After throwing Wena into the prison cell in the lower hold of the Swordfish, Sammy ordered the entire crew to rest and recover their strength.
Soon, the cabins were filled with the rising and falling sound of snores.
Only the crew members on rotating watch remained on deck, keeping a vigilant eye on the harbor as it gradually grew busier.
Time passed quickly in sleep.
When Sammy opened his eyes again, dusk had already fallen.
Outside the porthole, Rapeseed Port was wrapped in a night sky of deep blue and burning orange.
He got out of bed and stretched his stiff muscles.
Before long, the other officers gathered in the captain's cabin.
"Everyone rested well?"
"No problem, boss."
Aldo cracked his knuckles, the joints popping loudly.
"Are all the brothers back on board?"
"Every single one. Everyone's here and ready to move."
"Good. Prepare to depart."
Sammy walked to the table and picked up a small Den Den Mushi.
"Feiqi, your job is to find a high vantage point and provide observation and long-range support."
"Take this Den Den Mushi and keep in contact with us."
"Understood, boss."
Feiqi accepted the Den Den Mushi, slung his rifle over his shoulder, and headed toward the observation point they had chosen during reconnaissance.
"Isaac, Aldo, Marcus, Kahelo—you four are coming with me to rescue Leon."
Five shadows slipped away from the Swordfish, moving silently toward the gray sandstone prison.
Not long after, the Den Den Mushi in Sammy's pocket vibrated softly.
Feiqi's voice came through in a low whisper.
"Boss, this is Feiqi. The observation point has good visibility."
"A four-man patrol just moved from the prison front gate to the side. They're heading toward the eastern warehouse district."
"The prison courtyard is clear for now."
"Copy. Maintain contact."
Sammy hung up and signaled the others.
Using shadows and the uneven surface of the prison walls, they climbed over the wall and dropped quietly into the courtyard.
Kahelo quickly led them to the entrance of the underground cells.
Just as expected—
Two guards were stationed outside the door, looking half asleep.
Sammy and Marcus moved at the same time.
Two precise hand chops struck the guards' necks.
The guards collapsed without even making a sound.
Isaac and Aldo immediately dragged the unconscious men aside, hiding them behind a pile of stored supplies.
Kahelo removed the keys from one guard's belt and inserted them into the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
A stone stairway leading downward appeared before them.
Torches flickered weakly along the walls, barely illuminating a few steps ahead.
The five slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind them.
They descended the steps.
After about one floor's depth, faint voices drifted up from ahead.
They immediately slowed their steps and crept forward.
"…What a hassle. It's just one pirate. Why are we so nervous? They even made us add more guards."
"Stop complaining. We just follow orders. I heard that guy is vicious—he injured several of our brothers yesterday."
"And tomorrow morning he'll be escorted to Alubarna. Don't let anything happen on the last night."
Sammy peeked around the corner.
Ahead was a slightly larger stone chamber—a crude checkpoint.
Three guards sat around a small wooden table chatting beside a dim oil lamp.
Several large rings of keys hung on the wall.
A few spare lanterns sat nearby.
Sammy signaled to attack.
The five rushed in simultaneously.
These ordinary guards stood no chance.
They were knocked unconscious instantly, without even time to raise an alarm.
"Grab the keys. Hurry."
They continued down the main corridor.
Soon iron-barred cells began appearing on both sides.
They moved quickly, scanning each cell for Leon.
As they passed a row of cells—
Rustling suddenly came from the darkness on both sides.
"Hey! Who's out there?"
"A jailbreak? Hahaha!"
"Quick! Let us out too!"
"Yeah! If you're breaking one person out, might as well break out everyone!"
"Let us out!"
More and more prisoners rushed to the bars.
They shouted wildly and began slamming against the iron bars with loud clang clang sounds.
Sammy's eyes turned cold.
If this continued, the noise would eventually attract guards.
"Make them shut up."
Aldo stepped forward and growled at the loudest prisoners.
"If you don't want to die, keep quiet."
But these desperate criminals had been imprisoned for too long.
Seeing even the slightest hope, they refused to give up.
"Let us out! Or we'll scream!"
"We'll call the guards!"
"You don't want things getting messy, right?"
"Free us too and we'll go our own way!"
Their voices grew louder.
Their excitement intensified.
Sammy stopped walking and turned around.
His cold gaze swept across the twisted faces in the darkness.
Suddenly—
He grinned.
"Quiet."
"Let me find the person I came for first."
"After I find him, I'll throw the keys here. Then you can come out yourselves."
The words temporarily extinguished the rising chaos.
The prisoners glanced at one another.
Slowly, the noise died down.
Soon they found Leon in a cell near the end of the corridor.
He sat leaning against the wall, dressed in a rough Alabasta prisoner uniform.
When he saw Sammy and the others, he immediately jumped up and rushed to the bars.
"Boss! I knew you'd come!"
"You alright?"
"Just flesh wounds. Nothing serious!"
"That bastard Wena—"
"He's already been captured."
"We'll get you out and leave Alabasta immediately. Everything's ready."
Isaac stepped forward and began trying keys in the heavy lock under the dim light.
Behind them, the prisoners grew restless again.
"Hey! You found your man! Give us the keys!"
"Hurry up!"
"Don't forget your promise!"
The shouting resumed, louder than before.
Sammy and the others escorted Leon back the way they came.
Just before exiting the prison corridor, Sammy stopped.
He turned around and looked at the rows of cells.
Suddenly—
He made an exaggerated mocking face.
"You scum really thought you were getting out?"
"Dream on."
Before anyone could react—
He threw the large ring of keys toward the stone guard room.
"Move!"
Sammy shouted.
The five of them rushed out of the chamber with Leon and sprinted up the staircase.
Behind them—
There was a brief moment of stunned silence.
Then the underground prison erupted.
Roars of rage.
Curses.
Desperate banging against iron bars.
The entire dungeon descended into chaos.
"You bastards! You'll die for this!"
"Bring the keys back!"
"AAAH—!"
"What's that noise from the dungeon?!"
"Something's wrong! Go check!"
"Where are the guards at the entrance?! Why is the door open?!"
Lights began turning on throughout the prison.
Footsteps and shouts echoed everywhere.
Almost at the exact moment Sammy's group burst out of the dungeon entrance into the courtyard shadows—
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Feiqi's voice came through urgently.
"Boss! The whole prison is lit up! Guards are gathering—you've been exposed!"
"Do you need me to fire and create a distraction?"
Sammy lifted the receiver while signaling his companions to prepare for a forced breakout.
"It's fine, Feiqi."
"Leon is already out."
"No need to worry."
He looked toward the prison courtyard where shadows of guards were beginning to appear.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"Now that we've got our man…"
"…there's nothing to fear."
"Let's just fight our way out."
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