PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Luo Yu's lazy words, laced with a total lack of enthusiasm, echoed through Justice Plaza and refused to fade.

Everyone stood frozen in bewilderment at the unexpected declaration.

Even Kizaru was stunned.

They had all speculated on how Luo Yu might respond to the temptation of promotion and a hefty raise. Some imagined him unleashing his War God Susanoo to crash the party, turning it into a three-way brawl that would level Marine HQ and settle the Fleet Admiral position through sheer carnage.

After all, this was Luo Yu, the "Add-to-the-Pay Admiral" who defeated Yonko as long as the bonus was right.

No one had seriously believed he'd ignore such a golden opportunity.

Not Sengoku. Not Akainu. Not even Yith—who had orchestrated this entire stage with the hope of forcing Luo Yu into the conflict.

Yith's plan from the beginning was clear: by prohibiting Sengoku from nominating Luo Yu, he ensured the initial fight would be a head-to-head between Akainu and Aokiji. Then, with a sudden battlefield transfer, Luo Yu would be "accidentally" drawn into the chaos, escalating the situation into a full-blown three-way war.

Had all three been positioned as rivals from the outset, the tension might not have sparked into action. But Yith's exclusion of Luo Yu created the perfect pretense.

It was a carefully crafted trap.

But now, Luo Yu had thrown out a single sentence—

"That position? Not even a dog would take it."

And with it, the crackling tension over the battlefield evaporated into thin air.

Fleet Admiral? Not even worth a dog's time?

Wasn't that just saying… they were all worse than dogs?

If they kept fighting, wouldn't they really become a bunch of fools fighting for scraps?

Everyone thought the same thing—and the corners of their mouths twitched involuntarily.

Even Akainu and Aokiji froze in place.

All that burning rage from moments ago… felt like it had been doused with a bucket of cold seawater.

"Luo Yu, you little bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?!" Sengoku roared in fury. "If that job's not even good enough for a dog, what does that make us?!"

"What, just chickens pecking at each other while you sit on the sidelines like a smug rooster?"

"You'd better explain yourself—or I'll beat that lazy hide of yours into the ground!"

The others exchanged looks of disbelief.

Akainu and Aokiji might be new contestants in this "dogfight"—but Sengoku had been the dog for years.

And if Luo Yu didn't explain things fast, Sengoku might just snap.

"Admiral Luo Yu… weren't those words a little harsh?" Ain said softly, her face filled with concern.

"Harsh?" Luo Yu scoffed, sipping his earthy rice wine as he rolled his eyes.

"You guys just don't get it."

With that, he pulled a crumpled sheet of paper from his coat and casually tossed it to Sengoku.

"Old man Sengoku, before the war you owed me 120 million in unpaid bonuses. Then you promised me 100 million more if I repelled Kaido. Another 100 million if I took down Whitebeard."

"That's 320 million Berries you owe me. Has any of it been paid?"

"Oh, and that's not even counting all the other performance bonuses. Maybe tally those up while you're at it."

Sengoku stood frozen, staring at the rumpled ledger in his hand.

He blinked. Then blinked again.

Finally, he let out an awkward cough and scratched his nose. "Ahem… Luo Yu, look around—the headquarters is in ruins. We're going to need a lot of money to rebuild."

"How about… we hold off on this debt a little longer? Once I collect my retirement pension next month, I'll pay you—interest and all. You know I've already dumped my entire salary into your bonus…"

Everyone stood there, dumbfounded.

In that moment, they understood exactly why Luo Yu said being Fleet Admiral wasn't worth it.

Right now, the Fleet Admiral was running a deficit—paying salaries out of his own pocket.

And he still couldn't make up for what he owed Luo Yu.

No wonder Luo Yu saw it as a job not even a dog would want.

Sengoku himself blinked dumbly. His overheating brain finally caught up—and he understood.

No wonder Luo Yu had said it.

The "Fleet Admiral" job… wasn't just unpaid overtime—it was subsidized suffering.

He glared at Luo Yu, clutching the crumpled ledger with a bitter scowl.

"You damn brat… after all I've given you, can't you go easy on me for once?! Who's gonna want the job now, huh?!"

"That's not my problem." Luo Yu tilted his wine gourd and waved lazily. "I'm not about to become Fleet Admiral just to work for free—or worse, pay to work."

"Let someone else deal with that mess. I'll stick to what I do best: getting paid."

"And if there's nothing else—I'm leaving."

And with that, Luo Yu turned and walked off, wine gourd in hand.

The very position others were willing to fight over with blood and fire… was brushed aside with a shrug.

Everyone was left staring in shock.

"Ah, one more thing—Sengoku, you better pay me this month's salary on time, or I'm not showing up tomorrow."

Luo Yu paused and turned back, adding with a sigh, "If I'd known the Navy was this broke, I wouldn't have taken the Admiral job either!"

"You little devil! I'll borrow money if I have to—your pay's coming! But if you skip tomorrow, I swear I'll toss all your damn wine into the sea!!" Sengoku bellowed in frustration.

But despite his fury, as Luo Yu walked away, Sengoku's heart finally eased.

He had been terrified that Yith's schemes would lure the ever-money-motivated Luo Yu into the Fleet Admiral fight, plunging the Navy into chaos.

But it turned out—being broke had actually saved them.

Just as Sengoku was about to say something else, Yith stepped forward.

His face had gone stone cold.

Then—like slicing through space—he instantly crossed hundreds of meters, appearing directly in front of Luo Yu.

"Yith! What are you doing?!" Sengoku shouted angrily.

"You've already pulled more than enough stunts today. I don't know what your plan is—but if you go one step further, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

His roar thundered like a cannon.

There was no mistaking it—Sengoku had reached his breaking point.

As Fleet Admiral, he had been pushed again and again toward the edge.

Even a mud Buddha would explode.

Yet Yith remained unfazed, glancing coldly at Luo Yu before speaking.

"Calm down, Sengoku. No need to overreact. Luo Yu's still an Admiral—and he performed exceptionally during the war."

"He may not want to compete for Fleet Admiral—but I imagine everyone here would still like to know: Who would he choose for the position?"

He then turned, his eyes falling on someone else entirely.

"You," Yith said. "You're the aide who always accompanies the Fourth Admiral, yes? Since you're part of the Navy too… I'd like to hear your thoughts."

A chill swept the square.

Sengoku and Tsuru's expressions shifted instantly.

Yith couldn't bait Luo Yu—so now he was targeting Ain.

Every eye turned to her.

Caught in the spotlight, Ain's face flushed crimson.

For the first time in her life, standing at the center of such attention, she stammered:

"C-could we… maybe crowdfund his salary…? If so—then I vote for Admiral Luo Yu!"