"Ah~"
"Stuffed! Absolutely stuffed!"
Luffy rubbed his round belly with an utterly satisfied expression.
After eating so much, he was definitely energized enough to rescue Ace!
"You really can eat, huh?" Mr.3 stared at Luffy in shock.
That ninja called Meiser had just taken out massive amounts of food from something called a Sealing Scroll.
The sheer quantity would've lasted him at least a week!
Yet in less than ten minutes, the Straw Hat Boy had devoured it all?
"Gahahaha! That just proves our little Straw Hat is full of vitality!" Bon Clay laughed heartily.
Mr.3: "..."
What exactly was the connection between appetite and vitality?
He didn't get it. Truly didn't get it.
"Phew~"
"Some booze would really hit the spot right now," Buggy said while picking his teeth.
"Now you're getting picky," Meiser said irritably. "Want me to mix you a cocktail too?"
"Yahaha! If you're offering, that'd be perfect."
Meiser: "???"
Was this guy seriously expecting him to play bartender?
Noticing Meiser's increasingly dangerous glare, Buggy coughed and said, "Ahem, drinks can wait until after we escape. Let's focus on the rescue first."
He had a feeling he'd get beaten up if he kept pushing his luck.
Better to play it safe.
"Alright, let's move out!"
"Huh?!"
Mr.3 gaped in astonishment at Luffy, whose belly had already flattened.
"His... his stomach shrank!"
How?! How had this guy digested everything so fast?
Buggy, however, looked intrigued, studying Luffy closely.
As someone who'd sailed on the Pirate King's ship, Buggy knew exactly what this ability signified.
This kid had the makings of a true powerhouse!
'So this is one reason why that bastard Shanks took a liking to him,' Buggy mused.
Recalling the Straw Hat Boy's favorite catchphrase, Buggy fell into thought.
'Pirate King, huh?'
"Our little Straw Hat never ceases to amaze~" Bon Clay remarked.
He'd never seen anyone with such incredible digestion before.
"You all full now?" Meiser asked, glancing at Bon Clay and the others.
"Yep!"
"Good."
Nodding, Meiser packed up the remaining items and said, "No more breaks from here. We're charging straight down."
According to Bon Clay, Warden Magellan usually stayed on Level 4.
Meaning they might encounter the Venom-Venom Fruit user as soon as they reached that floor. When that happened, they'd be thrust into intense combat.
"No problem!" the group affirmed.
Getting to rest and refuel here was already a blessing—they weren't about to ask for more.
Just then, Meiser paused before grinning. "Perfect. Looks like our last concern just vanished."
Just moments ago, the Shadow Clone he had left outside transmitted information.
Hancock had already boarded the Marine warship and would soon depart alongside Vice Admiral Momonga.
Without the Sea Stone restraints, even if the Marines suspected Hancock, they wouldn't dare act recklessly against her. Meiser thought to himself.
After all... Hancock's strength was truly formidable!
Having fought her before, Meiser knew this all too well.
"What are you talking about?" Buggy asked, eyeing Meiser suspiciously. "What 'last worry' is gone now?"
"Nothing, just some thoughts," Meiser replied, shaking his head.
This matter concerned Hancock's safety, so he wouldn't explain the details to Buggy and the others.
Buggy frowned but didn't press further. If Meiser wasn't willing to share, forcing him would be pointless.
"More importantly, there's something else bothering me," Mr.3 interjected.
"What is it?"
"Why haven't we encountered any jailers or Jailer Beasts since entering the third level?" Mr.3 wondered. "Could they all have gone to other floors?"
Even though the third level was vast and the environment extremely harsh, that shouldn't be the reason for their absence.
"Maybe they're all waiting for us on the fourth level below," Meiser speculated.
Mr.3: ...
That's even scarier!!
If so, wouldn't they have to face the full might of Impel Down's forces on the fourth level?
Sure, Meiser claimed he could handle Magellan, but there were other powerful figures besides him!
The thought made Mr.3's stomach churn.
"Even so, we're going down!" Luffy declared. "Anyone who stands in my way, I'll knock them out!"
Whether it was jailers or Jailer Beasts, nothing would stop him from saving his brother!
"Alright!"
"Straw Hat, I'll fight alongside you too!" Bon Clay cheered.
"Let's go. First, we find the entrance you mentioned," Meiser said.
The others nodded and quickly followed Meiser out of the cell, returning to the main corridor.
But the moment they stepped outside, Mr.3 froze in shock.
"Brugeli?!"
"Why are there so many Brugeli?!"
Watching the horde of Brugeli closing in from the distance, Mr.3's legs trembled.
