Reunion with Ivankov! The Okama King's Request

After Kuma joined, the training on Hachinosu reached a new level of intensity.

Kaido and Bullet traded blows, King practiced Observation Haki, Moria practiced Shadow Horn Spear, and Kuma practiced repelling things with his paw pads. Lin Yuan wasn't idle either. He had extended the range of Space Folding from thirty-five meters to forty-five.

"Still not enough." He sat on the ground, holding a small piece of seastone. "Space Cutting still can't cut through this."

"Wororororo..." Kaido walked over with an iron club over his shoulder. "You handle that stone every day. It's almost polished smooth."

Lin Yuan rolled his eyes.

"What do you know?"

"I don't. But I do know it's time you went out."

"Went out? Where?"

"Impel Down. Didn't you say you still had to see that okama?"

Lin Yuan froze for a moment, then smiled.

"You've got a good memory."

"Of course. I remember everything you've said."

Two

A few days later, Lin Yuan set off alone.

Ginny asked if he wanted to take anyone with him, but he said no. In a place like Impel Down, the more people he brought, the easier it would be to get caught.

"Then be careful," Ginny said.

"I won't die."

Lin Yuan raised a hand and opened a door.

Impel Down, Level 5.

The same frozen wasteland. The same biting wind.

Lin Yuan stepped through the door and landed on the cold stone floor. His Spatial Perception had already locked onto the location of Ivankov's cell—at the very back, unchanged.

"Who's there?!" A guard charged over.

Lin Yuan raised a hand and opened a door beneath the guard's feet. The guard fell through it, into the sea outside Impel Down.

"Splash—"

Lin Yuan didn't look back and continued forward.

Three

Ivankov's cell was at the very back.

Lin Yuan opened a door and went inside. Ivankov was sitting in a corner, touching up his makeup with a small mirror in hand.

"Mmmhahaha..." Ivankov looked up, saw Lin Yuan, and smiled. "You again? Space brat."

"Lin Yuan."

"Fine, Lin Yuan. What are you here for this time?"

"To see if you're dead yet."

"Thanks to you, I'm not dead." Ivankov closed his mirror. "But I haven't been living all that well, either."

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

"Ivankov, how long have you been locked up here?"

"I've lost track." Ivankov tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. "Two years? Three? There's no day or night here, no spring, summer, autumn, or winter. Time means nothing here."

"Don't you want to get out?"

"I do. But I'd die out there, too." Ivankov stared at Lin Yuan. "The World Government's people are waiting for me outside. So are the Marines. I can't beat them on my own."

"You're not alone."

"Mmmhahaha..." Ivankov laughed. "You mean you'll help me?"

"I told you, when I'm strong enough, I'd come and get you."

"How long will that take?"

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment.

"Soon."

"How soon?"

"A few years."

Ivankov stared at him for a long time.

"Mmmhahaha... You brat, everything you say is bullshit."

"Do you believe me or not?"

Ivankov didn't answer. He stood up, walked to the iron bars, and gripped them with both hands.

"Lin Yuan, do you know why I'm locked up here?"

"Because you're part of the Revolutionary Army."

"That's not the only reason." Ivankov lowered his voice. "It's because I've seen the Celestial Dragons' secret."

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"What secret?"

"Mmmhahaha... I can't tell you that. If I do, I really will die here."

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment.

"Then keep it to yourself. Tell me when I come to get you."

"Aren't you afraid I won't tell you?"

"You will." Lin Yuan smiled. "Because by then, you won't need to hide that secret anymore."

Ivankov froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Mmmhahaha... Interesting! You really are an interesting brat!"

He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Lin Yuan.

"This is how you can contact me. If you need anything, you can come to me. I can help you from in here, too."

Lin Yuan took the slip and glanced at it.

"You can still contact the outside world from inside Impel Down?"

"Mmmhahaha... Who do you think I am?"

Lin Yuan put the slip away and stood up.

"All right. I'm going."

"Wait." Ivankov called after him. "Lin Yuan, watch out for someone."

"Who?"

"Rocks."

Lin Yuan's fingers paused slightly.

"Why?"

"Because he's looking for you," Ivankov said. "I heard it from the guards. Rocks sent people to ask about you."

"Got it."

Lin Yuan turned and walked through the door.

"Bring some wine next time," Ivankov called from behind him. "You can't even get a drink of water in this hellhole."

"All right."

The door closed.

Four

Back on Hachinosu, Kaido was sparring with 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 still won't leave."

"Wororororo..." Kaido laughed. "That okama really is strange."

"He said it's more dangerous outside," Lin Yuan said. "We'll go get him once our forces are a little stronger."

"Then when do you think we'll be strong enough?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment.

"When we can stand as equals with Rocks."

Kaido froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Wororororo... That's going to take a long time."

"There's no rush."

Lin Yuan turned and walked into the castle.

Five

That night, Ginny sat in the hall, sorting through the account books.

Kuma sat beside her, helping her check them.

"Kuma, don't you think Lin Yuan gets tired, running around outside every day?"

"He does," Kuma said. "But he doesn't say so."

"How do you know?"

"I can tell."

Ginny sighed.

"You never like to talk. But you know everything."

Kuma said nothing.

Ginny continued sorting the account books.

Lin Yuan came in from outside, holding a slip of paper.

"Ginny, help me look into someone."

"Who?"

"Rocks."

Ginny's hand paused.

"Why look into him?"

"He's looking for me," Lin Yuan said. "I want to know why."

Ginny was silent for a moment, then took the slip.

"All right. I'll try."

(End of Chapter 27)