Chapter 149: Jinbei's Request
"It's okay to cry!" Hannyabal suddenly said, with tears streaming down his face: "What a touching friendship. You have moved me deeply. As the Deputy Warden, I grant you the honor of watching Crocodile be imprisoned with your own eyes. You'll both be sent to Eternal Hell."
"Hey, Hannyabal, don't do unnecessary things. The Chief Warden will be angry," Sadie warned.
"Who cares about that diarrhea-ridden guy? Sooner or later, the position of Chief Warden will be mine." Hannyabal showed a disdainful expression. "As Deputy Warden, I have the authority to do this."
"Look, their friendship is so touching!" Hannyabal pointed at Ace and Crocodile with a moved expression.
"..." Sadie was speechless but didn't stop him.
In her opinion, even someone like Crocodile couldn't stir up any trouble once imprisoned in Impel Down.
Thus, Ace managed to avoid being detained on Level 3 and instead went with Crocodile to Level 6.
"Operation Bittersweet—Success!" Inside the elevator, Ace grinned at Crocodile and gave him a thumbs-up.
"...Stay away from me," Crocodile said with a disgusted expression, pushing him aside.
Since the elevator only descended to Level 4, they had to take the stairs to reach Level 6.
Upon arriving at Level 6, Ace's expression sharpened. He scanned the cells quickly but didn't see Sabo.
"How can this be? Why isn't Sabo here?" Ace's face darkened.
"Sabo? You mean the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff who's about to be executed? He was transferred to Marineford three hours ago," Hannyabal said.
"Damn it… I'm still too late!" Ace cursed.
"Yes, if you had arrived just a bit earlier, you could have seen him," Hannyabal added cheerfully.
"Shut up, Hannyabal!" Sadie glared warily at Ace. "There's something off about this guy!"
"What are you talking about?" Hannyabal, still oblivious, began introducing the Level 6 cells to Ace—until he noticed Crocodile and Daz Bones removing their fake handcuffs.
Clang!
The sound of seastone cuffs hitting the floor made Hannyabal freeze. He turned slowly—only to find the guard beside Crocodile already unconscious.
"Y-You… What's going on?!" Hannyabal stammered in terror.
"Obviously, we've been deceived!" Sadie shouted, drawing her weapon. "Contact the Chief Warden immediately—this is a major breach!"
Before she could act, a wave of white-hot fire surged from behind them.
"Enkai: Hibashira (Flame Pillar)!"
BOOM!
The explosion of fire engulfed Sadie and Hannyabal, blasting them into the walls of Level 6. Sadie passed out instantly; Hannyabal staggered but remained conscious.
"W-Who… are you?!" he panted, looking at Ace.
Ace remained silent.
"So, what's the plan now?" Crocodile asked casually.
"Isn't it obvious?" Ace replied, eyes blazing. "We head to Marineford—to save Sabo!"
"Going to Marineford, huh?" Crocodile smirked. "Heh… looks like it's finally time to take Whitebeard's head."
"If you touch Pops, I'll kill you," Ace said coldly.
"Try it, brat," Crocodile shot back with a grin.
"Wait!"
A deep voice echoed from one of the nearby cells.
Ace turned. When he saw who it was, he blinked in surprise.
"Jinbei?! What are you doing locked up here?!"
"It's a long story," Jinbei replied. He looked at Ace pleadingly. "If you're going to Marineford, take me with you. Even if I die, I want to do something for our father—Whitebeard. Please, Brother Ace."
BANG!
Ace punched open the cell door and approached Jinbei.
"If it's you, I know you'll be useful." Ace broke Jinbei's chains effortlessly. "And since you're ready to die, follow me."
"W-What?! Those are seastone gates and chains! You opened them so easily?!"
"Let us out too!"
"Yeah! We hate the World Government too! Let us fight by your side!"
"We've got the strength! We'll help you storm Marineford—or even take down the World Government!"
As Ace opened the cell, the entire floor erupted in pleas. The inmates all shouted, desperate to be freed.
"Silence!" Ace snapped, releasing a powerful wave of Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki). The shockwave rattled the entire floor.
The prisoners fell silent. Even Crocodile gave Ace a new look.
In the depths of the prison, a few silent figures glanced toward Ace. Some smiled. Some scoffed. Others remained indifferent—true monsters erased from history by the World Government.
"Incredible Haki," Jinbei whispered. "You've grown even stronger, Brother Ace."
"Compared to Pops, I'm still far behind," Ace replied as he turned to leave Level 6.
At this moment, there were only 16 hours left until Sabo's public execution.
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