Spring Queen Town.
Deep within a hidden underground chamber, illuminated only by a few dim oil lamps, a secret conversation was taking place.
A figure clad entirely in black knelt respectfully before a Den Den Mushi.
"My Lord, I have successfully established contact with Her Highness."
The voice coming from the Den Den Mushi remained calm and emotionless.
"Zero, you've done well."
"Proceed according to the original plan."
The kneeling figure hesitated briefly.
"However, Her Highness is extremely vigilant."
"Furthermore, she possesses a strange ability."
"She can distinguish truth from falsehood with remarkable accuracy."
Silence lingered for several moments.
Then the mysterious voice spoke once more.
"In that case, serve her with complete sincerity."
"I require nothing more than constant observation."
"Remain by her side."
"Gather every piece of information you can."
"Report everything to me."
The kneeling figure lowered his head.
"Understood."
"Zero will not fail."
The Den Den Mushi's expression returned to normal.
The communication ended.
The room once again fell into silence.
♦ ♦ ♦
Meanwhile, within the massive underwater fortress known as Impel Down…
"Rear Admiral Seraphina, I am Domino, secretary to Chief Warden Magellan."
"You may simply call me Domino."
Although Domino had received orders to accommodate Seraphina's requests to the best of her ability, she remained unaware of the young Marine's true identity.
The only thing she knew was that Magellan had personally issued strict instructions before her arrival.
Every staff member in Impel Down had been placed on alert.
No mistakes were permitted.
Domino had worked alongside Magellan long enough to recognize when he was serious.
That alone made her curious about the silver-haired Rear Admiral standing before her.
"Will there be any inspection procedures?"
Saint Roselith Seraphina asked politely.
She had already noticed the elegant young woman approaching her.
Domino appeared to be in her early twenties.
Her reddish-brown glasses framed a composed face.
A tilted cap partially covered her right eye, while long golden hair flowed gracefully down her back.
At first glance, she looked more like a secretary from a noble household than a prison official.
"None whatsoever."
Only after standing face-to-face with Seraphina did Domino fully understand why Magellan had been acting strangely.
The Rear Admiral looked unbelievably young.
Young enough that someone unfamiliar with her rank might mistake her for a noble teenager.
Her long silver-white hair extended almost to her waist, perfectly maintained and gleaming under the prison lights.
As always, Seraphina's eyes remained gently closed.
Yet her steps were steady and natural.
She walked with such confidence that one would never imagine she was blind.
Domino immediately realized that appearances were deceiving.
This young woman possessed terrifying strength.
"Please follow me."
As they began walking, Domino naturally assumed the role of guide.
"Impel Down is divided into one surface level and six underground levels."
"The level we are currently standing on is the only section above sea level."
"Everything else lies beneath the ocean."
She gestured toward the massive prison structure surrounding them.
"From top to bottom, the prison consists of the following levels."
"The Surface Level."
"Level One: Crimson Hell."
"Level Two: Beast Hell."
"Level Three: Starvation Hell."
"Level Four: Blazing Hell."
"The Chief Warden's office, staff facilities, and administrative headquarters are located there."
"Level Five: Freezing Hell."
"And finally…"
"Level Six: Eternal Hell."
Her tone became noticeably more serious.
"Each level is designed to inflict a different form of suffering upon its prisoners."
"Which level would you like to visit first, Rear Admiral?"
As Domino explained the prison structure, Kuina and Riva listened quietly beside Seraphina.
The more they heard, the more uncomfortable they became.
This place truly deserved its reputation as the Great Prison beneath the sea.
Then Kuina suddenly noticed something.
"Wait…"
"Where did Chief Warden Magellan go?"
She blinked.
Only moments ago, the enormous man had been standing beside them.
Now he had completely disappeared.
Domino froze.
An awkward expression appeared on her face.
"Ah…"
"I'm terribly sorry."
"The Chief Warden has… urgent business."
Kuina tilted her head.
