"What? You won't let me go back?"
"Figo, don't make this difficult for me. It's Saint Mendsbin's order." The current Fleet Admiral, Gandor, sounded helpless over the Den Den Mushi. "The reason is that Impel Down can't be left without your supervision for long. Vice Admiral Doug is only sick right now. Saint Mendsbin's thinking is... to wait until he's truly on the brink of death—or even until the funeral—before... allowing you to take a short leave and return."
Figo stared at the Den Den Mushi in silence for a moment, then said, "Fleet Admiral Gandor, I don't have a Den Den Mushi that can reach the Five Elders anymore. Could you pass a message to Saint Mendsbin for me?"
"Sure, go ahead. I also think he's being a little too heartless about this. I'll definitely—"
"Just tell him to go to hell!"
The Den Den Mushi clicked off.
In the Fleet Admiral's Office, Gandor sat stunned for a long moment before angrily slamming his fist on the desk.
This Fleet Admiral job was a real pain in the ass!
After roaring, Figo's mood settled somewhat.
He hadn't been entirely unprepared. After all, the old man was already eighty-eight. During Aokiji's two years in Impel Down, Figo had watched him grow visibly older day by day. It wouldn't have been surprising if either of the two old men had passed away at any time.
It had just come too suddenly.
A month ago, Figo had spoken with Miya and Doug over a Den Den Mushi. The old man had still been in fine health then, with a louder voice than Figo's. Had he really fallen ill as suddenly as a mountain collapsing?
Kinch had also been following Figo's call with Gandor closely. For the first time, he felt that