At that moment, Warden Domino Hui stepped forward and reported calmly.
"There's something else. Douglas Barrett escaped… with the prisoner named Qin Chuan."
"What?! Douglas Barrett escaped?!"
Garp's voice exploded across the room like thunder, his palm slamming down on the table with such force it cracked. A heavy silence followed, tension suffocating the air. Every officer stood stiff, afraid to breathe.
Hannibal, notorious for boasting and cowardice, trembled so hard his knees nearly buckled, dreading the consequences.
Kuzan, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow. For the usually composed Garp to lose his temper—this man, this Barrett—must be something terrifying.
"That guy… he strong?" Kuzan asked, genuinely curious now.
"Heh…"
Garp let out a low chuckle, eyes distant with memory.
"Barrett was invincible from the moment he entered the seas at age 15. Hundreds of battles—never lost. Back then, he crossed paths with Gol D. Roger and finally tasted defeat. But instead of fading away, he joined Roger and sailed as his crewmate. Together, they shook the world. After Roger's execution, Barrett went solo. He turned the Grand Line into a warzone. The Navy couldn't touch him. It wasn't until he was 22 that we finally got intel on his whereabouts. Sengoku and I personally led the vanguard. The entire Navy mobilized. We clashed with him in a battle that shook the world."
Garp's voice lowered, grim.
"In the end, only because his strength had waned and our formation was overwhelming, did we defeat him and bring him here. Even now, after twenty years, don't assume he's any less dangerous. We've raised powerful new Admirals, but men like him… don't fade with time."
As he spoke, the younger officers listened in stunned silence. For many of them, Barrett was just a name in old reports. Most weren't even born during his reign of terror. But Garp's expression told them all they needed—this was a man who forced the Navy to go all-out.
Now, he was free again. And worse, he wasn't alone. He'd escaped with Qin Chuan, a mystery that had turned the world's strongest prison inside out. The implications were terrifying.
"I'll report this to the higher-ups myself. You all focus on recovery. I'll deploy several heavy-armament warships to support the prison in case of further incidents," Garp ordered.
Magellan, his expression solemn, nodded in acknowledgment.
Soon, the news of Qin Chuan's escape alongside Douglas Barrett shook the entire world.
At Marineford, in the highest-level conference hall of Navy Headquarters, a crisis meeting was underway. Every officer of Vice Admiral rank and above was present. At the head of the table sat the Supreme Commander, Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Someone explain this to me," Sengoku began, his voice low but razor-sharp. "Who is this Qin Chuan? Why did a prisoner locked in the first floor of Red Lotus Hell manage to turn Impel Down into chaos?"
The silence was telling. No one had answers. Qin Chuan had appeared from nowhere, and no one had any clue about his origin or his true power.
"It doesn't matter who he is," a voice cut through the silence.
The man who spoke wore a dark red suit, a corsage on his chest, sword strapped to one arm, tattoos snaking across his body. His cap bore the Navy insignia, and a thick cigar rested between his lips. He was Sakazuki—Admiral Akainu.
"Any pirate who threatens world order should be eliminated. I'll personally lead a fleet to hunt him down."
"Not so fast, Sakazuki."
Another voice followed, calm and slow, tinged with amusement. A tall, thin man in a yellow-and-white striped suit leaned back in his chair, sunglasses hiding his eyes, stubble shadowing his chin. This was Admiral Borsalino—the Yellow Monkey.
"Magellan and Shiliew of the Rain weren't even able to contain this kid. He's not ordinary."
"Douglas Barrett is with him too," came a third voice, calm but authoritative.
The speaker was an older woman, her gray hair tied in a ponytail behind her head, emerald green earrings swinging as she turned. Golden bracelets glinted on her wrists beneath her Vice Admiral's coat. This was Tsuru—the strategist of the Navy and one of the few who had fought alongside Garp and Sengoku during the Golden Age.
"Even after twenty years of imprisonment, don't underestimate Barrett. I've fought him. I know what he's capable of."
"Hmph. Times have changed, Lieutenant General Tsuru," Sakazuki replied coldly. "The Navy is stronger than ever. Even those monsters from the New World no longer threaten us."
Sengoku's voice cut through the debate.
"Enough. Since you're so confident, Sakazuki, you'll lead a strike force to the East Blue. I want Barrett and Qin Chuan found."
He paused, then continued.
"This serves two purposes. First, we project strength—we show the world the Navy responds swiftly and decisively. Second, we must clean up this mess before it festers. While the World Government knows we weren't directly responsible for the breakout, they are furious. Especially because the reinforcements we sent to Impel Down allowed two high-level threats to escape. The public needs reassurance. The Government demands results. You'll deliver them."
As he spoke, Sengoku's eyes slid toward Garp, who, despite the seriousness of the meeting, was nonchalantly picking his nose like he hadn't a care in the world.
Sengoku's lips twitched in frustration. This entire situation stemmed from Garp's call—not to pursue Qin Chuan and Barrett. That moment of mercy had now spun into a global crisis. But what could he do? This was Garp—his oldest friend and the one man who never bowed to anyone.
So Sengoku said nothing more and simply sighed.