A Second Infiltration of Impel Down

On the third day after Kuma arrived on the island, Ginny's intelligence network finally reached the New World.

"Informants are hard to find." Ginny bit the end of her pen. "It's too chaotic here. Nobody's willing to take the risk."

"Then pay them," Lin Yuan said. "Offer enough money, and someone will be willing."

"How much?"

"Twice the market rate."

Ginny stared at him.

"That's expensive."

"There's a reason it costs so much. If the intelligence is inaccurate, we could die."

Ginny said nothing more and lowered her head to continue writing.

Two

A few days later, Morgans called.

"Lin Yuan, there's something you might be interested in."

"Go on."

"Someone was recently locked up in Impel Down. Someone very interesting."

"Who?"

"Emporio Ivankov, a Revolutionary Army officer. The World Government originally planned to execute him in secret, but for some reason, they still haven't done it."

Lin Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Where is he being held?"

"Level 5. In the deepest part."

Lin Yuan was silent for a while.

"Got it."

He hung up the Den Den Mushi and stood.

Kaido was trading blows with Bullet on the training ground. When he saw Lin Yuan come out, he stopped.

"Going out again?"

"To Impel Down."

"What for?"

"To see someone."

"Who are you taking?"

"I'm going alone. More people would be easier to spot."

"Oh, lo, lo, lo, lo..." Kaido laughed. "All right. Don't die in there."

"I won't."

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door.

Three

Impel Down, Level 5.

Ice and snow stretched everywhere. A bitter wind cut to the bone. The air was thick with the smell of blood and decay.

Lin Yuan stepped through the door onto the freezing stone floor. His Spatial Perception had long since pinpointed Ivankov's cell—in the deepest, most secluded part.

"Who goes there?!" A guard rushed over with his gun raised.

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door beneath the guard's feet. The guard stepped into empty air and fell through. Beyond the door was the sea outside Impel Down.

"Splash—"

Lin Yuan didn't look back and continued forward.

Four

Ivankov's cell was in the deepest part.

Lin Yuan opened a door and entered, finding someone sitting in a corner. He—or rather, she—was tall, with a huge red afro, heavy makeup, and a worn prison uniform.

"Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm..." Ivankov looked up, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw Lin Yuan. "A Spatial Ability User? You're the brat who hijacked the World Government's transport ship?"

"You know me?"

"I've heard of you." Ivankov stood and walked to the iron bars. "There aren't many people on these seas who can come and go from Impel Down as they please."

Lin Yuan crouched down, bringing himself eye to eye with Ivankov.

"I've come to get you out."

"Rescue me?" Ivankov laughed. "Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm... You think this is an inn? That you can come and go whenever you please?"

"To me, it is an inn."

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door in front of Ivankov. Beyond it was the beach on Hachinosu.

Ivankov stared at the door in silence for a few seconds.

"Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm... Interesting."

He stood up and flexed his wrists.

"But I don't want to leave right now."

"Why?"

"Because they'd hunt me down if I did." Ivankov walked to the door but didn't step through. "The World Government has its eyes on me, and so does the Navy. I'd be in even more danger outside."

"And you're not in danger here in Impel Down?"

"Here, they don't dare kill me." Ivankov turned around. "Because I know their secrets."

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"What secrets?"

"Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm... That's a trade secret."

Lin Yuan stared at him for a few seconds, then stood.

"Then wait here. When I'm strong enough to stand against the World Government, I'll come back for you."

Ivankov raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you afraid I'll change my mind?"

"You won't." Lin Yuan smiled. "Because without me, you'll never get out."

Ivankov stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm... Interesting! You're a very interesting brat!"

Lin Yuan said nothing more. He turned and walked through the door.

"Wait." Ivankov suddenly called out to him.

Lin Yuan looked back.

"What's your name?"

"Lin Yuan."

"Lin Yuan..." Ivankov repeated the name. "All right, I'll remember you."

Five

When Lin Yuan returned to Hachinosu, Kaido was fighting Bullet on the training ground.

When he saw Lin Yuan come out, he stopped.

"Did you see him?"

"I did."

"Where is he?"

"I didn't bring him out. He didn't want to leave."

"Oh, lo, lo, lo, lo..." Kaido laughed. "There are weirdos like that?"

"He said it was more dangerous outside," Lin Yuan said. "Once our forces are a little stronger, we'll go back for him."

Kaido asked no more questions and resumed fighting Bullet.

Ginny walked out of the hall with an account book in her hands.

"Lin Yuan, take a look at this account."

Lin Yuan took the book and glanced over it.

"No problem."

Ginny took the book back and pulled out a slip of paper.

"One more thing. Word came from the South Blue that the World Government has been rounding up a group of dissidents. One of them is called 'Ginny.'"

Lin Yuan looked at her.

"You're Ginny."

"I know," Ginny said. "I mean there's another person called Ginny."

Lin Yuan stared at her for a moment, then laughed.

"That has nothing to do with me."

"I know." Ginny put the slip of paper away. "I was just letting you know."

She turned and walked away.

Lin Yuan stood on the training ground, watching her leave.

Kaido walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Oh, lo, lo, lo, lo... Women are such a pain."

"You're right."

(End of Chapter 24)