Finally accepted?
"From now on, both I and this sword in my hand belong to you."
As if afraid that the outstretched hand might be withdrawn, Shiliew immediately grasped it firmly without hesitation, allowing himself to be pulled up to his feet.
"Having been in a place like this for twenty years, I doubt you'd be willing to take on positions like Curtain Closer Warden or similar roles after getting out, right?"
Xiano turned and walked unhurriedly toward the staircase, casually teasing.
"Warden?"
Shiliew hurried to catch up, shaking his head as he bit his cigar. "That kind of boring position is better left to others. For example, if Magellan ever decides to join you, you can hand it over to him, sir."
"I knew it."
Xiano chuckled. "In that case, you'll be assigned to the Combat Corps. The position of First Division Commander is yours now."
The position of First Division Commander was the face of the Combat Corps, highly important, and had to be held by a cadre with sufficient strength.
Neither Law nor Barto currently possessed the qualifications in terms of strength, so the position had remained vacant until now.
With Shiliew joining, his strength naturally went without saying. As for his personality, he didn't quite fit in with the young men and women at the Curtain Closer headquarters.
So, all things considered, assigning him the position of First Division Commander was the best arrangement.
Wasn't the Combat Corps the most important and frontline force among the Four Legions?
First Division Commander?
To entrust him with such an important responsibility right from the start?
Shiliew was momentarily stunned, then grinned widely. He forcefully blew out a smoke ring, cigar smoke seeping through his teeth:
"I will not fail this mission, sir."
In the blink of an eye, they had passed through most of the corridor, and the staircase entrance was now faintly visible. At that moment, Xiano suddenly stopped and turned to look at a cell on the side.
When he first entered the sixth level, he hadn't noticed, but now he realized this cell was special.
Not only were the adjacent cells intentionally left empty, but the iron bars were several times thicker than those of other cells, and they were even mixed with Sea Stone material.
The prisoner inside was tall and large, with disheveled hair, sitting cross-legged with his back to Xiano.
Not only was he wrapped in chains tightly bound to the ground, but a massive iron block occupying half the room was also placed there, firmly connected to his shackles.
Imprisoning Devil Fruit Ability Users was usually quite simple—just putting on Sea Stone Shackles was enough. Yet, for this guy, so many additional restrictions had been added.
There was only one explanation...
Not only was he an Ability User, but he was also one of the world's top Martial Arts masters. Even when restrained by Sea Stone, he could still unleash terrifying strength.
"Even now, still turning a deaf ear to the outside commotion, acting completely unconcerned, huh?"
Shiliew also noticed this and sneered:
"As arrogant as ever, sir. That old man Red the Solitary is the prisoner with the highest bounty on the sixth level, but this guy is undoubtedly the most dangerous one. His name is..."
"Douglas Bullet."
Under Shiliew's astonished gaze, Xiano's calm voice came, "No need for introductions. I know this guy."
One of the most intimidating final bosses across all theatrical versions—of course he still remembered.
"Let's go."
After only one additional glance, Xiano withdrew his gaze and continued toward the stairwell.
Shiliew followed behind, unable to hide his surprise:
"Sir, you... aren't considering recruiting him as well? With his strength, if he could join, it would undoubtedly be a major asset for the Curtain Closer."
"We're not cut from the same cloth."
Xiano replied indifferently, "There's no need."
Was Bullet strong enough?
Of course he was.
Even in his early days aboard the Roger Pirates' ship, he was already a world-renowned prodigy.
Only Roger could reliably defeat this guy; even Rayleigh and Gaban at their peak could only fight him to a standstill.
But after Roger's death, much like Red the Solitary, he roamed the seas alone, unwilling to submit to anyone beneath him.
The other party had clearly witnessed everything that happened earlier on the sixth level, yet when Xiano arrived, he deliberately put on an aloof, cold demeanor, refusing to engage with outsiders.
So be it, then.
After all, the most vicious and malicious pirates of the entire sixth level had already fallen by his hand.
As for the remaining great pirates, there was no need to bother distinguishing between good and evil.
Without Blackbeard's prison break, letting them continue to rot, decay, and ultimately die in resentment in this sunless place was the best possible outcome.
Tap, tap, tap...
The two departed the sixth level one after another. As the sound of their footsteps faded, the heavy door closed once more.
The disheveled, muscular figure abruptly opened his eyes.
"The outside world... seems to have finally become interesting, hasn't it?"
Bullet turned his head, squinting at the tightly shut iron door. "Just in his teens, and his bounty already exceeds five billion Berry?"
When did such an astonishing genius emerge?
Back when he was in his teens, he couldn't even come close to defeating Captain Roger!
"Interesting... Pfft, hahaha, truly interesting!"
Bullet grinned, clenching his fists. The veins on his muscular arms bulged, and the chains restraining him groaned under the strain.
