Those once arrogant and domineering prisoners now all widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the slender figure standing in the center of the corridor.
Killed a Four Emperor!
Slaughtered Celestial Dragons!!!
A bounty of five billion!!!
Any one of these feats alone would be shocking enough, yet this man had accomplished them all?!
As Shiliew had mockingly pointed out, they had been imprisoned here for far too long. Some had even been locked up before the God Valley War, their minds still preoccupied with thoughts of the world's most beautiful woman, Shaki.
How could they have known that the outside world had undergone earth-shattering changes in just this past year?
"So it seems that as long as you live long enough, anything is possible."
An old Pirate with white hair and a gaunt figure snapped out of his shock and chuckled softly:
"At my age, I'm already halfway into the coffin. Yet, nearly twenty years after Roger's death, I might actually witness the birth of a new legend of the sea?"
And one so young at that!
After a brief silence.
The breathing throughout Level Six suddenly grew heavy.
A figure of such stature wouldn't act without purpose. Since he had stormed into Impel Down, could it be that he intended to...
"Hey! Lord Xiano!"
A bald Pirate rushed to the iron bars and shouted, "You're here to recruit followers, right? Then take me with you!"
"Twelve years ago, I was already a great Pirate with a 600 million berry bounty! With just one sword, I personally destroyed over thirty towns. Even that naval hero Garp would tremble at the sound of my name!"
"With that level of strength, you think you're worthy?"
The blue-haired man in the adjacent cell sneered, "Lord Xiano, you should choose me instead. My name is Avalo Pizarro, known as the 'Corrupt King.' I'm truly capable of becoming your right-hand man, meow!"
"Meow your head! How disgusting!"
Opposite them, a heavily made-up woman with a long nose angrily scolded before turning to Xiano, batting her eyelashes and giggling flirtatiously:
"Muhahaha~, Lord Xiano, how about choosing me, Catarina? Not only do I possess formidable strength, but I'm also a Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit user, capable of transforming into anyone at will. Someone as young as you must have... vigorous needs in that area. Whatever type you desire, I can satisfy you!"
"Choose me instead, Lord Xiano!"
"My lord, I beg you to allow me to pledge my loyalty to you!"
The entire Level Six erupted into chaos. Prisoners clamored over one another, shouting and violently shaking the iron bars. The clanking of chains filled the air as they desperately tried to catch Xiano's attention.
Xiano finally furrowed his brow, his gaze turning cold.
Shiliew, who had been observing his expression, noticed this immediately. He stepped forward and roared:
"Silence, all of you!"
His famous sword, Rayleigh, was drawn halfway from its sheath. A chilling killing intent spread instantly, plunging the entire Level Six into dead silence.
"A bunch of fools who don't know their place."
Shiliew coldly scanned the surroundings, puffing out a heavy cloud of smoke from his cigar-filled mouth before disdainfully adding:
"With trash like you, do you really think you're worthy of pledging loyalty to Lord Xiano?"
He took a deep breath, turned around, knelt on one knee, and laid his sword horizontally before him, his voice carrying an unprecedented reverence:
"Lord Xiano, all these years, I have been waiting for someone worthy of following. Unfortunately, neither inside nor outside this prison has anyone possessed such qualifications."
"But now it's different!"
Shiliew looked up, his eyes gleaming with fervent light:
"From the moment you dared to raise your sword against a Celestial Dragon, I knew—you are the true ruler of this era!"
"The course of the world, the direction of history—it is determined by people like you! Please allow me to join your ranks, grant me the chance to partake in this great transformation of the world! As long as you nod, this sword and this life of mine shall be yours from this day forward!"
"Despicable!"
"Villain!"
"You told us to shut up, only to join him yourself!"
Complaints of dissatisfaction rose from the surrounding prisoners. Xiano paid them no mind, his gaze fixed calmly on the kneeling chief guard of Impel Down.
Shiliew, huh...
Such proactive enthusiasm is quite different from when Blackbeard tried to recruit him.
He didn't respond immediately, instead remarking noncommittally:
"I didn't come here today to recruit subordinates. I'm only here to settle a score with a woman named Beverny."
"Beverny?"
Disappointed at not receiving the answer he wanted, Shiliew nevertheless promptly rose to his feet upon hearing this. "She's in the far northwest corner of the North Block. Allow me to lead the way, my lord."
Xiano gave a slight nod and followed Shiliew deeper into the corridor.
"My lord, don't go! My lord!"
The prisoners in the cells on both sides continued to cry out unwillingly, but their voices gradually faded behind them.
