Due to his familiarity with Saldeath and Sadie, Wood knew that neither of them had the habit of carrying the keys with them. The keys were most likely left in their respective offices.
As for their whereabouts, they were probably headed to Level 6 "Eternal Hell" to stop the Golden Lion Shiki.
"That guy Saldeath is still the same, thinking that hiding the keys in a potted plant would keep them from being found. Given his height, he probably couldn't hide them too high up anyway."
With practiced ease, Wood went to Saldeath's office and quickly found the keys in their usual hiding spot, making a comment about Saldeath's persistent concern over his height.
After retrieving the keys from Saldeath's office, Wood didn't bother going to Sadie's office to look for more keys.
The prisoners in Levels 1 and 2 were already numerous enough to meet the requirements of Wood's mission.
Moreover, the prisoners in Levels 1 and 2 were the weakest in Impel Down. Even if they managed to escape, Wood was confident he could hunt them down later and eliminate them all.
The prisoners in Levels 3 and 4, however, generally had bounties around 50 million Berries. While Wood could probably handle ten of them at once without too much trouble, taking on over a hundred would likely exhaust him.
So, to ensure a smooth and successful mission, Wood decided it was best to release the prisoners in Level 1. That way, even if he couldn't completely clean up afterward, the low-level pirates wouldn't cause too much chaos on the seas.
As he walked through Level 1 of Impel Down, the prisoners were not undergoing their usual torture today due to the commotion caused by Shiki. Instead, they were locked back in their cells.
Walking through the corridors of the first level, Wood stood out since most of the guards had gone to Level 6, leaving the area relatively empty.
"Hey, you there, Marine brat! What's going on in Impel Down today? Where did those Blugori monsters go? There's got to be a reason we aren't getting tortured today. I don't believe there's such a thing as a holiday in this hellhole."
The prisoners noticed something was off, given the unusual quiet in the normally torturous Impel Down.
In a place like this, where you were either being tortured in the thorny "Crimson Hell" or locked away in the pitch-dark cells, any gossip or unusual events naturally piqued their interest.
"It's nothing too serious. Someone in Level 6 'Eternal Hell' tried to escape, so most of Impel Down's forces have gone there to stop him."
The prisoners in Level 1 had initially been looking for some juicy gossip, but when they heard Wood's nonchalant revelation, they fell into stunned silence.
"Hahaha!"
"Did you hear what that brat just said? This is the funniest thing I've heard since I got here."
"This kid has no idea what Impel Down is, does he? An escape? That's hilarious."
Since Saldeath had refused Wood's request to use the prisoners as training partners, Wood spent most of his time in Levels 3 and 4.
The prisoners in Levels 1 and 2, while recognizing Wood's face, didn't know him well. They assumed he was just another low-ranking Marine, and dismissed his outrageous claim as nonsense.
"What if I told you the one escaping is the Golden Lion Shiki? He cut off his own legs to free himself from the sea stone shackles. Does that still sound like a joke?"
Once again, the laughter filling the floor came to an abrupt stop at Wood's words.
When Shiki was imprisoned two years ago, many of the prisoners in Level 1 had seen him, so they knew he was being held in Impel Down.
If Wood had claimed someone else was escaping, the prisoners might have dismissed it as a lie. But Shiki was different—he was a legendary figure who had once rivaled the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. His status and reputation set him apart from other prisoners.
"Kid, are you serious? Did the Golden Lion Shiki really escape? Has he gotten out yet?"
The situation in Impel Down was highly unusual today, and combined with Wood's calm demeanor and detailed explanation, most of the prisoners started to believe him.
After understanding the gravity of the situation, the prisoners grew curious. Could this legendary pirate really escape from the world's most secure prison?
"Shiki is incredibly strong. Even after cutting off his legs, he's no ordinary man. Given the current situation, it looks like he has a good chance of escaping."
The prisoners in Level 1 were thrilled to hear this update and felt a surge of pride at Shiki's audacious breakout.
However, their excitement was quickly dampened when one of the prisoners spoke up to bring them back to reality.
"So what if the Golden Lion Shiki escapes? What does that have to do with us? He won't take us with him, and if he escapes, the security here will only get tighter, and our punishments might get even worse."
With that sobering reminder, the prisoners fell back into a state of dejection.
They were right—Shiki's escape might be a big deal, but it had nothing to do with them. If anything, it might make their situation worse.
"Not necessarily," Wood interjected. "Because of Shiki's escape, the lower levels of Impel Down are currently understaffed. Don't any of you want to take this opportunity to escape and return to the seas to make your mark?"
Wood's words quickly stirred the hearts of the prisoners. But soon, they realized that even if the prison was less guarded, they still couldn't leave their cells or break free from their chains.
Were they supposed to mutilate themselves like Shiki, cutting off their own legs?
Even if they had the guts to do it, what would they do after freeing themselves from their chains?
Shiki had the Float-Float Fruit, which allowed him to fly. But if they cut off their legs, they'd be crippled. They wouldn't even be able to crawl out of Impel Down, let alone escape.
"Are you an idiot, or are you trying to make fools of us? I think you're just messing with us, trying to get us to cut off our own legs."
"Kid, bring your head over here so I can bite your neck off. Then I'll consider cutting my legs off."
Amidst the mocking and arrogant laughter from the cells, Wood remained unfazed. He simply pulled out a large set of keys from his waist...