PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

BOOM!

A final blast of Conqueror's Haki surged outward.

Spandine, Iga, and Iher were instantly blasted off their feet, their bodies flung several dozen meters away. The moment they hit the ground, blood spurted from their mouths and their eyes rolled back—completely unconscious.

In the distance, the remaining bystanders gasped in unison, feeling a chill race down their spines.

Everyone present knew—those three truly were CP0.

But faced with Admiral Luo Yu's unreasonable and merciless approach, who would dare make a sound?

At this point, all that mattered was survival.

Better pray there were no gods three feet above your head…Because if a god did take note of you—You might not even leave behind ashes.

"Alright, the pests have been cleaned up,"Luo Yu sheathed his Conqueror's Haki and took another swig of his earthenware liquor, speaking with a calm tone that only made him more terrifying."I never imagined someone would have the guts to impersonate CP0. I wonder what expression the Five Elders would make if they heard about it."

"Still can't get Sengoku on the line? Never mind. Since we're heading back anyway, we'll give the old man a surprise."

He turned slightly, voice drifting toward the ruined battlefield.

"And bring Pica along too. Let's see if obstructing a Marine Admiral nets any kind of bonus."

A collective stone-like silence fell upon everyone.

Take Pica too!?

Several nearby pirates instinctively edged backward, genuinely afraid that if they so much as made eye contact with Luo Yu, they'd be tagged as 'mobile bonus units'.

Ain looked like she'd just swallowed a cactus, glancing at the unconscious CP0 trio and the mangled Pica.

If this ever reaches Marineford... it won't be a surprise. It'll be a bloody disaster!

But things had already gone this far.

All she could do now was steel herself and get to work.

At the very least, if the sky did fall—Luo Yu was tall enough to hold it up.

And if all else failed—well, she could drag someone else down with her.

Just as Ain turned to act, she spotted Isuka walking up quickly.

"Admiral Luo Yu, y-you said earlier that… compared to Fire Fist Ace, you were only a little stronger…"Isuka stammered, eyes wide."But from what I've seen… you're way stronger than just a little bit."

Having once chased Ace across the first half of the Grand Line, Isuka had always viewed that pursuit as a badge of honor.

If the gap between Luo Yu and Ace had truly been just a sliver, that glory still held some weight.

But after what she'd just witnessed?

Her worldview had been shattered.

"The difference between me and Ace?"Luo Yu adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses and gestured calmly with his fingers."Just a little… a little billion or so."

A billion!?

Isuka was left dumbfounded.

Yet somehow, looking at the sheer destruction Luo Yu had caused, she couldn't even argue.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise—within the highest halls of authority.

The Five Elders were all present, but their faces were dark and grim.

Before them stood a man draped in a flamboyant flamingo coat—Donquixote Doflamingo.

An air of thinly veiled rage permeated the room.

The elder with the katana, Yamamoto, was the first to break the silence with a furious growl.

"Doffy, your prices are outrageous. We've already turned a blind eye to your dealings with Kaido. And now you're raising the prices on weapons again? You're asking for too much."

In truth, the Five Elders had long used Doflamingo—the so-called King of the Underworld—to secretly purchase weapons from Wano via the Beasts Pirates.

These arms were funneled to various allied nations to combat the Revolutionary Army.

Doflamingo, leveraging his status as a Shichibukai, had been playing both sides, running a no-cost empire from the shadows.

It made him the most profitable Warlord by far.

"Heh… Yamamoto, this isn't my fault,"Doflamingo chuckled with an edge of menace."You entrusted things to CP0—those paper tigers. That incompetence gave me the perfect opportunity."

"And now, CP9 is in my hands. Clearly, the Donquixote Family is more effective than your watchdogs."

"So now you've got only one choice—accept my terms."

"You…!"Yamamoto looked ready to explode.

But Elder Is raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Doflamingo, I'll consider your conditions. But first—prove that CP9 is really in your custody. Otherwise, this negotiation is over."

To him, information—especially secrets known by CP9—was worth more than any money or privilege.

Even a fool could see that.

Doflamingo smirked and reached inside his coat, pulling out a Den Den Mushi.

"Ahh, Is… you always get to the point. I like that in a business partner."He dialed without hesitation."CP9 is at the Sabaody Archipelago under the watch of my top officer, Pica. They won't escape. You want proof? I'll let you see firsthand. My subordinates aren't like those CP0 posers."

But just as the Den Den Mushi connected—

A frantic voice came through:

"Young Master! Trouble! Big trouble! The new Marine Admiral, Taiote Luo Yu, showed up at Auction House No. 3—CP9 surrendered immediately!"

"Pica-sama tried to resist, but he was struck down by a descending burst of Conqueror's Haki—gravely wounded!"

"He's been taken back to Marineford along with CP9… as bounty!"

Doflamingo's smile froze in place.

The hand holding the Den Den Mushi clenched tight—veins bulging.

Just moments ago, he'd smugly mocked CP0 as paper tigers.

Now, this news was like a phantom slap across the face.

So what, does that mean MY people are paper tigers too!?

"It's that brat again? And what the hell is 'descending Conqueror's Haki' supposed to mean?"Yamamoto's expression shifted slightly—but he still sneered."Seems like your subordinates are no better than CP0."

"Now that CP9 is back in Marine hands, I'll have CP0 retrieve them directly."

"As for the deal you offered… it's off."

"You…!"Doflamingo's rage boiled over.

But before he could reply, another voice crackled weakly from the Den Den Mushi.

"Young Master… one more thing."

"After CP9 surrendered, CP0 showed up to take them—but Admiral Luo Yu thought they were impostors. There was a skirmish… and he took them too."

"That Admiral's strength is absurd—his Haki can manifest as a beast! Young Master, if you plan to negotiate… avoid him at all costs."

"He's unreasonable. I'm worried if you say the wrong thing, you'll get 'bagged' too…"

CRACK!

The Den Den Mushi shattered in Doflamingo's fist.

Had it not been Trebol on the other end, Doflamingo might've murdered someone on the spot.

A Warlord of the Sea… "bagged and taken away"?

Where would he even put his face after that?