Chapter 151: Where

Impel Down Level 6, Infinite Hell.

Impel Down's defenses are extraordinarily tight, known as the world's greatest prison, housing only the most heinous criminals, such as Red Count and Barrett.

Even when the Golden Lion escaped from Infinite Hell, he paid with both his legs.

Under the strict guard of dozens of wardens, Buggy's wrists were shackled with Seastone manacles, and his ankles were bound with Seastone chains.

Buggy never imagined he would one day be locked away in Impel Down's Infinite Hell.

Enjoying the same treatment as Captain Luo Jie.

Buggy understood he owed this to Captain Luo Jie and his good brother Saint Saint Saiwen.

Otherwise, how could a pirate with a bounty of just ten million Berries qualify for Level 6?

Seeing the ever-present patrol wardens, the 360-degree surveillance by visible Den Den Mushi, and the faint, lingering glances scanning him, Buggy instantly trembled.

The Seastone cells held nothing but bloodthirsty, cruel great pirates.

Buggy felt like a fat little lamb who had wandered into a wolf's den, ready to be devoured by the pack of big bad wolves at any moment.

"Red Nose? Why are you the only one here?"

"Where's Bai Mao?"

Huh? Someone I know?

Buggy quickly looked up and saw a towering figure with wild golden hair and an arrogant, cool, cocky, utterly badass expression staring back at him from within the Seastone cell.

"B…Barrett?"

The one greeting Buggy was none other than Douglas Barrett, former member of Luo Jie's crew, known as the Devil's Descendant.

Thinking of being locked in other cells, where he might be beaten—or even killed—

Buggy found courage he didn't know he had.

"I… I want to be locked up here."

The warden in charge of escorting, Renlen, had originally been deputy warden, but when Warden Yuzhi Xiliu defected to Emperor Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, Renlen dropped the "deputy" title.

Remembering Warden Yuzhi Xiliu's kindness, Warden Renlen nodded silently.

"Lock him in."

"Yes, sir."

Once the wardens had all left, Buggy chuckled awkwardly: "Big Brother Barrett, long time no see."

Back on the Golden Jacks, with the Big Three—Gold, Silver, Copper—still aboard, and his good brother Saint Saint Saiwen and Shanks holding the line, Buggy had dared to call Barrett by name.

Now, both were prisoners of Impel Down.

Buggy decided to swallow his pride and call him "Big Brother." Moreover, he somehow felt a strange familiarity radiating from Barrett, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Red Nose, how the hell did someone like you end up in Level 6?"

Barrett was baffled, even speechless—what had happened out on the sea that allowed a trash like Red Nose to be locked up alongside him?

After wiping away his tears, Buggy sighed.

"Big Brother Barrett."

"The Marines say I'm the captain's son, and they planned to execute me publicly in Marineford."

"Nani?!" Barrett's pupils dilated in shock.

"How could Luo Jie have a son like you?"

It wasn't that Barrett looked down on Buggy—it was just that a man like Luo Jie… how to put it?

Only Bai Mao deserves the name Luo Jie.

Red Nose doesn't even qualify.

Barrett had ruled the seas undefeated since age fifteen, until he met Luo Jie, challenging him repeatedly—and losing every time.

In the end,

Barrett joined Luo Jie's crew as a challenger, vowing: One day, I will defeat you and become the strongest in the world.

But Luo Jie was stricken with a terminal illness.

After his final failed challenge to Luo Jie, Barrett left the Luo Jie Pirates and began wandering.

When he heard Luo Jie had been executed, Barrett went berserk, destroying everything in his path, until he was finally captured by Sengoku and Karp, overwhelmed and imprisoned in Impel Down under a Buster Call.

About a year ago.

From a newspaper brought specially by Impel Down's warden, Barrett learned that Bai Mao had become an Emperor of the Sea.

From that day on, Barrett found a new purpose in life—even shackled with Seastone chains and manacles, he trained furiously inside his cell.

All he wanted was to one day defeat Bai Mao.

