PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

The grand, lofty palace fell into an eerie dead silence.

Yamamoto stared at the Den Den Mushi in his hand. The muscles on his face twitched involuntarily.

Just moments ago, he had been anticipating good news from Impel Down.

Yet, what arrived… was something no one—even in their wildest imagination—could have expected.

Suppressing the entirety of Level Six… just to clock out on time?

It was absurd. Mad. Impossible.

But it was exactly the kind of thing that only someone like Luo Yu, a man who played by no one's rules, could and would do.

"Heh… sorry, Yamamoto," Sengoku chuckled awkwardly, clearly relieved. "It seems that 'brat' is… perhaps just a billion times more formidable than any of you imagined."

Sengoku's eyes sharpened.

"As for dealing with the two Emperors—don't worry. I've already devised a strategy: split the battlefield in two."

"I will invoke the Warlord Summon Order to strengthen our lines. And for this battle—I'll stake my name as Fleet Admiral. If we don't gain anything from this, then I'll step down from this post myself!"

"Hmph, you—!" Yamamoto's face darkened with rage.

But Isse raised his hand again, stopping Yamamoto with a firm grip on his cane.

"Splitting the battlefield? Gambling your title as Fleet Admiral?"

"Sengoku, you sound incredibly confident. Then let's see how far you're willing to go."

"But mark my words—if you fail, you won't just lose your position. Control over all of Marine Headquarters will change hands. Pray you've placed your bet wisely."

Sengoku raised his head abruptly. His eyes scanned the Five Elders one last time before he turned and strode out of the grand hall with a sweeping motion of his cloak.

His words had been harsh—his conviction, absolute.

But as a seasoned tactician, Sengoku understood that beneath this bold front lay one of the most dangerous gambits he had ever made.

Watching Sengoku disappear down the corridor, Yamamoto's fury boiled over.

CRACK!

The Den Den Mushi in his hand was crushed with a single squeeze. He roared:

"Arrogant fool! Have they forgotten the very purpose of the Marines' existence?"

"They're nothing more than a tool—our tool! We've allowed them too much freedom. It's time they remember who holds the leash!"

He turned toward Isse, voice filled with fury.

"Are you seriously going to let the Marines drift further out of our grasp, Isse?!"

Everyone's eyes, including Spandine's, fell silently on Isse.

But in Spandine's heart, a strange chill had already begun to form.

He couldn't shake the memory of that figure—the one who had intentionally let him escape before.

As those cold stares fell upon him, Isse gripped his cane tightly and spoke with practiced calm:

"Yamamoto, you said it yourself—no matter what they do, they're just pieces on a board."

"And we… are the ones playing the game."

"No matter how wild they get, they can't escape our hand."

"If Sengoku wants to protect that brat so badly—even at the cost of facing two Emperors—let him. I want to see exactly how far they'll go."

He turned to Spandine, voice sharp:

"You're still under disciplinary review. I want you to head to Dressrosa immediately."

"Deliver a message to Doflamingo. I'm sure… he'll love what we have in mind."

"D–Dressrosa?" Spandine stammered.

He was completely dumbfounded.

And the mere mention of Luo Yu's name sent a wave of anxiety coursing through him.

Especially when he remembered Luo Yu's scathing judgment of him during their last encounter.

A cold sweat formed on his back.

He couldn't help but worry—was he about to become someone else's sacrificial pawn once again?

But he had no choice. As a man awaiting judgment, disobeying a Five Elder's order was not an option.

With a pale face, Spandine bowed stiffly and departed to prepare for his journey.

As his figure disappeared, Isse cast one last glance down the corridor, then tapped his cane and turned away.

"Let's go. It's time to check on the SSG's progress."

"Once we've fully seized control of Vegapunk's scientific might, we won't need the Marines… or Vegapunk either."

"We only require loyal pieces—nothing more."

The Next Morning – Aboard a Navy Warship

The golden morning sun scattered across the deck like shattered coins.

A warship, riding the Navy's exclusive sea currents, carved a path through the waves at high speed.

At the bow stood Admiral Luo Yu, sipping liquor from his gourd. He gazed calmly at the looming Gate of Justice ahead.

Beyond that gate lay Marineford—headquarters of the Navy.

Huddled in a corner of the deck, Blackbeard's face was pale as chalk. But at last, a flicker of glee lit up his eyes.

He still shuddered at the memory of Luo Yu casually subduing the entirety of Level Six… just to clock out on time.

It was enough to make his dream of ruling the seas feel like a very near-death experience.

If he had lingered any longer in front of that monster…

He might've been annihilated on a whim.

Still, Blackbeard didn't dwell on the danger.

His mind was preoccupied with what he had seen inside Level Six—the prisoners… the potential recruits…

"Admiral Luo Yu," Tashigi approached briskly, holding a transcribed order. "We're about to arrive at Marineford."

She hesitated a moment, then added awkwardly:

"We've received a direct order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. As soon as you arrive, please proceed to the strategy meeting in the council chamber."

"Also… if it's before 9 a.m. when you arrive, please wait until 9 to report in. The Fleet Admiral says… there's no overtime pay anymore."

Even she couldn't help but smile bitterly at the end.

Beside her, Smoker and the others shared the same amused resignation.

For any Marine officer, being summoned to a strategic high-level meeting was a matter of immense honor.

But in the entire history of the Navy, only Luo Yu could have the Fleet Admiral himself adjusting the meeting to his personal working hours.

As the warship docked swiftly at port, Blackbeard didn't dare linger a second longer.

Slipping into the shadows, he quickly made his way onto the decoy ship they had arranged in advance.

Only when both his feet touched the deck of that vessel did he finally exhale in relief.

That long-lost feeling of safety washed over him.

"Captain," Burgess couldn't contain himself. "You must've scored big in Level Six, right? With those monsters on our side, the Blackbeard Pirates will become the strongest crew of the sea!"

Beside him, Lafitte quickly shot a sharp glance to silence Burgess, then smiled cautiously.

"Captain… did the plan go as expected?"

As a former security officer from the West Blue, Lafitte had always been Blackbeard's tactician.

It had been his proposal to infiltrate Level Six in search of elite recruits—a plan that, on paper, was flawless.

But just as the smile began forming on his lips, Blackbeard's next words made his expression freeze.

"Uh… well… to be honest… the inmates down there weren't that impressive…"

Silence.

Even the waves seemed to pause for a moment.

Because those words didn't just hint at disappointment…

They masked a fear so deep, not even Blackbeard dared say what he truly saw down there.