Chapter 33: Impel Down — Garp's Invitation
Calm Belt, Impel Down.
As Garp's warship drew alongside the Impel Down pier, a squad of soldiers rushed up to receive them.
At their head stood a towering man in a black uniform—Chief Warden Magellan, wielder of the Doku Doku no Mi, a force not inferior to an Admiral.
"Welcome, Marine Hero Garp!"
"Allow Warden Hannyabal to give you a proper Impel Down reception!" boomed a pot-bellied man with devilish horns and a pharaoh-style headdress, laughing loudly.
"Idiot. Don't bare your ambition in front of me," Magellan said coolly, cutting Hannyabal a glance.
"Ruined—my ambition slipped out! Warden Magellan, I didn't mean it…" Hannyabal rubbed his hands with a fawning smile.
"Idiot."
Magellan ignored him and barked, "Vice Admiral Garp is escorting the culprit who assaulted a Celestial Dragon. Everyone, be on your guard!"
"Yes, Warden!"
The Impel Down officers answered in unison, eyes still brimming with curiosity. Who dared attack a Celestial Dragon—and warranted escort by the Marine Hero himself. Apart from the legendary Roger, Shiki the Golden Lion, the Red Count, and Kaido, few had ever received such treatment.
Under their gazes Garp came down the gangplank, and then Satan and his party appeared.
"A brat… a woman… and a giant?"
"Those are the offenders?"
"What kind of lineup is this?"
"No, that pretty boy looks quite charming. My whip is itching," purred a woman in a pink leather outfit with a coiled whip—Sadi, the Chief Jailer—licking her lips. The thrill of torment had already taken hold.
"Quiet. Don't underestimate anyone because of appearances. Anyone who can make Garp—glrk… No good… receive them for me—my stomach—!" Magellan's speech broke off in a gurgle, and he sprinted into the prison without even greeting Garp.
"A-hahaha! Magellan's side effects are as fierce as ever," Garp roared with laughter.
"Vice Admiral Garp, are these the ones who assaulted the Celestial Dragon?" asked a woman whose slanted cap shaded one eye, golden curls flowing to her shoulders. She wore a brown jacket and shorts over a white shirt and black tie, with deep red high boots and matching gauntlets—Chief Guard Domino.
"Strictly speaking, only this one," Garp said, thumbing at Satan. "The other two are Celestial Dragon slaves."
"No matter who they are—once they enter Impel Down, I will enforce strict discipline. We will not allow the prison's name to be sullied," Domino said with a crisp salute.
"Reliable as ever," Garp chuckled, then turned to Satan. "Satan. The criminals in Impel Down are heinous. Once you go in, there's no coming out. This is your last chance—join the Marines. If you do, you'll be spared Impel Down's torment."
"Eh—Vice Admiral Garp wants the kid in the Marines?" Domino blinked.
"Why would Garp fancy this brat?"
"Pirates are criminals. Impel Down exists to contain crime."
"No one leaves Impel Down. To protect civilians from harm, we will never permit evil to walk free," the officers declared, their justice unwavering despite their surprise at Garp's invitation.
"He only struck a Celestial Dragon," Garp added for context. "He has a bounty of zero—and he did it to save Celestial Dragon slaves."
"To save people he attacked a Celestial Dragon?" Domino frowned. "Reckless, boy. But assaulting a Celestial Dragon is still a crime. Vice Warden, we can't shelter offenders," Hannyabal said firmly. He knew all the rumors about the Celestial Dragons—yet they had founded the World Government. Where in this world is there no evil. In Impel Down, more than anywhere, he understood that truth—and precisely for that reason he guarded his own justice. Once inside, no one leaves, and no one is allowed to become a scourge to the innocent.
"What are you all muttering to yourselves about?" Satan drawled. "Why does everyone like inviting me aboard. Whitebeard asked me to join his crew. Red-Hair invited me aboard. Blackbeard invited me aboard. Now Garp wants me in the Marines. Do I have a face that says 'here to serve the people'?"
The air fell silent again.
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