Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

Caught off guard, Hancock let out a soft, trembling moan. Her legs went weak, and she almost lost her composure on the spot. Her cheeks instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Empress, what's wrong?" The flying squirrel stared at Hancock, his expression slightly puzzled.

"It's nothing, I'm just tired and want to rest."

"A place to rest has been prepared for you, and your request has been approved, but your request to go to Impel Down is quite strange."

"Is that not allowed?" Hancock regained her arrogance and gave the flying squirrel a cold look.

The flying squirrel didn't want to have any more conflicts with this crazy woman; her ability to turn people into stone at the slightest provocation was too terrifying.

They managed to hide it.

Hancock took a deep breath and steadied herself.

Under the respectful yet somewhat fearful gazes of the naval soldiers, she maintained her haughty demeanor as she walked step by step toward the cabin prepared for her.

No one noticed her slightly trembling fingertips or the lingering blush at the base of her ears.

Meanwhile, in the distant Marineford.

The office of the Admiral at Naval Headquarters.

Sengoku had just received a confirmation message from Momonga and rubbed his temples wearily: "Boa Hancock finally agreed? Good, as long as she can get there in time. That woman is not to be underestimated."

Having witnessed the shock Luffy brought to the Sabaody Archipelago, Sengoku is now much more cautious in assessing any top-tier combat power.

He simply couldn't imagine what would happen if another unpredictable character like Luffy appeared in the Marineford War against Whitebeard.

As a marshal, he had to consider all possibilities.

Therefore, it is important to gather all the forces that can be gathered now.

"Six of the Seven Warlords of the Sea have now agreed to the call to arms," ​​the strategist reported from the side.

Sengoku nodded. "And what about that guy who insisted on refusing to be drafted, and even caused trouble in Impel Down because of it? Shouldn't he wake up by now?"

"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral, Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, remains firmly opposed to this war. He has stated that he is prepared to be stripped of his title as a Shichibukai."

Sengoku's eyes behind his glasses were dark and unfathomable. He tapped the table lightly: "I thought he would be the most eager to help us. I didn't expect him to be so stubborn at this crucial moment. Jinbe, that bastard!"

The power of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is undeniably immense.

Jinbe's background is even more complex, involving the vast fish-men race.

Managing relations with the Fish-Men might be a way to prevent more and more pirates from entering the New World.

Therefore, even though Jinbe refused to be conscripted, Sengoku did not take any further action.

Another messenger rushed in to report: "Report! Admiral Kizaru has captured over five hundred bounty pirates in one go to deal with the aftermath of the Sabaody Archipelago incident, and they have now been escorted to Impel Down. Impel Down says that the file registration and manpower are not keeping up."

Sengoku waved his hand impatiently: "Apart from Whitebeard's matter, you don't need to report any other minor matters to me!"

The events in the Sabaody Archipelago have many lingering repercussions.

Three Celestial Dragons died at once.

Straw Hat Boy... it's mainly Garp's fault! What's wrong with his clan's bloodline?

Sengoku felt a headache coming on and asked, "Where are the Garp?"

"Vice Admiral Garp has just left headquarters alone, seemingly heading towards Impel Down."

Sengoku suddenly stood up from his seat, his face filled with shock and anger: "That old bastard! What is he trying to do at such a critical moment?"

Still so autocratic!

He could almost imagine Garp's purpose in going to Impel Down.

The reporting soldier asked cautiously, "Should we send someone to recall Lieutenant General Garp immediately?"

Zhan Guo took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and finally waved his hand helplessly: "Forget it, at this point, no one can call that stubborn old man back."

Garp's actions are often beyond the complete control of even the marshal.

Just then, another communications soldier stumbled into the office, shouting, "Reporting, Marshal! Something terrible has happened! The Whitebeard Pirates have made their move!"

Have they finally taken action?

What's meant to happen will happen.

Sengoku asked in a deep voice, "Did the surveillance ship send back a report? Connect the Den Den Mushi to me immediately, I want to question them myself!"

However, what the communications soldier said next stunned him.

