—Impel Down, the underwater prison.
This was a prison housing criminals deemed particularly unmanageable among the many offenders scattered across the world. Located within the Calm Belt, escape was far from easy. As an isolated fortress in the middle of the sea, officially, only one person had ever escaped in its history. Naturally, intruders were unheard of.
Though intruders and escapees were non-existent, inmates were certainly not lacking. Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, the number of pirates imprisoned in Impel Down had increased in proportion to the explosion of pirates sailing the seas. Today, yet another group of pirates was being incarcerated.
***
Impel Down, Warden's Office.
Clutching a report for Warden Magellan, Vice Warden Hannyabal knocked on the door.
"Warden Magellan, I have the report."
He waited, but no reply came. He must be holed up in the toilet again, Hannyabal surmised, opening the door and entering without permission.
Warden Magellan, being a user of the Doku Doku no Mi, had a fondness for poisoned food… however, it seemed his body hadn't become completely immune, as he spent roughly ten hours a day confined to the restroom. Adding eight hours of solid sleep meant his actual working hours amounted to less than four. That he still held the position of Warden was likely a testament to his considerable competence.
At any rate, confirming Magellan was in his usual place, Hannyabal announced he would leave the documents on the desk and turned to leave. But then, Magellan's chair caught his eye.
"..."
It was a chair only the Warden was permitted to sit in. For Hannyabal, who coveted the position, the desire to sit in it was almost palpable. He glanced around furtively, meticulously confirming no one else was in the room, before settling into the chair, which was slightly too large for him.
"This… is the Warden's view."
As Hannyabal nodded in satisfaction, a man emerged fluidly from behind him.
"Having fun?"
"Uooohh!!?"
Crash!
Hannyabal tumbled backward spectacularly. The man who had been behind him smoothly sidestepped the commotion and sat down on the sofa. Hannyabal, nursing a bump on his head, looked up at the man.
"I-I-I-I want to be Warden!! No, wait! Chief Guard Shiryu! Why are you here!?"
"Can't you tell by looking? I'm slacking off."
"So brazenly…"
However, considering the state of the Warden himself, Hannyabal could almost understand the sentiment that working diligently felt rather foolish. He righted the fallen chair and tried to hastily exit the room. But Shiryu stopped him as he lit a cigar.
"Hold on, Hannyabal."
"Yes! What is it!"
"You brought Magellan's report, right? Let me see it."
"Huh, I don't mind, but…"
It was a document that would be shared with Shiryu later anyway. Information about new criminals wasn't exactly something to hide. He handed over the documents he had placed on the desk and turned to leave again, only to be stopped with a "Well, have some tea before you go." Honestly, having been caught in an embarrassing situation, Hannyabal wanted to leave quickly, but he couldn't outright refuse his superior. He nervously sipped the tea Shiryu poured (from Magellan's private stash, non-poisonous) and waited fidgeting.
"…These guys this time don't seem like much."
"Well, you don't get bounty heads over a hundred million every day."
"Did they put Seastone cuffs on them properly?"
"They were energetic enough to cause a ruckus in the 'lukewarm bath', so we determined they weren't ability users and didn't use Seastone."
"I see."
Shiryu flipped through the documents. Most bounties ranged from 10 million to 50 million at best. In terms of levels, they were likely destined for Level 3, the Starvation Hell, at most. There were no pirates interesting enough to capture Shiryu's attention—or so he thought, until he stopped at one particular pirate's file.
The bounty and history weren't particularly eye-catching. But the man had apparently, for a time, traveled with the "World's Worst Criminal," Dragon.
A pirate with some connection to the leader of the Revolutionary Army, an organization now large enough that even the World Government couldn't ignore it. His record was unremarkable, but Shiryu stared intently at the pirate's information.
Buggy the Clown. Bounty: 15 million Berries.
"…Is this record true?"
"The Navy confirmed it, apparently, and he claims it himself."
"I see…"
Buggy apparently claimed he just happened to give Dragon a ride and had no real connection, but he would likely be tortured within Impel Down to extract information. Details about Dragon were scarce. Both the Government and the Navy desperately wanted any information they could get on him. As Shiryu silently studied the record, a man emerged from the toilet in the back of the room. It was Warden Magellan.
