Impel Down is located in the Calm Belt of the first half of the Grand Line.
As a prison housing heavy criminals and terrifyingly powerful inmates, security here is strict.
There are Jailer Beasts transformed from animals, along with numerous Den Den Mushi monitors, capable of suppressing any prisoner attempting to escape.
Over eight hundred years, only the Golden Lion has managed to escape using his own abilities.
If he weren't a Float-Float Fruit user, he likely wouldn't have succeeded either.
Because this is the Calm Belt, the prison is surrounded by seas teeming with active Sea Kings.
Before arriving, Raleigh had sent a message to Impel Down as per protocol, requesting they open the Gates of Justice.
Having received the message, Shiryu had been waiting for some time.
He led a group of soldiers to open Impel Down's main gate, facilitating Raleigh's entry.
At this point, Shiryu hadn't yet shown his bloodthirsty nature to its full extent, so he hadn't been stripped of his rank and imprisoned in Impel Down's sixth level.
However, some well-known powerful figures had already been locked away down there long before.
"Impel Down guards welcome Vice-Admiral Raleigh."
As soon as Raleigh's warship docked, Shiryu and his men saluted.
Standing on the deck, Raleigh looked down at Shiryu but said nothing.
This man... unusable, Raleigh thought. But for now, there is no need to take action against him.
"Let's see the prisoner."
Raleigh waved his hand, and Enel directed several strong soldiers to carry out Redfield, whose limbs had been disabled.
Shiryu glanced over, his eyebrows twitching in surprise.
The Red Count who had appeared intact in the newspapers had been reduced to this state in Raleigh's hands—his energy significantly diminished, his limbs broken.
He had to admit, he quite admired the notorious Vice-Admiral Raleigh's methods.
"Vice-Admiral Raleigh, would you accompany us to the Warden's office? Our Warden would like to meet you."
Raleigh's mind conjured the image of that man whose very breath seemed to spew poison—Magellan.
By all rights, Magellan shouldn't have become the Warden of Impel Down at his relatively young age.
The problem was that the previous Warden had abandoned his post to join Kaido's crew.
Left with no choice, Headquarters had to select a new Warden from among the current staff at Impel Down.
Magellan happened to be familiar with Impel Down, and Kong believed his Devil Fruit abilities were highly practical for a closed prison, with great potential for future growth.
Thus, he was exceptionally promoted to Warden.
Still, Raleigh was curious why Magellan had sought him out.
"Enel, you go with Head Jailer Shiryu to handle the handover. I'll head to their office," Raleigh said.
Shiryu dispatched several guards to escort Raleigh.
Coincidentally, among these guards was someone Raleigh recognized—Hannyabal, the man who would later try to stop Luffy.
At this time, Hannyabal seemed to have just become a guard.
Dressed in his standard uniform, he appeared cautious.
It was puzzling how he would later become someone constantly scheming to take Magellan's position as Warden.
"L-Lord Raleigh, could I have your autograph?"
As they walked through the stone corridors of Impel Down, Hannyabal couldn't contain his excitement any longer.
His eyes sparkled as he gazed at Raleigh!
This was the most famous rising star in the entire Navy—a Vice-Admiral who, in just a few years from the Four Blues to the Grand Line, had participated in numerous major events.
He had even clashed with every legendary pirate.
To serve such a person, Hannyabal felt today was truly his lucky day!
Raleigh was pleased too.
Who wouldn't enjoy being admired? Especially since he wasn't some old man—his mindset was still young.
"Give me a pen, and I'll sign for you."
Raleigh's attitude moved Hannyabal deeply. He pulled a pen and a rolled-up poster from his pocket.
"Please sign here!"
Raleigh stared at the poster, momentarily stunned.
It was his most widely circulated photo—the one taken when he was promoted to Vice-Admiral, declaring war on all the pirates in the world!
"Such nostalgia," Raleigh murmured.
Taking the poster, memories flashed through his mind.
Along this journey, he had faced countless enemies and met many like-minded comrades.
The only reason he could still stand here was thanks to the system's support.
Without it, no amount of training would have allowed him to surpass Borsalino.
Ever since their childhood days of loafing around together, Raleigh had known that the term "genius" existed for a reason.
Geniuses didn't need to put in excessive effort to reach heights others could never achieve, no matter how hard they tried.
Just like how Sakazuki and Borsalino mastered the Navy Six Styles upon first sight, while others couldn't learn them no matter what.
But one cheat in this world was enough—Raleigh wouldn't tolerate another.
Fortunately, the real cheat hadn't been born yet, so Raleigh still had plenty of time to make preparations.
That guy's growth speed was truly astonishing.
Sun God—Nika.
Though lost in thought, his hand moved swiftly, writing on the poster.
He added a message: "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier."
Raleigh borrowed others' words and wrote them on this poster, finally signing it as Christian Raleigh.
Hannyabal felt flattered as he received the poster back
. Reading the famous quote on it, Hannyabal felt his soul being struck.
He had always been rather timid; if not for his cowardice, he wouldn't have voluntarily applied to become a guard at Impel Down.
After all, among those who trained with him, some chose to serve in the Grand Line, others in the Four Blues.
Only he, fearing combat with free-roaming pirates, ended up in this underwater fortress.
Now, Raleigh's words planted a seed in his heart.
Perhaps even Raleigh couldn't anticipate that his appearance would prematurely change Hannyabal's mindset, making him develop ambitions to become the Prison Warden early on.
"Lord Raleigh, I have a poster here too!"
"Lord Raleigh, please sign my clothes!"
"Lord Raleigh!"
Seeing Hannyabal obtain Raleigh's signature along with a personalized message, the other young guards grew envious.
They all clamored for Raleigh to sign for them too. Raleigh was happy to engage with them in this situation.
The first level of Impel Down wasn't large—it resembled a tiered cake, growing larger the further down one went, with the upper structures being relatively small.
Thus, Raleigh's group quickly reached the large vertical elevator.
With mechanical clanking sounds echoing, they descended directly to the Warden's office on the fourth underground level.
"Vice-Admiral Raleigh, we've arrived at the Warden's office."
As if standing before their superior's door, they all regained their formal composure.
Only Hannyabal's expression remained somewhat complicated before he quietly whispered.
"Lord Raleigh... Warden Magellan is a good man. If you notice any strange odors, please don't blame him."
Raleigh knew the reason, so he took a deep breath to indicate his understanding.
Then Hannyabal pushed open the heavy door, and Raleigh entered the spacious yet dim office.