The prisoners in Eternal Hell had fallen completely silent. They no longer spoke, only silently watching the figure patrolling alongside Magellan.
This was especially true of the "legends" in solitary confinement.
They all stared intently at Roy, as if trying to pierce him with their gaze.
However, Roy paid no attention to these hostile stares.
Because...
[Devil Fruits Analyzed: Nine-Tailed Fox Devil Fruit LV1, Fusion Devil Fruit LV1, and Island-Island Devil Fruit LV1.]
The ever-expanding roster of devil fruits in his Devil Fruit Encyclopedia had left him completely preoccupied.
Yes.
Roy knew perfectly well that, aside from God Valley thirty years ago, the only place with the highest concentration of high-quality Devil Fruits would likely be Impel Down's Sixth Level, "Eternal Hell."
It housed not only rare Mythological Beast Devil Fruits but also several Paramecia Fruits with exaggerated effects.
Roy was naturally pleased by this, these Devil Fruits were his primary targets for this expedition.
But just at that moment...
"Over there..." Roy stopped abruptly, his pupils contracting slightly.
He and Magellan had reached the deepest part of the Sixth Level.
There were no other prisoners in sight.
Before them lay only a massive, pitch-black void.
"...!"
Roy's brow furrowed.
As previously mentioned, Impel Down was an underwater prison, and its deepest level, "Eternal Hell," was submerged beneath the seafloor.
But how could there possibly be such a massive void beneath the seabed?
He was certain that no such thing existed in the original story.
Moreover, he could faintly discern the emblem of the Cross Star, the symbol of the World Government, etched around the rim of the cavernous void.
"Vice Admiral Roy," Magellan said, "our patrol is over. We cannot proceed any further."
"We can't go any further?" Roy's confusion deepened.
"Warden Magellan, what exactly is this void?" Roy asked softly, adhering to his principle of asking questions when uncertain.
Standing beside them, Vice Admiral Biros couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Roy, lad, I asked the same question back in the day! But the warden said my security clearance wasn't high enough to know."
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly realized something; his face stiffened abruptly.
Sure enough, Magellan replied, "Vice Admiral Roy, you have sufficient clearance. According to regulations, I am authorized to disclose information about it to you."
"However..."
At this point, Magellan glanced pointedly at Vice Admiral Biros.
The implication was unmistakable.
Biros: "... "
The old man remained speechless for a moment, then huffed, stroking his mustache and glaring. "Fine! I don't want to hear it! Can't an old man just not listen?"
With that, he stomped off.
Watching this scene unfold, Roy immediately understood.
Knowing about this void required "Admiral"-level clearance. Not even Vice Admiral Biros, who had managed the Marine Detention Unit for years and was as comfortable in Impel Down as he was at home, was authorized to access this information.
Roy, however, was different. Though he had only recently been promoted to Admiral Candidate, Zephyr's authority had been transferred to him, granting him access to this classified information.
After Vice Admiral Biros moved out of earshot, Magellan lowered his voice and whispered to Roy, "Below this void lies Impel Down's 'Seventh Layer.'"
"What?!" Roy almost doubted his ears. "A Seventh Layer?"
"When did Impel Down start having a Seventh Layer?"
But he couldn't dwell on that now. Instead, he immediately asked the obvious question. "Which prisoners are being held in the Seventh Layer?"
As he questioned Magellan, legendary names began flashing through Roy's mind.
But
"No,"
To his surprise, Magellan shook his head and gave an unexpected answer. "There are no prisoners on the seventh level."
He looked at Roy. "There's only a massive 'mechanical device' down there."
"It was completed over thirty years ago, back when I was deputy warden. I never learned its exact purpose. All I know is that only successive wardens of Impel Down are permitted to enter and inspect it."
Upon hearing this, Roy's brow furrowed even more deeply.
No prisoners?
Such a vast cavern, hiding only a mysterious, purpose-unknown mechanical device?
No matter how one looked at it, the situation reeked of something bizarre.
Then he caught another crucial detail.
"If only successive Wardens of Impel Down are permitted to enter the seventh level, why do I have the authority to access it?" Roy asked quietly.
This made no sense. According to Magellan, the existence of the seventh level was an absolute secret within Impel Down itself, and entry privileges were reserved exclusively for the Warden.
In other words, this was an internal matter of Impel Down.
It's worth noting that, while closely linked to the Marines, Impel Down, one of the World Government's three major symbols, was essentially an independent institution under the direct administration of the World Government.
