chapter 141 part 1
Chapter 141: Escape Tomorrow, Home Heist Successful
The Great Underwater Prison.
Ever since Pirate Ren Arakawa suddenly appeared in Infinite Hell and stole a significant amount of antidote, Impel Down had launched a carpet-style search.
This was a massive undertaking, as any reckless action in one section could potentially lead to the deep-sea Impel Down being flooded with seawater.
Even so, the jailers still found some clues.
It was a scene captured by a surveillance Den Den Mushi in a corner, but the figure captured was not Pirate Ren Arakawa.
Instead, it was Lightning, dragging her poisoned body back to Level 5.5.
"So there's an ability user like this." In the monitoring room, Magellan suddenly realized, "I wondered why that guy disappeared after running out of the kitchen. So there's an ability user who can move freely within Impel Down, with the power to break through walls?"
Magellan looked at his subordinates beside him.
Currently, Shiryu had been personally imprisoned by him in Infinite Hell, and Hannyabal had been severely wounded by Shiryu.
The only usable personnel were the three Jailer Beasts, and Sadi and Domino.
"You all, destroy the walls separately. Report to me immediately once you find any clues!"
"Yes, sir!"
The outer walls were constantly being hammered, and the prisoners on Level 5.5 collectively trembled.
They were all the vanished criminals of Impel Down, each suffering immensely. After gaining "freedom," they would rather die than endure that pain again.
A second incarceration, the process of facing trial in court, was far more agonizing than their first time in prison.
In the Okama Square, the three "Emperors" of Level 5.5—Ivankov, Lightning, and Pirate Ren Arakawa—faced each other.
After a long silence, Ren Arakawa spoke.
"This incident started because of me. I believe I should bear all responsibility."
"No!" Lightning waved her hand, "I was seen by Magellan in the kitchen. No matter what, he would have grown suspicious and eventually found this level anyway. Besides, you went out later only to find antidote for me. How could it be your responsibility?"
"That's why I said it's my responsibility." Ren Arakawa sighed, "If I hadn't been so eager to cultivate Armament Haki, you wouldn't have had to frequent the jailer's kitchen so often."
"Enough, both of you." Okama King Ivankov interrupted, "The question now is what we should do. Let's think of a plan."
The red wine in Lightning's hand no longer smelled appealing. She shook her head helplessly, "As long as Magellan hasn't caught both of us, he won't give up. If he's smart, he'll compare the food lost from the jailer's kitchen over the past few months, and it won't be hard to estimate our approximate numbers."
"Level 5.5 might not be salvageable."
Just as Lightning and Ivankov lamented, Pirate Ren Arakawa suddenly stood up, "If it can't be saved, then don't save it!"
He looked at the Okamas around him, "Stop crying, all of you! From this second on, you should embrace hope!"
"We! Let's prepare for a prison break!!"
"Wh-What!?"
Everyone stared at Pirate Ren Arakawa in shock, thinking he was speaking nonsense.
"Youngster." Ivankov's expression was hesitant, trying to speak as gently as possible to Ren Arakawa, "Do you know how long the Calm Belt outside Impel Down is? Even if we manage to escape successfully, we'll still face the encirclement of ten warships."
"Even with infinite stamina, the Sea Kings in the ocean would devour us."
"Not to mention how difficult it is to escape from this level to the sea surface."
"This place is, after all, guarded by Magellan, who is comparable to an Admiral!"
"Hey!" Pirate Ren Arakawa slapped Ivankov's shoulder forcefully, "You're boosting others' morale and diminishing your own! He's a bullshit Admiral; he's just exploiting the small space advantage of this prison!"
"But, this is indeed his advantageous terrain, we can't defeat him." Lightning recalled Magellan's abilities, "That terrifying poison, just a touch of it makes people lose their fighting capability."
Pirate Ren Arakawa pointed to his room: "That's why I brought back such a large bag of antidote!"
"Ah?! Youngster, you were planning a prison break all along?" Ivankov exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course, from the moment Lightning was exposed, I've been considering this. Our current situation is no different from wasting time; only by escaping and venturing across the endless sea can we truly find the meaning of life!"
Main God Ren Arakawa: "A-ho!"
"Is that so?" Ivankov thought for a moment, then stepped onto a stool, "Hey! Everyone!"
His kingly aura enveloped the entire square, "From now on, let's start preparing for the prison break!!!"
"Alright! For freedom!"
The entire square echoed with various strange-toned, ambitious declarations. They had all had enough of these dark and dreary days.
Once the high emotions of the crowd settled, Pirate Ren Arakawa pulled out a map he had already drawn.
"This is the route I took previously to the antidote supply room." He pointed as he spoke, "When the prison break begins, Lightning, you first release the prisoners in these cells here, here, and here."
Ivankov immediately waved a hand, "No, absolutely not. Many of the prisoners locked up in Infinite Hell are insane. Even if you release them, they might directly attack us. To them, we are just insignificant minor characters arranged by fate; they won't feel grateful at all."
"Right, that's why I'll act alone."
"Where are you going?"
Ren Arakawa crossed his arms and rested his chin on them, "To lure Magellan here."
"Ah?! Are you crazy?! No, no, no!" Ivankov's eyelashes fluttered with agitation; he almost gave Ren Arakawa a cold with them.
"Don't worry, I have plenty of antidote!"
His eyes sparkled, "Besides... I have a way to counter Magellan!"
"Even so, you can't!"
"Just listen to me first." Pirate Ren Arakawa pointed at the map, "I should be the most familiar person among the prisoners with the path from Crimson Hell to Blazing Hell, because I came all the way down from Crimson Hell."
Before the two could react in shock, Ren Arakawa continued, "I can reach Blazing Hell at the fastest speed. From there, I'll release some prisoners first. Amidst the chaos, I'll steal antidote. Once I have this batch of antidote, Magellan will be powerless against me."
"After he learns that the Infinite Hell prisoners are also escaping, he'll prioritize dealing with them."
"Then, I'll return the same way, distribute the antidote, and unite with the Level 6 prisoners to jointly defeat Magellan!"
"I refuse to believe that so many so-called legendary Great Pirates can't handle a Magellan who is comparable to an Admiral. If that's truly the case, then what's the point of boasting about being Great Pirates? They can't even defeat someone comparable to an Admiral when working together, yet they sail the seas?"
Lightning and Ivankov exchanged glances, both reading a hint of madness in each other's eyes.
"If all goes well." Pirate Ren Arakawa sat up straight, "then we will have a temporary prison break army. The prisoners from Level 6 to Level 1 will collectively charge out, and no matter how strong the defenses are, they won't be able to stop us!"
"But..." Lightning raised a question, "Even if we reach the sea surface, how will we escape?"
"Just hijack a warship!"
"Hijack?" Ivankov froze, "The warships are at least a thousand meters away from the main gate. Within that distance, swimming will make us targets for several warships and countless Marines! Moreover, the vast majority of prisoners are Devil Fruit ability users, and they don't possess the ability to swim."
"I have a way!"
"What way?"
"I can't really explain the specific operation, but first, you need to help me release the prisoners in this cell and this cell." Pirate Ren Arakawa looked at Lightning seriously, "Remember, you absolutely must release this one first, then this one. Understand? One is an old man, and the other is a fox-faced old woman. You won't confuse them, right?"
"Understood." Lightning nodded, "Is there anything else I need to pay attention to?"
"Yes."