"These are your shirt and hat." Inazuma handed a set of clothes to Luffy. "Put them on."
"Thanks."
After retrieving his hat, Luffy let out a long sigh of relief.
At that moment, Crocodile approached with a chuckle. "Long time no see~"
"Straw Hat Boy!"
"Huh?"
Turning to see Crocodile's familiar face, Luffy froze momentarily before exclaiming in disbelief, "Crocodile?!"
"Why are you here?!"
Crocodile:...
Luffy's words left Crocodile utterly speechless.
He'd been standing beside that ninja brat for at least twenty minutes, and this Straw Hat kid hadn't noticed him?
Had he... been completely ignored?
With that thought, Crocodile remarked, "Still the same rude brat, I see."
Ignoring Crocodile's comment, Luffy frowned and demanded, "Hey, are you still planning to attack Vivi's country?!"
As he spoke, Luffy clenched his fists, clearly preparing for a fight.
If this guy still intended to harm his friend, he wouldn't hesitate to defeat him again!
"Hmph, I've lost interest in that country," Crocodile snorted.
After recent events, he no longer cared about the Ancient Weapons.
"Is that so."
Taking Crocodile at his word, Luffy nodded. "Good."
As long as the other man wasn't targeting Vivi's homeland, he had no interest in fighting—there simply wasn't time to waste now.
"Meiser, let's go," Luffy said. "We need to hurry to Level 5 to save Ace."
"Ace isn't there anymore."
"Huh?"
Meiser's words made Luffy pause. "What do you mean, not there?"
"While you were unconscious, I went to Level 6 with Ivankov and the others," Meiser explained. "But we couldn't find Ace there."
"So we think Magellan must have taken him away earlier."
As he spoke, a look of frustration crossed Meiser's face.
Who could've predicted the warden would act so quickly?
The man probably hadn't even changed his pants before rushing down to retrieve Ace.
Wouldn't put it past him.
"Taken away already...?"
Luffy's expression darkened immediately. Did this mean they were too late?
"Don't panic. We still have a chance," Meiser reassured. "If we can reach Marine Headquarters before Ace's public execution, we can rescue him together with the Whitebeard Pirates."
Timing-wise, they should arrive at Marine Headquarters around the same time as Whitebeard's crew.
Even if the Marines dispatched all three Admirals, they might not be able to stop them now.
"Yeah, let's go to Marine Headquarters and save Ace!" Luffy declared. "We still have time, right?!"
"Yes, there's enough time."
Ivankov nodded. "If we leave now, we'll make it."
There were still at least five or six hours before Fire Fist Ace's execution. That was more than enough time for them to break out of Impel Down and charge straight to Marine Headquarters!
"Then let's go!"
"Right!"
"This old man will lend his strength too!" Jimbei, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.
"And who are you?"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion as he looked at the blue-skinned giant standing before him.
"This old man is Jimbei," he replied. "A friend of your brother, Fire Fist Ace."
"Ace's friend, huh..."
Luffy fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, come with us!"
"Gladly!"
A smile spread across Jimbei's face. "This old man will give everything to save Ace!"
No matter what, he couldn't just stand by and watch Ace die at the hands of the Marines.
So... even if it cost him his life, he would rescue Ace!
Luffy grinned, baring his teeth—then suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Luffy: ???
"Wha... What's going on? My body won't move..." Luffy muttered weakly, lying face-down. "What happened to me?"
"You're exhausted," Ivankov sighed. "Without a few days of rest, you won't recover."
"I can't do that!" Luffy said urgently. "I have to save Ace—I can't just collapse here!"
"Damn it, move!"
As Luffy struggled desperately to stand, Ivankov watched in silence.
Finally, he spoke. "I can use Stimulation Hormones to give you the strength to move. But after a day, the backlash will be far worse."
"Do it!" Luffy said firmly, locking eyes with Ivankov.
Whatever came later, he'd deal with it then. Right now, he had to save Ace!
Ivankov fell silent again as he saw the determination in Luffy's eyes.
He understood this man's resolve—knew there was no way he'd just sit here and wait for days before escaping.
In that case... they'd have to go all out!
"Very well," Ivankov declared. "Then I'll lend you my strength!"
Clink!
As soon as he spoke, the fingers of his right hand transformed into five syringe needles.
Seeing this, Crocodile instinctively took a step back—but then, realizing how cowardly that looked, he subtly shifted his foot back into place.
Luckily, no one noticed.
"Prepare yourself, Straw Hat Boy!" Ivankov shouted.
Thwip!
His hand stabbed into Luffy's body, injecting the Stimulation Hormones directly into his system.
A moment later...
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
"REVIVAL!!!"
Luffy roared as energy surged back into his body, leaping to his feet.
"With this adrenaline boost, you won't feel fatigue for an entire day," Ivankov explained.
"That's perfect!" Luffy said.
Luffy then turned to Ivankov and asked, "Ivan-chan, do you want to leave with us?"
"Bon-chan came down here for you."
He remembered Bon Clay mentioning this back on the third level.
"Shahaha!"
"I know! The ninja boy already told me about it!"
"Meiser told you, huh?"
Luffy glanced at Meiser, who gave him a nod before he turned back to Ivankov. "So, what's your decision?"
"Of course I'm leaving with you!" Ivankov laughed heartily.
After going through so much trouble to save Dragon's son, how could he just stand by and do nothing while the boy charged straight into Marine Headquarters?
So he had to go with them to Marine Headquarters!
And if possible, he'd even rescue Ace-boy along the way. Ivankov thought to himself.
That way, both of Dragon's sons could survive!
"Then let's go together!" Luffy grinned, baring his teeth.
"Ooooh!!"
Just then, Bon Clay stirred weakly and raised a trembling hand. "T-take... take me with you..."
