Looking back to Bai Yu.
The G5's massive warship sailed steadily, following the Navy's specialized Calm Belt route, heading toward Impel Down.
The G5 branch wasn't far from the underwater prison—close, even, by naval standards. With full-speed sailing and aided by the sea lions and Sea Kings tamed by Bai Yu himself, the journey would take less than a day.
Thanks to the sea creatures pulling the warship and the vessel's inherent ability to mask itself from Sea King detection, there was little danger of monster attacks along the way.
"Lieutenant General Bai Yu, as per your instructions, thirty new muskets have been selected and distributed among thirty elite personnel," Koby reported as he stepped onto the deck beside Bai Yu.
Of the hundred G5 soldiers accompanying them, only thirty were equipped with muskets due to limited supply. Bai Yu had ordered Koby to pick the most capable individuals to wield them.
Koby, Helmeppo, and Maya didn't need the new weapons. Each already possessed unique abilities suited to combat.
As for the three newly developed artillery turrets—thanks to the foresight of the meticulous technician, Lie Qing—they were equipped with wheeled bases, making them easily deployable on either ship or land.
"Understood," Bai Yu nodded, his gaze lingering on the vast horizon. He remained silent, lost in thought.
Maya approached, a trace of concern in her expression. "Bai Yu, is something bothering you?"
"No," Bai Yu replied. "But every time I return to sea, I get a feeling... this time, it won't be a peaceful journey."
It was an instinctual warning—a sixth sense honed by countless battles and survival in the Pirate World.
Since arriving in this world, Bai Yu had already seen the ripple effect of his existence. Events once set in stone had shifted. He couldn't be certain the Impel Down operation would play out as originally depicted: with Luffy's chaotic infiltration and Blackbeard's unexpected turn.
He could handle Luffy and even the immature Marshall D. Teach.
But what truly concerned him was the butterfly effect caused by his presence. His sixth sense rarely failed him.
Shaking his head, Bai Yu dismissed the thought. There was no benefit in overthinking.
After a full day of quiet sailing, they arrived at the outer perimeter of Impel Down late at night.
Unlike standard prisons, Impel Down was a fortress in the sea—an iron citadel surrounded by towering walls and natural defenses.
The outermost layer was guarded by an ecosystem of massive Sea Kings, a living shield that attacked intruders en masse if provoked.
Beyond the Sea Kings lay a colossal metal gate embedded in a circular wall. This was the only entrance. The gate could only be opened from the inside, via a communicator on the outer platform.
Beyond the gate stood the infamous vertical prison tower of Impel Down.
The prison had six primary levels descending into the sea. Only the uppermost platform touched the ocean's surface. Levels were designated LV1 through LV6, with each lower level housing increasingly dangerous criminals.
Ace was held in LV6—infinite hell.
Thanks to the guiding sea creatures and the warship's stealth tech, Bai Yu and his crew arrived undetected and unchallenged.
Boom.
A low rumble echoed as the massive metal door opened from within. They had notified Impel Down in advance.
Bai Yu's ship passed through, and the gate shut behind them with a metallic clang.
Shortly after, they arrived at the main dock of the prison.
Bai Yu disembarked with Maya, Koby, and Helmeppo. The rest of the G5 unit remained on standby aboard the warship.
"You're the vice admiral sent to escort Portgas D. Ace?" came a stern voice.
Approaching them were two figures—Magellan, the prison's fearsome warden, and his deputy, Hannyabal.
Magellan had spoken.
"I'm Bai Yu," he replied with a polite nod.
"These are the official transfer papers from HQ," Koby said, stepping forward and handing the documents to Magellan.
Magellan scanned them quickly and raised an eyebrow. "You're a day early."
The public execution of Ace was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The escort was meant to commence the following morning.
"The headquarters ordered me to arrive early as a precaution," Bai Yu explained calmly.
"Hmph! Precaution?" Magellan scoffed. "With me in charge, this place is unbreakable."
Bai Yu simply smiled, offering no rebuttal.
"Follow me. We've prepared a room for you."
"Before that," Bai Yu interjected, "may I see Portgas D. Ace?"
Magellan paused, his expression unreadable. "Only you may enter. Hannyabal will guide you."
With that, Magellan turned and left.
"Don't mind him," Hannyabal said, waving awkwardly. "He's always like that. Someday, I'll replace him... Oh! I said that out loud again!"
Because only Bai Yu had permission to see Ace, Maya, Koby, and Helmeppo were escorted to the rest quarters.
Bai Yu followed Hannyabal into the interior of the prison, stepping into the descending elevator.
Each floor of Impel Down bore its own terrifying nickname:
LV1 – Crimson Hell. LV2 – Beast Hell. LV3 – Hunger Hell. LV4 – Blazing Hell. LV5 – Freezing Hell. LV6 – Infinite Hell.
Guided by Hannyabal, Bai Yu arrived at the lowest level.
The hallway stretched on endlessly, dimly lit and eerie. Iron-barred cells lined both sides, housing infamous criminals with bounties exceeding 100 million.
"I'll wait here," Hannyabal said. "Ace is in the last cell at the end."
"Thank you," Bai Yu said, and began walking.
CLANG! CLANG!
"A Navy dog?!"
"Come closer, I'll snap your neck!"
"I'll rip you apart, brat!"
Prisoners growled and slammed into their cell bars, shouting threats as Bai Yu passed. The deeper he went, the more savage the aura became.
Still, he walked on, unfazed. Toward the man whose fate could spark a war.
Portgas D. Ace.
End of Chapter.
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