"Seems they didn't ignore us—they were gathering forces to ambush us," Meiser grinned.
"Who cares? We'll just fight our way through!"
Without hesitation, Luffy charged forward.
"Move aside!"
"Gomu-Gomu Gatling!"
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!!"
A barrage of fists sent several Brugeli flying, smashing through prison cells.
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"I'll help too, Straw Hat!"
Bon Clay laughed as he dashed forward, launching his own assault.
"Okama Kenpo: Man Dance Ballet!"
"Rat-tat-tat!"
His terrifyingly long legs whipped through the air, flinging Brugeli aside like ragdolls.
They crashed hard into the sand, heads lolling as they lost consciousness.
"Alright, you two, stop spacing out." Meiser patted the two beside him and said, "Don't blame me if you get caught."
Without waiting for their response, Meiser quickly dashed toward Luffy and the others.
"Hurry up, I don't want to get captured again!"
"Me neither!"
After exchanging a glance, the two swiftly followed Meiser, soon leaving the area behind.
"Dammit, the Brugeli really can't stop them," Saldeath muttered from the shadows, his expression grim. "Looks like we'll need the power of the four Jailer Beasts."
As the commander of the Brugeli, Saldeath knew their capabilities well. Even pirates with bounties over a hundred million would be captured when faced with a large group of Brugeli. But against these guys, the Brugeli were as fragile as paper, easily taken down. This frustrated Saldeath, but there was nothing he could do.
"Sir Saldeath, what should we do?" asked a nearby jailer. "Should we pursue them?"
"Pursue? How? Didn't you see the Brugeli couldn't stop them?" Saldeath pointed at the retreating figures in the distance. "With their strength, they could easily kill us all."
He wasn't a fool—there was no way he'd try to capture them under these circumstances. The strong should be dealt with by the strong!
The jailer glanced at the fallen Brugeli, then at Saldeath, who stood barely a meter tall, and sighed. "Understood."
Saldeath wasn't particularly strong himself—his position as jailer chief was solely due to his ability to command the Brugeli. If they were ineffective, he was useless. The jailer could only hope Warden Magellan would track them down and eliminate them in time.
"Any word from Warden Magellan?" Saldeath asked.
"Couldn't reach him earlier," the jailer replied. "He might still be with Fire Fist Ace."
"Tch, what a mess."
The mere thought of Boa Hancock made Saldeath seethe. If not for that woman, Warden Magellan would've had time to deal with the pirates above. Now, thanks to her, they'd already reached the third level.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Saldeath's pocket began ringing.
"Purupuru puru~"
"Purupuru puru~"
"Purupuru puru~"
"Kacha~"
Answering the call, Saldeath spoke up. "This is Saldeath!"
"Magellan here."
"Warden Magellan!"
Relieved to hear his voice, Saldeath immediately asked, "Has that woman left?"
"Yes, Domino escorted her to the surface," Magellan replied. "What's your situation? Did you capture them?"
"No, they're too strong. The Brugeli are no match for them."
"I see."
Magellan pondered for a moment before saying, "In that case, go suppress the riot on the second level."
With Saldeath and Brugeli's abilities, they truly couldn't capture those guys.
After all... the Blood-Eyed Ninja possessed abilities akin to an immortal body!
Such a foe could only be dealt with—and killed—by Magellan himself.
"A riot on the second level?" Saldeath frowned. "What happened?"
Why would a riot break out there?
Had those bastards released more prisoners before entering the third level?
"I think... they must have used the keys from the surveillance room to unlock the prisoners' cells before heading to the third level," Magellan said.
"They wanted the second-level pirates to riot and divert our attention."
Upon hearing Magellan's explanation, Saldeath immediately understood their plan.
The second-level riot would indeed cause them significant trouble, requiring a large deployment of forces to quell it.
This would reduce the manpower available to hunt down the intruders.
What a clever scheme, Saldeath thought to himself.
From the enemy's perspective, this was indeed the best strategy.
But unfortunately, even if they lured the jailers to the second level, it wouldn't change their fate.
Because—this was Impel Down, an impenetrable prison!
As long as Warden Magellan remained, there was no way those bastards could rescue Fire Fist Ace!
With that in mind, Saldeath said, "Warden, I'll leave the intruders to you. I'll take Brugeli to suppress the riot on the second level."
"Good."
Click~
Sigh...
After taking a deep breath, Magellan muttered, "What reckless pirates."
Just then, Sadie entered with three Jailer Beasts.
"Warden, are we going into action next?"
"Mmm~"
"I'm all ready for the hunt~"
Magellan glanced at her and asked, "Why only the four of you? Where's Minotaurus?"
"Mmm~"
"Minotaurus has already gone to the third level."
