Jailer Chief

[Prisoner: Pappas]

[Grade: R4]

[Status: Incarcerated]

[Crime Index: 19]

[Capture Participation: 98%]

[Reward: Fish-Man Power (Rare) +340→375 (Level 2 Fish-Man Child)]

[Prisoner: Omitted]

[Reward: Fish-Man Karate +238→238 (Level 2 Fish-Man Martial Artist)]

[Prisoner: Omitted]

[Reward: Brewing +135→135 (Level 2 Brewer)]

The three fish-men who had delivered themselves to him let Figo experience for the first time the rewards of nearly 100% capture participation. Even the weakest N9-grade fish-man gave him 135 points at once, higher than his previous best single haul, though the randomly rolled brewing ability was nothing special.

The other two fish-men were both R-grade or above, and the three-option reward was generally decent. Not only did he gain another instance of Fish-Man Power, pushing it past 300 points and advancing to Level 2, but he also obtained the Fish-Man Karate he had been longing for.

This latest gain in Fish-Man Power also gave Figo a much more pronounced and distinct sensation!

He clenched his right fist in front of him, flexed his wrist, and moved it up and down, clearly feeling the increase in wrist strength... After all, the Fish-Man Race was a race born with ten times the wrist strength of an ordinary person!

This wave, a massive profit!

While Figo rejoiced in his gains, Impel Down was in an uproar.

Three fish-men who had attacked Impel Down were easily dealt with by a single captain, like a farce, yet it exposed a security vulnerability in the prison.

After all, the Impel Down of this era was not yet the Impenetrable Great Prison guarded by Buster Call-grade warships, with the Gate of Justice cutting off the currents. Three weak fish-men taught a lesson to all the Marine soldiers and jailers who thought the Calm Belt was completely safe!

If Figo hadn't happened to jump into the water for a swim, letting those three fish-men charge into Impel Down, even if they only released some Level 1 prisoners in the chaos, it would have become a disgrace to Impel Down, recorded forever!

The Supply Ship Captain who had been followed took the fall, his face crumpled as he accepted the Warden's questioning.

And someone with an even worse expression—Xiao.

Staring at the three fish-men temporarily locked up in Level 1 of Impel Down, he wished he could stab each of them! You're this weak, and you came to die?!

And you had to die right into Figo's hands?

Damn it, he got the credit!

Sure enough, the outside turmoil ended with a warship taking away the fish-man Agai and the three fish-men.

Inside Impel Down, after emphasizing some new safety regulations, Figo was commended.

"Figo, the Warden and I have seen your performance this past year. This time, you captured the fish-men before their invasion, a great merit. After discussion, the Warden and I have directly approved your promotion in rank, and it has been reported to the World Government."

Vice Warden Seazer said, "Raul will be transferred back to Marine Headquarters in three days. Kinch will take over as Jailer Chief, and you will fill the position of Vice Jailer Chief."

Just as I thought! Xiao's heart sank.

He was extremely unwilling, yet dared not step forward to object. He could only keep glancing at Vice Jailer Chief Kinch, hoping Kinch would oppose Figo's easy appointment as he had said a few days ago.

To his delight, Kinch did indeed furrow his brow slightly, as if dissatisfied with the appointment.

Just as he was about to say something, he heard Figo speak first: "Vice Warden, is the term for Vice Jailer Chief still one year?"

Seazer paused, frowning. "You want to transfer out of Impel Down?" He didn't stop him. "The term for Vice Jailer Chief is two years. If you perform excellently and improve your strength rapidly within those two years, a transfer then might let you directly become a Marine Headquarters Colonel.

But now... transferring out of Impel Down, even considering your recent merit, Headquarters would probably only grant you the rank of Headquarters Major."

It was somewhat of a piece of advice.

Figo considered briefly. Two years?

Seeing this, Xiao was overjoyed. This guy was leaving?

The others were surprised. Such a good opportunity, and he still had to think about it? Did he not want to stay even a single day? That didn't seem like him, given how hard he usually worked...

Then Figo took a deep breath and spoke clearly: "Vice Warden, what if I said I wouldn't leave for the next five years? Could I directly compete for the position of Jailer Chief? The actual one."

Seazer was stunned: ?

The transparent Second Captain: ??

Xiao: ???

Kinch's eyes shot wide open.

This guy... what did he say?!

After a few more phone calls, in the Training Area on Level 1 of Impel Down, Figo and Kinch stood facing each other.

The World Government had agreed in principle to Figo's promotion request—a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier—but an Impel Down jailer wasn't a desk job. For the corresponding position, one needed corresponding strength!

As long as Figo could defeat Kinch, the position of Impel Down Jailer Chief could be Figo's!

Someone had leaked the news. The jailers all found out and gathered around the Training Area, whispering among themselves, worried for Figo.

Kinch, a former Marine Headquarters lieutenant commander, was a physical monster. He often swung the largest one-ton stone roller in the Training Area, exuding overwhelming pressure. Just his 2.5-meter height and extremely burly frame gave him an unstoppable presence!

