Passing through a dim, long corridor that carried a faint warmth, the pirate Yujin arrived at an open area.
The Scissor-Man Inazuma, a user of the Scissor Fruit, noticed Yujin's expression and smiled as he explained, "Because this spot lies at the border between the Blazing Hell and the Freezing Hell, the temperature is just right."
Yujin could only sigh in awe. "Incredible."
In this prison that felt like a living hell, the Revolutionary Army had managed to create such a place.
It was almost like sending someone straight into hell to recruit.
After walking a little further, Yujin saw a large group of people.
Their bodies radiated a strange mix of sweat and perfume.
Through the gaps of black fishnet stockings, long leg hair occasionally peeked out.
They all wore high heels, yet were covered in facial hair.
They were gathered together, holding a party that didn't belong in a place like the Impel Down.
Over the years, Emporio Ivankov, the Revolutionary Army commander, had transformed this place into a talent market behind enemy lines.
"Let's welcome~"
"the arrival of our new friends~!"
Perched atop a massive throne was the Okama King—Emporio Ivankov—waving toward Yujin.
A hundred okamas present shyly and collectively welcomed him down the aisle.
Even Yujin, who had traveled to Thailand several times, felt a bit overwhelmed by the spectacle.
Among the crowd, the majority of the okamas' appearances could easily be considered top-tier beauty, even in the world of pirates.
Emporio Ivankov, the Okama King, possessed the Paramecia Horm-Horm Fruit, an incredibly formidable ability.
Anyone pricked by his fingernails would undergo reproductive transformation within ten seconds.
No matter how muscular or manly the target, they would end up as a shy, delicate woman.
Their personality, voice, and physiology would all be changed.
The unbelievable part was that Yujin, imprisoned in the Impel Down for seven years, now found himself drawn to these "beautiful women," who were originally rough men.
Meanwhile, the ones with beards, bulky muscles, and fishnet stockings—who seemed perverse—were actually women.
The moment Ivankov laid eyes on Yujin, he flashed forward and appeared right in front of him.
The nose sniffed the scent on Yujin, and his eyes scanned him from head to toe, taking in every detail.
He gently touched Yujin's bones, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
Inazuma looked a bit confused. "Ivankov, what's going on?"
"He's practically born with a perfect body! Perfect for becoming a woman!"
"Uh—" Yujin quickly dodged to the side. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, and he stared desperately at Ivankov, fearing this guy might try to hit him with some kind of female hormone.
In the world of pirates, men generally looked rough and rugged.
But Uchiha Yujin, malnourished for years, under Kakashi's styling, looked delicate, almost like a geisha.
Not to mention Yujin, a pirate who rarely saw sunlight, with skin pale as a vampire.
Ivankov gazed at Yujin like he was a treasure. "Come join our big family~"
All the Okama cheered together. "Join us!"
Yujin didn't hesitate and said, "Sorry, I can't join right now."
"Wh-why!" Ivankov, the Okama King, was shocked. How could someone refuse his invitation?
Yujin's voice trembled as tears seemed to well up. "When I was five, the orphanage I lived in closed down for some reason. I was left with my four-year-old sister, Kaori. She promised me that when she grew up, she would marry me."
"We survived by scavenging and begging on the streets. Just when we barely made it through, a group of pirates came to our island. They burned, looted, and captured me as a laborer, while selling my sister to Mariejois."
"Before we parted, she cried and shouted at me." Yujin wiped away imaginary tears. "She said that one day we would meet again. By then, she hoped we would still be as we were when we first met. That day of reunion would become our wedding anniversary."
At this, the room fell completely silent.
Yujin sighed. "If I see her again as a woman… I'm afraid she might break down."
"Don't… don't say anymore." Ivankov's face darkened. He waved, and one of his subordinates pushed over a small cart full of food.
"You should go rest in that room over there."
Yujin didn't even understand what was happening. Since he hadn't been turned into a woman, he didn't bother making up any excuses and pushed the cart to the room.
Once Ivankov saw Yujin close the door behind him…
"Wahhh!!!"
All the Okama in the room began to cry!
Especially Ivankov, rolling on the ground in tears, crawling in the shadows.
His huge head smashed through several giant stones one after another.
A group of okama cried and gasped, wailing in anguish.
"It's so touching!"
"Such a tragic love story!"
"He must stay a man. I want to see the moment he meets his childhood friend!"
"So romantic!"
"Waaahhh!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Pirate Yujin, sitting inside the room and shoving things into his mouth with the black veins running along his body, smiled helplessly.
"The tone of the pirate world… it's still all about comedy."
That night, Yujin slept deeply.
Seven years of hardship had finally come to an end.
No matter what, whether or not there would be a jailbreak could be put aside for now. At least he no longer worried about food or clothing, and could sleep as long as he wanted without suffering any physical pain.
After sleeping for a long time, Yujin had no idea what time it was.
In Impel Down, no one cared about time—there was neither the moon nor the sun, and everyone's biological clock was different.
Hearing the sounds of a party outside, Yujin pushed open the door and stepped out.
"You're awake?!"
Seeing Yujin appear, one by one, the okama turned their eyes toward him.
Yesterday's events had been so moving that these okama, whether rough or shy, were deeply sentimental inside, feeling a natural sense of pity toward Yujin.
In other words, their maternal instincts were overflowing.
A group of shy, grown men grabbed Yujin's arms and danced with him, tossing him into the air and catching him again.
The whole group was cheerful, their laughter filling the air.
Pirate Yujin finally let go of his heavy burdens.
He roasted meat for them with his Great Fireball and performed his "Water Dragon Bullet" magic trick.
In an instant, he became the second most popular figure here, only after the Okama King, Ivankov.
On one side was a lighthearted, joyful okama kingdom.
On the other side was a terrifying, cyclical world that drove people to despair.
Just as Chu Xuan had said, everything unfolded exactly as he had predicted.
The North Polar Team, who seemed like mere brutes, actually had someone like Dio Brooks, a wise strategist following the Druid enhancement path.
He laid out his plan carefully.
On the first night, they would release a decoy to lure Yujin away, then launch a surprise attack on the remaining members of the Central Continent Team.
However, the North Polar Team fell right into Chu Xuan's trap.
The Druids summoned treants, which drew away Yujin's clone, while the North Polar captain prepared to storm the police station and unleash chaos.
But Yujin had already circled back through the back entrance of the police station, ready to confront the enemy.
Just as both sides thought they were about to close the battle, a sudden voice interrupted everyone's plans.
"Five hours later, the East Sea Team will arrive!"
****
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