【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

Chapter 397: Another Invasion of Impel

It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dark environment, and then he heard low groans and occasional pleading screams. Sabo immediately recognized that the person coming to greet them was Deputy Chief Warden Domino.

"Hello, Colonel Del, you're here on time." Domino said to Del in a calm tone, "I'm sorry, Warden Magellan and the Deputy Warden are currently receiving Her Majesty the Pirate Empress and are unable to receive your report. You'll need to wait here for a while."

"I think we're already behind. Being late will affect my work. We don't have time to wait here." Del said in an unquestionable tone, "We need to confirm these supplies with the deputy warden as soon as possible and then return to the base."

Sabo smiled slightly, praising Del's wit.

Domino took out the Den Den Mushi and said something to the other party, then put it away and looked at Del again with a smile on his face. "Her Majesty the Empress has ended her visit. The deputy warden will hand over to you soon. Please follow me."

Domino began to lead them towards the guard office and they followed. Since they were only staying temporarily on this level above the sea, they were not asked to be searched.

Sabo and Qi followed the team for a distance, and finally in a dark corner, Sabo grabbed Qi and hid until the team in front turned into the corridor and completely disappeared from sight.

Sabo looked around, assessing their situation, then quickly and silently pulled Qi into another corridor, stopping occasionally to avoid the guards and surveillance Den Den Mushi, and soon found the stairs leading to the first floor. They walked through the deserted stairs to the first floor under the sea.

Following the map in his memory, Sabo brought Qi to a distant corner, which was the location of the temporary hidden entrance they and Imazuna had planned.

Qi watched Sabo tap on the wall a few times. He could feel that it was a regular knock, which should be a special way of communication of their revolutionary army. Not long after Sabo finished knocking, a pair of scissors suddenly stretched out from the wall. The wall was cut open like paper, and a man with a red wine glass in his hand appeared in front of them.

"Imazuna." Sabo greeted with a smile, and at the same time pulled Qi to flash into the cut wall.

After being pulled into the passage by Sabo, the wizard discovered that there was another world inside, and a narrow downward staircase appeared in front of them.

Imazuna quickly closed the wall to hide it. "Sabo, I will assist you from now on."

"Thank you, Imazuna. How is Mr. Ivan?" Sabo asked with a relieved smile.

"Very good, Mr. Ivan is waiting for us. He will be very happy to see your growth, Sabo." Imazuna answered as she led them down the stairs.

Sabo quickly followed Imazuna's pace, taking off his navy jacket and putting on his own jacket again. He felt that he would never be able to adapt to the navy uniform.

Sabo looked around. The space opened up by Imazuna was very narrow. He always felt uncomfortable in such a small space. It could not provide them with any escape route.

"We're lucky. The prison was invaded not long ago, and floors 1.2 and are in chaos. This helps our plan a lot." Imazuna said as she cut open the wall at the end of the stairs. "This will make it easier for us to reach the hidden entrance on the next floor."

"Are there other people invading besides us?" Sabo asked in shock.

"Who is it?" Qi asked anxiously. He had a bad feeling.

"Straw Hat Luffy." Imazuna said calmly, "The last broadcast I heard was Magellan requesting all guards to gather on the fourth floor."

"What!?"

"What should I do, Sabo!" Qi was a little panicked. He didn't expect Luffy to break in alone. How did he get in?

"What on earth is he thinking!" Sabo scolded, thinking frantically, "Don't worry, let me think about it!"

……

"Ayes the fire fist!"

Ace glared at Magellan, who had returned to his cell once again after sending the Pirate Empress to the elevator, knowing he was only trying to taunt him.

Magellan looked at Ace coldly through the iron bars. "What did Her Majesty the Pirate Queen say to you?"

Ace glared at him and didn't answer his question. If he didn't know, it proved that Luffy hadn't been caught by the guards yet.

Magellan glanced at Fire Fist Ace coldly, then looked at Hannibal. "Has the invader been controlled?"

"Not yet. The intruders have already entered the third floor." Hannibal said, holding his nose. "But the commotion on the second floor has been brought under control."

"They've actually invaded the third floor." Magellan frowned, but didn't seem too concerned. "Arrange all the guards on the third floor who can be spared to go to the infirmary and have them protect our other important guest. It's best... have him stay in the infirmary the entire time!"

Ace clenched his fists and lunged forward, his chains rattling loudly, but Ace paid no attention as he simply roared at Magellan, glaring at him angrily for daring him to hurt his brother.

"Ace!" Jinbei hissed, reminding him.

Ace gritted his teeth, forced himself to unclench his fists, and leaned against the cold stone wall. If he could break free from the chains, he would make Magellan regret it.

"What about the invaders on the third floor?" Hannibal asked.

"Don't worry, if they can reach the 4th floor." Magellan looked down at the struggling Fire Fist Ace and smiled triumphantly, "I will... kill them myself!"

Ace gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Magellan's departing back.

Jinbei was silent for a long time until Magellan left completely. Finally, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Really? Mr. Ace, will your brother... come to save you?"

Ace lowered his head and didn't answer. His eyes were drooping, anxiety, fear, despair, helplessness and worry intertwined. Ace kept feeling guilty. Why? Why did you come, Luffy!

Jinbei looked at Ace, hesitated for a moment and said again, "Ace, I don't know what that woman wants to do... but I still think she is lying..."

"Did she come all the way here to lie?!" Ace angrily interrupted Jinbei, then collapsed weakly on his chains, letting the handcuffs pull at his taut arms. "I'm sorry, Jinbei...but, my brother is just like that...he always messes up...he's been a worry to me since he was a child, that idiot..."

It's all my fault. Don't come, Luffy! I don't deserve this.

The sudden sound of footsteps pulled Ace out of his self-loathing, but he still kept his head down, not paying attention to the arrival of another visitor. The footsteps were coming towards their cell, and he glanced at Jinbei and found him staring out the door.

He knew Jinbe had better vision than him and he wouldn't normally react like that, but Ace ignored it anyway, especially since he was currently caught up in endless worry.

Ace lowered his head. The footsteps stopped at the door of Ace's cell. The door was opened. Ace noticed a little slowly that a figure was standing in front of him and staring at him. Ace opened his eyes in confusion and looked at the legs in guard uniforms that stopped in front of him. It was too close. Normally, guards were afraid to get so close to them. They would only stay in a safe enough position and then wave their weapons at them to show the power in their hands.

Ace looked at the hand that was about to reach out to him, and his body unconsciously shrank back, pressing his back closer to the cold wall behind him. He closed his eyes and silently welcomed the impending harm. He would not make any sound that would satisfy them.

But the next second, someone stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth. Ace opened his eyes in shock. What the hell?

"Eat it, idiot."

"Lu..." Ace's eyes widened in disbelief. Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by more food. He could only chew the food stuffed into his mouth quickly. How did he do that?!