"What? Are you going to stop me here?"
Even though Crocodile only had two people on his side, he showed no sign of fear. A swirling sandstorm was already forming in his hand.
Beside him, Mr. 1 was also radiating sharpness… literally.
Seeing this, Blackbeard maintained his smile. His eyes, perpetually exuding ambition, watched Crocodile.
"...No, why would I? I'm also here to rescue my companions."
As he spoke, he turned sideways slightly, indicating the other could pass, also revealing his crew members behind him who weren't in great condition.
However, faced with this gesture, Crocodile showed no intention of moving forward.
After being defeated by Luffy and witnessing young powerhouses like Sasuke and Karin, the last trace of arrogance in Crocodile's heart had been worn away.
He had become as cautious as when he first founded Baroque Works.
"We'll take the other way."
With that, regardless of Blackbeard's reaction, Crocodile led Mr. 1 towards another direction. Blackbeard stared intently at Crocodile's retreating back like a hungry wolf, but ultimately chose to leave first.
The Suna Suna no Mi was also a good Logia-type fruit. (T/N: Sand-Sand Fruit.)
But it wasn't good enough, far from it.
For Teach, from the day he ate the Yami Yami no Mi, his remaining two fruits had already been decided.
He absolutely had to obtain that man's power, the man he once called Father.
"Let's go."
"Captain, aren't we letting them out?"
Lafitte, having regained some strength and standing upright, pointed towards the prisoners still held captive nearby.
Hearing this, Blackbeard just looked at the prisoners, who were too weak from thirst and hunger to even shout, with disdain.
"There's no need to recruit guys of this level."
They did need to expand their crew, but the only ones Blackbeard truly considered worthy were the death row inmates from Level 6, most of whom were probably dead by now.
Crocodile was also included in that category.
Whether killing him directly or inviting him to join, Blackbeard felt either was acceptable.
It was just a shame Crocodile wasn't receptive.
Elsewhere, when Crocodile and Mr. 1 found Bon Clay, this master of Okama Kenpo was imprisoned in a solitary cage.
However, it was clear that although this guy was also in poor condition from dehydration and hunger, his spirit remained resilient.
"One, two! Spin around again! One, two! Yo!"
Even wearing a prisoner's uniform, Bon Clay was not stinting in displaying his 'graceful' dance moves in the scorching cell.
It seemed this continuous dancing not only didn't further drain his stamina but even helped maintain his mental stability to some extent.
"One, two... Yaaah!! Boss!!!"
Bon Clay was up on his toes, mid-spin, when he saw his former boss and former colleague standing outside his cell.
"Still quite energetic, Mr. 2."
Perhaps it was reuniting with a subordinate after losing contact with the others, but Crocodile actually made a rare teasing remark.
This was almost impossible for the usually ruthless and merciless [Head of Baroque Works].
"It seems your luck isn't bad either. Come with us."
As he spoke, he signaled Mr. 1 beside him to break open the cell and rescue Bon Clay.
The moment he heard Crocodile say he would rescue him, an instinctive, happy smile appeared on Bon Clay's face.
But then, as if remembering something, he suddenly raised his hand to stop Mr. 1's action.
"Hmm?"
Crocodile looked at him somewhat puzzled, seeming to wait for an explanation.
"Boss... no, Sir Crocodile."
Bon Clay suddenly adopted a very serious expression, then performed a dogeza with great sincerity.
"I am very grateful that you thought of me when you had the ability to escape. However, I must ask your forgiveness, for I can no longer follow by your side."
"I, Bon Clay, have already left Baroque Works."
Hearing this, Mr. 1's eyelids twitched. The hand originally intended to cut the bars was about to slash towards Bon Clay's neck.
But his movement was stopped by Crocodile.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Crocodile's eyes turned sinister again, his tone dripping with killing intent.
But faced with this aura, Bon Clay didn't retreat an inch.
He respectfully completed the dogeza to express his gratitude for Crocodile's willingness to rescue him. Then he stood up again, his expression serious.
"Sir Crocodile, you might not know this, but the reason I was captured and thrown into this prison is because, back when Straw Hat Luffy and the others were about to be arrested by the Marines, I took their place voluntarily, drawing the Marines' attention."
