"Clang clang… thump thump…"
On the ground level of Impel Down, in a spacious office, the elderly warden, "Blood Prison" Ian, reclined in his chair, humming a tune in apparent good spirits. Dressed in his uniform, with a head of white hair and deep wrinkles, he looked every bit the seasoned warden.
"Warden, here's your coffee, with sugar, just as you requested!"
A young prison guard, also in uniform, entered with a steaming cup of coffee, setting it on the desk before moving behind Ian to massage his shoulders with a smile. "Warden Ian, you seem to be in a good mood lately!"
"Mm..." Ian opened his eyes, smiling as he stirred his coffee slowly. "My grandson, who works in Mary Geoise, is about to be engaged to a noblewoman... With any luck, I'll be welcoming a great-grandchild next year when I retire! And Adrian—he's really improved over the past few years, so I feel good about leaving Impel Down in his hands."
After working diligently for the World Government his entire life, Ian was close to retirement. As the head of Impel Down, his pension would be just a step below the Admirals'. With that and the connections he had built within the Government, he had secured a comfortable future for his family. Retirement promised to be quite satisfactory.
"Oh, is that so..." The young guard massaging Ian's shoulders smirked playfully. "Congratulations, then!"
"Hahaha..." Oblivious to the odd tone, Ian laughed heartily, taking a sip of his coffee. "You know how to flatter, kid... A bit harder—yes, right there!" He closed his eyes, sinking into the massage. "You've done well these past few years, and before I retire, I'll recommend you to Adrian for a promotion."
"Thank you very much, Warden..."
As Ian finished his coffee, he closed his eyes again, enjoying the massage. "Getting old... just don't have the energy I used to..."
Before long, drowsiness overtook him. There was a slight prick in his neck, almost like a needle. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt unbearably heavy, and consciousness faded away.
"Air Door!" A door suddenly opened, and several figures stepped through, dragging an unconscious figure identical to the young guard.
"Nicely done!" Uthan gave a thumbs-up, looking at the sleeping "Blood Prison" Ian. "For such a notorious figure to go down so easily, it's impressive!"
"Looks like I won't have to lift a finger after all," El said with a soft laugh. They had planned for Uthan to create an Air Door while El launched a quick attack to incapacitate Ian. But it seemed the old warden, softened by years of comfort, was entirely unprepared.
"I had a backup plan with Seastone too," the "young guard" grinned, holding up a syringe. As he spoke, his body expanded, his facial muscles contorting, and his features morphed into those of the elderly warden, "Blood Prison" Ian himself. Except for a few details like hair color and uniform, the resemblance was nearly flawless.
"Leave it to us!"
Uthan and Barry shackled the real Ian with Seastone cuffs, then searched him to ensure nothing important was missed. After removing Ian's uniform, Barry enlarged his mirror, transporting Ian's body to the Mirror World.
"Next up," El said with a smirk, "it's the head guard's turn."
Effortlessly donning the warden's uniform and using hair dye to create a graying effect, Sally became indistinguishable from the real 'Blood Prison' Ian, down to the voice, now tinged with age.
Knock, knock!
At that moment, a knock on the door prompted the team to slip through an air door, disappearing from sight.
"Come in!" Sally, disguised as the Impel Down warden, sat authoritatively.
"Warden!" A figure dressed in guard captain's attire entered, saluting respectfully before cautiously reporting, "Chief Guard Buck is at it again on the fourth level—he's been beating prisoners half to death without reason. Two inmates are on the verge of dying from his latest round."
"What?"
The 'Blood Prison' Ian slammed his hand on the desk in outrage. "How many times have I reprimanded that man for this?"
"Understood, I'll deal with him shortly. You may leave." The 'warden' dismissed the guard captain with a scowl.
"Yes, sir."
Once the guard captain departed, Uthan, El, and Moss emerged from the hidden space.
"Perfect. No need for any excuse now—we'll lure him down to Level 5.5, subdue him there, and cut out his tongue," El said with a cold smile. "Then we'll drag him down to the sixth level and send a report to Marine HQ."
"No problem. Leave it to me." Sally, still in the guise of 'Blood Prison' Ian, smirked.
Within moments, the warden issued a direct order for Chief Guard 'Sharktooth' Buck, stationed on the fourth level, to meet him in the frigid depths of Level 5.
After passing along the command, 'Blood Prison' Ian left the office, taking the elevator to the fourth floor. Instead of meeting Buck directly, however, he proceeded down the stairs to the fifth level, the icy hell.
"What? Meet him in the frozen hell?" Buck, wearing his guard chief's uniform and a heavy cape, stood a solid four or five meters tall. After receiving the order, he muttered bitterly, "That meddling old fool—can't he just retire already?"
Still, he couldn't defy the warden's orders. Annoyed, he led a team down to the fifth level, grumbling all the while.
Clang—
The fifth level was a blizzard-ridden hellscape. When Buck arrived, he found 'Warden Ian' already waiting for him.
"Warden Ian, what was so urgent that you summoned me here?"
"Everyone else, step outside and close the door. I have something to discuss privately with Buck," 'Blood Prison' Ian instructed the guards who had followed Buck.
"Yes, sir."
As the thick iron door closed behind them, sealing the space from the biting wind and snow, Buck, slightly puzzled, asked, "Warden, what is this about…?"
Suddenly, without warning, a chill ran down Buck's spine. His instincts flared as he whipped around, eyes widening in shock.
"Hero's Spear!"
A terrifying figure lunged at Buck, a powerful fist enveloped in dark red lightning tearing through the air with immense speed. Buck barely had time to react, raising his arms in a panicked attempt to block the devastating blow.
Boom!
Despite his desperate defense, Buck was sent flying, his face contorted in pain as blood spurted from his mouth.
Crash… crash…
The impact shattered walls and sent snow and ice flying, leaving Buck embedded in the wall of a cell, bloodied and unconscious, unable to move.
"Cut out his tongue," El commanded coolly, as if it were a mere formality.
As the Chief Guard of Impel Down, Buck was formidable, especially with his Ancient Zoan-type Tyrannosaurus Rex Devil Fruit. But before El, a true monster, he was simply outmatched.
"Understood, sir."
~~~
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