"Whew—"
After taking a deep breath, Magellan said, "Hurry and bring out Fire Fist Ace."
The longer they delayed, the worse it was for them.
As he thought this, Magellan pushed the door open and stepped outside.
Once outside, he spotted Hannyabal and several guards standing not far away.
"Warden, what did you need me for?" Hannyabal said. "Are you finally handing over the warden position to me?"
"Ah!"
"I accidentally revealed my ambition!"
Magellan gave Hannyabal an exasperated look. This guy still hadn't changed.
"Enough nonsense. Come with me."
"Where to?"
A trace of confusion flashed in Hannyabal's eyes—he clearly didn't understand Magellan's intention.
"We're sending Fire Fist Ace away ahead of schedule."
At these words, everyone present froze.
"But the agreed time isn't until tomorrow morning, is it?"
"We can't wait until then," Magellan said. "That Blood-Eyed Ninja knows Earth Release Technique. He could rescue Fire Fist Ace at any moment, so we have to move him now."
"Earth Release Technique?" Hannyabal muttered in surprise.
So that was how the intruder had gotten in?
Realizing this, Hannyabal nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you."
Just then, Hannyabal noticed Magellan's expression shift strangely, which immediately put him on edge.
"What's wrong?"
Had that Blood-Eyed Ninja appeared already?
"No, we can't proceed like this." Magellan stared at the distant Surveillance Den Den Mushi. "Hannyabal, go notify the guards on the first floor to shut off the Surveillance Den Den Mushi outside the elevator."
He was worried the Blood-Eyed Ninja might have hypnotized someone in the surveillance room, which would expose their plans and leave them vulnerable to an ambush.
So... they had to disable the surveillance above first.
Hannyabal: ???
Why the sudden change of plans?
"Can't they just go?" Hannyabal pointed at the nearby guards.
"The Blood-Eyed Ninja has hypnosis abilities."
This revelation rendered Hannyabal speechless.
Hypnosis?
Did that mean the enemy might have already taken control of some of their people?
After a pause, Hannyabal said, "That really is a dangerous guy."
"Fine, got it. I'll go now."
This time, Hannyabal didn't joke around. Without hesitation, he turned and left.
Watching him go, Magellan glanced at the remaining guards. "You lot, come with me."
As long as he kept an eye on them, even if they were hypnotized, they wouldn't have a chance to relay any information.
The guards obeyed silently, following Magellan into the elevator.
The moment they entered, Magellan raised his hand and activated his Devil Fruit Ability, poisoning the Visual Den Den Mushi on the wall into unconsciousness.
"Good, that should do it." Magellan nodded in satisfaction.
Then he signaled his subordinates to press the elevator button, descending into Infinite Hell.
Creak Hummm
The elevator began its descent toward the Infinite Hell below. It quickly reached the level housing countless formidable prisoners.
This time, Hannyabal didn't clown around with Magellan—he turned and left without hesitation.
After watching Hannyabal depart, Magellan glanced at the nearby guards and said, "You lot, come with me."
With him keeping watch, even if these men were hypnotized, they wouldn't have a chance to relay any messages.
The guards obeyed without question, following silently behind Magellan as they entered the elevator.
The moment they stepped inside, Magellan raised his hand and activated his Devil Fruit ability, poisoning the Visual Den Den Mushi on the wall into unconsciousness.
"Good, that should do it," Magellan nodded in satisfaction.
He then signaled his subordinates to press the elevator button, descending into Infinite Hell.
Creak
Hummm
The elevator began moving, descending toward the depths where the strongest prisoners were held.
"I understand. I'll go right away."
This time, Hannyabal didn't joke with Magellan—he simply turned and left.
Once Hannyabal was gone, Magellan looked at the guards beside him and ordered, "You, follow me."
Under his watchful eye, even if they were hypnotized, they wouldn't be able to pass on any information.
The guards complied without protest, trailing behind Magellan as they entered the elevator.
The instant they stepped in, Magellan raised his hand and used his Devil Fruit power to knock out the Visual Den Den Mushi on the wall.
"Perfect," Magellan murmured approvingly.
He then gestured for his men to press the button, descending into Infinite Hell.
Creak
Hummm
The elevator started moving, heading toward the prison level where the most dangerous criminals were kept.
"I understand. I'll go immediately."
This time, Hannyabal didn't mess around—he simply turned and walked away.
After watching him leave, Magellan turned to the guards and said, "You, come with me."
With him supervising, even if they were under hypnosis, they wouldn't be able to leak any information.
The guards obeyed without hesitation, following Magellan into the elevator.
