The warship slowly approached the fortress-like prison. Two figures stood waiting on the dock—one a towering man resembling an Egyptian pharaoh, the other a statuesque blonde woman.
Victor recognized them immediately: Hannyabal and Domino.
Hannyabal, gripping a steel trident, cut an imposing figure in his pharaonic attire—though his exaggerated brow ridges and rough features undermined any regal impression.
Domino, meanwhile, was a slender, striking beauty—golden hair tucked under a wide-brimmed cap, sunglasses obscuring her eyes, long legs sheathed in deep crimson boots, and matching elbow-length gloves.
As the ship docked, Victor led Pizarro onto the pier. Strangely calm, the prisoner showed no signs of dread at his impending incarceration.
"Admiral Zephyr, young man—thank you for your hard work. As Deputy Warden, I'll take custody of this dangerous criminal. The Warden couldn't make it—ahem—because Magellan's currently… indisposed. Hahaha! Oops, I said the quiet part out loud again!" Hannyabal's very first words were to mock his superior.
'Has Magellan already become Warden? He must've held the position for years,' Victor mused.
"Deputy Warden! You can't just badmouth the Warden here! He's occupied with important matters," Domino interjected.
"I'm Domino, Assistant Chief Guard. Let's proceed inside to complete the transfer," she added smoothly.
"Still the same old Magellan, eh? Always racing to the bathroom at critical moments!" Zephyr laughed heartily, clearly familiar with the Warden's… digestive issues.
"Young man, you seem familiar. Might I have your name?" Hannyabal asked Victor.
"Orens Victor. Just a rookie," Victor replied with a smile.
Despite Hannyabal's cowardice and lechery, the man held surprisingly sound values—and could be relied upon when it mattered.
"Rookie? Hardly! You're quite the rising star. I suspect you'll be a 'frequent' visitor to Impel Down—ahem—I mean, you'll often escort prisoners here." Hannyabal corrected himself after Domino nudged him sharply.
Domino studied the black-haired young man with keen interest. His composed demeanor starkly contrasted the fierce, unyielding figure from newspaper battle photos. Victor normally kept his overwhelming presence tightly leashed, appearing almost harmless—though those who'd seen him face Akainu knew better.
"Miss Domino, is Chief Guard Shiryu of the Rain here?" Victor inquired.
"Yes, though he was supposed to handle the transfer. Probably torturing prisoners in some cell again," Hannyabal blurted before Domino could answer, now oddly eager around Victor.
"Ahem. Yes, Chief Guard Shiryu is currently… occupied," Domino conceded, exasperated by her superior's loose tongue.
"I've heard he's an exceptional swordsman. Any chance of a spar?" Victor grinned.
"That… would depend entirely on Chief Guard Shiryu's willingness."
"Just curious. If not this time, there'll be other opportunities," Victor said meaningfully.
'Men like Shiryu inevitably betray the prison. Best to eliminate him before he becomes Blackbeard's pawn.'
"Victor, we're pressed for time. This detour already delayed us—we must depart after the handoff," Zephyr interjected.
"So rushed? I'd hoped to tour the prison levels," Victor lamented.
"You'll have chances later. Let Domino brief you briefly."
"Of course. All incoming prisoners undergo 'baptism'—disinfection in boiling water. They're then assigned to different levels based on crimes, strength, and threat level."
"From top to bottom: Level 1, Crimson Hell; Level 2, Wild Beast Hell; Level 3, Starvation Hell; Level 4, Blazing Hell; and Level 5, Freezing Hell. Each has unique… rehabilitation methods. That's Impel Down in essence."
"Ah, I've heard Level 5 has packs of white wolves?" Victor glanced subtly at Pizarro.
"Correct. They're part of the… disciplinary measures," Domino confirmed.
Pizarro remained impassive, as if already aware.
Victor asked no further questions—he knew more than Domino realized.
'There's the unmentioned Level 6: Eternal Hell. And the secret Newkama Land between Levels 5 and 6, dug out by the long-lived giant Morley. That they hide Level 6's existence… is it to prevent jailbreaks? Or something else? Will Pizarro end up there for his strength… or his kingdom's secrets?'
Soon, they entered an office where Domino took Pizarro for "disinfection." Before leaving, the prisoner cast Victor one last, lingering look.
"Pizarro… try being a good man in your next life. The future might not be as bleak as you think," Victor called after them.
With paperwork signed, Zephyr's mission concluded. As they bid Hannyabal farewell, the Deputy Warden cheerfully urged Victor to "visit often."
Back aboard ship, they bypassed the Gates of Justice this time—taking a shortcut through the Calm Belt via manual rowing. Though Sea Kings approached, Zephyr handily repelled them, ensuring safe passage.
Yet as the warship cleared the perilous waters, the battered leviathans convened beneath the waves.
"Did you sense it?"
"Undeniably."
"The scent of… Destiny."
"To sense it more clearly... we had to get beaten up by that monstrous human!"
"Next time, let's not get so close..."
"Those touched by Fate are always terrifying!"
...
This time, Victor hadn't activated his Shinki, so he heard nothing. He deliberately didn't intervene—allowing Zephyr to handle the Sea Kings alone. The recruits watched in awe, their admiration for the former Admiral growing. This was precisely why Victor held back—they needed to witness their instructor's true strength.
"Gather round, everyone!" Zephyr's voice boomed across the deck. "From this moment, the true Elite Training Camp begins. Your assessment results are in."
He pinned a list to the mast.
"Most of you meet the physical requirements to learn the Six Powers. We'll start training immediately. Those who don't—focus on conditioning first. Memorize the techniques if you wish, but do NOT attempt them prematurely. That'll only damage your foundations."
As the recruits dispersed—qualified ones remaining on deck, others heading to the ship's gym—Victor continued his solitary training. Having already mastered the Six Powers, he focused elsewhere while Rebecca and Wendy joined Zephyr's lesson. (Though they'd later seek Victor's unique insights whenever stuck.)
"On a warship, my gravity staff's unusable. Physical and Haki training must progress gradually... but Observation Haki and Shinki thrive through meditation. This'll become my routine at sea."
His thoughts drifted to future possibilities.
"If I ever command my own vessel... A gravity training chamber would revolutionize workouts. Only Vegapunk could engineer that. He's likely still at Punk Hazard's lab..."
"I need to meet him. Ordinary ships lack mobility—his '500-years-ahead' technology could change everything."
The distant waves seemed to whisper of approaching storms—both literal and metaphorical.