The conference hall fell into dead silence.
The admiration in everyone's eyes vanished in an instant.
Muscles twitched. Bitter smiles spread.
Of course. With this guy, emotions cost money.
All that buildup, all that sentiment…
And then he dropped:
"The deeper the bond, the higher the price."
The emotional whiplash was brutal.
But then again, this was Luoyu.
The man who packed up a Warlord's top officer and CP0 for bounty money.
If he didn't haggle now, they'd be worried something was wrong.
Tsuru sighed, watching Luoyu's perfectly straight face.
This young man… defied logic.
"You little brat," Sengoku growled. "You're a Marine Admiral. Must you reek of money?"
But Luoyu just sipped his liquor, unbothered.
Sengoku deflated.
With Luoyu, it wasn't 'talk money, hurt feelings.'
It was 'don't talk money, hurt feelings.'
"Fine. Since you're willing to take this mission, it's yours."
"Performance bonus: ten million Berries. That's the cap."
"Ten million?" Luoyu adjusted his glasses. "Fleet Admiral, are you underestimating my bond with Zephyr-sensei?"
"If he finds out, he'll be heartbroken."
Heartbroken?
Sengoku's eye twitched.
If not for the mission's urgency, he'd have smacked Luoyu upside the head.
"Five more. Fifteen million. That's final."
"That's triple your salary. Any more and the others will riot."
The admirals all shook their heads.
Luoyu earned it. No one dared object.
Luoyu knew when to stop.
Fifteen million wasn't much.
But with his salary, that was two golden chests guaranteed.
And he had other plans for this mission.
"Thank you for your generosity, Fleet Admiral."
He stood.
"I'll head out now."
"Oh, and don't forget the CP9 bounty. They said they want to join the Navy."
"That's extra. Don't short me."
His voice echoed down the hallway.
Sengoku rubbed his temples and slumped into his chair.
"Do you think… sending Luoyu will ruin his relationship with Zephyr?"
"If Zephyr finds out the Five Elders want to make Edward Weevil a Warlord… is there any hope left?"
Silence.
Even seasoned Marines couldn't stomach Weevil's crimes.
Zephyr had watched his students die.
That helpless rage… it was a wound that never healed.
"No," Tsuru said suddenly. "Sending Luoyu might be the best choice."
"Why?"
"Call it a hunch."
A hunch?
Everyone blinked.
But no one could argue.
Anyone else would just bring back a Warlord.
But Luoyu?
Nothing was ever that simple.
Half a day later, a massive warship set sail.
"Admiral Luoyu! Why did you accept this mission?"
On the deck, Smoker blocked his path, cigar clenched tight.
Tashigi stood behind him, having rushed to catch up.
They were new Rear Admirals—no clearance for the meeting.
But they'd heard everything.
"Ain, you're Zephyr's student. You should've stopped him!" Smoker turned to her.
Tashigi said nothing.
Just stared.
Ain finally spoke, biting her lip.
"I know you're worried about Zephyr-sensei."
"But if anyone else took this mission, they'd just bring back a Warlord."
"If Admiral Luoyu takes it… he'll still bring back a Warlord."
"But maybe… it'll be different."
Smoker and Tashigi blinked.
Wasn't that the same thing?
But behind Luoyu, Koby and Helmeppo understood.
Same result.
Different method.
One passive. One… very, very active.
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 10 million performance bonus. Current balance: 10 million. Would you like to redeem a chest?
Luoyu raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Marineford.
Then smiled.
So it wasn't CP9 that was valuable.
It was Sengoku being generous for once.
Even after playing the "Zephyr bond" card, he'd only squeezed out 15 million.
He'd expected 7 million from CP9.
But now?
A surprise 10 million.
Time to earn it.