"Overtime adjustment?"
Everyone froze.
What now?
Even Sengoku was caught off guard. He snapped, "Luoyu, you're not trying to take advantage of the situation, are you?"
"That's not very in line with your 'hardworking employee' spirit. You and Garp aren't pulling a prank on me, are you?"
Luoyu chuckled, took a swig of his drink, and looked out toward the sea. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you really underestimate what it means to be a proper working man."
"But tell me—how much bounty would a Yonko fetch, by the kilo?"
A Yonko… by the kilo?
Garp and the others stiffened and quickly followed Luoyu's gaze.
What they saw first was a massive pirate ship flying the flag of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.
It surged forward like a hundred-meter-long Sea King, cutting through the waves toward them.
"Luoyu, are you saying Kaido's people are here in Water 7? You're not just making excuses to skip overtime, are you?" Sengoku was baffled.
The Four Emperors usually operated in the New World.
Water 7 was in the first half of the Grand Line.
They had no reason to be here.
"It's not just any pirates," Bogard explained. "It's the Beasts Pirates—the most troublesome of the lot. And I'm afraid they're here for Admiral Luoyu."
He let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He'd been trying to figure out how to give Garp an excuse to let the Straw Hats go.
Now the Beasts Pirates had delivered the perfect distraction.
Still, he was curious—who exactly had come?
Luoyu adjusted his glasses, a glint of interest in his eyes.
He'd just earned 7.5 million Berries from the Straw Hats.
Still short of a ten-pull.
But now?
A gift from the heavens.
On the distant ship, a massive figure stood at the bow, with a white-robed silhouette beside him.
"CP, I didn't expect you to leak the new Admiral's location to us," the man said. "We'll make sure your next weapons shipment gets the government a better deal."
"But with Garp in Water 7 and no Jack around, this might be tough."
"You're exaggerating, Saul," CP0 replied with a dry laugh. "Sure, Garp's tricky, but you're one of the Flying Six—just below the Lead Performers."
"Rumor has it you're strong enough to compete for that rank."
"As for Garp, follow my instructions. He won't interfere. Don't forget—there's an agreement between the Navy and the Four Emperors."
"An agreement?" Saul sneered. "You government types are always scheming."
"I wonder what that new Admiral's face will look like when he realizes the Beasts Pirates are after him."
"I can't wait to see it."
"Me too," CP0 chuckled. "It's time someone reminded him who really gives the orders."
As the ship docked, the Beasts Pirates grinned viciously.
Saul, one of the Flying Six, leapt ashore first.
Hundreds of pirates followed.
CP0 melted into the shadows to watch.
But the moment their eyes landed on Luoyu…
They froze.
Even Saul.
What was that expression?
Disappointment?
Luoyu stared at the uninvited guests, visibly unimpressed.
He'd been hoping for a jackpot.
Instead, he got a background character he didn't even recognize.
"Garp, tell me Kaido's here. If so, don't blame us for retaliating," Sengoku's voice crackled from the Den Den Mushi.
Luoyu blinked. "Fleet Admiral, do I look weak to you?"
"What?" Sengoku was confused, then activated the visual feed.
Seeing the pirates disembark, he frowned. "Ah. Youth. No wonder they're underestimating you."
"If I'm not mistaken, that's Saul of the Flying Six. Ancient Zoan—Giant Lizard model. Bounty: 270 million Berries."
"270 million?" Luoyu paused mid-sip.
Saul saw Luoyu's momentary distraction and grinned. "What's wrong, kid? Scared?"
"We Flying Six are just a step below the Lead Performers."
"You may be young, but how strong can you really be?"
"Jack wants to see you. Come with us."
"Garp, I suggest you stay out of this. He killed one of Jack's men. This is personal. You don't want a full-scale war between the Navy and the Beasts Pirates, do you?"
Sengoku's expression darkened.
He finally understood.
They weren't just underestimating Luoyu—they were counting on it.
But the moment he heard Jack was involved, his heart skipped a beat.
"Only 270 million?" Luoyu muttered, doing mental math. "At 5% bonus, that's barely 13.5 million Berries."
"Jack's bounty is a billion. That's 50 million for me."
"Where is he? I'll go."
His voice echoed across the ruined dock.
Everyone stared.
Luoyu was dead serious—calculating his bonus out loud.
The Straw Hats twitched.
They'd just been reduced to decimal points. Again.
There really was someone greedier than Nami.
Someone who'd sell himself to a Yonko—for a better bonus.
Saul's face twisted.
He gripped his axe tight.
For the first time since joining the Flying Six, he felt it:
Shame.
A 270-million-Berry pirate.
And in this man's eyes?
Barely worth a side quest.