The Sabaody Archipelago lay close to Marine Headquarters at Marineford, which also meant that once you passed through the Gate of Justice, you could reach the deep-sea prison Impel Down in no time.
After receiving Dragon's definite answer, Ortoren had no intention of sitting around on Sabaody. Staring blankly at that country bumpkin Rayleigh—what was the point in that?
Better to push the plan forward as soon as possible. So he decided to head to Impel Down first and have a proper conversation with Magellan, figuring out how to smoothly facilitate Shiki's escape.
Before long, Ortoren returned to Marineford with Gion. Gion chose to stay at headquarters for a while, while Ortoren didn't even pause—he immediately boarded a warship and ordered the crew to set course for that hellhole, Impel Down.
Only after passing through the Gate of Justice did Ortoren take out his Den Den Mushi and contact Admiral Sengoku.
Admiral Sengoku picked up quickly, sounding puzzled. "What's going on? I heard you were just at headquarters. Now you ditch Gion and run off on your own? Did you two argue?"
"Nothing like that..." Ortoren brushed it off casually, then asked, "Admiral, if I remember correctly, your birthday is coming up soon, right?"
Hearing this, Admiral Sengoku let out a laugh. "What do you mean 'soon'? It's only the beginning of the year. My birthday's not until May... And you know I don't celebrate birthdays anyway, so there's no need to pay attention to it. Why ask? Planning to give me a present?"
"Hahaha, yes, I'm preparing a rather grand gift. You've taken good care of me over the years," Ortoren said with a laugh.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but keep the gift. Don't open that door—if I accept yours, how am I supposed to refuse everyone else's?" Sengoku said, rejecting him, though he clearly sounded pleased.
"Don't worry, it won't be anything tacky. No one will be able to complain about it," Ortoren replied. Then he shifted topics. "By the way, Admiral, I'm currently on my way to Impel Down. There's something I'd like to ask you."
"Hm? What business do you have in Impel Down?" Sengoku asked, confused.
"Well, G-5 has a long-standing labor-supply partnership with Impel Down. Since I'm already coming this way, I figured I should at least pay a visit to Magellan, the Grand Warden, and strengthen our relationship," Ortoren said, offering a passable excuse.
Sengoku didn't think much of it and asked casually, "So what is it you want to consult about?"
"Magellan... can he be trusted?" Ortoren's tone dropped as he cut straight to the point.
Sengoku fell silent. Trustworthy? If Ortoren was asking this, it clearly wasn't about surface-level issues. If it were that simple, there'd be nothing to ask. Magellan might be the boss of Impel Down, but the prison was still under Marine Headquarters. He held a Vice Admiral's equivalent status and reported directly to the Fleet Admirals and Admirals. By all accounts, he was absolutely one of their own. Why question his trustworthiness?
After a brief pause, Sengoku spoke. "You mean... it's related to G-5?"
"Somewhat..." Ortoren answered after considering for a moment.
"So you're thinking of deepening your cooperation with him?" Sengoku chuckled, then added with meaning, "From the moment he handed over that first batch of pirates to you, haven't you two already been in the same boat?"
A look of realization crossed Ortoren's face. That made sense—damn, it made perfect sense.
Magellan probably still had no idea where the pirates he handed over to G-5 ended up, nor what they were used for—and he likely didn't want to know. But in reality, he had already become an accomplice in G-5's development. In terms of importance, he could even be considered a partner.
If the World Government ever uncovered the secret operations G-5 had been conducting over the years, Magellan would have no way of distancing himself from it.
So when Sengoku said they were in the same boat, he wasn't wrong at all.
While Ortoren mulled this over, Sengoku added with a cheerful tone, "Besides, Magellan is a very clever man. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to sit in that Warden's seat. Wouldn't you agree?"
Being "in the same boat" and being called clever by Admiral Sengoku meant only one thing—Magellan was someone worth trusting.
However, Ortoren still asked, "I heard he's very close to you?"
"He was also someone this old man personally promoted," Admiral Sengoku replied, not answering directly but giving all the answer needed.
"Then I understand..." Ortoren said with a smile.
Same boat. Smart. Solid roots. What else needed to be said? Definitely one of their own.
"Anything else you want to ask?" Seeing Ortoren had gotten the message, Admiral Sengoku didn't elaborate further and shifted the conversation.
"Ahem. I have something I need Magellan's help with. Since you were the one who promoted him, Admiral, perhaps you could send an official request from headquarters telling him to cooperate with me. That way, when I meet him, it'll be easier to bring the matter up." Ortoren didn't hesitate. If there's a problem, you go to the boss—what else is a boss for?
From the very moment Ortoren asked his first question, Admiral Sengoku had assumed this matter concerned G-5.
And on that subject, both sides maintained the same tacit understanding: don't ask too much; if you don't report it, I don't know anything.
So Admiral Sengoku didn't ask what Ortoren planned to do. He simply said in a calm tone, "Understood. Same as always—don't cause too big a mess. Handle things quietly."
"Of course, of course!" Ortoren promised immediately.
Before long, Admiral Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi, and Ortoren felt much more confident about the situation.
If he walked up to Magellan out of the blue to discuss arranging Shiki's escape, even with their extensive labor-cooperation relationship, it would be extremely inappropriate. Magellan might not dare agree at all.
And obviously, the moment he brought it up, Magellan would go straight to Admiral Sengoku to report it. That would put Ortoren in a passive position. Even if he believed he could explain things clearly, Admiral Sengoku might not accept such a wild, explosive plan.
Even Dragon had shaken his head at the idea of setting Holy Land on fire—let alone Sengoku!
But a good subordinate must know how to lighten the burden of his superior. Get it done first; help him rise—how could he punish you afterward?
So after thinking it over, Ortoren concluded it was best to have Admiral Sengoku send a vague directive first. Magellan, being a clever man, would get the message. Once the Admiral's order arrived and Ortoren showed up in person to give him a subtle hint not to bother the extremely busy Admiral with such trivial matters, then the issue wouldn't need further reporting at all.
And that would make everything much easier for Ortoren.
As for whether Magellan would realize something was wrong if Shiki "escaped" and immediately caused chaos in Holy Land—
If he wasn't stupid, he'd definitely realize it!
But again, by that point he would already be in the same pair of pants as Ortoren—fully complicit.
Would he dare report anything?
Once the nobles of Holy Land found out, would they spare him?
More importantly, as long as everything went smoothly, it would be a huge merit for the Marine hierarchy. The top brass would all be getting promotions and raises. And once Admiral Sengoku became Fleet Admiral, wouldn't he remember Magellan's "contribution"?
Compare the two: quietly accepting a favor, or blowing everything up and dragging Ortoren down?
Expose Ortoren and a whole line of Marine elites would lose their promotions and raises. How would Magellan survive in the system then?
As someone Sengoku himself called "a clever man," Magellan would definitely weigh those consequences.
And for Magellan, once the dust settled, he would go from being a key subordinate Sengoku promoted personally to being a trusted confidant of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Emotionally and logically, he'd have no reason to turn against Ortoren afterward.
"Who knows? He might even end up thanking me..." Ortoren clapped his hands and muttered to himself with satisfaction.