Headquarters Vice Admiral Level 61

Sal drew his attention back and looked at the Fish-Man Jinbe inside the cell.

"One of the Shichibukai, Knight of the Sea Jinbe, are you interested in going to Marineford with us? If Whitebeard dies in battle, no one will protect Fish-Man Island anymore. Aside from Red-Haired, the other two Four Emperors aren't easy people to deal with. And don't you want to save Ace?"

The blunt invitation stunned everyone.

Jinbe hesitated for a moment before his gaze became firm. Gains came with losses. He had been imprisoned on the sixth level of Impel Down because he opposed going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates. Now, it was time for him to make up his mind.

"Then I'll trouble you. I've decided to join the war, lend Pops a hand, and save my little brother Ace."

The addition of a Shichibukai excited the group immensely. Everyone knew Jinbe's reputation and character. He was absolutely trustworthy; the title Knight of the Sea proved everything.

[S-rank character has developed positive emotions toward the host. Low-level friendliness. Experience +1000]

For Sal, Impel Down's sixth level was a massive experience pack. He had given Luffy the charm precisely for this moment.

Let the harvesting begin, my little leeks.

Ivankov studied Sal with some confusion. He had never heard of this young man, yet Sal had grasped the Shichibukai's thoughts so accurately. Could he be a man skilled in scheming?

Moreover, Luffy trusted him greatly. From the moment he appeared, Sal had given off the feeling that everything was under control. He had clearly come prepared.

Sal did not care what Ivankov thought and turned to look at a man some distance away.

"Crocodile, you haven't been very happy staying here, have you? Interested in making a deal?"

Inside the cell, a man emerged from the shadows. The middle-aged man had slicked-back hair and a long horizontal scar across his face. Crocodile asked with mild interest.

"Though I don't know who you are, are you really so confident I'll agree? I've never heard your name on the seas."

"Forget it if you don't want to. There are other people here, and I don't absolutely have to choose a Shichibukai who was defeated by Luffy."

"..."

Hearing that Sal was looking for helpers and that Crocodile had refused, the surrounding prisoners immediately shouted.

"Pick me! Pick me! I'll definitely help you save Fire Fist Ace!"

"You should pick me! I'm really strong! A mere Shichibukai? I could crush one with one hand!"

"..."

Crocodile was instantly rendered speechless, his face turning ugly. Sal actually dared to tear open his wound. But seeing that circumstances were stronger than he was, and that missing this chance might mean being locked up here for the rest of his life, he immediately said,

"I accept. Once you free me, I'll help you save Ace at Marine Headquarters."

Remembering how Crocodile had overestimated himself and attacked Whitebeard the moment he appeared in the original story, Sal added a condition.

"Also, you can't attack Whitebeard during the war."

"...Fine, I agree."

At this point, such a condition did not matter at all. Once they reached Marineford, this nameless nobody before him could not possibly restrain him.

[S-rank character has developed ordinary emotions toward the host. Low-level surprise. Experience +1000]

Sal stroked his chin. The man was not hostile toward him? It seemed Crocodile was quite broad-minded. Was he surprised because Sal had guessed he would attack Whitebeard?

Footsteps continued to ring out. At this moment, Ivankov and his subordinates could only silently wait for the suddenly appeared man to act.

Sal stopped before a cell. The massive man in the shadows shuddered; he had clearly heard the conversation outside.

"Byrnndi World, you heard the terms of the deal as well. Interested?"

A deep voice came from within.

"I accept. Until Fire Fist Ace is rescued, I will be your ally."

Seeing yet another person being freed, the surrounding prisoners erupted and shouted endlessly.

"Me! And me! I'm strong too!"

"As long as you let me out, I'll become your subordinate. X15"

The clamor was unending, and it began to irritate Sal. He picked his nose with his little finger and bellowed.

"Shut up, all of you. I'm not letting scum like you out. You can rot to death in here."

"..."

The scene fell silent for a moment, followed by the prisoners spewing vicious curses.

"You brat, I'll definitely kill you!"

"Who knows where this rookie crawled out of, daring to speak to me like that!"

"I'll definitely kill you!"

"XXXXXOOOOOOX30"

[S-rank character has developed negative emotions toward the host. Low-level hostility. Experience +1000X29]

[S-rank character has developed negative emotions toward the host. Moderate surprise. Experience +2000X11]

[Level 59 (68431/76000)]

He was still a little short of leveling up, so Sal revealed a cruel smile and immediately charged at the prisoner shouting the loudest. His Armament Haki-coated fist blew the man's head apart in a single strike.

He then continued attacking the others, beating more than a dozen people to death one punch at a time and leaving pools of blood behind.

All these prisoners were bound by Seastone chains and had remained hungry and weakened for so long that they had barely any strength left.

Seastone was the hardest known metal, even tougher than diamond.

[S-rank character has developed negative emotions toward the host. High-level fear. Experience +5000X11]

[S-rank character has developed negative emotions toward the host. Low-level surprise. Experience +1000X49]

The first emotions had come from the prisoners before they died, while the latter had come from the surrounding prisoners who witnessed Sal's brutality.

There were Fate Points as well.

[Greatly altered the fate of S-rank characters. Reward: 5000 points X11]

Fifty-five thousand points—this was definitely the greatest gain of this trip.

[Level up: Level 61 13539/90000]

The consecutive two-level increase caused Sal's Observation Haki to break through once more, and a familiar sensation resurfaced in his memories.

[Host: Augustus D. Sal]

[Age: 26]

[Level: 61 13539/90000]

[Strength: Advanced (Vice Admiral)]

[Physique: Advanced (Vice Admiral)]

[Agility: Advanced (Vice Admiral)]

[Fruit: None]

[Technique: Top-tier]

[Armament Haki: Advanced]

[Observation Haki: Top-tier (Voice of All Things)]

[Conqueror's Haki: Peak]

[Weapon: Ace]

[Points: 63879]

His physique had truly reached the level of a Headquarters Vice Admiral, and his three attributes were already close to top-tier. Along with the upgrade to his Observation Haki, his strength had improved noticeably.

After killing more than a dozen people and intimidating the prisoners, Sal did not continue the slaughter. Though those extremely weakened experience packs were tempting, now was not the time for this.

The Impel Down guards had already discovered the intruders, and Magellan would likely arrive soon. Without any long-range area-of-effect attacks, Sal could only give up on those experience packs. Otherwise, he would have to unlock their doors before killing them, which would be a massive undertaking.

Sal turned back to the main group and flicked a key into Bullet's cell. He did not spare the puzzled Bullet another glance. Blackbeard would free him when he arrived later anyway.

He might as well do him a favor. If they met again on the seas later, it might come in handy.

As for why he did not kill the two fattest experience packs, who knew whether those top-tier powerhouses had backup plans? Their prison-break group had no extra time to waste.

Besides, they were "old acquaintances" either way.

Luffy looked as though he wanted to say something but stopped himself. In the end, he still asked.

"Sal, why did you kill them?"

Sal met his clear eyes. Then again, since Luffy had set out to sea, he had never taken the initiative to kill anyone.

"Luffy, they're all utterly evil people. The impact caused by our prison break may very well allow them to escape as well. If this scum gets out, it'll be a disaster for ordinary people."