"Warden Magellan, Vice Admiral Momonga's warship has arrived near the Gates of Justice!"
"Already here, huh..."
Magellan, seated in his office, opened his eyes and stood up. "Open the Gates of Justice and let them in!"
"Yes, sir!"
The communications officer nodded and quickly left.
Judging by his expression, he seemed to be fleeing in panic—as if... there was something terrifying in this office.
"Pirate Empress..."
Magellan stroked his chin. "Do you think her real purpose for coming to Impel Down is just to see Fire Fist... Ace?"
"How would we know?" the jailer replied helplessly.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter. As long as I personally supervise her, she won't be able to—"
Before Magellan could finish, his stomach suddenly rumbled, causing his expression to shift immediately.
"Damn it, of all times..."
The other jailers paled at the sight and, with practiced efficiency, donned gas masks. "Quick, bring the Mobile Outhouse!"
Having worked here for years, they were well aware of their superior's condition.
The warden, who had eaten the Venom-Venom Fruit, suffered from unpredictable bouts of diarrhea—something they had long grown accustomed to.
"Whew..."
Magellan exhaled deeply as he settled onto the Mobile Outhouse.
"Ahhh, relief!"
The jailers:
Hearing the sounds from inside, the jailers exchanged complicated expressions.
"Warden, sir... will you still be able to receive the Pirate Empress?" one jailer cautiously asked.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders were for Warden Magellan to personally escort Boa Hancock the entire time, ensuring that any issues could be swiftly dealt with.
But in his current state... it didn't seem like he could leave.
"How can I go like this?" Magellan groaned. "Send Hannyabal in my place. And make sure Boa Hancock wears Seastone Handcuffs."
Hannyabal was plenty strong, and with the Seastone restraints, there shouldn't be any problems.
With that thought, Magellan gradually relaxed.
Of course, by the time he finished his business, they'd probably have taken the elevator down to Level 4.
"Understood! I'll notify Deputy Warden Hannyabal immediately!" the jailer said.
"Wait." Magellan suddenly remembered something. "Once they reach Level 4, have Hannyabal bring them to me."
Going to Level 6 required his presence to keep the unruly prisoners in check—otherwise, they might cause trouble.
"Got it!"
"Don't worry, tell him I'll be done soon—"
Before Magellan could finish, his stomach churned violently again, and his face twisted in discomfort.
"Run—run now!"
Seeing the purple fumes rising, the jailers bolted.
Even with gas masks, they didn't dare stay near Warden Magellan at a time like this—unless they wanted to be poisoned to death!
Hearing the commotion outside, Magellan sighed deeply.
If he'd known it was the Venom-Venom Fruit, he would've never eaten it!
Damn it!!
"Creak."
"Hummm..."
With the command issued, the Gates of Justice in the Impel Down area slowly opened, releasing the ocean currents outside.
The warship began moving along the massive current, rushing toward Impel Down at incredible speed.
"Is that Impel Down?"
Boa Hancock, standing by the window and surveying the distant scene, frowned. "Quite the spectacle."
There were at least ten warships visible—almost on the scale of a Buster Call!
With so many forces stationed here, could Meiser and the others really escape smoothly?
At this thought, a look of concern flashed across Hancock's face.
Just then, Vice Admiral Momonga's voice came from outside the door.
"Boa Hancock, we've arrived at Impel Down," Momonga said. "You may come out now."
Standing a meter away from the door, the vice admiral kept his distance, not even approaching the window.
"This concubine understands," Hancock replied.
After rubbing her face to regain her composure, Hancock pushed the door open and stepped out.
"Follow me," Momonga said, turning toward the connecting platform. "We don't have much time—we must hurry."
Their luck wasn't great this time; the current was noticeably slower than before, leaving them pressed for time.
Once this woman finished visiting Fire Fist Ace, they would need to depart immediately for Marine Headquarters.
"What's the rush?"
"We're running behind schedule," Momonga explained without turning around.
Hearing this, Hancock instinctively frowned but said nothing, merely casting a worried glance toward the Gates of Justice.
"Meiser..."
"Thank you for your hard work, Vice Admiral Momonga!"
"Hmm."
