"You can't cheat people on our ship!" Nami shook her fist at the flying-away News Coo.
The News Coo looked aggrieved.
That woman's fist must have been infused with the power of money—it hurt so much.
Nami dusted off the newspaper and began flipping through it.
As expected, the news of Gecko Moria's defeat did not occupy the headlines. The World Government seemed intent on downplaying the incident.
Only in an inconspicuous corner of the newspaper was there a brief mention.
The thick fog over the Florian Triangle had reportedly dissipated somewhat recently, and the mysterious return of shadows belonging to people who had been missing for many years had sparked speculation. The article vaguely hinted at a connection to a certain Warlord of the Sea's misfortune, but the details were unclear.
"Hmph. Same as always." Nami pursed her lips. "Journalism at its finest. They really know how to avoid the important and take the easy."
She continued flipping through the other sections of the newspaper. Suddenly, her gaze stopped on a piece of news in the international section. Her brow furrowed deeply, and her expression turned grave.
"What's wrong, Nami? What did you see?" The observer Vivi noticed Nami's unusual behavior and came over to ask.
Nami pointed to the news item, which was accompanied by a blurry photo. Her voice trembled with a hint of disbelief. "It says here that Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, has been officially imprisoned in the underwater great prison, Impel Down!"
Vivi froze. "Wait a minute. I remember Ace is Luffy's brother, isn't he?!"
"Luffy's brother was captured? And thrown into Impel Down?!"
Vivi couldn't help but exclaim, her delicate brows furrowing tightly.
"The so-called impregnable underwater great prison, Impel Down—"
Robin, who had just walked over, heard that name and her expression instantly turned extremely serious.
"For pirates, that place is practically hell on earth."
The underwater great prison Impel Down, along with Enies Lobby and Marine Headquarters Marineford, were the three major agencies of the World Government.
Located deep in the Calm Belt, it held countless notorious criminals. It was every pirate's nightmare.
Countless terrifying legends about Impel Down circulated on the sea.
"It is said that since its establishment,"
Robin's voice grew low, "the only exception has been Shiki the Golden Lion. Aside from him, no prisoner ever sent there has come out alive. It is truly an inescapable Jedi."
By this time, Vivi had also recovered from her shock. Continuing Robin's thought, she said worriedly, "Moreover, it's located in the Calm Belt—no wind, no steady current. Ordinary sailing ships can't move there at all. And it's surrounded by massive Sea Kings. Extremely dangerous."
Several of them sat in the ship's seating area, their brows furrowed. The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.
Although the Thousand Sunny had its Cola power and Merry as a ship spirit, which could overcome the Calm Belt's effects to a certain extent, the prison's own defenses, the ever-present Sea Kings, and the proximity of Marine Headquarters—with its rapid support speed—all posed enormous challenges.
Vivi's abilities would also be greatly diminished in the Calm Belt.
"What should we do?"
Nami looked at Robin and Vivi, then instinctively searched for Luffy. "Should we tell Luffy about this?"
Robin gently shook her head, her gaze deep. "I think Luffy already knows."
She recalled Kuma's private conversation with Luffy, and Luffy's demeanor afterwards.
Everyone fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to do.
They had been willing to storm Enies Lobby without hesitation for Robin. For Ace's rescue, they would not fear Impel Down either.
But this time, the enemy was obviously more terrifying than CP9, and the environment was even worse.
"Why do all of you look like you're already planning to attack Impel Down?"
Luffy's voice suddenly came from behind.
He had walked over at some point.
Robin looked at him, her voice gentle yet firm. "Whatever decision you make, we will have no objections."
"Don't worry,"
Luffy was silent for a moment, then his face broke into the familiar smile everyone knew. But his eyes were extra clear. "I know what I'm doing. Storming Impel Down directly to rescue Ace right now, that seems like the wrong, reckless decision."
He touched his nose, his tone becoming slightly strange. "Ace has an insanely strong pride. He definitely wouldn't want his little brother to see him looking pathetic and embarrassed."
Bringing his crewmates along to attack Impel Down was the worst possible option.
Going alone might be more free.
Luffy trusted his comrades. But trusting them didn't mean they could beat an Admiral, did it?
At least not right now.
He already had a plan in mind.
First, go see that man named Silvers Rayleigh that Kuma had mentioned.
If that didn't work out... capture some big shot from the Navy or the World Government to exchange for hostages?
There were still plenty of ways.
Ace had only been sent to Impel Down. Given the prison's usual style, they would just lock him up. There was no immediate danger to his life.
As long as he was still alive, there was hope.
"Let's go to the Sabaody Archipelago." Luffy made his decision.
Meanwhile—
Holy Land Mary Geoise. Inside some office.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat behind his desk, veins bulging on his forehead.
Across from the desk sat the burly, expressionless Bartholomew Kuma.
Off to the side, the so-called "Hero of the Marines," Garp, was heartlessly pulling out a pack of senbei and preparing to make tea.
And a goat was slowly munching on documents from the nearby wastebasket.
Between Kuma and Garp, Sengoku chose to take out his anger on the former first.
"What the hell is this, Bartholomew Kuma?!"
Sengoku slammed the table with a furious roar. "With your abilities, you couldn't bring back a single person?! Give me a decent excuse! I'm the one who has to report to our superiors! This was a joint operation of two Warlords of the Sea!"
Kuma's voice was as calm and steady as ever. "Moria did not agree to cooperate. He was defeated by Straw Hat Luffy first."
He omitted the information about his call with the Five Elders and his deal with Luffy.
Not even Sengoku knew that Kuma had independent contact channels to the Five Elders. As for the deal with Luffy, even the Five Elders didn't know about that.
He was still a member of the Revolutionary Army, after all.
Kuma's current identity was truly complex, and he was involved with several forces and important figures.
Hearing this, Garp, sitting nearby, was not worried at all. Instead, he burst into loud laughter and slapped his thigh hard. "Puhahaha! That's my grandson! Well done!"
"Shut up! Garp!"
Sengoku glared angrily at his old friend, feeling his blood pressure shooting up.
He ground his teeth at Kuma. "The order from above was to annihilate the entire Straw Hat crew! And you didn't even bring back a single head! You've disgraced the Warlords of the Sea and the Marines!"
***
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