Chapter 526

Hancock and Momonga reach the prison and are welcomed by Vice Chief Hannyabal, who blurts out ambitious talk of "my Impel Down" before catching himself. He and the warden Domino offer to lead the visitors down to Chief Magellan on Level 4, but first insist on a quick full-body check. Domino describes how new arrivals are disinfected, sterilized, and "baptized" in scalding water, noting that recent inmates Crocodile, Jinbe, and Ace endured the ordeal without flinching.

Led to a private room and asked to remove her mantle, Hancock instead petrifies Domino and the visual Den Den Mushi with her Mero Mero powers. Luffy slips out from beneath her robe, and she apologizes for being unable to carry him any deeper. He thanks her, promises to avoid drawing attention, and hides in the ceiling until the inspection wraps and she leaves. Outside, when she catches sight of him and he mouths his thanks, she misreads it as a confession of love and faints, baffling the jailers.

Luffy escapes the room and uses his Vivre Card to track Ace, finding it pointing downward into the prison. Elsewhere, jailers report that Buggy, last seen on Level 1, is on the loose, prompting the Blue Gorillas to give chase. Following the card, Luffy slips through a large door as guards open it and reaches Level 1, Crimson Hell, where prisoners beg him for the keys and tell him Ace is likely held on Level 5 among inmates with bounties above one hundred million. Luffy then spots a man sliced in two by the Blugori and recognizes Buggy. Stunned to see each other, the pair are cornered by more pursuers and turn to fight, swapping caution for open chaos.

The cover is a color spread depicting a yakuza-style tattoo of the original trio of Luffy, Zoro, and Nami. Hannyabal debuts as Vice Chief, and Luffy penetrates surprisingly far into the prison. Ace is said to be on Level 5, and Luffy reunites with Buggy on Level 1.