The dark, damp stench of decay stung their nostrils, while candle flames flickered on either side of the passage.
From time to time, violent coughing rang out. A faint sense of fear and despair hung in the air, making the place feel sinister and cold.
This was the world's greatest prison, Impel Down.
Clatter!
Shackles and chains clinked against the stone floor. A squad of stern-faced guards approached, escorting pirates in prison uniforms who hung their heads in silence.
Whoosh!
A breeze swept through, making the candle flames along the passage sway again, as though they were about to go out.
"Admiral River."
"Please wake up!"
River was snoring with his back against a cell door, his messy black hair draped over his shoulders and his clothes askew. Someone gave him a gentle nudge.
Behind him was a cell whose pirate inmates stood rigid, not daring to move or make a sound for fear of waking the man in front of them.
"Mmm..."
Murmuring softly, River looked at the man holding a pitchfork before him.
"What is it, Hannyabal?"
"And I haven't been an Admiral for a long time."
"You can't just call me that!"
"I'm only an Impel Down guard now, without any military rank or official position."
Stretching, River slowly rose to his feet and looked ahead.
The familiar scene was playing out again. Apparently, another batch of powerful pirates had been captured outside and sent here.
Only this time, the pirates before him seemed a little different.
"You must be joking, Admiral River. You'll always be an Admiral to me!"
"And the strongest Admiral at that. Even..."
At that point, Hannyabal glanced furtively to either side and lowered his voice, speaking with a flattering smile.
"Even the three current Admirals surely couldn't hold a candle to you."
River smiled. "Enough flattery. Why don't we talk about why you came here to shake me awake?"
Hannyabal perked up at that and leaned closer with a chuckle. "Headquarters sent in a batch of formidable fellows this time."
"So I'd like to ask you to help escort them."
"After all, one of them has to be taken down to Level Six, and I'm afraid something might go wrong."
Hearing that, River narrowed his eyes and studied the man being escorted before him.
He vaguely remembered him. His name seemed to be Daz Bones, the man in Baroque Works who went by the code name Mr. 1.
To think this fellow had been sent to Impel Down today. That meant Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, had already been captured by the Marines.
It also meant that the world outside had entered a brand-new era.
At that thought, River couldn't help feeling wistful.
Twenty years. In this sunless prison, it was as though he had fallen into a deep sleep, never showing his face to the world again.
The man who had once been the strongest Admiral had vanished from the world as well.
"Admiral River."
Hannyabal called softly, his manner cautious.
Others knew nothing. They all thought River was just an unremarkable guard at Impel Down, eating and sleeping his days away without bothering with his appearance.
But Hannyabal knew very well that twenty years ago, this man had shaken the world and clashed with great figures like Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard Newgate.
Only after committing a grave mistake and becoming embroiled in a major incident had he been stripped of all positions and ranks by Headquarters and sent to Impel Down.
And, surprisingly, even after twenty years, apart from his messy hair and unkempt appearance, this Admiral's face had barely changed.
He was still just as young and vigorous, with the same gentle, refined bearing.
"Hmm? I spaced out for a moment."
River looked at Hannyabal and nodded with a faint smile.
"Of course. It's my duty as a guard, after all. And I should thank you for looking after me all these years, Hannyabal!"
Hannyabal flushed bright red, looking terribly embarrassed as he squirmed. "Sir, you can just call me Hanny."
"Ha ha!"
River burst out laughing.
"Hand him over to me. I'll get him there safely."
Hannyabal brightened and shouted, "Yes, sir!"
Then he abruptly turned his head. "Bring over the Shichibukai, Crocodile!"
Daz Bones raised his head slightly, studying the unkempt guard before him, with his messy black hair and a long sword hanging at his waist.
He couldn't understand why Impel Down's vice warden beside him treated this fellow with such respect.
Even less could he understand why this man was going to be entrusted with escorting Mr. 0.
Who was this guy?
A moment later, accompanied by the clinking of shackles, a grim, imposing figure slowly approached. Though dressed in a prison uniform, he held his head high and his chest out, looking proud and defiant.
It was Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai.
He had suffered another devastating defeat in his life, and this time, a kid wearing a straw hat had beaten him badly enough to leave him seriously injured.
To him, it was an utterly intolerable humiliation.
And this was Impel Down, a cage said to be impossible to escape once you entered, which only made him more irritable.
"Is this him?"
The voice carried a hint of amusement. For some reason, Crocodile found it familiar and lifted his head to look ahead.
The moment he saw that figure, his body jolted and his pupils contracted. Then he fell into a deathly silence.
No one else noticed. River soon completed the handover with Hannyabal.
Besides Mr. 1 and Crocodile, there were other members of Baroque Works who would be dropped off along the way as they descended toward Level Six.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap!
Clear footsteps echoed through the passage.
Apart from River, only the members of Baroque Works were present. The people behind Crocodile exchanged shifting glances, turning toward one another to communicate.
Their meaning was obvious.
"Should we make a move?"
"This might be our best chance to escape!"
The footsteps continued. The guard ahead seemed completely defenseless, his back turned to them as he simply walked on without saying a word.
"We've got a good chance. Let's do it!"
"What about Mr. 0?"
A moment later, they looked toward Crocodile.
But they discovered that his eyes were fixed entirely on the figure ahead, his expression full of gravity and tension.
Just then, the figure in front abruptly stopped.
As he halted, the members of Baroque Works froze, then hurriedly stopped as well.
"Why do you keep staring at me, Crocodile?"
Only when the man spoke did Crocodile's expression relax slightly. After letting out a soft breath, he replied evenly.
"I just never expected a man like you to still be alive!"
River didn't answer immediately. Instead, he started walking forward again.
"Is it that surprising?"
Crocodile's eyes narrowed slightly. He clenched his fists, then quickly relaxed them.
"After an incident like that, your survival was a surprise in itself!"
River laughed loudly.
"You're right. It certainly was a surprise!"
"So, to celebrate our meeting here..."
"Let me extend the invitation I gave you twenty years ago once more!"
After a pause, River's tone turned serious.
"Will you serve under me, Crocodile?"
Before you continue