"No, that's not it! The twenty-three warships responsible for monitoring Whitebeard's flagship, the Moby Dick, and its main fleet have all lost contact with us since just now!"

"What did you say?!" Sengoku's voice suddenly rose.

"Furthermore, according to scattered intelligence, other pirate crews in the New World also seem to be making unusual moves! We currently have absolutely no information about the size of the Whitebeard Pirates, their exact location, or when they will arrive!"

"They actually pulled this stunt?"

"I'll go and redeploy the intelligence ships!"

"Calm down!"

Zhan Guo slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise silencing the entire office.

His face was ashen as he said, "They've already beaten us to it. Their operation has begun, and we can't let ourselves be led by the nose."

He took a deep breath and gave the order in a deep voice:

"Notify all units: High alert! The war has begun!"

"Yes!"

.......

Meanwhile, thanks to his extraordinary status, Garp has made his way into Impel Down, the supposedly impregnable deep-sea prison, without any obstacles.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the empty and gloomy passageway.

Gradually delving deeper.

Advance City.

LEVEL6 Infinite Hell.

It was cold and damp here, with only the crisp sound of the stone shackles clanging against each other.

Occasionally, sounds that had been suppressed for too long and had become distorted could be heard from certain corners.

An eternal darkness shrouds this abyss that imprisons the world's most heinous criminals.

It's just that there have been quite a few important figures detained recently, like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

Starting with Crocodile, one by one, important figures with names and identities were imprisoned.

The Golden Lion returned to his luxurious suite.

Next up is Fire Fist Ace, and then Sea Knight Jinbe.

"This way, please, Lieutenant General Garp."

The jailer respectfully led the way.

"Hey, hey, hey,"

A slightly deranged voice came from the nearby cell.

"It's been a long time, you bastard Garp. What are you trying to do at Impel Down at a time like this? I've been locked up for so many years and this is the first time I've ever seen you."

Garp stopped and turned his head expressionlessly toward the source of the sound.

In that specially made cell was a blond man who had lost both legs and had a ridiculous ship's wheel stuck in his head.

It was none other than the legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion, who had been personally sent here by his grandson not long ago.

“It’s you, Shiki,”

Karp's voice was completely flat. "You've finally come back here."

“Garp! Something must have happened outside, tell me,” said Shiki.

The atmosphere in Impel Down has been different lately.

The astute pirates could glean information from the faces of the jailers.

"The outside world has nothing to do with you."

Garp ignored his old rival's roar and coldly said, "I'm not here to reminisce. You'd better stay here and rot away for the rest of your life."

"How arrogant you are, you bastard!" The Golden Lion was so angry that his mouth twisted into a crook.

Karp continued walking, and finally stopped in front of a particularly heavily guarded cell.

Through the sea stone fence, he could see the familiar figure inside, wearing sea stone handcuffs and shackles, head down, long hair covering most of her face, and looking somewhat listless.

Garp stood there quietly, watching for a long time.

"Hey, you really look pretty pathetic."

"Is he still alive?"

"Ace."

The figure inside the cell stirred slightly, seemingly startled from a long reverie by the familiar voice.

"Grandpa?"

Ace slowly raised his head and, through the gaps in his falling hair, saw the tall, familiar figure standing outside the fence. "Why are you here?"

Garp's gaze swept over the obvious wounds on Ace's body, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "You were so badly injured, it's amazing you're still alive."

Ace remained silent and did not answer immediately.

Some of these wounds came from Blackbeard Teach and his vicious companions; the corrosive power of the Dark-Dark Fruit and their relentless attacks left deep marks on him.

However, an earlier injury was inflicted by another Shichibukai.

Don Quixote Doflamingo.

That was an encounter before he found Blackbeard's crew.

It was unusual for one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to appear in a place like the East Blue, and Ace was certain that the guy's target was him.

Ace didn't have time to clash with this guy, but Doflamingo, with an infuriating smile, asked, "What is that terminally ill old man, who will be replaced sooner or later, sending you here for?"