Seeing Ivankov's reaction, Meiser said, "Judging by your expression, you must have thought of something."
"I'm starting to believe what you said."
As he spoke, Ivankov glanced toward the door, a shadow crossing his eyes as he thought: Straw Hat Boy, you must pull through. Otherwise, I won't know how to face Dragon.
If the Straw Hat Boy really died here, he wouldn't even know how to break the news to Dragon.
Wait—!
As if suddenly remembering something, Ivankov rushed up to Meiser and exclaimed excitedly, "You just said Fire Fist Ace is the Straw Hat Boy's brother, right?!"
"Yeah."
Ivankov: !!!
His mind reeled.
If the Straw Hat Boy was Dragon's son, then his brother must also be Dragon's son!
Damn it, he had almost missed the chance to save his dear friend's sons—both of them!
At this realization, veins bulged on Ivankov's arms.
"Inazuma!!!"
Hearing Ivankov's shout, Inazuma immediately ran over from a distance, still holding a glass of red wine.
"Yes, Master Ivan!"
Meiser: ...
This guy's got skills—running that fast without spilling a single drop.
"Inazuma, check the surveillance feed immediately," Ivankov ordered. "I need to know if Fire Fist Ace is still in Level 6."
"Understood!"
Though confused by the sudden command, Inazuma didn't question it and left to carry out the task.
Watching him go, Ivankov frowned in thought: The Marines are publicly executing Fire Fist Ace... Could it be because they know he's Dragon's son? But that doesn't make sense. Provoking both Whitebeard and Dragon at once would be a disaster for Marine Headquarters. After all... those two men are terrifyingly powerful. Damn it, what is the World Government thinking? What's their real goal?
For the first time, Ivankov felt lost—he couldn't grasp the bigger picture.
"Miss Ivan, you have surveillance in Level 6 too?" Meiser asked, surprised.
Such a highly classified area had cameras? Was that even logical?
Unless the feed was only accessible in Magellan's office, making leaks unlikely.
That could be possible.
"We do!" Ivankov nodded. "As long as the Den Den Mushi there are functioning, we can monitor the situation."
After a pause, he added, "Ninja boy, I've decided to go with you to Level 6 to rescue them."
Meiser thought for a moment before replying, "Because of Luffy's father?"
"Exactly!"
Now that the chance to save his comrade's sons was right in front of him, he had to act!
"Alright, let's go together then."
Meiser nodded with a smile and asked, "Now, do you still want to leave Impel Down with us?"
"Of course we're going together!"
No matter what, he had to get Dragon's son out alive.
Even... even if the Straw Hat Boy didn't make it, he still had to rescue Fire Fist Ace.
With that thought, Ivankov glanced toward the door.
Right now, all he could hope for was a miracle to descend upon the Straw Hat Boy.
A three percent survival rate...
If that guy had inherited Dragon's monstrous constitution, he would definitely pull through!
Hang in there, Straw Hat Boy!
Following Ivankov's gaze to the door, Meiser fell silent for a moment before saying, "Have faith in Luffy. He'll make it."
"Yeah!"
"Let's go. We'll head to Level 6 now and bring Fire Fist Ace out."
"Right!"
This time, Ivankov didn't argue with Meiser. Instead, he strode firmly alongside him as they left.
"Ninja boy, you must never tell anyone about the Straw Hat Boy's origins," Ivankov said gravely.
If the World Government found out the Straw Hat Boy was Dragon's son, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Don't worry, I know."
Meiser nodded. "If it weren't for you saving Luffy and the fact that you're his father's comrade, I wouldn't have revealed this at all."
"That's good."
Ivankov sighed in relief, his resolve hardening.
No matter what, he was determined to save Dragon's son!
Soon, the two left and arrived at the surveillance room of the New Transvestite Kingdom.
As soon as they entered, Ivankov asked, "What's the situation?"
"It's a bit strange."
"Strange?"
