While Luffy was preparing to break into Impel Down, Ezra D. Vale and Admiral Kizaru were already on their way there.
That was right.
They intended to escort Ace directly to Marineford.
Although the official time of the public execution had not yet been announced, almost everyone assumed that the Navy would need a long period of preparation. Sengoku, however, had anticipated that assumption itself and chose to act ahead of time, transferring Ace to Marineford early.
If any unexpected developments occurred, the execution schedule could then be adjusted freely.
"So troublesome… If this was the plan all along, why didn't we just send him to Marineford from the very beginning?"
Kizaru's lazy voice drifted over as he complained.
"Don't you think so, kid?"
Ezra's mouth twitched slightly.
"Uncle, how long has it been since you last went on a mission? Can you stop acting like such a slacker?"
Kizaru shrugged.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Being lazy is a lifelong commitment."
To be honest, Kizaru's unreadable personality gave Ezra a constant headache. The man talked nonstop the entire way. Ezra could not even steal a moment of sleep.
Just thinking about the return trip to Marineford together made Ezra's expression darken even further.
By then, Kizaru suddenly turned his head.
"By the way, kid, what exactly is your ability?"
He asked out of pure curiosity.
It was a question that lingered in nearly everyone's mind. From what Kizaru knew alone, Ezra had already displayed more than three different powers. Lightning, flames, and of course that strange sword, Flowing Blade Like Fire.
Ever since Ezra rose to prominence, the sword's reputation had skyrocketed, firmly claiming the title of the strongest blade in the world.
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"My ability is nothing special. Compared to your Glint Glint Fruit, it's just child's play."
Hearing that, even someone as thick-skinned as Kizaru could not help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Child's play?
What kind of child shattered entire islands while playing?
Watching Kizaru finally fall silent, a faint smile curved at Ezra's lips. At last, the world felt much quieter.
At that moment, Hina walked up beside Ezra.
"Admiral Cinderflame, Impel Down is just ahead."
Ezra nodded.
"Notify them to prepare for Ace's transfer."
"Yes, Admiral."
Soon enough, Impel Down came into view.
Ezra and Kizaru led the soldiers off the warship, where Magellan was already waiting at the entrance.
"Admiral Cinderflame, Admiral Kizaru. We meet again."
Ezra waved his hand casually.
"You received the assignment, right?"
Magellan nodded.
"Yes, Admiral. Please follow me."
He led the two of them straight down to Level Six, the Eternal Hell.
Inside a cell deep within, Ezra and Kizaru finally saw Ace.
Though he had only been imprisoned for a few days, Ace's condition was clearly poor. His spirit was drained, and his body looked as though all strength had been sucked out of him.
Ezra frowned slightly.
"What happened here?"
"Admiral, the prisoners have been especially noisy lately," Magellan explained. "I used my poison ability to suppress them. This is the result. Most inmates are in the same state."
Ezra nodded lightly. He was well aware of the power of the Venom Venom Fruit.
"Wake him up," Kizaru said from the side.
Magellan stepped forward and roughly extracted the poison from Ace's body.
"Cough, cough…"
With a bout of coughing, Ace slowly opened his eyes.
"Ezra… Uncle."
Kizaru glanced at Ezra in surprise at the form of address, but Ezra remained completely unfazed.
"Let's go, Ace. You're being moved."
"I see… So there's not much time left, huh."
Ace's voice was low.
Ezra swept a glance at the other prisoners nearby. None of them were pirates he recognized. With Fishman Island under Ezra's protection, Jinbe had never grown particularly close to the Whitebeard Pirates, and there was no chance he would abandon his position as one of the Seven Warlords for them.
Behind them, soldiers gripped the heavy Seastone chains tightly.
"Admiral Cinderflame, Admiral Kizaru. Everything is ready."
Both men nodded and turned back toward the warship.
Before long, the vessel set sail, heading straight for Marineford.
Not long after their departure, a small sailboat drifted slowly into the waters outside Impel Down, as if carried by the current.
Inside the monitoring room, Hannyabal spotted the figure aboard and hurriedly contacted Magellan and Domino.
"Magellan, a small sailboat has entered Impel Down's waters!"
Magellan replied lazily from the restroom.
"So what? It's just a tiny boat. You think it can topple Impel Down?"
"No, that's not it! Magellan! It's Straw Hat Luffy on board! And he looks like he's already passed out!"
"What? Send people to watch him closely! I'm coming right now!"
Magellan immediately forgot about his stomachache. That was Straw Hat Luffy, after all. His bounty might not be the highest in recent years, but his talent for causing chaos was unmatched.
Following the order, Hannyabal wasted no time. He brought Chief Guard Domino with him to the front gate.
Although Hannyabal dreamed of overthrowing Magellan and becoming the warden himself, one principle never changed. Everything came second to the stability of Impel Down.
Standing beside the sailboat, Hannyabal carefully observed Luffy. He could not afford to be careless. If this was an act, things would become truly troublesome.
Domino leapt onto the boat and quickly checked Luffy from head to toe. Only then did she report back.
"Warden, he really is unconscious."
"Warden is warden! Drop the 'deputy' already!" Hannyabal snapped. "Put Seastone handcuffs on him!"
"Yes, Deputy Warden."
Hannyabal.
Only when the Seastone cuffs clicked into place did the two of them finally relax.
Domino hauled Luffy toward the gates of Impel Down just as Magellan arrived.
"Magellan, what should we do? Should we report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Magellan's mouth twitched.
"Hannyabal, that's a stupid question. If you want to be warden someday, stop relying on tricks like this."
Hannyabal smacked his lips in disappointment.
"What a shame. Almost had you."
He took out a Den Den Mushi and quickly connected the call.
"Hannyabal? What happened?"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Ace was just sent off, and we immediately caught another pirate."
"Oh? Who would dare to break into Impel Down?"
Magellan glanced at Luffy lying on the ground.
"Straw Hat Pirates. Monkey D. Luffy."
Sengoku fell silent.
"…?"