Passing through the dimly lit corridor and rounding several corners, Shiliew stopped before a cell at the furthest corner of the North Block.
"This is the place, my lord." Shiliew respectfully stepped aside.
Xiano looked up.
A blonde woman was curled up in the corner of the cell, resentfully carving something into the wall—
Even after showing Charloss Saint's emblem, they still dared treat me like this.
Magellan, Hannyabal, Vulture!
Just you wait! Once someone comes to get me out, I'll make sure you...
"Beverny."
A low voice called out.
Hearing her name, her eyes lit up as she looked up in pleasant surprise.
But when she clearly saw the visitor's face, a chill shot from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head. All color instantly drained from her pretty face.
"You... it's you!!!"
Beverny exclaimed in terror, "How can it be you? This is Impel Down! You! How did you get here..."
"Surprised?"
Xiano looked down at her indifferently, "Did you think you'd be safe just because you left the New World? You should have expected this day when you kidnapped my crewmate."
Beside them, Shiliew took out a key and inserted it into the lock of the iron bars.
That simple action instantly made Beverny scream.
With her last shred of security torn away, she trembled in fear, scrambling backward on her hands and feet until her back pressed against the cold wall.
"Don't! Don't come closer! You... you... Xiano! You can't do this, hey! When it comes down to it, I only accepted BIGMOM's commission, I didn't actually harm that little girl! My crime doesn't deserve death!"
"And... and! You're the one who publicly declared to the whole world that you're not a Pirate, but a rebel pursuing justice and fairness! If that's really true, then show the magnanimity befitting a Sea Emperor! You shouldn't kill me over such minor grievances!"
"Shiliew."
Xiano showed no interest in responding, turning his head to speak indifferently.
"I'm here, sir."
"Since this woman was qualified to be imprisoned in Level 6, she must have committed numerous crimes, right?"
"You've asked the right person. I do check the files whenever Level 6 prisoners are delivered and processed."
Shiliew nodded, taking a file from his chest and flipping through it:
"According to the records, Beverny has repeatedly used her abilities to participate in various kidnapping and assassination cases over the past year. The number of innocent people killed by her is conservatively estimated to be over a hundred, including many children just a few years old..."
He sneered at this point, "Tsk, though she started as a bounty hunter, she's more disgusting than many Pirates in this prison."
"I see."
Xiano nodded, looking toward Beverny in the cell, who had already turned ashen-faced. "Now, anything else to say?"
"I... I..."
Beverny was speechless, stammering for a long time without managing to speak. Cold sweat soaked through her back, and despair flashed in her eyes.
It's over. She had dug her own grave and completely buried herself.
If it were anyone else, she would have played the card of being a subordinate of the Celestial Dragons to intimidate them. But she wasn't foolish—could such words scare this man?
How could they!
This man before her had brutally killed four Celestial Dragons in front of the whole world!
If he dared to kill Celestial Dragons, what significance did being a subordinate of Celestial Dragons hold?
"Wait!"
She suddenly remembered something, shouting as if grasping at her last lifeline:
"Wait! I know a secret! I overheard Charloss Saint instructing his steward! It concerns the World Government and the Celestial Dragons! If you're willing to spare me, I... I'll tell you!"
"Not interested."
Xiano paid no attention, extending his right hand and grabbing Beverny's throat like an eagle seizing a chick, lifting her entire body off the ground.
"Urk... Let... let go..."
Beverny's feet dangled in the air as she struggled desperately, her face turning crimson, eyes filled with terror and despair. Her hands clutched desperately at Xiano's wrist, but she couldn't budge it at all.
"Alright, alright then!! Since you don't like me beating around the bush... cough, cough... I'll say it first! Consider it a transaction! If you think this information is useful to you, spare me! Otherwise, I'll accept whatever you decide... How about that?"
Xiano still didn't respond, his right hand beginning to exert force.
"I'll talk! It's about a game!"
Beverny finally broke down, "Charloss Saint said that because of the major incident you caused, the young Celestial Dragons don't dare to leave the Holy Land for entertainment anymore. They're feeling unbearably stifled, so they plan to restart the game from thirty years ago..."
Xiano's expression finally changed.
"Restart the game from thirty years ago?"
"Yes, a grand game! Called the Paradise Plan!"
Seeing Xiano finally show a reaction, Beverny quickly seized the opportunity and continued, "I don't understand the exact meaning, but it seems the location has been set in the North Sea."
"This is a secret plan within the Celestial Dragons, even the Navy isn't aware of it. I only overheard it by sheer chance and was planning to sell it on the black market for a good price..."
