"Uncle Magellan, is the ice in this Freezing Hell created by refrigeration devices, or was it frozen by Uncle Kuzan?"
On the fifth underground level of Impel Down, in the passage leading to the lowest level, Eternal Hell, Rorschach and his two companions followed behind Magellan, curiously observing their surroundings.
The environment of this fifth level was completely opposite to the scorching Blazing Hell above.
Except for the narrow path they were walking on, which remained unfrozen, everything else—the ground, walls, and cells—was covered in a thick layer of white ice.
In the distance, heavy snowflakes continued to fall over the vast icy plains.
The temperature in the air had already dropped to well below freezing.
Hibari's small face had turned red from the cold, and she kept blowing warm air onto her hands.
"Hahaha, why would you think it was frozen by Admiral Aokiji?"
Hearing Rorschach's question, Magellan couldn't help but laugh.
Shaking his head, he pointed at the walls along the corridor and said, "Although it does look like the large-scale freezing effect created by Uncle Kuzan's Ice-Ice Fruit..."
"The internal environment of Impel Down was actually formed hundreds of years ago."
"The temperature fluctuations of the Freezing Hell and the Blazing Hell are regulated by special climate control devices."
"Yes, the prison has dedicated laboratories, including medical and engineering research facilities. The medical labs serve as the prison's hospital, and sometimes they even conduct human experiments on death row inmates. The engineering labs are responsible for the daily operation of the prison and improving the internal environment. Of course..."
Magellan's lips curled into a cruel smile.
"By 'improving,' I mean creating harsher conditions to ensure the prisoners experience even greater suffering."
"How considerate. I'm sure the prisoners must be very grateful for the rich experiences they get to enjoy here in prison," Rorschach shrugged sarcastically.
"The entrance to the elevator leading to Eternal Hell is just ahead. Follow me."
Magellan took the lead, walking toward a massive iron gate in front of them.
Just as Rorschach was about to follow, he suddenly paused, his expression shifting as he turned his head to look deep into the icy plains to the right.
He felt the distinct sensation of being watched.
His Observation Haki activated instinctively, spreading out toward the icy plains on the right.
"Hmm?"
Rorschach raised an eyebrow.
The presence that had been watching him had vanished.
Through his Observation Haki, Rorschach sensed nothing in the frozen wasteland except the half-frozen prisoners struggling to survive beneath the thick layers of snow and ice. No other living beings were present.
His eyes flickered with thought.
Come to think of it, deep within the Freezing Hell's ice plains, there was said to be a hidden entrance leading to the "Kamabakka Queendom."
The Kamabakka Queendom, also known as Level 5.5, was a special prison space hidden between the Freezing Hell and Eternal Hell.
It was believed to have been created by Morley, a commander of the Revolutionary Army, using the powers of the Push-Push Fruit to carve out the hidden chamber.
At this point in time, the highest authority in the Kamabakka Queendom was likely none other than the former king of the Kamabakka Kingdom and a high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Army, Emporio Ivankov, who was imprisoned here a few years ago.
"So, that feeling of being watched... Could it have come from those inhabitants of the Kamabakka Queendom?"
Rorschach pondered silently.
He was contemplating whether or not to reveal the existence of the Kamabakka Queendom to Magellan.
That place was essentially a ticking time bomb, planted within the prison by the Revolutionary Army.
Although Dragon is currently opposing the World Government,
In a way, his path aligns with the one Rorschach intends to take in the future.
However, Impel Down is of great importance, and the prisoners inside must never be released on a large scale.
In other words, Rorschach does not want to see an event similar to the prison break depicted in the manga happen in reality.
If he were to inform Magellan, eliminating the Kamabakka Queendom would be a simple task for him.
All it would take is finding an entrance, flooding it with poison, and waiting for everyone inside to die.
Rorschach shook his head slightly, pushing aside this extreme thought from his mind. He removed his cloak and draped it over the shivering Hibari.
With the sound of chains and pulleys grinding, the old elevator platform descended into a dark, enclosed underground space.
The moment Rorschach stepped inside, his Observation Haki picked up several waves of powerful auras.
Perhaps alerted by the sound of the descending elevator, eerie and sinister laughter echoed from the cells embedded in the towering walls, dozens of meters high.
"Muruhuhuhu~ Our esteemed King of Hell himself has graced us with his presence! What's the matter? No diarrhea today?"
"Magellan, what are you doing bringing these fresh little marine brats down here? Are they on the menu for us today, meow?"
"Yahahaha! I'm so bored! Can you get me a new cellmate? It's been ages since I had a taste of fresh blood!"
Unrestrained laughter and vulgar insults poured out from the dark prison cells, echoing throughout the vast, gloomy Eternal Hell.
Hibari, frightened, clung tightly to Rorschach's sleeve.
Rorschach glanced around the prison cells.
"You scum! If you don't want to die, shut up!"
Magellan's eyes widened in fury as he roared.
Then, looking at Rorschach, who was curiously approaching one of the cell doors, he warned:
"Don't get too close to the cell doors."
"These scumbags have been locked up for a long time and are kept alive on minimal rations, but if you get too close, they can still be very dang—"
Before Magellan could finish speaking, a skeletal hand shot out from the cell bars, clawing at Rorschach's face with bony fingers like a bird's talons.
Clang!
The iron bars rattled violently with a loud, muffled thud.
A skull-like face pressed against the bars, staring at Rorschach with cloudy, white eyes, grinning with only a few remaining teeth in its mouth.
Rorschach remained expressionless, reaching out and grabbing the withered hand that had lunged at him.
The skeletal prisoner paused for a moment, then licked his cracked lips with his tongue, his throat moving greedily as he stared at Rorschach.
"Hehehe... hahaha... Boy, boy, come closer! Let me take a bite! Just one bite! Your tender marine flesh must taste amazing!"
The prisoner grinned maniacally and pulled on Rorschach's arm with his frail yet eager strength, inching him closer.
Seeing this, the other inmates howled in unison, filling the air with ghostly wails.
"Damn it! Why isn't he coming to me? Marine brat! Come here too! I want a bite!"
"Magellan, you diarrhea-ridden bastard! Bring one of those little marines to me too!"
"I want that little girl, heh heh... I'll savor her taste like fine wine... hiccup."
Crack, crack, crack!
A sharp sound of bones breaking echoed through the prison, like beans being crushed.
The hand Rorschach was holding had its fingers and palm compressed to a tenth of their original size.
The prisoner, initially stunned, slowly twisted his face in agony.
In the next moment, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from his hollow mouth, echoing throughout the dark depths of Eternal Hell.
(End of Chapter)
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