One Piece: Impel Down's Guard - Chapter 35
Doug has never understood the thoughts of his student, Figo.
He had been encouraged by him to return to Impel Down back then, and now he was using his own words to refuse him. This was logical and well-reasoned to the extreme, but…
“You disagree with me taking him away?”
“Yes, I’m the warden of Impel Down after all.”
“But… I… this…”
“You don’t have a higher rank than me. Impel Down is under my authority. I just won’t let you take him away. What can you do about it?” Figo smiled.
Gerald looked up at him in confusion.
Doug’s lips moved, and after a long time, he sighed, “Figo, I know you are a very righteous marine, but this matter is a direct order from the Five Elders. Even Admiral Ohka strongly opposed it, but it didn’t change their decision…”
“I’ll solve it,” Figo said.
He took out his personal Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed the number of Mendesbin, one of the Five Elders. “I’ve had a lot of contact with Mendesbin in recent years. We’re on good terms. I can handle this.”
Really? Doug didn’t believe it.
Soon, the call connected, and Mendesbin’s voice came from the other side.
“Gaston Figo?”
“It’s me, Your Excellency,” Figo said to the Den Den Mushi. “My teacher, Admiral Doug, is here with me now. I heard from him that he received your order to take away ‘Mad Laugh’ Gerald?”
“What do you want to say?” Mendesbin’s voice became more serious.
“I do have something to say,” Figo continued. “I think this is wrong. Can’t the vast navy and world government really capture the witch by any other means? Why resort to such despicable tactics? Also, why put Admiral Doug, an elderly man nearly eighty years old, in charge of this operation? Isn’t there anyone else in the navy?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.
Figo continued, “Give me a chance, Your Excellency. Let me handle it. There’s no need for any public execution of Gerald. I’ll take charge of the campaign against the Revolutionary Army. I guarantee that within a year, I’ll resolve everything. No despicable tactics, and we can eliminate the Revolutionary Army. Won’t that better demonstrate the authority of the world government?”
Doug understood now. Figo intended to take on this mission to relieve his teacher from this difficult position. He felt moved, his eyes moist, and also a bit ashamed.
But the Five Elders…
“Give you a chance?” As expected, Mendesbin’s voice on the other end of the line was already tinged with anger. “Figo, recognize your status! Who do you think you are to ask for such a thing? The authority of the world government is not to be challenged! Despicable tactics? Are you in any position to judge?”
Unsurprisingly, the Five Elders were always arrogant. Doug smiled wryly, reaching out to take Figo’s Den Den Mushi and explain, not wanting to involve Figo, but Figo directly pressed the Den Den Mushi to his mouth and spoke quickly:
“My status? First and foremost, I’m a human being with a sense of right and wrong, an idiot!”
The call abruptly ended.
Figo spread his hands at Doug, problem solved!
Doug was stunned for two seconds before his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
“Figo, you…!”
Even Gerald was dumbfounded. Even as an outlaw pirate, he knew that on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was one of the highest authorities in the world, one of the Five Elders of the world government!
Why would he go to such lengths for us?
“Tried reasoning, didn’t work, so now I have to make an effort.” Figo remained calm. “Sorry, teacher, but I have to inconvenience you a bit now.”
…
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Mendesbin stared blankly at the disconnected Den Den Mushi for a long time, feeling like he was in a dream.
Did that really just happen?
The word “idiot” was spoken in Chinese, which he didn’t understand, but he could tell from the tone that it wasn’t a good word.
Moreover, the tone in the first half of Figo’s sentence didn’t show him any respect at all!
This is… defying my orders?
And doing it so forcefully?
Mendesbin abruptly stood up, an unprecedented surge of anger engulfing him, and he almost crushed the Den Den Mushi in his hand without realizing it!
Outrageous!
…
“Figo! Figo! What are you doing?!” Inside Impel Down, Kimchi’s voice was filled with surprise and confusion.
Why did Figo suddenly put Admiral Doug in a cell while interrogating Gerald?
“Teacher, this is a clean single room. I’ll bring you a bed later. You can rest here for two days without worrying about anything.” Through the bars, Figo spoke to Doug.
Doug, who had been placed in a cell by Figo, now understood what Figo intended. He asked gravely, “Figo, have you really thought through the consequences of this?”
“Yes,” Figo replied firmly.
Doug was silent for a few seconds. “Then release me. I can’t let a kid like you bear all the consequences alone. I…”
“No, I’m the warden of Impel Down. I make the decisions here. If I say you stay, you stay.” Figo shook his head. “You are destined to be remembered in naval history. I firmly believe that. This is a student’s action, unrelated to the teacher.”
Doug was speechless, his eyes once again moist.
“You brat, are you insulting your teacher?”
“What’s going on? What’s going on?!” Kimchi was still confused. “Figo?”
“Nothing, Kimchi, you don’t need to know, and don’t secretly release the teacher. In a few days, you might take over my position as warden. I’ll feel at ease with you in charge.” Figo patted his shoulder.
A screen popped up in front of him.
**Prisoner: Doug**
**Level: SSR2**
**Status: Incarcerated**
**Crime Index: 25**
**Capture Participation: 100%**
**Selectable Benefits: Six Powers – Iron Body, Teaching, Swimming, Cooking, Six Powers – Moonwalk**
**Character Event 1: To be activated**
**Character Event 2: Not yet activatable**
**Core Event: Not yet activatable**
The old man is indeed strong, probably the strongest admiral. If he resisted, it might not be easy to subdue him quickly. Figo thought.
The SSR level is a significant milestone, with each step being tough to climb. An SSR2-level Doug Admiral would easily suppress an SSR1-level Gerald.
Of course, it wouldn’t be quick. People at this level have physiques that are somewhat inhuman.
A crime index of 25, on par with Gerald’s, was not surprising.
A seventy-eight-year-old navy veteran, having participated in hundreds of pirate hunts, couldn’t possibly have avoided collateral damage or mistakes.
Doing good deeds doesn’t cancel out the crime index.
If this were the future Akainu with his absolute justice, a crime index over a hundred wouldn’t be surprising.
As the data from the prison archive flashed through Figo’s mind, he looked at Doug and said, “Teacher, more than anything else, I’m curious which admiral will come next. Let’s see if I can work hard enough to put him in the cell next to you.”
Kimchi looked horrified, “Figo, what are you saying?!”
Doug asked, “Are you really confident?”
Figo replied, “I’ll try my best.”
Doug asked, “What if two admirals come?”
Figo paused, then laughed, “Run.”
Doug remained silent, sighing deeply. “Why go to such lengths? You’re still young, Figo. Unlike me, a man nearing the end of his life, you have plenty of time to uphold your justice! Why go to such extremes?”
“So what do we do this time?”
Doug was silent for a long time before saying, “Indeed, I am a coward, not as brave as you…”
Figo said, “I’ve been in Impel Down for fifteen years, lifting weights, transporting prisoners, punishing prisoners, releasing prisoners, training, and fighting. My life has been routine for fifteen years, not to compromise at this point!”
“So, which admiral will it be?”
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