"I see."
Xiano nodded, then suddenly released his grip.
Thud!
Beverny fell to the ground, clutching her throat as she sat up, coughing violently. Yet, a hint of relief at having survived flashed across her face.
"So, you're agreeing to let me go..."
She smoothed the golden hair by her ear and looked up with a bright smile, only to see Xiano lightly flick his right index finger.
Hum!
An invisible, terrifying Energy Force instantly pierced through her heart.
Beverny's expression froze on her face. Disbelieving, she lowered her head, the light in her eyes rapidly fading.
"W-why..." she struggled to speak, "You... you're one of the Four Emperors, how could you... go back on your word..."
Thump!
Her upper body fell backward to the ground. In her final blurred consciousness, Beverny only heard an emotionless voice:
"I never agreed to any deal, did I?"
Xiano retracted his finger and spoke while looking at Beverny's corpse:
"Besides, scum like you, even if you revealed all of Mariejois' secrets, don't deserve to leave here alive."
Shiliew remained silent nearby. He felt an increasing approval of Xiano—this was the demeanor a leader should possess: decisive in killing, refusing to be bound by any inexplicable moral constraints.
When he looked at Xiano again, the latter hadn't moved but was staring at the ground, seemingly deep in thought.
The Paradise Plan...
Thirty years ago...
If he remembered correctly, the "God Valley Incident," which the World Government erased from history, happened exactly thirty-three years ago, didn't it?
Xiano's gaze gradually turned cold and sharp.
It seemed that after finishing his business here and returning, he would have to order the intelligence department to launch an investigation immediately. Beverny's words weren't very credible, but since it involved that matter...
Better to believe it exists than to dismiss it entirely.
"Shiliew."
"Here, sir." Shiliew responded respectfully at once.
"Aside from Beverny, how many Devil Fruit Ability Users are there in this sixth level?"
Xiano looked up and asked, "Especially those who are irredeemable, with innocent blood on their hands. I need about thirty, but remember, it must be by my standards, not yours. Do you understand?"
Shiliew was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood, grinning:
"Sir, it seems you have some misunderstanding about my reputation... But rest assured, I understand what you mean. Such individuals are plentiful in the sixth level. Gathering thirty shouldn't be a problem."
"Good."
Xiano nodded slightly, "Take me to see them."
He glanced at the corpse on the ground. He had already used Beverny to complete the Soul Sacrifice, and the current progress had reached one-thirtieth.
Moreover, this Sacrifice process was invisible to outsiders.
"Yes!"
Shiliew turned to lead the way without hesitation, though his mind was roiling with shock—Could this lord be planning to...
Soon, they arrived before the first cell.
Inside was a burly man with a face full of fleshy folds. He instinctively shrank back upon seeing Shiliew, but when his gaze fell upon Xiano, he flashed an ingratiating smile.
"Lord Xiano! Have you taken an interest in my—"
Swish!
A blade flashed as Xiano drew his Authentic Blade, instantly piercing the man's throat. The man's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his own blood gush forth, slowly collapsing to the ground.
"This is the first one."
Shiliew added from the side, "'Bloody Oni Hand' Balt, Paramecia-type Oni Fruit Ability User, once massacred civilians across three nations."
Xiano nodded, his right hand forming a loose grip as an invisible strength extracted a faint, hazy shadow from the man's corpse, which then vanished into his palm.
"Continue."
"Yes, my lord."
Shiliew noticed this action but wisely refrained from asking any questions.
And so.
Over the next dozen minutes, Shiliew led Xiano through every corner of the sixth level.
Xiano barely recognized any of these old-generation Pirates, making it difficult for him to distinguish them on his own. With the accurate information provided by an insider, however, the efficiency improved significantly.
The souls of these wicked Devil Fruit Ability Users were continuously harvested, becoming nourishment for the Demon Tree.
"The seventh, 'Poison Scorpion' Salazar, Zoan Scorpion Fruit Ability User. Though he claimed to be a doctor, his greatest pleasure was specifically kidnapping pregnant women for human experiments..."
"The twelfth, 'Ogre' Jott, Mythical Zoan Taotie Fruit Ability User. Even worse than that BIGMOM, he couldn't control his appetite even when sober, having once devoured an entire village's population in a single bite..."
"The fifteenth, 'Lone High Red' Baron Omatsuri..."
Just as Shiliew reached this point, he glanced up at the emaciated old man sneering contemptuously across from them, shook his head, and crossed him off the list:
"Almost forgot, this guy isn't a Devil Fruit Ability User. Skip him, next one."
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