Performance bonus applications?
Project investment proposals?
What the hell was this?
Wasn't a challenge like this usually settled with a fight, a quick apology, and a few words of praise?
Since when did it involve applying for performance bonuses and pitching investment plans?
If he'd known there were all these procedures, he wouldn't have acted on impulse earlier.
"Vice Admiral Chaton, don't take it the wrong way," Luo Yu said with a grin, tossing him a meat bun. "We're all one big Navy family. With your help promoting this project, I'm sure it'll be a hit. I'll leave the bonus application and investment pitch to you."
"By the way, Vice Admiral Chaton, you've been in the Navy for quite a while, haven't you?"
The atmosphere froze slightly.
Faced with this seemingly random question, Chaton's adjutant grew visibly anxious and quickly stepped forward.
"Admiral Luo Yu, Vice Admiral Chaton has served as a vice admiral for ten years and has been an admiral candidate for three. With his strength, it's only a matter of time before he becomes a full admiral. May I ask what you meant by that question?"
Everyone present tensed up again.
That earlier clash had completely reshaped their view of Luo Yu's strength — they were convinced now.
But if Admiral Luo Yu was going to press the issue and mock Chaton over it, that would be… problematic.
"Ten years as a vice admiral?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow, then burst out laughing. "Haha! That's great, Vice Admiral Chaton. That puts my mind at ease."
"You've been a vice admiral for ten years — I'm sure you've saved up a nice little nest egg by now. Since you initiated this challenge, I'll leave the cost of repairing the plaza and the shattered Justice Gate to you."
"You know I just started this job. I haven't even gotten my first paycheck. You wouldn't want to squeeze a junior dry, would you?"
"Oh, and today's my day off. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading out."
Everyone was stunned.
They watched Luo Yu wave casually and walk away, laughing.
That carefree swagger left them speechless.
What had they been expecting?
Were they overthinking things, or was this new admiral really just obsessed with money?
Otherwise, how could his thought process be so completely out of sync with theirs?
They thought he'd take the opportunity to gloat a little.
Instead, the first thing out of his mouth was… Berries.
This way of doing things really did match the rumors.
Looks like anyone who wants to mess with the fourth admiral in the future better check their wallet first.
"Admiral… Admiral Luo Yu, this meat bun is kind of hot. Can I give it back?" Chaton's expression was stiff, the bun in his hand suddenly feeling like a ticking time bomb.
He glanced back at the ruined plaza.
Was Luo Yu planning to charge him for yesterday's damage too?
A rough estimate said it would take at least a billion or two Berries to fully restore the plaza and the Justice Gate.
That would wipe out his entire life savings.
"Admiral Luo Yu," Gion finally spoke up, "with your strength, you could easily head to the New World. There are plenty of pirates with high bounties there. As an admiral, you're entitled to 100% of the bounty. Isn't that better than chasing performance bonuses and wages?"
The World Government's bounty system was mostly for show — a way to encourage outside forces to hunt pirates and curb their growth.
When the Navy took down a wanted pirate, the bounty could be partially converted into cash — usually 10% to 50%, depending on rank. The rest was counted as military merit.
But admirals had an exemption — they could claim the full bounty.
Still, most admirals prioritized military merit over money. After all, they were the face of the Navy. At most, they'd get a medal, a certificate, and a token reward.
If even admirals started bounty hunting for cash, the Navy's reputation would collapse.
But Luo Yu — this guy who obsessed over performance bonuses and salary — was a first.
"Hunting pirates for bounty?" Luo Yu took a swig of liquor. Of course he'd thought about that — it was a fast way to build capital.
Unfortunately, his system had a mind of its own. It only recognized income tied to wages. Otherwise, Luo Yu would've been out sweeping the seas with a blade long ago.
Stuck with such a picky system, Luo Yu could only sigh and say helplessly:
"Sorry. A gentleman loves money, but earns it the right way. A proper working man doesn't moonlight."
"Besides, getting paid for doing nothing — isn't that the dream?"
"Vice Admiral Chaton, I'll leave the performance bonus application with Fleet Admiral Sengoku to you!"
Everyone was completely petrified.
A gentleman loves money… but earns it the right way?
A working man doesn't moonlight?
Ignoring the mountains of Berries floating around the seas, and instead obsessing over salary and performance reviews?
Was this guy really just money-obsessed?
And the whole 9-to-5, weekends off, overtime rage mode that could kill…
Was this really the kind of "working man" they knew?
It felt like they were living in two different worlds.
Gion had been about to say something, but her face twisted into a bitter smile. She exchanged a glance with Chaton — neither could find the words.
In that moment, they finally understood why they could never become admirals.
They were missing that one key trait: being completely, utterly unreliable.
Looks like those billions in repair costs weren't going anywhere.
"Luo Yu, you brat… how are you better at being a working stiff than I am?" Garp blinked, finally realizing that Luo Yu's slacker instincts had surpassed even his own.
Normally, he wouldn't bother saying anything more.
But remembering what Sengoku had told him yesterday, Garp quickly spoke up.
"Anyway, kid, don't leave just yet. Sengoku has a mission for you. He said, 'So what if you beat up that Celestial Dragon trash — but you didn't have to turn the guy into a pig's head.'"
"So he wants you to take a new mission and lay low for a while. I've got the assignment letter right here. Take it and head out to sea. Sengoku will handle the fallout with the Celestial Dragons. Once things cool down, you can come back."
His booming voice echoed across the plaza, lingering in the air.
After seeing how unreliable Luo Yu was…
Garp — the man once known as the most unreliable — suddenly seemed like the responsible one.
But before anyone could feel relieved, Garp casually dropped the phrase "Celestial Dragon trash."
How were the World Nobles supposed to take that?
And what kind of expressions were they supposed to wear now?
As they looked at Garp's completely unconcerned face, Gion and Chaton could only smile bitterly.
And in that moment, a completely absurd thought flashed through their minds.