"Ahhh… that was another long battle."
"That's because you eat poison."
"Poison is my favorite food. Because I'm a poison man. Besides, as they say—'Fight poison with poison.'"
"You wouldn't get diarrhea if you were actually controlling it."
"Such heartless words… I'm not blessed with good subordinates. Hah."
"Hey! Stop sighing! Your breath is actual poison gas!"
"Serves you right… Hm? What, Shiryu, you were here too?"
Engaged in their usual banter, Magellan noticed Shiryu sitting silently on the sofa.
"Slacking off again today? Unimpressive."
"I don't want to hear that from you, who's always stuck in the toilet."
"That's right, that's right!" Hannyabal chimed in.
"Why are you acting so high and mighty…!"
"Gyaaah! I-I-I want to be Warden! No, wait! Chief Guard Shiryu, help me~~!!"
Shiryu ignored Hannyabal's cries as Magellan grabbed him by the neck and lifted him, sighing and rising from the sofa.
It was a common occurrence; Hannyabal would be fine if left alone. He couldn't keep slacking off forever, Shiryu stretched. His job was to imprison criminals, manage them to prevent escape, and administer punishment for their crimes. While excessive force was curbed by Magellan, a certain degree of torture was permitted, enough that some even requested transfer here specifically for that purpose.
Shiryu, for his part, had hoped for a transfer to Impel Down expecting to cut down criminals, but so far, he hadn't been able to cut anyone down satisfactorily, leading to considerable frustration.
"Will my patience run out first, or will something happen sooner… Which will it be, I wonder."
Cigar clamped in his mouth, Shiryu left Magellan's office.
***
"You foolish sons!!!"
Thwack!! A fist came down hard. Rubbing the struck areas, the two men—Ace and Doma—showed completely opposite reactions.
"What was that for, Pops!?"
"Sorry, Pops…"
Ace, indignant at being scolded, showed defiance, while Doma, aware he had done wrong, seemed rather sheepish. Newgate, who had struck them, sighed, looking troubled by their reactions. Doma aside, Ace showed no sign of remorse, likely believing he had done nothing wrong.
"Ace… you went to see that woman? What was the meaning of that?"
"What do you mean, 'what'? I went to ask her to sell us food, booze, and medicine!"
"And you thought she'd agree to such a request?"
Just as Kanata treated Newgate as a potential adversary, Newgate also viewed Kanata as an enemy. Unlike with Kaido and the others, they weren't openly hostile, but their relationship was such that a single spark could easily ignite a war.
Ace's actions were reckless, potentially creating that very spark by carelessly approaching the enemy. Starting a war with Twilight in their current state, unable even to secure proper supplies, was nothing short of suicidal. Newgate resolved to strongly reprimand him.
"Listen, Ace. I understand you acted thinking of us. But you're the commander of the Second Division now. Approaching the enemy carelessly stirs up unnecessary trouble not just outside, but within our own ranks."
"…Kanata-san helped me out a lot. She's not an enemy."
Ace retorted defensively against Newgate's reprimand. Newgate frowned at his words.
"Huh? You knew her?"
"Didn't I tell you? I met Kanata-san before I met you, Pops."
His sworn brother Sabo was with the revolutionaries, and Dues had advised him it wasn't something to readily talk about, so Ace hadn't mentioned it. Thus, it was news to Newgate.
Well, Ace was a pirate; it wasn't strange for him to have acquaintances from before joining the Whitebeard Pirates. However, the situation changed slightly when that acquaintance was the Witch of Twilight.
"Besides, it's not like I went to negotiate directly without any chance of success!"
"…In that case, did you achieve anything?"
"This!"
Ace carefully pulled a letter from his breast pocket and handed it to Newgate. Newgate examined the letter suspiciously, confirmed the Twilight seal on the carefully waxed envelope, and opened it. Inside was a short message. While Newgate read the contents, Marco spoke to Doma.
"She's one of the Seven Warlords, potentially strong enough to rival an Emperor, yoi. How'd you even manage to meet her?"
"You won't believe this, Marco! I thought we'd be turned away at the gate for sure, but when I gave Ace's name, they immediately agreed to see us."
