The Grand Line, hailed as one of the Marine's three great symbols of justice, is home to the super prison fortress Impel Down, which imprisons countless of the most vicious criminals on the seas.
Its main structure lies beneath the ocean's surface.
Built centuries ago, this prison has been called an impregnable iron fortress from which no one can escape, thanks to its advantageous geographical location and formidable security system.
However, ever since the incident twenty years ago when Golden Lion Shiki severed his own legs to escape from Impel Down's sixth level, prison breaks have occurred one after another.
Several notorious criminals have managed to flee the prison by unknown means.
For instance, Douglas Bullet, known as the Demon Heir and World Destroyer Brindy World, who possessed a Devil Fruit ability granting hundredfold amplification.
The chaos at Impel Down two years ago saw countless pirates released en masse due to the malicious actions of Straw Hat Luffy and Buggy the Clown.
These criminals, captured through decades of Marine efforts poured back into the seas.
This incident not only humiliated the Marines and gave rise to a new Warlord, Buggy the Clown, but also unleashed a wave of murderous, pillaging criminals across the world.
It shattered Impel Down's reputation as an impregnable fortress.
In truth, deep within the prison's unknown 5.5th level, there exists a hidden paradise—the Kamabakka Queendom.
In other words, Impel Down had long been riddled with holes.
At noon on this particular day, a dog-headed Marine ship slowly approached the prison's harbor.
Prison guards on the extended wooden dock blew warning horns, signaling the warship to halt about a kilometer away.
Several small boats were quickly dispatched to meet it.
This cautious protocol was born from bitter experience.
The seas held too many abilities that could disguise identities—like the audacious Mr. 2 Bon Clay once impersonating Warden Magellan, causing a major incident.
Thus, two years later, the guards had learned their lesson.
All visitors, regardless of identity, must remain at a distance and undergo genetic testing with Marine-developed detectors.
Only those matching pre-registered Marine officer DNA would be granted access.
Even if the Fleet Admiral himself called, no exceptions would be made.
Voices, appearances and Den Den Mushi could all be faked—only bloodline genetics couldn't be altered.
Deputy Warden Magellan, clad in black prison uniform with towering curved horns and black wings, extended a detector towards the burly old man before him.
"Apologies, its standard procedure, Vice Admiral Garp. We need a genetic sample."
Garp returned the salute solemnly, then pricked his finger with the device's needle.
A drop of blood was absorbed into it.
Soon, a mechanical voice announced: "DNA confirmed. Subject matches Vice Admiral Garp, Hero of the Marine."Magellan nodded with a smile on his face.
"Alright, Vice Admiral Garp, you may dock now. Welcome to Impel Down. Your request has been approved by the World Government. You can directly take Donquixote Doflamingo—he's currently in Level 6. For security reasons, we didn't bring him out in advance."
Garp nodded slightly and gestured to his adjutant Bogard to dock the warship.
A little over ten minutes later, the group, moving swiftly, took the warden's private elevator down to Level 6 of the underwater prison.
The dim space was lined with interconnected cells of varying sizes, all appearing old and weathered, clearly having endured the passage of time.
At the moment, Level 6 was eerily quiet, largely because the current Yonko, Marshal D Teach, had taken away a large number of notorious criminals two years prior.
Every inmate held in Level 6 was a fearsome, ruthless and immensely powerful villain of the seas.
Even the release of one such criminal could stir up significant turmoil on the ocean, let alone the fact that most cells here now stood empty, with only a few deeply hidden ones still holding some barely surviving criminals.
Without glancing around, Garp followed Magellan into the dark, winding corridor.
At the end of the passage stood a solitary cell, where the former Warlord of the Sea—Donquixote Doflamingo, a man of unique status and formidable strength—was imprisoned.
"Fufufufu... Who do I see? The hero Garp and Magellan. What's this about? Did those foolish Celestial Dragons, after failing with their assassination attempts, finally send the Marine's God of War to execute me openly? Seems my reputation really is something, fufufufu..."
Doflamingo sat cross-legged on the cold hard floor, his arms shackled and suspended.
He had likely been in this position for an unknown length of time—long enough that one would expect him to be broken.
Yet, he still wore his flamingo-shaped sunglasses (who knew who allowed that) and sported that same infuriatingly smug grin.
"You're being released. You'll be coming with me to the New World. Someone made a deal with us—specifically asking for you," Garp said bluntly, motioning for Magellan to unlock the cell.
He stepped inside and freed the stunned Doflamingo from the wall shackles, though the man's wrists and ankles remained bound in seastone cuffs.
Doflamingo was taken aback.
"Who has that kind of influence? Even the World Government and the Celestial Dragons agreed to this? Aren't they afraid I'll spill their secrets?"
Garp snorted, not bothering to hide the truth.
"It's the Beast God Pirates—your old boss Kaido's crew. You must've seen the papers."
"Ca... Caesar?"
For once, the fearless "Heavenly Yaksha" the man who feared nothing, actually licked his lips nervously.
As a special prisoner in Level 6, he was permitted daily newspapers to stay updated on the outside world.
Yesterday's paper still lay on the floor of his cell.
Over the past two days, Doflamingo had scrutinized its contents repeatedly.
The images of Caesar and the others were now seared into his mind.
Caesar, a figure far more terrifying than that madman Kaido, had even caused the death of the Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Admiral Ryokugyu remained missing to this day, while Admiral Kizaru had also been defeated.
Among the Marine's current top three combatants, two had already been defeated and both losses were inflicted by the Beast God Pirates.
The Beast God Pirates were far more fearsome than the former Beasts Pirates or Big Mom Pirates.
"Stop thinking. You don't have the right to refuse. Hurry up—we don't have much time left. That bastard Caesar isn't exactly the patient type."
Garp shot a cold glance at Doflamingo before turning and leading the way.
Magellan personally grabbed Doflamingo's arm, dragging him to follow Garp's steps.
Doflamingo frowned deeply, staggering unsteadily, clearly reluctant.
The outside world was far too dangerous—perhaps staying in prison as the chill "Newspaper King" wasn't such a bad idea after all.
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