"Stop! Both of you stop! No more fighting!"
Hannyabal forcibly inserted himself between Storm and Sadie, attempting to physically halt their battle.
But Sadie paid no attention to Hannyabal whatsoever.
She glanced somewhat anxiously at the group of Blue Gorillas.
Sadie had merely acted on a whim, wanting to test the mettle of this new prisoner.
She certainly hadn't gone so mad as to want the Blue Gorilla squad to start a riot within Impel Down and cause bloodshed!
However, before Hannyabal and Sadie could restrain the Blue Gorilla squad's actions...
This group of "Sea Fighters" had already voluntarily ceased their assault.
Brugri weren't particularly intelligent creatures.
Though they belonged to the "gorilla" family...
The Blue Gorillas couldn't hold a candle to the Monkey Family (scratched out)—
They couldn't compare at all to those baboons on Kuraigana Island known as "Human Mimickers."
Under normal circumstances.
Blue Gorillas required external commands to act.
Simply put.
Blue Gorillas were actually beasts with very low intelligence.
For such intellectually limited beasts...
One crucial indicator for assessing enemy strength was—size! Look at the white gorilla's massive frame that nearly scraped the ceiling.
Then look at their comrade lying unconscious on the ground after being pummeled.
The Blue Gorillas had already lost the courage to attack independently.
They merely gathered together, emitting warning growls at the white gorilla.
But none dared approach it.
Seeing this scene.
Storm regretfully withdrew the surrounding clay.
He was certain that if those Blue Gorillas had all charged at once just now...
He would have obtained dozens of Silver Trophies in one go!
But there would be other opportunities.
Storm wasn't in any particular hurry.
Once the Blue Gorilla squad was successfully pacified by Sadie...
And this sudden small-scale riot was completely quelled...
Only then did Hannyabal finally relax.
"That was too close!"
Hannyabal repeatedly patted his chest, speaking with lingering fear.
"My Impel Down almost had a major incident!
"Sadie! You're far too reckless!"
Crack! Sadie didn't respond, merely cracking her whip through the air.
Hannyabal immediately shifted his "target."
"Vongola! You're no better! Wardens and Prison Guard Beasts should coexist harmoniously! What kind of example is all this fighting?"
Harmonious coexistence?
Storm glanced toward Sadie's direction.
The woman was furiously whipping a Blue Gorilla—the very one that had been knocked unconscious by the white gorilla earlier.
Sadie was probably trying to physically whip the unexpectedly unconscious Prison Guard Beast back to consciousness.
The continuous sound of lashing filled the air.
This scene... could hardly be called "harmonious coexistence," could it?
Unless all Blue Gorillas were masochists!
Hannyabal seemed to realize the awkwardness too.
He gestured toward Sadie with his chin and whispered:
"Sadie only came to Impel Down last year. She's just 17, and her personality is rather... proud.
"If you don't mind, I could introduce you to my subordinate Domino.
"My Domino is much gentler than Sadie."
Crack! Sadie swung her whip through the air again.
"Don't think I didn't hear you, Hannyabal!"
Sadie strode forward, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.
"Do you want a taste of my Scarlet Demon Whip? Hmm?!"
Seeing the situation take a turn, Hannyabal frowned.
He quickly retreated behind Storm, still stubbornly insisting,
"You should call me Warden Chief Hannyabal! Sadie! I'm the one in charge here!"
"Tch!"
Sadie scoffed, not even bothering to humor him.
Instead, she eyed Storm with interest, resting her chin on her hand, her pink tongue flicking across her lips.
"Finally, a handsome man arrives in Impel Down. What a shame I won't get to hear his screams."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Storm gave her a once-over, admitting to himself that her outfit was certainly… eye-catching.
"But it seems you really enjoy this kind of sadistic play?"
"I wouldn't say I enjoy it."
"So you love it, then?"
"Exactly! I love it!"
Sadie flashed a dazzling grin, radiating wild, unrestrained energy.
"Vongola Storm? Want to play with me?"
"Hey, hey! Sadie!"
Before Storm could respond, Hannyabal, still hiding behind him, cut in.
"Vongola's still a newcomer! You can't go corrupting him!"
"Hannyabal!"
Sadie shot the Warden Chief an impatient glare.
"You're so boring!"
Without waiting for another word from him, she turned and walked away.
Only once she was gone did Hannyabal finally step out from behind Storm, wiping sweat from his brow.
