Impel Down Level Six

"Mr. Garp, you really didn't need to go to so much trouble for me. I already felt terrible about nearly dragging you down back then," Michael said with his head lowered.

"What are you talking about?! You didn't drag me down. I couldn't stand those Celestial Dragons to begin with. Even if it had been someone else, I would've argued it out with Marshal Kong."

"But..."

"No buts! If you're a man, stop being so wishy-washy."

Afterward, Garp asked Michael about his recent circumstances. Michael hesitated for a moment, then called the others out of the cabin and introduced them to Garp as well.

When Garp learned what the group of four had done before they were captured, he couldn't help bursting into laughter. Tokikake's expression was somewhat strange as well.

Of the four, Tokikake only knew Paddy. When Kuzan had been carried back, Tokikake had specifically looked into it and learned that Kuzan had been beaten into that state by the captain of an affiliate pirate crew of the Flying Pirate Group.

Tokikake knew full well that he was absolutely no match for Kuzan. The fact that Paddy could fight Kuzan to a mutual defeat was enough to prove her strength.

At the time, Tokikake had even sighed, wondering why powerful monsters like these always appeared among pirates.

Now that Tokikake learned Paddy had only joined the Flying Pirate Group to protect her country, the misgivings in his heart were no longer so great.

As for Mia and Ian, one robbed the rich to help the poor, while the other could be considered a pirate hunter. Neither was a bad person, so Tokikake held no hostility toward them.

The group went to Mosen's room and sat down to chat for a while. That afternoon, Garp suggested leaving, saying that since they were already at Impel Down, he had to visit some "old friends."

Hearing this, Mosen quickly said, "Mr. Garp, I want to meet those legendary Great Pirates too."

"Mosen, you're still too young. The sixth level holds nothing but monsters. With your current strength, I'm afraid..."

"Tokikake, don't say that! It's a good thing for young people to have courage!" Garp interrupted him before turning to Mosen. "Kid, stay close behind me in a moment. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine."

"Thank you, Mr. Garp."

Afterward, Garp led Mosen out of the Extreme Cold Hell and toward Infinite Hell on the sixth level of Impel Down.

Those sent into Infinite Hell were all extraordinary figures. The criminals imprisoned on this level were either monstrous pirates so vicious that they had been erased from history, or people who had offended forces daring enough to directly oppose the World Government.

It was no exaggeration to say that every prisoner on this level was a legendary figure.

Although Mosen had been at Impel Down for quite some time, this was still his first time approaching Infinite Hell. He was somewhat nervous.

Tokikake's expression was solemn as well.

Garp, on the other hand, appeared very calm. From time to time, he told Tokikake and Mosen about the prisoners in Infinite Hell.

The more Mosen listened, the more something felt off. What was with Garp speaking as if he knew them all inside out? Could it be that all the prisoners he mentioned had been sent here by him?

Listening to Garp's stories, Mosen gradually calmed down.

However, the instant the three stepped into Infinite Hell, a powerful Conqueror's Haki filled with brutality and killing intent bore down on Garp.

Garp snorted coldly and struck back with his own Conqueror's Haki.

"Crack—" Blood-red lightning burst through Infinite Hell. Mosen felt like a tiny boat at sea that had suddenly encountered a storm, liable to capsize at any moment.

Mosen gritted his teeth and resisted the two overwhelming auras with all his strength.

After an unknown amount of time, the clash of Conqueror's Haki finally ceased. Mosen's clothes were soaked through with cold sweat, and he looked utterly drained, unable to even stand steadily.

"Mosen, are you okay?" Tokikake quickly caught him and asked with concern.

"I-I'm fine. Mr. Garp, that just now..."

"Shiki was just saying hello. Don't mind it." With that, Garp walked deeper into Infinite Hell.

(In the original work, it was never stated that Garp had Conqueror's Haki, but I think he did. After the concept of Conqueror's Haki infusion appeared, the difference in strength between those with it and those without it became far too great. There was no obvious gap between Garp and Roger, since Garp had pushed Roger into desperate situations many times. So Garp definitely had Conqueror's Haki; otherwise, that would have been impossible.

Golden Lion, Roger, and Whitebeard were known as the three legendary pirates. Roger and Whitebeard both had Conqueror's Haki, so Golden Lion couldn't possibly lack it.)

Tokikake supported Mosen as they followed behind.

"Yo! Shiki, you're still as lively as ever after all this time!" Garp greeted the person inside when he arrived before a cell.

"Garp, I never thought we'd meet again. That brat behind you isn't bad! Our clash of Conqueror's Haki didn't even knock him unconscious. He's got potential. He reminds me of that brat who followed behind you back then and ate the Ice-Ice Fruit."

"You mean Kuzan? He's nothing like he was before. He can stand on his own now."

"Garp, tell me—how has this sea changed since Roger died?" Golden Lion abruptly changed the subject.

"Sure!" Garp sat down directly and, as though chatting with an old friend, smilingly told Golden Lion about some of the things that had happened at sea recently.

Golden Lion showed no reaction to the other events. Only when he heard that Ohara had been destroyed by a Buster Call did his expression change for the first time.

"The World Government is still the same. Anyone who dares touch upon the history of the Void Century will be erased without hesitation," Golden Lion sighed.

"Shiki, if I remember correctly, you were investigating that stuff back then too, weren't you?"

"I was only investigating the Ancient Weapons. If Roger had been willing to cooperate with me back then, with his ability to hear the voice of all things, we could have uncovered the secrets of the Ancient Weapons. The World Government and the like would've been destroyed long ago! We would have become the new Kings of the World," Golden Lion said irritably.

"You definitely picked the wrong person when you went looking for Roger. Roger didn't like ruling others. Compared to controlling people, he preferred living freely," Garp said with a smile.

Golden Lion did not refute Garp's words. The naval battle he had fought against Roger at Edd War had already made Roger's attitude clear to him.

Yet Golden Lion had never been able to understand Roger's actions. With such immense strength, why had he been content to remain a pirate? If they had joined forces, the world would have been within their grasp.

Moreover, Golden Lion was certain that Roger hated the World Government just as much as he did. That was precisely why Golden Lion had invited Roger, yet Roger had refused him. It left Golden Lion utterly baffled.

In Golden Lion's eyes, rather than letting the rotten scum of the World Government rule the world, it would be better for him to become the King of the World. No matter what, he was better than the World Government, wasn't he?

Garp had no idea what Golden Lion was thinking, and continued telling him about the changes taking place in the outside world.

After hearing Garp's account, Golden Lion sighed. "Sigh! As expected, without Roger, this world has become much more boring."

"I think the sea is more interesting now. So many people became pirates because of one sentence from that guy Roger. The sea is much livelier than it used to be!" Garp retorted.

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