Impel Down, Level 4, Scorching Hell, Warden Director's Office.
While Golden Lion II was heading to Level Five Point Five—the New Transvestite Paradise—to meet Ivankov, the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom, the remaining forces of Impel Down's wardens quietly infiltrated the Warden Director's office on the fourth level.
Then, they immediately dialed Marine Headquarters using a Den Den Mushi.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Impel Down urgently requests assistance!"
Domino, the current Deputy Chief Warden of Impel Down, held the Den Den Mushi in one hand and reported to the Marine Fleet Admiral at breakneck speed.
"A young man resembling Golden Lion Shiki has forcibly entered Impel Down, defeating Chief Warden Hannyabal and Warden Director Magellan in succession!"
"Impel Down has been breached!"
"What?!"
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Upon hearing Domino's series of shocking reports, Sengoku nearly leaped out of his seat.
Hadn't Impel Down just experienced a major incident not long ago?
How could another crisis arise today?
And moreover...
"I will dispatch warships to Impel Down for reinforcements immediately!"
Sengoku first issued the urgent support order before asking with utmost seriousness:
"But are you certain it's... Golden Lion Shiki?"
Of course, Sengoku hadn't forgotten Golden Lion Shiki.
No high-ranking Marine who knew of Shiki's prison break would overlook the terrifyingly powerful "Flying Pirate."
However, since his escape from Impel Down, Golden Lion Shiki had vanished from the seas for nearly two decades.
Even Marine Headquarters's "latest intel" on Shiki dated back over a decade—
There had been sightings of Shiki heading straight to the New World after his escape, where he briefly interacted with the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Marines never learned what Shiki discussed with Whitebeard that day.
But ever since then, Golden Lion Shiki had never made another public appearance.
Now...
Was this legendary pirate from the old era finally making his move?
"No! Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Please do not send warships!"
Domino first rejected Sengoku's proposal for naval reinforcements.
"The Sea Kings near Impel Down are in a frenzy! Warships cannot enter the Calm Belt as usual!"
The Calm Belt—the nest of Sea Kings.
The reason the Marines could traverse the Calm Belt freely was due to a revolutionary technology developed by Vegapunk—
By embedding Seastone into the hulls of Marine warships, the vessels could emit energy akin to the sea itself, allowing the low-intelligence Sea Kings to overlook their presence.
However...
Even these "Seastone Warships" weren't guaranteed safe passage every time.
If disturbances on the sea grew too violent, the countless Sea Kings lurking beneath the waves would surge to the surface en masse.
At that point, even a "Seastone Warship" would be detected.
And that was precisely the situation Impel Down now faced.
The recent battle between Golden Lion II and Magellan—though entirely one-sided—still caused massive disturbances.
The sea surrounding Impel Down should have been in a state of utter calm, with the surrounding Sea Kings oblivious to the area's peculiarities.
Yet the colossal hundred-meter tsunami from moments ago had completely shattered this unique "safety."
Golden Lion II had descended into Level Five Point Five, paying no heed to the situation outside.
But Domino knew all too well—the Sea Kings in the waters around Impel Down had gone completely berserk!
If someone were to climb the watchtower on the Maritime First Level now, they would undoubtedly see the surrounding sea teeming with an uncountable swarm of Sea Kings.
It was as if every Sea King in the Calm Belt had gathered here.
Under these circumstances...
It would be impossible for Marine battleships to cross the Calm Belt and reach Impel Down!
Moreover...
No matter how many Marine battleships there were, they would mean nothing to that man...
Domino's mind flashed to the massive Marine warships still hovering silently in the sky above Impel Down—like the Sword of Damocles.
If those ships were to plummet from the sky, the entire Maritime First Level of Impel Down would likely be obliterated.
Even the first level, Crimson Hell, would suffer the consequences...
"That man... he wields Cherry Ten and Withered Tree, and also possesses what appears to be the Float-Float Fruit ability—only he looks much younger than the Golden Lion Shiki I remember."
Domino took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and unease in her heart.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Chief Warden Hannyabal and Warden Director Magellan may have... fallen in the line of duty.
"I will organize the remaining defensive forces within Impel Down to delay that man as much as possible.
"Please dispatch reinforcements from the Marines as quickly as possible!"
At the end, Domino decided to be direct.
"Admiral Kizaru! His speed is unmatched! He must come immediately!"
With that, she abruptly ended the Den Den Mushi call.
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku listened to the dial tone from the Den Den Mushi receiver, his brows furrowed into deep creases.
Cherry Ten, Withered Tree, and the Float-Float Fruit...
These were indeed all things belonging to that bastard Golden Lion Shiki.
But what did she mean by "much younger than Golden Lion Shiki"?
A thought flashed through Sengoku's mind.
