PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Aboard the Red Force, every crew member's eyes locked onto Shanks.

The red-haired Emperor swirled the sake in his cup, then raised it with a calm smile.

"Relax. There's still no word from Rayleigh. But no matter how much the Marines are counting on that new admiral…"

"Their opponent is one of the Four Emperors."

"And only I truly understand just how terrifying that kind of power is."

"Let's bring the curtain down on the old era—with our own hands."

As orders were dispatched across fleets and islands, the entire sea boiled with tension.

All attention was now converging—not just on Marineford…

But on the second battlefield.

On the admiral who had dared to claim he would face Kaido of the Beasts alone.

Was he a decoy?

A pawn thrown out to ease the burden of the main war?

As the final countdown began…

Three days passed in a blink.

As the first golden rays of dawn spread across the ocean's surface, every heart clenched.

Civilians. Pirates. Marines. Nobles. Kings.

No one slept that night.

Everyone watched the horizon, knowing that today…

The most monumental war the seas had ever seen was about to begin.

Massive Marine warships blocked the entrance to Marineford.

Countless Justice banners snapped in the wind.

With the start of the live transponder snail broadcast, the world watched—

Ten thousand elite Marines.

Over a hundred commanding officers.

The Navy's finest—on full display.

The Gorosei had ordered this war to be a show of justice.

But Sengoku, Fleet Admiral of the Marines, knew the truth:

It was more about saving face—or shifting the blame when things went wrong.

Still, he had no other option now.

He had to go all in.

This grand display was meant to boost morale and intimidate the world.

But everyone watching had another burning question in their hearts:

What of the Second Battlefield?

What was happening at Impel Down, where the new Admiral Taiote Luo Yu was stationed to face the Beasts Pirates?

The broadcast from the second battlefield lit up—

And the entire world fell silent.

The scene was… underwhelming.

Yes, there were prison guards and Marines stationed around Impel Down.

But when compared to Marineford's ten thousand elite troops and a hundred top officers…

This looked pitiful.

Behind the Gate of Justice, on the massive floating platform specially constructed for this battle, only a few thousand stood in formation.

Leading them was Magellan, Warden of Impel Down—rumored to rival an admiral in strength.

And several powerful prison officers.

But compared to the Marineford force?

A joke.

Across the world, only one thought entered everyone's minds:

"Is this a sacrificial battleground?"

Surely it had to be.

How could the Navy face down a Four Emperor's crew with this?

If not for the presence of a few Warlords of the Sea, many viewers would have thought this was a decoy feed.

And then came the sneer.

From atop the execution platform behind the floating stage—

Jack the Drought, tied in chains of sea prism stone, laughed through his fangs.

"Is this the mighty Navy?"

"You barely brought enough men to make it interesting. I could kill all of them myself."

The execution platform loomed tall behind the stage.

But Jack's tone held no fear—only disdain.

His monstrous frame twisted in the heavy sea-stone chains as he scanned the crowd with contempt.

"Doflamingo… didn't expect to see you here."

"Now you see the truth, don't you?"

"The Navy thinks of you Warlords as expendable."

"Instead of getting crushed by Kaido, why not join forces with us?"

"We'll level Impel Down… then Marineford… and rule the seas ourselves!"

His deep voice boomed across the platform.

Nearby Marines and guards turned pale with fury—but also frustration.

They wanted to refute Jack's arrogance…

But how could they?

The disparity in forces was clear.

"Shut your mouth!" shouted Hannyabal, face flushed with anger. "Second battlefield or not, this place isn't what it seems!"

This was his chance to shine. No way he'd let a criminal humiliate the Navy live on air.

But just as he puffed up his chest—

He met Doflamingo's unsettling gaze.

And his heart skipped a beat.

The Heavenly Yaksha chuckled, voice oozing with disdain.

"Hehehe… as expected of Impel Down's vice warden. You've got guts."

"But sadly, your little force here just doesn't measure up."

"Compared to Marineford? This is child's play."

"I was summoned here as a Warlord, so of course I hope this battlefield isn't just a dumping ground."

"If that arrogant admiral doesn't show up… well, let's just say this whole war could go sideways."

"Or has he already gotten cold feet and run?"

"You—!!"

Hannyabal's fists clenched in rage.

But before he could fire back, Magellan placed a hand on his shoulder.

The warden turned toward the Warlords.

His face unreadable.

Three stood before him:

Marshall D. Teach, the enigmatic Blackbeard.

Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha.

And the recently-defeated Gecko Moria, former Warlord of Thriller Bark.

Their presence here made no sense.

Magellan couldn't understand it either.

But Sengoku's orders were clear.

He checked his pocket watch.

Then spoke, voice low and firm.

"Doflamingo. I don't care what past grievances you have with Admiral Luo Yu."

"But don't stir up trouble. Sengoku entrusted this battlefield to him."

"My job is to hold the gate. His job is to win the war."

Magellan paused, then added something odd.

"He told me something strange…"

"He said—'Nine o'clock clock-ins bring miracles.'"

"Right now… it's five minutes to nine."

For a moment, everyone blinked.

Not just on the floating platform.

But across the world—audiences watching the live feed were dumbfounded.

Five minutes until nine?

Was that supposed to mean something?

A ridiculous idea crept into people's minds:

Was the admiral really… waiting for his shift to start?!

Is he treating a war with a Four Emperor like a 9-to-5 job!?

The world stared at the ticking clock.

And waited.