PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Hundreds of pirates thundered forward behind Jack's massive figure.

The rumble of their advance was like a natural disaster, the kind that made the earth tremble and the sea reel.

Ulti, observing the scene beside them, wore an increasingly radiant smile.

Not long ago, she'd received an order—if she successfully completed this mission, she could finally withdraw from the brutal Beasts Pirates and return to CP0 to report for duty.

The thought made her leap forward gracefully, quickly catching up with Jack.

"Jack-sama," she said sweetly, her voice light and teasing, "there's no need to charge in so fiercely. That brat is still a rookie, after all."

"With dozens of pirate crews and thousands of pirates already surrounding him at the southern dock, the psychological pressure alone must be immense for such a young admiral."

"If you appear so suddenly on top of that, he might get scared and run away. And if he runs... finding him again won't be so easy, right?"

"Run away?" Jack's thick brows twitched. His eyes bulged as he let out a contemptuous snort.

"Hmph. Even if he soils his pants from fear, there's no way he's escaping me."

"Anyone who dares cross the Beasts Pirates—no matter who they are—is already dead."

"Move faster! Don't let him get away!"

The bloodthirsty glint returned to Jack's eyes, and his men responded like a pack of wild dogs unleashed, their excitement boiling over again.

Watching them swell with zeal, Ulti's smile only grew more seductive.

Judging by their sky-high morale, she was certain her plan was already halfway to success.

The western dock was just ten or so nautical miles from the southern one. At their current speed, it took only minutes before the silhouette of the dock came into view.

And when they crested the final ridge—

All hell broke loose in their minds.

"What… the hell?" someone muttered.

Weren't there supposed to be dozens of pirate crews here?

Thousands of pirates forming a dense perimeter, locking down the admiral?

Why did it look like the entire dock had been leveled?

Bodies were scattered in every direction, blood and debris painting the scenery like the aftermath of a storm.

And in the dead center stood a lone figure—tall, composed, and utterly untouched.

Luo Yu.

He stood among the wreckage like a monument to power.

The sight instantly doused the burning blood of every pirate like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads.

Ulti's smile froze on her face.

Her gaze dropped to the two Den Den Mushi in Luo Yu's hand.

Wait a second…

Wasn't the intel sent to them moments ago supposed to have come from a subordinate pirate?

Could it have been… from him?

Had they really walked straight into his trap?

Around them, not a single pirate from earlier remained standing. Whether dead or unconscious, they were silent, sprawled like broken dolls.

Even Ulti's confidence began to falter.

"So quick?" Luo Yu turned to face the newcomers with a serene smile, his gaze locking onto Jack's towering figure. "It seems the Beasts Pirates are very eager to kill me."

"At last, a valuable target has arrived," he added with satisfaction. "Not like those worthless Flying Six…"

He shook his head, then said matter-of-factly, "But… could you wait a bit longer? I still haven't confirmed your bounty yet."

"...Bounty?"

The pirates blinked, completely caught off guard.

That line was so out of place, their minds stalled for a beat.

But then they heard the next part—

"Worthless Flying Six."

Now that was beyond provocation.

They turned their eyes toward the Marine warship still docked nearby—and there, tied to the mast, was a man wrapped like a mummy, missing an arm and a leg.

Sasaki, one of the Flying Six.

Completely defeated. Hung up like a trophy.

The outrage that surged through them died before it could even erupt. What argument could they make?

"This arrogant little rookie…" Ulti spat, voice sharp with fury. "So the rumors were true. The new admiral really is obsessed with bounties like a man possessed."

"To think he baited us all here, just to use Lord Jack as a cash-in target... he's just begging for death!"

She narrowed her eyes and raised her voice so all could hear.

"You've clearly underestimated Lord Jack. As one of the Three Disasters, with a ten billion bounty, he's not someone you can even dream of defeating!"

"Let's see how you plan to break through Jack-sama's absolute defense!"

"Or better yet—just lay down and become a corpse at his feet!"

Her shrill voice stirred the remaining pirates back into focus.

Sure, they didn't know how their comrades had been wiped out so quickly, but they knew one thing:

This fight would come down to the true monsters.

Luo Yu versus Jack the Drought.

If this so-called admiral couldn't even scratch Jack's armor…

Then there was no hope left.

"You brat," Jack finally spoke, stepping forward with a glare like a beast sizing up its prey.

"You didn't just eliminate some of our affiliated crews… you also killed my subordinate Sheep's Head, and even took down Kaido-sama's chosen Flying Six—Sasaki."

Jack drew his twin blades from his waist with a metallic shriek, his killing intent rising like a storm.

"If Kaido-sama finds out, he'll be very angry."

"And then I'll get scolded for not handling you properly."

"So instead—just come quietly. Let's return to Wano and let Kaido-sama punish you himself."

"Go back with you?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow, taking a long swig from his flask.

He glanced at the still-busy Den Den Mushi in his hand and let out a sigh.

"Fine, I'll go with you."

"But can I finish confirming your bounty first?"

"I'm worried the payout's different depending on whether you're dead or alive."

"Different payouts…?"

Jack paused, his thick brows furrowing.

Despite his dense skull and meat-packed brain, even he understood what that meant.

Meanwhile, up on the high ground, Ain and Smoker exchanged pained expressions.

As Marines, they had often imagined what it would be like to one day clash with a Yonko crew.

But this?

This was not how it was supposed to go.

Not a battle for justice. Not a life-or-death struggle.

But a goddamn cost-benefit calculation.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they'd have thought it was some crazy farce.

But there was no denying it—

Jack the Drought was a top commander of the Beasts Pirates. A ten-billion-berie monster. One of the strongest forces beneath Kaido.

Could Luo Yu really bring him down?

"Brat!" Jack roared, rage exploding from his throat. "You dare look down on me?! Let's see how you plan to break through my ultimate defense!"

He charged like a bison in full fury, twin blades gleaming, every step shaking the ground.

Luo Yu watched him come, expression lazy, almost regretful.

He sighed.

"Well then…"

"I guess I'll capture you alive first."

"Then decide whether you're worth more dead… or alive."

"Wouldn't want to waste a good expression if Sengoku doesn't approve the bonus later…"