As Luoyu hung up the Den Den Mushi, a chill ran down the spines of everyone left in the ruins—pirates and Marines alike.
They stared at the young Marine Admiral before them, as if they were seeing a ghost.
All this… for a ten-million-Berry performance bonus?
He hadn't just burned bridges with a Yonko crew—he'd called Kaido directly and extorted him.
If that wasn't a death wish, what was?
"Well, looks like we're in luck. We found Whitebeard's location that easily. If I remember right, Sicily Island isn't far from here—should take us half a day at most," Luoyu said, tucking away the Den Den Mushi and adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Why are you all standing around? Let's move. If we waste time and they slip away, I might have to call Kaido again."
Call Kaido again?
Gion and the others snapped out of their daze, faces full of dread.
They had no doubt—if they lost track of Whitebeard, Luoyu would absolutely "reconnect" with Kaido.
"Admiral Luoyu… is this really worth it? Just for ten million Berries?" Gion asked with a bitter smile.
The others instinctively turned to look at Luoyu.
He took a swig of his local brew and grinned. "Maybe not for you. But for a proper working man, doing whatever it takes to hit your performance target—that's the code."
"Anyway, it's 9:03. Tea break. I'll leave the cleanup to you."
As he turned and boarded the ship with his usual breezy calm, the muscles in everyone's faces twitched.
To them, it seemed like the only thing that could stir Luoyu's emotions… was anything related to his bonus.
"Admiral Luoyu, what about him?" Koby suddenly asked.
All eyes turned to the figure embedded in the wreckage of the pirate ship.
"Him?" Luoyu paused. "As a Marine Admiral, I keep my word. Kaido didn't give me intel in exchange for his life, so I won't kill him."
Sheep's Head, still playing dead in the rubble, cracked open one eye, a flicker of hope lighting up his battered face.
After two devastating blows that shattered his arms and ribs, he'd thought he was done for.
But now… maybe he had a chance.
"However," Luoyu added, "I only promised not to kill him. I never said anything about the rest of you. He's worth 180 million Berries. That's a decent bit of merit. Whoever wants him, just remember to buy me a drink later."
His casual words froze Sheep's Head in place. Then, with a snarl, he roared:
"You damn Marines! How dare you mock the Beasts Pirates! Kaido will never forgive you!"
Clutching his injuries, he turned and tried to flee.
"Vice Admiral Gion," Chaton said with a sigh, **"at this point, we might as well bring him in. At least it'll count for something."
"If Fleet Admiral Sengoku hears about this, maybe we'll get chewed out a little less."**
Gion nodded reluctantly. As she watched Luoyu vanish onto the warship, a strange unease stirred in her chest.
"Chaton," she said quietly, "I remember Admiral Luoyu's bonus only gets paid if he uncovers the real reason for Whitebeard and Red-Haired's meeting."
"If we're being honest, that's nearly impossible. I'm worried… what if he does something even crazier for that bonus?"
Chaton froze mid-step, his face darkening.
"We'd better report all this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Maybe it'll save us from taking the full blame."
Meanwhile, in the Sicily Sea—
A massive whale-shaped pirate ship floated silently on the water.
On its vast open deck, Whitebeard sat in a custom-built chair, his body covered in IV tubes. He took a long swig from a sake bottle.
"Marco, what's the holdup? That Red-Haired brat still not here? If he hadn't said he'd come in person, I wouldn't be wasting my time waiting for some snot-nosed kid."
As the most senior of the Four Emperors—and once a rival to the Pirate King Gol D. Roger—Whitebeard didn't care how strong Shanks had become.
To him, Shanks was still just the apprentice who once mopped the decks of Roger's ship.
If not for Roger's memory, he wouldn't have agreed to this meeting at all.
Marco glanced at the monitoring Den Den Mushi beside him.
"Pops, they're still seventy nautical miles out. Should be here in half a day."
"But according to our scouts, it's not just Big Mom's and Kaido's ships showing up in nearby waters. The Navy's sent someone too—a new Admiral named Glutton Luoyu."
"Should we deal with them?"
"A Fourth Admiral?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, then snorted.
"So my meeting with that Red-Haired brat has stirred up the whole sea, huh?"
"But Sengoku… if he thinks sending some greenhorn Admiral will be enough to figure out what's going on, he's either underestimating my crew—or he's gone senile."
"Since they're all here anyway, Marco, send someone to intercept Big Mom's and Kaido's people. And tell Atmos on patrol—if he spots that new Admiral, drive him off. Use force if necessary. Let him know there are places the Navy has no business stepping into."
His deep voice brooked no argument.
Marco didn't protest. He turned and signaled his men to relay the orders.
To the Whitebeard Pirates, this was their territory.
Even if Sengoku himself showed up, he'd have to play by their rules.
Otherwise, he'd be facing the wrath of a crew with over 100,000 strong.
As the orders spread, Marco glanced at the World Economic Journal lying nearby.
On the front page was a massive headline about the Navy's new Fourth Admiral: Glutton Luoyu.
Marco chuckled.
"Pops, this new Admiral looks about the same age as Ace. If Ace were here, maybe we'd let him handle it. At least then the world would know—when it comes to the next generation, the strongest Supernova still belongs to the Whitebeard Pirates."