"Yeah." Inazuma nodded. "For some reason, the surveillance on Level 6 isn't working."
"That means we can't confirm if Fire Fist Ace is still there."
"How could it malfunction?"
Ivankov frowned, his eyes filled with confusion.
The surveillance had been working fine yesterday when they checked Level 6. Why would it fail today?
Could something have happened on Level 6?
With that thought, Ivankov asked, "Has anyone been keeping an eye on Level 6?"
"No."
The others shook their heads. "We rarely pay attention to Level 6. Usually, we just watch the other floors for entertainment."
Aside from Ivankov, none of them bothered much with Level 6.
"Could Magellan have found something?" one person speculated.
"Impossible."
Ivankov shook his head decisively. "If he really discovered someone was tapping into the Surveillance Transponder Snails, he wouldn't just disable Level 6's feed."
As he spoke, Ivankov glanced at the projection nearby, which displayed the surveillance feed from Level 4.
The others followed his gaze and nodded. "You're right."
If the Marines had truly caught wind of this, they would've immediately replaced all the Surveillance Transponder Snails.
Of course, they might also launch a full-scale search to root out those hiding in the shadows.
But since the Navy hadn't taken such actions, it meant they hadn't noticed anything unusual.
"Whatever the situation, we need to check out Level 6," Meiser said.
"You're right."
"Let's go now to avoid any unexpected changes if we delay too long."
Having said that, Meiser prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"Before we leave, there's something I need to announce," Ivankov said before heading toward the banquet hall.
The moment he entered, all eyes were on Ivankov.
"Shihahaha!"
"How are you doing, my sweet candies?" Ivankov laughed heartily.
"Wonderful, Lord Ivan!"
"Good to hear~" Ivankov nodded. "Now, I have an announcement to make."
"Your orders, please!"
"I've decided to break out of prison!"
"Eh?!!"
Everyone stared at Ivankov in shock, completely unprepared for such a sudden declaration.
"Lord Ivan, so abruptly?"
"At least give us some time to prepare."
"Of course, I'll give you time to prepare," Ivankov replied. "The Straw Hat Boy still needs over a day to complete his treatment. We'll stay here until then."
"Once he can move, we'll escape immediately!"
After a pause, Ivankov added with utmost seriousness, "Those who wish to leave with me must be prepared to die—stand by with that resolve!"
The transvestites exchanged glances before erupting into deafening roars.
"We pledge our lives to follow Lord Ivan!"
"The New Transvestites embark on a new journey!"
"Whoo!!"
Watching the roaring crowd, Meiser remarked with admiration, "Such undeniable authority."
"Well, Ivankov is the Miracle Queen, the King of Transvestites after all~" Inazuma chuckled.
"Alright, let's move out," Ivankov said. "We need to reach Level 6 as quickly as possible."
"Right."
Meiser nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, do you have keys for Seastone Handcuffs here?"
"You want to remove Fire Fist Ace's cuffs, don't you?" Ivankov said. "No need for keys—Inazuma can handle that."
Meiser was taken aback and gave Inazuma a curious look. "Is he also a Devil Fruit Ability User?"
"Indeed."
Inazuma raised his hands, transforming them into a pair of giant scissors.
He continued, "I ate the Scissors Fruit, making me a Scissors Man. I can cut through Seastone Handcuffs."
As he spoke, Inazuma snipped his scissor hands, producing sharp clicking sounds.
"Truly, there's no limit to Devil Fruit abilities," Meiser mused.
Inazuma's Scissors Fruit could open Seastone Handcuffs, just as Mr.3's Wax-Wax Fruit could.
Mr.3...
At the thought of the tragically deceased Mr.3, Meiser sighed silently.
"Paramecia-type Devil Fruits indeed come in all sorts of bizarre varieties," Ivankov remarked. "Some even possess rule-based powers of immense strength."
"Rule-based, huh..."
