PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Meanwhile, in the seas near Sicilia—

Aboard the Moby Dick, the flagship of one of the Four Emperors—Red-Haired Shanks—the ship was cutting swiftly through the waves.

A figure cloaked in a pristine white robe gradually appeared on the deck.

"Red-Hair, this clearly wasn't our agreement. Don't forget—you promised that if you encountered the Navy's new admiral on your way to meet Whitebeard, you'd intercept him… give him a taste of how dangerous this sea really is."

"But why haven't you acted yet? Are you planning to let him slip out of this territory?"

Despite the stranger's abrupt appearance, Benn Beckman and the others were clearly unbothered—they instinctively looked to Shanks.

Shanks took a swig of sake and replied casually, "CP0, of course I haven't forgotten. But I said from the beginning—so long as it doesn't harm the interests of the Red-Haired Pirates, I would cooperate. Otherwise, this deal is off."

"Off?" CP0's expression darkened. His voice grew cold. "Shanks, are you saying you're refusing an order from the Five Elders?"

Order?

Shanks' smile faded. His face turned cold as an explosion of Conqueror's Haki erupted violently, surging like a hurricane straight at CP0.

Caught off guard, CP0's face twisted. He was forced back seven or eight steps before finally steadying himself—rage and shock written across his face.

"Shanks! What's the meaning of this!?"

"The meaning?" Shanks dispersed his Haki, speaking indifferently.

"Don't forget… my relationship with the Five Elders is nothing more than a temporary collaboration. That was a request, not an order."

"Besides, if that kid dared to step aboard Whitebeard's ship alone, he's not as simple as he looks. I wouldn't be surprised if he's hiding a few tricks."

"You think a Navy Admiral would really be so easy to read?"

"Not to mention—if I had acted back then, Whitebeard would've intervened immediately. If a fight between two Emperors broke out, could someone like you handle the consequences?"

"You're saying… Whitebeard would protect a Navy Admiral?" CP0's expression turned pitch black. For a moment, he was completely speechless.

To him, a Marine Admiral showing up during a Four Emperors' meeting should've ended in death—or at least severe injury.

There was no way Luo Yu should've been allowed to walk away unscathed.

And now Red-Hair was telling him a pirate would shield a Marine?

Was that not the most ridiculous excuse imaginable?

Of course, if Luo Yu had known the kind of evaluation Red-Hair gave him, he would've told him to shut the hell up.

He was honestly a very straightforward man. Aside from his "overtime berserker" buff, he was already running on fumes.

Calling him "not simple" was just glorified slander.

"Believe what you want." Shanks said coolly. "But it's getting late. Since this partnership isn't working out, I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Hmph. Very well then, Red-Haired Shanks. Don't forget—you're not the only Emperor in this sea. I'll see for myself just how 'unfathomable' that brat really is."

With a swirl of his cloak, CP0 turned and departed the ship.

As the figure disappeared into the distance, Benn Beckman took a drag of his cigar and asked, "Captain, is it really okay to offend CP0 like that?"

"What's the harm?" Shanks replied with a faint smile. "All of this is just to buy Luffy a little more time. With that new Admiral drawing CP0's attention, it's working out better than expected."

"By the way… was that intel you received accurate? Enies Lobby really fell?"

Laki and the others visibly tensed.

They'd just heard the same report on their way back—and even now, it still felt too shocking to believe.

Benn Beckman nodded. "The intel's solid. I heard the CP9 commander even activated a Buster Call in an attempt to wipe everything out."

"Buster Call, huh?" A sharp gleam flickered in Shanks' eyes. He smiled and said, "Truly the era I placed my bets on… I wonder what will happen if Luffy and that new Navy brat ever meet?"

"'What will happen'?" Laki, mid-bite on his grilled meat, froze in place.

Shanks raised an eyebrow. "Laki, is something wrong?"

Laki hesitated, then gave a bitter smile. "If that guy really extorted Kaido just for the sake of a ten-million Berries performance bonus, I'm worried their meeting might not spark anything… except blood."

Shanks and Beckman froze for a moment.

The more they thought about this new Admiral—this man so obsessed with salary and performance metrics—the more they realized…

Yeah, he probably can't be measured with normal logic.

Was he even human?

Three days later — Water 7, Dock No. 1.

A Marine battleship pulled swiftly into port, immediately startling the shipwrights stationed there.

Word of the attack on Enies Lobby had already reached them—many knew the inside story.

And now, the arrival of the Navy felt like a death sentence.

"Quick! Go tell President Iceburg that the Navy's here. Get everyone we need to safety—now!"

A senior craftsman turned and urgently barked orders.

He then squinted toward the ship's deck—and the moment he caught sight of the figure standing there, his pupils constricted violently.

"Move! Get them out now! This time, it's one of the Navy's ultimate weapons—a Marine Admiral!"

Marine Admiral!?

The port immediately fell into a commotion.

The Galley-La Company of Water 7 had long been one of the World Government's biggest contractors, overseeing battleship construction.

Naturally, they were very familiar with the Navy's hierarchy.

Especially this man—currently all over the headlines of the World Economic Journal—the new Admiral Taiote Luo Yu.

They'd discussed him at length when his image first hit the papers—not a face they would forget.

As for his actual strength… they weren't sure.

But for an Admiral to arrive at this moment, in this place, it surely wasn't anything good.

Watching the silhouettes trying to disappear into the darkness, Luo Yu stood at the bow of the ship, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses and smiling.

"Well, I was just wondering how I'd find them in a city as massive as Water 7…"

"Who would've thought I'd get a personal escort the moment I landed?"

"And to think… Garp's old bones arrived even later than I did. Looks like I might actually have a shot at nabbing this bonus."

"Admiral Luo Yu… did you just say bonus?" Coby froze, speaking up in a panic.

"Luffy is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson! He's a good pirate! You're not… planning to go after him just for some money, right?"

Beside him, Helmeppo looked equally tense.

He didn't particularly care for Luffy or Zoro, but given his past with Coby—and what they'd been through—he really didn't want to see Luo Yu make them targets over a paycheck.

Luo Yu chuckled. "Relax. I'll give Garp his face."

"But I'll take the bonus too.""A successful man doesn't choose between pride and profit—he earns both."