The thought that Giant Power might help extend his lifespan left Figo unsettled for a long time.
What would it be like to live for 350 years?
Forget being 26 now—even if he spent another 100 years guarding Impel Down, by the time Luffy set sail and the story began, Figo would be 126 and still in his prime!
Of course, there was no way he would spend 100 years guarding Impel Down. Even if he were immortal, there was no need to waste the best years of his life there.
But if he really could live for 350 years, maybe he could consider staying in Impel Down for another two years?
He had spent all six years since crossing over in Impel Down, and he was quite comfortable there by now. More importantly, plenty of Giant pirates should still be sent there in the coming years, giving him opportunities to pick up their records for free!
No, perhaps after leaving Impel Down, he could take part directly in dismantling the Giant Warrior Pirates and capture Giants himself?
He had chosen a quiet life before because he was weak and afraid of dying. Now that he had to choose between staying safe and taking risks, Figo found himself hesitating.
"Hmm, I'm getting ahead of myself. I still don't know whether Giant Power can extend my lifespan."
After agonizing over it for a long while,
Figo decided to stop thinking.
Because the cafeteria had opened.
The world of pirates really was a food lover's paradise. The sea was full of all kinds of strange Sea Kings, and they all had one thing in common: their meat tasted great.
Meat in a different flavor every day of the year, without having to worry about getting fat. Wasn't that practically heaven?
The cafeteria had cooked up the Sea King Figo had caught that morning. It looked rather odd, with a bull's head and a fish's body, and its meat tasted like whichever part of it the head came from.
But even the finest wagyu couldn't compare to meat of this quality. Figo forgot everything else as soon as he took a bite and lost himself in the delicious food.
Perhaps Giant Power had affected his physique as well, because Figo had an especially hearty appetite today. Before he knew it, hundreds of pounds of meat had vanished into his bottomless stomach. He wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, burped, and left the private room the kitchen had specially set aside for him to make serving his food easier.
Since Figo ate so much, his meals took a long time.
Usually, by the time he left the private room, most of the jailers in the cafeteria had finished eating and left. Only a few cafeteria staff remained.
But today was different. The cafeteria was packed with jailers, all staring eagerly toward the private room as if waiting for Figo.
When Figo came out, a small commotion broke out among the jailers. One of them stepped forward and said,
"Vice Warden Figo, we heard you're going to... You're planning to leave Impel Down?"
Figo replied, "You're pretty well-informed. I was going to tell you before I left. What, will you miss me?"
They certainly would. Thanks to Figo, the average Impel Down jailer had gained more than eight pounds every year for the past several years!
Ahem. Of course, their average strength and combat ability had also improved. Sea King meat was very nourishing, after all.
And whether Figo had been Jailer Chief or was now Vice Warden, he had always been on the front lines of escorting pirates.
Figo was doing it for the record rewards, but the jailers didn't know that. They thought he was a diligent superior who took a hands-on approach to everything. The first group of jailers in particular adored him.
When Figo confirmed it, quite a few of them exaggeratedly burst into tears. Some even tilted their heads and clutched their chests like Xi Shi. "Vice Warden!"
"Boohoo... Are you really leaving?"
"Take me with you! Boohoo..."
Their weeping made Figo feel terribly uncomfortable. He barked irritably, "I haven't even decided yet! Get back to work. Why are you crying at me?"
There would at least be Sadi in the future, but right now, there wasn't a single female jailer in Impel Down. Seeing a bunch of grown men cry made Figo extremely uncomfortable.
He hurried out of the cafeteria and went straight to find Seazer. Seazer had been waiting for him too. As soon as he saw Figo, he said, "The transfer order from Headquarters has arrived."
"Figo, you can leave Impel Down aboard the warship coming to pick you up in three days. The Fleet Admiral will personally award you the rank of Rear Admiral at Headquarters."
Figo said, "Rear Admiral? What about you?"
"I have to stay for another two years." Seazer shook his head helplessly. "I need to give Kinch two years to get used to the Vice Warden's position before I can leave."
Figo furrowed his brow, even more conflicted.
Thinking of the effect of Giant Power, the jailers in the cafeteria, and the helpless look on Seazer's face before him... In the end, he shook his head. "Forget it. You go. I'll stay another two years!"
Seazer stared at him in astonishment. "Figo, you..."