Logically, not even the Marine Admiral or Fleet Admiral should have the right to know about Impel Down's internal affairs.
However, upon hearing this, Magellan shook his head.
"The Marine Admiral has the right to know because there's more than one such device."
He raised a finger, emphasizing each word: "In addition to Impel Down, similar devices exist at Marineford and Judicial Island.
"We at Impel Down, you Marines, and the guardians of Judicial Island must each safeguard these devices within our respective domains."
Upon hearing this, Roy finally began to feel bewildered.
Roy's mind raced as he frantically sifted through the information he had gathered.
Marineford, Impel Down, and Judicial Island, the three "symbols of the World Government" surrounded by the Gates of Justice, each housed a massive mechanical device.
Based on Impel Down's situation, only the Admiral and Fleet Admiral in the Marines likely knew the location of the device at Marineford. Meanwhile, the device on Judicial Island was probably known only to its highest-ranking officials.
This raised a crucial question:
"What purpose do these three devices serve?"
Roy pondered this, but no answer came to him.
"Vice-Admiral Roy, shall we proceed to the Fifth Level now?" Magellan asked.
"Yes," Roy replied.
Hearing Magellan's question, Roy suppressed his curiosity, deciding to address it later. He had more pressing matters at hand.
Namely...
[Devil Fruit Encyclopedia]
[Holder: Roy Amos]
[Current Devil Fruit Species in Encyclopedia: 59]
[Devil Fruit Ability Slots: 4]
"Just one more to unlock the next slot."
Indeed.
Since arriving at Impel Down, Roy had acquired over ten Devil Fruits in total. This meant he was just one Devil Fruit away from unlocking his fifth slot, the "Devil Fruit Fusion Slot"!
Roy was certain there were other Devil Fruit users within Impel Down. But just as the trio reached the fifth level, "Freezing Hell," and prepared to continue their patrol...
Grumble~
Accompanied by a sound like a thunderous drumbeat, Magellan's face instantly turned pale.
"Uh... I... I have something urgent to attend to. You two will have to wait a moment." He clutched his stomach in agony.
Roy and Biros: "..."
Soon, Magellan sped off to attend to his physiological needs, and Roy and Biros's patrol was temporarily suspended.
The two of them could only wait at the entrance to Freezing Hell.
"Old man, are you really planning to retire? Not even considering staying on as a strategist or something?" Roy asked, sitting on a snow-covered brick as he looked at Vice Admiral Biros.
"A strategist? That kind of position doesn't suit an old man like me," Vice Admiral Biros replied, shaking his head. "Besides, you're as shrewd as a monkey, kid. What kind of advice could you possibly need from me?"
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "I've already made up my mind. When I get back, I'm going to properly train my grandson and build a solid foundation for him. He'll definitely become a great Marine someday!"
"... "
"I thought your grandson was barely six months old," Roy muttered to himself.
But before he could speak, Vice Admiral Biros added, "However, Roy, my boy..."
Biros looked sternly at Roy. "I know you've grown incredibly strong, but don't let your arrogance get the better of you. The escalating chaos of this era is only amplifying your recklessness, and sooner or later, you'll pay a heavy price for it."
"You're the one who wanted to train a six-month-old baby, yet you dare call me reckless?" Roy thought to himself, suppressing a chuckle.
And...
"The chaos is escalating?" Roy murmured, though he already had a vague idea of what Biros meant.
Sure enough, Biros solemnly declared, "The Twelve Zodiac."
"I'm retiring soon and likely won't cross paths with them," he continued. "But you're different. With your strength and age, barring any unforeseen circumstances, you'll inevitably clash with them in a life-or-death struggle."
His words clearly carried a hint of concern.
Hearing this, Roy felt a warmth in his heart.
Although he knew he would never face the Twelve Zodiacs in a life-or-death struggle, he reassured Biros nonetheless: "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'm incredibly strong."
Hearing this, Vice Admiral Biros puffed out his mustache and glared, "It talk like this why I say you're too reckless!"
As if to remind Roy of the enemy's formidable power, he immediately continued, "You've likely heard about what happened with Youji (Rooster), Shinryu, and Zishu, haven't you?"
"But since you were so busy with the Three-Forces Military Exercise, you probably haven't heard about the newest member of the Twelve Zodiac, have you?"
Roy: "..."
Seeing Roy's silence, Vice Admiral Biros immediately shared all the information he knew, including Garp's encounter with Inoshi in the East Blue, his subsequent injury, and the nature of Inoshi's abilities.
