In the dim corridors of Impel Down's Wild Beast Hell, two prison guards, one tall and one short, patrolled along the damp walls.
Their footsteps echoed through the silence as they walked and chatted, discussing the latest rumors.
"Did you hear? That fish-man, Jinbe, actually joined the Shichibukai. His bounty is 250 million!" the tall guard whispered, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"I heard from a friend that he can strike the ocean with a palm and create a vacuum!"
The shorter guard nodded, his expression equally complex.
"Yeah, and I also heard that as part of the deal, that guy Arlong was released too."
"Arlong? The one who used to be part of the Sun Pirates?" The tall guard frowned. The name was familiar to him.
"Yes, him! Released from Impel Down, it made all the prisoners envious!" the short guard continued.
"But I heard he disagreed with Jinbe's ideals, so he left the Sun Pirates with some fish-men and formed the Arlong Pirates."
"That's good news! Those pirates, whether they join the Shichibukai or not, are still our enemies. The more chaotic they are, the better for us!" The tall guard raised his fist.
The short guard forced a bitter smile.
"I don't really care. I just hope I get transferred soon. Being stuck in Impel Down is driving me crazy."
Their voices echoed through the dark corridor.
Not far away, Yujin was hiding in the shadows, his eyes sharp, ears tuned to every word.
He waited quietly until the two guards had walked away before stepping out of the shadows.
"Jinbe just became a Shichibukai… That means it's still ten years before Luffy sets sail and the real story begins."
He glanced back at the cold, dark cells and shook his head.
He couldn't wait that long.
He didn't want to spend even a single day like this anymore.
Walking through the corridor, Yujin carefully avoided the patrolling guards.
He was at the boundary between Wild Beast Hell and Crimson Hell.
During construction, the Impel Down workers had deliberately built several corridors and two rows of cells on this floor.
Special cases like Yujin were occasionally placed in these cells for "extra attention."
Once he calmed down, he would be sent back to the Wild Beast Hell.
Of course, life in the Wild Beast Hell wasn't any easier. Even though most prisoners stuck together, a single mistake could get them attacked by the beasts.
Yujin wandered aimlessly for a long time, moss clinging between his toes.
"Dii-wei! Dii-wei!"
Suddenly! The alarm for the Wild Beast Hell blared!
Red lights flashed in front of the cell doors along the corridors.
Yujin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and spoke as if giving an acceptance speech, "Finally noticed me?"
Following the alarm, he arrived at a cell door where a three-meter-tall giant stood.
He held a steel fork in his hand, his expression grave, his face twisted like a demon.
This was Hannyabal, the "lucky scavenger" destined to succeed Chief Warden Magellan.
At this moment, Hannyabal covered his eyes with his hands, peeking through his fingers at the horror inside the cell.
The scene inside was chilling.
The bodies of two prison guards lay sprawled across the cold floor. Their deaths were gruesome, like something out of a horror movie.
The fat guard's face was frozen in extreme terror, his eyes bulging, his tongue hanging unnaturally, and his skin pale, as if all the blood had been drained.
A bowl-sized hole marked his neck, the likely source of the blood loss. The skin around the wound curled grotesquely, adding to the horrific sight.
The other guard's death was just as brutal.
A fifteen-centimeter wound tore through his throat, an instant and fatal strike.
Blood gushed from the wound, staining the walls and floor a deep crimson.
Not far from the bodies, a set of Seastone handcuffs hung on the wall.
These special handcuffs were designed to restrain Devil Fruit users. Seastone itself was harder than diamond.
This meant that the prisoner in this cell possessed abilities or strength not recorded in any files.
The forensic officer carefully examined the fatal wounds, meticulously recording every detail in his notebook.
"Pfft! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!!!"
The two ill-timed bursts of laughter made the forensic officer jump in fright.
Hannyabal put his hands on his hips, laughing with pride, finally speaking the thoughts he had been holding in his heart.
"Killing a prison guard is a grave crime!"
"Escaping prison is an even greater crime!"
"The chief warden won't escape responsibility!"
"When I catch this prisoner, I'll gain merit!"
"The more merit I gain, the closer I get to—"
"Replacing the warden and becoming the new head of Impel Down! Hahahahaha!"
Hannyabal laughed arrogantly, but suddenly noticed the blank expressions of those around him.
He quickly covered his mouth. "Damn! I accidentally said what I was thinking!"
Suddenly, a strong sense of pressure made Hannyabal turn his head.
He held his breath and listened carefully to the footsteps echoing in the corridor.
The steps were heavy and slow, each one pressing down on the heart, creating an indescribable sense of oppression.
Hannyabal's once proud smile froze instantly. His body stiffened as he slowly turned his head.
When he saw who had come, he immediately stood straight, replacing his pride with a forced show of respect.
The figure in the dim light seemed unusually tall.
A cigar was clenched between his teeth, the smoke curling around him, adding an aura of mystery and danger.
He wore a black military robe, and a sharp sword hung at his waist. The patterns on the scabbard hinted at its extraordinary origin.
It was the notorious Head Jailer of Impel Down, known for his bloodthirst and ruthlessness—Shiryu!
Shiryu's gaze was cold. His eyes swept over Hannyabal and the forensic officer, finally resting on the bloody scene inside the cell.
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if he felt a twisted sense of satisfaction at the sight of the bloodshed.
"Hannyabal, what are you doing here?" Shiryu's voice was low and hoarse, every word seeming to be squeezed from the depths of his throat, carrying an undeniable authority.
Hannyabal swallowed nervously, his voice stammering from tension. "Reporting, Head Jailer… I-I'm inspecting the scene of the prison break."
Shīryū's gaze was like a blade, sharp and piercing. His eyes lingered on Hannyabal for a moment before shifting to the forensic officer. "Report. What are the results?"
The forensic officer jotted down notes with trembling hands, his voice quivering. "Reporting, Head Jailer… The two guards suffered fatal injuries. One had his carotid artery severed, the other's throat was pierced. Cause of death: severe blood loss."
Shiryu nodded once, his eyes scanning the scene again before finally resting on the Sea-Prison Stone handcuffs hanging on the wall.
A flicker of interest crossed his eyes. "This prisoner is no ordinary criminal… To break free from Sea-Prison Stone handcuffs and kill two guards… Impressive! Very impressive!"
Hannyabal swallowed again, lowering his gaze to the floor, too scared to make a sound.
"Shut down all alarms in the Wild Beast Hell block!" Shiryu suddenly shouted, issuing orders. "A prisoner killing guards during a breakout is unforgivable! I will punish him personally! No need to inform the chief warden!"
"Did you hear that?!"
"Y-yes… heard it."
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