The massive iron block occupying most of the room, along with the sixth level's floor, trembled in response.
Eighteen years!
It had been a full eighteen years since the navy launched the Buster Call, with Sengoku and Garp joining forces to capture him, Douglas Bullet, and imprison him here!
Unlike those old-timers who grew weaker with time, he, Bullet, had never ceased training and cultivating his strength, even in prison.
So his power hadn't diminished in the slightest!
Yet one thing had always tormented him...
Back then, he had striven desperately to grow stronger solely to defeat Roger, to surpass Roger.
But Roger was already dead.
He had lost his purpose, becoming lost and obsessive, indifferent and apathetic to everything outside.
But now... it was different.
Different!
That junior named Xiano, who had just displayed terrifying power, had undoubtedly reignited his long-dormant fighting spirit!
"Xiano, huh..."
Bullet murmured the name under his breath, a blazing fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
This man is absolutely worth a fight!
But not now—he must wait until he becomes stronger, and only after escaping this prison entirely on his own!
If even a crippled old-timer like Golden Lion could do it, why couldn't he?!
"Then, let's see who truly is the strongest in the world!"
Barrett clenched his fist tightly and laughed wildly, his voice echoing through the empty sixth level.
Hey!
Roger, do you see this?
Today, I've finally confirmed a new path, found a new goal!
Starting with this Xiano...
I'll kill all the Four Emperors, kill all the Admirals, kill the Fleet Admiral! I'll become the true, strongest Pirate King in history, surpassing you in every way!!!
...
Meanwhile.
Lv 4, Scorching Heat Hell.
In the Deputy Warden's office, Chief Jailer Sadie and Deputy Warden Domino huddled together in a corner, trembling uncontrollably.
The reason was simple: on the office sofa, a young man draped in a black cloak sat with his legs crossed, casually flipping through the prison's internal newsletter.
Despite his handsome appearance and gentle, amiable demeanor—like a friendly big brother next door—the mere thought of his identity and the current situation at Impel Down made the two women so terrified they could barely breathe, tears welling in their eyes.
"Nothing noteworthy here."
Tossing the newsletter aside, Xiano turned toward the bedroom door. "Finished packing, Shiliew?"
"All done, sir."
The bedroom door swung open, and Shiliew strode out with a cigar in his mouth. He had changed out of his Deputy Warden uniform and casually slung a black bundle over his shoulder—containing all the belongings he deemed worth taking.
"You're quite fast."
Xiano glanced at the size of the bundle and couldn't help but chuckle. "But isn't that a bit too much to carry?"
Shiliew stood at three meters forty, taller than even the Marine Admirals, and the black bundle was slightly taller than him, indicating its substantial size.
"Just my personal collection accumulated over the years."
Shiliew grinned, patting the bulging bundle. "When Pirates are brought in and become prisoners, they no longer need their weapons. The decent ones mostly ended up with me."
"Dozens of various weapons, several Famous swords of the Skillful Grade... Once we reach your territory, sir, these can be distributed to the members of the Curtain Closers as a token of my greeting."
Tch. A middle-aged man who lost his official position was already figuring out how to fit in quickly, huh?
Xiano smiled faintly, unconcerned:
"Well then, let's go. It's time to leave. This prison can no longer hold you."
"Yes, sir."
Shiliew followed Xiano to the office door, taking one last look around the place he had spent half his life. A flicker of complex emotion crossed his eyes but was quickly replaced by resolve.
As their figures vanished down the corridor, Domino and Sadie exchanged glances, then clung to each other and burst into tears.
They had finally survived this calamity!
But seriously.
They had urgently contacted Marine Headquarters the moment Impel Down was invaded, so why hadn't reinforcements arrived after all this time?!
...
Lv1, Crimson Hell.
This was the uppermost level of the underwater section. Going further up would mean leaving Impel Down.
At this moment, the two arrived at the center. The midday sun hung high in the sky, its blazing rays streaming through the massive hole blasted open by Xiano, forming a dazzling pillar of light on the ground.
Shiliew squinted uncomfortably, shielding his forehead with one hand as he gazed up at the hole dozens of meters in diameter, inwardly marveling:
"What a brutal way to make an entrance."
Looking across the entire world.
Those who would dare to charge into Impel Down alone and so openly probably numbered no more than two or three at most.
Ahead, Xiano's figure flickered and he had already leaped out through the hole.
Shiliew hurriedly tightened his grip on the bundle and followed.
With a few leaps using Moon Walk, he landed atop the central tower in the middle of Impel Down's ground level. The sea breeze swept over him, and the long-lost scent of freedom made him instinctively spread his left arm and take a deep breath.
Hmm?
Shiliew's gaze suddenly sharpened as he noticed something unusual in the distance.
Beyond Impel Down's circular outer walls, the massive Gate of Justice had been opened, and in front of it, he could see a full seven large warships from Marine Headquarters.