Roy remained expressionless, 'tell me something I don't know.'
But the very next moment, Vice Admiral Biros's words made him raise an eyebrow.
"Moreover, according to recent intelligence, the Information Revolutionary Army may also be connected to The Twelve Zodiac."
"How so?" Roy asked, unusually taking the initiative.
"It's a conjecture from the Criminal Investigation Division's Information Bureau. Before the Three-Forces Military Exercise, Inoshi suddenly appeared in East Blue."
"Simultaneously, intelligence indicates that the Revolutionary Army's East Army underwent a large-scale mobilization, seemingly transporting materials. Among these were the nineteen types of metals collected by 'Zishu.'"
Given Vice Admiral Biros's seniority, he clearly possessed extensive knowledge, allowing him to speak confidently on the matter.
As Roy listened, his initial surprise quickly gave way to calm.
After all, he knew the full context of the situation. A Revolutionary Army operation of this scale, transferring such massive personnel and supplies, could hardly remain undetected.
But he wasn't particularly concerned.
So what if they'd been discovered? No matter how thoroughly the World Government searched, they would never find any trace of the Twelve Zodiac's supposed activities.
It was precisely at this moment, however, that a notification appeared:
[Devil Fruit user "Inazuma" has been detected.]
[Devil Fruit confirmed: Paramecia-type Scissors-Scissors Fruit. Analyzing and storing to the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.]
[Devil Fruit Ability: Can transform the body into scissors.]
[Effect Levels:]
[Level 3: Grants full Devil Fruit abilities. Can transform any part of the body into scissors, capable of cutting and reshaping objects at will without altering their fundamental properties. Only works on tangible matter; biological entities cannot be directly cut, only inflicted with slashing damage.]
[Level 4: Deeply developed Devil Fruit mastery. Significantly enhances the power of slashes and the speed of cutting. Requires an Eternal Unlock costing 1,300,000,000 Beli.]
[Level 5: Devil Fruit Awakening: Air Scissors. Assimilates the surrounding environment into scissors, allowing the user to cut intangible substances. Requires an Eternal Unlock costing 5,200,000,000 Beli.]
[Analysis Progress: 0%]
The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia chimed again, causing Roy's expression to shift.
"Inazuma?"
He naturally knew this person, a Revolutionary Army member from the South Blue.
His gaze swept discreetly around, but he couldn't spot the Revolutionary Army member.
So, that explains it, he thought.
The Vice Admiral's mention of the Revolutionary Army and Sea Kings must have drawn him here.
And indeed, that was exactly the case.
Just a short distance away from Roy and Vice Admiral Biros, beneath a massive boulder...
...
Inazuma, wineglass in hand and dual-toned sunglasses perched on his nose, his half-orange, half-white hair and clothing radiating an air of seriousness.
"I never expected to hear such information here," he muttered.
Beside him lay a lavish spread of food and rare wines.
Yes, even Inazuma hadn't anticipated this.
He had simply been using his ability to sneak into the fourth level to steal some food, as usual.
But on his way back, he unexpectedly encountered two Marines discussing the Revolutionary Army.
Ever since he and the Okama King Ivankov had been captured, contact with the outside world had been severely restricted.
Information about the Revolutionary Army, in particular, had become exceedingly scarce.
"The Twelve Zodiac are cooperating with us?"
Upon hearing this earth-shattering news, Inazuma naturally had to stop in his tracks.
Though isolated from information, he had still heard of the Twelve Zodiac, after all, every prisoner recently admitted to Impel Down knew of this organization.
So Inazuma immediately realized...
I need to tell Ivan about this as soon as I get back. If this information is true, I seem to recall there being a trainee member of the Twelve Zodiacs in Level 5 as well.
He mused to himself.
Meanwhile, Roy was completely unaware of Inazuma's plans. However, he had no intention of immediately exposing him.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
"Old Man, I honestly didn't know any of that information you mentioned. Could you tell me more about this Inoshi fellow?"
"As I've said before, you brat knows nothing."
Fueled by Roy's enthusiastic prompting, Vice Admiral Biros's enthusiasm grew even more.
And when the old man boldly speculated that Revolutionary Army Leader Dragon might also be a member of the Twelve Zodiacs...
'Scissors-Scissors Devil Fruit' analysis complete.
Roy finally heard the notification he had been eagerly awaiting within the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
Devil Fruit types cataloged: 60
Special Devil Fruit Ability Slots unlocked: Fusion Devil Fruit Ability Slots!
(End of chapter)
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