Jinbei knows Luffy's crew on sight because that young man has nothing if not the absolute luck of the devil and the oddest group of people around him. He also knows that -for all of their antics- they are pretty by-the-book marines, heroes to many. Seeing them work seamlessly to free a renowned prisoner was certainly an experience. Confusing for sure, specially when it became clear Ace had no idea who they are. Ace had started yelling immediately before the cook -Sanji, a blonde man smoking a cigarette in the middle of a rescue, shushes him quickly, whispering something Jinbei cannot quiet catch.

Not all of Luffy's Marine Squad is there, but all of the ones who are were in Fishman Island. Weather Witch Nami, the squad's navigator and a woman Jinbei would hold an enternal debt to for all the Arlong put her through. Chopper, a reindeer who is actually a doctor, and one who treated everyone with the exact same gusto -human or fihsmen or anything else. Black Leg Sanji, Jinbei will never forget that he's the man who needed a blood transfusion because of a nosebleed. In fact, he wants to facepalm at the memory.

It's Chopper who notices him first.

"Jinbei?" The tiny reindeer exclaims. "What are you doing here?"

"I feel like it is I who should be asking you that."

"You know them, Jinbei?" Ace breaks from his struggles against Nami to look at him, the warlord nods his head. He's not sure what Luffy's friends are trying to do, but knowing their captain, it's for the best. If he can help Ace cooperate with them, he's sure it'll be beneficial to his friend. Hopefully, it might even prevent the war that's brewing.

"Their commanding officer helped Fishman Island, rescued the princess from a stalker." Monkey D. Luffy's visit to Fishman Island had been weird, however Jinbei soon learned it had been downright tamed compared to the Vice-Admiral's other exploits. Like apparently being the center of casual conversation in the secret level of Impel Down.

She wanted to see her mom.

"You know my little-" Ace cuts off abruptly, staying still just so that Nami finally manages to unshackle him. (And where those lock picks?) The pirate immediately stands up fast enough to almost bump away her rescuer's marine cap. (Watch it, asshole! The chef grunts.) Ace is looking worse for the wear, Jinbei notes, but the utter exhaustion sea stone caused that had been dragging him down since Jinbei saw him is fading fast. "You know, Luffy?" He bits out the question. Jinbei can see Ace's struggle to remain polite, looking more like he wants to shake Jinbei for answers. He nods.

You've fought Ace?!

Something in the back of Jinbei's mind starts flickering.

No, I don't k- I don't associate with pirates.

"Ace..." He starts, and almost thinks better of it, but something in the back of his mind doesn't let him leave it alone. "How do you know, Luffy?"

"We, uh, it's..." Ace doesn't look away but also apparently has no words to actually answer which is odd in him. Sanji quickly cuts in.

"They're brothers." His eye daring Ace to disagree with him, his words are followed by a trail of smoke. The pirate does nothing but huff out a breathe, but also doesn't deny it. Jinbei can almost see it so clearly it's even hard to be surprised. "Should we take Jinbei, too, Nami-swan?" Sanji asks, eyes slightly heart-shaped when he looks at the group's navigator.

"Captain, won't be happy if we leave him." Chopper murmurs. Nami looks at him, but Jinbei shakes his head before she can ask.

"I walked into this cell voluntarily to avoid conflict, I could not fight to ensure Ace's execution." He explains in the face of Ace's clear surprise, his friend's gaze drops. Knowing him, Ace isn't the kind of man who wants people to sacrifice themselves for him. "Leaving now would only cause problems for my home." The three marines, familiar with Fishman Island's precarious situation, understand immediately.

"The captain will keep an eye out for you, Jinbei." Sanji tells him, and Jinbei has no doubt that Luffy will, now.

"I know better than to tell you that there's no need." He answers, tilting his head in gratitude regardless. He wishes more marines were like Luffy and his team. Nami smiles at him.

"13 minutes" A mouth and an ear suddenly appear on the floor. Jinbei's sure his face had looked very similar to Ace's the first time he'd seen Nico Robin's power. (So they were really all committing treason.)

"That's our cue." Sanji notes, Nami immediately rounds on Ace.

"Look, I know you don't trust us, but," her finger is basically on his face and you would never believe she is some random marine navigator scolding 'Fire Fist' Ace. "We've all put our butts on the line to get you outta here, you - will - cooperate. Got it?" Each word is further highlighted by a poke to the chest. Ace, looking visibly cowed and confused, just nods along and they're gone as silently as when they arrived.

I don't care if they're fishmen or mermaids, everyone deserves to be free!

He takes a moment to think about how Fire Fist Ace, a Whitebeard Commander and a man with absolutely no regards for rules, is apparently closely related with one of the most straight-laced marines Jinbei has ever met, a Vice-Admiral at that. (Two, if they were to add Monkey D. Garp into the fray.) Luffy is unconventional and hardheaded, he had kind-of, almost, kidnapped Princess Shirahoshi... When Jinbei was willing to bring that particular detail up, hoping to avoid a repeat performance, there had been Nico Robin, tongue sharp with a bunch of marine loopholes at the ready... Almost as if they were used to walking that razor's edge between doing what's right and doing what's right.

He looks at Ace's now empty cell... What a mysterious group of people.

Jinbei thinks that their encounter would be as much entertainment as he will get during his imprisonment, until a couple of hours later, when Monkey D. Luffy walks in to take his brother's place.