"I'm not satisfied. Why do I only get to leave as a Rear Admiral while you leave as a Vice Admiral? Tell the Fleet Admiral I'll stay for another two years, and when I leave, I want to be a Vice Admiral too." Figo grinned.
Seazer said, "I was already a Rear Admiral when I transferred to Impel Down six years ago, while you were only a captain. Besides, you're only 26, and you've already..."
"...And you're still not grateful?"
"No, no." Seazer hurriedly shook his head, then said solemnly, "Thank you, Figo!"
The news quickly spread, and a wave of cheers erupted throughout Impel Down.
At first, Figo felt helpless. But when he saw Seazer, who had been looking forward to leaving, darken his expression, Figo couldn't help laughing. The jailers really were kind of cute.
Oh well. He'd stay another two years.
His final two years!
And so, two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Marineford Calendar Year 1422.
Impel Down, Warden's quarters.
Figo lay on his bed, chatting with the Fleet Admiral over the Warden's personal Den Den Mushi.
The Den Den Mushi on his arm wore a stern expression. Its voice was low as it asked, "Figo, have you really decided to leave Impel Down this time?"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
The Den Den Mushi bobbed one of its feelers. "Hand over your duties to Kinch. In three days, welcome the replacement jailers and take that warship back to Headquarters."
"Understood."
"Also, another warship will arrive in two days to take away the seven Giants held in Impel Down," the Fleet Admiral added.
Figo was startled. "Take them away?"
Impel Down was practically a one-way trip.
The only way out was execution!
Sure enough, the Fleet Admiral said, "That's right. They'll be taken by warship to Huoyu Island, which is relatively close to Elbaf, for a Public Execution!"
"I see."
Figo acknowledged it, then suddenly felt that the name Huoyu Island sounded familiar.
The Prison Archives unfolded in his mind. Figo quickly searched through them and found Doham, the first SR pirate he had helped imprison seven years ago!
[Character Event (Activated): Doham hid most of the treasure he plundered beneath an ancient tree on Huoyu Island...
Event requirement: Have Doham, or someone acting on his behalf, cast his treasure into the sea.]
So it was! What a coincidence.
Figo's thoughts shifted, and before the Fleet Admiral could hang up the Den Den Mushi, he said, "Fleet Admiral, I'd like to leave with the warship escorting the Giants."
"Hmm?"
"Well... Haha, it's been eight years since I first came to Impel Down. I'd like to get out and see the world. Could I have a month's leave?"
The Fleet Admiral fell silent for a while before replying, "That would work. Someone from the World Government will be involved in this execution, and it seems they intend to use the opportunity to do something. I'd feel better with you there. But don't get into a clash with the World Government's intelligence agents. Just treat it as a vacation."
From the sound of it, the World Government had kept its plans for this operation from the Fleet Admiral, leaving him somewhat uneasy—or perhaps displeased?
Figo said, "Yes, understood."
After hanging up, Figo rolled over and immediately went to hand over his duties to Kinch.
He took charge of an escort ship, operated the crane himself to perform one washing ceremony, beat up the unruly pirates on Level 5, and gave half a loaf of bread to the Great Pirate on Level 6 who was close to starving to death, just enough to keep him alive...
His final two days went by at work.
Two days later, Figo took off the Warden's uniform he had worn for several years, leaving only his sunglasses. He changed into a well-fitting set of casual clothes that he had asked the last supply ship to bring him. He was as good as new!
The seven Giants were brought out under escort.
Jailers lined both sides of the passage from Impel Down to the Level 0 sea platform, there to see him off.
Once again, they burst into tears.
This time, Figo didn't think they were being so dramatic.
"Goodbye, everyone!"
"Boohoo..."
"Warden!"
"Mr. Figo..."
"Have a good journey! Boohoo..."
As he stepped onto the sea platform again, Figo felt completely different from before.
"Eight years!"
"I'm coming, pirate world!"
Back in Impel Down, Kinch, now much more muscular, took over Figo's position as Warden. Watching the gates slowly close, the weeping jailers, and Figo's disappearing figure, he felt dazed for a moment.
He really left?
The guy who had been looming over me ever since he beat me that time just left, so easily?
Impel Down is mine to run now?
Once Figo had truly made up his mind to leave, this time he didn't hesitate or look back!
Before you continue