Magellan turned around and waved a hand.
The jailers following behind scattered swiftly, as though granted a pardon. Domino took one last look at the two children, her gaze flickering slightly behind her sunglasses, then turned and disappeared at the end of the stairs leading to the second floor.
Magellan drew a deep breath.
The pungent poison gas rushed into his lungs with his breath, making his stomach rumble again. Suppressing his discomfort, he stepped half a pace forward to stand beside Boer.
"Mr. Boer, this way."
His voice regained the steadiness expected of a warden, but anyone listening closely could detect a faint trace of caution:
"The criminals have already been gathered in Crimson Hell on the first floor and Blazing Hell on the fourth..."
He paused.
"However, we may be short on numbers. After all, the order only came yesterday."
Boer said nothing.
He simply stood there and closed his eyes.
The next instant-
Hum!!
Invisible fluctuations spread from him in every direction like ripples. They penetrated thick stone walls, layer upon layer of cells, and the sinful souls imprisoned for years or even decades, reaching the deepest depths of Impel Down.
Extrasensory Vision, fully activated.
The first floor, Crimson Hell. Densely packed points of life shone like colonies of ants throughout the forest of death formed by needle grass and Sword Trees.
They clustered in groups of three or five, forming dozens of gangs of varying sizes. Some cursed, some wailed, and some used the last of their strength to dodge the plants that attacked automatically.
The second floor, Beast Hell. More points of light, scattered in greater disorder. The prisoners tormented for years by starving beasts had long lost the dignity humans ought to possess, curling up like animals in their respective cages.
The third floor,