The massive ruins fell into dead silence.
Everyone stared at the Den Den Mushi in Luoyu's hand, too stunned to react.
They'd imagined being hunted by the Navy one day.
But never for a reason this… absurd.
"Ahem… Admiral Luoyu, you didn't really need to beat us up just to take a photo, right?" Koby asked, limping over, face smeared with blood and soot.
If it weren't for the fact that Luoyu had officially clocked out, he wouldn't have dared show his face.
Luoyu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"I was in a rush. If they'd just cooperated, I could've snapped a few tragic-looking shots and been done."
"But they got aggressive. So I chopped them up a bit."
Nami and the others turned to stone.
They got beaten up… because they were too difficult to photograph?
What kind of divine logic was this?
Still, thinking back on what had just happened, they could only swallow their frustration like broken teeth.
Now all they could do was wait—dreading what came next.
"Moshi moshi, this is Sengoku. Luoyu, did you really take down the Straw Hat Pirates? Are these photos real? Respond immediately!"
Sengoku's voice crackled from the Den Den Mushi.
Everyone tensed, eyes snapping to Luoyu.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, yes—I just cut them down. The photos are fresh. Vice Admiral Garp and Mr. Bogard are here too. They can vouch for it."
"Garp and Bogard are there?" Sengoku sounded surprised. "I thought Garp was slacking off again and you beat him to it."
"This was supposed to be his mission. But since you've done such a fine job, I'll make sure you're credited. Now bring them in."
The Straw Hats went pale.
After what just happened, if Luoyu really wanted to drag them back, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Fleet Admiral, it's past five. I'm off duty." Luoyu took a swig from his gourd. "Prisoner transport is now Garp and Bogard's responsibility."
"As for the credit—just convert it to cash."
"According to Admiral pay scale, pirates with bounties under 100 million earn me 1.5x bonus."
"Only 7.5 million Berries this time. Not much, but better than nothing."
"Too bad they're so weak. Highest bounty's just 100 million. Not even enough to break 10 million in bonuses."
7.5 million Berries?
Zoro and the others twitched.
Was it their fault they were "too weak"?
Their total bounty easily topped 300 million.
They'd taken down Enies Lobby, rescued the Devil Child, and humiliated CP9.
Wasn't that worth more than a few million?
And yet… Luoyu had looked at them like they were discount bin fodder.
If their bodies had been crushed earlier, now it was their souls.
Total defeat—physical and emotional.
"Can't you think about something other than money for once?" Sengoku snapped.
"I can. But overtime needs overtime pay." Luoyu smiled, watching the Den Den Mushi flail its little claws.
"You—!" Sengoku deflated. Then sighed.
"Fine. You're off the clock. Garp's unreliable, but he can handle the transport."
"And don't worry, I won't forget your bonus. Just… don't come back to HQ for now. We're still rebuilding."
He winced, thinking of the repair bills for Marineford and the Justice Plaza.
Still, capturing the Straw Hats—who had humiliated CP9 and toppled Enies Lobby—was a major win.
But then Sengoku remembered something.
"Garp. These kids took down Enies Lobby. Luffy beat Rob Lucci—the strongest CP9 agent in 800 years. You'd better take this seriously. Don't screw it up."
"Hahaha! Sengoku, you're finally admitting how amazing my grandson is!" Garp laughed, snatching the Den Den Mushi.
Then he froze.
"…I mean—what grandson? You misheard. Luffy's not my grandson."
Everyone facepalmed.
Luoyu had expected this.
But hearing it live?
Truly, Garp's shamelessness was a force of nature.
Who else could lie to a Fleet Admiral with a straight face?
"GARP, YOU OLD FOOL!" Sengoku's roar shook the Den Den Mushi. "You just admitted it! No wonder you were two days late—you were stalling!"
Even the Den Den Mushi looked like it was about to faint.
Luoyu figured if Sengoku had a heart condition, this would've triggered it.
But knowing Garp, this would all blow over.
"Luoyu! I'll pay you. Just do some overtime and bring them in!" Sengoku pleaded.
Luoyu's eyes lit up.
Heaven rewards the diligent.
He'd already scored a bonus.
Now he could get paid for overtime too?
Not bad.
Garp's face twitched.
"Sengoku, that's not fair! This was my mission! I've been slacking for half a year—if I don't do something now, I'll lose face!"
"Besides, Luoyu's off duty. Making him work overtime will cost you more. That's just cruel!"
Luoyu watched the Den Den Mushi tremble.
Sengoku was about to blow a gasket.
But before he could respond, Luoyu's brow furrowed.
He turned toward the harbor.
Just for a moment, he'd felt it.
A flicker of killing intent.
Observation Haki spread like a ripple.
And there—at the edge of the sea—he found it.
A shadow.
A presence.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Luoyu said, eyes narrowing. "We'll need to revise the overtime request."
"There's been a change in the mission."