"I see." Magellan pondered briefly. "Letting Minotaurus test the waters isn't a bad idea."
"Test the waters?"
Sadie blinked in confusion. Why test the waters?
"Yes." Magellan nodded. "The other pirates shouldn't be a problem—Minotaurus can handle them."
"But this Blood-Eyed Ninja..."
Recalling the intel on the Blood-Eyed Ninja, Magellan frowned.
Noticing his expression, Sadie asked curiously, "Is there something wrong with him?"
"Not long ago, Marine Headquarters reported that this man possesses abilities resembling an immortal body," Magellan said. "Minotaurus might not be a match for him."
Though Magellan found the report absurd at first, since it came from Marine Headquarters, it was likely true.
In that case... Minotaurus wouldn't be able to eliminate him.
Of course, killing Minotaurus wouldn't be easy for the intruder either.
After all... Minotaurus is a Failed Awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit User. Though he has lost his human consciousness, his formidable regenerative abilities remain intact.
As long as his head isn't chopped off on the spot, he'll be back on his feet in no time!
This is precisely what makes these four Jailer Beasts so formidable.
Though his Water Release ability is quite troublesome, Magellan thought with a frown.
The real question was whether this man could summon seawater out of thin air.
If he could, it would spell disaster for Devil Fruit Ability Users like them.
The thought made Magellan's frown deepen.
"An immortal body?!"
"Mmm~"
"How exciting!"
Perhaps struck by some twisted inspiration, Sadie unconsciously clenched her thighs, her cheeks flushing.
Magellan: ???
What bizarre thoughts was this woman having now?
"Warden Magellan, could you hand him over to me?" Sadie asked, covering her face. "I can't wait to hear his screams~"
"Mmm~"
A punching bag that just wouldn't die no matter how much you beat it—how perfect!
As for whether Minotaurus might actually be beaten to death?
In Sadie's experience, these four Failed Awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit Users were unkillable.
No matter how devastating the attacks they endured, they always got back up.
So she wasn't the least bit worried about Minotaurus' safety.
All she cared about was whether she could get her hands on this unkillable man!
"You—"
Watching Sadie squirm with her face covered, Magellan wore an expression of utter speechlessness.
Was this really appropriate?
Sure, he knew about Sadie's... hobbies, but an unkillable monster wasn't meant for that kind of thing!
"Mmm~"
"Please, Warden~"
"That depends on whether he survives my fight," Magellan said flatly.
Though the nature of this seemingly immortal ability was unclear, his poison was the bane of all living things.
With enough toxins, even an immortal would go down!
So... there was a chance he might outright kill the guy.
"That's no fair."
Sadie pouted, displeased. An unkillable punching bag should be hers.
That way, she could hang him up and whip him to her heart's content.
"Enough. This isn't a joke," Magellan said sternly. "Take the other three and guard the entrance to Level 5."
"If you encounter any intruders, hold them off until I arrive for backup. Understood?"
The three Jailer Beasts were strong enough to hold out until reinforcements came.
"Mmm~"
"Understood!"
With her orders received, Sadie smirked and led her three subordinates away.
If I capture him myself, then he's mine, right? she mused.
Lost in her thoughts, she let out a delighted hum, her steps noticeably lighter.
"Mmm~"
The three Jailer Beasts exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unable to comprehend Sadie's excitement.
But it didn't matter—they didn't need to understand. They just had to follow orders.
"What about me?"
Hannyabal, who had just been cured by the antidote, climbed up from the warden's seat and asked, "Where am I going?"
"You bastard, how did you get back in my seat again?!"
"Because I want to be the warden..."
"Ah!"
"My ambition is exposed!"
Magellan's lips twitched. This bastard was always coveting his position no matter the situation.
Shaking his head in exasperation, Magellan said, "You're coming with me to guard the entrance to the third level. If those guys come down the stairs, we'll take them out!"
"What if they come down through the vents?"
"Is that even a question?" Magellan grinned. "Then I'll personally go deal with them, of course!"
A bunch of reckless brats who didn't know their place, daring to break into his underwater prison.
Just wait—once he caught them, he'd send these fools straight to hell with his terrifying toxins!!
Watching the confident Magellan, a nearby jailer remarked, "Now that's our warden for you!"
The warden who didn't have diarrhea was truly reliable after all!
At that very moment, Magellan's stomach suddenly growled, and the man's expression immediately changed.
Clutching his stomach, he let out a groan.
"Oh no, it's coming again!"
Jailers: "..."
Damn it, give back the admiration they felt just moments ago!
"Get me the Mobile Outhouse, now!"
"Yes, sir!"