Hannyabal pointed to the cell ahead.
"This is the room where Fire Fist Ace is being held."
Then the man walked to the cell and looked at the two people inside.
"Hey, Fire Fist Ace, wake up. Someone came to see you."
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Ace opened his eyes and looked at Hannyabal.
"Someone came to see me?"
Could Grandpa have come again?
After thinking for a moment, Ace rejected that idea. After all, Garp had just come not long ago.
Thinking this, Ace asked,
"Who?"
"Allow me to properly introduce her~"
Hannyabal cleared his throat, then looked at Hancock with excitement.
"It is her! The legendary Warlord of the Sea, the empress of Amazon Lily, the world's most beautiful woman, the Pirate Empress, Lady Boa Hancock!!"
"Ahaha! After I become warden, please be sure to marry me, Lady Hancock!"
"Lady Hancock—"
Boom!
Before Hannyabal could finish, Magellan slapped him into the ground.
"What nonsense are you saying, you bastard?!"
Saying such strange things to a guest… what if this woman became angry?
"I'm sorry… but I still really want to become warden."
Magellan's mouth twitched.
This idiot.
"The Pirate Empress?"
Ace frowned as he looked at Hancock, not knowing why this woman had come to see him.
There should not be any connection between them. He did not even know her!
"Ahaha! It's actually the legendary Pirate Empress?!"
The surrounding pirates said excitedly.
"No wonder she's so beautiful!"
"Hey, give her to me!"
"Pirate Empress, come play in our cell. I'll love you properly!"
"Wahaha! That's right!"
"Woman, come here!"
Unfortunately, those voices had no effect on Hancock at all. She simply ignored them.
"Bastards, shut up!"
Magellan shouted angrily.
"Can't you see they have something to say?!"
"Shut up, you bastard who only knows how to have diarrhea all day!"
"That's right, hahahaha!"
"You diarrhea bastard, hurry up and bring that woman in front of me!"
"Yahaha!"
Crack!
Veins bulged on Magellan's forehead, and a terrifying killing intent was immediately released.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
Magellan looked coldly at the pirates.
"I am the warden of this underwater prison!"
Boom!
As soon as his voice fell, terrifying poison appeared on Magellan's body, turning him into a poison man.
Then, without hesitation, he attacked the pirates on both sides, dyeing the pirates inside their cells purple.
"Bastard, he actually attacked…"
"Damn it! Give me an antidote! Hurry up and give me an antidote!"
"Magellan, you bastard!"
"It hurts! It hurts!"
"You scum of the sea, don't forget that I am the warden of this underwater prison. I have the strength and authority to execute all of you on the spot!"
Magellan said coldly,
"So when you see me, tuck your tails between your legs and behave."
Looking at Magellan, whose entire body was covered in poison, the pirates fell silent as if someone had grabbed them by the throat. Not one of them dared to speak.
Seeing this, Magellan snorted coldly and withdrew all the poison from his body.
If these people knew what was good for them, he could not be bothered to deal with this sea trash.
Then Magellan turned to look at Hancock and smiled.
"All right, Boa Hancock. Please continue~"
"No. We have already finished talking."
"Eh?!"
Magellan looked at Hancock in shock.
"It ended that quickly?"
He had only just finished showing off, and their conversation was already over?
"Hannyabal, what did they say just now?"
"How would I know?"
Hannyabal looked at Magellan speechlessly.
"You were spraying poison everywhere just now. I didn't dare stay here at all."
He did not want to be poisoned to death by this bastard before becoming warden.
Hearing this, Magellan frowned and glanced at Hancock. However, he did not say anything. He simply nodded and led the others away.
Although he did not know what they had said, as long as they were not causing trouble, it was fine.
"All right. Now that you've seen him, you need to come with me to Marine Headquarters," Vice Admiral Momonga said. "No problem, Boa Hancock?"
"Don't worry. I will fulfill my promise."
Taking one last look at the cell behind her, Hancock thought,
'jin, I hope you can successfully reach this place.'
She had already done everything she could.
Now it depended on whether jin and the others could reach this place and rescue him.
With that thought, Hancock left with the others.
After everyone departed, Level Six returned to its usual noise.
"That damn diarrhea bastard really doesn't hold back."
"Damn it. Why did it have to be our cell?"
"Hahaha! Who told you to be closest to him? Serves you right!"
"Damn Magellan. Don't let me get out, or I'll definitely kill him!"
Listening to all kinds of voices outside, Jinbe shook his head. Then he looked at Ace and asked,
"Ace-san, what did that woman say to you?"
"She said my brother came here with his companion to rescue me."
"W-What?!"
Looking at Ace's expression, Jinbe's face filled with disbelief.
He had not expected that in this world, there would actually be someone who dared to break into Impel Down to rescue someone.
That was simply too insane!
At that moment, Jinbe developed an intense curiosity toward the two people who dared to charge in.
He truly wanted to know what kind of people could dare to perform such a feat.
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