Great Overreaction

Several days later, a large ship from the World Government docked outside the platform on Level 0 of Impel Down.

Those disembarking included the new Deputy Director of Impel Down, Rado, and twenty new guards who had previously served with the Red Line Continent garrison.

Impel Down's strength had been bolstered, but the guards who came to welcome them weren't exactly happy.

They'd all been Marines before, through and through. Would adding people from the World Government make things difficult? Would they cause trouble?

Kinch, whose rank had dropped once again, was especially unhappy. Ever since Deputy Director Rado stepped off the ship, he'd been watching him out of the corner of his eye.

He was gaunt, with pale skin and a frail-looking build. That fake smile made him look like a hypocrite.

"You must be Warden Kinch, right? Hello, I'm Rup Rado. I look forward to working with you. Hahaha." After greeting Figo, Rado extended a hand to Kinch.

Kinch froze. "...Sir?"

Rado smiled. "At the Five Elders' direction, my position as Deputy Director is purely ceremonial. Impel Down will still be led by Sir Figo, of course, and Sir Kinch will remain second in command. I'll follow your orders."

Kinch blinked, then suddenly warmed to him. Shaking his hand, he said, "Is that so? You're too kind. I'll look after you from now on!"

This new Deputy Director seemed all right. His smile looked sincere and friendly.

Figo saw Kinch's complete change of heart and could only smile to himself.

So the World Government was taking this approach.

It made sense. The Deputy Director they'd sent was unlikely to directly compete with him. In a world where strength ruled, the World Government certainly had powerful fighters capable of defeating Figo, but those people were valuable and wouldn't be casually sent to Impel Down. Besides, given Figo's rate of growth, unless they sent an Admiral, could they really be sure they'd be able to keep him in check?

If they couldn't suppress Figo, they couldn't just bully Kinch. Figo would obviously take his side, and that would only turn Impel Down into a mess.

So they'd simply sent an amiable people person.

Just as Figo had expected, Rado had been instructed to get along with everyone in Impel Down. He didn't need to seize power or fight for anything. He only had to make sure no one in Impel Down disliked him.

He'd brought two Den Den Mushi that could contact Saint Mendsbin of the Five Elders directly. One would go to Figo, and the other was for Rado himself!

The twenty guards had each been given orders too.

They were responsible for "reporting back."

They had to gather every noteworthy bit of news from Impel Down and report it to Saint Mendsbin!

With greetings and smiles all along the way, Rado made a good impression on everyone in Impel Down. The new Deputy Director fit smoothly into the prison's system.

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

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

"Please, don't get up. Let's get acquainted. I'm Rado, the new Deputy Director. Are you... playing cards?"

The four guards exchanged glances and confirmed that they were.

"It's fine, it's fine. Carry on. I'm just looking around." Rado smiled warmly, while mentally making a note: Gaston Figo's management of the monitoring room is inadequate.

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

His eyes swept over the monitor screens, and Rado nearly leaped out of his skin. "What's going on?!"

The old guard turned to look. On the Level 5 surveillance feed, Den Den Mushi had captured one prisoner after another unlocking their cells and walking out.

"Deputy Director, they're breaking out."

Oh, so they were breaking out.

I thought they were breaking out.

The old guard's calm response left Rado stunned for a moment. Then he jumped up. "A breakout?!"

The old guard said, "Deputy Director, there's no need to make a fuss. You'll understand in a moment."

I... am making a fuss?

You guards watching the monitors saw a breakout and didn't report it, and you're saying I'm making a fuss?!

Rado watched the feed nervously. The number of escaped prisoners grew to eight. They gathered together, apparently discussed something, then ran toward the stairs.

The other prisoners were acting strangely. They were barely stirred at all; some seemed far too indifferent.

Rado had no time to focus on that. His eyes followed the eight prisoners closely as he switched to another surveillance Den Den Mushi. Then... he saw a fight at the stairwell that was practically a one-sided beating. It lasted less than three minutes.

All eight escapees were sprawled on the ground.

Watching dumbfounded as Figo dragged the eight men back, Rado began to understand why the guards had been so calm. So this was some kind of special punishment...? But wasn't this dangerous?

If Figo were killed... everyone in this deep-sea prison would die!

No, he had to report this to the Five Elders!

He hurried back to his quarters. On his very first day in Impel Down, he used his specially made Den Den Mushi to call Saint Mendsbin.

A moment later.

"What is it, Rado? You've arrived at Impel Down, haven't you?" Saint Mendsbin asked.

"Yes, Saint Mendsbin. There's something I must report. Impel Down's Director, Gaston Figo, is deliberately releasing Level 5 prisoners for his own amusement, using them as punishment—and he released eight Great Pirates with bounties over a hundred million!"

Saint Mendsbin was silent for two seconds. "Is he planning to use pirate prisoners to kill you?"

"...No, he isn't." Rado froze, and his face suddenly paled.

That was right. Figo could kill him this way! Looking at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, he suddenly felt uneasy. He coughed twice and said, "I don't think so. It seems like this has happened many times before I arrived, but Saint Mendsbin..."

"Then don't make a fuss!" Saint Mendsbin said, sounding displeased. "This is Figo's way of managing Impel Down and intimidating the Great Pirates. You don't need to concern yourself with it. They were only eight pirates locked up on Level 5. After being imprisoned for so long, they must be very weak. If Figo dares to release them, nothing will go wrong!"

The Den Den Mushi clicked off.

Rado's face turned pale, then flushed.

Could I really be making a fuss?

A month later.

"Saint Mendsbin! Sir! Figo released four more Level 5 prisoners today. That makes twelve! He nearly got hurt!"

"Rado!" Saint Mendsbin's displeased voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "Don't make a fuss! I sent you to Impel Down, not to keep an eye on how Figo punishes prisoners. He's an expert at that. No one is better at it!

"I want you to find out which pirates can't endure the suffering of Impel Down and could be made into slaves. When he does this, you don't need to stop him..."

Rado was scolded until his face went pale again.

Three months later.

"Saint Mendsbin! Sir! Figo released a Level 6 prisoner today. 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.

Rado looked at it, his face blank.

A year later.

Buru buru buru.

Rado's Den Den Mushi rang of its own accord. Somewhat surprised and nervous, he picked up the call. Saint Mendsbin's questioning voice came through at once.

"Rado! Half a month ago, Gaston Figo released three Great Pirates from Level 6 at once, each with a bounty over three hundred million. Their fight damaged the walls, and he was even injured and had to rest for two days. Why didn't you report something this serious to me?!"

"Ah... I..."

"I don't want there to be a next time!"

The Den Den Mushi clicked off again. Feeling the Five Elder's anger, Rado turned deathly pale once more. He was so aggrieved he could have cried.

This is too hard. It's just too hard!

They were only three Great Pirates from Level 6. Why was Saint Mendsbin making such a fuss?!