"Mr. 2, do you know what you're doing? You..."
Mr. 1's tone was unexpectedly intense.
"I know very well."
"Precisely because of that, I have completely and utterly betrayed Baroque Works. That's why I cannot accept your rescue."
"...You could have chosen not to say any of this. I think you should also know Baroque Works' policy for dealing with traitors."
Crocodile took a deep breath, starting to doubt his own charisma. Simultaneously, his arm turned into fine sand, ready to take Bon Clay's life at any moment.
"Straw Hat Luffy and the others are friends I acknowledge. For their sake, I have no regrets. At the same time, I cannot commit acts of deception that go against my true heart. That is my way of the okama!"
"Okamas have their own convictions too!"
Bon Clay bent his legs slightly, arms resting on his knees, head lowered, presenting himself entirely at Crocodile's mercy.
"You really aren't afraid of death, are you..."
As Crocodile's voice grew increasingly cold, the rapidly spinning sand blade stirred a gust of hot wind in the scorching space.
Yet, even so, Bon Clay remained motionless.
His actions were without a doubt betrayal. Crocodile's treatment of his employees wasn't exactly great, but he hadn't treated them unfairly either.
Especially now, actually remembering him during the prison break.
But precisely because of this, Bon Clay couldn't hide the truth and accept the other's rescue.
It conflicted with the path he believed in.
"-Of all times, you choose now to act like a man."
Hearing this, Bon Clay sharply raised his head, but only saw the retreating backs of Crocodile and Mr. 1.
The lock on the cell door seemed to have become too dry, or perhaps severely eroded by something, and suddenly snapped with a bang, falling to the ground.
"Next time we meet, we will be enemies."
Crocodile's voice dissipated in the scorching air.
Hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Bon Clay's face.
"...I told you, I'm an okama..."
Your boss suddenly shows his charisma right after you quit.
Perhaps that's also a kind of regret.
Impel Down Level 5.5, the space between Level 5 and Level 6.
This space was created by Morley, commander of the West Army of the Revolutionary Army and a giant, using the power of his Oshi Oshi no Mi. (T/N: (Push-Push Fruit.)
It was currently ruled by the legendary [Queen of Okamas], Emporio Ivankov. Because of him, it had become a sanctuary flourishing with 'okama culture'.
Bang!
The stone floor tiles became soft like cloth and were pasted over the junction between Level 5.5 and Level 6, completely blocking the upward-spreading red poison mist.
Inazuma changed his hands back from scissors to their original form. After confirming no poison mist was leaking through, he slowly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It's truly tragic. Level 6 was completely wiped out."
"Has Magellan gone completely mad?"
"..."
Dense discussions arose within this space.
They had already peeked out to check the situation when the battle erupted on Level 6.
But soon after, the all-encompassing poison mist forced them back.
At the last possible moment, Ivankov decisively ordered the rescue of any prisoners close by, saving as many as possible.
But even with their quick actions, it was hard to match the spread speed of the poison mist.
In the end, fewer than ten prisoners were rescued, all having inhaled the poison mist to varying degrees.
Currently, they were being injected with [Healing Hormones], a life-saving treatment using Ivankov's own Horu Horu no Mi. (T/N: Horm-Horm Fruit.)
However, the cost of this treatment was high, consuming the patient's lifespan and requiring extremely strong willpower.
"Everyone, get ready."
Ivankov suddenly spoke, causing the surrounding okamas to stop their discussions.
"This place might no longer be suitable to stay. We need to find an opportunity to leave."
The Queen's command was the will of everyone on Level 5.5. Although they didn't fully understand the implications, they obediently began packing their belongings.
Unlike the destitute prisoners outside, they had accumulated quite a lot of supplies through inside contacts and other means. Now was clearly the time to use them!
'Magellan... just what happened.'
Unlike the other highly motivated okamas, Ivankov felt things were spiraling out of control. He looked up at the ceiling, his gaze seeming to penetrate to the levels above.
Everything was just too unusual.
'Could it be because of the captured [Fire Fist] Ace?'
But as luck would have it, they hadn't received any orders from the Revolutionary Army's headquarters yet and could only improvise.
'Tch... So troublesome!!'