256. The World Is In An Uproar

Impel Down, Level 6: Eternal Hell.

"Fufufu1fu-!!!"

Shanks lay on the ground, his arms and legs bound by four sturdy chains, firmly embedded at their ends. He gazed at the dull, dark ceiling with boredom, occasional strange laughter echoing around. The weak candlelight barely illuminated the moss-covered surroundings, indicating he had been confined for over three days.

Only the knowledge of being on the sixth level of Impel Down was obtained; no additional details were provided.

Prisoners on this level are widely recognized figures in the outside world, some even marked for erasure by the World Government.

Among them are Red Count-Patrick Redfield, World Destroyer-Byrnndi World, Demon Heir-Douglas Bullet...

Even former Shichibukai Desert King Crocodile and Heavenly Demon-Donquixote Doflamingo captured by Atlas find themselves incarcerated on this floor.

Coincidentally, these two individuals found themselves as Shanks' neighbors.

"Hey! Can you please cut down on the yelling!"

Shanks furrowed his brow and rose from the floor. The lifted chain produced a scraping noise against the ground. He turned to observe his 'neighbor.'

A man with short yellow hair met his gaze. Leaning against the wall, his entire body constrained by a seastone chain, resembling a tethered wild dog.

"Fufufufu-!!"

"Don't you realize? The world is on the brink of a massive upheaval with the changing times!"

The man paid no attention to Shanks' words, not even shifting his gaze from the newspaper beneath his sunglasses.

Newspapers served as his sole connection to the outside world. This was something he and the Five Elders fiercely negotiated for upon entering the Impel Down.

After all, he wasn't without cards up his sleeve.

The same principle as a cunning rabbit's having three burrows.

"A massive upheaval?"

Shanks, for some unknown reason, instinctively shifted his focus to the newspaper on the ground.

Unfortunately, nothing caught his eye.

However...

It struck him that he hadn't noticed where Teach had disappeared to after entering.

"Kid! You don't need to bother with Doflamingo. He's been blabbering since he arrived."

Crocodile, another "neighbor," kindly offered this reminder.

After uttering those words, he lazily raised his half-closed eyelids to assess the newcomer who had just entered.

"Being confined to this level suggests you are a significant figure out there."

"Don't worry, it's just a bit of a reputation."

Shanks felt a surge of excitement upon realizing that this usually distant inmate was initiating a conversation with him.

In the last few days, he felt like he was slowly dying of boredom. He wasn't the type to endure a dull existence.

Surprisingly, since his imprisonment began, one guy incessantly rambled with incomprehensible words, while another wore a stern expression.

Even with his outgoing nature, he hadn't exchanged more than a word or two.

"I just turned down the Shichibukai position," Shanks admitted, scratching his head sheepishly.

Having roamed the world before, he wasn't entirely familiar with the reputations of some major pirates on the Grand Line.

However, a criminal ending up on the sixth floor of Impel Down isn't any less formidable than a Shichibukai, is it?

"Kuahahahaha! Are all newcomers this cocky nowadays?"

Crocodile glanced at the seemingly innocent red-haired kid and found himself immediately taken aback.

'Doesn't this guy realize that I am the Shichibukai he claimed to dislike?!'

"Aren't pirates supposed to be free? All the famous is just a side effect, isn't it?"

Shanks tilted his straw hat a bit, casting shadows over his eyes as he grinned, revealing his big white teeth.

"Plus, I'm planning to take down Hakuryu once I get out!"

"Bang!! You lot, still clinging to this fantasy. This is Impel Down. Since its inception, only that old Shiki has managed to escape from here."

"And it cost him two legs."

Crocodile sneered, lifting the thick chain on his hand, "Otherwise, why do you think our limbs are chained?"

"That's not necessarily true..."

Shanks disagreed, casually turning his gaze as if by chance. His eyes seemed to pierce through many obstacles, fixating on the so-called holy land on the Red Line.

"However, you kid is really lucky. You were caught by that guy and still managed to remain intact."

Crocodile noticed the kid seemingly brushing off his words and paid it no mind, but his expression grew a bit more somber.

"That guy, you mean Hakuryu?"

Shanks was taken aback. Could it be that this gloomy guy was also captured by Hakuryu?

"That's right. Back when I encountered him, I got unlucky. The damn Marine didn't act the way he does now; otherwise, I'd probably be in the same boat as Doflamingo."

Crocodile's face had a hint of anger.

During his confinement in Impel Down, aside from hearing about that Marine scoundrel from Doflamingo, the guards who came for patrols also shared stories about that guy.

After all, that Marine scoundrel had piled on a lot of extra work for these jailers.

With his hands and feet shattered, maintaining basic activities became a challenging feat.

"Doflamingo?"

Shanks followed the other person's gaze, glancing to the side. Doflamingo, without his limbs, came into view, a menacing presence from start to finish, causing Shanks to shiver involuntarily.

...

New World.

The massive Red Force sailed steadily through the turbulent seas. The skilled helmsman maintained control over the sailing speed, yet the entire ship maneuvered like a headless fly, lingering in the nearby waters, spinning in place.

On board, the Red Hair Pirates crew members led by Beckman found themselves helpless, sitting cross-legged on the deck. Even Lucky Roux, known for often having chicken drumsticks in hand, appeared serious.

A weighty atmosphere hung over the entire ship.

"By the way, who kidnapped the captain?"

Yasopp, tending to his cherished gun, lifted his head slowly, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes.

Though Beckman had already formulated a conjecture, it most likely pointed to the Marines.

However, that remains confined to speculation.

As of now, they haven't received any confirmed news!!

"Vice Captain!! There's news, the Captain is currently held in Impel Down!!"

Abruptly, a high-pitched cry shattered the silence on the deck. A pirate waved the newspaper in his hand, rushing excitedly towards Beckman and the others.

Though grating, to everyone present, it sounded more melodious than any other singing voice.

Compared to the aimless uncertainty before, now the captain's location has been identified, enabling them to target their pursuit directly.

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