PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

A faint voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

The entire plaza of Onigashima instantly fell into dead silence.

Even the cigar between Queen's lips was bitten clean through.

Wasn't this the Den Den Mushi belonging to Sheepshead, Jack's trusted subordinate?

Why was there a completely unfamiliar voice coming from it?

More importantly, that very first line—"Do you want the man, or the money?"—was blatant extortion!

Did this mean… the mighty Yonko had just been kidnapped and blackmailed in public?

"You damned brat! Who the hell are you, and what nonsense are you spouting?! Where's Sheepshead?! I'm Kaido!"

Kaido's expression darkened as he roared and snatched the Den Den Mushi from Queen's hand.

If he hadn't been eager to know who was on the other side of the line, he might have crushed the Den Den Mushi in his trembling hand already.

At his side, King and the others were also staring intensely at the Den Den Mushi.

Countless faces flashed through their minds, but none matched the voice.

In their eyes, no one that young-sounding could possibly be foolish enough to threaten a Yonko.

But as that thought emerged—they all subconsciously turned to the newspaper lying on the ground.

A ridiculous idea suddenly surfaced.

Could it be… that strange newcomer they'd mocked earlier?

The one who hadn't even grown all his hair?

"Oh? So it really is possible to get in touch with you directly. That saves me a lot of time searching," Luo Yu said with a surprised smile.

Sure enough, a good week starts with good luck.

Not only did he find pirates from the Beasts Pirates the moment he landed, but now Kaido himself was calling in?

How could that not be satisfying?

"Right, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Luo Yu, the newly appointed Marine Admiral. Just now, your Beasts Pirates underling suddenly attacked me, so I had no choice but to beat him up a little."

"As it happens, I'm looking for Whitebeard's whereabouts. Then you guys conveniently called. And it turns out—you're Kaido."

"So let's conveniently solve everything at once."

"Kaido, do you want the man or the money? No—actually, the intel. Just tell me where Whitebeard is, and I'll return your man unharmed."

Marine's Fourth Admiral?

That young brat they mocked earlier?

Queen and King's faces froze stiff.

They hadn't expected the Fourth Admiral they were mocking moments ago to show up in this fashion.

But… were there really that many coincidences in this world?

Only fools would believe that.

Kaido's hand holding the Den Den Mushi began to tremble violently.

He was struggling to control his strength, worried he might accidentally crush the thing.

Listening to that calm, breezy voice, Kaido realized—he couldn't even remember the last time anyone dared speak to him like this.

"You brat… How dare you threaten me! You must have a death wish!"

"Tell me where you are—I'll kill you myself!"

His furious roar cracked like thunder across the ruins, making the nearby pirates clutch their heads in pain as their eardrums rang.

Luo Yu nonchalantly dug at his ear. "Relax. You're welcome to come kill me anytime."

"Just tell me where Whitebeard is first."

"Let's call it… an even trade of information."

"Oh, and by the way—you have one minute to decide. After that, it'll be my morning tea break. I won't be free anymore."

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

He was extorting a Yonko!

And giving Kaido a time limit?!

And… what the hell was "morning tea time"!?

Was this man actively trying to court death?

"I'm going to kill you!!"

Kaido's grip on the Den Den Mushi cracked the shell, his eyes bulging as if trying to pierce through it and locate Luo Yu's exact position.

But despite Kaido's usually terrifying voice that made others tremble, the other end of the line remained disturbingly calm.

Second by second, the silence dragged on.

Kaido's face twisted with rage.

Finally, King, reading the situation, stepped forward and spoke first.

"Whitebeard is in the waters thirty nautical miles off Sicilian Island!"

"Now tell us—where are you, and where is our man?!"

"Yes, you brat! Tell me where you are—right now!" Kaido bellowed again.

"Thirty nautical miles off Sicilian Island?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Thanks for the intel, Kaido. Looks like my first ten-million performance bonus is in the bag."

"If you're looking for me, just head to the Sicilian Sea. See you then."

Click!

The Den Den Mushi in Kaido's hand was crushed to pieces.

Bits of it splattered with blood, but King held back the words on his lips.

Recalling Luo Yu's final words, even he—as the tactician of the Beasts Pirates—couldn't believe it.

The Marine's new Fourth Admiral, Taiote Luo Yu, had toyed with a Yonko… just for a ten-million bonus.

Was this the obsession of a working man?

Would he really go so far—just for performance points?

"That damned brat… dares to look down on me like this?!" Kaido roared furiously, making the pirates around him flinch and scatter in panic.

Anyone who knew Kaido's nature understood—

Someone was about to become a living baseball bat.

"Kaido-sama, if you hadn't smashed the Den Den Mushi, we could have tracked him using the parent snail. But now… that's no longer possible," King said coldly.

"However, if that Marine brat's really in Whitebeard's territory, then it's likely he was sent by the Marines to spy on Shanks' visit. If we want to find him, just head to the Sicilian Sea."

"But Kaido-sama, we still don't know the depth of Whitebeard and Shanks' meeting. You can't charge in recklessly. If they ambush you together, it'll be dangerous."

"This new admiral may be strong, but he's still too young. Sending Jack should be more than enough."

"Besides, if a Marine causes a ruckus in Whitebeard's territory, he won't let it slide. When the time comes, let Jack step in and finish him off. That should leave a permanent stain on his admiral career."

Jack's eyes lit up as he heard this.

After playing the background tool for so long, he finally had a chance to shine.

He wasn't going to waste it.

"Kaido-nii, don't worry. No matter who he is, with my ultimate defense, I'll make him pay dearly for underestimating me!"