As soon as they entered, Magellan raised his hand and poisoned the Visual Den Den Mushi on the wall, rendering it unconscious.
"Good," Magellan nodded in satisfaction.
He then signaled his men to press the button, descending into Infinite Hell.
Creak
Hummm
The elevator began its descent toward the prison level holding the most powerful inmates.
"I understand. I'll go now."
This time, Hannyabal didn't joke around—he simply turned and left.
After watching him go, Magellan looked at the guards and ordered, "You, follow me."
With him watching, even if they were hypnotized, they wouldn't be able to relay any messages.
Several guards followed behind Magellan without a word, obediently entering the elevator with him.
The moment they stepped inside, Magellan raised his hand and activated his Devil Fruit Ability, poisoning the Visual Den Den Mushi on the wall into unconsciousness.
"Good, that should do it," Magellan nodded in satisfaction.
He then signaled his subordinates to press the elevator button, descending into Infinite Hell.
Creak
Hummm The elevator began moving, rushing downward toward the depths of Infinite Hell. Soon, they arrived at the level housing countless formidable prisoners. Could the pirate in that cell have been lying to him?
If that were the case, he'd have no choice but to execute him!
At this thought, a glint of killing intent flashed in Meiser's eyes.
Just then, numerous War Wolves emerged, gradually surrounding the area.
Howl!!
"Oh?"
"So these are the Jailer Beasts of Level 5?"
Observing the ferocious white wolves, Meiser raised an eyebrow. "They do look pretty vicious."
Howl!
The pack roared before charging at Meiser with gleaming eyes.
"Taking me for prey, are they?"
"Bold move!"
Whoosh
As Meiser spoke, a pale golden Skeleton Armor materialized around him. He then swung his massive skeletal arm, sending one War Wolf after another flying.
Swish
Swish
Swish
Boom!!
Boom!!
Boom!!
After suffering half their numbers in casualties, the War Wolves turned tail and fled. Clearly, they'd realized just how terrifying this human was.
At that moment, a figure emerged from a derelict guard station, grinning at Meiser. "Quite impressive."
"Hmm?"
"A woman?"
Meiser frowned at the figure clad in thermal clothing. "That outfit... a Guard?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the abandoned guard station behind them.
"I was just there not long ago—it was definitely empty. Yet this person came out of it... Is there a hidden passage?"
"Don't worry, I'm no Guard," Inazuma chuckled. "If anything, I'm a prisoner here too."
"Oh, and I'm not a woman either."
Inazuma's expression turned dead serious with that last statement.
Meiser: ???
Meiser scrutinized Inazuma from head to toe, skepticism plain in his eyes—doubting both the claim and the person's gender.
Perhaps sensing this, Inazuma added, "No need to doubt. I really am not a woman."
"Then you're—"
"I am a New Transvestite, blessed by Lady Ivankov!" Inazuma declared, spreading their arms as if proclaiming their faith.
"Ivankov... Lady Ivankov, huh."
Meiser recalled Bon Clay mentioning that name earlier.
"Exactly, Lady Ivankov," Inazuma nodded.
After a pause, they continued, "You're here looking for the Straw Hat Boy and his crew, aren't you?"
"Do you know where they are?!"
"Of course." Inazuma nodded and said, "I was the one who took them away, otherwise they would have died here."
"Come on, I'll take you to them."
After saying that, Inazuma turned back to the abandoned medical room without hesitation, not caring at all whether Meiser might attack him from behind.
Meiser hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Let's go then."
Although he didn't know where the other was taking him, since Luffy was there, he had to go!
With that thought, Meiser followed Inazuma into the abandoned guardroom.
Then, to Meiser's astonishment, the other pulled out a section of the wall.
Meiser: ???
Looking at the removed wall, Meiser said, "A hidden door?"
So this guy had just come out from this hidden door earlier?
"Exactly, a hidden door!" Inazuma chuckled. "I came out from here just now."
After speaking, Inazuma stepped aside, gesturing for Meiser to enter first.
Once Meiser was inside, Inazuma closed the hidden door again.
"Let's go. We'll be there soon."
With that, Inazuma led Meiser down the stairs, winding through several turns before arriving at a long corridor.
Here, Meiser faintly heard some noisy sounds, as if many people were holding a banquet. "This is the place!" Inazuma flung open the door and laughed as he said to Meiser, "Welcome to the New Transvestite Kingdom!!"
"This..."
Staring at the scene beyond the door, Meiser's eyes widened in shock.
These people... had actually created a paradise in a place like Impel Down?
How was that possible?