"Well now… Does she have some dirt on him, yoi?"
"She doesn't have any dirt on me! It's just… my old man…"
"?"
Marco and Doma tilted their heads at Ace's hesitant words. Within the Whitebeard Pirates, only Newgate knew of Ace's lineage. Newgate himself understood upon hearing Ace's words. The relationship between Roger and Kanata was fairly well-known. Various rumors circulated, from baseless claims of a romantic involvement or her secretly manipulating him, to more plausible ones. Whether they were romantically involved or not, it was undeniable that she had supported Roger's actions behind the scenes. She herself had said as much.
"I see… So that's what this letter is about."
"I haven't seen it either, what does it say?"
"Step down as captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, it says."
A murmur ran through the ship. If she was seriously demanding such a thing, it could only be seen as a provocation to the Whitebeard Pirates.
"I-Is that true!?" Ace exclaimed.
"You brought it, you read it too."
Newgate handed the letter to Ace, who hurriedly began reading it. Curious, the other division commanders started reading over his shoulder as well.
—The demand is singular. Edward Newgate, known as Whitebeard, is to step down as captain and appoint another in his place.
—There are no demands regarding the subsequent treatment of Edward Newgate.
That was all. Some showed anger, but Marco, for instance, had the opposite reaction.
"This is… more like she's thinking of us, yoi."
"That woman dislikes me, but she seems quite concerned about Ace. There's also the matter with Golden Lion. Cleaning up the aftermath must be troublesome for her."
In essence, she was telling him to hurry up, step down as captain, and nurture his successor.
The Whitebeard Pirates, though diminished from their prime, were still a major force, one of the Four Emperors. Perhaps Kanata judged that fighting them was foolish and crushing them was also a poor strategy.
After all, Kanata knew the chaos that followed the collapse of the Golden Lion Pirates twenty years ago. While she took advantage of the confusion to expand her territory and influence, it was also true that the resulting disorder caused significant damage that couldn't be ignored by someone who valued order.
"Marco, are you willing?" Newgate asked.
"Don't ask me that, yoi… It's too much responsibility, and besides, we gathered here because you are the captain, Pops, yoi."
"Well, that's true. I have no intention of stepping down either."
He couldn't simply step down as captain because an outsider, the leader of an enemy force no less, told him to. Pirates had their pride too. Simply obeying would invite contempt. Even if the request originated from their side.
"I wondered what Kanata-san wouldn't yield on, and it was this…"
"She just dislikes me. As long as I'm gone, she probably thinks she can just leave things be."
"…Pops, did you do something to Kanata-san?"
"I didn't do anything—can't say that, I guess. We fought a bit. And her mother and I were on the same ship long ago… I have a pretty good idea who her father is too."
Perhaps not wanting to recall it, Newgate grimaced and took a swig of sake. The ship's doctors beside him frowned, but he never listened no matter how many times they told him. Moistening his throat with alcohol, Newgate looked up at the sky as if reminiscing.
"All humans are children of the sea. I don't intend to discriminate… but that woman is just unfathomable. Has been since the first time I met her."
The first time they met was—in Wano Country, perhaps. Their ship had been damaged upon landing in Wano, so they received materials for repairs from the samurai living there. While indebted to them, they grew close to the samurai, and during their stay, Kanata and her group also visited Wano.
Hearing she had apparently killed the Shogun, Newgate stood before Kanata's group as repayment for the samurai's kindness. Even back then, she possessed extraordinary Haki, and the unsettling feeling of her exposing his techniques the more they fought was something he couldn't forget even if he tried.
"…But she helped me out. There's Sabo's situation too…"
"Who's that?"
"My sworn brother! …Though he's with the Revolutionary Army, not a pirate."
"Sabo of the Revolutionary Army…!"
Marco looked stunned. Few didn't know the name Sabo of the Revolutionary Army. He was, after all, the Chief of Staff—effectively No. 2. His younger brother, whose bounty poster had caused such a stir recently, was apparently Garp's grandson. What incredible siblings, Marco thought, placing a hand on his forehead.
"Anyway! I have no intention of stepping down as captain of this ship! If she wants me gone so badly, tell her to get strong enough to beat me!"
