Three days later.
“Big news!”
“The Hell Pirates, one of the twin peaks of the New World, has been annihilated by the Navy!”
“What?!”
“Who did it?! I haven’t even taken Zebruth’ head yet, and someone else beat me to it? What a waste!”
“Robert, drink less!”
“Ze ha ha ha, Impel Down Warden, Gaston Figo? Never heard of him.”
“Another name to resound across the seas? The next one will be me!”
“I’ve heard of him. That guy is the tyrant of the prison, loves to torture prisoners in all sorts of ways… Even big pirates with bounties of hundreds of millions don’t dare breathe in front of him!”
“Be careful not to get caught. That monster guarding the so-called Deep Sea Great Prison… getting caught means…”
“Cap-captain, your bounty is only a million; you shouldn’t be…”
“Shut up!”
Similar conversations echoed everywhere in the East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, South Blue, the Grand Line, and the New World. Some pirates reveled in the fall of a king, some hunkered down cautiously to avoid the impact of the imbalance between naval and pirate forces, and some foolhardy ones jumped straight into prison.
For a while, the seas were in turmoil.
At the peak of this turmoil, Figo’s name was constantly mentioned, discussed endlessly, and the Deep Sea Great Prison Impel Down became widely known and feared by pirates.
Not only pirates, but the entire Marine Headquarters and branches also came to know Figo’s name.
There was cheering and excitement. It was a major victory for the Navy, something rare in decades. Figo was hailed as a hero by the Marines, becoming a figure of great renown.
Those who had stayed in Impel Down had stories to tell. Some claimed they had eaten Sea King cooked by Figo, others talked about how kind the warden was, and some recounted how skilled he was with his whip…
Seizer, Figo’s former superior, was inundated with questions from his celebrating subordinates: Figo was Admiral Doug’s student, had a close relationship with Mia, once defeated Admiral Raul, and his capture of Zebruth was neither sudden nor surprising…
Subsequently, some Marines saw Admiral Raul training frantically with his sword, further confirming Seizer’s words.
Upon returning to headquarters, Mia found herself surrounded by Marines crying out of youthful exuberance. After learning the situation, she helplessly scolded the big-mouthed Seizer.
At the center of this storm, Figo quietly escorted a group of Revolutionary Army members and Hell Pirates back to Impel Down.
Compared to the outside world, the guards at Impel Down were not very surprised. It wasn’t that they hadn’t heard the news, but rather… wasn’t it natural for the warden to accomplish such a feat? What’s so surprising about it?
It was just a pirate with a bounty of 965 million berries. The warden had beaten pirates with bounties totaling nearly a hundred billion. Small matter.
“Wow, look at this guy. Wearing Sea Stone handcuffs, blind in one eye, and still looking fierce. Go take a bath! You’re so big, you almost don’t fit in the tub!”
The Hell Pirates’ officers instantly had fire in their eyes, various curses ringing out, but most of them were Devil Fruit users. With Sea Stone handcuffs on, even ordinary guards could bully them.
The guards felt quite invigorated. The prisoners resisted much more fiercely this time.
Compared to these young, ‘crazy’ guards, Kimchi remained tense throughout, far more nervous than when the first great pirate Gerald was imprisoned.
Impel Down had been established less than 16 years, but the legend of Zebruth had echoed across the seas for over 20 years. What kind of person was he? Didn’t the Fleet Admiral personally escort them?
What? The Fleet Admiral is here to become the Deputy Warden of Impel Down? Hahaha, don’t joke around.
Although three days ago, Ladue was indeed transferred out of Impel Down, it shouldn’t be the Fleet Admiral, right… Hahaha…
Forget it, let it be.
Just get used to it.
…
…
【Prisoner: Sapphire】
【Level: SSR3】
【Status: Imprisoned】
【Crime Index: 17】
【Capture Contribution: 100%】
【Benefit: Physique +1020】
【Event 1 (Completed): Reunite Sapphire with her brother Gerald. Benefit: Armament Haki +1020】
【Event 2: Awaiting Activation】
【Core Event: Temporarily Unavailable】
Despite good deeds outweighing the bad, Sapphire’s crime index of 17 wasn’t high.
Conspiracy is still a crime. She raised over 100 children and guided them towards the Revolutionary Army, which took up most of her crime index. The rest likely came from saving many heinous pirates while rescuing slaves.
Having experienced so much, Figo no longer considered the ‘absolute justice’ of the prison file as the sole standard for determining guilt. After all, even Admiral Doug had a crime index of 25. If he imprisoned Fleet Admiral Ohka, he might find a score of sixty or seventy. Could Figo say these two elders were terribly evil?
Hmm, imprison the Fleet Admiral Ohka?
Thinking of this, Figo suddenly froze, looked down at the newly appointed Deputy Warden Ohka beside him, and started calculating.
“Why are you looking at me instead of them?” Ohka sensed ‘malice.’
Figo smiled, “I can’t bear to see such a sad scene. It might make me cry.”
Not far ahead, a pair of siblings in guard uniforms were crying… Gerald was crying, Sapphire was sobbing softly, the atmosphere was deeply sorrowful.
“You get affected so easily? You’re still young after all.” The old man glanced at Figo a few times, then observed the surrounding cave-like environment, “Is this the reform you were talking about?”
They were currently in a place called the 4.5th level of Impel Down, a cave dug from the deepest part of the fourth level.
The cave was large, about 2,000 square meters.
Gerald did it himself.
After defeating Raul, Figo had Gerald start this work, preparing for today’s plan.
“I call this the Reform and Education Level of Impel Down,” Figo nodded, “Among the prisoners in Impel Down, some are worthy of sympathy or even have grievances. I’ll let them come here during the day for expansion work, providing ample food and water, and let them return to their cells at night.
Once this place is expanded to about a quarter the size of the regular first to sixth levels, I’ll stop. Then I’ll bring in various books, letting them study areas of interest during the day.”
“Like Gerald?” Ohka asked.
“Like Gerald.” Figo confirmed, “Sapphire will act as the manager and overseer of this level, turning it into a special semi-prison, semi-free area. Oh, and they’ll have a corresponding sentence. Once their sentence is served, they can live here forever.
Gerald’s sentence is 20 years, and it’s been almost 8 years now. Given his good behavior, he might get a two-year reduction.”
Ohka asked, “Who determines the sentences?”
“I do personally.”
“What about when you’re gone?”
“Old Kim is trustworthy, and even if I leave, Impel Down may not necessarily be out of my control.” Figo stated plainly.
“Sapphire has a major crime of killing a Celestial Dragon. Now Mendesbin Saint is holding back because of you, me, Doug, and other factors. If he finds out she’s not only not a prisoner but a special manager, what if he demands her execution?”
“Just like with Gerald.”
“Seems like you’ve considered everything.”
Ohka shook his head, then asked, “What’s the point of having prisoners read books?”
“They’re still prisoners. Even if they come to this level and enjoy better treatment, they might never leave. They need something to do. Who knows, someone might discover a hidden talent and make a contribution?”
Figo smiled, then grew serious, “Of course, I also want to gather ideas from all over to understand the world better.
What if, just what if, a few years or decades later, a meteor falls from the sky, smashing the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons. How do we prevent the world from falling into chaos and destruction without the World Government?”
Ohka’s eyes widened, “…”
“Just what if, hey, what if.”
First, you said you were curious, and now it’s what if?
Old man, I really believe your nonsense!
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