Everyone at the scene was stunned.
Looking at Luo Yu's serious expression, they couldn't help but wonder — wasn't this just deadpan nonsense?
A duel that required official procedure?
Who had ever heard of such a thing?
"Admiral Luo Yu," Chaton said with a smiling tone, "are you underestimating me? Making jokes in front of everyone like this... a duel requiring procedure? That makes it quite hard for me to back down with dignity."
But even a fool could hear the simmering frustration beneath his words.
As Chaton strode quickly toward Luo Yu, everyone's nerves tightened to the limit.
"Gion-senpai, please try to calm down Vice Admiral Chaton!" Tashigi urged anxiously.
"Chaton, don't be impulsive," Gion said quickly, then smiled bitterly.
"Admiral Luo Yu, if you really don't want to accept Chaton's challenge, you can just say so. There's no need for this kind of excuse."
"Excuse?" Luo Yu took a sip of his cheap liquor and chuckled as he shook his head. "Vice Admiral Gion, I assure you, this is not an excuse."
"I parachuted into this position. Naturally, many aren't convinced. Challenges are unavoidable — and I'm happy to accept them. But accepting challenges is one thing. I'm not obligated to accept every single one."
"If an admiral is going to act as a sparring partner, at the very least, there should be some extra benefits, no?"
He pulled out a stack of pre-prepared documents.
"So, I've drawn up a formal application process. If anyone wants to challenge me, you'll need to submit this form — get it stamped, approved by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the higher-ups. That way, I might get a raise, performance bonus, maybe even some hazard pay."
"If enough people apply, we could turn it into a joint project. Me, sparring with all of you — that counts as a big operation, right? You all get stronger, and I get a percentage cut of the project commission. Seems fair."
"But let me be clear. I don't work before 9 AM. I clock out at 5 PM. Weekends are off. Today, for example, is my day off. If you come looking for me on a break, don't blame me for being unavailable."
"Remember: If you want to fight, come at me during working hours!"
As he spoke, Luo Yu handed the application form to Gion.
Looking at the detailed flowchart, complete with benefit requests and approval stamps...
Everyone around was once again dumbfounded.
No one had ever imagined such a thing.
Salary? Bonuses? Commission on project performance?
Most of them were seasoned veterans — Marines who had served for decades. But this was the first time they'd heard that being a Marine came with perks like these.
Had they… been doing it wrong this whole time?
Even Gion was momentarily stunned. Judging by the form, following the entire procedure would take at least seven or eight business days.
Including weekends?
They might not be able to fight for half a month.
The whole situation would go cold by then!
Chaton's face darkened. His hand trembled as he gripped the form tightly, his expression livid as he watched Luo Yu calmly sipping his drink and snacking on a meat bun nearby.
He could no longer contain himself.
"Very well… Very well!" Chaton growled. "Admiral Luo Yu, are you playing me for a fool? A duel… that needs an application process? This is the first time I've ever heard of such nonsense!"
"Fine! Let's see what happens if I force your hand!"
ROARRR!!
A beast-like roar burst from Chaton's throat.
Sharp fangs jutted from his mouth, and his seemingly lean figure bulged with muscle in an instant, hardening like forged stone.
Before everyone's eyes, he transformed into a towering, four-to-five-meter-tall beast, his body covered in golden fur — a terrifying, primal presence.
A suffocating aura of savagery exploded from his being.
"That's Vice Admiral Chaton's Ancient Zoan-type: Golden Kong-Gorilla form… Is he really going to start a full-on fight?" Smoker clenched the cigar in his mouth, his face tense.
A clash of this level — just below admiral class — if it truly erupted, the consequences could be catastrophic.
"Gion-senpai, please stop Vice Admiral Chaton! I'm contacting Fleet Admiral Sengoku now. He'd never allow this kind of internal conflict!" Tashigi cried out again.
Gion shook her head with a bitter smile. "If I step in now, it might spiral into a three-way battle."
"I've already sent someone to alert Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Now we just need Admiral Luo Yu to hold out until reinforcements arrive."
"Ha ha ha! Admiral Luo Yu, you heard her, didn't you?" Chaton's booming laughter echoed across the plaza. "No one can stop me now. Let's fight!"
Luo Yu frowned slightly, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and said calmly:
"Vice Admiral Chaton… the fury of the working man stems from one thing—being forced to work overtime."
"What you're doing… is dancing on the edge of death. Are you sure you don't want to stop and reconsider?"
"The fury of the working man? Reconsider?" Chaton froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Trying to stall with jokes again, Luo Yu?"
"If this so-called working man's wrath really exists, I'd like to see what it looks like! Bring it on, Admiral Luo Yu! I'll take whatever you've got!"
"…Is that so?" Luo Yu looked up.
"Then I'm sorry. You've just entered—OVERTIME."
BOOOOM!!
A monstrous energy exploded from Luo Yu's body like a hurricane unleashed.
Brilliant golden light burst behind him — and in that instant, a massive divine avatar manifested.
A Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara — once serene and benevolent — was now shrouded in crimson blood.
Its gentle face twisted into a wrathful, furious expression. Three glaring eyes burned with divine rage as the entire plaza quaked under its presence.
Moments ago, the Buddha-form had only been three or four meters tall — on par with Chaton's gorilla form.
Now?
The Wrathful Vajra Avatar soared over ten meters high — a towering colossus, like a mountain incarnate.
Its thousand arms had vanished into the void, unseen by mortal eyes.
The overwhelming pressure it emitted crushed the atmosphere like Mount Tai descending from the heavens.
Everyone present felt as if an invisible hand gripped their chest, squeezing their hearts tight. Their breath caught in their throats. No one dared to move.
Especially Chaton — locked in place by Luo Yu's terrifying aura — felt utterly insignificant under the colossal divine form.
Every cell in his body screamed in alarm.
Those hidden arms, veiled in divine wrath, felt like a thousand giant hands poised to strike.
If he so much as flinched…
The next instant would bring a storm of destruction upon him.
And this pressure — this killing intent — was far stronger than what the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara had shown before.
His nerves tightened like forged steel cables. His muscles locked like stone.
And in his mind, an absurd realization slowly took shape…