CHAPTER 7
Ren's mission had two purposes:
1. To fulfill the former Ren's final wish — to visit his father and ask him a question.
2. To recruit new crew members from Impel Down's darkest depths.
Impel Down — Level Six
When they arrived, the agents were assigned to various sections. Ren followed the last group down to Level Six.
"You," the leader said, pointing to him. "Go to the vice warden and collect the record of the remaining prisoners."
Ren nodded silently and walking towards the elevator calmly.
---
Walking out of the elevator, Ren exhaled slightly, relieved to be away from the leader's presence. He headed toward the vice warden's office.
He knocked once.
A bandaged man with an Egyptian-like appearance stepped out, irritation already written across his face.
"What do you want, you government dog?" the vice warden — Hannyabal — snapped, his hostility spilling onto Ren, who only blinked in confusion.
"Mr. Brick told me to collect the record of prisoners and a map of Impel Down," Ren replied calmly.
"Check the drawer inside," Hannyabal muttered and walked off.
Inside, Ren found racks of confiscated items: weapons, den-den mushi, guns, keys, documents — trophies taken from criminals. His eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he swept everything into his subspace.
After clearing the room, his attention fell on a large file labeled:
"REMAINING PRISONERS — LEVEL 6."
He flipped through quickly, scanning name after name — until one page made his hand freeze.
ASTROD RUST.
The man in the photo looked like an older version of someone Ren recognized — the father of his ex from his previous life.
---
Five Years Ago — Earth
(now known as Barou)
"Good morning sir, I'm Mitsuki Barou," a younger Ren introduced himself.
The man stared straight at him, expression firm and cold.
"What is your occupation?"
No warmth. No acknowledgment.
Just judgment.
---
Sweat formed on Ren's back as the memory resurfaced. Thinking about it now, it was obvious. He should have realized the truth about that girl from the very beginning.
He closed the file.
No hesitation.
He returned upstairs and handed the documents to Mr. Brick.
"Good. You stand guard at the gate until departure," the leader ordered.
Ren moved to his assigned post. Once the agents left and the surveillance snails turned away, he slipped through the door and navigated the shadows, avoiding every transponder snail's line of sight.
Eventually, he reached the supply room.
Several guards were carrying trays of food toward the cell blocks. Ren silently knocked out the guard at the back of the group, took his clothing, and joined the line.
Moving deeper, he delivered trays one by one.
In one cell, he paused. The prisoners inside were little more than empty shells — bodies without spirit. Using Observation Haki, he confirmed their mental collapse. No malice, just hollow existence.
He continued.
Then he stopped before another cell.
A man sat against the wall, wrists chained with heavy shackles. Sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks — barely recognizable.
But Ren knew the face.
It was the same man from the file.
Astro D. Rust.
Ren stared — not out of emotion, but to confirm. To verify identity. To understand the situation.
A hand suddenly clapped his shoulder. Ren jolted.
"Boy, what are you standing around for? Keep moving," the government officers barked.