One Piece: Impel Down's Guard - Chapter 24
Outside Vice Admiral Doug’s house, Mia and Figo exchanged glances.
Figo tilted his head toward the door.
Mia said, “No, the teacher’s health must be fine. However, this is the first time he has ever driven me out of the house, saying he needs to rest. It’s probably because the matter involves the Celestial Dragons, and feeling powerless makes him even angrier.”
“Is that so?” Figo mused, “Well, it is the Celestial Dragons… Speaking of which, are the forces around the Celestial Dragons really that strong? Even the Crazy Laugh Pirates’ assault failed.”
“Of course not. The Crazy Laugh Pirates were discovered by headquarters as soon as they infiltrated the Sabaody Archipelago, giving us time to react, though we almost missed it,” Mia explained.
Maybe it would have been better if they had been a bit later… she thought silently, not voicing it.
Figo had his own thoughts as well.
The two fell silent for a moment.
The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government 700 years ago, claiming to be ‘descendants of the creators’ and enjoying all privileges. Once offended, the Navy’s highest combat forces, the Admirals, and the highest intelligence agents, CP0, must unconditionally ensure their safety.
Because of these privileges, most of the Celestial Dragons are arrogant, ignorant fools and the dregs of humanity. Their existence is the greatest humiliation to the Navy’s sense of justice!
But what can be done?
Generations of Navy personnel never lack righteous individuals, yet the Celestial Dragons have existed for 700 years, which says a lot.
“Speaking of which, isn’t Doug worried that listening to his students’ stories often might shake his sense of justice?” Figo asked again.
“The teacher’s Inspire Fruit isn’t just used on us,” Mia replied. “He often uses it on himself as well. He’ll be fine, probably just needs a day’s rest. Let’s come back to the teacher’s house tomorrow morning. There should still be a dozen people from our elite class of that year staying at the Navy headquarters. I’ll see if I can find a few.”
Humans are social creatures, and Figo accepted Mia’s goodwill. “Thanks, see you tomorrow then?”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.” Mia waved.
The two parted ways.
Figo looked around. The Navy headquarters’ residential area was large, with bustling shops and lively commercial streets, mostly run by the families of Navy personnel, honest and fair.
He still had some treasure from Durandake on Woe Island to exchange later, but for now… he decided to check how dilapidated his home, uninhabited for eight years, had become.
Wandering through the neighborhood, he found his way to the familiar place after about twenty minutes.
The surrounding layout hadn’t changed much, and his modest house still stood there.
But to Figo’s surprise, the house’s exterior walls weren’t as dilapidated as he had expected. They even looked newer, as if they had been repainted.
A scan with his Kenbunshoku Haki revealed several people inside the house.
Could his home have been occupied?
His memory didn’t include any record of renting out the house. It was a residence allocated by the Navy headquarters.
Figo walked over and knocked on the door.
Three seconds later, the door opened.
At first glance, no one was there, but he saw various flower arrangements and ribbons. The living room was decorated as if for a celebration.
The next second, several people jumped out.
“Surprise!”
“Ha ha ha, Lord Figo!”
“Welcome back to the Navy headquarters!”
“Ugh… finally, we see Lord Figo again. We missed you so much!”
Figo was stunned for a moment, then smiled, “It’s you guys, ha ha ha…”
They were a few guards from Impel Down who had left midway over the past eight years, all familiar faces to Figo!
“Figo, isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Another familiar voice came from the side.
“I heard our Navy flower was walking with a stranger. After hearing their description, I guessed it might be you who had returned. In a hurry, I could only notify these few.”
“Ugh, as expected of Lord Figo!”
“Even though it’s Lord Figo, I’m still so envious! Major General Mia belongs to everyone!”
Ignoring the snotty noses, Figo turned around.
Justice cloak, Vice Admiral insignia.
“Long time no see, Cesar, you actually planned this ambush,” Figo greeted.
“It’s not an ambush,” Cesar indicated Figo’s house, “You replaced me in Impel Down for two more years. I had to do something for you. These guys were eager to tidy up your house when they heard it was for you. Your home has long been cleaned up by us, ready for you to move in!”
“Thanks,” Figo smiled. Rather than reconnecting with his old classmates, he felt closer to these friends he had made himself.
The group reminisced and joked, eventually ending up at a tavern, where they drank heartily from afternoon until late at night. Only Figo and Cesar were still standing when they left the tavern.
Cesar was also drunk, slurring, “Fi-Figo, I need to go home.”
Figo, swaying slightly, gave him an OK gesture, parted ways, turned a corner, and—no longer any trace of drunkenness!
His formidable physique gave him an incredible ability to metabolize alcohol, far beyond Cesar’s capacity.
“Now… I have an alibi,” Figo murmured to himself.
He opened the prison archives and turned to Gerald’s corresponding page, focusing on the event of killing Celestial Dragon Cassiria Saint.
A directional arrow appeared.
It moved slowly.
Gerald had attacked Cassiria Saint, and the disgruntled Celestial Dragon would quickly return from the Sabaody Archipelago to Mary Geoise. He was on the sea, and the Navy Admiral wouldn’t escort him back!
The route between the Navy headquarters, Sabaody Archipelago, and Mary Geoise roughly formed a triangle, with each side about 500 miles apart.
This route was incredibly safe, located in the Calm Belt. Pirate ships wouldn’t appear here. No one could travel between the islands overnight. Figo’s swimming ability, showcased in Impel Down, only allowed him to swim 50 nautical miles, a great swimmer at best.
But Fish-Men were different!
Indeed, Figo planned to complete Gerald’s character event before the Celestial Dragon returned to Mary Geoise!
There were many reasons to dissuade him, and Figo could easily list a hundred.
‘There are countless tragedies happening in the world every day. Do you want to intervene in each one you hear about or see? You can’t manage them all.’
‘Don’t become a slave to the archives, risking everything to complete character events.’
‘Attacking a Celestial Dragon is like stirring a hornet’s nest, and there’s a chance of failure.’
‘The Calm Belt is filled with giant Sea Kings. You might not even make it across safely.’
‘Don’t let a saint-like mentality lead you to take such a risk for a stranger pirate.’
‘In the world of pirates, you must adapt to the disgusting Celestial Dragons. Just avoid them.’
…
Only two points persuaded Figo.
First, completing this character event would grant him the reward of Conqueror’s Haki.
Second, he wanted to go.
He wanted to!
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