PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

The faint voice echoed hauntingly through the shattered palace, like a curse infused with dark magic, lingering long after the words had faded.

All eyes turned toward Katakuri—filled with disbelief.

Even Big Mom and Kaido were no exception.

Left brings fortune, right brings death?

And yet, death still awaited?

That answer went far beyond anything they had anticipated.

Even Gorosei Yamamoto, who moments ago was beaming with praise for Katakuri's Observation Haki, now stood utterly frozen. His face turned an ugly shade of blue.

He had assumed that his dramatic final entrance would tip the scales and stabilize the situation.

He thought himself the calming force everyone needed.

Never had he imagined that his carefully staged appearance would feel more like a slap to the face—a burning embarrassment as if he'd been publicly humiliated.

"Katakuri," Yamamoto forced the words out slowly, struggling to suppress the rage boiling within him, "Are you joking?"

"You should know better than anyone when to speak and when to stay silent."

"I'll give you one more chance—say it again."

"With me included… what is the outcome?"

His voice thundered with crushing weight, every syllable like a hammer blow.

Everyone's expressions tensed immediately.

Even Kaido and Big Mom—normally at each other's throats—fell completely silent, staring fixedly at Katakuri.

If it were just one of them going up against the Fourth Admiral Luo Yu alone, then perhaps it would make sense for the outcome to be death.

But now, two Emperors. Two Warlords.

Even one of the enigmatic Gorosei was involved.

And yet the result was still death?

Was this a joke?

If not, then what else could it be?

Amid the piercing stares, Katakuri's face remained calm and resolute. He replied steadily, enunciating each word:

"No. No matter how many times you ask, the answer is the same. In that instant, I saw a glimpse of the future where Mama and Kaido fought together—"

"You were all beaten until you spat blood."

"That vision was brief… I couldn't see everything clearly. But when it comes to the right side—the 'unlucky' side—it never means less death. Only more."

A visible tremor passed through the room.

They had assumed Katakuri, under Yamamoto's threats, would walk back his prediction and offer a more palatable version of events.

None of them expected him to double down—delivering an even more shocking prophecy.

Two Yonko, fighting together, still being beaten until they coughed up blood?

Could that really happen?

Even Big Mom and Kaido couldn't fully accept that.

"You damned brat!" Yamamoto exploded. "I thought your Observation Haki could glimpse a sliver of the future, but now it's clear you're just spreading dangerous nonsense!"

"If it weren't for my status holding me back, I could've killed you myself!"

He gripped the hilt of his katana.

And then—vanished.

A ghostlike blur, Yamamoto appeared in a flash right in front of Katakuri, blade already mid-swing.

"Since you're useless—then die!"

Katakuri thrust his trident forward without hesitation, clearly having anticipated the strike.

BOOM!

The shockwave from their clash erupted like a hurricane.

Katakuri was blown back seven or eight steps.

Each footfall shattered the stone floor beneath him, unable to bear the force he was absorbing.

Dust swirled and filled the air, but through it stepped Big Mom, her Emperor's Sword in hand, interposing herself between the two combatants.

"Yamamoto, don't forget where you are. This is Totto Land—and Katakuri is my precious son."

"You lashed out without warning. That's stepping out of line."

"Besides, you saw what happened. Katakuri blocked your attack before it even landed—he clearly saw that future. He's not lying."

"If you dare make another move… don't blame me for being ruthless."

Yamamoto's face darkened even further.

He had attacked not just out of anger—but to test if Katakuri could truly see the future.

And it seemed… he could.

But to believe that even with all of them combined, they'd still be defeated by a so-called "rookie"?

He refused to accept that.

"Everyone, let's not get too worked up." A calm voice cut in from the side—it was King.

"If I'm not mistaken, the future is never absolute. Even if one path is foreseen, that doesn't guarantee it will unfold."

"Since we all share the same goal—to kill that brat—then the plan must go forward."

"Instead of sitting around waiting for death, I've thought of a way to break the deadlock."

"If one person can't change the outcome—then we bring in more. Let's see if that little corner of the future can still hold up."

Eyes around the room began to light up.

King's proposal offered a glimpse of hope.

No—more than that, it gave them psychological relief. Deep down, they refused to believe such an overpowered lineup could be defeated by a single upstart.

"I support King's idea," Kaido growled first. "Just one brat—and we're letting him dictate the battlefield? The world would laugh at us."

He shot a smirk toward Big Mom.

"Don't tell me you've gotten too old to gamble, Linlin."

"Pah! Kaido, shut your damn mouth!" Big Mom snorted coldly. "Don't forget I rode you like a beast back in the day."

"Scared of one little brat? That's a damn joke."

"I'm in."

"So am I!" Blackbeard Teach and Doflamingo quickly chimed in.

Only Yamamoto remained silent. His face was cold as he slowly sheathed his sword.

"Hmph. I'll handle the time and place. I'll force that little brat to walk into the trap himself."

"If there's nothing else—I'm leaving."

With that, he turned and strode away.

Kaido, watching him go, suddenly remembered something. His expression flickered, and he quickly tried to slip away behind him.

But the moment he took a step—Big Mom's voice echoed chillingly behind him.

"Kaido… did you forget our little pact?"

"We swore—never to cross paths again without settling things. One of us had to die."

"And if we didn't settle it, you promised to help me with something, remember?"

"You traded that Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit for it."

"You said… when you were strong enough—you'd give me a dragon child."