Listening to the voices from the surrounding warships, Momonga nodded calmly.
"Wow, everyone, look! Isn't that the legendary Pirate Empress?"
"So beautiful..."
"If someone like her could be my wife, I'd gladly give up ten years of my life!"
"You fool! Thinking just ten years is enough to earn Hancock-sama's favor?" one marine shouted. "Where's your resolve?!"
"I'd give my entire lifespan!!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
"Hancock-sama!!!"
"These idiots..."
Listening to the clamor around them, Momonga felt a headache coming on.
Did they really think this woman was some harmless lamb?
She was a viper!
"How annoying," Hancock muttered, eyeing the crowd. "Nothing but noisy trash."
"Can I turn them all to stone?"
Momonga: "..."
Of course she'd say that.
Sighing, Momonga turned to face her. "Please spare me the trouble. If more people turn into stone statues, it'll bring shame to the Marines."
If this woman really petrified all these fools, he'd never live it down.
Hancock snorted but refrained from turning any more marines to stone.
After all... now wasn't the time to cause too much chaos. It might interfere with Meiser's plans.
Seeing this, Momonga relaxed slightly. As long as she didn't act recklessly, everything else was manageable.
Vice Admiral Momonga then said seriously, "You should still remember what I discussed with you earlier, right?"
"Are you referring to the Sea-stone Handcuffs?"
"Yes," Vice Admiral Momonga nodded. "Moreover, after entering, you'll also need to undergo a body search."
"Body search?"
"Correct, a body search," Vice Admiral Momonga explained. "Don't overthink it—this isn't targeted at you specifically. Every visitor here receives the same treatment."
After a brief pause, he continued, "But rest assured, the body search will be conducted by female guards of Impel Down."
Hancock remained silent, her expression unreadable as she stared at Vice Admiral Momonga until a bead of sweat trickled down his face. Only then did she speak:
"This concubine understands."
"Good."
Vice Admiral Momonga sighed in relief, thinking to himself, What a difficult woman to deal with...
If there was a next time, he definitely wouldn't volunteer to escort this troublesome woman.
Let someone else handle it!
Suppressing his thoughts, Vice Admiral Momonga said, "Let's go. The sooner we finish, the better."
With that, he turned and headed toward the main entrance of Impel Down.
Creak—
Hummm—
As the massive gates opened, a pitch-black tunnel stretched before Hancock.
"Impel Down..."
Even standing at the entrance, the oppressive atmosphere was palpable. Truly a place worthy of being called the pirates' hell.
"Lady Hancock, please be careful on your way!"
"Silence, you insects," Hancock said coldly.
"Ah—!"
"Even when scolding us, Lady Hancock is breathtakingly beautiful!"
Rather than taking offense, the marines grew even more excited, swaying enthusiastically on the ship.
After all... Hancock was simply too beautiful.
"What a noisy bunch."
Listening to Hancock's words, Vice Admiral Momonga felt a headache coming on. Fortunately, she didn't cause any further trouble.
Soon, the two passed through the long corridor of Impel Down and entered its inner chambers.
The moment they stepped inside, agonized screams filled the air.
"Help! Someone save me!"
"Kill... Kill me already!"
"Please, I beg you! I won't do it again!"
"I don't want to go into that boiling water—I'll die!"
"AHHH—!"
The screams alone were enough to make one's scalp tingle.
This suffocating atmosphere... Vice Admiral Momonga's expression darkened as he glanced around, thinking, So this is Impel Down—the pirates' hell.
Even as a Navy Vice Admiral, he felt uneasy in such a place.
It must be truly difficult for the marines stationed here.
Living in this environment year-round must take a massive psychological toll.
Unlike the grim-faced Vice Admiral Momonga, Hancock didn't so much as flinch at the screams.
After all... she was a woman who had crawled back from hell itself!
Just then, Hannyabal approached with Domino in tow.
"Welcome, both of you, to my Impel Down!"
"Ah—!"
"Oops, saying 'my' just exposed my ambition," Hannyabal corrected himself. "Currently, I am the Deputy Warden of Impel Down. Pleased to meet you."
Is this man an idiot?
