Chapter 3: Need some fresh air

It seems there are limits to this freedom thing.

Luo Ning figured there must be some kind of trigger for these freedom points. He thought breathing and walking were free too, but they didn't earn points. There had to be a reason.

Looking at his cell door, Luo Ning remembered being freed when the handcuffs came off. Maybe opening the door and leaving would work?

He needed more freedom points to get stronger, and stuck in this cell, that wasn't happening. There were guards patrolling, but he had his Visionary ability. It was worth a shot.

The worst that could happen was getting caught. Torture, maybe, but not death. Visionary would help him deal with that.

Before trying anything, Luo Ning split his 100 points in half, strengthening both his Reiatsu and body. He felt a clear boost in both.

"Hey, new guy, where'd you get the key? Some devil fruit power or something?"

The prisoners all glared at Luo Ning.

There were tons of them locked up in this deep sea prison, and not everyone wore those special cuffs.

Only the devil fruit users got those fancy cuffs and a solo cell.

Buggy, with his crazy powers and a bounty in the tens of millions, somehow ended up in a regular cell on the first floor. Just goes to show, weird stuff happens to Buggy.

Normally, pirates can't hide their powers for long. When they get caught, they usually end up using them. But there are a few exceptions, some powers that aren't for fighting might slip under the radar.

"Devil fruit power, huh? You can think so"

Luo Ning spoke, a key reappearing in his hand, the one to his cell door.

"New guy, trying to escape, right? Open our cuffs too. We can help you. No way you're getting out alone"

Surprise washed over most faces.

These were hardened criminals. Being locked up wasn't the worst. Soon, they'd be dragged to the torture grounds of Sword Trees and Needle Grass.

Escape was a crazy idea, even with their meager strength. But a chance at freedom, and they'd take it, revenge on their jailers burning hot.

"Prison break? Who said I was breaking out? Just need some fresh air."

"Appreciate you not taking all my food," Luo Ning said, unlocking the cell. "Doesn't mean I like you lot. Stay put"

True, they'd left half his rations, but they'd stolen the rest. Local kindness, it seemed, but Luo Ning wasn't a fan of thieves.

He wasn't fond of the Marines either, but these criminals weren't any better. Wrongfully accused? Didn't matter.

Bluntly put, he was selfish, no grand ideals clouding his judgment.

"Bastard! Give us the key!"

The cell door creaked open, and a group of prisoners lunged, only to be met with a slam shut by Luo Ning.

"Hey, hey, what's happening? Someone out?"

The commotion drew attention. Seeing someone out, the other prisoners gaped. What was going on? Someone had escaped?

At the same time Luo Ning who had left the cell, also appeared under the surveillance Den Den Mushi.

Such Den Den Mushi are almost all over the entire Impel Down.

The guard monitoring the security feed did a double take. "Did I see right? Looks like a prisoner got out!"

"See right...? Wait, why's someone out there?" His coworker leaned in, eyes widening at the figure in black and white stripes on the screen.

"Sound the alarm!" The guard snapped back to reality and hit the button. "Prisoner escape from Cell 17! All units, apprehend the escapee!"

The alarm blared. The guard quickly identified Luo Ning's location and shouted orders into a communicator.

Guards, including a big dude named Brugley, scrambled to respond.

Luo Ning glanced at the camera on the wall, a touch of frustration crossing his face. "Spotted as soon as I left my cell. They're quick."