The instant Edward Teach finished speaking.
A whirlwind seemed to rise out of nowhere inside Newkama Land.
Faint, dark-red arcs of lightning flickered through the air, and an invisible force of intimidation engulfed the entire place.
Even the few okama standing at the very edge of the crowd felt a weighty pressure for no apparent reason.
"C-Conqueror's Haki!?"
Ivankov, who stood closest, was the first to feel that overwhelming presence.
Even the Okama King, who had weathered countless storms, couldn't stop a few beads of cold sweat from forming on his forehead.
Such terrifying ambition! Such a grand dream!
Ivankov was dumbstruck as he looked Edward Teach up and down, his eyes filled with shock and astonishment.
Only Whitebeard's son could possess something like this!
From that moment on.
Ivankov no longer had any doubts about Edward Teach's identity.
He really was "Whitebeard the Third"!
On an emotional level, Ivankov greatly admired the plan Edward Teach had just proposed.
"Carefully select the strongest subordinates from the most terrifying place of all, Infinite Hell"!
Teach had openly proposed a plan that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to imagine!
But rationally speaking, Ivankov wasn't optimistic about Edward Teach's chances.
Infinite Hell—what kind of place was it?
The criminals held there were almost all monsters so vicious that the World Government had deliberately erased them from history.
Every prisoner in Infinite Hell would be considered a legendary figure if they were out in the world!
Could Edward Teach really recruit subordinates from Infinite Hell?
Ivankov didn't know the answer.
But at that moment, he didn't say anything negative about Teach's words. He simply asked calmly,
"Teach, what exactly do you need me to do?"
If Edward Teach wanted Ivankov to help with this "recruitment plan for Infinite Hell"—
by, for example, handling the aftermath and helping Edward Teach and his potential future subordinates escape Impel Down in secret—
then Ivankov could grit his teeth and agree.
Here's an obscure fact.
Newkama Land was connected to all sorts of secret passageways throughout Impel Down.
From Crimson Lotus Hell on the first level to Extreme Cold Hell on the fifth.
Every one of Impel Down's first five levels had a hidden route leading to Newkama Land.
Even the prison guards had no idea these secret passageways existed.
Ivankov was perfectly capable of helping a group of people move freely through Impel Down's first five levels without anyone noticing.
Edward Teach seemed to lose focus for a moment.
But when he heard the Okama King speak, he quickly gathered himself.
"Didn't I just say?
"My goal is Infinite Hell!
"Ivankov, come with me to Infinite Hell!"
Edward Teach once again held out the "hand of friendship" to the Okama King.
"We're friends, after all!
"If we can't climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire together, what kind of friends are we?
"Okama King, you'll go to hell with me, won't you?"
Ivankov himself had no idea whether he would go to hell after he died.
But the invitation Edward Teach had just extended—
to Ivankov, it sounded no different from a summons from hell!
In an instant.
Ivankov broke into a cold sweat.
He'd only meant to repay Edward Teach for saving Lightning's life.
But how had things turned into this...?
Was he supposed to give his own life in return to Edward Teach?!
"I, you, friends, well... ahaha."
Ivankov wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and laughed awkwardly, then asked vaguely,
"Teach, if you really get into Infinite Hell, how will you recruit those vicious criminals?"
"What will I do? Gurararara..."
Edward Teach burst out laughing, his booming voice echoing through the cavern.
"I'll unlock every prisoner's shackles in Infinite Hell!
"I'll set off an unprecedented battle of beasts in Infinite Hell!
"Only those who survive that endless slaughter will earn the right to become my subordinates!"
In the future of the original timeline.
There really was a "Teach" who did just that.
But his name was "Blackbeard Teach."
As for what "Whitebeard Teach" was saying now—
his plan to raise his subordinates in Infinite Hell like poisonous insects competing to survive—
was nothing but a lie!
Edward Teach—or, more precisely, Storm.
Everything Storm had told Ivankov earlier was true.
He wanted to enter Infinite Hell!
He wanted to form the most terrifying pirate crew in history!
He wanted to defeat Whitebeard, defeat every rival, and become the World's Strongest pirate!
He also wanted to select the most elite and powerful subordinates from among the most wicked and terrifying criminals in the world!
But—
who said the world's most wicked and powerful criminals could only be found in Infinite Hell?
Look at this "Edward Teach." Wasn't he lawless and arrogant, too?
To be fair.
Storm wasn't Blackbeard.
He had no interest whatsoever in recruiting Infinite Hell's trash.
