Twenty years

Many people called him Admiral River, but few knew that his full name was Portgas D. River.

Yes, after arriving in this world, he had gained an identity: Rouge's younger brother.

Time passed. Twenty years went by in the blink of an eye, and he remained hidden in Impel Down, forgotten and vanished from the world.

This had something to do with the hunt for the Pirate King's bloodline back then, as well as his own elder sister.

"Twenty years. That should be enough, shouldn't it?"

As he murmured those words, a yearning stirred in River's heart.

Compared to the darkness and damp of Impel Down, the fresh air and freedom outside naturally held far more appeal.

"It's time to see what the world is like now!"

"Does the air out there still set your blood boiling, just like it did back then?"

River slowly rose and walked into his bedroom.

A little while later, when he opened the door again, his clothes and appearance had completely changed.

He had close-cropped black hair, a handsome face that looked both young and mature, and a loose black robe, with a sword hanging at his waist.

System, show my attributes!

Giving the command silently, River looked at the panel before him.

Soon, lines of information rapidly appeared in a table.

Name: Portgas D. River.

Position: Marine Admiral (former), Impel Down jailer (current).

Swordsmanship: Flying Slash, great swordsman-level swordsmanship.

Taijutsu: Six Powers (enhanced), Eight Gates Formation.

Devil Fruit: Recovery Fruit, awakening (enhanced).

Haki: Three Types of Haki (maximum).

Talent: Studious (can learn any skill without restriction).

System abilities: Skill enhancement and evolution.

...

His attributes appeared clearly before him, bringing a flicker of wistfulness and remembrance to River's eyes.

Twenty years ago, he had been fifteen or sixteen, a young man already enjoying success. After leaving Baterilla Island, he had joined the Marines through a chance turn of events, and from then on, his life had been like playing with cheats.

He could learn any skill without restriction. Anything he wanted to learn, he mastered instantly. Combined with his abilities to enhance and evolve skills, this had given him Admiral-level strength in just one short year.

He had even gained the strength to compete on equal footing with powerhouses like Roger and Whitebeard.

That era had belonged to him and a select few others. Rumors had even swept through the Marines that he had the potential to become the next Fleet Admiral.

Yet just as he was about to reach his peak, events had taken a sudden turn. Something momentous had happened, sending him plunging to rock bottom and disappearing from the world.

"Ace. Ohara."

"Mary Geoise."

Murmuring those names, River's gaze sharpened slightly.

Crocodile's arrest and imprisonment meant that Straw Hat and his crew had already begun their journey, and the plot of this anime had started.

An era of unprecedented chaos was about to begin.

And he could continue pursuing the dream he had wanted to realize twenty years ago, walking the road he had never finished.

"Now, I need to think about how to get out of Impel Down!"

Strictly speaking, he was still serving a sentence, and he also had a certain agreement with Sengoku, Garp, and the others.

Until both sides reached an agreement, he could not set foot outside Impel Down.

This was both a way of protecting him and a compromise over certain things he had done back then.

Such as ensuring his sister's safety.

"Admiral River, I just reported to Headquarters that you escorted Crocodile here!"

"That's a major achievement! Once those people at Headquarters hear about it, they'll definitely let you return!"

"Then you won't have to stay here anymore!"

Just then, Hannyabal approached with a broad smile on his face.

River smiled at his words. "Thank you, Hanny!"

"I'm only doing what I should!"

Hannyabal chuckled, looking rather guileless.

Without River's care and guidance over the past twenty years, he would never have reached the position of vice warden.

River nodded and reached out to pat his shoulder, only to realize that the man really was tall.

He himself was far from short, standing nearly two meters tall, yet he still looked half a head shorter beside Hannyabal.

Fortunately, Hannyabal had the sense to lower his head, bend at the waist, and crouch down.

River smiled and patted his shoulder. "And thank you for finding ways to build up my merits all these years."

"In theory, they should be enough to make up for my mistakes back then."

River narrowed his eyes, a faint ripple of emotion stirring within him.

"Yes! If you can get out, Admiral River, nothing could be better!"

"I've heard lately that things are very chaotic outside. This is exactly when they need someone as strong as you!"

Hannyabal lowered his voice and spoke quietly.

"Haha, good!"

River paused, then patted his shoulder again.

Anticipation also flickered in his eyes. He wondered how all those friends he had not seen in years were doing.

At the same time, at Marine Headquarters in Marineford.

"Fleet Admiral, Crocodile has been taken into custody and imprisoned in Infinite Hell, on Level Six of Impel Down."

"Admiral River personally escorted him into custody!"

The field officer delivering the report stood ramrod straight and spoke softly.

"He's been taken into custody? Good!"

Sengoku nodded at the news.

Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to him, he sharply raised his head.

"Wait. Did you say River?"

The officer's expression remained unchanged as he nodded. "Yes, Fleet Admiral."

Sengoku grew interested. He set down his pen and shifted back in his chair. "Not many people know that name these days, much less that there was an Admiral by that name!"

"I once served as a soldier under Admiral River!"

The officer spoke.

"Is that so?"

Sengoku paused. The smile slowly faded from his face, and he grew thoughtful.

He, too, had not heard River's name in a long time. This sudden reminder brought him to a realization, as though waking from a dream.

"It's been nearly twenty years!"

Sengoku let out a soft sigh as he said this, his expression complicated and wistful.

What had become of that spirited young man who had once radiated such overwhelming presence?

What a shame!

He had possessed a future of limitless possibilities, yet he had made that choice amid those events back then.

The officer continued waiting. Only after a little while, when Sengoku waved him away, did he leave.

"Back then, we sent him to Impel Down to guard the prison as both atonement and protection. It was a compromise, too."

"Now that twenty years have passed, the merits he's accumulated should be enough, shouldn't they?"

Sengoku's eyes flickered.

Without question, River was a formidable weapon, and an even more terrifying deterrent against powerful, vicious pirates.

But the man was a double-edged sword!

He could hurt the enemy, but he could just as easily hurt their own side. Moreover, Sengoku knew full well that the young man was ambitious and had things he wanted to accomplish.

After thinking for a moment, Sengoku beckoned.

"Go get Garp."

He decided to discuss it with his old friend.