67 Fast Track Delivery #67

Several days later

Impel Down's port

"Stop dragging your feet. I don't have all day, you know?" I said as I forcefully pushed Gasparde's back, causing him to turn around and scowl at me. "Save that look for the prison's wardens, pal," I added with a chuckle as I gave the pirate captain another push, prompting him to start moving.

It's been nine days since my battle with Gasparde. I called HQ to report the mission's success as soon as we returned to the ship, and they instructed me to deliver the pirate captain to Impel Down.

I asked for permission to haul the kidnapped civilians to somewhere safe and received the green light from HQ, on the condition that I make it quick and deliver Gasparde after dropping them on the nearest safe island.

I agreed and took the civilians to Foolshout Island. Surprisingly, even those not originally from the island decided to stay there since Gasparde and his crew had destroyed their hometowns.

Speaking of the people Gasparde kidnapped, I later realized that the boy who attacked me was, in fact, a little girl, the same one from the movie. I didn't remember much about her other than that her brother was a bounty hunter who tried to catch Gasparde, but it didn't really matter.

The rest of Gaspardes crew didn't have bounties besides Needless, and he was already dead. Still, we couldn't let the pirates be, so we took them along and dropped them off at the Navarone marine base since it was on our way.

As for Gasparde's stolen ship, the Salamander, I asked HQ what to do with it, and they instructed me to sink it. It was somewhat of a waste since she was quite the good-looking ship, but I didn't have the means to haul her around. And so I obliged, albeit reluctantly.

All in all, it was a fruitful deployment. Not only did I improve my mastery over the Tekkai and The Method, but I'll also receive a medal and a big, fat bonus when I return to Marineford.

As a marine, I didn't get to claim Gasparde's bounty since I have a salary, but I'm entitled to get a third of it as a bonus, which would amount to roughly thirty-one million Beris. Another third would go to my crew and be split among them based on their ranks and contribution to the mission, and the last third will go to HQ.

In any case, I didn't get to overthink the trip. My line of thought was cut short as the gates of Impel Down slowly opened, making a loud, metallic rumbling sound.

I gave Gasparde another shove, pushing him toward the gate as I walked behind him and promptly stopped at the sight of a tall man roughly ten feet long (309 cm).

The man was a sight to behold. At first glance, one might mistake him for a devil or a creature from the underworld with a big pot belly, giving him a rotund appearance that made him seem almost comical, but his overall presence was nothing to laugh at.

His most striking feature was his brow ridge, shaped like a pair of horns. Combined with his chin, which looked like a pharaoh's false beard, he looked like a cross between a devil and an Egyptian pharaoh.

To complete the look, he wore a nemes headcloth with yellow and green stripes, the same striped headcloth worn by pharaohs, with his hair coming from inside the nemes.

"God damn that lazy bastard Megella... always making do the hard work while he sits on the toilet all day..." The man muttered to himself as he walked, only to stop as he closed the distance between us. "You must be Commander Strode from Marine HQ?" He asked as he alternated his gaze between me and Gasparde.

"Morning, Vice Warden Hannyabal," I greeted the man as I saluted and smiled, prompting him to raise an eyebrow in surprise. "I'm Cedric Strode from Marine HQ, here to deliver the wanted pirate, General Gasparde..." I added as I relaxed my arms and poster while gesturing toward the bound pirate captain.

"Oh? You know about me?" The man, Vice Warden Hannyabal, said, his tone a mixture of surprise and happiness as he looked at me with a pleased expression.

"But of course... I also heard it's only a matter of time before you take over the chief warden's title," I replied with a grin as I nodded, much to Hannyabal's approval as a smug grin appeared on his face at my flattering words.

"Hahahaha! You're certainly well informed," The vice warden said, puffing his chest as he let out a pompous laugh. "That bastard Magellan is bound to drop dead or get fired any day now, and I'll be there to take his place once it happens," He added, sounding all too proud of himself.

"Well, I'm certain you'll make an excellent chief warden, sir," I said with a chuckle, and I actually meant it. Despite his lack of seriousness most of the time and his strange, goofy appearance and personality, Hannyabal was one of the most underrated characters in the anime. In my opinion, at least.

He only wanted to become a jailer to protect the civilians from dangerous criminals. Even Hannyabal's tendency to try getting Maggelan fired and, or killed came from that desire since he thought he'd do a better job as a chief warden.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, young man," Vice Warden Hannyabal said, his expression suddenly turning grave, only for him to flash me a smile one second later. "That said, feel free to keep going," He added, regaining his smug grin.

I wanted to reply, but I had to swallow my words as Gasparde took advantage of my momentary distraction and suddenly started sprinting toward the still-opened prison gates.

I sighed as I reached into one of my revolvers, only for Hannyabal to step past me and throw his pitchfork, hitting the pirate captain in the leg and causing him to fall face-first into the ground.

"And where do you think you're going, you filthy pirate?" The vice warden said, scowling as he approached Gasparde. "If you want to escape, do it on Magellan's watch, not mine!" He angrily added as he stopped before the pirate captain and kicked him in the face.

"Are you trying to get me fired or something?! Are you working for that bastard Magellan?! Did he send you?!" Hannyabal went on as he gave Gasparde another kick in the face, causing him to lose consciousness with a confused, aggrieved expression.

I merely watched in amusement as Hannyabal proceeded to continue kicking Gasparde for the next five minutes while shouting obscenities at him and Chief Warden Magellan until he ran out of breath.

"In any case..." The vice warden said as he cleared his throat and turned to me after catching his breath. "I was instructed to make the process of delivering the criminal as fast as possible since you're wanted in Marine HQ..." He added as he retrieved his pitchfork from Gasparde's leg.

"I won't hold here any longer," Vice Warden Hannyabal said before turning to the prison guard. "Take this criminal to his cell," He added, giving Gasparde one last kick before turning to face me again.

"Here," Hannyabal said as he retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket and offered it to me. "This is the paperwork you need to prove you've delivered the wanted criminal," He added, nodding in satisfaction as I took the sheet from his hand.

I quickly read through the paper before pocketing it and turning to the vice warden when I saw the guard dragging Gasparde's unconscious body away. "Thanks, but out of curiosity... at what level will you keep this guy?" I asked, tilting my head.

"We usually keep such information secret, but I can make an exception since you brought him in yourself..." The vice warden said after pausing momentarily to ponder over it. "We'll throw him into the fifth level, but he might not stay there for long..." He added with a chuckle, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"I heard talk that your bosses want to have Gasparde publicly executed for what he did," Hannyabal continued, shaking his head. "Something about washing the shame of the Marines..." He concluded with a careless shrug as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

"I see... well, thanks, but I gotta run now," I said with a smile as I watched the guard disappear into a dark hallway while dragging Gasparde behind him. "Hopefully, by the time I see you again, you'll be already Chief Warden..." I concluded as I turned around and walked away, causing Hannyabal's smirk to become more pronounced and smug.

...

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