Hancock frowned at Hannyabal, wondering if there was something wrong with his brain.
"I am Momonga."
Vice Admiral Momonga shook hands with Hannyabal and said, "Time is of the essence. Let's begin immediately."
"Agreed."
"This is Deputy Warden Domino," Hannyabal gestured to the woman beside him. "The two of us will guide you both this time."
"When we reach Level 4 of the prison, that bastard Magellan—"
"Ah, I mean, Warden Magellan will escort you to the final level."
After speaking, Hannyabal glanced at Domino, signaling her to take Hancock for the security check.
"Vice Admiral, please accompany Deputy Warden Hannyabal for the inspection," Domino said. "Lady Hancock, come with me."
Hancock's eyes flickered with surprise as she watched Vice Admiral Momonga leave with Hannyabal. She hadn't expected a Navy Vice Admiral to undergo a security check as well.
At Impel Down, shouldn't the Navy be considered allies?
Perhaps sensing her thoughts, Domino explained, "At Impel Down, everyone who enters must undergo a security check before proceeding further."
"This is the rule—even the Navy must comply!"
It was precisely because of this rule that Impel Down had never faced issues caused by outsiders.
Hancock remained silent for a moment before nodding. "This concubine understands."
"I'm glad you do," Domino sighed in relief.
She then led Hancock deeper into the prison.
Noticing Hancock's curious gaze at the Sea Stone fence and the cells beyond, Domino explained, "Any prisoners brought here are sent inside."
Pointing to the cells, she continued, "They are then pushed into the 100-degree Hell Hot Spring for purification."
"After sterilization, they are assigned to cells on various levels."
"So that's the source of those screams?"
"Yes," Domino nodded. "Though some don't even flinch during the process."
"Like former Warlord Crocodile, the Knight of the Sea Jimbei, and... the one you're here to see—Fire Fist Ace!"
"Those men's composure is truly admirable."
"Alright, we're here."
Pushing open the door ahead, Domino stepped inside and said, "I'll conduct the security check here. Please cooperate."
As she spoke, she glanced at Hancock's attire and added, "Don't worry, I won't do anything unnecessary."
"However... you'll need to wear these Seastone Handcuffs first."
"Seastone Handcuffs..."
Hancock narrowed her eyes at the cuffs and keys hanging on the wall.
"Very well. This concubine will comply."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Impel Down...
The clown Buggy was putting his escape plan into motion.
Glancing at his oblivious cellmates, he silently crept to the door. Activating his Devil Fruit ability, he slipped free of his restraints and squeezed through the bars.
"Hmph, those Navy fools," Buggy grinned after emerging outside. "They never guessed this great Buggy-sama is a Devil Fruit user!"
Thanks to his years of laying low in East Blue, he had never revealed his Devil Fruit powers.
Otherwise, the Marines would definitely slap Seastone Handcuffs on him!
At this thought, Buggy couldn't stop his ringing laughter.
Just then, the pirates in the cells noticed Buggy in the corridor and were instantly dumbfounded.
"Huh?!"
"Buggy? How the hell did this guy get outside?"
"Dammit, is this bastard a Devil Fruit user?"
"Shut up, you lot." Buggy glanced back at them and said, "This great Buggy's breaking out now, no time to waste chitchatting with you."
"Bastard, you're abandoning us?!"
"Abandoning?"
Buggy tilted his head and looked at them. "Don't joke around. Since when were we ever that close?"
"You bastard, you can't just run off and leave us behind!"
"Yahahaha, and what about it?" Buggy planted his hands on his hips and laughed. "If you're not happy about it, try escaping like this great Buggy!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Can't do it?" Buggy turned around, slapped his own buttocks mockingly, and jeered, "What a shame~ You lot can just die here then!"
"Yahahaha!"
Buggy's taunting demeanor was absolutely infuriating, making the pirates wish they could rush out and beat him to death.
But alas, trapped behind bars, they couldn't get out at all.
"Looks like you're real mad~" Buggy grinned. "Too bad you can't even touch this great Buggy!"
"Yahahaha!"
"Later, idiots!"
With those words, Buggy fled into the distance without hesitation.
"A mere Impel Down can't stop this great Buggy!"