"I see."
The Red Count shrugged.
I won't use my mind-reading ability on you.
Roy then went to his cell and unlocked the shackles and cell door in the same way.
Red Count stretched his somewhat stiff body, feeling the renewed flow of power.
A hint of emotion flashed in his eyes.
"How long has it been... three years? five years? I can't remember."
He looked at Roy, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, it's just a transaction."
Roy turned to leave, but stopped abruptly as he passed another cell.
This cell is unusual—the entire cell is sealed with a thick layer of ice, and inside is a burly man frozen solid.
"Bondy World..."
Roy recognized the person as " World Destroyer," Devil Fruit User Momo Fruit.
In the original story, World was frozen in Impel Down for decades.
He only resumed activity after Luffy stormed Impel Down; his More-More Fruit ability is extremely powerful.
It can multiply, or even increase, the size, speed, and weight of objects it comes into contact with by up to 100 times.
Although World himself was arrogant and conceited, his Devil Fruit.
Roy has now mastered the technology to extract Devil Fruit...
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Roy's eyes.
Without hesitation, he drew his Black Blade Shusui, once again.
brush--!
The frozen cell was cleaved open, and the Ice Ball inside slowly floated out.
Roy used his mental powers to control the Ice Ball, making it hover behind him.
World remained frozen in the Ice Ball puck, his face still bearing the marks of anger and resentment.
The Red Count watched this scene with some surprise.
"You're taking him with you?"
"No, we just need what he has."
Roy didn't explain further and continued walking forward.
Although Red Count was curious, he didn't ask any questions and simply followed silently behind Roy.
The two walked uphill along the path they had come from, one after the other.
As Roy passed by the prisoners' cells, he could feel countless longing gazes fixed upon him.
Those once-powerful pirates now looked at him as if he were a lifeline.
His eyes were filled with pleading.
But Roy ignored him.
Some of these people may be quite capable, but they are too old.
Moreover, Roy didn't understand their character or potential.
Rather than releasing a group of unstable elements, it's better to let them stay here.
As Roy reached the exit of the Infinite Hell, he glanced back at the dark space.
This place holds the prisoners of the previous era, those who were defeated by the navy.
Or perhaps he was defeated by other pirates and ended up as a prisoner.
"What a pity..."
Roy muttered to himself,
"If Blackbeard's future crew were already here... they have quite a few decent Devil Fruit."
For example, Shiryu of the Rain's Clear-Clear Fruit, and San Juan Wolf's ability to grow to gigantic size.
Caterina Devon's Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox...
These are all very valuable fruits.
But then I thought, those people haven't been arrested yet...
Perhaps this is a good thing—at least it means the plot hasn't completely spiraled out of control.
Roy pushed those thoughts out of his mind, controlled the Ice Ball behind him, and began to walk upwards.
The Red Count, who was beside him, suddenly asked,
Aren't you afraid we'll change our minds after we get out?
Roy glanced at him. "Can you do it?"
The Red Count was silent for a few seconds, then laughed.
"Won't."
Even pirates have a code of honor; they'll always keep their promises.
"That's enough."
Roy said no more and quickened his pace uphill.
Meanwhile, on the fourth floor of Impel Down, chaos reigned.
Impel Down, Level 4: The Blazing Hell.
After Golden Lion Shiki escaped from the Infinite Hell, the first thing he did was to find his sword.
Using his memory and Observation Haki, he quickly located the armory in the central area of the fourth floor.
The guards here were much tighter than those on the lower levels, but in the Golden Lion's eyes, these jailers were nothing more than ants.
"Get out of here--!!!"
Golden Lion didn't even use his Devil Fruit powers; he easily defeated dozens of prison guards using only his physical skills and Haki.
He rushed into the armory, searching through the rows of weapon racks.
Finally, at the deepest part of the warehouse, he saw the two familiar knives.
" Oto... Kogarashi..."
Excitement flashed in the Golden Lion's eyes. He strode forward and grasped the hilt of his sword.
The familiar touch came, as if I were reuniting with an old friend.
"Hehehehe--!!! Old friends, you've been waiting for you--!!!"
The Golden Lion drew his twin swords, the blades reflecting a chilling light in the Blazing Hell.
Just then, a piercing alarm blared throughout Impel Down.
Warning! Warning! The prisoner on the sixth floor has escaped!
Repeat, the sixth-level prisoner has escaped!
"All personnel, enter Level 1 combat readiness status! Repeat, all personnel, enter Level 1 combat readiness status!"
Upon hearing the alarm, the Golden Lion not only didn't panic, but instead burst into laughter.
"They're here? Perfect! Let me stretch my muscles!"
He walked out of the armory carrying two swords and bumped into a group of jailers who were rushing towards him.
The leader was a Vice Warden, whose expression changed drastically the moment he saw the Golden Lion.
"Golden... Golden Lion Shiki?! How is that possible?!"
"Why not?"
The Golden Lion grinned maliciously as it stepped forward, "I am the Golden Lion --!!!"
Before he finished speaking, he flashed and appeared in front of the Vice Warden.
Oto drew a flash of cold light, and before the Vice Warden could even react, he was sent flying, a burst of blood erupting from his chest.
The other jailers retreated in terror, but the Golden Lion gave them no chance.
"Lion - Thousand-Cut Valley --!!!"
Dozens of golden slashes spread out in a fan shape, instantly engulfing the entire squad of prison guards.
Amidst screams, the jailers fell like stalks of wheat being cut down.
The Golden Lion didn't even glance at them, and continued walking forward, carrying his twin swords.
His goal was the upper echelons—he wanted to escape this prison and return to the sea.
But soon, he encountered a real obstacle.
Two figures rushed from the end of the corridor.
A man dressed in a black uniform, wielding a long knife, with eyes as cold and venomous as a snake.
A tall man, draped in Justice Coat, with a serious expression.
" Shiryu of the Rain... Magellan..."
The Golden Lion recognized the two of them.
Shiryu was the Chief Warden of Impel Down, known for his cruelty and bloodlust, and was also a highly skilled swordsman.
Magellan is the deputy warden. Although he is not the warden yet, he is already the second strongest person in the prison after Domuk.
" Golden Lion Shiki!"
Magellan's expression was grave.
"You actually managed to break free of those Seastone shackles... Who helped you?!"
"None of your business!"
The Golden Lion waved its hand impatiently.
"If you know what's good for you, get out of my way, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
Shiryu licked his lips, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
"The legendary Golden Lion... I wonder what your blood tastes like."
"You can give it a try."
The Golden Lion sneered, his twin swords crossed in front of his chest.
Battle is imminent.