While Ozz was enjoying himself day and night elsewhere…
A Marine warship slowly docked at the port of Duramos.
Ministers and nobles stood in orderly ranks to receive the guest of honor. At the front was a small elderly man surrounded by guards.
"Your Majesty King Dotor, we have been ordered to escort you. Please board."
"Mmm."
Old Gick stepped forward, one hand behind his back, the other resting on his cane, boarding under heavy protection.
Watching the scene, Rear Admiral Hina, assigned as security, felt oddly delighted.
After all, this was Teacher Ozz's grandfather.
"Old man, you're amazing. The Marines really came!!!"
Disguised as a guard, Luffy whispered excitedly.
He was immediately struck on the head by Gick's cane, faintly coated in Armament Haki.
"Keep your voice down."
"Yes…"
During the voyage, Gick learned that Hina was Ozz's student and quite fond of him.
He chuckled.
Good.
More the better.
The Dotor family truly had a throne to pass down. A great grandson would not be unwelcome.
Upon arriving at Impel Down and learning that Gick intended to enter Level 6, Infinite Hell, the guards around him were stopped.
"Apologies, King Dotor. Due to the severity of the matter, only you may enter Infinite Hell."
"…"
Gick said nothing. He simply stared at the Marines and wardens.
Cold sweat broke out across their foreheads.
After a long pause, he sighed.
"…Very well."
No one noticed that at a corner of Level 1, one "guard" quietly vanished.
"Still, I must say, there are quite a few beautiful women among Impel Down's officers."
"Perhaps I can find a few suitable wives for my Ozz…"
Walking beside him were Hannyabal and Hina.
Hannyabal's imagination ran wild.
If he could curry favor with King Gick and by extension Saint Ozz…
Wouldn't that mean replacing Magellan as Chief Warden was only a matter of time?
"Hahaha…"
"Oh no, I said that out loud again!!!"
…
"I have to save Ace as soon as possible!!!"
Separated from Gick's entourage, now in sandals and shorts, Luffy ran through Level 1.
At that exact moment, the Legendary Lucky Pirate, Buggy the Clown, successfully broke apart and escaped his cell.
"Gyahahahaha!!!"
"You think Impel Down can hold me? You fools can rot in here!!!"
Even if he had waited, his sworn brother would eventually have bailed him out.
But clearly Ozz was busy or unaware he was missing.
So today, Buggy would escape on his own.
Unfortunately, he underestimated the security.
The moment he broke free, he ran straight into Luffy.
The two of them promptly began wreaking havoc.
Soon Mr. 3, Bon Clay, and numerous freed prisoners joined in.
A full scale jailbreak erupted.
After being crushed by Magellan's poison and scattered, they finally encountered the greatest aid of this expedition: Emporio Ivankov.
Inside the hidden Kamabakka style kingdom carved into Impel Down, Ivankov hosted the escapees.
"In the history of Impel Down, only two have ever truly escaped."
"One was the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki."
"The other was a man who infiltrated without being caught at the time, though it was later discovered."
"The man Impel Down has no authority to arrest."
"Black Spear Dotor Ozz."
"What?!!!"
Despair spread among them.
Did you have to be a legend to escape this place?
As Luffy faced hopelessness…
The future Pirate King's right hand man Mr. 3 and future Yonko Buggy were being chased across the frozen level by jailer beasts.
"Truly a pair of prodigies…"
The Straw Hats were not the only ones to arrive at Impel Down.
A booming laugh echoed.
"Zehahahahaha!!!"
The Blackbeard Pirates made their entrance.
Within Hades's expansive Observation Haki, the entire prison lay exposed.
Ivankov transforming guards into women to expand the Newkama ranks.
Buggy and Mr. 3 repeatedly surviving near death.
"Hey, Hades. Your Observation Haki covers a wide range, right? Find us the path to Level 6. We need some new crew members."
"Zehahahahaha!!!"
…
"Jinbe. That old man just told me… my little brother came to save me."
Ace spoke in a low voice.
"King Gick himself? Why would he help you? Could it be…"
Jinbe was stunned. He knew Gick's status.
If even he had come…
Did that mean that man might also appear?
But miracles did not happen.
Ace was soon escorted away.
Moments later, Luffy arrived.
"Ace has been transferred."
"If we hurry, there's still time!!!"
But they were too late.
Stopped at Level 6.
Even escaping seemed impossible.
"Long time no see, Straw Hat Luffy…"
A low voice drifted from a nearby cell.
"Huh???"
They turned.
A tall figure slowly stood from the shadows.
Chains clattered.
Slicked back hair. A long scar. Golden earrings. Sharp eyes. The aura of a boss.
"…Who are you?"
Luffy scratched his head.
Crocodile's face twitched with veins popping.
"It's me. Crocodile."
After a brief silence.
"Eh?!!! Crocodile!!!"
"Did Ivankov turn you into a woman too?!"
Crocodile's expression darkened.
"Shut up!!!"
"If you want to get out, release me."
"With my power, we can escape. Fair deal."
After some argument, Crocodile, once again, was freed from Impel Down.
"Straw Hat boy, relax. Crocodile is ultimately Saint Ozz's subordinate. In a crisis like this, she can be trusted."
"Although I once rejected her request for certain reasons, she wouldn't jeopardize the bigger picture over that."
"Right?"
"…"
Crocodile did not respond.
She simply lit a cigar, her face shadowed.
"This rescue mission is pointless."
"That man will not miss this war."
"In other words, the outcome was decided long ago…"
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