The next morning.
The arrival of a group of prison guards shattered the deathly silence of Frozen Hell.
"S–Storm…"
Shivering violently in the icy wind, Hannibal fumbled for his keys and opened the cell door.
"Your solitary confinement is over!
Warden Magellan asked me to bring you to see him!"
Inside the cell, Storm looked at the stammering Hannibal and shook his head helplessly.
Even if this guy wanted to project the image of a tough, authoritative boss in front of his subordinates—
he'd only been in Frozen Hell for a short while and was already shaking like this.
It really wasn't convincing at all.
"Hannibal."
"H–Huh?"
"Did you offend the warden too?"
"N–No!"
Hannibal looked confused by the sudden question.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because looking at you right now," Storm replied calmly,
"I honestly can't tell whether you're the one being punished… or I am."
Storm walked up beside him and released a lump of clay.
"Want me to make you some clothes?
I can't guarantee warmth, but at least they'll block the wind."
Hannibal almost nodded instinctively.
But when he caught sight of the guards behind him, he straightened up and refused firmly.
"N–No need!"
He raised his arm shakily, trying to strike a macho pose.
"I'm very strong—Achoo!"
Storm shook his head and walked out of the cell.
Hannibal hurriedly ordered the guards to follow.
The moment they stepped outside, the icy wind of Frozen Hell struck them head-on.
Hannibal shuddered.
To distract himself, he hastily changed the subject.
"Storm, these past few days… things haven't been peaceful in Scorching Hell."
Scorching Hell?
Storm's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
Over the past few days, he had "borrowed" a great deal of food from the warehouse to replenish the energy drain from his Physique upgrades.
Had that been discovered?
Judging by Hannibal's tone, though, it didn't seem related.
"What happened?" Storm asked calmly.
"Did that bastard Shiryu cause trouble again?"
"Shiryu… this might actually be related to Shiryu."
Hannibal leaned closer, clearly using Storm's body to block the wind.
"A prisoner disappeared from Scorching Hell!
And he was a Devil Fruit user!"
Storm remained silent.
"So everyone's saying…" Hannibal continued, lowering his voice,
"That 'Chameleon Man' received an Invitation from the Devil, and that's why he vanished."
"Even the surveillance Den Den Mushi couldn't find a trace—like he evaporated."
The so-called Invitation from the Devil was a well-known rumor among Impel Down guards.
Over the years, prisoners had occasionally vanished without explanation.
Combined with Impel Down's hellish environment,
this gave rise to that eerie legend.
In reality, of course—
it was mostly Ivankov expanding New Okama Paradise.
Well… close enough.
Storm had already expected the disappearance to be noticed.
After all, surveillance in Impel Down was dense—
especially in Scorching Hell, which Magellan personally oversaw.
'Fortunately, I avoided every Den Den Mushi,' Storm thought.
'Otherwise, Magellan himself would be coming for me right now.'
Just then, Hannibal added,
"But now that you mention Shiryu…
I think that bastard probably killed the Chameleon Man and disposed of the body!"
Storm's lips twitched slightly.
Hannibal's instincts were disturbingly sharp.
Yes—
the body had been disposed of.
Cremated.
In Scorching Hell.
A luxury many pirates who died at sea could only dream of.
Storm smoothly changed the topic.
"How's Shiryu doing now?"
"Still killing people," Hannibal muttered.
"After we left the warden's office, he was sent to detox.
"But later I heard—he slaughtered his way from the infirmary on Level One all the way to Scorching Hell.
"If Magellan hadn't stopped him, he might've charged straight into Frozen Hell to find you."
Storm blinked.
That sounded exactly like Shiryu.
Even as vice warden, he never cared much for duty.
His only hobby was killing.
At first, prisoners.
Then colleagues.
And eventually… Infinite Hell.
"What did Magellan do with him?" Storm asked.
"Did he throw him into Infinite Hell?"
"Not that far," Hannibal shook his head.
"But Magellan now insists Shiryu never leave his sight."
Storm frowned.
"That's unrealistic.
Magellan spends ten hours a day on the toilet."
"You expect Shiryu to stand guard the whole time?"
"Hahaha!"
Hannibal burst out laughing.
"That's exactly why this is Magellan's punishment!"
They chatted all the way out of Frozen Hell.
Soon, they boarded the prison elevator and headed for the warden's office in Scorching Hell.
"What does Magellan want with me?" Storm asked.
"He's not planning another 'peace talk,' is he?"
Hannibal gave him a strange look.
After last time, only someone poisoned in the brain would put Storm and Shiryu together again.
"That won't happen," Hannibal said seriously.
"As for why Magellan called you… he probably wants to give you some very important advice."
And Hannibal was right.
The moment Storm entered the office, he saw it—
a brick-thick tome on Magellan's desk.
The Impel Down Jailer's Code of Conduct.
Only Magellan and Vice Warden Domino were present.
Shiryu was nowhere to be seen.
"Warden!"
Storm hurriedly spoke up before the lecture began.
"Good morning! Did you detox today?"
"Good morning, Storm."
Magellan's expression was grave.
"You haven't been here long.
You've performed excellently—but you've also made many mistakes."
"Warden," Storm interrupted again.
"I never attack unless attacked."
"He attacked me before I attacked Shiryu!"
Magellan felt a headache coming on.
Storm wasn't wrong.
If Shiryu hadn't made that unprovoked slash in the mess hall,
things wouldn't have escalated this far.
Just as Magellan was pondering discipline, Storm continued:
"Chief, I have a new solution."
"A solution?" Magellan looked up.
"To the conflict between you and Shiryu?"
"Of course."
Storm nodded.
"Our problem is simple—we never decided a clear winner.
"If we fight again and settle it properly,
all conflicts will be resolved."
"If you can't solve the problem," Storm added calmly,
"then solve the person who created it."
"…You're quite the clever little devil," Magellan muttered.
He had been stopping the fights—
to protect Storm, not Shiryu.
Before he could respond—
a cold voice echoed from the restroom.
"You're courting death."
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