After settling the commotion, Ian left the now-quiet mixed cell block and casually flipped open the prisoner roster.
"Cell Block 4… highest bounty: 9.31 million berries.
Lowest: 3.64 million.
Not a single one above ten million."
He rubbed his chin.
"All of them only give two-star Bronze Chests.
So if the threshold is bounty value…
Does that mean everyone under ten million only drops Bronze?"
He needed confirmation.
So he went to find the inmate with the highest bounty currently in Red-Lotus Hell—
twelve million berries.
That was the ceiling of this floor.
A ceiling that, before Ian, was as fragile as thin paper.
He made up a reason to beat the inmate down—
"Today I don't like people who wear black-and-white stripes."
A few simple exchanges later, the man was lying unconscious.
The moment the prisoner collapsed, a gleaming Silver Chest materialized before Ian.
"As expected."
Finishing his routine patrol, Ian returned to Level 1.
"Under ten million: Bronze.
Ten million and above: Silver."
This discovery forced Ian to revise his treasure-hunting plan.
As the Warden of Red-Lotus Hell, he had authority—
but Red-Lotus simply didn't have many prisoners worth more than ten million.
Beast Hell, Level 2, however, averaged 15 million per inmate.
Every one of them would be a Silver Chest.
"No… wait."
Ian suddenly froze.
"Silver Chests are already losing value for me."
His Physique and Clay-Clay Fruit were both at Four Stars.
A mere Three-Star Silver Chest couldn't upgrade anything above that.
What he needed now—
Were higher-tier chests.
Gold Chests.
He mentally reviewed Impel Down's prisoner structure.
Red-Lotus Hell: mostly under 10 million.
Beast Hell: around 15 million.
Hunger Hell, Level 3: even the weakest were 50 million.
"To hunt higher-tier chests, I at least need access to Level 3…"
His eyes sharpened.
"But if ten-million-class pirates only generate Silver Chests…
Then I need Level 5—Freezing Hell."
Every inmate in Freezing Hell was over 100 million.
In the first half of the Grand Line, each one could've been a Supernova.
Ian recalled the battered Sadie he had met earlier at the elevator.
He didn't hesitate—he dialed the Fourth Floor, Blazing Hell.
"Warden! I crave opponents with real value!"
"…What? I don't understand."
"I want a promotion!"
"…"
"Warden, I heard Sadie was attacked by the Jailer Beasts!"
gurgle—
"…I deeply regret that."
blorp blorp—
"But the prison can't stop functioning.
I'm willing to take on riskier assignments—
Please assign me to the Jailer Beasts!"
crackle crackle—
The noise from the other end was so unpleasant Ian's forehead twitched violently.
"Warden! Stop flushing! I'm scared!"
whoooooosh—
With a loud flush, Magellan finally emerged from the restroom, faint purple fumes drifting off him.
"Sorry about that. Rough battle.
Seems the chicken soup I had this morning poisoned me again."
Ian's mouth twitched.
You praised that soup earlier—'perfectly seasoned' was what you said…
"Warden," Ian tried to advise sincerely,
"If you can't stomach poisonous chicken soup… maybe don't drink it."
"Hahaha! But that's the thing—I'm picky!"
Magellan laughed heartily.
"As a Poison-Man, my favorite food is poison!"
Ian was speechless.
If he ever poisoned Magellan…
would that be considered feeding him or assassinating him?
Magellan continued proudly:
"Isn't there a saying? Something like… 'fight poison with poison'?"
"That's exactly why you've been glued to the toilet!"
Ian snapped, unable to hold back.
"How can a poison-man get poisoned?!
That's like a cobra accidentally killing itself with its own venom!"
"…Ian, when did you become so sharp-tongued?"
Magellan blinked.
"Has Hannibal's bad influence gotten to you?"
"I—"
Ian shut his mouth just in time and dragged the topic back.
"Warden! I want a promotion!"
"I knew it!" Magellan groaned, holding his stomach.
"Hannibal's ambition is contagious…"
Ian immediately stepped several meters back on his own—
No need for Domino to yank him away.
He wasn't about to inhale any poisonous sighs.
"Haha!"
Magellan chuckled at Ian's cautious posture.
"You're cleverer than Hannibal, at least."
"Warden, about Sadie—"
"I know."
Magellan's tone steadied, slipping back into the majesty of Impel Down's chief warden.
Playfulness aside, he quickly processed the situation:
This rookie—barely one week into the job—
had pointed straight at Impel Down's biggest current issue.
They were short on manpower.
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