Impel Down, Level Six, Infinite Hell.
Separated by the bars, two figures sat cross-legged on the floor in silence. Not far away, Jinbe watched with flickering eyes, making no sound.
He respected others and knew his manners. He understood that this was a moment for the old man and the young man to remember the past and share their grief.
River had turned and left a little earlier. The one sitting cross-legged before the cell now was, of course, Garp.
"He'll save you."
"But I don't know how he'll do it."
"Ace, you have to pull yourself together."
"Your life now weighs on the hearts of so many people in this world."
Garp spoke gravely.
They were now certain that River would intervene, but a war of such magnitude still carried enormous risks.
Even River would face tremendous danger.
"I understand!"
"Until there's something I can do, I'll cooperate with him."
Ace spoke in a low voice.
Garp nodded.
Then Level Six, lit by wavering torches, fell silent again.
Meanwhile, River wandered alone through Infinite Hell.
Impel Down had six levels. Level Five and those above it held relatively weak prisoners, but Level Six housed notorious criminals who had once thrown the world into chaos.
Some of them had even given Sengoku and Garp headaches back at headquarters.
Though torches illuminated both sides of the passage, this prison deep beneath the sea remained steeped in darkness, with light and shadow flickering endlessly.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
His footsteps were faint, but they still drew the attention of some of the prisoners.
"Well, look who it is."
"The Marine who was famous around the world back then, hailed as the youngest and most promising?"
At the mocking words, River stopped and turned to look.
Inside a cell to one side, a