"Captain, the voyage is going smoothly. Another hundred nautical miles and we'll be near Impel Down's Main Gate."
The Marines escorting Onigumo sailed straight for Impel Down. Little Zhuge had dispatched a Guards unit from the Holy Land to handle the transfer. Its captain, Dargan, was only about as strong as an ordinary Marine vice admiral, and he had two hundred Marine soldiers with him.
"Mm. I know."
Dargan nodded with an affected air. He sipped fine red wine and admired the sea through the window, feeling pleased with himself.
As far as he was concerned, this assignment was simple. Onigumo was badly injured and shackled in Seastone cuffs. He posed no threat.
Though they were both Marines, Dargan answered directly to the Celestial Dragons and belonged to the Holy Land's garrison. He felt no sympathy for Onigumo.
"Poor man..."
On the deck, a Marine pointed at Onigumo, who was tied to the Mast, and shook his head. "It's awful. He's a vice admiral from Headquarters. What could he have done to end up like this? And now they're sending him to Impel Down. I can hardly believe it."
The ordinary Marines had no idea what had happened to Onigumo. Throughout the voyage, he had hung high on the Mast, exposed to wind and rain, blazing sun and falling snow. He had already lost a great deal of blood, and the journey had been sheer torment. Now he was barely breathing, with only half his life left. Dargan paid him little attention even at mealtimes. For days, Onigumo had not had a full meal.
"Poor man... Looks like he offended a Celestial Dragon."
Someone who could not bear the sight muttered this when no one was paying attention.
Marines came and went across the warship. Whenever they passed Onigumo, they