Depriving a Legend of His Devil Fruit

Impel Down.

News kept spreading and gathering momentum outside, yet the deep-sea prison that should have been at the center of the storm was remarkably calm.

The riots on the upper levels had been completely suppressed. After more than ten hours of searching and salvage, Warden Babulou had been rescued from the seabed.

But the old man was badly injured and remained unconscious even after emergency treatment.

Noah's plan to spar with him had clearly fallen through.

Noah didn't mind much. His battle with Shiki had more than satisfied him, making the sparring match optional.

After sitting beside the old man's sickbed for a while, he and Aokiji left the ward together. Outside the iron-barred gate, they happened upon a large squad of jailers escorting Shiki toward them.

The one leading them wasn't Magellan. He had gone off to the toilet with diarrhea again.

Instead, it was a scrawny young man wearing an ancient Egyptian pharaoh-style headdress and carrying a black demonic trident.

"Ah, Mr. Noah!"

The young man snapped to attention and saluted as soon as he saw Noah. "Are... are you and Vice Admiral Kuzan getting ready to leave for Marine Headquarters?"

"That's the plan."

Aokiji nodded and looked the young man up and down in surprise. "You're only sixteen or seventeen, right? And you're already a captain at Impel Down. Impressive. What's your name?"

"Hannibal, sir!" The young man drew his legs together and stood ramrod straight. He answered loudly:

"Thank you for the praise! My dream in joining Impel Down is to become warden and turn this prison into my terri—ah, sorry, that slipped out!"

"..."

Aokiji gave Noah a speechless look.

Noah smiled but said nothing.

He had recognized Hannibal at first glance, of course, though he was genuinely surprised.

He hadn't expected Hannibal to