"Your uncle is playing cat and mouse in Impel Down," Orion said with a warm smile, standing up from his desk.

"As it happens, I'm heading there myself. Sentomaru, are you coming?"

"Impel Down?" Sentomaru blinked and instinctively shook his head.

"No, no. If I go too far from the Science Unit, I can't protect Dr. Vegapunk!"

"Alright, see you tomorrow then." Orion raised his hand and patted Sentomaru on the shoulder before walking out.

"Fleet Admiral, wait a minute!" Sentomaru quickly caught up, his expression serious.

"On second thought, Impel Down isn't too far from Marineford. I suppose nothing bad will happen if I'm gone for a little while!"

Orion shrugged slightly. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."

Orion and Sentomaru went way back.

Ever since he was a Rear Admiral, Orion would often visit the Science Unit when he was bored, mostly to chat and gossip with the "most tight-lipped man in the world."

This wasn't just for fun, of course.

Initially, he went to discuss inventions with Vegapunk, hoping the genius could bring some of the technology from his past life into this world.

However, many of his ideas were impractical.

The world of One Piece was completely different from Earth in terms of geography and climate.

As a former liberal arts student, Orion was a complete novice in science.

He could name things like nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and B-2 bombers, but he couldn't provide any useful details.

Even if he could, the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line alone would render most advanced aircraft useless decorations.

Over time, he gave up trying to talk technology with Vegapunk and contented himself with teasing Sentomaru, which was an endless source of fun.

Soon, Orion, Gion, and Sentomaru walked out of the headquarters building and headed for the port.

More than ten warships were gathering at the Marineford harbor, preparing to set sail.

Rear Admiral Aramaki commanded the lead ship.

Following closely behind was another vessel led by Katakuri, who had been successfully promoted to Rear Admiral after capturing numerous pirates in the Grand Line.

"Fleet Admiral, you call this 'catching mice'?" Sentomaru's eyes widened at the sight of the fleet.

"Just how big is this rat to need so many warships?"

Orion just smiled and walked toward a warship docked in the inner bay.

"Orion, why do I have to lead a warship by myself?!"

Before he could board, a pink figure appeared on the deck of a nearby ship.

It was Kujaku who's just got back from training.

She stood at the bow with an iron whip, pouting.

"Gion is an Admiral; she should be leading a ship alone! I just got back and have no combat experience. I should be learning from you!"

"I have no combat experience either!" another figure flashed onto the deck of a different warship.

"Orion, although I am the empress of Amazon Lily, I have never participated in a battle of this scale. Can I stay with you?"

"Hancock, why must you always copy me?" Kujaku glared at Hancock, who stood on the next ship over with a lovestruck expression.

"You were one of the Seven Warlords! How can you have no combat experience?"

Then she lowered her voice and whispered.

"Besides, shouldn't we be teaming up right now to drive Admiral Gion away from Orion?"

Hearing this, Hancock blinked.

Her gaze shifted to Gion, who was not only holding Orion's sword but also his Fleet Admiral's coat.

Hancock's eyes narrowed, and she whipped her head back to Kujaku.

"Insolent brat! You dare to sow discord between me and Admiral Gion? What are your intentions?!"

"Huh?" Kujaku's expression went blank.

While they argued, Orion boarded his warship and, ignoring them completely, ordered the ship to set sail.

"Orion is leaving!"

Realizing he was underway, Hancock stopped arguing with Kujaku and excitedly ordered her captain.

"Follow the Fleet Admiral's warship immediately! I must remain within his sight!"

Not to be outdone, Kujaku issued the same order.

Soon, their two warships were flanking Orion's, the two women shouting at each other from across the water, nearly making Gion, who stood quietly beside Orion, burst out laughing.

*****

Back in Impel Down, Borsalino lounged in the warden's office, watching the surveillance screens with an air of boredom.

Though the sixth level of Infinite Hell was dark, he could clearly hear the conversations between the infamous criminals.

He hadn't been transferred from Headquarters just to play cat and mouse.

The truth was, Orion was using Shiki's jailbreak attempt to conduct a "Great Cleansing" of Impel Down.

The plan was simple: let Shiki incite a riot.

Any prisoner who chose not to participate would be given a chance at a new life.

Conversely, every prisoner who joined the escape would be eliminated.

If they all joined, Impel Down would be getting a complete renovation.

Hearing that only the Red Count had yet to officially declare his stance, Borsalino lazily picked up the Den Den Mushi.

"Shiki, you don't have much time left. Let's see how you plan to get through that Seastone gate."

With that, Borsalino pressed a button on the desk.

The lights in Infinite Hell flickered on, illuminating the figures of Shiki and the other prisoners on the screen.

"Ooooh, how scary. A cell door has actually been opened."

Through the monitor, he saw Catarina Devon walking out of her cell.

"Now, how will you get her Seastone cuffs off? I'm so excited to see it~"

In Infinite Hell, Shiki heard Borsalino's infuriating voice and could no longer hold back his anger.

He looked up at the surveillance camera and cursed, "You bastard Borsalino, shut up! Since I dared to break into Impel Down, I obviously have a way to unlock these damned cuffs!"

Before he could finish, the enraged Shiki kicked out a blade of air, splitting the monitoring Den Den Mushi in half.

However, just as he turned back to Devon, Borsalino's voice rang out from a different speaker in a corner of the room.

"How terrifying. You actually destroyed the surveillance snail."

"!!!!"

Shiki's facial muscles twitched, and his body trembled with rage.

Before he could explode, Catarina Devon, who was holding her cuffed hands out to him, added dryly:

"Mmm-hmm-hmm~"

"Take a deep breath. It's normal to feel dizzy."

"The air in Infinite Hell is rather foul."

Shiki slowly raised his head and looked at her, gritting his teeth.

"Do I look dizzy to you?"

Despite his rage, he forced himself to calm down and took a key from his coat.

"Ooooh, you actually has a key. You're not that dumb after all."

"It seems you came well-prepared, Shiki."

"However, even if you remove their cuffs, they still can't escape the Seastone that permeates all of Infinite Hell!"

"!!!!!!"

Finally, Shiki snapped.

He slowly turned to face the surveillance snail in the corner, his eyes bloodshot as he snarled.

"Borsalino, if I ever get out of here, I swear I will kill you first!"

Borsalino's voice drawled back.

"Oh? How scary~"