"I just wanted Pops and everyone to be able to eat without worry! Just wait a bit, I'll go talk to her again directly!!"
"Hey Marco! Tie this guy's arms and legs!! I'd rather die than owe that woman anything!! Let him cool his head for a while!!!"
"Tying his limbs aside, I agree he needs to cool his head, yoi."
Stepping down as captain just because Kanata said so would tarnish the name of Whitebeard. Ace might have extracted a concession from Kanata thinking of his crewmates and subordinate pirates, but there were lines that couldn't be crossed. Watching Ace being dragged away into the ship's interior by Marco and Jozu, Newgate sighed.
"Troublesome son."
Newgate muttered, his voice slightly troubled, yet gentle. The other commanders who had watched the situation unfold chuckled at his words.
"So, Pops. Those guys from yesterday are here again…"
"Ah, let them through."
Thatch, the fourth division commander, nodded at Newgate's words and left. Returning a few minutes later, three men followed behind him. Their names were Trebol, Diamante, and Pica. None of them had bounties exceeding one hundred million, but… they possessed the strength to survive in the New World, and they were confident in that fact. Still, facing Whitebeard, cold sweat dripped down their faces, their hands trembling uncontrollably. Is this the real thing? They gulped, awestruck by the difference.
"It's the first time we meet like this, Whitebeard! It's an honor! Behehehehe!!"
"Enough pleasantries. We're indebted to you. I don't mind if you want to join under my flag."
Sake, food, medicine. For the Whitebeard Pirates and their subordinates, obtaining these items in this sea was extremely difficult. While islands within their territory occasionally forced "tribute" upon them, opportunities to purchase these goods with money were almost non-existent. This was because Twilight, which controlled most of the distribution, intentionally restricted supply. That they could still support around 30,000 people was thanks to the Donquixote Family smuggling goods to them.
The prices were considerably higher than those elsewhere, but Newgate and his crew knew they were taking risks and didn't complain. Their actions were indirectly hostile to Twilight; if exposed, they would be targeted for purging. And currently, the Donquixote Family had fallen from grace and were fugitives.
"We appreciate you sheltering us. But we haven't given up yet. We're making plans to rise again! So, we won't join your crew, but we'd like to lay low for a while!"
"Hoh… You want to stay in my territory without joining my crew?"
It wasn't Haoshoku Haki. He likely wasn't even aware he was projecting intimidation. Even though Newgate intended to act naturally, Trebol turned pale. No matter how old he had become, the man before him was a monster who had fought evenly with the Pirate King.
Though considered more moderate than Kaido, he was still one of the Four Emperors. Offending him could mean losing his head in the next instant. The seconds stretched into what felt like minutes, hours. With the other commanders present, it seemed only a matter of time before Trebol's spirit broke… but Newgate simply nodded. "I see."
"I don't much like having pirates who aren't under my flag in my territory… but I owe you a debt. As long as you don't cause any trouble, I won't question your stay."
"R-Really! Thank you!"
Trebol let out a sigh of relief at Newgate's words, bowing so low his head almost touched the ship's floor, exaggerated by his naturally hunched posture. Diamante and Pica, though silent, were visibly relieved, their shoulders slumping.
"W-Well then, we'll be taking our leave!"
"Ah. Be careful on your way out."
Watching Trebol and the others scurry back to their ship, Vista, who had been listening nearby, spoke with concern.
"Pops, is that really alright?"
"...I hear bad rumors about them often enough. But meeting them in person… was quite underwhelming. They don't seem to have the guts to outwit Kaido or Linlin."
Newgate stroked his chin, recalling the three men. Strength, courage, spirit… they seemed lacking in every sense. They appeared deficient even in the minimum requirements needed to deal with Kaido or Linlin. If that was the case, there was likely someone behind them.
"It depends on what the one pulling their strings is thinking. But it's true they helped us. Sticking to my principles is my way. Any objections, Vista?"
"No. If that's what you say, Pops, I'll follow."
If they did cause trouble, they would simply be made to fully understand the name "Whitebeard." Even weakened by age and illness, he hadn't become so senile as to lose to mere thugs like them.