Looking back at Figo, he was strong too, but it depended on who you compared him to. Standing before Kinch, calling him small wouldn't be an exaggeration. Not many had faith in him.

Or rather, those who believed in him were few and far between.

Among them was Seazer, acting as the referee.

And also Figo's opponent, Kinch himself!

At the center of the arena, Kinch rumbled, "I've wanted to test your strength for a long time, Figo.

Anyone with eyes can see you're different. Your appetite keeps growing, you've never slipped up escorting vicious pirates from Level 4, and this time you even defeated and captured three fishmen underwater—even if they were only fit for Levels 2 and 3!

Only an idiot would overlook all your anomalies, wallow in their own assumptions, and think they could compete with you for the Vice Jailer Chief position!"

Hidden among the jailers, Xiao, who had been gloating that Figo was about to make a fool of himself, blinked in confusion.

The Jailer Chief... is he talking about me?

"Even without today's incident, in a fair competition among the three Captains, you'd be the one to win!"

Kinch continued, "But beating those two doesn't mean you have the ability to intimidate the scum on Level 4. If you weren't up to it, I'd rather have another field officer transferred from Marine Headquarters to partner with me. I never expected you'd have the guts to challenge me. If you're not an idiot too, then it proves I've still underestimated you!"

He clenched his fists, producing sharp cracks. His dense muscles bulged, and like a Giant, he radiated an oppressive aura: "But if you think you can really beat me, you're dead wrong!"

A small commotion erupted among the jailers.

Figo's expression was calm and unreadable.

He had never planned to hide his strength, nor could he.

Physique encompassed strength, speed, endurance, and more. Over the past year, Figo's physique had increased tenfold, and his strength nearly fourfold—far from the 'ascension' he'd imagined when he first crossed over.

A casual punch carried a ton of force, and a sprinting burst was several times stronger, but he still couldn't 'shatter the void.' He was only on par with Kinch, a Marine Headquarters lieutenant commander specializing in strength.

But his improvements weren't limited to physique!

Drawing the jailer's saber, Figo said to Kinch, "Vice Jailer Chief, forgive my rudeness."

Using a blade? Kinch narrowed his eyes. "Come on!"

Seazer announced the start of the match.

Figo immediately advanced with his saber.

Stomping the ground, he burst forward with incredible speed, lowering his center of gravity and shooting toward Kinch like an arrow. A low gasp rippled through the jailers, and Xiao's face suddenly turned pale.

So fast? I... am I really an idiot?

Clang!

With a metallic clash, Figo's saber arced like a crescent moon and slammed heavily into Kinch's arm!

But it didn't cut through.

"What? How..."

"Is that?!"

Another wave of shock ran through the jailers.

Kinch's thick arm had taken on a metallic sheen, tough beyond measure. He chuckled, "Fifteen years ago, Vice Admiral Doug organized and developed the Six Powers. I was lucky enough to be one of the first marines to learn them! This is the Six Powers—Iron Body! You can't even break my skin!"

"It really is the legendary Iron Body..."

"He can block a blade with his bare body?"

The jailers' exclamations made Figo feel a bit strange. In this era... was Iron Body still such a rare thing?

This technique... seemed pretty average, didn't it?

Kinch's other fist clenched, whistling through the air as it swung toward Figo's cheek.

Figo raised his saber to block, retreating in small steps. After a dozen paces, he suddenly stomped, not only dispersing Kinch's force but also borrowing it to shoot back at Kinch even faster.

At the same time, his saber traced two silver arcs through the air: 'One-Sword Style Secret Art—Cross Return!'

A cross-shaped slash detached from the blade and stamped toward Kinch's chest! Kinch's laughter stopped instantly. His pupils dilated, and he roared, "Iron Body!"

Clang!

Another metallic ring sounded.

Figo sheathed his saber and apologized again to Kinch, "Forgive me, Vice Jailer Chief."

Pfft! Two streams of blood spurted from Kinch's body. He swayed, a dazed look on his face, and plopped down on his rear... H-how?

How could Iron Body be broken?

What was supposed to be a fight lasting at least a while, what was supposed to be a sure loss for Figo, ended abruptly. Figo had only struck twice from start to finish, and the actual combat time was shorter than Kinch's explanation!

The jailers sucked in a cold breath, raising the surrounding air temperature by two degrees. The legendary Iron Body had been broken by Captain Figo?

Uh, Captain Figo won? Hell yeah!

Flying Slash? No, not quite yet. Seazer couldn't help but be slightly stunned, looking at Figo with appreciation as he announced, "Winner! Figo!"

Swordsmanship: 1369

Level 3, Iron-Cutting Swordsman!

Rather than a brute who relied on raw strength, Figo aspired to be a dashing swordsman. Over the past year, whether in choosing R-class abilities or in daily practice, he had devoted more effort to swordsmanship than to physical conditioning. The boost to his wrist strength from Fish-Man Power also allowed this single slash to erupt with even greater force.

That one slash, honed over a year, allowed Figo to skip ranks three days later and take over the position of Jailer Chief!

And that same slash cut Xiao into despair, making him haul his warship onto his back overnight and transfer out of Impel Down!