"Have you heard? The battle at Marineford..."
"Of course. I heard that the legendary Great Pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, will be escorted here soon."
"Which level is he being sent to?"
"Huh? Are you an idiot? Isn't it obvious? Definitely the Sixth Level—the Infinite Hell!"
"That makes sense..."
Beyond the Gate of Justice, inside a massive cylindrical building mostly submerged beneath the sea, two gatekeeper guards chatted idly. One of them was so bored that he was nearly asleep.
"Click..."
Just then, a soft landing sound rang out, immediately alerting one of them.
"What was that sound?!"
"Ah!!!"
Hearing that shout, the guard who had been dozing off immediately jumped up in panic, nearly dropping the firearm in his hands.
He fumbled it into the air several times before catching it, then hurriedly aimed behind him.
But when he looked back, there was no one there.
The gate was also intact, tightly shut.
"What are you doing, you bastard? Even jokes need limits!"
"No, I really did hear footsteps just now... How could that be..." The guard could not help doubting himself. Had he merely imagined it?
Meanwhile,
Behind the gates of Impel Down,
A bare-chested man covered in vicious scars,
With a long sword at his waist and a bag on his back, strolled leisurely past.
It was Austin, who had bypassed the layers of outer defenses and teleported directly in from the air.
It was hard to imagine that within Impel Down, the pirate hell known as one of the World Government's three great gateways, where countless pirates trembled in fear and where escape was said to be absolutely impossible,
A ferocious pirate who had just invaded Marine Headquarters could actually wander around so freely.
"I've already broken into both Marineford and Impel Down. Don't tell me I'll have to visit Enies Lobby next."
Though he said that, Austin was not particularly interested in Enies Lobby. Its underlings were so weak that even Luffy, who had only just set sail, could clear the place.
At most, he would take a look around while traveling there someday.
Still, honestly,
Impel Down really was huge.
The First Level alone nearly exceeded the range of Austin's Observation Haki. It was almost as large as an entire town.
Of course, he had no need to linger on the First Level.
As he walked, Austin searched for the best positions from which to teleport to the lower levels.
He could not just teleport carelessly and land right in the middle of a squad of guards.
Though Austin was confident he could instantly deal with those small fry, once he was exposed, he would likely get bogged down.
Impel Down was a sealed space, after all. If he provoked a swarm of people into coming after him one after another, how was he supposed to meet Captain Roger and have a chat?
Not to mention troublesome experts like Magellan.
Tap... tap...
The quiet footsteps were not especially noticeable within Impel Down, but such an unfamiliar figure still inevitably drew the attention of many prisoners in the surrounding cells.
They saw someone who wore neither a guard's uniform nor the clothes of a prison official swagger past them.
After a moment of stunned disbelief,
Their desperate will to survive immediately erupted!
"Hey! Little brother over there, please, take me with you!"
"I buried a lot of treasure outside, and I'm willing to do anything! Take me with you!!!"
"Brat!!! Let me out right now, or I'll definitely kill you!!!"
Threats, temptations, and desperate pleas filled the air. In an instant, the noise seemed ready to overturn all of Impel Down.
Austin's face instantly turned green. He glared at the prisoners through gritted teeth as black-red lightning exploded around him.
"Shut up!!!"
Bzz—
Thud, thud, thud...
In an instant, the world fell silent.
The pirates who had been screaming hysterically moments ago rolled their eyes back and collapsed stiffly to the ground.
They were, after all, nothing but small fry fit to be imprisoned on the First Level. Not one of them even had a bounty over a hundred million.
Worth mentioning was that even the surveillance Den Den Mushi on the walls withered and collapsed under Austin's Haki, saving him the trouble.
His exceptionally broad Observation Haki swept through the prison, allowing Austin to see the scenery at least three levels underground.
Teleporting without pause, Austin continued descending deeper and deeper.
Even when he occasionally encountered patrolling guards, he could use their blind spots or solidified Conqueror's Haki to knock them unconscious in an instant.
Austin moved through the undersea prison like a ghost, infiltrating it perfectly.
As he continued downward and reached the Fifth Level Hell, his Observation Haki detected a familiar figure.
Magellan, the future warden of Impel Down and its current vice warden.
The instant Austin sensed him, he immediately withdrew his perception. His eyelid twitched several times, and his face filled with disgust.
Not for any other reason,
But because Magellan was having diarrhea again...
The sight was far too beautiful.
Austin felt as though even his Observation Haki had been dirtied.
Fortunately, after circling around and making several swift moves, Austin finally reached his destination.
[Impel Down], Sixth Level
—Infinite Hell!
After reaching this level, Austin did not choose to wander around anymore.
After all, anyone qualified to be imprisoned here was a Great Pirate whose name had gone down in history. A bounty of over a hundred million was merely the minimum requirement.
People like that could not be silenced with simple Conqueror's Haki.
To prevent them from interfering with his meeting with Captain Roger, Austin simply locked onto Roger's cell with his Observation Haki before teleporting directly there.
At the deepest part of Infinite Hell,
Inside a dark solitary cell, there was not a trace of light.
A burly figure sat cross-legged within.
"You've come, Austin."
Roger possessed the Voice of All Things. Even without Observation Haki, he could recognize Austin's presence in the darkness.
Screech—
With the sound of friction, a flickering flame appeared inside the cell.
Beneath the dim yellow light emerged an incomparably handsome face.
It was Austin.
"Is this place really that torturous? They don't even give you any light."
"Ha ha ha ha, can't be helped. They only give me one meal a day, too. If I'd known, I would've turned myself in later. Ha ha ha ha..."
Seeing Captain Roger still so carefree despite being restrained in shackles, Austin could only feel helpless.
"Hey, Austin," Roger said with a smile, his expression carrying a hint of suggestion. "Did you bring any alcohol? It's been so long since I had a drink..."
"No."
"Huh? You're lying, right...? Nooo!!!"
Hearing that, Roger wore a miserable expression and wailed like a child.
Only then did Austin reveal a mischievous grin.
"...All right, I brought some."
Before you continue