The next day.
"Major Longinus, you truly are reliable! In just a few short days you've wiped out nearly all hidden threats in the prison."
Director Yarvis beamed with praise.
"No wonder Fleet Admiral Sengoku told me that you're exactly the talent Impel Down needs the most!"
"You overpraise me, Director Yarvis."
Longinus's expression turned serious.
"My rounds were only a rough sweep. I'm certain there are still many who slipped through."
"Hahahaha! No need to be impatient, Major Longinus. We have plenty of ti—"
Woooo—! Woooo—! Woooo—!
A piercing alarm suddenly blared, drawing everyone's gaze to the surveillance Den Den Mushi on the wall.
"Attention, attention. Missing prisoner 'Residual Flame' Yale from Level 1, Cell 10, has reappeared in the corridor outside Level 1, Cell 17. All nearby guards, intercept immediately."
Yarvis shook his head dismissively.
"At this point they still haven't realized the situation? Pathetic."
No sooner had he spoken—
Woooo—! Woooo—! Woooo—!
"Attention, attention. Missing prisoner 'Blackhand' Bancroft from Level 3, Cell 7, has appeared in the corridor outside Cell 22. All nearby guards proceed to capture!"
Yarvis's expression stiffened.
Before he could speak—
Woooo—! Woooo—! Woooo—!
Third alarm.
Then a fourth.
"Attention, attention, on Level 2—"
"Attention, on Level 1—"
Yarvis's face flushed with humiliation.
"These useless pieces of trash! Do they think my great prison is a playground? They'd better pray I don't capture them alive, or I'll make them regret ever being born!"
Longinus smiled calmly.
"No need to be angry, Director Yarvis. Actually… this is good news. It means the pirates have realized their situation and are making their final resistance. Once we suppress this wave of arrests, Impel Down will return to its usual order."
"You're right, Major Longinus. This is merely their last strugg—"
Woooo—! Woooo—! Woooo—!
"…Those damn vermin! Enough already!" Yarvis finally exploded.
But this time, the alarm sounded far more panicked.
"A–Alarm! Alarm! Prisoners on Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 have suddenly begun rioting! They are violently ramming their cell doors like madmen! The situation is still under control for now, but this is far too abnormal! Requesting immediate orders from all senior officers!"
"Beast Hell… Blazing Hell… Hunger Hell… All three layers rioting simultaneously?"
Yarvis's voice dropped several tones.
"That's definitely wrong."
"Longinus, Magellan, Jin—you three should—"
He froze mid-sentence.
"…Wait. Where is Jin?"
A guard hurriedly reported,
"Chief Jailer Jin finished interrogating the prisoners he brought in yesterday—they all died. He's looking for new subjects now."
"That guy…" Yarvis frowned, then waved it aside.
"Forget him for now. Longinus, Magellan—we'll split up and check Levels 1 through 3 immediately."
He added to a nearby guard,
"And when you see Jin, tell him to come down too."
"Yes sir!"
It wasn't long before a blistering aura appeared in Blazing Hell—
Chief Jailer Jin had arrived.
"Huh? Chief Jailer, you already found a new interrogation target so quickly? By the way, the Director wanted to—"
"You've worked hard," Jin said, stepping forward, voice icy.
"And now, I need you to do one last thing for me—
Die."
"I— that's what I shoul—"
The guard, flattered by the praise, froze mid-smile.
Before a word could escape his lips—
he exploded into a cloud of blood, Jin's fist tearing him apart.
His remains fell into the sea of flame and dissolved instantly.
Jin turned away without expression.
As if he'd crushed an ant on the road.
Soon, a burning demon strode into Frozen Hell—leaving icy frost melting beneath his steps.
"Damn it. What's that lunatic doing on Level 5? Isn't this Magellan's territory?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! He's insane!"
"Magellan may be strict, but he doesn't kill inmates for fun. But that guy… he doesn't care about rules at all!"
"Wait—he… he's walking toward us!"
Frozen Hell had far fewer prisoners; it was vast and sparsely populated.
Most didn't see Jin approach.
The ones who did were now ashes.
His footsteps drew near.
Prisoners shrank away in terror, retreating into corners—they'd all heard his reputation.
The tortures he inflicted were worse than death.
No one wanted to be chosen by him.
But one prisoner stepped forward—
an elderly man, watched by all with alarm.
"That's him—Naiozu the Agitator! They say he's incited rebellions in multiple kingdoms… Don't tell me he thinks he can talk that bloodthirsty demon into releasing him?"
"Let him try! As long as Jin doesn't choose us, that's all that matters!"
"Chief Jailer, you finally came! I've waited far too long for this day," Naiozu said eagerly.
"Looks like from Level 4 upward… every prisoner should be wearing seastone cuffs."
Jin withdrew a key with practiced familiarity.
"Leaving a dangerous ability user like you uncuffed is indeed troublesome."
"Heh, as long as it's not my problem, anything's fine~"
Naiozu swaggered out of the cell.
The other prisoners stared blankly.
"…Aren't the keys to Frozen Hell supposed to be with Magellan? Why does Jin have one?"
"Idiot. He's the Chief Jailer. Getting a key is nothing."
"No, you idiots—that's not the point!
The point is… he just opened the cell door.
Doesn't that mean…
WE'RE ALL FREE?!"
"Hahahaha! Impel Down's Chief Jailer siding with us? That's the most ironic, exhilarating thing ever!"
"Chief Jailer! Thank you! Then how about you go all the way and unlock our cuffs too?"
A crowd of pirates poured out, some grateful, some mocking.
Their fear had vanished the moment they thought they'd gained the upper hand.
But Jin placed his hand on the hilt of the blade at his waist.
"I think… you trash seem to have misunderstood something."
A spark ignited at his fingertips.
"Blazing Cremation — Burnout!"
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