After "Whitebeard Jr.," could there now be a "Golden Lion II"?
If so...
Just what would the seas become!?
Pushing aside his doubts, Sengoku immediately used the Den Den Mushi to contact Kizaru.
"Borsalino! Depart Headquarters at once and head to Impel Down for reinforcements! Use your Glint-Glint Fruit to fly there directly!"
But just as he issued the order, something occurred to him.
Wait.
Impel Down's Warden Director Magellan and Chief Warden Hannyabal had both "died."
Shouldn't there still be a Deputy Warden between those two?
Where was the other half of Impel Down's "Twin Pillars"—Shiryu of the Rain?
Meanwhile, Impel Down, Scorching Hell, Warden Director's Office.
The moment Domino hung up the Den Den Mushi, Sadie's voice reached her ears.
"Domino, should we go to Level Six and release the Deputy Warden?"
"The Deputy Warden..."
Domino gritted her teeth.
Ever since the "Warden Chief's Escape Incident" occurred, Shiryu of the Rain's behavior had become even more bloodthirsty and brutal than before!
Originally, Shiryu had merely enjoyed tormenting prisoners and even killed for amusement.
But after learning that Vongola Storm had nearly slaughtered everyone in the Infinite Hell, Shiryu's actions grew even more extreme.
If Storm could kill these scum, why couldn't he?
Before, Shiryu had been somewhat restrained by Magellan.
But now, Shiryu not only slaughtered prisoners in Impel Down—he even occasionally turned his blade against his own colleagues!
After the "Warden Chief's Escape Incident," multiple instances of the "Deputy Warden Persecuting Wardens" occurred in Impel Down.
Recently, Magellan, unable to tolerate it any longer, forcefully imprisoned Shiryu of the Rain in the sixth level's Infinite Hell.
The Warden Director intended to report to higher authorities, demanding severe punishment for Shiryu.
This included stripping him of his position as Deputy Warden, among other penalties.
While awaiting the World Government's decision, Shiryu remained imprisoned in the Infinite Hell as a "prisoner."
However, instead of the World Government's response, Impel Down received Golden Lion II.
Now, both Hannyabal and Magellan had been defeated by the enemy.
With no other strong fighters left in Impel Down, Shiryu was the only potential "ally" they could quickly recruit.
Domino certainly wouldn't release other prisoners to aid their cause—that would make her no different from the lawless former Warden Chief.
"Where is that 'Golden Lion' now?" Domino asked.
"He's still in the Extreme Cold Hell. The Surveillance Den Den Mushi in the Scorching Hell and Infinite Hell haven't detected him," Sadie relayed the message from the monitoring room.
"Also, Chief Warden Hannyabal and Warden Director Magellan are both in the Extreme Cold Hell..."
"Before Golden Lion emerges, we'll head straight to the Infinite Hell!" Domino made her decision and sprang into action.
"Let's bring the Deputy Warden out!"
Seeing this, Sadie quickly followed Domino as they rushed toward the large staircase leading down from the fourth level.
They couldn't take the elevator—because accompanying them was Impel Down's last line of defense:
Mino Cow, Mino Koala, Mino Rhinoceros, and Mino Zebra.
The four massive Warden Beasts, each wielding their specialized weapons, trailed behind Domino and Sadie.
They were now Impel Down's final barrier!
Level Five Point Five, New Transvestite Paradise.
Golden Lion II had just revealed his objective to the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom.
Then, he asked Ivankov:
"Queen, are you coming with me to the Infinite Hell, or leaving now?"
"I... I..."
Ivankov felt utterly torn.
Truthfully, he was somewhat moved by Golden Lion II's arrival.
After all, both Storm and "Teach" had abandoned him in Impel Down.
If it weren't for Ivankov's thorough familiarity with Impel Down's structure, allowing him to hide without anyone noticing...
He would have long been executed by Magellan using the [Venom-Venom Fruit]...
But what Ivankov never expected was that even after Teach left Impel Down, he would still send people to rescue him.
"Teach, truly a man worthy of my recognition..."
Ivankov wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head with difficulty.
"Lion BOY, my mission isn't complete yet. I don't want to leave."
"Hmm?"
Golden Lion II was surprised.
"Do you actually want to be poisoned to death by Magellan?"
"Magellan? Ha!"
Ivankov placed his hands on his wide hips, speaking with both pride and disdain.
"No one in Impel Down knows about the existence of New Transvestite Paradise!"
"Uh..."
Golden Lion II hesitated for a moment before replying.
"The Warden Director and Chief Warden of Impel Down are currently near the entrance of New Transvestite Paradise's secret passage."
"Nani??"
Ivankov was shocked.
"You didn't kill them?"
"No."
Golden Lion II said indifferently.
"They're too weak. They don't even deserve to die by my sword."