PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Nagli's expression grew increasingly sour.

Staring at Luo Yu's calm, easygoing smile, he couldn't help but suspect—

Had Garp set another trap for him?

Otherwise, why would a man who had retired from the seas and vanished for decades suddenly get targeted again?

And that whole "fated connection" nonsense?

Yeah, right. That was just veiled blackmail.

"Relax, Nagli-nii," Fujitora said, tightening his grip on his cane-sword. "I've still got some connections at Marine Headquarters. Even if things get messy, I won't be blamed."

"This Admiral is tricky, yes—but not invincible."

He narrowed his eyes, his blade pulsing with violet light once again.

"If it comes to it, we'll attack from both sides. If an opening appears—you take it and run."

All around them, the earth trembled slightly, and shattered debris began to float from the pressure of his gravity.

Seeing Fujitora preparing to fight again, Vice Admiral Doll and the others looked visibly uneasy.

They knew full well—

If a man like Fujitora—deemed Admiral-level by Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself—chose to fight, there was nothing they could do to stop him.

But what worried them more was—

Could Luo Yu really win against two Special Forces targets?

Would this still end with his usual clean and effortless victory?

"Attack, my ass!"

Nagli snapped, pipe clamped between his teeth and beard bristling with frustration.

"The brat said we were fated? Fate my foot!"

"Damn it! I've been retired for decades, and Sengoku sold me off for just 20 million berries?! I can't swallow that!"

He huffed, glaring at Luo Yu.

"Listen up, brat. You said it yourself—we're 'fated.' So I'll board this damned Special Forces ship of yours."

"But you better not go back on your word, or I will come for your head."

Everyone watching stood stunned.

Just moments ago, they were locked in a life-or-death standoff—

Now?

The man who once challenged the Pirate King Roger had just agreed to join.

All because of some vague mention of "fate"?

To the observers, it sounded a lot more like... a subtle threat.

Even Fujitora looked caught off guard.

His sword was still drawn, halfway into a battle stance, now left hanging awkwardly.

He felt like someone who'd already pulled down their trousers—only to find out they'd barged into the wrong room.

Where the hell was he supposed to vent this embarrassment?

"Nagli-nii, now you've put me in a tough spot." Fujitora gave a bitter chuckle.

Nagli shot him a sidelong glance.

"Well, he found my weakness. Since you're already here with nothing better to do, why not come along too?"

"You and I can catch up properly, for once."

He took a long puff from his pipe, glancing around.

"All these years I've been hiding whenever I set foot on land, afraid of being recognized by the Navy."

"But maybe this time I'll walk away with an official identity. No more sneaking around like a criminal."

Fujitora gave a long, quiet sigh as he looked at his wily old brother-in-arms.

He suddenly felt like he'd just been recruited into a rogue unit without even realizing.

Luo Yu took a swig from his gourd and finally dispelled the looming Hundred-Hand Guanyin behind him.

"Lord Fujitora, I think Lord Nagli has a point," he said with a smile.

"Besides—you could always come aboard for now. Travel with me a while, look around."

"When the real war comes, you can still decide whether to fight or not."

Fujitora raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected Luo Yu to offer something so... reasonable.

Sliding his sword back into its sheath, he chuckled.

"Admiral Luo Yu, that sounds like a decent offer."

"But I've got to ask... are you just trying to lure me onto your ship so you can make it public afterward and force my hand?"

"Because if so—you're playing a hell of a long con."

Nagli laughed and nodded in agreement.

Watching this upstart Admiral, they both saw it now:

Luo Yu wasn't just as unpredictable as Garp—he was just as crafty, too.

"You wound me, Lord Fujitora," Luo Yu smiled, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.

"Yes, I do have some selfish motives."

"But I'm just here for that 20 million berry bonus."

"Once that's in hand—I honestly don't care if you fight or not."

...Just for the bonus?

Fujitora and Nagli both froze mid-step.

This man wasn't even pretending anymore.

Looking at his serious expression, they really couldn't tell—

Were they worth less than the bonus?

Or was the bonus just that damn appealing?

But the situation was what it was.

With no more words exchanged, the two men glanced at each other, nodded—

And dropped their fighting stances.

Together, they strode toward the warship.

"Oi, brat—you'd better have plenty of booze," Nagli grumbled.

"I'm getting hammered with Fujitora while we still can."

"Heheh," Fujitora chuckled. "Still the same old Nagli. But you'd better hope our new Admiral doesn't cry over wasted liquor—"

The two leapt onto the deck, heading straight for the cabin in search of drink, leaving the rest behind dumbfounded.

To see Nagli, the man who once stood against the Pirate King himself, agree to join—

That alone had stunned everyone.

But now, even Fujitora, the man Sengoku had personally scouted and failed to recruit, had boarded Luo Yu's ship?

That was unthinkable.

Forget who was stronger among the so-called "two old monsters."

The moment they stepped aboard—

They'd each taken up a slot on Luo Yu's Special Forces list.

And according to Luo Yu's earlier claim of eight or nine total seats—

He'd just filled half the list in one day.

As Luo Yu walked back toward the ship, Doll hurried up to him, unable to hide her excitement.

"Admiral Luo Yu! I didn't think you could even convince Fujitora, who turned down Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself!"

"Should we make this public? Let the world know what you've accomplished?"

Smoker and the others froze.

They were well aware of Doll's... enthusiastic tendencies.

But this kind of "announce it after the fact" tactic—

It reeked a bit of underhanded strategy.

Still, with the great war only forty days away, none of them could say much.

Everyone instinctively turned to Luo Yu, waiting for his decision.

"Make it public?" Luo Yu pulled out his gourd and took a slow sip of cheap grain liquor.

He shook his head with a faint smile.

"Why bother?"

"I already said... I'm just doing this for that 20 million bonus."

"Once I get paid—hell, I'll take on a Yonko solo."

Pfffft!!

Back inside the cabin, Nagli and Fujitora were seated on the deck, sipping liquor while passively using Observation Haki to eavesdrop.

They had wanted to check if Luo Yu was saying one thing in public and scheming something else in private.

But now?

They both nearly choked on their drinks.

This new Admiral was something else.

He wasn't scheming—

He was just completely shameless when it came to bonus money.

And somehow...

That made him even more terrifying.