Chapter 119: Return to Impel Down

Impel Down, located in the Calm Belt of the first half of the Grand Line.

Ten Marine warships encircled the massive underwater prison, their crews on high alert; for the impending execution, the Navy dared not show the slightest negligence. Today, the eyes of the world were fixed upon this place. Not only Impel Down, but Enies Lobby, Marineford—the Marine Headquarters—and the World Government itself held this event in the highest regard.

Surveillance Den Den Mushi covered every inch of the facility, monitoring for the arrival of the escaped convict. This was a global broadcast, and even the Four Emperors of the New World took no small interest in the execution. The World Government’s goal was to show all pirates the consequences of opposing them.

The Gate of Hell at Impel Down, once shattered by a single palm strike from Shu Mingyuan, had been replaced with a massive portal constructed entirely of Seastone. The prisoners held within could no longer escape as easily as he once had. Directly in front of the gate hung a gargantuan steel cage, inside which a Sea King—having grown into a medium-sized specimen over three hundred meters in length—was forcefully confined. Its body was covered in scars, many still weeping crimson blood, and its red eyes appeared dim and listless. It had clearly suffered greatly during its captivity.

There was one hour left until the execution. The target of this public spectacle was not some heinous pirate, but a mere medium-sized Sea King that any Rear Admiral could easily crush—an unprecedented event in the history of World Government executions. A single Sea King was not worth such a massive mobilization, but because this creature was linked to the second man in history to escape Impel Down, its value was entirely different.

The World Government cared deeply about its reputation. They would not tolerate any person or faction resisting their will; those who did were to be eradicated. Yet, Shu Mingyuan had not only slapped the World Government in the face at Impel Down, but he had also killed the Warlord of the Sea, Sir Crocodile, who had been personally appointed by the government in Alabasta. Such actions were tantamount to a direct declaration of war.

However, investigations revealed that the "Great Evil," Monkey D. Shu Mingyuan, always acted alone. Finding a powerful pirate hunter in the vast ocean was harder than ascending to heaven. Thus, they had devised a plan to capture his pet to force him to appear at Impel Down and walk straight into their trap.

"Warden Magellan, do you think the fugitive 'Great Evil' Ghost Hunter might not show up?" a jailer asked. With security this tight, even if the Ghost Hunter had wings, he couldn't fly in. Between the ten Marine warships and the defenses of Impel Down, even a Marine Admiral would hesitate to force his way in. The Ghost Hunter was no fool; he wouldn't throw his life away for a Sea King.

With only an hour remaining, the World Government’s dense intelligence network across the Calm Belt had not detected any unidentified vessels approaching. At such a distance, it was impossible for a sailing ship to arrive within an hour. Furthermore, the Calm Belt was perfectly still; without alternative propulsion, any ordinary ship would be dead in the water.

"That guy... he will definitely come." Standing beside Magellan at the front of the Gate of Hell was a swordsman clutching a red-and-black longsword. Shiryu of the Rain recalled the detestable smile the brat had worn after his successful escape, and it made his blood boil. In his view, Shu Mingyuan’s strength wasn't necessarily overwhelming, but his bizarre abilities were a constant headache.

"Shiryu, I heard you say that the brat entered prison voluntarily and was absolutely certain he could escape from the start?" Magellan asked. He regretted missing Shu Mingyuan at the time, which had allowed the escape to happen. He believed that had he been there, his Doku Doku no Mi powers would have been more effective than Shiryu’s, making the escape partially his own responsibility as Warden.

"Indeed. That brat even said that if he had the chance, he would definitely come back to take a look," Shiryu said in a deep voice.

"If that is the case, a man like him will surely not be absent this time. I just wonder in what form he will appear."

"The execution is imminent! Everyone listen well, keep your guard up to one hundred and twenty percent! If any mishaps occur, whoever is responsible will lose their head!"

Shiryu gazed into the distance, his trembling hand gripping the hilt of his Meito, Raiu. The fact that he had let Shu Mingyuan escape during their last encounter was a profound humiliation. He craved the Ghost Hunter’s arrival, hoping to sever his head and wash away the shame.

"Ghost Hunter... oh, Ghost Hunter, do not disappoint me. Our battle is not yet finished. I won't let you escape again. So, when and how will you appear? I truly look forward to it..." Shiryu muttered to himself, his body trembling with anticipation for the coming fight.

Time ticked away. With only twenty minutes left, the Ghost Hunter had yet to appear. On the surface of the Calm Belt, there was not a single ship, nor even a Sea King to be seen.

The scene was transmitted to every corner of the world via Den Den Mushi. Everyone watched the screens with bated breath, but it was clear that many did not favor the World Government’s public execution. If the Ghost Hunter failed to show, the massive resources and time spent on this trap would become a laughingstock, mocked by every pirate across the globe.

"He will come! According to the report from Rear Admiral Hina, after leaving Alabasta, the Ghost Hunter sank the warship she was on and eventually appeared at Jaya. He explicitly stated that he would return to Impel Down. A man like that does not lie!" Magellan shouted, ordering everyone to be even more cautious in these final moments.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a massive shadow emerged in the inner sea of Impel Down. Magellan’s pupils constricted. The Gates of Justice had not been opened. Was this shadow a Sea King, or a ship that had been coated and arrived from beneath the waves?

"Ghost Hunter, is that you?"

The shadow grew larger. Simultaneously, a powerful wind pressure descended, forcing the surface of the sea to drop by half a meter.

"This situation... no, it's not from the sea, it's from the sky!"

Magellan reacted instantly. He looked up to see an enormous ship descending from the heavens, crashing directly into the inner sea and kicking up monstrous waves.