PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

"...A Marine?"

Cloaked in his black robe, Fujitora sheathed his gravity-infused sword cane with a gentle motion. He raised a brow slightly and asked:

"Someone who can attack the Warlords of the Sea so decisively... You must be the Fourth Admiral, Taiote Luo Yu, right?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Young and promising, with nerves of steel... Truly impressive."

"But," Fujitora's tone shifted slightly, "aren't you concerned that the Warlords will be offended?"

"Offended?" Luo Yu grinned, pulling out his gourd and taking a deep swig of earth-brewed liquor.

"I only see this as a job well done—another performance metric for my next promotion and bonus."

"The Warlords? Never heard of them."

"If Sengoku throws in a pay raise, hell—I'd even take on the Five Elders."

The moment his words landed—

The entire dock fell into a stunned silence.

Even those who had already seen Luo Yu's recklessness were momentarily shocked senseless.

The Five Elders—the shadow rulers of the world, the true heads of the World Government.

Every high-ranking officer, even Admirals, avoided even whispering their names.

Yet here was Luo Yu—

Speaking of cutting down the Five Elders for a bonus.

Like it was just another payday.

Would he really dare?

If anyone could... it'd probably be this guy.

Sengoku himself might have to test it by offering him a raise.

"You'd cut down even the Five Elders?" Fujitora was momentarily stunned.

Then he burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! No wonder people across the seas call the new admiral a madman!"

"In your eyes, even the Five Elders' authority is just a matter of how much it pays..."

He shook his head, still smiling.

"But Admiral Luo Yu, I must remind you—I've already declined Fleet Admiral Sengoku's invitation."

"Even if you've come in person, I won't change my answer."

It was obvious that Fujitora assumed Luo Yu had sought him out again for recruitment.

But then—

"No," said Vice Admiral Doll, stepping forward urgently. "Admiral Luo Yu said just now… you're not the one he came for."

She glanced around with growing unease.

During that brief pause, she had scanned the crowd three or four times over, but still failed to spot anyone who stood out.

Where was this so-called second special combat asset?

Fujitora froze.

The confidence on his face faltered.

"Admiral Luo Yu, is that true?" he asked slowly. "You're not trying to use this trick just to get me onboard, are you?"

After all, he'd heard of the Marines' attempts to recruit powerful outliers, labeling them as special combat forces to join the upcoming war effort.

Anyone given that title had to be strong enough to stand on the summit of the battlefield.

Not just anyone could qualify.

But now, Luo Yu was claiming that this tiny Nanohana Port had two such candidates?

Was he treating rare power like some cabbage on a roadside stand?

"I only operate through two methods," Luo Yu replied with a calm smile. "Direct invitation, or indirect collision."

"Tricks? I don't stoop that low."

Then he turned, his gaze cutting through the crowd.

"Nagli—I believe you understand what I mean, don't you?"

Nagli?

The crowd blinked in confusion.

To them, that name was completely unfamiliar.

Compared to the renowned Fujitora, this "Nagli" sounded like a total nobody.

But the moment that name reached Fujitora's ears—

His entire expression changed.

His grip tightened on the sheathed blade.

In the next instant, his form vanished.

With a burst of wind and pressure, Fujitora reappeared, blade drawn, directly before an elderly man wrapped in tattered sheepskin, still crouched quietly in the crowd.

The sudden movement shocked everyone.

Fujitora was attacking?!

And his target was a seemingly harmless old beggar?

His sword, glowing faintly with gravitational energy, came down like lightning.

Doll's expression changed instantly.

"Admiral Luo Yu, do something! If you've mistaken someone for the wrong person—someone's going to die!"

BOOM!!

A heavy impact rang out.

A powerful gust of wind exploded outward, blasting away everyone nearby.

The crowd was thrown back nearly ten meters.

When the dust settled—

All eyes locked on the unbelievable scene before them.

The elderly man had blocked the strike.

The man who looked so unkempt, so fragile—

Now stood firm, one hand raised to stop Fujitora's descending blade.

His body radiated inky-black Armament Haki, surging like a tide from his palms.

Even he looked startled.

For decades, he had worked hard to disappear—living as a shadow, hidden from the world.

Never had he imagined that one day… someone would speak his name aloud again.

"You really are... Nagli the Giant Hammer," Fujitora said in a low voice, drawing a long breath.

"When I first stepped onto the sea as a Marine mercenary, I pursued you."

"I've never forgotten your aura."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Back then, when you challenged the Pirate King Roger and your crew was defeated… I thought you had perished with them."

"Never imagined you were still alive—let alone on the Navy's special recruitment list."

He looked toward Luo Yu.

"Seems I owe this Admiral my thanks."

But Nagli only clenched his pipe tighter, face dark as thunder.

"Fujitora, I don't have time to reminisce."

"I have no interest in this special combat force nonsense."

"Admiral Luo Yu—I'm just trying to leave."

BOOM!!!

Suddenly, a storm of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Nagli's aged body.

It rolled across the port like a black hurricane, surging outward in all directions.

The pressure alone was enough to knock out civilians hundreds of meters away.

Even Fujitora was blasted back four or five meters.

"That's… Conqueror's Haki!?"

Vice Admiral Doll's voice trembled.

So did the expressions of everyone around her.

This was the will of a king—the one-in-a-million aura of those born to dominate.

From the moment Luo Yu had said there was a second asset…

From the moment Fujitora targeted this unkempt old man...

They had all doubted it.

But now?

A man who once challenged the Pirate King himself…

How could he be ordinary?

Seizing the moment, Nagli turned to flee.

Fujitora narrowed his eyes, locking onto Nagli's retreating presence.

He took a step forward, ready to follow.

But just then—

A powerful aura surged from behind them like a tidal wave.

"Sorry," Luo Yu's voice echoed calmly. "But when you start fighting in front of me… it tends to trigger passive skills."

BOOOOOM!!!

Conqueror's Haki exploded again—this time, from Luo Yu himself.

An overwhelming wave, black and furious, surged outward from the center of the battlefield.

It enveloped both Nagli and Fujitora, hammering down upon them like divine wrath.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded.

Luo Yu was... attacking both of them?!

Had he lost his mind?!

Two special combat assets—

And he struck them simultaneously?!

Was he really planning to subdue them both in one move?