PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Boom!

On the deck of the pirate ship, a massive wine jar shattered against the floor.

Wine splashed everywhere as a towering figure, built like a mountain, strode out from below deck with heavy steps.

His bloodshot eyes, as round and savage as a bull's, radiated sheer murderous intent. As the trembling pirates nearby shrank back in fear, Jack the Drought slammed a massive palm onto the ship's railing.

Bang!

The enormous vessel rocked violently as though struck by an earthquake, knocking several pirates flat on the deck.

"You bastards! Absolute disgrace!" Jack roared. "How long am I expected to wait? Those damn Marines strung one of our own on a mast like a trophy! This is a direct humiliation to the Beasts Pirates!"

His fury echoed across the ship as the pirates below dared not even breathe.

"If the big bros hear about this, how will they ever trust me to handle anything again?!"

He turned toward a pale woman with snow-white hair and a sultry fox-fur coat who stood quietly nearby.

"You still want me to wait, Ulti? Are you planning to give up your spot among the Flying Six?!"

The pirates all turned toward her — the woman Jack addressed as Ulti was a sharp contrast to the raging beast. Dressed provocatively in a slit gown despite the scorching heat, her elegant demeanor carried a charm that was as seductive as it was dangerous.

Though she couldn't rival Hancock's regal beauty, the sultry allure she exuded could still ensnare many a pirate's heart.

Ulti responded with a flirtatious smile, folding her fan and speaking sweetly:

"Jack-sama, no need to get so worked up. That fool Saul brought this on himself. He was the weakest among us, yet he rushed ahead hoping to steal your glory. Of course he ended up tied to a mast like a joke."

"Someone like him was never worthy of being called Flying Six. Honestly, this so-called 'new Marine Admiral' isn't even worth troubling you. Let me handle it instead."

"You?" Jack snorted. "Don't overestimate yourself. I know exactly how strong—or how weak—you Flying Six are."

"Saul lost? Then so be it. In the Beasts Pirates, the weak die. That's the rule."

"But he didn't die. He survived. That disgrace is now an open wound on the pride of our crew!"

"If I send you, and you screw it up too—how the hell am I supposed to look Kaido-sama in the eye?!"

Jack's killing intent erupted like a storm.

As one of the top combat forces of the Beasts Pirates, and with a bounty over one billion, Jack the Drought's mere presence was synonymous with devastation. Every place he passed through was left as scorched earth.

Ulti's face turned pale.

She knew very well—without a convincing explanation, Jack would not hesitate to kill her on the spot.

But she had come prepared.

She smiled charmingly and quickly produced a visual Den Den Mushi, pressing its shell.

"Jack-sama, I bought this from Big News Morgans himself. It contains every recorded battle of the Marine's new admiral—Taiote Luo Yu."

"To know one's enemy is to guarantee victory. Once you understand his fighting style, your victory will be assured."

"From my repeated analysis, I've found that while this Luo Yu possesses some sort of mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit—likely similar to Sengoku's—his powerful finishing moves are flashy but too energy-intensive."

"They'd devastate most enemies… but to someone like Jack-sama, whose Ancient Zoan-type is famed for endurance and toughness, those attacks would feel like raindrops on a mammoth's hide!"

Ulti's words flowed like honey as she leaned closer.

"All you need to do is weather his attacks—and he'll exhaust himself. Then, that 'Admiral' will taste despair."

Jack's eyes narrowed with interest as he watched footage from the Den Den Mushi showing clips of Luo Yu's battles. After a moment, he crushed the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

Crack!

"Good. Very good. Ulti, you did well."

"That brat dared to humiliate the Beasts Pirates. I already know how to deal with him—his attacks, his rhythm... it's all clear to me now."

"Helmsman! Full turn! Pursue the Marine Admiral at once!"

"I want to grind that kid's bones to dust before Kaido-sama finds out about Saul!"

"Yes, sir!"

With Jack's orders echoing through the ship, the massive Mammoth Pirate Ship, dragged by two colossal Sea Kings, surged forward across the Calm Belt.

Ulti stood at the edge of the deck, looking down at the shattered remains of the Den Den Mushi. A smirk curled her lips.

Her eyes drifted to the front page of a bounty poster pinned nearby—the face of Admiral Taiote Luo Yu.

She whispered with wicked glee:

"Heh… A so-called Marine Admiral… If you won't show face to CP0, then let the sea teach you what real cruelty means."

"On this ocean ruled by the strong, brute force alone isn't enough. You need brains too."

"I'd love to see what you look like—on your knees before me like a dog."

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters…

Inside the war room, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru all stared grimly at the intelligence report on the table.

Standing across from them were two masked agents of CP0.

One of them, Spandine, was still covered in bandages. His entire body radiated searing pain as he struggled to stand upright.

Yet his expression was smug.

"Heh… Sorry about this, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," he sneered. "I know this must be bad news for the Marines. But the Five Elders have made it clear—if you fail to prevent Zeffar from rebelling, the matter will be turned over to us."

Seven days ago, he'd been crushed—body and pride alike.

If not for CP0's science division and their experimental healing serums, he would still be lying half-dead in a medical pod, not swaggering back into Marineford.

Now, watching Sengoku and the others silently seething, Spandine almost drooled with satisfaction.

He wanted more than anything to see that arrogant new admiral's face… twisted in despair.