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"The pirates' prison escape caught them off guard. By the time Magellan reacted, Shiki had already led his men to the third level of Blazing Hell."
"The time spent fighting and escaping from prison was incredibly short. The main goal for all the pirates was escape, not combat."
"With the help of Golden Lion Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability, they successfully broke out in just fifteen minutes."
After hearing Sakazuki's words, Akira suddenly understood.
Shiki and his crew of notorious pirates only cared about escaping, and they wasted no time.
By the time Magellan regained control of the situation, Shiki had already used his Float-Float Fruit and vanished.
Calling for backup now would only result in embarrassment.
Sakazuki continued:
"Magellan just contacted me, hoping that the Marines can discreetly assist and capture Shiki and the others before the situation escalates."
"Fleet Admiral, what do you think?"
Akira said, what do I think?
I'll just sit back and watch.
Opposite the Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki's tone was calm, but anyone familiar with him could sense the anxiety.
After all, anyone capable of escaping from Impel Down alongside Golden Lion Shiki is undoubtedly a serious threat.
This group of notorious pirates, who should have been consigned to history, has now been released, and it's clear they will bring immeasurable harm to the world.
For a Marine like him, driven by a righteous heart, this is not good news.
Though Sakazuki holds an extreme view of "absolute justice," his ultimate mission has always been to eliminate pirates.
"Why didn't Magellan come to tell me himself?" Akira narrowed his eyes slightly, asking with an inexplicable tone.
Sakazuki assumed Akira was dissatisfied, so he quickly replied: "Fleet Admiral, Magellan said that he had some misunderstandings with you a while back, so he didn't have the nerve to report it in person."
Akira raised his eyebrows and immediately understood.
There had been a confrontation over the deaths of prisoners at the gates of Eternal Hell some time ago. Although neither side had taken action, the atmosphere had been tense, to say the least.
At the time, Magellan and the entire Impel Down staff might as well have had "We don't welcome you" written across their foreheads.
After all, you don't just get into a dispute with someone and then, when things go wrong on your end, ask them for help.
To do that without embarrassment or hesitation, you'd need an exceptionally thick skin.
Clearly, Magellan didn't.
So instead, he first contacted Sakazuki, a trusted friend, asking him to act as an intermediary to deliver the message and make the request on his behalf.
After all, 'quietly helping to capture the escapees before things get worse' is something that only benefits Impel Down.
In this situation, whether Akira agrees or not, it's clear the other party won't feel too humiliated.
"Ah!" Akira chuckled. Magellan was being overly cautious.
But it wasn't really his fault. He probably didn't know the details of the previous director's affairs, and that the two of them belonged to different departments.
To be honest, Akira didn't dwell on what happened that day. After all, Magellan, as the chief warden of Impel Down, had full authority over everything that took place within its walls.
It was entirely reasonable for him to question or get involved when it came to the death of prisoners under his watch.
"Fleet Admiral, what do you think?" Sakazuki paused for a moment before asking.
Akira didn't hesitate and gave him a clear response: "It is the Marine's duty to catch pirates."
No need for lengthy explanations—this one sentence made his position perfectly clear.
"Alright, I'll call Magellan right now and tell him to meet you in person," Sakazuki said, preparing to end the call. But just then, Akira stopped him.
"Wait!" Akira's eyes flickered as he tapped his index finger on the table, deep in thought. After a brief moment, he continued.
"I'll go there myself. That way, I can get a better understanding of the situation."
Shiki's escape was not unexpected—in fact, it could be said that Akira had allowed it to happen on purpose.
By doing so, his true intention was to win back the support of Impel Down.
Given this mindset, it would be unwise and unnecessary to act with arrogance.
In ancient times, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times and gained a loyal advisor for generations to come.
Akira had no problem following a similar approach.
Think about it—Impel Down is in disarray, and if Akira, setting aside his rank and past disputes, personally goes to assist them, it would demonstrate immense kindness and humility.
This kind of act can achieve far more than forcing them to come groveling.
As a leader, it's essential to always pursue the maximum benefit in every situation.
As for things like status and pride, they can all take a backseat to practical gains.
"Understood. Should I inform Magellan so he can meet you at the gate?" Sakazuki asked, though he personally felt it unnecessary for Akira to go in person.
"No, there's no need to make a spectacle of it right now," Akira replied.
Akira stood up, walked to the clothes rack, and draped the Justice cloak over his shoulders. With the phone still in hand, he made his way out the door.
"Understood. If you need any manpower, just give the order, and I'll return from the New World immediately," Sakazuki responded.
"Well, it seems like you and Magellan have a pretty solid relationship. When trouble arises, you're the first person he turns to," Akira remarked with a slight smirk as he stepped outside.
"That's because you, Fleet Admiral, asked for it during the Rehabilitation plan," Sakazuki replied.
"Good. We'll discuss more later. The situation at Impel Down and the large number of prisoners there are critical to both us and the cause of justice," Akira said, walking with purpose.
"It's clear, Fleet Admiral. Don't worry, I won't let this slip up," Sakazuki's voice became more serious, understanding the importance of this mission.
While friendships can sometimes falter when personal interests get involved, if it's for the sake of justice, there's no issue.
After finishing up their discussion on a few other matters, they ended the call.