The underground prison on the third floor of the research institute.
Rob Lucci leaned against the cold wall, silently staring at the seastone shackles on his hands and feet.
Seastone shackles were not only effective against Devil Fruit users but were also extremely durable.
Even he couldn't break them.
From the cell on the right, Kaku's helpless voice sounded, "Captain, how will Dr. Reddy deal with us?"
The underground prison of the Punk Hazard research institute was quite spacious.
It had once held many captured pirates as experimental subjects.
However, after Reddy took over Punk Hazard, the institute lost its reliable source of experimental subjects.
With Reddy's unconditional support, the researchers became unrestrained.
As a result, the once-bustling prison had now become eerily quiet.
Without something to occupy their minds, the dull and silent environment could easily drive one mad.
"Heyahahahaha... I advise you not to hold onto too much hope."
Upon hearing this distinctive laugh, Lucci and the other CP9 members couldn't help but change their expressions.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko Moria, was also here?
"You... Gecko Moria?"
Kaku couldn't believe his ears. This man was one of the Seven Warlords, a powerful force capable of rivaling the Yonko.
Had he also been captured by that Dr. Reddy?
"Heyahahahaha... Since you're not pirates, you must be from the World Government." Moria lay sprawled on the cold floor, laughing mockingly.
The ones imprisoned here were all pirates.
When he saw that Lucci and the others had been personally locked up by Reddy, he guessed that these guys must be from the World Government, not pirates.
Although he was a Warlord, he held no favorable impressions of the World Government. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a pirate.
"Captain, what's the point of talking to these guys?"
Absalom rested his head on his hands, leaning against the wall with a frown.
He wasn't too worried about Reddy using him as an experimental subject. Even back on Thriller Bark, he had let Hogback experiment on him.
"I hope I can see Dr. Reddy use them as experimental subjects with my own eyes." Moria laughed almost maniacally.
No matter who Lucci and the others were, if Reddy dared to use them as experimental subjects, it would mean there was no longer any room for reconciliation between Reddy and the World Government.
Even if Reddy's value was immense, the World Government would never tolerate a madman who dared to defy its authority.
This was the outcome he wanted to see.
Kaku quickly exchanged a glance with Lucci, his tone laced with feigned panic, "Captain, if we can find a way to remove Blueno's seastone handcuffs, we can escape from here!"
Moria and Absalom immediately perked up, both turning their attention to Kaku's cell.
Was this true?
Unfortunately, their cells were too far apart.
The two couldn't see the expression on Kaku's face at that moment.
"No hope."
Lucci instantly understood Kaku's plan and coldly dismissed it.
Moria was one of the Seven Warlords, and his information was largely known to the World Government.
CP9 was one of the organizations privy to such intelligence.
Upon learning that Moria was also imprisoned here, Kaku immediately recalled that the gothic lolita who had defeated them was Perona, the Ghost Princess and one of Moria's three main subordinates.
"Your people can really escape from here?"
Absalom was the most impatient and couldn't help but ask.
Blueno, who had been silent until now, also understood Lucci and Kaku's plan and solemnly explained, "I am the Door-Door Fruit user. As long as the seastone handcuffs are removed, I can open a door and take everyone out of here."
"Captain!"
Absalom grew excited.
He wasn't afraid of being used for experiments, but who knew what kind of experiments Reddy and those mad researchers would conduct on him?
If they could escape, of course they should!
Moria's expression darkened uncertainly.
To be honest, he was tempted.
To remove the seastone handcuffs, they only needed to find the key.
After the Marines were completely driven out of Punk Hazard, the security in the underground prison had become laughably weak, almost like paper.
Both he and Absalom were Devil Fruit users, restricted by the seastone handcuffs.
But Perona was still out there!
"Captain!"
Absalom, not receiving a response from Moria, anxiously shouted again, "Last time, we were careless and didn't expect that guy to ambush us. If we escape, we won't lose to him again!"
Lucci and Kaku quickly exchanged glances, a hint of a smile in their eyes.
They had taken the bait.
Moria remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Hey, are you really confident you can get us out of here?"
Lucci replied coldly, "As long as the seastone shackles are removed, this prison can't hold me."
"My ability can take you anywhere."
Blueno, aware that he was now their only hope, immediately added weight to Lucci's words.
"Captain!"
Absalom jumped up from the floor in agitation, shouting toward Moria's cell, "Staying here is just waiting for death. We might as well take the risk!"
Moria stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. After a long while, he sighed heavily and said, "Let Perona decide for herself."
...
"Moria-sama!"
Perona excitedly carried a food box into the prison.
After receiving Reddy's permission to build her own castle, her courage grew, and she boldly requested to visit the prisoners.
To her delight, Reddy actually approved.
"Hollow hollow hollow hollow... Losers."
As she passed Lucci and the others' cells, Perona glanced at her defeated opponents and curled her lip in disdain.
In her eyes, it was because she had defeated Lucci and the others that she received such preferential treatment.
Kaku felt a headache coming on.
This little girl had become their only hope.
"Perona, hurry up!"
Absalom couldn't help but urge Perona to stop fooling around and come over quickly to discuss the prison break.
"Perona..."
Moria was no longer lying on the cold floor but sat up. When he saw Perona approaching, his gaze quickly fixed on the food box in her hands.
He didn't know how to continue.
Reddy had indeed kept his word, granting Perona considerable freedom.
But if Perona got involved in the prison break plan and failed, she would undoubtedly lose this freedom.
More likely, she would become their fellow prisoner.
Perona blinked in confusion, "Moria-sama, what's wrong?"
"Listen..."
Absalom knew Moria treated Perona like a daughter and couldn't bear to put her at risk, so he spoke for Moria, explaining the prison break plan.
"Huh?"
Perona was dumbfounded.
Then Lucci's voice drifted over, "As long as you get the keys to the seastone handcuffs, we can take you all out of here."
"Don't you want your Moria-sama to stay locked up in this horrible place forever?" Kalifa added quietly.
Women understood women best.
Whether Perona's feelings for Moria were familial or romantic, as long as she cared about him, there was a chance to persuade her to steal the keys.
"Perona, do as you see fit."
Moria looked at Perona, whom he had raised since childhood, his expression complicated.
Perona silently handed the food box to Moria, her mood low as she turned and walked out of the prison.
Kaku watched Perona disappear into the darkness, a smirk forming on his lips.
It was that simple!
Before long, the sound of keys clinking softly echoed from the dark corridor.
Kaku and the others couldn't hide their joy.
Even the usually expressionless Lucci couldn't suppress his excitement.
Soon, Reddy appeared before them, holding a set of keys, followed by a gleeful gothic lolita.
"Nani?!"
Kaku and the others were stunned.
Perona excitedly waved toward Moria's cell, "Moria-sama, Dr. Reddy has approved letting you and Absalom move into my castle!"
"Are you stupid?!"
Kaku was furious.
Perona naturally retorted with disdain, "I have my own castle here, and I can even customize zombies I like. Moria-sama and Absalom can leave this place too. Why would I help you escape?"
"Heyahahahaha..."
Moria didn't know how to express his emotions—relieved that Perona wouldn't be implicated in their escape plan, yet frustrated that she had ultimately chosen to betray them.
"Hmph."
Absalom sat back down sullenly, but at least the outcome wasn't bad. They wouldn't have to stay in this dark prison anymore.
Reddy handed the keys to Perona, signaling her to open Moria and Absalom's cells and let them out. Then, with a faint smile, he turned to Lucci.
"I heard you wanted to escape?"