PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

"Thirty million Berries?"

Luo Yu sounded genuinely surprised.

He had been expecting twenty million at most—anything beyond that was just icing on the cake.

He hadn't anticipated Sengoku to suddenly be this generous.

This was basically free money.

On the other end of the line, Sengoku tensed. Luo Yu's silence made him wary, and he was just about to speak again—

When suddenly, a booming, hearty laugh erupted from the Den Den Mushi.

"Hahaha! Who would've thought a so-called Warlord would end up being worth more than us Special Operatives!"

"I'd love to see just what makes this Doflamingo guy so special!"

"Fujitora, Nagli, you two got overshadowed!"

"As for us two old giants who've been in hiding for a century… losing face is just part of the deal!"

The carefree, thunderous laughter echoed through the war room.

And instantly—

Crack!

Sengoku's Den Den Mushi shattered in his hand from sheer force.

Even Tsuru's composed expression shifted, her eyes reflecting clear surprise.

That sudden voice… wasn't just unexpected—it was explosive.

But more than that, it carried too much hidden weight.

Two giants from a hundred years ago…

One was said to have challenged the Pirate King and lost.

Another wielded top-tier Conqueror's Haki, long presumed dead for decades—Nagli.

And not to forget… Fujitora, formerly considered a failed recruitment effort by even Sengoku himself.

Those first three names might not mean much to the public.

But to everyone in this room?

They were monsters.

And now… all of them were on Luo Yu's ship.

Six days ago, Luo Yu had declared with casual confidence:

"I'll bring back eight or nine Special Operatives."

Almost nobody took him seriously—not even Sengoku.

They assumed if he got half that number, it would already be a miracle.

But now?

In less than a week, he had already gathered four—and one of them was Fujitora himself.

Silence descended once more upon the chamber.

No one moved.

They stared at the shattered Den Den Mushi, and finally—

Tsuru sighed and said,

"Sengoku… are you going to call him back?"

"Because I'm starting to feel like his face… is worth more than a Shichibukai."

As the Grand Strategist of the Navy, Tsuru wasn't speaking lightly.

Unlike the others still puzzling out what they'd heard—

She had already pieced it together.

Giants from a hundred years ago…

A failed opponent of the Pirate King…

Fujitora, an Admiral-tier powerhouse…

These weren't just strong individuals.

These were nightmare-class existences.

And somehow, Luo Yu had them all gathered on a single ship.

Sengoku himself couldn't have done that.

All eyes turned to Sengoku once again.

Even Akainu's jaw was clenched tight, and though his face was grim, his eyes betrayed a glimmer of shock.

But for once…

Akainu said nothing.

Because Tsuru's words?

He had no argument against them.

Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Sengoku rubbed his temple, the throbbing behind his eyes growing sharper.

"That brat… truly is the most unpredictable force on the seas."

"In just six days, he's gathered four monsters."

"I really thought his promise of eight or nine was a joke…"

"I underestimated him again."

He glanced at Tsuru and spoke, voice resigned:

"Prepare a war fund—two to three hundred million Berries."

"When the war finally breaks out, I want to see what kind of freak show he's assembled."

"As for calling him back?"

"Forget it. Looks like Luo Yu's face really is more valuable than a Shichibukai's."

The assembled officers stared in open disbelief.

A Fleet Admiral, saying something that casual in the middle of wartime?

It was almost… irresponsible.

And yet—

It felt incredibly satisfying to hear.

"Vergo, why is your forehead sweating?" asked Burning Mountain, a snow-capped cigar perched in his mouth.

"Too hot in that overcoat?"

"Or are you scared of the lineup on Luo Yu's ship?"

"I'm dying to see the look on Doflamingo's face when he sees that walking bonus pool coming toward him!"

Crack.

The porcelain teacup in Vergo's hand fractured slightly.

He was doing his best to remain composed.

But even he had to admit—

When Sengoku himself lost composure and crushed a Den Den Mushi…

It could only mean that Luo Yu's ship was packed with terrifying, unknown beings.

And if his young master was still clueless… still oblivious…

Vergo didn't even want to imagine what might happen.

"Vergo," Tsuru suddenly called out, her voice sharp.

"You'll be working directly under me from now on."

"I need someone in the intelligence bureau to monitor all movements from the Four Emperors."

"You won't be leaving HQ until further notice."

She rattled off a few more names for assignment.

Vergo's face turned pale.

The intelligence bureau was essentially a quarantine zone.

Once he entered it, he would be cut off from Doflamingo for the duration of the war.

And yet, with all eyes on him, and others already saluting their assignments—

He had no choice but to nod.

All he could do was hope that his young master had the sense not to provoke a devil.

As the meeting ended, Sengoku issued an immediate gag order.

The identities of the four Special Operatives mentioned over the call would remain strictly classified.

He wanted the world to speculate, to wonder just what kind of lineup Luo Yu was assembling behind the scenes.

Three Days Later.Over a hundred nautical miles from Dressrosa.

On a stationed Marine warship, Vice Admiral Momonga stood at the bow, peering into the distance.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

Far on the horizon, the silhouette of a massive battleship cut across the waves.

A thrill ran through his chest.

"Men! Signal the crew—prepare to receive Admiral Luo Yu!"

"And reissue the official Shichibukai summons to Doflamingo."

"I want to see if that arrogant bastard still has the guts to talk big once Luo Yu steps ashore."

Behind him, a junior officer raised a brow.

Watching the usually calm and restrained Momonga nearly tremble with excitement—

He couldn't help but chuckle wryly.

"Vice Admiral, this is a matter of life and death for Marine Headquarters."

"Admiral Luo Yu's methods may be unpredictable…"

"But for the sake of the Navy's survival—he might just be forced to play the wild card."