PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

The thunderous voice echoed across the ruins of Marineford, reverberating for a long time without fading.

Through the live broadcast of the Transponder Snail, those booming words were transmitted across the entire sea.

At Big News Morgans' dramatic final announcement, many people were stunned at first—but then, gradually, a sense of victory spread across their faces.

Especially at the repeated mention of the Fourth Admiral's name.

Even Sengoku couldn't help but be moved.

Just as Dark King Rayleigh had said earlier—this time, Marine Headquarters had truly stumbled upon a treasure.

Had Luo Yu not emerged from nowhere…

Then facing two simultaneous war fronts—plus the looming threat of Roger's remnants and the Red-Haired Pirates—Marine Headquarters would have been doomed.

Watching Morgans' news ship fly off into the distance, the ruins of the battlefield quickly began to reorganize with remarkable order.

As Sengoku watched the Marine officers of all ranks begin coordinating post-battle operations, Tsuru finally couldn't hold back and spoke again.

"Sengoku, are you planning to head to the Holy Land to face the Five Elders immediately?"

"You should let Garp accompany you. With him, you might have a better chance."

As the living embodiment of justice in the Marines, Garp had long been regarded as a hero.

Not just for the legendary battle at God Valley or for chasing Gol D. Roger across the seas, but also thanks to careful promotion by Sengoku, Tsuru, and others behind the scenes.

Otherwise, in the original timeline, even many Marine recruits were clueless about God Valley—let alone Garp's "Hero" title.

Without that symbolic protection, Garp would've likely met a bloody end many times over by now.

However, compared to Garp, Luo Yu's emergence introduced even more uncertainty.

Single-handedly crushing both major battlefronts…

Not just the Five Elders, but even Sengoku had never expected such an outcome.

As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku knew: the Five Elders would never let this slide.

"You want Garp to come with me?" Sengoku rolled his eyes and waved his hand in refusal."Bringing him would cause more trouble, not less."

"What if he suddenly blurts out, 'That Luo Yu kid who just took down a Gorosei? Oh yeah, I introduced him!'"

"Before I could even start negotiating on Luo Yu's behalf, we'd already be thrown out the door."

"This is something I can handle on my own."

"Besides, we still have Commander Kong inside the World Government. The Five Elders might turn hostile, but they're not likely to kill me."

"Still, I won't get away unscathed. After all, even we didn't expect Luo Yu to go so far—he actually slashed a Five Elder and made him flee!"

"Thinking about it now still gives me a headache… but man, Yamamoto's pitiful retreat really was satisfying to see."

He burst out laughing.

Tsuru gave him an exasperated side glance but said nothing more. Sengoku had made his stance clear, and there was no point pushing further.

She simply patted his shoulder and turned to leave.

"Old friend, don't go dying so easily. You're the strategist's symbol of the next generation."

"Heh. Rare to hear you get emotional, Tsuru. Thanks."

With a parting smile, Sengoku picked his direction—and leapt toward the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Back in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise…

Inside the towering Grand Hall of the Celestial Dragons, a disheveled figure stumbled in, battered and barely upright.

What was once a magnificent flamingo-feather coat now resembled a plucked chicken—half its feathers gone.

His signature sunglasses were shattered, leaving only one lens frame dangling off his face.

In the past, Doflamingo—who had always prided himself as the strongest of the former Seven Warlords—would never have allowed anyone to see him in such a miserable state.

Yet, the scenes from earlier… the horror of what happened at Impel Down still replayed vividly in his mind like a nightmare.

Even the one he had placed all his hopes in—Kaido, the so-called strongest creature across land, sea, and air—had been crushed in a single exchange.

Such monstrous power shattered everything Doflamingo thought he understood.

If not for his String-String Fruit allowing him to escape over the sea…

He'd be dead now, too.

"Doffy, what happened to you? You look pathetic!"

On the high platform sat Ith, brows furrowed in displeasure.

Once a Celestial Dragon himself, Ith was said to hold the greatest secrets of the World Nobles.

Had Doflamingo not still been useful—as their pawn in the shadows—the Five Elders would never have supported him so many times.

Nor would they have allowed him to ally with Kaido, or collude with Blackbeard, Shiryu of the Rain, and others to stage this kill-or-be-killed plan.

But even with such a star-studded lineup, they were defeated—by Luo Yu alone.

If Doflamingo had died at sea, they would've welcomed the cleanup.

But the fact that he made it back alive meant… those secrets he held were still at risk of being exposed.

"Ith, you bastard!" Doflamingo roared, his face twisted in rage."You swore this plan would work—that we'd eliminate that damned brat. That's the only reason I agreed to work with you!"

"I spent decades building everything I had. And now? It's all gone!"

"You all guaranteed this plan would succeed. Now I have nothing. Don't think you can just sit back—I'll blow the lid off your precious Celestial Dragon secrets!"

His hysterical roar shook the great hall.

Behind Ith, the towering and long-bearded Anthony stepped forward with a cold face.

"Enough, Doflamingo! Don't forget where you are."

"We gave you everything you had. We can take it back."

"That brat survived because you were weak. That's why we—the Five Elders—had to act ourselves!"

"That's what's truly infuriating!"

"The Five Elders… acted in person?" Doflamingo froze, stunned.He glanced around the hall, then gasped.

"Anthony—are you saying Yamamoto went to deal with him personally?"

"What's your plan? What's happening now?!"

After watching Kaido get destroyed with his own eyes, Doflamingo's resolve had already collapsed.

At this point, only the Five Elders could offer him a sliver of hope.

Seeing his desperation, Ith gripped his cane tightly and spoke slowly.

"Hmph. Doffy, relax. The plan was foolproof. Yamamoto left some time ago—I trust he's already taken care of things."

"He's impulsive, yes, but his strength is far beyond your imagination."

"CP0—connect me to our informants in Marineford. I want a full report."

Outside the hall, the waiting CP0 agent rushed in and retrieved a Den Den Mushi.

"Lord Ith, just a moment. A flood of intel just came in—let me project it for you immediately!"

With a flick, the CP0 agent cast a series of intelligence files into the air, displaying them in shimmering midair holograms.

But the moment they loaded—the bold letters hanging in the void—

"A Five Elder… has been struck down!"

A chill filled the room.

Breaths caught. Eyes widened.

And for the first time in memory, the hall of the Five Elders fell into stunned silence.