Impel Down's one-year term came to an end.
Some left, some arrived, and some were promoted.
After two days of turmoil, Impel Down returned to peace, and time began to pass quickly.
Another month slipped by.
After receiving a call from Marine Headquarters, Figo arrived at the Baptism Room, excitement returning to him for the first time in a while. Vice Warden Seazer accompanied him.
They were there to receive a pirate who was to be imprisoned on Impel Down's Level 5!
"Pirates sentenced to Levels 5 and 6 are different from those sent to the first four levels. They're the kind of men who can be called Great Pirates, and most have bounties of over a hundred million. Capturing them usually requires a Marine officer to sortie with a warship," Seazer explained.
Money was worth more in this era—or, rather, pirates weren't as rampant on the seas as they would be in later years.
The highest bounty on a pirate at sea was only just over a billion, so a pirate with a hundred-million bounty was already a formidable Great Pirate.
"That's why the Warden and I didn't let you take part in transporting pirates to Levels 5 and 6 before. We were worried something might go wrong. But since you showed enough strength in your fight with Kinch, we're happy to take it easy. I'll bring you along twice. If everything goes smoothly, we'll leave the transportation and imprisonment duties to you from then on!"
Figo nodded in agreement.
He'd revealed his full strength a month ago precisely to get Capture Participation for Level 5 and 6 prisoners.
The five-year term was a limit he'd set for himself. He was worried he wouldn't be able to stand the loneliness of Impel Down, and would leave after a year or two without having raised his strength enough.
After five years, he'd only be twenty-six, still in his prime. He could leave, become some laid-back Vice Admiral, marry a few beautiful wives, and not miss out on a thing...
Ahem. Back to the point.
From what Figo had learned over the past year or so, prisoners on Level 1 were generally N5 to N9, those on Level 2 ranged from N7 to R3, Level 3 from R1 to R6, and Level 4 from R6 to R9.
It was extremely rare for pirates to be misjudged.
At least so far, Figo hadn't encountered the thing he wanted most: an SR-ranked prisoner on Level 4.
So the prisoner arriving today might well be the first SR-ranked one Figo had taken into custody. How could he not be excited?
A little over ten minutes later, the transport ship finally docked outside Impel Down, and Figo saw the target who was to be imprisoned on Level 5.
He was a scrawny middle-aged man who looked thoroughly unremarkable, but he'd shown himself to be different during the baptism.
He didn't cry out in pain or scream.
He'd lasted five minutes in the boiling water before finally struggling, unable to hold his breath and choking on the water.
Two minutes later, they hauled him out. Even after seven minutes, his skin hadn't been scalded off. His small frame clearly concealed greater physical strength and power than Figo's! And after they put a prison uniform on him, he could still stagger to his feet!
He didn't curse or beg for mercy. He only looked at Figo and Seazer like a hungry wolf, his gaze chilling to the bone!
He was clearly thinking that if he ever regained his freedom, he'd repay the two of them with even harsher torture!
The two men were terrified, so they struck first, broke both his legs, and dragged him away.
They locked him up on Impel Down's Level 5.
[Prisoner: Doham]
[Rank: SR3]
[Status: Imprisoned]
[Crime Index: 55]
[Capture Participation: 3%]
[Available Rewards: Theft, Navigation, Observation Haki]
[Character Event: Can be activated (Complete the Character Event to choose another reward from the prisoner and obtain a second ability)]
As Figo had hoped, he was SR-ranked.
There were still three rewards to choose from, and one of the abilities left Figo exceptionally delighted.
Observation Haki!
Figo had long coveted Haki, the special power unique to the world of pirates.
Armament Haki strengthened attacks.
Observation Haki allowed one to anticipate them.
There weren't many prisoners on Levels 5 and 6, and they didn't all necessarily know Haki, so the odds of obtaining these two abilities were low. It would be hard to get both and raise their levels. But activating them would mean a lot to Figo. After all, once he'd grasped them at a basic level, he could train them on his own!
With the next five years to practice, he ought to get somewhere, right?
Besides Observation Haki, SR prisoners also had a clear distinction from R-ranked prisoners: they had an entry that R- and N-ranked prisoners didn't.
'Character Event? Completing it lets me choose another reward... Why does this sound like a quest system?'
Figo thought for a moment, then activated the option marked 'Can be activated' in his mind.
Suddenly, an image appeared in Figo's mind: 'Beneath a towering ancient tree, the newly imprisoned SR3 prisoner Doham dug at the ground with a shovel, burying two small chests...'
The image was incredibly vivid.
Figo could almost smell the rich scent of the soil and hear birds chirping—it seemed to be a real memory from Doham's mind!
When the image faded, Doham's Character Event entry in the Prison Archives had changed.
[Character Event (Activated): Doham hid most of the treasure he'd plundered beneath an ancient tree on Huoyu Island. He never expected to be captured by the Marines before he could retrieve it. If he'd known, he would rather have thrown the treasure into the sea than let some lucky soul find it in the future.
Event Requirement: Throw Doham's treasure into the sea, either by having Doham do it or by doing it for him.]
Figo was stunned: ???
When he focused his mind on the Prison Archives, he could even faintly sense an illusory arrow pointing toward where the treasure was!
"What is this supposed to be? Fulfilling a wish?"
Figo was speechless for a moment, then came around to the idea.
"Still, it's not a bad thing. Once I leave Impel Down, I can find a way to go there. A Great Pirate's treasure should be worth quite a lot, and it's unclaimed wealth anyway." Whether he threw it into the sea or not would be up to Figo, wouldn't it?
At the time, he had no idea that even more outrageous Character Events were yet to come.
A month later, another SR-ranked pirate was imprisoned on Level 5.
Figo activated the Character Event again.
Fierce cries, clashing weapons, and a boarding action.
After a fierce battle with a Marine wearing a cloak of justice, this SR-ranked pirate was captured.
The image ended, and the Character Event changed.
[Character Event (Activated): Lucien Bailey lost to Vice Admiral Hobby and was captured and sent to Impel Down. He was furious and deeply resentful.
Event Requirement: Kill Vice Admiral Hobby, either by having Lucien Bailey do it or by doing it for him.]
Figo: "..."
A little over a month later.
He activated the Character Event, and an image appeared.
Beautiful women.
Women of every shape and style.
Some were delicate and tearful, like birds seeking shelter. Others were alluring and seductive, captivating the soul. Fear showed on all their faces as they danced, poured wine, and played music to entertain the Great Pirate who'd been imprisoned on Impel Down.
[Character Event: Great Pirate Nisjeski had long heard that the Princess of Alabasta was Alabasta's most beautiful woman, but had never had the chance to see her.
Event Requirement: Capture the Princess of Alabasta for Nisjeski, or capture the Princess of Alabasta and make her dance and pour wine for you.]
Figo: "...Alabasta? Vivi... Her great-grandmother? Has beauty been passed down through the family?"
No, that wasn't the point.
Wasn't he supposed to be the bane of criminals?
Please vote for me!
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