Nor was he Sun God Nika.
He wasn't going to help a horde of criminals escape Impel Down for his own selfish gain.
Storm had only one goal, from beginning to end—
the [Big Trophies] belonging to the legendary powerhouses in Infinite Hell!
Storm had applied to come to Impel Down in the first place for the Big Trophies carried by the countless prisoners held there!
He hadn't come to work for the World Government for the rest of his life as a prison guard!
After all the points he'd invested in the [Big Trophies], Storm's overall strength had now reached five stars!
His [Clay Fruit] had even reached the Awakening level!
Even the four-star [Golden Trophy] had lost its appeal to Storm by now.
In other words—
Impel Down was no longer a "leveling paradise"!
Under the circumstances.
Storm naturally had to start planning his departure from Impel Down.
Impel Down had seven levels of hell.
Storm had fought his way through them, from Crimson Lotus Hell on the first level all the way to Newkama Land on Level 5.5.
That left only the prisoners in Infinite Hell who hadn't yet received his "attention."
Storm had long wanted to make a big move in Infinite Hell, reap one last haul of [Big Trophies]—
then leave Impel Down and head for the freer open sea.
A true man, born between heaven and earth, should never be content to live beneath another for long!
Today, after running into Lightning by chance, he'd unexpectedly become involved with Ivankov, Lightning's backer, and the "hidden map" that was Newkama Land.
It was only natural that Storm would think of turning these capable okama into assets for his plan.
Now all that remained was Ivankov's answer!
Even though the Okama King had already realized that "Edward Teach" was no ordinary man,
he couldn't help being shaken after hearing the full plan.
"Make all the prisoners in Infinite Hell slaughter one another, and select the ultimate criminal who survives"!
It was exactly the kind of thing Teach would do!
However...
"Teach, Infinite Hell isn't Extreme Cold Hell."
Ivankov tried earnestly to talk him out of it.
"The guards in Infinite Hell are extremely powerful, and Surveillance Den Den Mushi are everywhere.
"Without an order from Warden Magellan, even the guards can't enter or leave Infinite Hell at will.
"And if anything at all happens in Infinite Hell, the Surveillance Room will be notified immediately.
"Then the forces of the entire Impel Down will be mobilized at once!
"You'll be facing a truly terrifying power from hell!
"Especially Impel Down's warden—Magellan!"
Ivankov wasn't some naïve newcomer to the sea.
As the Revolutionary Army's Grand Line army commander,
Ivankov knew all too well what kind of terrifying monsters stood at the very top of the sea's power hierarchy!
Whitebeard, Red-Haired, the Beasts, Big Mom...
Just hearing those names was enough to make ordinary people tremble.
Not many people on the sea knew about Magellan.
But Ivankov, who had lived in Impel Down for some time, knew just how powerful that "Poison Human" was!
It was no exaggeration to say that inside Impel Down, Magellan could bring forth power on par with the World Government's highest combat strength!
Ivankov had no desire to face such a terrifying enemy.
"Gurararara..."
Edward Teach chuckled, then suddenly stood up and walked toward the exit of Newkama Land.
"Wait a moment. Allow me to introduce you to a new friend."
No okama dared to stop Whitebeard the Third.
Even Ivankov didn't move.
He simply sat quietly in his chair and watched Edward Teach turn and leave.
Before long.
Edward Teach returned to Newkama Land.
And beside his tall, broad-shouldered figure stood a slender man.
"Vongola Storm!?"
Ivankov was instantly stunned.
He sprang out of his chair and instinctively assumed a defensive stance.
"What are you doing here!?"
Newkama Land had always been independent of Impel Down's surveillance system.
No one working at the prison knew that "Level 5.5" existed.
Now Ivankov had suddenly come face-to-face with Vongola Storm.
This terrifying Jailer Chief had only recently entered the prison, yet he had been able to beat Shiryu senseless.
How could the Okama King not be horrified?!
"Teach? Why are you just standing there watching?!"
"Calm down, Ivankov,"
Edward Teach said in a deep voice.
"Storm is my partner."
Perhaps it was just his imagination,
but Ivankov felt that Teach seemed less sharp and unruly than before...
Still, he clearly heard what Teach had said.
"Vongola Storm, you're actually Teach's partner?"
"No! You're wrong, Okama King."
Storm's grin was wild and unrestrained.
"I'm not Whitebeard the Third's crewmate!"
"I'm Whitebeard the Third's Captain!"
Today was Tuesday, the day the editorial team chose which books to recommend.
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