Making a Fuss

A few days later, a large ship from the World Government docked outside the platform of Impel Down's Level 0.

Stepping off the ship were the new Deputy Director of Impel Down, Rup Rado, and twenty new jailers who had previously served in the garrison of the Red Line Continent.

Impel Down's strength had increased, but the jailers who came to greet them weren't exactly thrilled.

Back in the day, everyone was Navy through and through—would adding World Government people make things awkward? Would they just cause trouble?

Among them, Kinch, whose status had dropped another notch, was the most sour. Ever since Deputy Director Rado stepped off the ship, he'd been watching him out of the corner of his eye.

A lean build, pale skin, a frail look, and that fake smile plastered on his face—seemed like a phony guy.

"This must be Warden Kinch, right? Hello, I'm Rup Rado. Looking forward to working together, hahaha." After greeting Figo, Rado extended a hand to Kinch.

Kinch blinked. "...Lord?"

Rado smiled gently. "As per the Five Elders' orders, my position as Deputy Director is a nominal one. In Impel Down, of course, Lord Figo takes precedence, followed by Lord Kinch. I'm to follow both of your commands."

Kinch paused, then his expression suddenly warmed up. He shook Rado's hand and said, "Is that so? You're too kind. I'll look out for you!"

This new Deputy Director seemed pretty good—his smile looked sincere and friendly.

Figo watched Kinch's complete turnaround and could only smirk inwardly.

So the World Government was playing it this way.

Made sense. Sending a Deputy Director to directly compete with him was unlikely. In this world where might made right, the World Government surely had people strong enough to beat Figo, but those types were always valued and wouldn't be casually dispatched to Impel Down. Besides, given Figo's growth trajectory, unless you sent an Admiral-level combatant, could you really keep him in check?

Couldn't suppress Figo, and picking on Kinch alone wouldn't work—Figo would definitely side with him. That would just turn Impel Down into a mess.

So they sent a social butterfly instead.

Just as he thought, Rado's orders were to get along with everyone in Impel Down. He didn't need to seize power or fight for anything—just make sure no one in Impel Down disliked him.

He carried two Den Den Mushi that could directly contact the Five Elders' Saint Mendsbin. One would be given to Figo, the other kept for himself!

The twenty jailers also had their orders.

They were responsible for 'snitching.'

Every noteworthy breeze or rustle in Impel Down was to be compiled and reported to Saint Mendsbin!

Greeting everyone, smiling all the way—true enough, everyone in Impel Down had a good impression of Rado. This new Deputy Director smoothly integrated into Impel Down's system.

After settling into the Deputy Director's quarters and changing into his uniform, he went to more places to show his face.

The Training Area, the cafeteria, the monitoring room...

"Please, please, no need to stand. Just getting acquainted—I'm the new Deputy Director, Rado. Are you all... playing cards?"

The four jailers exchanged glances and nodded in confirmation.

"No problem, no problem, carry on. Just taking a look." Rado smiled on his face, but mentally noted—Gaston Figo's management of the monitoring room was lacking.

Still, this was a minor issue, not worth reporting to the Five Elders. As long as no major incident like a prison break occurred, then, then, then...

Glancing at the monitor screens, Rado nearly jumped. "What's going on there?!"

An old jailer turned to look. The Level 5 monitoring Den Den Mushi showed prisoner after prisoner using keys to unlock their cells and walk out.

"Deputy Director, they're escaping."

Oh, so they're escaping.

I thought they were escaping.

The old jailer's calm words left Rado stunned for a moment, then he shot up. "Escaping?!"

The old jailer said, "Deputy Director, no need to panic. You'll see in a bit."

I... panic?

You jailers watching the monitors see a prison break and don't report it, and you're calling me panicked?!

Rado stared nervously at the monitor screen. The number of escaped prisoners grew to eight. They gathered together, seemed to discuss something, then all ran toward the staircase.

The other prisoners' reactions were oddly indifferent—almost too cold.

Rado had no time to dwell on that. His eyes locked onto the eight prisoners as he switched to another monitoring Den Den Mushi, and then... watched a fight that was practically a one-sided beating at the stairwell entrance. The fight lasted less than three minutes.

All eight escapees were down.

Staring blankly as Figo dragged the eight back, Rado began to understand why the jailers were so calm. Was this some kind of special punishment...? But how dangerous was this!

If Figo got killed... trapped in this deep-sea prison, everyone would die!

No, I have to report this to the Five Elders!

He sprinted back to his quarters, and on his first day in Impel Down, used his special Den Den Mushi to call Saint Mendsbin.

A moment later.

"What is it, Rado? Have you arrived at Impel Down?" Saint Mendsbin asked.

"Yes, Five Elders Saint. There's something I must report to you. Impel Down's Warden, Gaston Figo, is deliberately releasing Level 5 prisoners as a form of amusement, and he let out eight pirates with bounties over a hundred million!"

Saint Mendsbin was silent for two seconds. "Did he plan to use the pirate prisoners to kill you?"

"...Ah, no, not that." Rado froze, then his face went pale.

"Right, Figo could kill me this way!" Looking at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, he suddenly felt a twinge of guilt and cleared his throat twice. "There probably isn't. Before I came, it seems it happened many times, but the Five Elders..."

"Then don't make a fuss!" Saint Mendsbin said with some displeasure. "This is Figo's way of managing Impel Down, a method to intimidate the Great Pirates. You don't need to concern yourself. They're just eight pirates locked up on Level 5. Long-term confinement must have left them very weak. Since Figo dares to release them, there won't be any accidents!"

The Den Den Mushi clicked off.

Rado's face alternated between pale and red.

Could it really be that I'm making a fuss over nothing?

One month later.

"Five Elders! Sir! Today Figo released four more Level 5 prisoners—twelve in total. He almost got hurt!"

"Rado!" The dissatisfied voice of Saint Mendsbin came through the Den Den Mushi again. "Don't make a fuss! I sent you to Impel Down not to watch how Figo punishes prisoners. He's the expert in that; no one knows it better than him! What I need you to do is find out which pirates can't endure Impel Down's torment and can serve as slaves. What he's doing doesn't need to be stopped..."

Rado's face turned pale again from the scolding.

Three months later.

"Five Elders! Sir! Today Figo went to release a Level 6 prisoner. He's going too far. This is too dangerous, too dangerous! If something goes wrong, Impel Down is finished!"

The Den Den Mushi clicked off with a beep.

Rado stared at the Den Den Mushi, his face wooden.

One year later.

Brrr brrr brrr.

Rado's Den Den Mushi rang on its own. Somewhat surprised and nervous, he answered the call, and Saint Mendsbin's questioning voice immediately came through.

"Rado! Two weeks ago, Gaston Figo simultaneously released three Great Pirates from Level 6 of Impel Down with bounties over three hundred million. The fierce battle damaged the walls, and he even got injured and rested for two days. Why didn't you report such a major incident to me?!"

"Ah... well... I..."

"I don't want a next time!"

The Den Den Mushi clicked off again with a beep. Feeling the Five Elders' fury, Rado's face turned pale once more, and he felt so wronged he wanted to cry.

It's too hard, I'm too hard!

Aren't they just three Level 6 Great Pirates? Why is the Five Elders making such a big fuss!