Why a King Is a King (4)

"Ring ring ring"

As if heading towards hell, Ye Chen slowly ventured deeper into the long corridor. The surroundings were eerily quiet. Suddenly, a metallic clanging sound rang out, and Ye Chen stopped in his tracks.

Illuminated by the kerosene lamp, Ye Chen stopped in front of a cell and, by the dim light, saw what was inside.

His hair was disheveled, and his limbs were bound together by chains of Seastone extending from the wall, making them unable to move. He was emaciated, and his bone structure was clearly visible beneath his thin skin.

Thin, as thin as a skeleton.

They were too exhausted to speak, as even speaking was draining their energy. Therefore, the prisoners in the cell simply raised their heads, squinted their eyes, and looked at Ye Chen with some discomfort.

Because of the lighting, the prisoner couldn't see Ye Chen clearly, but Ye Chen could see the prisoner's appearance clearly.

"The Corrupt King, Abaro Pizarro".

Looking at the man whose breath was extremely weak, Ye Chen was slightly surprised, because this man was the Corrupt King he had captured in the Drum Kingdom.

"Navy, you're that Navy guy."

Somewhat excited, the Corrupt King deeply resented this voice, believing that his current predicament was all thanks to this guy. Therefore, he had memorized Ye Chen's voice firmly in his soul.

"They're still managing to struggle, so they must be doing alright."

After glancing at it, Ye Chen lost interest and left the cell, heading deeper into the prison.

"You son, remember this: when I get out of here, I'll tear you limb from limb!" The unwilling roar, accompanied by the clanging of the chains, produced a terrifying sound that instantly stirred the entire silent, Infinite Hell into a frenzy.

"Boy, if you can get me out of here, I'll make you my subordinate." As they walked past a cell, a emaciated man with bloodshot eyes stared nakedly at Ye Chen and suddenly uttered these words.

Ye Chen didn't even pause when faced with this daydreaming guy.

"Please, let me out! I'm willing to be your subordinate." An excited voice came from another cell.

Immediately following were shouts, threats, and even pleas, creating a chaotic scene.

The current Infinite Hell has far more people than the Infinite Hell a decade or so from now. The reason why the number will be greatly reduced decades from now is because the criminals in the present did not survive.

Among them, Ye Chen saw the fighting champion Burgess, whom he had defeated, as well as the pirates captured by Catarina and others, and people from Sakazuki 'Sengoku younger days. The Infinite Hell was not deserted at the moment; it was just that people usually conserved their energy, which was why the entire Infinite Hell was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Boy, if you release us, all the treasures I buried are yours."

"That's right, I once put a bounty of 400 million Beli."

"Even Roger suffered at my hands before."

""

The entire corridor seemed to have no end. Ye Chen ignored the pleas and threats around him and walked towards the deepest part.

Slowly, the sounds around him began to fill in. When Ye Chen passed a prison cell, he stopped, because he had found the person he was looking for.

"Click"

The sound of a key turning filled the air; the people in the cell kept their heads down, making no move.

The faint light, like hope in the darkness, cast a hazy glow over the surroundings and dispelled a trace of coldness.

"It's a bit too bright."

A hoarse, eerie voice suddenly rang out.

Ye Chen frowned as he looked at the way the prisoners were tortured—their limbs nailed to the wall, chains piercing their shoulders—a method designed to minimize their suffering. Add to that the fact that they were only given a sip of water and thin porridge once a week, and simply staying alive was already incredibly difficult, let alone escaping.

As expected, the myth of Impel Down is not so easily broken.

"Patrick Redfield."

Ye Chen placed the kerosene lamp beside him, sat cross-legged on the spot, and faced Redfield.

"Oh! So it's that Marine Ghost from back then."

Raising his head slightly, Redfield no longer possessed his former Haki; he was now merely a dying man, a prime example of a powerful figure in his twilight years.

"It seems you haven't been having a very good time." Although he had almost been killed by the man in front of him, Ye Chen was not very angry as he sat face to face with him; he was only calm.

Touching his left eye, Ye Chen said indifferently, "Thanks to you, my left eye is still blind. However, I still have to thank you."

"So, you're here to mock me?" Redfield said curtly, without even a hint of expression.

"I don't have the time to mock someone who's fallen on hard times and is being bullied by dogs."

Ye Chen pulled a flask from his pocket and opened it, much to Redfield's surprise.

The familiar aroma of the liquor made Redfield's throat tighten.

"Drink up! You might not have another chance like this." The entire flask, barely enough for three or four sips, was placed in front of Redfield.

"Glug glug," Redfield, like the Golden Lion, was not afraid of poison at all and drank it down in a few gulps.

This shows that Redfield and the Golden Lion have something in common: even when they fall from grace, they are still tigers, and their former Haki and arrogant nature remains.

After finishing his drink, Redfield savored the taste for a moment, then looked at Ye Chen and slowly said, "Well, what's up?"

"I want to know the whereabouts of the Mythical Zoan, Bat-Bat Fruit."

Ye Chen was also straightforward, stating his purpose directly.

"Devil Fruit?" Redfield was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Ye Chen to ask such a question.

"Right."

Ye Chen stared intently into Redfield's eyes.

"Have no idea."

Redfield stared intently into Ye Chen's eyes, completely oblivious.

The two stared at each other for a full minute before Ye Chen finally got his answer.

"I hope we meet again someday!" Standing up, brushing the dust off his backside, Ye Chen picked up his kerosene lamp and left.

Ye Chen saw pride, self-respect, and Haki presence in Redfield's eyes. He knew that Redfield had not lied to him.

Since Awakening Conqueror's Haki, Ye Chen has had a certain feeling about many things, and this feeling has become increasingly solidified, especially when facing other Conqueror's Haki users, this feeling becomes even stronger.

"Son, aren't you afraid I'll lie to you?"

Redfield was somewhat surprised when Ye Chen locked the cell door.

"Just the fact that you are the Red the Aloof has already given me the answer. If I were in your shoes, I would do the same."

Ye Chen took one last look at Redfield, then, carrying his kerosene lamp, walked away into the distance.

Laughter echoed from behind, a mixture of excitement, satisfaction, and pride, seemingly encompassing everything.

Just as Ye Chen said, if it were him, he would also disdain lying, because their will and their self-respect determine everything.

This is the possessor of Conqueror's Haki's Haki, a kingly being chosen.

Even without the qualities of a king, a mere strong person would disdain such a thing.

This is a person's belief, a person's bottom line, and for the possessor of Conqueror's Haki, this will is magnified countless times.