PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

"Admiral Taiote, you've finally come out!"

Gion let out a bitter smile as the cabin door creaked open and swung outward.

"Back when Chajin and I returned from the Red Line, we already lost track of the Red-Haired Pirates' ship. If we keep wasting time like this, I fear we won't find them before they meet with Whitebeard."

"Just now, Chajin contacted our intelligence officers at headquarters. But this is Whitebeard's territory—we can't extend our surveillance network here. Finding them in a short time… is near impossible."

"But I'm worried… the longer we delay, the higher the chance we'll miss the Four Emperors' meeting."

"If we can't determine whether their meeting involves an alliance, our Navy will be placed in an extremely passive position."

For Marine Headquarters, if Whitebeard and Shanks were to clash, it would be ideal.But if they were to form an alliance and the Navy couldn't respond in time, the Four Emperors might strike unexpectedly.

The consequences would be devastating—Marine Headquarters could suffer irreparable losses. Continuing to act as a deterrent force to maintain peace across the seas would become almost impossible.

Even someone like Gion couldn't bear to imagine such a scenario.

"Relax. Whether the Emperors form an alliance doesn't really matter," Taiote said with a smile, adjusting his glasses. "What's important is that Vice Admiral Tsuru promised me a ten-million-Berry performance bonus. There's no way I'm passing that up."

"I've already figured out a way to locate Whitebeard. It shouldn't be too difficult."

"You have a way?" Gion blinked in surprise and asked urgently, "This is Whitebeard's turf. Even our intelligence network can't operate here. Are you seriously confident?"

During their time together, Gion had come to understand Taiote far better.

She knew all too well how obsessed he was with his strict nine-to-five work schedule—and especially with his weekends.

And now he was expected to find Whitebeard and Shanks in this restricted zone during his off-hours?

That sounded impossible.

"Don't worry. Just because our Navy can't find them doesn't mean others can't." Taiote took a sip of sake, gazing toward the rapidly approaching island, and smiled."Let's go. We've reached our destination."

—They had?

Both Gion and Chajin were stunned. As the island's outline grew clearer, they were taken by complete surprise.

Neither of them had even noticed when Taiote changed the course of the warship.

Quickly pulling out a nautical chart, they compared the location and finally wore shocked expressions.

If they weren't mistaken, this was a pirate-infested island.

And Taiote was heading there... of his own accord?

Was he really planning to gather intel on pirates from pirates?

Could that even work?

As the warship neared the shore, the dock and the variety of pirate ships moored there came into full view.

The pirates on the dock were initially stunned by the unexpected arrival—but then burst into wild laughter.

"Is this Marine blind? Don't they know this is a pirate haven? Landing here like this is basically suicide!"

A brawny pirate holding a massive axe laughed viciously.

"Don't forget, we've got someone backing us now. Even if Whitebeard's people show up, we're not scared!"

"Long live Captain Yuri!"

"All hail Lord Pustel of the West Sea!"

The scene erupted.

Over a thousand pirates gathered, their thunderous cheers almost shaking the air.

In the past, they would've scattered at the mere sight of a Marine ship.

But this time, with powerful support behind them, they had no fear.

In fact, they welcomed the chance to provoke this 'foolish' Marine.

Taiote leapt off the ship and landed on the dock. As he looked at the assembled pirates, a smile crept across his face.

He had originally wondered whether he'd be able to find useful intel here—but after overhearing their shouts, it seemed everything was falling into place.

"Excuse me," Taiote said calmly, adjusting his glasses as he scanned the crowd."Which one of you is in charge around here?"

He mentally ran through their faces, trying to match them with wanted posters.

This was Whitebeard's territory—a forbidden zone for the Navy.

But to pirates who roamed the seas, such boundaries meant little.

Rather than relying on the Navy, perhaps it was smarter to exploit the pirates themselves.

Still, these small fry probably weren't worth much.

"Captain Yuri… this guy looks familiar!" a skinny pirate said with a frown. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't place the face.

"Familiar?" The burly pirate—Captain Yuri—tightened his grip on the axe and let out a cruel laugh.

"Is he that new guy from one of the forward bases?"

"Who cares where he's from? In front of Lord Pustel, he's just a punk."

"He trespassed on Orai Island and even had the nerve to say he's looking for Lord Pustel? Great! Let's chop off his head and offer it as a greeting gift!"

"Everyone—kill him!"

To Yuri, it didn't matter whether this guy was a Marine elite.

He was just a twenty-something brat. How strong could he be?

Besides, the pirates gathered here were all desperate to gain favor with one of the Four Emperors.

They knew joining Whitebeard's crew was a long shot—but even being recruited into the Beasts Pirates would be enough.

Now, a Marine had dropped straight into their lap—a perfect stepping stone.

Of course, Yuri wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by.

"Kill him!"

Over a hundred pirates grabbed their weapons and charged forward, laughing maniacally.

Facing this lone Marine who dared to set foot on their turf alone?

They figured if they captured him before the rest of the Navy landed, they could use him as a hostage to restrain the others.

"You guys live under a rock or something?" Taiote sighed, raising a hand lazily. "Did your village not pay the internet bill? You wouldn't be throwing your lives away like this if you were connected…"

That strange comment, paired with his refined gold-rimmed glasses and casual movements, made the skinny pirate beside Yuri suddenly freeze.

His face went pale.

"C-Captain Yuri… we can't touch this guy! He's the new Admiral of the Navy—Taiote Luo Yu!"

"The Fourth Admiral?!"

Yuri's expression froze. The axe nearly slipped from his hand. A chill ran down his spine as his body involuntarily trembled.

Only now did he remember the newspaper he'd recently seen from Lord Pustel—

—The full-front cover photo of this very man.