"Do not be ridiculous! The Greatest battle this world has ever seen is about to take place there! Do you have any idea how powerful Whitebeard is?"
"What of the Admirals and Vice Admirals standing ready to fight him or Shichibukai? Do you know their strength?"
"Even if you are strong, you don't have the necessary force to go there and save Ace."
At this moment, Luffy raised his head, stared at Ivankov, and said.
"If I gave up, I'd regret it forever! I'm going."
Hearing that, Ivankov almost had sweat drops on his face.
"Resolution is one thing, but none of us is going anywhere while we are trapped on this floor. Unless you think we should take the staircase full of Sleeping Gas."
Inazuma spoke.
"If you want to get out of here, then release me from my bond! I could open a great hole in the ceiling of this room! How about it, Straw Hat?"
As soon as Luffy heard that voice, he turned around.
He was stunned when he saw the Crocodile.
"You were locked up in here? Oh yeah, I remember Bon Chan talking about you."
Because Crocodile of his world was dead, he didn't care much about that before. But now, he couldn't help but remember him.
"I had lost all interest in emerging into the outside world, but now I hear that Whitebeard and Marines are to do battle?"
"To think the day would come when I might have a chance at taking that man's head. I have a great interest in this war. With the aid of my power. Both you and I could escape this place."
"Not a bad deal, you agree? Both of us would stand to gain."
At this moment, Luffy became silent.
He wasn't going to let his previous hatred refuse Crocodile's offer. Although he could create a hole in the ceiling, it would consume a lot of his strength.
He would rather spend that time eating and recovering his strength.
"Let us free him, Straw Hat Boy! This man would certainly be a valuable asset to us. All the more if you truly mean to head to Marine Headquarters itself!"
Ivankov said.
"I am thinking. This bastard messed up with my friend's country. What if he does the same again?" Luffy asked.
"I have no interest in that place, Straw Hat." Crocodile spoke.
"It's been a while, Croco-boy!" Ivankov spoke.
"You two know each other?" Luffy looked surprised.
"We did. A long time ago, when he was still an up-and-coming rookie. Don't worry! Even if he were by some chance to attempt to betray us, I would suppress him myself."
"He is not a man to be trusted, but Mmmmfufufufu! I know a precious weakness of his. Though if he agrees to lend us his power, then I would be willing to keep quiet about it. Hee-Haw!"
"Why you?" Crocodile had several veins coming out of his forehead as he spoke.
"Woah, Woah! If you are freeing him, then from me as well!"
"Me too! I have a bone to pick with Whitebeard."
When Luffy heard their sounds, he turned around and glared at them.
A strong Conqueror Haki broke out, sniping them from afar.
This Conqueror Haki didn't affect everyone, but when they saw several of those people falling to the ground, most of the prisoners shut up immediately.
"I'd never thought I could meet someone with such a powerful Conqueror here."
At this moment, a tall man walked toward the prison cell. He had a tall body, long flowing blond hair that could reach his waist.
His upper body was wide and muscular. His legs were also quite thick.
"Douglas Bullet!" Ivankov's eyes widened as he said.
"Bullet!" Crocodile shouted with a grim tone.
Luffy stared at the man for a moment before shaking his head.
"No!"
"That was good. I thought you were going to agree, Straw Boy." Ivankov sighed a breath of relief as he spoke.
At this moment, Bullet gave him a strong glare and said.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Luffy shook his hand and said.
"No, I can't suppress you. I have to save my brother. I don't have the extra energy to waste on you."
Hearing that, Ivankov immediately shouted.
"You can't trust him, Straw Boy. This man is a demon heir. He once destroyed an entire kingdom by himself."
Luffy shook his head and said.
"You can't believe in everything from one day. I have a crewmate who is said to have destroyed several Marine Battleships at the age of eight. Do you think that is possible?"
"This man is not a good person. But unlike Crocodile here, he won't go out of his way to bully weak people. I would rather believe him than Crocodile."
Hearing that, a strange and complex emotion appeared on Bullet's face while Crocodile's expression turned extremely ugly.
He knew Luffy didn't like him, but now he was just taking him as someone who could only bully weak people.
Bullet said.
"You said you want to go to Marineford to save your brother, right?"
Luffy paused and said.
"Yeah?"
"Then, fight me after the War. I will not do anything against you during this war."
"Hey, hey, we can't trust him, Luffy."
Ivankov kept trying to convince Luffy.
But Luffy had some other thoughts.
He knew all of the preparation Liam had done for the next war. That wasn't something he could get here.
But there was one big advantage he had. Marines wouldn't ask for help from the World Government.
That was the only good thing for him.
But even if that were the case, he knew what kind of people were in the Marineford. If he truly pushed them, just two Admirals would be more than enough to stop him.
Of course, if he were to awaken his Devil Fruit, he wouldn't mind that at all.
But awakening his Devil Fruit would only set a huge target on his crew just after this war.
After all, his Devil Fruit was too unique for the World Government to ignore.
He took a deep breath and said.
"Alright, but fighting you is one thing. I am freeing you from this place. So, until this war, you won't fight me or my allies. And, I can fight you, but under one condition."
"The battle must happen after two years."
Suddenly, he remembered Robin's advice.
'Luffy, if you want someone to agree to your terms, sometimes you could just make them irritated.'
"Of course, if you are afraid of fighting me two years later, then I don't have any objection."
Hearing that, Bullet clenched his fist.
He was certainly not afraid of fighting Luffy.
"Alright, I promise you."
Luffy took a deep look at Bullet. Something about him reminded him of Robin.
Those eyes that had suffered betrayals too many times.
Just to be cautious, he looked straight into Bullet's eyes and said.
"I just hope you won't become someone you hate the most."
Then, he looked at Inazuma and said.
"You can free him."
At the same time, another voice came from the side.
"I beg of you all!!! Take me with you as well! I swear that I will be of use."
Jinbei shouted from his cell.
"I know Ace. Have known him ever since he first joined the Whitebeard Pirates. He has even told me tales of you, his younger brother."
"I am locked up here because I objected to this war. I want to save Ace-san myself. So, please! Let me die a glorious death."
Hearing that, Luffy suddenly stamped his right fist on his left palm.
"Ahh! I recognize you. You are Jinbei."
He walked forward. He gave Jinbei a serious look and said.
"I want you to join my crew."
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Crocodile, Ivankov, and Inazuma almost fell to the ground. Even Bullet was stunned for a moment.
"Are you serious? We know nothing about him." Inazuma had just freed Bullet. He rushed towards Luffy and shouted.
"Don't worry, he will be the best helmsman for my crew."
Luffy said, turning toward Jinbei. He spoke with a serious attitude.
"Even though Ace is my big brother, I still want you to join my crew. Two years later, I will protect Fishman. Believe me!"
As soon as he said that, many prisoners started laughing like crazy.
"This kid has gone mad. Just because that guy Bullet wants to fight him, he thinks he is next to Whitebeard."
"Kid, you don't understand an Emperor. They can kill you with ease."
"Hahaha! I have never seen such a crazy and bold statement."
"Wait, doesn't that mean he is indirectly saying that Whitebeard will die in this war?"
"Is he cursing his brother's Crew?"
Although Luffy knew Whitebeard would die, when he heard them telling how he was cursing Whitebeard, he was enraged.
Suddenly, a massive burst of Haki emerged from his body. Black and red lightning spread all around, the ground trembled, and prison cells started shaking.
The walls were destroyed as a cold voice rang throughout Level Six.
"SHUT UP!"