"Urgent business?"
Domino coughed lightly.
"Chief Warden Magellan spends approximately ten hours each day suffering from severe stomach problems."
"He is currently in the restroom."
A strange silence followed.
Even Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
Domino forced herself to continue.
"In order to personally welcome Rear Admiral Seraphina, he delayed his usual schedule."
Kuina's mouth twitched.
Please don't delay something like that…
She wisely kept the thought to herself.
Attempting to salvage Magellan's image, Domino continued explaining.
"The Chief Warden sleeps roughly eight hours a day."
"He also requires time for meals and other necessities."
"Despite that, he still manages Impel Down's operations effectively."
Kuina performed some quick mental calculations.
Ten hours.
Plus eight hours.
Plus meals.
That didn't leave much time.
Isn't he barely working at all?
She silently arrived at a troubling conclusion.
"I see."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"It seems Chief Warden Magellan is a very capable individual."
Domino immediately nodded.
"Indeed."
"As expected of the Chief Warden."
She accepted the compliment on Magellan's behalf without the slightest hesitation.
After a brief pause, Seraphina asked the question that had been on her mind.
"I recall that a certain prisoner was transferred here recently."
"His name is Enel."
"The user of the Goro Goro no Mi."
Domino immediately recognized the name.
"Ah, the self-proclaimed God."
"The one who constantly talks about ruling the world."
She sighed.
"Trust me, he's difficult to forget."
Seraphina smiled slightly.
"Which level is he being held on?"
"Level Five."
"Freezing Hell."
Domino answered promptly.
"Since he possesses a Logia Devil Fruit and displays dangerous tendencies, he was classified as a high-risk prisoner."
She paused briefly.
"I've also read your report concerning his capture."
"The threat assessment attached to it was quite extraordinary."
"Even after being imprisoned, he continues speaking about destroying the world and becoming a god."
Domino found Enel particularly strange.
Most prisoners gradually accepted reality after arriving in Impel Down.
Enel had done the opposite.
He remained as arrogant as ever.
If anything, imprisonment had only made him louder.
"Then let's visit Level Five."
Seraphina made her decision.
♦ ♦ ♦
Impel Down.
Level Five.
Freezing Hell.
An endless blizzard raged throughout the frozen wasteland.
The temperature was so low that ordinary humans would perish within minutes.
Inside one of the prison cells, a furious voice echoed through the icy corridors.
"Impossible!"
"There must be a way out!"
"I am God!"
"I refuse to rot away in this frozen hell!"
The speaker was Enel.
His wrists and ankles were bound by thick Kairoseki chains.
Because of his status as a Logia user, additional restraints secured him to a massive iron pillar.
His body trembled from the cold.
Not because he was weak.
But because he lacked the physical conditioning possessed by many powerful pirates of the Blue Sea.
Without access to his Devil Fruit powers, surviving within Freezing Hell was exceptionally difficult.
As a result, he constantly moved and shouted in an attempt to generate body heat.
Every time he remembered the silver-haired woman responsible for his defeat, his anger surged uncontrollably.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Just wait.
One day…
One day I will escape.
The thought repeated endlessly in his mind.
Suddenly, laughter erupted from neighboring cells.
"Hahaha!"
"William, listen to him again!"
"The long-eared idiot is shouting about becoming God!"
One of the prisoners burst into laughter.
Another immediately joined in.
"Enel!"
"You aren't escaping anywhere!"
"This is Impel Down!"
"Nobody escapes Impel Down!"
"Hahaha!"
The surrounding criminals laughed loudly.
Most had spent years imprisoned in Freezing Hell.
They had already adapted to the cold.
What truly frightened them now was not the freezing temperature.
It was loneliness.
And mocking Enel had become one of the few forms of entertainment available to them.
Their laughter echoed endlessly throughout the frozen prison.
Meanwhile, Enel's expression darkened further.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
His teeth clenched.
One day…
Every single one of them would regret laughing at a god.
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