After sending Ivankov away, Roya sighed and gave Blackbeard a light kick. Deriding him, he said, "No need to play dead. I won't kill you—stand up."
Blackbeard sniffed, sprang up, and went from his previous mania to a sheepish grin. "Vice Captain, I'll join you in storming the Navy HQ. Even if I die, I'll help you rescue Captain Ace!"
Squard and McGuy turned their eyes skyward—Blackbeard's shamelessness shocked them again.
Roya gave a cold laugh. "You're despicable. Killing you would sully my hands. I'm leaving your life to Ace. When I rescue him, he'll deal with you personally." He turned away. "For now, enjoy whatever moments remain."
Blackbeard remained unfazed. His mushy tone matched the giant's. "Vice Captain, I swear—I'd let Captain Ace kill me if it helps save him!"
Roya merely shook his head, ignored him, and stepped toward the Navy flagship moored at the prison. Magellan, San Juan Wold, and Jinbe followed him aboard, while Squard, McGuy, and Boa Hancock each took their own pirate ship. Crocodile, Buggy, and the rest were already waiting on deck.
At Roya's signal, San Juan Wolf howled. Seven Navy ships and three pirate vessels formed a small fleet and set off toward the edge of the calm waters.
Blackbeard's clownish smile faded, replaced by madness. He fumbled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Admiral Senguko number. Muttering, "You'd think these things exist," he phoned again—but silence. His Den Den Mushi had gone completely unresponsive.
"Do it! Get your Den Den Mushis and try again! Go find the comms room and contact HQ!" he roared. His voice echoed over the waves—but nobody heard.
Then, like an army emerging from the depths, whale sharks swarmed around his raft and began chowing down in roaring waves, splitting the timbers to bits.
---
Back at Navy HQ, Lucci knocked again on Senguko office door—this time with unmistakably gleeful eyes.
He strode inside. "Sir, latest intel: Blackbeard has suddenly attacked Impel Down with Magellan trapping Roya between the third and fourth levels. If our operation at HQ succeeds, we might even reinforce Impel Down in time to wipe out this future threat."
Senguko banged the desk. "Excellent!" Standing, he asked, "Any updates on Whitebeard?"
Lucci frowned. "Sir, the Moby Dick is unlike Impel Down—we haven't been able to plant any assets aboard, no time or opportunity."
Senguko clenched his jaw. "Doesn't matter. The tide is in our favor."
He turned to inspect the HQ's battle map. Lucci slipped out without a word.
---
Down on Level 1, Hannyabal edged toward the secret room's door and said to Sadi, "It's gotten quiet outside. We can go out and take charge now, right?"
Elated, he barely contained a laugh. Sadi cleared her throat. "According to our four loyal kids: Roya left with most of the prisoners. But not everyone—over eighty percent were abandoned here."
Hannyabal's eyes lit with ambition. "If we re-arrest them, I could become warden in Magellan's place!"
Sadi flicked her whip. "Warden, shall we take a tour of your office?" she teased.
He burst out laughing and flung open the door—only to bump headfirst into Blackbeard, swarming the hall in desperate agitation.
Blackbeard grabbed Hannyabal's collar in fury. "Where's the comms room? How do we contact HQ?"
Hannyabal stammered, "You can't. All comms at Impel Down are down. Nobody outside knows what's happening."
Blackbeard collapsed his shoulders. "Then nothing can stop Roya from marching on HQ?"
Hannyabal eyes gleamed with danger. "The Gate of Justice at Mary Geoise... It's tall and sturdy. As of yesterday, HQ has recalled Vice Admirals and sealed the gate—no one's opening it under any circumstances."
Blackbeard jerked alert. Blood surged. "Destroy all boards and planks in here—build another mega raft!" In an instant, his pirate crew spilled into the prison, recruiting the abandoned inmates to fashion lumber rafts.
---
On the flagship, Jinbe approached Magellan, saying thoughtfully, "Earlier at Impel Down… what secret did you set for Roia?"
Magellan's pupils narrowed. "How do you know…?"
Jinbe smiled. "Knowing you… you'd never risk relying purely on visible defenses."
Magellan sighed. "At the entrance, I set silent, tasteless knockout gas. But as you saw—it did nothing."
Jinbe nodded. "Maybe all your poisons and toxins were just another form of energy to Roya. When someone masters the essence of energy, traditional poison means nothing."
Magellan paused and agreed, "True. Only if one's energy is far stronger than theirs can it gain the upper hand."
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