PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

"Heh… Don't worry, Blackbeard," Spandine chuckled from beneath his white cloak, the shadow over his face unable to hide the flicker of malice in his eyes. "We of CP0 gave you this intel because the Gorosei don't want the new Navy admiral becoming too arrogant. It's for the future of Marine Headquarters, after all."

He couldn't help the sneer curling on his lips as he recalled every humiliation he'd suffered in front of Luo Yu. That smug new admiral who had trampled over CP's authority like dirt.

He yearned to see Luo Yu fall.

"Oh? So you're saying the government wants me, Blackbeard, to give your new Admiral a good thrashing?" Teach burst into a booming laugh.

"Sounds absurd—but that's exactly the kind of result I want."

"I'll show the world who the real king of this sea is."

"Lafitte! Do you see the Marine ship yet?"

"Captain, I've got visual!" Lafitte, transformed into his harpy-like form, landed on the mast's lookout tower. "Marine battleship dead ahead—there are signs of heavy fighting on the island. Looks like CP0's intel was solid."

"Oh?" Teach's smile twisted. "That is good news."

"The new admiral clashed with a 1-billion bounty calamity—Jack the Drought. Even if he won, he must've paid dearly. Now I just need to strike while he's still bleeding."

"Listen up, boys! Bring your A-game—we're not letting this Marine Admiral escape!"

"Aye, Captain!" Burgess and the rest responded in unison.

This time, CP0 had handed them a feast: not only full intel on the Navy's Fourth Admiral, but also advance notice of Jack's ambush.

All part of the plan—to bait the ambitious Blackbeard into striking.

Watching the bloodthirsty pirates ready themselves for war, Spandine's lips curled into a wicked grin.

He'd waited too long for the day Luo Yu would be humbled.

And with the powers of the Dark-Dark Fruit in Blackbeard's hands—the natural nemesis of Devil Fruit users—he had every reason to believe that moment had come.

As the massive wooden raft surged forward, ten minutes flew by.

The moment they spotted the Marine battleship, the pirates' expressions changed drastically.

Their pupils constricted.

Their jaws slackened.

Smiles froze on their faces.

On the deck of the Marine ship stood not a wounded, limping admiral…

…but Jack the Drought himself, his hulking body wrapped head to toe in seastone chains, like a mountain shackled in iron.

Their minds reeled.

This wasn't how the story was supposed to go.

CP0 had told them the new admiral had barely survived Jack's ambush, that he would be vulnerable now.

Where was the bloodied, limping Marine?

Why was Jack the one tied up like a captured beast?

Jack was no small fry—he was a Three Calamities of the Beast Pirates, with a bounty of one billion!

Burgess's voice trembled as he swallowed hard.

"C-Captain… Jack—of the Beast Pirates… taken down by the Fourth Admiral? Should we, uh… retreat?"

His throat was dry.

This was way off-script.

Even Spandine, hiding in the shadows of the raft, was completely dumbfounded.

Why?

Why does Luo Yu always exceed expectations, always break the plan?

Every eye slowly turned to Blackbeard.

And for the first time in his life, Teach felt the crushing weight of every gaze.

That earlier bravado—that thirst for glory—felt like a blade pressed against his own neck.

He thought of his confident words from just moments ago.

Backing down now would make him a laughingstock.

But…

"I… I am Marshall D. Teach!" he barked through gritted teeth. "I've come to deliver Portgas D. Ace—the Second Division Commander of Whitebeard's crew!"

"I'm handing him over now. Just don't forget the deal—the position of Warlord better be honored!"

…He folded.

Burgess and the rest froze.

Just like that? After all that chest-beating?

The mighty Blackbeard… had just handed Ace over without even asking for anything?

Even Ace, trussed up and tossed onto the deck, was stunned speechless.

On the Marine ship, Tashigi and Smoker exchanged wary glances.

They'd been bracing for battle the moment Blackbeard's raft appeared—but instead…

…this?

Looking at the unconscious Ace lying on the deck, they stepped forward.

"Sorry," Smoker said flatly. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku has reassigned this mission to Admiral Kizaru. Admiral Luo Yu is on leave."

"Orders are clear—this deal is cancelled."

"You'll have to take Ace back."

Blackbeard and his crew blinked, stunned.

Cancelled?

Even for free they wouldn't take Ace?

Ace himself could hardly process it.

Changing commanders mid-mission was one of the biggest taboos in any military operation.

So why had Marine HQ suddenly replaced their rising star with a veteran?

Blackbeard's respectful façade cracked, his face twitching before he forced a smile.

"Heh… Cancelled due to leave?"

"I've heard this new admiral is very particular about pay and bonuses…"

"And now, I hand-deliver a man worth billions, and he won't even come out to meet me?"

"He must've paid a heavy price to defeat Jack… too exhausted to even show his face."

"But… no one ignores me and gets away with it."

"If he won't come out…"

"I'll drag him out."

Smoker and Tashigi's faces instantly darkened.

Just as Sengoku feared—the worst-case scenario was unfolding.

This wasn't just a trade. It was a test of wills.

From the deck, Ace suddenly shouted with all his strength:

"Run! Get the new admiral out of here now!"

"Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit nullifies Devil Fruit powers—if he gets close, he'll turn your new admiral into nothing more than a stepping stone!"