One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

"but……"

"How about... I share some information with you too..."

Jinbe was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting the topic to take such a turn, and a hint of surprise flashed in his wide-open fish-man eyes.

V, however, seemed completely unconcerned about the gazes around him, or whether anyone was secretly listening in. His expression was calm and composed, even carrying a hint of ease as if he were about to lay his cards on the table.

He raised a hand, pointed to Luffy standing beside him, grinning broadly, and said in a calm but crystal-clear tone:

"In fact, Luffy doesn't only have Ace as an older brother."

"Sabo, the chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army—is also Luffy's brother."

"The three of them are sworn brothers who grew up together."

The sea breeze seemed to freeze at that moment.

Jinbe's blue face froze for a moment, then his pupils contracted slightly, and a ripple finally appeared on his usually calm and composed expression.

"W-What did you say!?"

He slowly turned his head, his gaze shifting from V-shaped face to Luffy.

Luffy smiled brightly, not denying it, but simply nodding vigorously, his eyes beneath his straw hat as bright as the rising sun.

"That's right! Sabo is my brother too!"

Jinbe remained silent for a few seconds, a complex mix of emotions surging in his deep, calm eyes—surprise, realization, and then a deeper sense of gravity.

"Wait... so you came here because..."

Before Jinbe could finish speaking, Luffy had already raised his hand to press down on his straw hat, looking at him with unwavering determination, his voice clear and powerful:

"That's right!"

"We're here to rescue Sabo!"

Chapter 206 Impel Down, Warden Magellan

The sea breeze, carrying a salty scent, swept across this temporary base designated for the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Jinbe stood still, his broad chest rising and falling slightly. His wide-open fish-man eyes were fixed on Luffy, then slowly swept over V and the Straw Hat crew members around him, who all looked calm.

"You guys..." Jinbe's voice was lower than usual, filled with disbelief and confirmation, "You guys are serious?"

"In Marineford, right under the noses of the Marine Headquarters, the World Government, and the potentially descending 'Knights of God,' the Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff, who was about to be publicly executed, was abducted?"

"Of course!" Luffy answered without the slightest hesitation. He grinned, his smile bright and pure, as if he were saying something perfectly natural. "Sabo is my brother, and I must rescue him!"

V stared at Jinbe: "Not only that, we also need to save all those who have been used as bait and bargaining chips by the World Government."

Jinbe remained silent.

He remembered this younger brother that Ace had mentioned countless times—reckless, passionate, and once he made up his mind, he would never look back.

He also recalled the will he inherited from his older brother Fisher Tiger, the hardship Fish-Man Island faced in its struggle for survival, and the unfathomable darkness of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

After a long while, Jinbe slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, as if he wanted to expel all the heaviness in his chest.

“I understand,” he said in a deep voice, his gaze becoming sharp and firm. “Since you are Ace’s family, and since what you are doing is to fight against those heavenly beings who treat human life as worthless.”

He took a step forward, his imposing figure like a steady mountain, blocking Luffy and V's path, yet appearing to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

Jinbe's voice was deep and powerful, each word resounding, "I personally... am willing to lend you a hand."

This is undoubtedly an irrational decision.

But... he is Jinbe, the knight of the sea.

“Jinbe…” Luffy’s eyes lit up.

"It is our honor to receive assistance from 'Hai Xia'."

“However…” V declined, “Our operation has far-reaching implications, and the World Government will definitely investigate it thoroughly.”

"Fishman Island is situated in a unique position, caught between the World Government and various other forces."

"If you openly participate in the rescue at the execution ground, and the World Government forcibly holds you accountable, it may bring unpredictable retaliation to Fish-Man Island."

He took a step forward, looking directly into Jinbe's calm, fish-man eyes:

"So this time, we hope you can remain an 'observer'."

Jinbe frowned slightly and remained silent for a long time, his chest rising and falling slowly, as if he were weighing some heavy choice.

Finally, he exhaled a long breath, a breath as deep and dark as the undercurrents of the deep sea:

"……you're right."

"Fishman Island... I cannot put it in danger."

V nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

He then changed the subject, his voice now carrying a deeper meaning and an invitation:

"Actually, we may have opportunities for deeper cooperation than this operation."

He raised his hand and pointed to the vast, turbulent sea in the distance:

"Fishman Island is located 10,000 meters below the surface of the ocean. It is the gateway to the New World and a 'key place' mentioned many times in the Poneglyphs."

"If one day, Fishman Island is willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, not for a single adventure, but to break free from the shackles that have lasted for hundreds of years..."

V's gaze returned to Jinbe's face, his tone frank and firm:

"We look forward to that future."

Jinbe remained silent for a long time.

He looked at the group of young people in front of him.

Jinbe knew... that the Straw Hat Pirates were not some arrogant fools who didn't know their place.

They were well aware of what they were about to face.

But for the sake of family, they still made their choice without hesitation.

"...I understand."

Jinbe slowly nodded, and a rare, expectant solemnity appeared on his deep, calm face:

"When the time is right, Fishman Island and you all may truly become 'allies'."

Any force that dares to oppose the World Government deserves Fishman Island's respect and expectations.

He paused, then looked at Luffy and V again, each word spoken with the solemnity of a vow:

"Before that..."

"If you ever need my personal assistance, just call me anytime."

……

……

"He seems like...a good person~"

Watching Jinbe's desolate figure as he left, Usopp murmured to himself.

"Hmm." V nodded, then suddenly said to Luffy:

"If we have the chance, let's make him our partner?"

"........."

Straw Hat crew: "Huh?!"

Luffy grinned and said, "Okay!"

……

……

Several hours later, a medium-sized naval warship slowly sailed away from Marineford port.

This was no ordinary cruiser; it was an escort vessel.

In the center of the deck, dozens of prisoners wearing sea stone shackles huddled in iron cages, their expressions either numb or desperate.

Luffy, V, and Sanji stood on one side of the ship's railing, keeping their distance from the prisoners.

"Tsk tsk tsk, these are truly top-quality ingredients~ I can hardly resist them."

V stood at the edge of the deck, his prosthetic eye sweeping over the numb-looking prisoners in the iron cages.

These pirates, bound by chains, have bounties ranging from a minimum of 30 million Berries to as high as nearly 80 million.

If you let V handle it, you can reap a great deal of experience points and system trading points.

Unfortunately, according to naval regulations, these "official prisoners" had to be transported to Impel Down intact.

Only after that can V, as an "experimental collaborator," apply to use some of the prisoners for "cyborg modification tests."

"Just bear with it for a bit~" V pushed up his glasses, forcibly diverting his attention.

As the waves were pushed aside by the warship, the escort ship quickly passed through the Gates of Justice and arrived at the port of Impel Down.

"So you're the Straw Hat crew who came here to cooperate this time!?"

Before the ship had even fully docked, a hoarse yet authoritative voice came from the pier.

Upon hearing the sound, V, Luffy, and Sanji simultaneously turned to look down at the ship.

At the highest point of the stone steps of the dock stood an exceptionally tall and imposing figure.

The man was wearing a dark black Impel Down warden uniform coat, with his arms crossed.

Simply standing there, he was like an unshakeable iron tower, making the gloomy and enormous entrance to the prison behind him seem smaller.

The newcomer was none other than Magellan, the warden of Impel Down, the deep-sea prison known as "Poison Man."

At this moment, he was scanning Luffy and his two companions on the ship with a wary gaze.

After a moment, Magellan spoke again:

"I am Magellan, the warden of this deep-sea prison."