This in itself wasn't surprising.
After all, between Marine Headquarters, Enies Lobby, and Impel Down—the three major facilities of the World Government—existed a triangular sea vortex. Opening the Gate of Justice allowed for mutual support in an extremely short time.
The strange part was that despite deploying such a large fleet, all the ships remained motionless, anchored far away without a single one daring to approach.
"Recognized your identity, sir?"
Shiliew sneered around his cigar, "Looks like they're planning to wait until we leave before coming to clean up the mess."
This was the prestige and deterrence of a Four Emperor!
"Boring, let's go."
Xiano stood at the edge of the tower, his black cloak flapping sharply in the wind. Withdrawing his Observation Haki from the fleet, he shook his head and said:
"Didn't sense any familiar auras. Not a single Admiral was sent. Seems someone has conceded defeat."
He had no interest in troubling these low-ranking marines. With all his business completed, there was no need to waste more time here.
————
Opposite them, aboard the flagship at the center of the marine fleet.
"Vice Admiral! They're leaving. Are we really going to do nothing and just watch them go?"
A young Marine Commodore gritted his teeth, filled with unwillingness as he looked at his superior—the fleet's overall commander, veteran Vice Admiral Momonga.
"Don't be foolish, kid."
Momonga said calmly around his cigar, "My orders are only to assist with cleanup, not to intercept. Frankly, in front of that man, I don't have the qualifications anyway. We'd need at least one of the Admirals to come personally."
"Then why haven't the Admirals mobilized!"
The young Commodore grew even more puzzled, "If I recall correctly, Akainu has been at Headquarters lately. Why didn't he come along?"
"Who knows."
Momonga lifted his head, watching the two figures gradually disappear from view:
"With Sakazuki's personality, he'd definitely come no matter what. The fact that he didn't show up... probably means he was stopped by someone higher up."
"Someone higher up?"
"Yes. Not from Marine Headquarters—someone even higher."
Momonga exhaled a puff of smoke and murmured, "Their thoughts are beyond our comprehension..."
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
In the top-floor room known as the "Chamber of Authority," the Five Elders had gathered.
"I don't understand!"
Akainu's face was dark as he clenched his fists. "I demand an explanation. Impel Down is a crucial institution of the World Government, yet now that pirates have invaded, why are we sitting idly by?"
He had even reached the docks, ready to board a warship and depart, but Sengoku himself had called him back—a decision made by these five before him.
The Five Elders looked up in unison, their gazes cold as they stared at Akainu.
"Watch your tone, Sakazuki. A mere Admiral has no right to question us," the golden-haired Elder spoke slowly, a hint of displeasure in his voice. "What could you achieve by going? With that man's current strength, if he wishes to leave, can you alone stop him?"
"The situation at Impel Down is fully under our control. For now, it appears the enemy came and retreated swiftly, without crossing any major lines," the white-bearded Elder said calmly, taking a sip of his tea. "These minor losses are entirely acceptable. We'll note them down and settle the score later. If we let you and that man clash at Impel Down, the damage would be far greater—even the entire prison could be at risk of destruction. You should understand this logic."
I should... understand?
I don't understand!
What kind of bullshit logic is this!
Akainu laughed in sheer frustration.
If it were any other pirate—if they had executed a group of high-profile prisoners at Impel Down without permission and even abducted the Vice Warden—these five old fools would have been furious and launched a full-scale hunt long ago!
But when it came to the name "Xiano"...
They suddenly turned calm, treating it as "minor losses entirely acceptable"?
Picking on the weak and fearing the strong?
Sakazuki despised such people more than anything in his life!
Akainu's fists clenched until they creaked, veins bulging on his forehead. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage, and said in a low voice, "If even the highest authority of the World Government prefers to act like turtles hiding in their shells, compromising weakly with pirates, then where does justice lie? Where is fairness? What is the point of our naval soldiers fighting bloody battles on the front lines?!"
His words were far too harsh.
The air in the Chamber of Authority froze momentarily.
"If such words are spoken a second time, you can take a trip to Impel Down yourself," Saint Saturn, leaning on his cane, suddenly sneered. "Sakazuki, you've overstepped. Do you think we don't want to eliminate that Xiano?"
"But the timing isn't right," the kimono-clad Elder holding Ghost Cutter said with closed eyes. "At least, we can't spare the resources recently. That matter was officially resolved yesterday. Sakazuki, since Sengoku recommended you as the person in charge, you shouldn't waste energy on other things now. You should focus more on how to handle the clearing and escort duties properly."
"The Paradise Plan has been approved?"
Akainu was taken aback for a moment, then let out a cold laugh:
"What a nuisance you're creating, Five Elders. The Celestial Dragons of the Holy Land—your young compatriots—can't hold back anymore, can they?"
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