Mid-Game Break

In the evening, Fleet Admiral O rode a warship to Impel Down for the first time.

Figo, who had received word, greeted him outside and saw this short old man, barely one meter sixty, lacking the bearing of a fleet admiral or an admiral.

Like Teacher Doug, the seven years had left heavy marks on him too, the wrinkles on his aged face deep enough to easily crush a mosquito.

"What, waiting for me here—do you want to lock me up in prison too?" Seeing Figo, O put on a stern face and asked.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Figo said. "I've caused you trouble this time, Marshal."

O looked up at Figo, his stern face suddenly relaxing into a smile. "No trouble at all. You did well, Figo! Raul didn't grow in the direction I expected, which always disappointed me. I never thought you'd appear!

The righteous Navy can't be filled entirely with soldiers like you, but it absolutely can't be without you either! Someone has to hold the line on the bottom line of justice!"

"You flatter me." Figo knew the final outcome of this incident wouldn't be too bad.

As he accompanied O into Impel Down, O emphasized, "The Revolutionary Army must be dismantled."

Figo: "I understand."

O nodded. "According to the intelligence I've received, the Revolutionary Army's Saintess, Sapphire, likely started with the intention of rescuing slaves who would share a similar fate to hers. But among the slaves she's freed, many were once pirates and won't be content to just be selfless liberators.

The Revolutionary Army was founded very suddenly. I suspect Sapphire was somewhat passively pushed into the leader's position. So no matter what, we can't let the Revolutionary Army keep developing like this!"

"I know," Figo replied. "I guessed that possibility. The suggestion I made to the Five Elders was to let me replace Teacher Doug in leading the army to suppress the Revolutionary Army, rather than leaving it unchecked."

"That won't work." O shook his head. "You can't go."

Figo was taken aback.

"This is the Five Elders' final bottom line. Your stance in the Jellal and Sapphire siblings incident was too rigid. The Five Elders worry that if you lead the army to suppress them, it could trigger even more uncontrollable problems. In short, they're afraid you won't just suppress the Revolutionary Army—you might join them."

Speaking to Figo, O didn't mince words. "I believe you wouldn't do that, but the Five Elders don't want to believe it. Not fully following your demands to resolve this incident is also the Five Elders' final stand for the sake of face!"

Figo: "So now..."

O said, "Cancel the public execution of Laughing Jellal. Keep him imprisoned in Impel Down.

Remove Doug from his position as the overall commander for suppressing the Revolutionary Army. CP0 of the World Government will take over.

And you, before your remaining three-year term as Director ends, are not to leave Impel Down at will!"

Figo frowned. He had wanted to take on the task of suppressing the Revolutionary Army because, through Character Event 2 of Jellal, he could pinpoint Sapphire. No matter which corner of the pirate world she was in, Figo would definitely find her.

Then, he would have ample time to assess the Revolutionary Army's true situation and ensure a reasonable and decent outcome for all sides.

But now...

"What, do you really want to leave the Navy?" O asked. "I've been Fleet Admiral for nearly 30 years. I've always been forced to make concessions under the Five Elders' pressure. Sometimes I've wanted to just resign and walk away, but in the end, I've held on day after day until now.

Because as long as I'm in this position, even if I gain something from a single struggle, help one person or a few, those efforts are worth it. That's my justice. What about you, Figo?"

Figo shook his head and didn't answer.

Fleet Admiral O, who had grown up in the pirate world, wouldn't understand Figo's thoughts. The World Government is supreme, the Five Elders hold the highest authority—this is something etched into the bone. So O only dared to struggle, not to rebel.

As a transmigrator, Figo lacked that reverence. Seeing wrong, why not rebel?

Sensing Figo's thoughts, O was both worried and somewhat wistful. "No wonder you've done what I never could. You have more persistence and courage than I imagined. I only hope you can firmly hold onto your justice, at least not use your power to do evil, Figo!"

"Don't worry, I won't."

"But it's not that dire yet." After a pause, O continued, "CP0 is only good at covert operations and intelligence investigations. They have no way to deal with the already-grown Sapphire. Even if they eventually find the Revolutionary Army's location, they'll need the Navy to deploy operations. When that time comes, I'll notify you of the specifics. How to decide and how to act—I'll leave that to you!

When that time comes, whether to leave Impel Down and carry out your own justice or something else—it's up to you!

This should be my last struggle against the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons during my tenure as Fleet Admiral. And I'll still rely on you to complete it.

You won't let me down. You'll handle everything well, right, Figo?"

"Don't worry, I will." Figo hesitated, then smiled. "Alright, I'll wait for your news here."

O's aged face crinkled into a smile. "You can rest assured—I won't let you down either!"

O took Doug and Raul away.

Kinch, puzzled about how the Director position had slipped away again, announced the end of the incident in the monitoring room.

The jailers cheered and celebrated for the great Director Figo. Impel Down gradually returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. But Figo knew this was just halftime.

After eating a meal in the cafeteria, he took the jailer passage straight down to Level 6 of Impel Down.

Because Raul had previously slammed into the outer wall of Level 6, the tremors there had been the greatest. The villains on Level 6 had no idea what had happened; some even thought someone had come to break out the prisoners.

Seeing Figo appear, they were all deeply disappointed. Someone shouted, "Which bastard attacked Impel Down? Why didn't Laughing Jellal come back? Don't tell me you let someone rescue Jellal!"

"No, I had a bit of a conflict with the World Government earlier and fought with a Navy Admiral. It's all settled now," Figo said with a smile. "Thanks for your concern, everyone."

Huh? The great pirates on Level 6 were stunned. Soon, someone burst into loud laughter.

"Director Figo, I always knew you weren't one to follow the rules! How about you defect? I'll follow you!"

The other villains' hearts stirred.

"Yeah, if you defect, I'll follow you too..."

"And me! And me!"

"Hahahaha, if you became the captain of our Pirate Crew, and we all set sail with you, we'd become the strongest pirate crew in history in an instant! Gaston Figo!"

"Haha, that's not bad at all!"

"Come on, Director Figo!"

Figo raised one finger.

"I need ten people."

The villains' voices paused for a moment, then erupted in clamor: "Me! Me!"

"I used to be a navigator!"

"I was a shipwright!"

"I'm a sniper! Hahaha, the blood's boiling, Captain Figo!"

"What captain?" Figo let out a laugh. "What I mean is, my fight with the Admiral wasn't satisfying enough. This time, I'm taking on ten."

As if a mute button had been pressed, the noise abruptly stopped. The Great Pirates' expressions froze on their faces as they exchanged glances.

"Who's coming?"

The Great Pirates' eyes flicked between each other.

You go?

How about you?

My injuries haven't healed yet. You go.

Figo let out a low chuckle.

In the end, there were still some with a fierce streak. Hearing that low laugh, a few men surged with anger and roared, "Don't get too cocky! I'll go!"

Figo swept his gaze around. "Five short."

No one spoke up. Over seven years, they'd refused even to escape. Figo finally tossed the keys in front of the five cells that had answered.

"Then it's you five this time."

The five were dumbfounded. You bastards... you cowards... damn it!

"Make it quick."

Figo's voice sounded like a death knell.

Shock and rage crawled across the five faces.

No, don't come any closer!

I really don't want to escape!