Meiser stroked his chin and said, "Speaking of which, the Bartholomew Kuma I encountered had a rule-based ability."
"Eh?!"
Upon hearing the name Bartholomew Kuma, Ivankov froze.
How long had it been since he last heard that name?
Unaware of Ivankov's expression, Meiser continued while staring at the ground, "That guy's Paw-Paw Fruit could repel anything. It could—"
"Ninja boy!"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"You actually know Kuma?" Ivankov asked. "How is he doing now?"
Ever since Kuma left the revolutionaries, their contact had grown increasingly sparse. After Ivankov was imprisoned in Impel Down years ago, they lost touch completely.
After all this time, he had no idea how Kuma was faring.
Had Bonney's illness been cured?
He hoped that child wouldn't end up like Ginny, succumbing to the Azure Jade Scale disease.
Instead of answering, Meiser countered, "Why are you so interested in him?"
"Because we were close friends!" Ivankov exclaimed. "Years ago, we shared the same identity, but he withdrew later."
Hearing this, Meiser immediately understood the situation.
So that guy was once a revolutionary too? Hiss!
Wait a minute!
If that was the case, then Kuma must have helped the Straw Hat Pirates multiple times because he discovered Luffy was Dragon's son!
Everything connected now!
Now he understood why Kuma had intervened to save them—it was all because of Luffy's lineage!!
At this realization, a hint of emotion flickered in Meiser's eyes. Who would have thought they'd one day be saved due to Luffy's background?
Then Meiser said, "To be honest, I don't know how he's doing now."
"After he saved us on Sabaody Archipelago, we never saw him again."
As he spoke, a trace of worry surfaced in Meiser's eyes. Had Kuma faced repercussions from the Marines for his actions?
Maybe after sending Luffy and Ace away, he should pay a visit to Marine Headquarters?
It wasn't a bad idea!
With his strength, escaping Marine Headquarters unscathed shouldn't be a problem.
Ivankov looked surprised upon hearing Meiser's words. "Kuma saved you?"
"Yes," Meiser nodded. "We managed to escape the Marines unharmed thanks to him."
"He used his Devil Fruit ability to repel us. Otherwise, some of us might have died on Sabaody Archipelago."
Recalling Kuma's actions, Meiser's expression grew complicated.
"So that's how it was."
Ivankov's face mirrored the same complexity. "I see."
Kuma must have discovered the Straw Hat Boy's true identity and risked himself to save the Straw Hat Pirates.
That's just like you, Kuma. Well done!!
Once he got out of here, he'd go see that guy. Ivankov silently vowed.
He desperately wanted to know if Bonney had been cured.
"Alright, time to focus."
Ivankov patted his cheeks, pushing aside his thoughts. "Let's go, Ninja boy. We've got to rescue Ace!"
"Ow!"
"Oh~"
"So this is Fire Fist Ace~"
Borsalino, standing before Magellan, glanced down at Ace and remarked, "What a terrifying glare~"
"Damn it."
Ace, firmly restrained by several guards, glared fiercely at Borsalino and growled, "If I weren't wearing these cuffs..."
Hearing Ace's words, Borsalino nearly burst out laughing.
Was this guy seriously trying to pick a fight with him?
Even if they took off those Seastone Handcuffs, he could still wipe the floor with Ace.
"Stay still!" one of the guards snapped.
"Hmph."
Ace snorted but stopped struggling. After all... it was pointless.
"I'll leave him to you," Magellan said.
"Don't worry, I'll get him safely back to Marine Headquarters," Borsalino replied. "Though, you..."
"I'll handle things here."
Interrupted, Borsalino didn't take offense and simply nodded. "Alright, then it's in your hands."
With that, he hoisted Ace up and turned toward the waiting warship.
Magellan watched them leave before turning his gaze to the massive gates behind him.
After a moment of silence, he declared, "Blood-Eyed Ninja... I'll make sure you stay here forever!"
"Let's move!"
"Yes, sir!"