There was a legend in Impel Down called the "Ghost Sleeve."
From time to time, prisoners—completely immobilized—would suddenly vanish without a trace from their cells. This phenomenon gave rise to the legend of the "Ghost Sleeve."
Behind this legend, however, lay a paradise that no Impel Down administrator could have imagined.
LV5.5: the Newbie "Okama" Paradise. The administrator behind this paradise was Emporio Ivankov—the very "mastermind" of the legend.
"Huff… huff…"
Jiang Lin slowly walked into the underground passages, gasping for breath. He needed a warm and safe place to rest, and the tunnels of LV5.5 were just that.
As the howling wind and snow gradually faded, Jiang Lin's eyelids grew heavy.
"Have you heard? Lord Ivankov rescued two people. One of them… seems to be called Straw Hat… yes! Straw Hat Luffy!"
"That Luffy… he got hit by Magellan's mixed poison in LV5. He's almost dead now."
The faint murmur of voices stirred Jiang Lin, who was recovering his strength.
"Luffy? Didn't he already go to LV5? How is he still being stopped by Magellan?"
Jiang Lin took a deep breath and abruptly stood up. After a short rest, his energy had fully returned.
"Uh… are you a guard or a prisoner? How did you get in here?"
The two people discussing Luffy immediately became alert when Jiang Lin emerged from the side passage.
"Take me to Luffy!"
Jiang Lin wasted no words. His eyes hardened, and the startled pair hurried ahead to lead the way.
"Newbie Okama Paradise! Hee-hee!"
From the noisy stage, a woman's loud singing rang out. As Jiang Lin followed the two "women" into the room, every eye instantly turned toward him.
"You must be that mysterious person? Scary-looking… just kidding!"
At the moment the music stopped, Emporio Ivankov, queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom and a Revolutionary Army officer, swiveled her massive hips and faced Jiang Lin.
"Emporio Ivankov… Revolutionary Army officer… where's Luffy? How's he doing?"
Jiang Lin had no interest in Ivankov's abilities. His sole concern was Luffy's condition.
"He's receiving treatment. What's your relation to him?"
Ivankov held the microphone and performed on stage, her piercing singing drawing cheers from the crowd.
"Lord Ivankov!"
Applause and shouts echoed through the room.
Whoosh!
A yellow light flashed, and Jiang Lin instantly appeared on the stage. His fingers gathered pale yellow light, aiming directly at the energetically singing Ivankov.
"Well! My patience and time are limited. I know you might have saved Luffy, but that doesn't give you the right to disgust me in front of me!"
Though grateful for Ivankov saving Luffy, Jiang Lin could not tolerate the over-the-top performance. That was why he intervened so aggressively.
"Luffy is under treatment. If you want to see him, I'll take you there."
Ivankov jumped off the stage and walked toward the exit.
Following the complex passageways, Jiang Lin was finally led by Ivankov to a room secured with thick iron chains.
"Go, Straw Hat! Go!"
As Jiang Lin approached, he was immediately drawn to the sight of Vinsmoke Reiju outside the door, hands and legs outstretched, enthusiastically cheering for Luffy.
"Uh… you continue!"
Passing Reiju, Jiang Lin arrived at the door.
From inside, Luffy's pained roars occasionally broke through.
"He's… receiving—"
"I know!" Jiang Lin interrupted Ivankov and turned to face the door, shouting with all his heart: "Luffy! Keep going!"
That single cheer carried the full weight of Jiang Lin's emotions. He knew the true battle was just beginning. LV6— where Ace was truly held—was filled with the most ruthless criminals.
"Sorry, Luffy! I have to go ahead!"
Jiang Lin realized staying would not help Luffy. All he could do was carry Luffy's will forward as they advanced toward LV6.
"Jiang Lin, maa-deh! Let's go together, partner!"
A weak but determined voice came from the other side of the door, halting Jiang Lin's first step.
"Luffy!"
Vinsmoke Reiju, upon hearing Luffy's voice, fainted from excitement.
"Luffy!"
Jiang Lin watched as the figure slowly emerged from the room. His eyes stung with emotion, almost bringing tears, but his resolve forced him to hold them back.
"Let's go. We'll head to LV6 together!"
Jiang Lin stepped forward, draping an arm over Luffy's shoulder to guide him.
"Jiang Lin, wait a second. Ma'am, do you have any food?"
Luffy, patting his skinny stomach, smiled sheepishly.
"Ah… he's alive!"
Luffy emerged from the kitchen, fully satisfied, leaving a pile of bones and leftover food behind him.
"Ma'am… please take care of Vinsmoke Reiju. Jiang Lin and I are heading to LV6 to rescue Ace!"
After eating and regaining strength, Luffy entrusted the fainted Reiju to Ivankov's care.
"Jiang Lin… let's go…"
Luffy barely took two steps before fainting again from exhaustion.
"Emporio… Hormone Boost!"
With Ivankov's help, Luffy finally regained consciousness. Yet Jiang Lin frowned at Ivankov's unorthodox method.
"Fine! Under the circumstances, this is probably the best approach."
Jiang Lin, now with Luffy restored and Ivankov accompanying them, departed from LV5.5 and ultimately reached LV6.
Meanwhile, after finishing treatment, Magellan, along with all high-level Impel Down forces, boarded the elevator heading to the LV6 prison block.
In the center of the high-speed descending elevator, a man fully encased in ice stood silently, his cold gaze fixed straight ahead. The temperature in the elevator dropped several degrees. This was none other than Admiral Aokiji—the very figure Jiang Lin had been searching for so long.