"Of course we're taking you," Meiser walked over to Bon Clay and looked down at him. "You're Luffy's savior. We'd never leave you behind."
After saying that, he turned to Ivankov. "Lady Ivan, find someone strong to carry him while we run."
"I'll handle Magellan."
"Got it."
Ivankov nodded and signaled for a towering, muscular man over two meters tall to carry Bon Clay.
"Handle Magellan?"
Crocodile frowned as he watched them, thinking to himself, Is he relying on that undying body of his?
At this moment, Crocodile was genuinely curious about the nature of that so-called undying body.
"No, Lord Ivan... I don't want to be carried," Bon Clay struggled to speak. "I don't want to be a burden... I want to keep fighting!"
"Bon-chan, you're not a burden—"
"No, Xiao Meiser, I have to fight!" Bon Clay insisted, staring firmly at Meiser. "I have to contribute my share of strength!!"
As a friend, how could he back down now?
So he had to stand up!
Ivankov sighed at Bon Clay's stubbornness before bursting into laughter. "You're all so damn stubborn!"
"But... I like it!"
"Shahaha!"
"Stimulation Hormone!"
Thwip!
His right hand transformed into five syringes and jabbed into Bon Clay, making his eyes bulge from the pain.
"Ow... OW!!"
"Ah, sorry! Wrong spot!"
Watching Bon Clay writhe on the ground in agony, Meiser was rendered speechless.
This guy really knows how to pick the worst places...
Still, there was no denying the effectiveness—Bon Clay was moving again after just one injection.
Though it might've just been pain overriding his limits.
A moment later—
"Revived!!"
Bon Clay sprang back to his feet, arms raised triumphantly. "I can move again!"
"That's great, Bon-chan!"
"Gahahaha!" Bon Clay laughed, hands on his hips. "Straw Hat, I'll help you save your brother!"
"Ooooh!!"
"Would you like something to eat?" Meiser asked. "If you want to, we still have some time."
He didn't want Bon Clay heading to Marine Headquarters on an empty stomach—it would hinder his recovery and make him easier to defeat.
So it was best to eat something now.
"We don't have time—"
"No, we still have time," Ivankov interjected. "You have ten minutes to eat."
"After that, we're breaking out immediately."
Bon Clay fell silent for a moment before replying, "Understood! This one will finish eating within ten minutes!"
With that, Bon Clay immediately rushed toward the food, grabbing a massive bone-in hunk of meat and tearing into it.
Ivankov chuckled at the sight before announcing, "Everyone, prepare yourselves! We break out in ten minutes!"
"YEAH!!"
"What's the situation on Level 5?" Magellan asked.
"No one has appeared at the main gate yet," a guard reported.
"Still nothing, huh..."
Magellan frowned.
"Could they have given up?"
But the moment the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it. After all... if they dared to invade Impel Down for Fire Fist Ace, they wouldn't back down so easily.
Even if the Straw Hat Boy was dead, the Blood-Eyed Ninja was still alive, wasn't he?
That guy would definitely team up with Crocodile and Jimbei to escape!
"Maybe they've already fled?" Hannyabal suddenly suggested.
For some reason, the man began snickering to himself.
"Heheh... the warden's position~"
Magellan: ???
This bastard was still obsessing over his position at a time like this?
Without hesitation, Magellan punched Hannyabal square in the head.
"THWACK!"
"Ow... ow ow ow!" Hannyabal clutched his head.
The blow had left a massive lump!
"Damn you, Magellan! Why'd you hit me?!"
"You dare ask me that?" Magellan glared at him. "Don't you remember what you just said?"
Hannyabal: "..."
"Hehe~"
Hannyabal scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed.
He hadn't meant to voice his ambitions out loud—what a blunder.
"Hmph."
Magellan snorted, deciding it wasn't worth engaging with the fool.
"Vice Warden, please take this seriously," Domino interjected. "If Impel Down suffers a major incident, you'll share responsibility as well."
"Eh?!"
"I'll be punished too?!" Hannyabal gasped.
"Obviously. You're the vice warden of Impel Down," Magellan snapped. "Did you think you'd escape consequences if something happened?"
He had no idea what went through this idiot's head—always scheming to steal his position.
Didn't he realize that if a prison break occurred, he'd be just as accountable?
Hannyabal fell silent before declaring solemnly, "Warden, you must capture these criminals."
"Of course I will," Magellan nodded, then bared his shark-like teeth and roared, "But you better pull your weight too, got it?!"
"Yes, Warden!"
Only when Hannyabal dropped his usual sloppy demeanor did Magellan nod in satisfaction.
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi on the desk suddenly rang.
"Hello, this is the Warden's office," Magellan answered.
"Warden, we need reinforcements on Level 2 immediately!" the Guard shouted urgently. "There's a large-scale riot breaking out—we can't hold them back!"
"Where's Saldeath?"
"Chief Saldeath can't suppress them."
"Even Saldeath can't suppress them?"
Magellan immediately frowned. He remembered there weren't any particularly dangerous figures on Level 2—how could they be unstoppable?
"The prisoners somehow got their hands on white weapons—their combat power has increased drastically," the Guard explained. "The Brugeli under Chief Saldeath's command are no match for them."
"White weapons..."
As if realizing something, Magellan's expression instantly darkened. "The Wax-Wax Fruit user?" he muttered.
Damn it, have those bastards already made it to Level 2?!
Thinking quickly, Magellan barked, "I'm heading to Level 2 right now to reinforce you—hold your ground!"
But unfortunately, he received no response—only a bloodcurdling scream.
"ARGH!"
Click—
Staring at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, Magellan fell silent for a moment before coldly uttering, "How bold."
Without wasting another second, the man bolted out of the room.
He needed to reach the elevator and get to Level 2 as fast as possible!
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