Just that little bit

Candlelight flickered in the gloomy corridor on the first level of Impel Down. Not a sound could be heard.

Only after a long while did Crocodile's hoarse voice break the silence, tinged with irritation.

"Quit joking around, River!"

"Twenty years ago, you tried to recruit me when you were nothing but a Marine Intern."

"Twenty years later, you're doing it again, this time as a jailer!"

After a pause, Crocodile sneered.

"And in a place like this, no less!"

River burst out laughing and kept walking. "Fate brought us together again, Crocodile!"

"This is also one of the few chances you have left!"

Crocodile's pupils constricted, and he fell silent.

He heard another meaning beneath those words.

"You have a way to get me out?"

A moment later, his voice rang out, grave yet carrying a trace of hope.

"Who knows?"

"But you could take a gamble!"

River shrugged, his voice playful.

Crocodile took a deep breath, his gaze shifting. Now he could no longer figure out what River meant.

This was Impel Down, the world's greatest prison, a terrifying hell said to hold anyone who entered for the rest of their life.

For any pirate, coming here meant the end of their life and endless torment and suffering.

"Interesting. A man like you actually survived an incident of that magnitude!"

"In that case, perhaps there's some truth to what you're saying."

After a moment, Crocodile spoke, staring at River.

Back then, the crimes of the man before him had far surpassed his own. He had assumed River had already been jointly executed by the World Government and Marine Headquarters, never imagining that he was still alive and well here.

But twenty years had passed. How many people in this world still remembered this man?

"Think it over, Crocodile."

"You know I've always been interested in you. I believe you can accomplish great things!"

River spoke with a faint smile.

Then he stopped before a cell and shoved the Baroque Works members behind him inside, under the eyes of a crowd of trembling pirates.

"A Marine saying he's interested in a pirate. How laughable."

"And saying I can accomplish great things? Should I take that as mockery?"

Crocodile's voice was cold.

Clank!

The cell door shut, and the two headed toward the elevator on the first level.

"I never mock anyone. You should know perfectly well that with my strength, I have no need to do anything like that!"

River shook his head, his tone earnest.

At the mention of this, Crocodile's expression grew solemn and serious.

River's strength?

To the outside world-no, even to Marine Headquarters-it was a mystery.

His own strength could be described as formidable. Extremely formidable! How could someone who could contend with Whitebeard and Roger be anything less?

Even more incredible, he seemed to possess the ability to make other people stronger. That was truly shocking.

"You have tremendous potential, Crocodile. You've just always fallen short by that little bit."

As he spoke, River turned around, pressed his thumb and forefinger together, then moved them apart.

"Just that little bit."

Crocodile's expression darkened.

"And I can help you make up for that little bit."

"As long as you join me."

River turned around again, opened the elevator, and pressed the button.

Crocodile's expression shifted, and he remained silent for a long time.

"Oh, I heard you were beaten by some rookie this time. How embarrassing. That's far worse than losing to Whitebeard back then."

"For someone as famous and ambitious as you to end up like this in your later years... how tragic."

River spoke again.

"Shut up, River. You're still as much of a chatterbox as ever!"

Crocodile looked sour.

"Heh!"

River chuckled.

After that, silence settled between them.

The atmosphere between them seemed harmonious, but in truth, they had fought a fierce battle twenty years earlier.

Crocodile had suffered a crushing defeat, while River had been only a Marine Intern at the time.

Ever since then, Crocodile had constantly heard of this man's exploits across the world. He had captured numerous pirates with enormous bounties, battled Whitebeard, and chased Roger all over the place.

More outrageous still, the man had secretly founded a mysterious organization.

In public, he had risen all the way from Seaman Recruit to Marine Admiral, and had even been a contender for the position of the next Fleet Admiral.

In reality, however, he had been the leader of a mysterious organization whose members came from every stratum of society.

There had even been Celestial Dragons among them!

Only after his identity was finally exposed and he carried out that momentous deed had he vanished from the world, never to appear again.

When it came to ambition, the man before him was far more ruthless than Crocodile himself!

Compared to him, Crocodile was as harmless as a lamb.

The elevator soon reached Level Four, and the two stepped out. The one from the first level above the sea could only take them this far. They then passed through the fifth level to reach the sixth.

Infinite Hell was even darker, utterly silent, without a single sound.

The two walked side by side without speaking again.

Everything that needed to be said had been said. The choice ultimately rested with Crocodile.

"Pick somewhere comfortable for yourself. Though it'll be pretty much the same wherever you choose!"

River spoke with a faint smile.

Crocodile's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing more. He found a cell himself and walked inside.

Before this man, he had never even considered escaping.

It would be no different from courting death.

After shutting the cell door, River turned to leave, but just then-

"How do I contact you?"

Crocodile's voice suddenly drifted over.

"All the jailers here know me. Just tell them!"

River smiled.

Then he walked away.

Suddenly, a low voice filled with surprise and shock rang out through the previously silent Level Six.

"You're River!!"

"That man! The man who fought Roger!"

"You're still alive!"

River turned his head and saw a tall figure standing at the front of a cell, gripping the bars and staring fixedly at him.

"Douglas Bullet."

"If you're still alive, then it's hardly surprising that I am too!"

He grinned, then turned and left.

"Behave yourself and stay put!"

"Compared to being outside, staying here will let you spend the rest of your life in greater safety!"

His voice soon faded, and River disappeared as well.

A short while later, he was back on the first level. Compared to the sixth, it was better lit and a little warmer.

Though Impel Down's overall environment was utterly miserable, it was better than nothing.

Escorting Crocodile to his cell had been a simple, minor task, but the significance behind it made River's expression shift after he sat down.

"It's already been twenty years!"

He sighed softly, a glimmer lighting up his eyes.

"That kid Ace must be all grown up by now!"