He could no longer remember how many years it had been since he last heard that name.
Back then, after the other man became an Admiral, he had celebrated for three days and three nights for his old friend. Yet soon afterward, he received an even heavier piece of news.
It could be said that Shinbu had watched that old friend rise from an unknown Marine soldier to an Admiral whose name shook the world.
He had witnessed the twists and turns of the man's entire life and had also become his most loyal admirer.
After the battle with the Roger Pirates that year, Shinbu himself became a legend among the younger generation of Marines, while Kojin became a new legend entirely.
"Kojin, huh?"
"He's currently in a place that outsiders can hardly ever reach."
Shinbu looked at the young girl before him with a complicated expression as he sighed softly.
"You know my Sensei?" Kuina asked in surprise.
"If it were other people in the Marines, they might not know much about this matter. But me?"
"I just so happen to know some things about him, including where he is now."
As he spoke, a faint smile and gentle warmth appeared on Shinbu's face. Looking at the young female officer before him, his eyes carried a trace of closeness.
At this moment, in his eyes, Kuina was no different from a junior of his own.
"That's wonderful! Can you take me to see my Sensei?" Kuina asked excitedly.
"Well…"
Shinbu hesitated. But when he saw the joy and anticipation in the girl's eyes, he could not bear to refuse her.
In the end, he slowly nodded.
"Alright! I'll help you this once!"
A bright smile immediately bloomed on Kuina's face.
Over the past half year, she had traveled from the West Blue to the Grand Line, fighting countless pirates and criminals along the way. Eventually, near Long Ring Long Land, she encountered Rear Admiral Shinbu while he was battling pirates.
One could say she had experienced many unforgettable hardships, though overall, the journey had gone smoothly.
"Come with me! Remember, Kuina, this matter absolutely cannot be revealed to anyone else. Right now, your Sensei is a taboo subject within the Marines." Shinbu lowered his voice as he spoke.
Kuina felt puzzled, but she nodded lightly.
In truth, she had never actually met her Sensei before. She had only seen photographs of him together with Eveya, Vice Commander Bullet, and others inside the West Blue Commander's Office.
In her impression, Sensei was a warm man who always wore a smile on his face, a tall and powerfully built Marine.
But according to Rear Admiral Shinbu, Sensei was a taboo?
As far as she knew, Sensei was a Marine Admiral!
"If you want to see him, we'll have to leave this place first. Come aboard my ship."
Shinbu turned his head and said.
Kuina grew even more confused, but wisely suppressed the questions in her heart and silently followed behind him.
Only after the battleship sailed beyond the Gates of Justice and changed course—
Kuina suddenly froze slightly.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Rear Admiral Shinbu, draped in his Marine cloak, somehow produced a cigarette from nowhere. With a sharp click, he lit it and took a deep drag.
"I met your Sensei a very long time ago."
"Heh… you could say it belonged to the previous era. Back then, the most famous people in the world weren't the current Emperors."
"Pirate King Roger, Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard Edward Newgate… These three were known as the Three Legendary Pirates who stood at the pinnacle of the world."
After a pause, nostalgia and melancholy appeared in Shinbu's eyes.
"That time, your Sensei and I served on the same battleship and carried out the same mission. It was the first time I met him, and also the first time I fought against the Roger Pirates."
Shinbu spoke slowly.
His words caused Kuina to stare blankly for a moment, while the nearby Marines listened with expressions full of reverence.
Their superior was a man who had once fought against the Pirate King himself, a living Marine legend.
"Your Sensei was an incomparably powerful man. At that time, he was called a Monster! A Monster who surpassed even the world-famous Three Admirals of today!"
Shinbu's voice gradually became distant and hazy as he stared ahead at the enormous, gloomy prison looming in the distance.
"After returning to Headquarters, I was transferred elsewhere, but I never stopped gathering rumors and news about him. Over the years, I went from an obscure officer to a veteran Marine commander. Even some of today's young Vice Admirals were personally trained by me."
"To be honest, all of that was influenced by your Sensei."
Shinbu said with a smile.
Then suddenly, his gaze grew heavy.
As Kuina listened, curiosity and happiness filled her eyes.
"Your Sensei has disappeared from this world for many years."
"Most people have no idea where he went. Even I had to spend a great deal of effort investigating through countless connections before finally learning the truth."
Taking a deep breath, Shinbu lowered his voice.
Kuina listened intently.
"He is currently inside Impel Down!" Shinbu declared.
Kuina froze. Then her expression changed drastically as she abruptly raised her head to look toward the gloomy prison shrouded in mist ahead.
"That's right. That place! So if you want to see him, you'll have to enter the world's greatest prison!" Shinbu said in a deep voice, his eyes flickering.
In his mind, he was already considering what method he could use to send his old friend's disciple into Impel Down and fulfill her wish.
"Enter the world's greatest prison…" Kuina murmured softly.
Suddenly, she felt nervous and afraid.
She had long heard of this massive prison, but she had never imagined it would one day have anything to do with her.
That place imprisoned the world's most dangerous criminals, filled with brutality and filth.
