A heavy silence settled over the massive platform, as if the entire sea itself held its breath.
All eyes were now locked onto Luoyu—some with tension, others with anticipation, and some, like CP0, with a twisted sense of glee.
Everyone wanted to know how the newly promoted Fourth Admiral would respond to CP0's unrelenting pressure. Would he bow to the Celestial Dragon's whims… or take a different path?
"Admiral Luoyu, please wait just a moment—I'll contact Instructor Zephyr and have him reach out to Fleet Admiral Sengoku right away," Ain offered hurriedly, stepping forward.
Ever since she'd joined Luoyu's crew as the navigator, she'd been endlessly frustrated by his unpredictable actions. Yet, after witnessing his Haki awakening firsthand, Ain had grown to respect him deeply.
But now? Now CP0 was clearly trying to drag Luoyu through the mud using the Celestial Dragons as a weapon.
Ain couldn't stomach it.
Beside her, Tashigi and the others had already signaled their subordinates to fetch the Den Den Mushi.
Everyone knew—any hesitation in a moment like this could spell disaster.
Luoyu, however, raised a hand and waved them off, casually downing a gulp from his gourd of earthen spirits.
"No need. That's too much trouble," he said lightly, glancing down at the pocket watch in his other hand. "Three minutes to clock out."
He sighed, the kind of sigh only a man fed up with overtime could give.
"This sort of crap really never ends. I should talk to the old man Sengoku next time and have him draft up a proper labor contract—with performance bonuses and clear work hours. Otherwise, what's the damn point?"
With that, he casually handed his gourd over to Koby. "Hold this for me."
He rolled his shoulders lazily, as if warming up for a workout. "With only three minutes left, there's no time for pleasantries. Talking Hancock into drinking with that fishbowl freak is out of the question. So…"
He tilted his head toward CP0 and added with a smirk, "Looks like I'll have to go with a stronger approach."
Then he gestured casually. "That ghost over there—I'll handle her. You just make sure nothing happens to the fishbowl head. Wouldn't want to crack it by accident. Think you can manage that? If not, maybe we should call this off."
Ghost?Fishbowl head?
CP0 froze for a moment, not believing what they'd just heard.
Was Luoyu… giving them nicknames?
Even the lofty Celestial Dragon Charlos wasn't spared?
As CP0 stared, eyes narrowing behind his mask, a wave of humiliation passed through him—but it was smothered almost immediately by the greater satisfaction of imagining an Admiral forced to bend.
So what if Luoyu had a sharp tongue?Soon, he would have no choice but to kneel and obey.
"Heh… Admiral Luoyu, don't worry. Our CP0 may not be all-powerful, but protecting Lord Charlos-sama?" The agent chuckled dryly. "That's child's play."
"So please, do your worst. I'm quite eager to see what the Navy's new admiral is capable of."
Ain paled. "Admiral! You're seriously going to attack another Warlord? Just wait a little longer—we're about to connect with Zephyr-sensei!"
Luoyu pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses without looking back. "Koby, get everyone to fall back. I'm in a hurry to clock out."
Koby hesitated, then nodded. "Colonel Ain, let's step back. I trust Admiral Luoyu… If he's doing this, there must be a reason."
As everyone withdrew, Crocodile scoffed with a twisted grin.
"Heh… So much for being different. I thought this brat had spine. But in the end, he's just another dog wagging his tail for the Celestial Dragons."
"I'd love to see how he explains himself to the other Warlords after he attacks one of their own."
"Shut your damn mouth, Crocodile!" Tashigi snapped, fists clenched.
She hated to admit it, but Crocodile's words had struck a nerve.
Could Luoyu really stand against the weight of a Celestial Dragon's will?
Then—like a queen descending from the heavens—she appeared.
"You miserable Navy dogs dare harbor such filthy thoughts toward me?"
"I am the most beautiful. Whatever I do, I am always forgiven. Even if I sank all of your ships, I would be justified!"
A tall figure strode forward from the ship's cabin.
Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, her proud and flawless face half-lifted with disdain. That high-slit dress, those impossibly graceful curves…
The World's Most Beautiful Woman had arrived—Boa Hancock.
And as she walked forward with a swan-like grace, bending at an impossible ninety-degree angle with her signature entrance, the entire crowd nearly burst into flames.
"Oh my god, is that really Boa Hancock?! She's even more stunning than I imagined!"
"My heart—my heart's going to leap out of my chest! Boa-sama, I… I love you!!"
"She's right! These barbarians dared have wicked thoughts about our goddess? Say the word, and we'll slaughter them all!!"
The crowd practically detonated.
Hancock's presence didn't just command attention—it devoured it. Hormones flooded the air like a gas leak.
Even the naval soldiers stationed at the Gate of Justice began swaying. Even—yes, even—Lord Charlos, who had moments ago been whining for wine and women, was visibly struck dumb.
Tashigi and Smoker both looked ashen.
It wasn't surprising that rank-and-file Marines were mesmerized. But for even them—battle-hardened officers—to feel their hearts racing?
It was unacceptable.
"Damn it…" Smoker muttered, gritting his teeth. "She really is as dangerous as the rumors say. They say even Vice Admirals have fallen under her spell. Looks like my training isn't enough…"
"But can Admiral Luoyu resist it…?"
Even CP0, and the warriors of the Kuja Pirates, turned to gauge Luoyu's reaction.
And then they saw it.
Luoyu, standing calmly in the center of it all, looked down… and snapped shut his pocket watch.
Then came his voice—calm, bored, cold:
"Sorry. I don't work overtime."
"There are still two minutes until clock-out. If you've all said your piece—then let's wrap this up."
BOOM!!!
A blood-red storm exploded from Luoyu's body.
Conqueror's Haki—unleashed in full.
The ground trembled beneath his feet. The air howled as a visible wave of will burst outward in a dome of pressure. The platform shook violently, cracks racing across its rocky surface.
The very earth beneath Luoyu shattered—as if reality itself was protesting his dominance.
The violent surge ripped through the crowd like a hurricane.
Those previously lost in Hancock's charm were jolted awake, their knees buckling as they collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth or passed out cold.
Even those still conscious were too dazed to speak.
They stared, wide-eyed, at the man who had unleashed hell just to make sure he didn't miss clock-out.
At that moment, they all understood one thing.
Pretty faces meant nothing to this man. Clocking out on time… was sacred.
And just as they were about to collect themselves, something even more terrifying began to unfold...