PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

While Admiral Luo Yu's special force recruitment campaign stirred waves across the seas…

In the New World, another force was mobilizing rapidly.

—

Wano Country, Onigashima.

A sea of pirates had already gathered on the island—numbering in the thousands.

Among them were high-ranking officers, and even the remnants of the Flying Six had assembled.

Looking down upon the densely packed crowd, Kaido let out a booming, savage laugh.

"Hahaha! As expected of my Beasts Pirates' elite force! Just thirty more, and we'll have assembled a battalion of over five hundred Zoan-type Devil Fruit users!"

"Marine Headquarters? The Whitebeard Pirates? If they learn about this trump card I hold in my hand… I wonder what kind of faces they'll make!"

His expression twisted with pride before he suddenly turned to Queen, letting out a cold snort.

"Right, didn't that clown promise to deliver three hundred artificial Devil Fruits in the near future?"

"Get in touch with him immediately. I'm willing to pay double, but if he dares ask for triple, then don't blame me for hunting him down and killing him myself."

The simultaneous declaration of war by Marine HQ on two Yonko had been, in Kaido's eyes, the gravest insult.

To make matters worse, Jack, one of his three Disasters, had been captured by the Marines.

There was no way Kaido would let this opportunity to display his strength pass him by.

"Don't worry, Boss Kaido," Queen said with a crooked grin, chomping on a cigar. "King's already gone to negotiate. But I heard something funny—the clown refused the Marine draft unless the new admiral came in person."

"With his obsession with haggling, that new admiral's probably going to get sick of him. I bet he'll regret ever accepting the mission!"

"Oh, and guess what? The Fleet Admiral only offered 30 million Berries for the job."

"You ask me… this new admiral must be a real idiot!"

Hahaha!

The pirates below burst into laughter in unison.

A cold glint flashed through Kaido's eyes—but before he could respond, King's voice arrived via den den mushi.

"Just got word. Our deal with the clown's off. The Marines have already taken Doflamingo."

"...Taken?" Queen froze, stunned.

Even Kaido's smirk turned into a scowl.

"You mean to say that Doflamingo accepted the conscription? That bastard not only agreed but also broke our deal? He really thinks I'm a joke?!"

"If that's how he wants it, then I'll go myself and make him explain!"

Kaido gripped his massive kanabo, ready to transform into a dragon and soar into the skies.

But King stepped forward and blocked him, his face grim.

"Don't be rash, Boss Kaido. Doflamingo was indeed taken by the Marines…"

"But he was carried off the ship."

Kaido and Queen's pupils shrank.

They hadn't expected that.

King wasn't one to joke—and the grave tone in his voice said it all.

Which only raised more questions.

Was this truly a conscription of a Warlord? Or was Marine Headquarters using the excuse to make war under the table?

—

Meanwhile, on Beehive Island…

The sea inlet was completely choked with pirate ships.

On the deck of the Moby Dick, figures stood densely packed.

Whitebeard sat in his chair, studying the report in his hand, deeply shocked.

It took nearly a full minute before he finally looked up and said in a low voice:

"Marco… this intel… is it true? The Warlord Doflamingo, who refused conscription, was carried onto a Marine ship?"

"This kind of move… Hah! As expected of the most unpredictable admiral in Marine HQ."

Marco nodded bitterly. "Old man, I was just as shocked when I heard it."

"I tried everything to find eyewitnesses… but those who saw it either vanished or were silenced."

"All we know is that the new admiral, Luo Yu, had Doflamingo carried aboard."

"But what baffles me is this—Marine HQ is waging simultaneous war on two Yonko. They should value the Warlords' strength highly, yet they let this new admiral act so recklessly?"

The gathered commanders exchanged confused glances.

Vista, the Flower Sword, hesitated before saying, "Marco… regardless of Marine HQ's reasoning, isn't this a good thing for us?"

"One less Warlord means less pressure."

"That's right!"

"I agree!"

Jozu and others echoed the sentiment.

But Marco shook his head, his smile bitter.

"Yes, it seems like a good thing. But you're all forgetting one thing…"

"That man's mission is to recruit special combat forces. And if he's been allowed to act without restraint like this… I'm worried his ship is already swarming with monsters."

Silence fell.

Even Whitebeard's expression changed slightly—unable to offer any counter.

—

Three hundred nautical miles from Dressrosa, aboard the massive Marine battleship…

Doll glanced at the unconscious Doflamingo, lying like discarded trash in a corner of the deck. Her facial muscles twitched as she strode toward Luo Yu.

"Admiral Luo Yu… Are we heading straight back to HQ now?"

"Will this treatment really be okay? Shouldn't we consult Fleet Admiral Sengoku first?"

In her eyes, Doflamingo was still an officially conscripted Warlord.

He might be needed in the battles to come against the Yonko.

And yet now, he was lying like a dead dog on the deck—his wrists bound with Seastone cuffs.

It was an eyesore.

She couldn't help but worry what kind of face Doflamingo would make when he finally woke up and saw his current state.

"Hand this headache to Marine HQ?" Luo Yu took a swig of his earthen liquor bottle, then glanced toward the horizon with a sly smirk.

"I was just wondering where I'd find clues next…"

"Turns out, luck's on my side."

"The target's coming right to me."

"Ain, full helm! Head in the direction I point."

"Whether or not we can gather eight or nine special forces in total… depends entirely on this next hunt."