One Piece: Impel Down's Guard - Chapter 30

Oh, this is good.

Kimchi devoured the stewed Sea King meat in the guards’ dining hall, beginning to understand why the guards were so enthusiastic about Figo. A month without this stuff, and he was really craving it.

Impel Down really does need Figo.

Alright, I’ll work under him for another ten years. Ten years from now, the position of Director should be mine, Kimchi thought. Ten years would pass in the blink of an eye, and by then, he would only be 42 years old.

On the other side, Figo, who hadn’t had Sea King meat for many days, was also eating voraciously. Pieces of meat the size of a human head were quickly chewed and swallowed by his teeth, like a meat grinder, in just three seconds.

He ate while clearly shouting, “Hey, you there, haven’t seen you before. Are you a new guard? Don’t be shy; once you’re in Impel Down, we’re all family!”

“And you there, already full? Too weak, go help out in the kitchen!”

“And you, finished eating? Go get more bowls and chopsticks, and distribute a pound of meat to each prisoner. I got promoted to Director and returned, so let the prisoners share in the celebration, and eat something good!”

“Also, give some to the fifth and sixth levels. But be careful when you go down there, hand it to the prisoners through the bars where they can barely reach.”

“Oh, right, that nun who was brought in ten days ago doesn’t get any, don’t forget!”

The dining hall turned into a battlefield, with the clatter of dishes and loud calls. As the Director, Figo naturally fought till the end. The huge empty plates on his table had been cleared away three times, yet it was still piled nearly a meter high.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin handed by a guard, Figo stood up and belched.

After a hearty meal, it was time for business!

“Old Kim, I’m going down again. You don’t need to come this time, just give me the keys.”

…

In the fifth level of Impel Down.

Duhanam greedily licked the grease off his plate, showing no dignity of a pirate worth over a billion.

Seven years, a full seven years!

He didn’t even know what kind of life he was living anymore.

Sometimes only getting a piece of dry bread every other day, occasionally being starved for three to five days by that bastard. Sometimes, he looked at his own arms and saw them glowing green!

How could he resist the delicious Sea King meat?

In fact, he wasn’t the only one; many other pirates were eating even less gracefully.

When the guards first came down to distribute the Sea King meat, they were very apprehensive, wondering what trick Figo was up to now, suspecting the meat was poisoned to torture them.

But when the aroma of the meat began to waft and spread through the fifth level, one person suddenly said, “Even if it’s poisoned, I don’t care.”

Another followed, “If he wanted us dead, he wouldn’t waste poison, would he?”

Though it was harsh, it made sense.

So they ate like this.

Until now, no one had died from poisoning, so the meat seemed fine. The only problem was… it wasn’t enough for anyone!

Seeing the grease licked clean, Duhanam smacked his lips, looked around, and shouted, “Who still has meat left? Give it to me. I have a treasure buried outside, worth about three billion Berry. I can tell you the exact location!”

This only elicited snickers.

You’d have to get out of here first.

“Oh, you have a treasure?”

Figo’s voice sounded distant, and the prisoners’ voices instantly stopped. This time, no one cursed at him; they were all still hoping for another bite of meat, just one more bite!

“Yes, I do!” Duhanam’s heart trembled slightly, “Figo, I’ll trade my treasure for ten meals! No, five meals! Three billion Berry, a normal person couldn’t spend that in ten lifetimes!”

Figo, seemingly very interested, walked to Duhanam’s cell. The other prisoners’ attention was entirely focused. If they could trade, who didn’t have something good hidden outside? They’d lie to get a couple of meals, even if it meant getting beaten to death afterward; they’d die full!

“Dream on!” Figo laughed, “You’re grateful for just a piece of meat? How cheap for the so-called big pirates. But I won’t give you any more. What can you do? Who needs your gratitude?!”

The prisoners’ fantasies were shattered and mocked, each of them trembling with anger.

“You bastard…”

“If I get out of here…”

“I will…”

They cursed him viciously, imagining horrific deaths for Figo in their minds. Someone started it, and they threw their empty bowls at Figo.

Then, bowls flew everywhere!

Figo’s smile faded. With a slight movement of his hand at his waist, his new sword, Ruby, flashed out, and with a few quick slashes, shattered all the bowls.

“Heh, you bastards have gotten bolder. I’ll deal with you later!” His mood seemingly disturbed, Figo snorted and walked out of the prisoners’ sight.

No one spoke this time.

They even held their breath.

Amidst the pile of shattered bowls lay a key, gleaming faintly.

When Figo drew his sword, the key had fallen from his key ring.

Most prisoners noticed it.

But Figo seemed not to!

What kind of key is this?

Their hearts pounded wildly, eyes fixed on Duhanam, who was closest.

Duhanam hadn’t felt this kind of tension in years. He glanced at where Figo had left, sensing with Observation Haki, and then squeezed to the cell door, desperately reaching for the key.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he slid the key into his cell, grasped it between two fingers, and inserted it into the lock of his chains, turning it.

Click! The lock opened!

Other prisoners’ breaths grew heavier.

“It opened… Quickly, come over here and free me!”

“Idiot, hurry up!”

“Idiots, be quiet!”

In the hurried whispers, Duhanam used the key to unlock his cell, stepping out into the fifth level corridor, eyes filled with ecstasy and disbelief.

Am I… breaking out?

“Quick! Quick! You idiot!”

Another cursed, Duhanam, wanted to leave them behind, but he knew he couldn’t escape Impel Down alone.

“Shut up!” He hissed, “This key has markings, it says 13—16, it can probably only open our four cells!”

He looked at a few old neighbors, “I’ll let you out, but you have to listen. We’ll first kill that bastard Figo, then release everyone and escape together!”

He was smart, knowing how to placate everyone. Those who had been anxious at his initial words all calmed down.

They thought about it and didn’t worry about Duhanam breaking his promise. Outside Impel Down was endless sea; without a ship, they couldn’t escape without working together.

But some were even smarter.

Sister Carmel had been quietly observing. Initially ecstatic and hopeful at being treated differently by Figo, she felt sinking when she learned the key could only free four.

Kill that monster?

With just you four?

Her eyes shifted slightly, and she suddenly shouted, “Gaston Figo! You dropped your key!!”

“Ah… bastard?!”

“Damn it! Are you crazy?!”

The prisoners were frantic, and Duhanam hastened his movements. The nun wore a disdainful look of clarity amidst the chaos. Come at me if you dare—

“Figo!”

“Come back!!”

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