Jixo
patreon
385 Roger Pirates Apprentice
🕑 Added 2025-12-10 06:10:00 +0000 UTCJust as Orin was working day and night.
A navy warship slowly docked at the port of Duramos.
A crowd of nobles and ministers were waiting here, headed by a small old man accompanied by many guards.
"Your Highness King Dotor, we were ordered to escort you. Please board the ship."
"Mm~"
Old Keek clasped one hand behind his back and leaned on his cane with the other, boarding the warship under the protection of the guards.
Seeing Old Keek surrounded on all sides, Doll, who had been assigned as his bodyguard, was absolutely delighted —
After all, this was Orin's grandfather~
"Old man, you're really amazing, huh? The navy really came!!!"
Luffy, disguised as a guard, whispered excitedly — and was immediately smacked on the head by Old Keek's cane, lightly coated with a bit of Armament Haki.
"Keep your voice down!!!"
"Yes…"
In the days that followed, once Old Keek learned that Doll was Orin's student and took great liking to him, he chuckled warmly.
Good.
Very good.
He still wanted a great-grandchild — after all, the Dotor family truly had a royal throne to inherit.
When they finally reached Impel Down and Keek was informed he had to enter underground lv.6, the guards accompanying him were stopped.
"Apologies, King Dotor, this is of utmost importance. Only you may enter Infinite Hell."
"…"
Keek said nothing, only silently staring at the marines and several jailers.
Just as cold sweat formed on their foreheads, Keek sighed.
"…Very well."
No one noticed that at a corner on the first floor, one guard suddenly disappeared.
"But I must say, among the officers in Impel Down, there really are so many beauties~ I could find some wives for my Orin…"
Beside Keek, Hannibal and Doll were accompanying him.
Hearing Keek talk about finding beauties everywhere he walked, Hannibal began fantasizing — winning the favor of King Keek, and more importantly, of Orin behind him.
"If I introduce enough beauties, wouldn't I be able to replace Magellan and become Chief Warden?! Hahahahaha…"
"Oh no, I said that out loud again!!!"
…
"I have to hurry and rescue Ace!!!"
After separating from Old Keek's group, Luffy switched back to his usual sandals and shorts and ran through the first-floor cells.
At that exact moment—
The king's dear friend, legendary Lucky Buggy-sama, had also burst apart and escaped from prison.
"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
"Impel Down is nothing! How could it possibly confine the great Buggy-sama?! You guys stay here locked up for yourselves!!"
Even if he waited, his dear friend might come pick him up anyway.
But clearly Orin might be in trouble… or didn't notice he was missing.
So now the great Buggy-sama could escape by himself!!!
He simply underestimated Impel Down's guard response — he was spotted right after escaping, and immediately ran into Luffy, who was there to break out someone.
The two caused a huge commotion inside Impel Down.
Soon Mr.3 and a group of released prisoners joined in, beginning a mass escape.
After being crushed by Magellan's attack, they eventually encountered their greatest aid — the okama king Ivankov.
Inside this artificially created okama kingdom, Ivankov welcomed Luffy and the other escapees.
"In all of Impel Down's history, only two have ever escaped.
One is the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki; the other was not caught on the spot but was later confirmed to have infiltrated — that man:
The man Impel Down has no authority to capture now —
Black Gun Dotor Orin."
"How can that be!!!"
Everyone was in despair.
Did that mean that unless one was such a legendary figure, escape was impossible?!!!
As Luffy fell into desperation—
The ones coming to Impel Down were not just the Straw Hats.
With a loud "Zehahahaha—"
The Blackbeard crew officially arrived.
Within Hades's vast Observation Haki, the entire layout of Impel Down was visible —
Including Ivankov expanding the okama forces by turning jailers into women, and Buggy constantly escaping death.
"Oi, Hades, your Observation Haki range is huge, right? See where lv.6 is — we need to recruit some new crewmates.
Zehahahahaha!!!"
…
"Jinbe, that old man just told me… my brother came to save me…"
Ace lowered his head and said in a deep voice.
"King Keek himself? Why would he help you… unless…"
Jinbe was shocked. He understood that old man's identity. If even he came, didn't that mean that man also—!!!?
But the miracle never happened. Ace was quickly taken away.
Moments later, Luffy arrived.
"Ace has already been taken away."
"If we hurry, we might still make it!!!"
But they still failed.
They stopped at Impel Down's sixth floor — even escaping themselves now seemed like a luxury.
"Straw Hat Luffy…"
A slightly deep, slightly thin voice sounded at that moment, coming from the cell beside them.
"Hm???"
They looked toward the side — a tall figure slowly stood up.
Clatter… clatter…
With the dragging of chains, the figure stepped out from the shadows.
Slicked-back hair, long scar, gold earrings, gloomy gaze, and the aura of a big boss.
"…Who are you?"
But… Luffy scratched his head — he didn't recognize her.
Several veins popped on Crocodile's face.
"It's me, Crocodile."
After a brief silence—
"Eh?!!! Crocodile!!!"
"Did Ivankov turn you into a woman too?!!!"
Hearing that, Crocodile's face grew darker.
"Shut up!!!"
"If you want to get out, then release me!!!"
"With my ability, we can escape. It's a good deal, no?"
After some arguing—
Crocodile, the returning customer, was once again released from Impel Down.
"Straw Hat boy, relax. Crocodile is Orin-sama's subordinate — at a critical moment like this, she can be trusted."
"Though because of certain special reasons, I once refused Crocodile's request — but she wouldn't ignore the bigger picture over something like that… Right?"
"…"
Crocodile accepted it silently, though she still lit a cigar with a hard expression.
Her face darkened.
"What a boring rescue mission."
"There's no way that man would miss such a war — meaning the outcome is already decided…"
