PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Could it be… that the new Marine admiral planned all of this?

A cold, creeping chill ran down Spandine's spine.

He glanced quickly at the bound and bloodied Jack the Drought, then at the similarly trussed-up Ulti.

In an instant, Spandine found himself wavering.

His instincts screamed for confirmation—so his eyes darted toward Blackbeard.

But just as he turned, he caught Luo Yu's gaze meeting his.

A calm, unblinking look.

In that silent exchange of glances, the gnawing anxiety inside Spandine exploded into full-blown terror.

Yes!

It had to be!

He was absolutely certain—Ulti's sudden ability to speak wasn't luck or accident.

It was orchestrated. By this new Fourth Admiral of the Navy.

And the reason?

Performance bonuses. Paychecks. Merit-based incentives.

For a man obsessed with such things—how could he resist a golden opportunity like this?

The mission may have been reassigned to Kizaru, but a target like Blackbeard showing up on his doorstep?

It would be like a beautiful woman standing naked in front of you.

Would you really not act?

Thinking this through, Spandine suddenly roared—

"Blackbeard Teach! He's baiting you! It's a trap!"

"Trap?" Blackbeard blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHA! Of course I know he's trying to provoke me! You think I don't see it?"

"He took down Jack the Drought—worth over a billion bounty—and you expect me to believe he walked away without a scratch?"

"Sorry, kid… But today, you'll be the stepping stone to my legend!"

"Crew! Attack!!"

His voice thundered across the sea.

Jesus Burgess and the others snapped into action.

Every single member of Blackbeard's crew was a beast among beasts, criminals among criminals.

They weren't sure how strong this new admiral was—but they knew this much:

He couldn't possibly be at full power.

Not after Jack.

Not even someone of Admiral level could be unscathed after such a battle.

And most importantly…

Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit made him the natural enemy of all Devil Fruit users.

BANG!

From the crow's nest, Van Augur fired first.

The sniper round tore through the sky, aimed directly at Luo Yu's chest.

At the same time—

Burgess, Lafitte, and others split up to surround him, charging forward at full speed.

A black mist, dense and heavy, burst from Blackbeard's body and surged toward Luo Yu like a living tide.

Smoker and the Marines' faces twisted in alarm. They moved to assist—

But Luo Yu simply smiled and shook his head.

Spandine, watching from afar, was stunned.

Had he just… accidentally helped the Navy?

Wasn't he trying to warn Blackbeard?

And yet somehow his warning was misread as confirmation that Luo Yu was bluffing.

Now things had gone too far. There was no turning back.

He could only pray that Luo Yu was bluffing.

BANG!

The bullet fired by Van Augur collided midair with a shimmering golden aura—and was stopped cold.

At that same moment, the black mist surged toward the warship.

Blackbeard's voice echoed across the waves:

"Hahaha! Trying to spare your men from getting dragged down with you, boy?"

"Don't worry. As long as you become my stepping stone, I'll treat them well!"

"Shock Elbow Smash!!"

Burgess arrived first, slamming in from the left.

On the right, Lafitte descended from the air, his staff-saber gleaming.

The two coordinated a pincer strike—

Yet Luo Yu didn't even glance at them.

He remained exactly where he was, still sipping calmly from a wine flask.

Then—

BOOM!!

A tsunami of Conqueror's Haki erupted.

Invisible pressure became tangible force, slamming into Burgess and Lafitte's attacks with overwhelming might.

The two pirates felt their internal organs churn.

Before they could react, they were blasted backward like cannonballs.

Their bodies tumbled uncontrollably, crashing straight into the oncoming black tide.

The shockwave of Conqueror's Haki continued unchecked.

It collided head-on with Blackbeard's dark surge.

BOOOOOOM!

A cataclysmic blast of wind and water exploded outward, rocking the entire harbor.

Even the anchored warship shook violently in the aftermath.

Smoker and the others had already retreated below deck, leaving space for the battle to unfold.

Still, the sheer pressure of that clash made their scalps tingle with unease.

And yet…

Blackbeard did it again.

He used his Dark Surge even after it had been overwhelmed once already.

Why?

That question flickered through the Marines' minds—

Until they saw it.

A ghostly silhouette, nearly invisible in the whirling dust and darkness…

Had slipped behind Luo Yu.

His right hand was engulfed in swirling black energy.

Smoker's face twisted in horror.

Burgess, Lafitte, the Dark Surge—they were all a distraction!

The real killing blow was Blackbeard himself!

"Admiral Luo Yu, behind you—watch out!!" Ain cried out, panic in her voice.

"Hahaha! It's too late to run now!" Blackbeard howled gleefully.

"Even Ace told you—I'm the bane of all Devil Fruit users!"

"Time to strip you of your powers and trample you beneath my name!"

He thrust out his hand.

The swirling vortex intensified.

"Dark Vortex—Dark Water!!"

WHOOM!

The air itself seemed to shudder as the attack launched.

Only five meters remained.

Less than a heartbeat.

But Luo Yu didn't move.

Didn't blink.

He simply took another sip of wine.

Everyone watching felt a jolt of dread strike their hearts.

What is he doing!?

BOOM!

The Dark Vortex struck.

The resulting shockwave was deafening, echoing across the sky like divine thunder.

But the sight that greeted their eyes—

Froze them to the core.

The attack had failed.

The invincible power that should have ripped Luo Yu's Devil Fruit ability away…

Had been stopped.

Blocked.

By a radiant golden glow surrounding Luo Yu's body.

Their eyes widened further.

As the golden light shimmered, it began to form—**

A thousand glowing arms.

**

Thousand-Hand Guanyin.

Blackbeard stood frozen.

His hand still outstretched.

His eyes bloodshot with disbelief.

"Was that… a fake Dark-Dark Fruit!?"

Or had he finally met someone his darkness couldn't swallow?