PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

For a moment, all eyes on the vast deck turned to Luo Yu.

Even Vice Admiral Doll was no exception.

Within Marine Headquarters, the Warlords of the Sea (Shichibukai) had always been a controversial existence.

Though officially sanctioned by the World Government, they were still pirates—making many Marines resent them deeply.

Yet because of the World Government's decrees, most could only grit their teeth in silence.

Ordinarily, when subordinates of the Warlords threw their weight around and bullied others, most Marines would turn a blind eye.

And now—especially with the Marines about to go to war with the Emperors—no one dared stir up more trouble.

Even Doll, a seasoned Vice Admiral, would normally hesitate to provoke such chaos.

But today was different.

Today, a new admiral stood among them—one who didn't play by the rules.

Doll couldn't help but feel a strange, bubbling curiosity.

How would Luo Yu respond?

"Subordinates of the Warlords, huh…" Luo Yu took a swig from his jug, voice casual.

"At a time like this, the appearance of Warlord-affiliated pirates is... troublesome."

He chuckled lightly.

"But they're just underlings—not Warlords themselves. So, what's there to fear?"

"I kill. You save. Problem solved, no?"

BOOOOM!!!

The moment the words left his lips, everyone froze.

Before they could even react—

A terrifying torrent of Conqueror's Haki surged outward from Luo Yu like a tidal wave.

BOOM!!

The sheer pressure of it manifested like a visible shockwave, roaring through the air with monstrous force.

In an instant, it slammed toward the chaotic Nanohana Port.

Along its path, pirate ships moored at the docks were shredded like paper, splintered and scattered in all directions.

The sudden eruption of power turned every face pale.

They had wondered whether Luo Yu would act against the Warlords.

But they never imagined—

He'd strike without hesitation, without warning… and with such overwhelming force.

"Admiral Luo Yu!" Doll's face darkened. "If you want us to save the civilians, could you at least give us time to prepare?! We can't reach them in time now!"

She gritted her teeth.

Just moments ago, she'd been secretly hoping Luo Yu would act.

Now she regretted it.

Yes, he was unpredictable—but this level of recklessness was beyond reason.

Beside her, Smoker wore a bitter expression.

His Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability excelled in retreat and pursuit—but even he couldn't match the speed of that Haki blast.

Watching that colossal Conqueror's Haki surge across the coastline…

Even if he used every ounce of strength, there was no catching up.

All he could do now was stand helplessly and watch.

Just as that realization set in—

A new wave of pressure erupted from the port.

BOOM!!!

The pirates who had been rampaging along the edges of the dock were instantly flattened, launched like rag dolls into the air.

But the residual force didn't stop there.

It surged further inland, bearing down on the Marine soldiers and Alabasta's royal guards still stationed near the harbor.

They were elated, at first—watching the Warlord underlings get swept away.

But then they realized—

They were next.

The joy on their faces froze.

"Not bad, Admiral. I thought I'd have to clean up this mess myself."

A calm voice echoed over the chaos.

From behind the Marine formation, a cloaked figure in a long black robe stepped forward.

Trailing behind him was an old man in a tattered sheepskin coat, unkempt silver hair poking out from beneath a lambskin hat, and a pipe clenched in his teeth.

Despite the roaring winds and blinding pressure, the old man simply pulled his coat tighter, choosing to remain hidden within the crowd.

The cloaked man, however—

He stepped forward.

The Marines and royal guards looked anxiously at the cloaked figure now standing before them.

None of them dared to attack the Warlords' subordinates directly.

But that didn't mean they were willing to watch innocent civilians die either.

As those thoughts raced through their minds—

The man moved.

"Gravity Blade: Ferocious Tiger!"

BOOM!!!

A wave of purple gravitational force shot forth.

It collided head-on with Luo Yu's surging Conqueror's Haki.

The resulting shockwave caused the very air to bend and buckle.

The entire dock vanished into a maelstrom of sand and smoke.

Pirates who had survived the first wave barely had time to breathe before being engulfed in the violent clash of two powers.

Back on the deck, Doll and Smoker's pupils shrank to pinpricks.

Up until now, they had assumed Luo Yu's earlier words—"I kill, you save"—had been directed at them.

They had no idea someone on the dock itself had the power to actually intervene.

Only now did they remember—

Luo Yu had mentioned something earlier.

That Nanohana Port housed someone on his special combat asset list.

"Admiral Luo Yu!" Tina called out. "Was that man—the one who intervened—on your special combat list?"

Luo Yu took another sip of his drink and leapt gracefully down onto the ruined port.

"Nope. He already refused Sengoku, so he's only half an asset."

"My real target… is someone else entirely."

That answer stunned everyone.

The man who just countered Luo Yu's Conqueror's Haki…

Wasn't even the one he was after?

Then that meant—

He must be one of the two special combatants that Fleet Admiral Sengoku had tried—and failed—to recruit.

Now they understood why the man had been able to stop Luo Yu's attack.

After all, at the emergency conference not long ago, Sengoku had stated that those two individuals possessed combat power equivalent to an Admiral.

If they had joined, it would've been a massive boost to Marine Headquarters.

But if he wasn't the one Luo Yu was targeting...

Who was?

Doll and the others scanned the port, but found no one who stood out.

Only the remnants of destruction—and a figure standing amidst the dust.

As the swirling sand settled over the harbor—

Doll and the others leapt ashore to investigate.

The port was now in ruins, littered with bodies of pirates strewn across the ground like rag dolls.

Muscles on their faces twitched involuntarily.

Luo Yu's "casual" methods were utterly terrifying.

Yet despite the devastation, all eyes were drawn to the cloaked figure standing calmly at the center.

The long purple robe.

The tightly closed eyes.

Doll's expression changed as recognition dawned.

"That's… Issho, also known as Fujitora."

"One of the special combat assets Fleet Admiral Sengoku mentioned… why is he here?"

Smoker's eyes widened too.

Now it all made sense.

That was why the man could clash with Luo Yu and remain standing.

At the highest council meeting, Sengoku had declared that both of the failed recruits were strong enough to rival Admirals.

Had they joined...

Marine Headquarters would be unstoppable.

But now only one question remained—

If Fujitora was only a half-target…

Was there really someone else hidden on this battlefield with the potential to become a true special combat force?