Box after box was opened, spilling out a dazzling array of goods and supplies that piled high before the prisoners.
The rich scent of liquor filled the air, mingling with the aroma of cured ham, kegs of unfiltered beer, fresh seafood sashimi, and gold-embossed premium cigars. These items, worth fortunes in the outside world, were now laid out before them as if they cost nothing at all.
In an instant, the vast space of Eternal Hell fell into dead silence.
The prisoners stood frozen in place, eyes fixed on the food and alcohol before them, pupils gleaming an eerie green.
"Gulp..."
The sound of several throats swallowing echoed faintly. They exchanged quick glances, their eyes full of temptation.
"Damn it, why does this brat suddenly not look so annoying anymore?"
"Getting beaten up by him doesn't seem so bad now."
"Feels like my body doesn't hurt as much anymore."
"Whiskey... I want whiskey..."
"..."
For these hardened criminals, a good beating was nothing new. After spending day after day locked in their cells, their bodies had grown stiff and restless. Being let out to fight—and now, seeing this feast—almost felt like a kind of reward.
Catching every flicker of greed and hesitation on their faces, Daren smiled faintly.
"As you can see, gentlemen, I'm being quite sincere here."
As his words faded, one of the inmates sneered mockingly.
"You think you can buy us off with a few crates of stuff like this?"
"Yeah, right! I still want to rip your damn head off!"
"If I ever get the chance, I'll gut you without a second thought!"
"..."
Shouts and jeers erupted from every direction, but Daren's calm expression didn't waver. He simply raised both hands with a grin.
"No need to get so worked up. I never said I expected this to change anything."
"I'm just saying—the stuff's right here. Whether you take it or not, eat it or not... you're still going to get beaten."
The prisoners: "..."
A heartbeat later—
"Damn it!"
"Bastard!"
"That whiskey's mine!"
"I want the grilled meat!"
"Lobster! That lobster's mine!"
"..."
The crowd of convicts surged forward all at once, trampling over each other in a mad rush toward the mountain of supplies.
...
Ten minutes later.
"Hahahaha! Come on, Daren, you little punk! Drink up!"
"Here, I'll toast to you!"
"Damn, look at those muscles... that's the Indestructible Body right there!"
"Too strong! Hahahahaha!"
Bonfires blazed throughout the empty prison corridor, filling Eternal Hell with the smoky aroma of roasted meat and fine liquor.
Dozens of criminals, still in their black-and-white prison uniforms, sat around the fire with flushed faces, cigars and cigarettes dangling from their lips, laughing uproariously as they raised their cups high.
Some of them even had their arms slung around Daren's shoulders, drinking and shouting together as if they were old friends.
From a short distance away, Magellan stood speechless, staring at the unbelievable scene.
Even more absurdly, Daren's face was lit with the same bright, easygoing smile as the rest.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Magellan would never have believed that Daren-sensei could blend so naturally into a bonfire party with a bunch of notorious, world-class criminals.
And looking at Daren—his scarred body, his unshakable aura—Magellan couldn't help but think... he didn't just blend in.
He belonged there.
"Hahahaha! Daren, you little brat... so that rumor's actually true? The one about the World Government's top dogs—those five old bastards—really having that so-called 'Immortal Body'?"
"Brute Strength" Saka's face was flushed from drink, white steam puffing from his nostrils as he stared at Daren with wide, eager eyes.
As soon as his words fell, the others instantly perked up, eyes widening, ears pricking like wolves catching a scent.
They'd all read about Daren in the newspapers, of course—but the reports were shallow, lacking detail. And the Five Elders—the highest authorities of the World Government—were shrouded in mystery, their power and status unmatched across the seas.
Even among the fiercest criminals who boasted of defying the World Government, few could truly conceal the fear and awe that name invoked. The Five Elders were untouchable, almost godlike figures—an existence most could only imagine.
And yet, here before them stood the man who had actually fought them.
If not for pride, they would have asked him about it long ago. Now, emboldened by alcohol, they could no longer hold back.
"Whether it's truly an 'Immortal Body' or not... honestly, I'm not entirely sure."
Daren clinked his beer mug against Saka's, took a long gulp, and laughed.
"But during the battle on Philseque Island, I used everything I had—and still couldn't do a damn thing to those old bastards. Even attacks infused with Haki didn't work."
"I pierced their hearts, ripped off their arms, even twisted their heads clean off... and yet, within half a minute, their bodies would reform, mended by some strange black flame."
A sharp intake of breath swept through the room. The prisoners' faces twisted with shock.
Even decapitation couldn't kill them?
If that wasn't immortality, then what was?
"Then how the hell did you make it out alive?"
One of the prisoners couldn't help but ask.
Daren smiled slightly.
"Among the Five Elders, 'Bakotsu' Nusjuro has the fastest burst speed in close range. But the only one capable of flight is 'Itsumade' Mars..."
"...and neither of them could catch you."
The one who spoke was "Ghost Shadow" Kark, his hoarse voice emerging from the darkness where he sat, barely visible as he nursed his drink.
Daren glanced his way and nodded with a grin.
"Pretty much. In terms of raw power, those five old men didn't actually give me that much pressure."
At that, several prisoners couldn't help but smirk in disbelief.
Yeah, right. Not even Marine Admirals could pressure you, huh?
After spending several days in Daren's company, they'd come to fully understand just how terrifyingly deep his strength ran.
No wonder the World Government had slapped an absurd 5-billion Belly bounty on his head.
"So... have you found a way to deal with their 'Immortal Body' yet?"
A calm, refined voice broke the air.
Redfield sat upright, his posture impeccable as he gently swirled a glass of vivid red wine in his hand.
Even dressed in a filthy prison uniform within the depths of Impel Down, he carried himself with an aristocratic grace—like a nobleman leisurely enjoying fine wine at a grand banquet.
Daren thought for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"If I had, I'd already be standing on the Holy Land of Mary Geoise."