PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Zheng!

The sharp clang of a blade being drawn shattered the tense silence at the port.

All eyes immediately turned to Rear Admiral Kibin—just in time to see him raise his katana and slash at the young Marine beside him.

Everyone's face changed dramatically.

"Kibin! Don't be reckless!" barked another Rear Admiral, Chas, who was also on duty at the harbor."The rookie just misspoke! This isn't the way to deal with it!"

Kibin snapped back to awareness mid-swing and shouted:

"No—I can't control my body! Get out of the way!"

But it was too late.

His katana was already descending, fast and fatal.

The rookie Marine, stunned, stood rooted to the spot, staring at the incoming blade. His pupils dilated as the deadly arc of steel filled his vision.

Blood would surely spill in the next instant—Until…

"Wash-Wash Fruit: Gentle Cleanse!"

An aged but powerful voice rang out from behind.

A tide of white, foamy bubbles surged forth—striking the katana a split second before it landed.

And just like that…

The once-lethal weapon wilted mid-air.

The razor-sharp edge turned as soft as a wet cloth and drooped helplessly against the rookie's uniform, falling with a flump like a deflated balloon.

"Vice Admiral Tsuru!" Kibin gasped, heart pounding. "I swear—I couldn't control myself just now!"

Tsuru stepped forward, her eyes cold and sharp as ever.

"I know what happened, Kibin. This wasn't your fault."

Her gaze lifted to the pirate ship docked brazenly at the entrance to Marineford.

"Doflamingo… you've gone too far. If something did happen here, you really think the Navy wouldn't hold you responsible?"

"Fufufufu…" A mocking chuckle echoed from the pirate ship.

Out stepped the unmistakable figure of Donquixote Doflamingo, dressed flamboyantly in his flamingo-feathered cloak, strutting arrogantly despite the summer heat.

His every step radiated contempt—as if the very ground beneath him wasn't worthy.

The moment he revealed himself, the atmosphere on the dock snapped taut.

Everyone had caught the explosive tension in the earlier exchange.

And after witnessing Kibin nearly murder a fellow Marine under mysterious influence, no one felt safe.

"Still spry, I see, Vice Admiral Tsuru," Doflamingo sneered. "I figured you'd be too old to move—certainly not like back in the day when you were chasing me across half the sea."

Tsuru's expression didn't change.

"I may be old, but I'm more than enough to deal with you."

"Besides, we already clarified this over the transponder snail, didn't we?"

"It was your men who attacked Admiral Luo Yu first. The fact that we're even returning them alive is generous."

Doflamingo suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, clutching the side of his face as his body trembled.

"Alive? Generous? Tsuru… you seem to remember the privileges of the Warlords but forget the terror that got us those privileges in the first place."

"We didn't become Warlords because of manners. We're the kind of monsters the Navy had no choice but to bargain with!"

"My man—Pica—lost a leg and an arm. If you don't give me a proper explanation, don't blame me, the Heavenly Yaksha, for what happens next!"

Boom!

Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki erupted like a hurricane.

The shockwave swept across the dock, instantly knocking out dozens of Marines.

Even Rear Admirals Kibin and Chas paled, gritting their teeth just to remain standing.

"Doflamingo! You dare unleash Haki here!?" Tsuru snapped. "You think Marineford is yours to trample?!"

"Hmph! The Warlords have been silent too long—maybe you've forgotten what we're capable of."

Doflamingo let out a wild, high-pitched laugh.

"If you won't give me a proper explanation today, maybe I'll just show up to Marineford every day, and 'baptize' your rookies with my Conqueror's Haki!"

Boom!

A second wave of Haki erupted—even stronger than before.

More Marines collapsed in droves, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth.

Tsuru's face darkened, preparing to retaliate—

But before she could move, an overwhelming pressure rolled in from the sea.

A tsunami of dread swept over everyone on the dock.

Doflamingo turned sharply toward the ocean.

And froze.

Rolling across the horizon was a blood-red wave of Conqueror's Haki so dense, so powerful, it distorted the clouds above and stirred the waves below.

The entire sky twisted as if bowing to its arrival.

"H-he's back…" Pica stammered, his voice trembling as he hastily used his Devil Fruit powers to regrow his lost limbs.

"Young Master—please! Don't clash with him again!"

Even though Pica was still wrapped in bandages from his last encounter, his fear was clear.

Nearby, Trebol and the rest of the Donquixote family had gone pale.

All eyes turned to Doflamingo.

And for once—he wasn't grinning.

Usually, he thrived under the spotlight, basked in attention.

But now?

Now it felt like a spotlight from hell was fixed on him.

Moments ago, he'd been boasting of the terror of the Warlords—threatening to storm Marineford whenever he pleased.

But now…

Now he was staring down the same monstrous force that had obliterated his strongest subordinate with one blow.

If he dodged the incoming aura, it would be an admission of inferiority.

He'd lose face—on the world stage.

His expression hardened. His lips curled into a furious snarl.

"So be it! You arrogant rookie!"

"You really think your Conqueror's Haki can match mine?! Do you know who I am?!"

"Let me show you the true power of a Warlord's will!"

Boom!

This time, Doflamingo pushed his Haki to the absolute limit.

The aura surged out, cracking the air around him.

He wasn't just a Warlord—he was one of the very few who possessed the rare Conqueror's Haki.

Even facing Emperors of the Sea, he wouldn't flinch.

The moment the two Hakis clashed—

Doflamingo's smugness shattered.

Crack!

His Haki collapsed like broken glass.

And the crimson wave slammed into him.

So fierce was the impact that even his signature sunglasses cracked and exploded.

A shockwave thundered out.

Even his pride, like those shades, was obliterated.

This was a Haki clash… that broke sunglasses.A spiritual duel that shattered even style.