"What a dangerous woman…"
Dangerous? Storm watched as Sadie's figure disappeared into the dim corridor.
The troop of Blue Gorillas vanished along with her. Storm wasn't particularly interested in Sadie's invitation to "play."
But he was interested in her [Grand Prize Trophy].
After their brief exchange, Storm had already formed a rough estimate of her strength.
Rounded up, she was probably worth a [Silver Trophy]. A [Grand Prize Trophy]—who would ever complain about having more?
"Hey, hey! Vongola!"
Hannyabal waved a hand in front of Storm's face.
"Stop staring! You'll see everyone again tonight."
Impel Down rarely welcomed newcomers.
Even though this one came from the Marines, the staff still planned to throw a small welcoming party for Storm.
Hannyabal relayed the news to him.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Hannyabal scratched his head.
"Originally, you were supposed to complete a little test…"
Storm raised an eyebrow.
"A test?"
"The Marines highly endorse your strength—an Admiral directly recommended you as the Warden Chief of Crimson Hell."
Hannyabal explained.
"The wardens in Crimson Hell are mainly those Blue Gorillas.
"The test Impel Down set for you was to defeat one of them.
"That way, it'd be easier for you to manage them later.
"But now, it seems the test is completely pointless…"
After all, the white gorilla Storm had created had knocked out one of Crimson Hell's supposedly invincible Blue Gorillas in a single punch.
What kind of test is this?!
"Sadie mentioned earlier that I was here to take over her job."
Storm didn't pay much attention to this so-called "test." What intrigued him was something else.
"If that's the case, was Sadie previously the Warden Chief of Crimson Hell? Now that I'm here, what will she be responsible for?"
"Sadie got promoted. She'll be in charge of managing the Warden Beasts from now on."
Hannyabal pointed at the floor.
"That job is far more dangerous than being the Warden Chief of Crimson Hell."
Warden Beasts? Hearing this special term, Storm's mind instantly flashed with images of half-human, half-beast creatures.
Rumors said...
All the Warden Beasts in Impel Down were Awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.
To be precise, "failed Awakeners"! Though the Warden Beasts appeared comical and harmless on the outside.
In reality, they were all cold-blooded, ruthless creatures.
The failed Awakening of their Zoan-type Devil Fruits caused these individuals to lose their original humanity.
Within the entirety of Impel Down...
If Magellan stood alone at the very peak of the power pyramid.
Then these Warden Beasts were at least in the second tier of strength!
Storm was very interested in the Warden Beasts.
After all, even the Blue Gorilla had a "★★★" star rating.
How high would the Warden Beasts' star ratings be?
Four stars? Five stars? Or even six? "Vice Warden Hannyabal!"
Storm eagerly pressed further.
"I don't mind taking risks. Can I take over Sadie's job of managing those Warden Beasts?"
"You're interested in my Warden Beasts?"
Hannyabal patted his head.
"Right, you're a Devil Fruit user too.
"But personnel transfers in Impel Down... require that bastard Magellan's personal approval.
"You just arrived at Impel Down. Get familiar with the environment first!"
Storm nodded regretfully.
After the brief interlude with Sadie and the Blue Gorillas.
Storm continued touring Impel Down with Hannyabal.
However, their tour was limited to the first underground level.
Storm didn't get to visit the deeper Crimson Hell or the other hells below.
Impel Down's "main attraction"—the pirates.
Storm didn't encounter any today.
He had wanted to test how pirates felt...
Just as the tour was about to end.
Hannyabal stopped Storm to share some work experience.
"Work in Impel Down is actually quite relaxed."
Hannyabal advised earnestly.
"If problems arise, your subordinates can handle ninety percent of them. Magellan will deal with the remaining ten.
"You're about to become the Warden Chief of Crimson Hell. The Blue Gorillas will be your subordinates.
"With their help, no prisoner in Crimson Hell would dare provoke you.
"Now, there are a few other things I need to warn you about."
Here, Hannyabal paused, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious.
"First, don't provoke the Warden Beasts. No matter how interested you are in them, they're no longer human!
"Second, don't recklessly venture into the lower levels. The prisoners held in each level are of different strength tiers.
"Then, most importantly, never approach Shiryu of the Rain! That guy... is more cold-blooded than the monsters in Infinite Hell."
"Finally, and most importantly!"
Hannyabal took a deep breath at the end, speaking with utmost solemnity.
"Vongola Storm! You are a man I acknowledge! Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely must not be swayed by that venomous bastard Magellan!"