Besides Sadi and Magellan, three other faces, both familiar and strange to Wilder, occupied the room.
A woman with curly hair and sunglasses: Vice-Warden Domino, primarily responsible for Level 3 and above.
A man with horns sprouting from his head, a distended belly, and a generally demonic appearance: Impel Down's Vice-Chief Warden, Hannyabal, also mainly in charge of the other levels.
And a short man in a white suit, resembling a child: Chief Jailer and Blue Gorilla Commander, Saldeath.
When Wilder entered, Saldeath glanced at him, then immediately reverted to his previous posture, eyelids drooping in a display of utter disinterest.
The atmosphere in the room was…off. Quiet, to put it simply. Magellan sat behind his desk, a dark scowl on his face, his large, imposing frame dwarfing everyone else. Even Wilder, at nearly three meters tall, looked like a child in comparison.
"Gentlemen… The stability of each level rests on your shoulders. I expect you to exert ten times your usual effort." Magellan swept his gaze across the room, his expression grave.
Everyone's expressions shifted subtly, their eyes lifting slightly. Magellan's words were loaded with implications.
"Domino, you're in charge of the Crimson Hell."
"Saldeath, you take the Beast Hell."
"Hannyabal, you have the Starvation Hell."
"Sadi, and First, you two take the Blazing Hell."
Magellan issued his orders without room for argument, his gaze lingering on each of them, eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, and a heavy weariness.
"Prepare yourselves. The Warden, Shiliew of the Rain…"
"…is going to defect."
Defect!
"Impossible!" Domino's eyes, hidden behind her sunglasses, widened in disbelief.
The others' faces also betrayed a degree of unease.
Only Wilder smiled silently, inwardly. Defect? The wording of those in power was always so precise, so…venomous.
"Mmm~ Leave it to me and First," Sadi purred, flicking her whip, a slight upturn to her lips as she licked them.
Everyone knew Magellan was going to confront Shiliew. Ordering them to secure their respective levels was to prevent Shiliew from secretly inciting a riot.
"Does Shiliew know?" Wilder asked suddenly.
Magellan understood his meaning. He stared at Wilder for a moment before shaking his head. "Who knows?"
Wilder nodded, falling silent.
"Then, I thank you all. Go and prepare."
The group exchanged a silent look before filing out of the office.
"Mmm~ First, where do you think Chief Warden Magellan and the others will make their move?" Walking alongside Wilder in the corridor, Sadi suddenly turned to him, her whip cracking against the floor with each flick.
"The Blazing Hell," Wilder replied without turning his head, his voice low and somber.
"Mmm~ Why are you so sure, First?" Sadi's voice was a seductive, lilting query, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm guessing."
…
The air before a storm is always heavy and oppressive, just like Impel Down at this very moment. Preparations on each level were underway, secretly, urgently, and meticulously.
A document of consent from the Marines and the World Government was delivered to Magellan's office.
The towering figure stood, clutching the document. Horrifying venom dripped from his hand.
"~" The floor instantly corroded where the venom landed, a hole forming in the metal.
The storm was silently gathering, churning within Impel Down.
Tap…tap…tap…
Rhythmic footsteps echoed in the darkness. Wilder's own preparations were about to begin.
A demonic grin bloomed in the shadows, revealing teeth that gleamed with a chilling light.
Everything was proceeding under this suffocating atmosphere.
In the Beast Hell, another mark appeared on the iron bars of a cell, unnoticed.
The jailer delivering food, the strange, churning fluid within the dark cell…an unspoken conversation was taking place, even through the bars.
"Nyehehehe… Long time no see, Eigg."
A deep voice resonated from within the cage, laced with a suppressed chuckle.
The jailer didn't speak, only opening his usually vacant eyes a fraction. Speaking meant risking exposure.
"Nyehehehe… You're as cold as ever."
Wilder, of course, didn't want to be exposed either, but teasing his subordinates was sometimes…amusing.
"Listen, Eigg." The laughter abruptly ceased. The jailer knew it was time for business.
"Tomorrow, there will be a degree of…chaos in Impel Down. Nyehehehe… I'm sure you're already aware. So, I need you to go to a specific place. There, you'll find the cosmetics you enjoy."
"There, you need to become stronger, and gather as much information as possible. Trust me, Eigg. From now on, we're true partners. Understand? Not subordinates, partners. Three years from now, I'll get you out of Impel Down…"
"The exact route is in the Beast's Den…"
For Wilder, locating a specific place was now a simple matter. The reason he went to the trouble of completing those tunnel assimilation projects was for concealment and security. If he was ever truly hunted by Magellan and the others, these swampy hells would be his capital, his foundation for resisting the entirety of Impel Down.
After giving Eigg the specific route, Wilder melted into a swamp and slipped into a crack in the floor.
The day passed in a flash. The oppressive atmosphere in Impel Down reached its peak.
After finishing his breakfast, Wilder scanned the numerous jailers. Those who met his gaze couldn't help but tense up.
"Today, the prisoners will not participate in any work. Your duty is to guard every single cell." His calm voice reached every jailer's ears. With that, Wilder turned and left.
As for who guarded which cell, that was a matter for the lower-ranking jailer leaders.
He wouldn't be too immersed in this role, naturally. Such diligent work offered him no benefit. On the contrary, he would prefer to see chaos unfold. Thus, his perfunctory orders carried a hint of anticipation. He hoped something would go wrong.
He didn't know when the battle would begin, but Wilder's eyes sparkled with excitement. He was looking forward to that scene.
A true clash of titans.
But before that, he had one more thing to do. Ideally, it would be best to do it during the fight. Therefore, he needed to go there and wait. Given his status, guarding a cell was the perfect cover.
Tap…tap…tap…
With a rhythmic stride, Wilder headed towards the area where the prisoners were held.
A cell located relatively deep within… He'd actually been there half a year ago, to make a deal. Now, it was time for him to fulfill his part of the agreement.
"Nyehehehe…"
In the darkness, Wilder's face twisted into a strange grin, his eyes flashing with an unreadable meaning. Perhaps he'd thought of something amusing; his smile was so intense it bordered on a grimace.