With this thought, Meiser stepped inside.
"Shocking, isn't it?" Inazuma, who had closed the door, smiled at Meiser. "Almost every newcomer here makes that exact same expression."
"Here, don't be shy." Inazuma cheerfully took two glasses of red wine from a companion and handed one to Meiser. "Make yourself at home."
"Ah, thanks."
Meiser numbly accepted the glass, momentarily at a loss for words.
The Marines probably never dreamed such a paradise existed here.
"Hey, you're that Blood-Eyed Ninja, right?!"
"Hahaha, amazing! You actually beat that diarrhea bastard Magellan to a pulp!"
"Gahaha, damn right!"
"And you even dared to kill a Celestial Dragon—you're my idol, man!"
"Yeah, you're so cool, dude!"
"Ahahaha!"
"Hey, how did you have the guts to take on a Celestial Dragon?"
"Ah, that." Meiser replied, "Those bastards tried to take my comrades as slaves, so I cut them down."
"Whoa!"
"Here's to you, man!"
Hearing this, Meiser glanced at the red wine in his hand, then activated the Mangekyō Sharingan Pupil Technique in his right eye.
Only then did he raise his glass and clink it in the air with the others, acknowledging their enthusiasm.
After taking a sip, Meiser turned to Inazuma. "You said this is the New Transvestite Kingdom, right?"
"Correct."
"So... everyone here is a transvestite?"
"Hmm..." Inazuma stroked his chin. "Aside from you and the Straw Hat Boy, they're all okamas."
The guy who came here with the Straw Hat Boy was clearly an okama too, so there was nothing wrong with his statement.
"I see, so it's just us..."
Meiser trailed off mid-sentence, then asked in confusion, "Wait, what do you mean just the two of us?"
"How many people did you find in total?"
"Two."
"Two?" Meiser frowned. "Why only two people? Who's the other one?"
"Bon Clay."
"What about Clown Buggy and Mr.3?" Meiser asked with a furrowed brow.
He'd specifically told those three to come down together, so why had only Luffy and Bon Clay made it here?
"No idea about that," Inazuma shrugged. "When I found them, only those two were lying on the ground."
After a pause, he added, "As for the two you mentioned... the War Wolves might have eaten them."
After all, those two weren't particularly strong. It wouldn't be strange if they couldn't defeat the War Wolves.
Meiser fell silent for a moment before sighing quietly.
"Maybe it was fate."
Shaking his head, Meiser set aside his wine glass. "You—"
"Just call me Inazuma."
"Alright, Inazuma," Meiser said. "How are Bon Clay and Luffy doing now?"
"Bon Clay hasn't woken up yet," Inazuma replied. "As for the Straw Hat Boy... he's received treatment from Master Ivan. Whether he pulls through is up to him now."
Hearing this, Meiser instinctively frowned.
Noticing his expression, Inazuma said, "Come on, I'll take you to see Master Ivan. Then you'll understand everything."
"Good, I'll leave it to you!"
"Dammit, what are we supposed to do now?!" Mr. 3 exclaimed in frustration.
"How should I know?" Buggy shot back.
Shortly after entering this area, they'd been attacked by wolf packs and got separated.
If not for sheer luck, he wouldn't have even run into Mr. 3.
"Are we just going to wait here to die?" Mr. 3 said. "If we stay, we'll freeze to death."
"Die? No way!"
Buggy jumped up and pointed back the way they'd come. "Let's go to Level 4."
"Are you trying to get us killed?"
"Staying here is certain death!" Buggy argued. "Come on, let's get upstairs first!"
While going up meant they might get killed by Magellan or other guards, staying here guaranteed they'd freeze to death!
So Buggy chose to take the gamble.
Watching Buggy dash off without hesitation, Mr. 3 sighed and reluctantly followed.
As the other had said, staying here really would be suicide.
Catching up to Buggy, Mr. 3 asked, "What if we run into Meiser?"
That Blood-Eyed Ninja was incredibly strong—killing the two of them would be child's play for him.
"We didn't abandon the Straw Hat Boy on purpose," Buggy said. "To help those two survive, we led away two separate wolf packs!"
"Even he couldn't find fault with that."
Seeing Mr. 3 still hesitating, Buggy said, "Enough talk, let's get moving."
"Alright!"
This time, Mr. 3 didn't say anything more and left the place with Buggy.
Just then, several War Wolves appeared not far away, letting out a fierce roar at them.
"Grrrowl!"
"Yikes!"
"Run... run for it!"
Seeing the War Wolves charging toward them, the two immediately bolted for the gate without hesitation.