To defeat Bai Mao, the inheritor of Luo Jie's will, and prove to the world: Barrett had never been weaker than anyone else in his life.

Yet now, Red Nose had been locked in Level 6.

"So the Marines want to execute you publicly to lure Bai Mao to Marineford, then trap him completely?"

Buggy nodded, then shook his head.

"The Marines want to draw Saint Saint Saiwen here."

"But they never planned to execute me—they had a woman touch me for a long time, and then she turned into my exact likeness."

Upon hearing this, Barrett let out a strange laugh.

"The Marines really know how to play their cards."

"Are they planning to ambush Bai Mao? Or infiltrate his side using your appearance?"

On the sea, Devil Fruit users are countless and bizarre—turning into Red Nose's form is perfectly normal.

With that, Barrett's expression turned sly.

"Perhaps it won't be long before we all reunite in Level 6 with Bai Mao."

"Luo Jie, your heir is unfit—how could he be so affected by mere brotherly bonds?"

Sensing Baki's inner resentment, Barret chuckled mockingly.

"Red Nose, stop dreaming."

"According to you, the Navy currently has three Admirals, plus Sengoku, Karp, and Zeff—plus so many Marine Vice-Admirals at Marineford..."

"Even if Luo Jie were still alive..."

Baki gritted his teeth: "Saint Saint Saiwen won't lose. Not ever."

"Ahhahaha~" Barret threw back his head and roared with laughter.

"Then let's wait and see."

If any other prisoner had been placed in a solitary cell, Barret would have killed them immediately—but Red Nose was different; Red Nose and Bai Mao had an extremely close bond.

With Red Nose around, the chance of escape greatly increased.

Therefore, Barret planned to protect Red Nose and wait for Bai Mao to come and storm the prison.

Then wouldn't the seas and skies be wide open!

East Blue, Moonlight Archipelago.

Syrup Village pier.

On a small wooden boat moored at the pier, two figures waved farewell to the shore.

"Go back, Jesus Burgess."

"When your child is born next year, we'll come back with a bigger ship to pick you up."

On the wooden dock, Jesus Burgess waved his hand.

"Beckman, watch over Shanks well—don't forget our promise!"

Had his wife not been pregnant and their son not yet born, Jesus Burgess would have sailed with Shanks to chase the dream unique to men.

But he had to at least see his son safely born—otherwise, wouldn't he be a beast?

In the words of Shanks' friend: no better than a lowly pirate.

Beckman smoked a cigarette.

"Stay with your family, Jesus Burgess."

Under Jesus Burgess's reluctant gaze, the small boat drifted farther and farther, gradually entering the deep sea.

By the helm, Shanks steered with one hand, his expression growing increasingly Serious—his reason for leaving Syrup Village was the news report announcing Baki's public execution.

And Saint Saint Saiwen's imminent arrival at Marineford.

"Shanks, which of your brothers is about to turn the world upside down?"

Beckman, thirty years old, was slightly more mature and steady than the nearly nineteen-year-old Shanks.

Though fully aware of their weakness, Beckman did not stop Shanks from going to Marineford—how could brotherhood be so easily betrayed?

If the Emperor Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen dared go, then they would dare too—even if only two of them.

"Saint Saint Saiwen wasn't this radical before."

Flashbacks flickered through Shanks' eyes.

"It must be the Navy's decision to publicly execute Baki—and deliberately labeling him 'Luo Jie's son'—that finally enraged Saint Saint Saiwen."

"Of course," Shanks paused, "it's also possible Saint Saint Saiwen has other motives."

"Thanks, Beckman."

Beckman understood Shanks' gratitude—he was willing to accompany him to Marineford—but then again, Beckman also genuinely admired Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

What kind of man would knowingly walk into a Navy trap laid like a celestial net, and still step right in?

"Shanks, we've got to push harder."

"Yeah." Shanks nodded firmly, though inside he couldn't help muttering.

Good brother, fly on ahead.

Wait for me, brother!