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"Whether Sadi-chan ate a Devil Fruit that lets her split into copies of herself, or whether that weapon of hers consumed some kind of snake-type fruit that lets it extend. Neither of those things is really the point."
"The one who truly deserves our attention is the boy named Ikki."
Ivankov rested his chin on his hand, his expression thoughtful and intent.
Throughout the fight between Sadi and Bullet, the name had come up again and again. Sadi, Bullet, Magellan. All of them had mentioned Ikki, and the weight in their voices each time they did was not something Ivankov could ignore. Combined with what he had already seen of Ikki through the video Den Den Mushi, it wasn't hard to piece together the role he had played in stopping the riot and keeping the prisoners from escaping.
"You're right," Lightning said, and continued:
"Ikki came to Impel Down once. And from what I understand, he also walked out of here with Shiryu of the Rain's weapons."
"He's not a pirate, but he doesn't appear to be a Marine either. He seems to operate as a neutral party."
"The fact that he can enter and leave Impel Down freely means the Marines, or even the World Government, considers him someone worth accommodating. Someone they want something from."
"And looking at the strength Sadi just showed, and listening to what Bullet and the others were saying. This Ikki seems to be extraordinarily skilled at making other people stronger."
"Ivankov, if the Revolutionary Army could get support from someone like him, our position would improve considerably."
Ivankov nodded. It was a thought that had already been forming in his own mind, quietly, since the middle of the fight.
What neither he nor Lightning knew was that the Revolutionary Army's Tyrant, Kuma, had already made contact with Ikki. That Belo Betty had already trained under him.
"Something remarkable has clearly been happening out there."
Ivankov sighed.
"Unfortunately, our video Den Den Mushi can only show us so much of what goes on inside Impel Down. We don't know nearly enough about Ikki."
"If we could learn more about him, that would be something."
"Ivankov!" Lightning's voice sharpened suddenly. He pointed at one of the screens. "Look at this."
"What is it?"
Ivankov turned, brow raised.
On the screen projected by a Den Den Mushi, two Impel Down guards were talking to each other. Ivankov watched, stroking his chin slowly. Then his expression shifted.
"...?!"
"Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is going to be imprisoned in Impel Down?!"
"And the man who defeated him, a warrior from Dressrosa trained by Ikki?!"
"Ikki is going to replace Doflamingo in the upcoming war between Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
"You're telling me Ikki has drawn enough attention from the Marines and the World Government that they were willing to sacrifice a Warlord for him?!"
Ivankov's mouth had fallen open.
"It seems this Ikki is even more remarkable than we imagined," Lightning said slowly. "In terms of both power and influence."
He frowned, his gaze distant.
"Ivankov, perhaps the winds of change in this world have already begun to shift. And we didn't even notice."
"Yes." Ivankov was quiet for a moment. "I've been here, keeping my head down, building experience and waiting. Waiting for Dragon's word before making a move. Thinking the world wouldn't change so quickly."
"Looking at this now, I think my view was too narrow."
He rubbed his chin and turned back toward the Den Den Mushi displaying the sixth level.
His eyes settled on a figure.
A large man with blue skin, still in his cell. One of the fish-men, built like a fortress even in chains.
Jinbe. The Knight of the Sea. One of the Seven Warlords, imprisoned not long ago for refusing to participate in the plan to execute Ace.
Magellan's Hydra had swept through the area near his cell during the riot. But Jinbe's strength was such that even bound by Seastone chains, he had been able to endure what others could not. He hadn't joined the riot either, so neither Magellan nor Sadi had focused their attacks on him directly. His injuries were real, but not severe.
"Jinbe was only brought in recently," Lightning said, as if reading Ivankov's thoughts. "He should know something about Ikki. If we brought him here, we could learn more about the situation outside. And if he could be brought around to the Revolutionary Army's cause, that would be an added benefit."
"Jinbe the Knight of the Sea is a man who has spent his life protecting Fishman Island," Ivankov replied. "The chances of him joining us are slim. But learning about Ikki through him, that much seems possible."
He stood up from his seat.
"Ivankov, you're going yourself?"
Lightning looked up at him.
"The man is a Warlord. That warrants a certain amount of respect."
"Lightning, come with me. We'll move Jinbe somewhere safer first, and then we can talk."
Under ordinary circumstances, Ivankov would have thought twice about approaching Jinbe directly. A Warlord's strength was not something to take lightly, and even with confidence in his own abilities, a direct confrontation with Jinbe would have given him pause.
But Jinbe was still carrying Magellan's venom. His strength would be meaningfully diminished. The timing was as good as it was likely to get.
Ivankov moved.