The night was like an oil painting, layers of gray and white brushed across the sky, scattered with faint blurry specks.
The Calm Belt's sea surface was still as a mirror. To be precise, it wasn't completely windless, only so calm that no ordinary ship could set sail.
Only specially modified vessels could traverse the Calm Belt—such as Marine battleships.
Powered by engines, they had no need for sails here, and with seastone embedded in their hulls, they could conceal themselves from the gaze of the Sea Kings.
The Calm Belt was known as the nesting ground of the Sea Kings. And seastone provided Marine ships with the perfect disguise, making it difficult for even the creatures of the deep sea to sense them.
One such battleship now drifted alone across the Calm Belt's waters. But its current master was clearly not the Marines.
After a while, ripples stirred the sea surface, bubbling up.
A pale yellow figure moved up and down beneath the waves, swimming toward the ship.
The young girl standing at the bow lit up with joy. She removed her red cap, with goggles attached, and her short orange hair tumbled free.
Balancing on her tiptoes, she waved her arm energetically.
"Over here, over here!"
The yellowish figure swam faster, drawing nearer. Soon it became clear that it was a fish-man.
He gripped a rope hanging from beneath the ship, then effortlessly hauled himself onto the deck.
"Hack, you've worked hard." The short-haired girl handed him a clean white towel. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"Hahaha, Koala, I'm fine." The fish-man Hack rubbed himself down roughly with the towel before tossing it over his shoulder. "All went smoothly enough. At least the Sea Kings didn't mistake me for a shrimp snack."
"At a time like this, you still have the mood to joke." Koala crossed her arms in exasperation.
"Hahaha… Enough of that. Where's Sabo? I need to report back to him."
"He's in the cabin, speaking with Dragon. To prevent eavesdropping, besides using a Den Den Mushi, they've set up multiple layers of security."
As Koala spoke, the cabin door creaked open.
A young man wearing a tall black top hat, a scar etched on the left side of his forehead, stepped out, followed by two men.
The scarred youth whispered a few words to them before they returned to the cabin to continue their work.
"Hack, Koala." He walked up and patted Haku's strong arm. "Dragon and I were just talking about whether it was safe for you to approach Impel Down alone—and now here you are, back already."
"Relax, Sabo. All I did was fetch a bottle from the waters outside Impel Down."
From his chest, Hack produced a glass bottle with a crumpled sheet of paper sealed inside.
Ever since its founding, the Revolutionary Army had worked tirelessly to plant agents within the institutions of the World Government.
Not long ago, they managed to sway a prison guard from Impel Down who longed to join the 'New Humans,' and at last, they gained inside information.
Sabo took the bottle, snapped off its neck with his hand, and tipped the paper free. He set the glass aside and carefully spread the sheet open.
The paper was wrinkled, covered in dense writing—alongside pink hearts and a large purple lipstick mark.
"This handwriting is unmistakably Ivankov's." Hack grinned broadly. "So, he—or she—is indeed alive, simply hiding within some corner of Impel Down, waiting for the right moment. Our inside contact has finally made connection with him—or her."
"What do you mean, 'he or she'?" Koala asked curiously.
"I wouldn't dare assume Ivankov's gender." Hack roared with laughter. "In any case, breaking someone out from the most heavily guarded prison in the world now has at least a fifty percent chance of success."
Sabo ignored the doodles of hearts and the lipstick mark, carefully digesting the written contents, wary of any misinterpretation between himself and Ivankov.
After a moment—
"Whew…" He exhaled softly, relief spreading across his face as he confirmed the escape plan's time frame and specific details had been clearly communicated.
"Sabo, does Dragon still disapprove of our plan to rescue Ivankov?" Koala asked nervously.
"Dragon didn't oppose it—he's simply cautious. But I've already convinced him." Sabo smiled. "I told him: between Mary Geoise and Impel Down, which is more heavily guarded? In the end, we'll have to infiltrate Mary Geoise itself. Besides, Ivankov is invaluable to us."
Koala raised a thumb in approval and gave him a playful wink.
Sabo chuckled, then grew serious. "Rescuing Ivankov is our top priority this mission. He's already organized a team within Impel Down. With inside and outside working together, there's a real chance."
Years ago, as Revolutionaries, they had seized several Marine battleships and hidden them away, unused. Sabo believed this was the perfect opportunity to bring them into play.
Battleships were indispensable in the Calm Belt.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The World Government and Marine Headquarters are diverting enormous resources to prepare for war with Whitebeard's pirates. And we've intercepted word that the 'Pirate Empress' Hancock intends to visit Impel Down…"
Koala giggled, wagging a finger.
"When Hancock steps inside Impel Down, that'll be the prison's weakest moment. Every guard's eyes will be fixed on her unparalleled beauty, and its gates will briefly be open to welcome her. That's when Ivankov sparks a riot inside, and, hehehe…"
"And Hancock will be dragged into the chaos as well." Sabo smirked. "No one will believe she's uninvolved. The guards will attack her, and she'll be forced to defend herself. Impel Down will erupt into absolute turmoil."
Koala grinned mischievously.
Sabo laughed along with her, then noticed Hack wearing a conflicted look, as if holding something back. Curious, he asked:
"Hack, do you have something to say? Do you see a flaw in the plan?"
"No." Hack furrowed his brow. "But… I do have a personal concern."
"Go on."
"Well… perhaps I've never told you. 'Sea Knight' Jinbe is a dear friend of mine. He was imprisoned for Ace's sake, and word is, he's being held in the lowest level of Impel Down… Ah, forget I mentioned it…"
Hack understood well enough—the difficulty of rescuing so many was already immense, let alone adding someone confined to the lowest depths. He didn't want to endanger his comrades.
"No matter." Sabo gave a faint smile. "If, after freeing Ivankov, we still have strength left, then rescuing Jinbe would be a fine bonus. With a former Warlord's power, our odds of success would soar."
Hack's face lit with gratitude. "Whether we succeed or fail, we'll give it our all. Allow me to thank you on Jinbe's behalf."
Sabo waved the words away. "Truth is, I also have a selfish reason for agreeing."
"A selfish reason?" Koala blinked her wide eyes.
"I've told you before—many years ago, I lost most of my memories." Sabo sighed, narrowing his gaze slightly. "But when I see Ace's wanted poster, when I see his face, I can't shake the feeling I've seen him somewhere before."
"Ace?" Koala gasped. "The Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander? The very man whose capture has triggered the war between Marine Headquarters and Whitebeard?"
"Mm." Sabo nodded. "He's also locked away in Impel Down's deepest level. Somehow, I feel that if I speak to him face-to-face, the truth of my past will finally come to light."
From his coat, he drew a folded wanted poster, spread it open, and studied it.
"Portgas D. Ace, the 'Fire Fist'… Who are you? And who am I?"
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