One could even say it was more dangerous than the outside world itself.
"I'll think of a way for you! But before that, there's something you need to know. Do you have the courage to face the world's greatest prison?" Shinbu turned around and asked in a deep voice.
Impel Down was no ordinary place. The vicious aura radiating from the criminals imprisoned there for years was enough to drive weak-willed people insane, or even make them collapse mentally.
"I do!" Kuina nodded heavily.
She had traveled all alone from the West Blue to this place for the sole purpose of meeting that Sensei she had never seen before.
"Good!" Shinbu nodded in satisfaction.
As expected of Kojin's disciple. At such a young age, she already possessed such determination and courage.
A short while later, the battleship arrived at Impel Down.
The two of them soon met the Vice Warden of Impel Down, Hannyabal.
"Hm? Where's the prisoner you brought?"
"Just hand them over to me."
Hannyabal glanced around but saw no prisoner, then looked toward Shinbu in confusion.
"I am Headquarters Rear Admiral Shinbu. I came here because I need Vice Warden Hannyabal's help with something."
Grinding his teeth slightly, Shinbu lowered his voice as he spoke.
"I don't have time to help you with your problems!"
Hannyabal rolled his eyes impatiently.
Within the Marine system, Impel Down functioned almost like an independent organization. Even Headquarters officers had no authority over them.
"This matter concerns Admiral Kojin, and I am also Admiral Kojin's closest friend!"
Shinbu looked at him and spoke solemnly.
When dealing with the people of Impel Down, bringing up Kojin's name was his only option.
Sure enough, the moment Hannyabal heard the name Kojin, his whole body stiffened slightly. He instinctively glanced around before his expression softened.
"Admiral Kojin, huh?"
"He's been very busy lately, silently dedicating himself to matters concerning Impel Down."
"I respect him greatly!"
Hannyabal's impression of Kojin began from the moment Golden Lion Shiki escaped from prison.
He clearly remembered the fear and trembling he felt when facing that great pirate. Then later, he heard that Golden Lion had been killed by Kojin.
From that moment onward, he knew he had been completely won over by the Marine named Kojin.
"This Marine Ensign is named Kuina. She is Admiral Kojin's disciple! She came here hoping to trouble Vice Warden Hannyabal into taking her to see her Sensei!"
Seeing a chance, Shinbu hurriedly explained.
The reason he was even able to meet Hannyabal was because of Kojin's connections within Impel Down. Ordinary prisoners would never warrant the Vice Warden's appearance.
"Ensign Kuina." Hannyabal's expression softened as he nodded toward the young girl.
Kuina looked somewhat nervous and bowed slightly.
"Come with me. Everything related to Admiral Kojin is top secret. It must never be leaked to outsiders, and no one outside of Impel Down is permitted to see him."
"Rear Admiral Shinbu, you should leave now."
Hannyabal said.
Shinbu nodded, giving Kuina an encouraging smile before turning around and departing.
Afterward, Hannyabal led the girl behind him through the gates of Impel Down and retrieved the key to Level Two: Wild Beast Hell.
"Admiral Kojin is in Level Two Underground, the Wild Beast Hell. But as for his exact location, even I don't know. Once you get there, you'll have to search for him yourself. Still, Wild Beast Hell is extremely dangerous. Be careful not to confront the Jailer Beasts head-on."
Hannyabal explained the situation inside Impel Down in detail with a smile.
"Thank you." Kuina replied softly.
Hannyabal smiled lightly and strode ahead.
Soon, they passed through Level One Underground, the Crimson Hell. Kuina saw prisoners covered in blood, tortured by sword trees and needle grass, causing cold sweat to break out across her body.
"The prisoners on Level One aren't guilty of severe crimes, so the punishments here are relatively mild." Hannyabal explained.
Kuina remained silent.
She gradually began to understand why the world feared Impel Down so deeply.
This place truly was like Hell itself.
Even the most vicious criminals outside would become pitiful wretches here, endlessly tormented.
Very soon, they passed through Level One and arrived at Underground Level Two.
"Level Two is far more dangerous than Level One. Even I don't like staying here for long!" Hannyabal said seriously.
Using a key, he unlocked the massive corridor gate and carefully stepped inside.
The moment Kuina entered, her pretty face turned deathly pale.
A terrifying aura filled the air, making even breathing difficult for her.
"You…"
Hannyabal had only spoken a single word when he saw how distressed she looked. Unable to bear it, he shook his head sharply.
"Forget it. I'll accompany you further in and help you look for Admiral Kojin."
Kuina forced out a faint smile.
"Thank you…"
"I can't guarantee we'll actually find him, though."
"In all these years, every time I've come to Level Two, I've never once seen him."
Hannyabal said.
Kuina silently followed behind him. The deeper they walked, the heavier the pressure on her body became.
Suddenly, the figure ahead abruptly stopped.
Kuina raised her head in shock and saw that Hannyabal's body was trembling.
"Koj…?"
"Admiral Kojin?!"
Hannyabal's trembling voice rang out, causing Kuina's eyes to widen instantly.
Sensei?
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395