Redfield, who had been resting with his eyes half-closed, let out a soft chuckle.
Such overwhelming killing intent…
But he no longer cared. His body was old and frail—whether he rotted away here or died outright made little difference now.
Was he really supposed to believe someone would come storming Impel Down to break them out?
"Warden Magellan," Karl said calmly,
"Since each of these men is guilty beyond redemption, why keep them alive at all?"
Magellan froze, then scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well… Devil Fruit users can't just be killed casually."
"So they're all Devil Fruit users?"
"Not exactly," Magellan admitted.
"The point of imprisoning them is to condemn them to eternal darkness—to ensure they never rise again. They are meant to grow old here, to repent for their sins with the rest of their lives."
Karl laughed softly.
"I don't see even the slightest hint of repentance," he said.
"And forgive me for being blunt, Warden—but if they ever escape, wouldn't all the effort and sacrifice of the Marines who captured them be rendered meaningless?"
As Warden of Impel Down, Magellan possessed both the authority and the power to execute any prisoner on the spot.
He could wipe out all of Level Six if he wished.
But deep down, he believed execution was unnecessary.
As long as I'm here, he thought, who could possibly breach Impel Down?
Magellan's expression hardened.
"That won't happen, Major General Karl. As long as I live, I will never allow these scum to escape Impel Down."
"You misunderstand," Karl replied evenly.
"It's not that I doubt your strength."
"It's that I was just told—by Vice Warden Domino—that you work roughly four hours a day. You spend nearly ten hours dealing with… diarrhea, and eight hours sleeping."
His tone sharpened as he met Magellan's eyes directly.
"In that condition, how would you respond to a planned, organized large-scale assault?"
"I—"
Magellan fell silent.
He knew better than anyone how dire his condition was. Unless he stopped eating entirely, his chronic poisoning and diarrhea would never truly end.
And because of it, he barely had any time to train. His overwhelming combat strength came almost entirely from his Devil Fruit.
If an enemy ever appeared who could counter his poison…
His effectiveness would plummet.
"Golden Lion escaped from Impel Down, didn't he?" Karl continued calmly.
"At that time, how did Level Six's defenses compare to today?"
Magellan sighed.
"Almost no difference. But Shiki escaped because of his ability."
Karl's expression did not change.
"But he did escape. Correct?"
"…Yes."
"Then with a precedent already in place, without reinforcing defenses, while your own condition limits you—how can you be certain another accident will never happen?"
Magellan had no answer.
He wasn't narrow-minded—on the contrary, he was deeply responsible.
And every word Karl said struck true.
"Warden Magellan," Karl said more gently,
"I'm not suggesting indiscriminate slaughter."
"Devil Fruit users can remain imprisoned for life. That's fine."
"But criminals without Devil Fruits—executing them would permanently remove future risks."
"Eradicating the root of disaster is sometimes the most responsible choice."
Smoker nodded firmly beside him.
"I agree. It's a reasonable proposal. Their deaths wouldn't affect the world negatively at all."
The non–Devil Fruit inmates immediately erupted in outrage.
"Damn Marines! We've already been punished—what more do you want?!"
"Come on! Kill me if you dare!"
Magellan remained silent.
His thoughts churned wildly.
If that scenario really came to pass… what would I do?
I would probably choose death to atone.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Karl quickly spoke again, easing off.
"Warden Magellan, please don't misunderstand. I'm only offering my perspective from a Marine's standpoint."
"You are the Warden. How these criminals are handled is ultimately your decision."
"I won't interfere further."
And he meant it.
Even if Magellan ignored everything he said, it wouldn't change the fact that—
with Karl's arrival in this era—the gears of fate had already begun to turn.
The future was no longer fixed.
Magellan let out a long sigh.
"Thank you for your frankness, Major General Karl. I will… seriously consider your proposal. I promise."
"Good," Karl replied.
"The timing's about right anyway. Let's go."
As Magellan turned toward the elevator, a furious roar echoed from Shiryu's cell.
"MAGELLAN! If you give Raiu to someone else—I swear I'll kill you!"
Magellan's eyes flashed with cold resolve.
From his left hand, a long, slender, dragon-shaped stream of lethal poison coiled into existence.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"You won't be getting that chance."
Shiryu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're going to kill me? Have you forgotten? We were once called the Iron Wall of Impel Down!"
"Shiryu," Magellan replied coldly,
"You were imprisoned for slaughtering prisoners and fellow guards alike."
"You should have been executed. I changed it to a suspended death sentence out of old sentiment."
"But now I see—there is no repentance. Only escalation."
"Today, as Warden of Impel Down—"
"I sentence you to death."
"Venom Demon: Hydra."
"I only killed some trash—who do you think you—!"
The poisonous dragon roared forward.
It detonated upon impact, violet and crimson venom devouring Shiryu's body in silence.
No screams. No resistance.
Only dissolution.
Moments later, nothing remained—only an unrecognizable, viscous mass staining the cell floor.
Magellan exhaled slowly.
He looked at Karl.
Said nothing.
Yet everything had already been said.
Sea Level One
Magellan personally handed Raiu to Karl.
"I hope it serves you well."
Karl accepted the sword with a smile. Then he formed a massive sphere of Holy Light and pressed it into Magellan's chest.
"For at least three days, Warden," Karl said,
"you won't be troubled by diarrhea anymore. Consider it my farewell gift."
Magellan finally smiled.
"You're too kind, Major General Karl."
"The 500 prisoners have been loaded onto the transport ship. I wish you a smooth voyage."
Domino stood nearby, watching Karl's departing figure with reluctant eyes.
When… will I ever see a man like him again?
As the transport ship slowly sailed away, Magellan's expression settled into calm resolve.
He turned to Hannyabal.
"Within two hours, bring me all files on every prisoner in Level Six."
Hannyabal blinked blankly.
…Is this really the Magellan I know?
On the Prisoner Transport Ship
Karl gripped Raiu and slowly drew it from its sheath.
A strange, blood-red gleam slid along the blade.
"…Tch. An cursed sword, huh."
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