"Ouch!"
Vice Admiral Yamakaji suddenly snapped back to his senses — the end of his cigar had scorched his lip. Remembering what had just been said, he panicked.
"Admiral Luo Yu, that was a joke just now, right? You're saying… you plan to kill the Five Elders?"
As a Navy Vice Admiral for many years — and a veteran who served alongside Sengoku — he had, of course, heard many rumors about the Five Elders.
And from Sengoku and Garp's mouths, he'd learned:The reason the Five Elders commanded such fear wasn't just because of the massive might of the World Government behind them —Their own strength was equally unfathomable.
If they didn't possess that kind of overwhelming power, this sea would've long since been thrown into chaos.
The World Government would have collapsed ages ago.
Yamakaji had once, emboldened by alcohol, directly asked Sengoku and Garp:How did the Five Elders' strength compare to theirs?
Most telling of all — Garp, who usually bragged about punching Celestial Dragons into the sky — had fallen dead silent.
If even Garp, bold and fearless even when drunk, wouldn't dare run his mouth…
That alone was enough to show how terrifying the Five Elders truly were.
And now Luo Yu — after just one day of sword practice — casually said he was going to cut them down?
Could killing the Five Elders be something you trained for in a day?
Looking at Luo Yu's calm, unbothered face, Yamakaji couldn't stay calm at all.
"Vice Admiral Yamakaji, are you saying I was joking?" Luo Yu smiled as he took a swig. "Or do you actually think even the Five Elders would dare touch me?"
"Anyway, let's get back to the real topic."
Yamakaji froze in place — he had no idea how to answer. Seizing the moment to change the subject, he forced a wry smile and said,"You know the state of Naval Headquarters' budget, Admiral Luo Yu. You don't accept the reward we crowdfunded for you… and for Sengoku to scrape it together on his own… it's going to be very difficult."
"Rescuing the Riku royal family does merit a bounty — but even if it's issued, it'll take some time to process, so…"
"Mm, then let Sengoku keep a tab," Luo Yu replied casually, eyes drifting back to the now-calm sea.
Yamakaji's cheek muscles twitched slightly.
He was all too familiar with Luo Yu's "money-leecher" habits.
Still, picturing Sengoku blushing red as he begged for money door-to-door…Yamakaji couldn't help looking helpless.
So the Buddha, Sengoku — his true weakness was this damn leech.
Who knew when this debt would finally be paid off.
"He's asking how much bounty we're worth…"Violet said bitterly.
She recalled her earlier move to step forward — thinking she had better odds than Rebecca.But now, that fleeting confidence of hers, in front of someone like Luo Yu, felt like a total joke.
Still, hearing Luo Yu mention keeping a tab… they all realized:
Their lives were safe. For now.
"Admiral Luo Yu of the Navy! You dare kill the top officer of the Donquixote Family?!"
Charlotte Naget had finally recovered from shock. Her face turned grim.
Everyone in the area froze.
Seeing Naget dare challenge Luo Yu head-on left many stunned.
After all, Luo Yu had just instantly killed Diamante, a man with a 990 million bounty.
And now she was talking back to him?
Wasn't that suicide?
"Lady Naget, we…"One of the pirates beside her couldn't hold it in.
"Shut up," snarled Snack, clutching his massive greatsword. "Don't forget who stands behind us. Big Mom and Kaido have joined forces. Right now, we're in Big Mom's 500-nautical-mile forbidden zone."
"If the Navy suddenly barges in and kills one of ours — if we really push back, it's the Navy that should be worried."
The pirates around them suddenly saw the light.
Now they understood why Snack and Naget seemed so confident.
And that reason gave them a bit of backbone too.
After all — as Naget had said — their Four Emperors alliance was at its peak right now.
If all-out war broke out, even Naval Headquarters might have to think twice.
Why else would it be two or three days, and the Navy still hadn't responded?
"Admiral Luo Yu — that man is one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders!""The Minister of Fried Foods, Charlotte Naget — bounty: 600 million!"Yamakaji's face darkened instantly.
Never in a million years did he expect to randomly run into one of Big Mom's top fighters.
"A 600 million bounty Sweet Commander?"Luo Yu took a slow sip. "You know what Doffy's dog said before he died?"
"Said what?" Snack blinked in confusion.
He hadn't expected Luo Yu to say that.
But then he remembered the new power and prestige of the Big Mom Pirates. He grinned cruelly.
"Admiral Luo Yu, are you scared now?""I'll remind you — what Diamante was trying to say before dying is:we're part of the Four Emperors Alliance.""If you dare act, aren't you afraid of an all-out war?"
The pirates around him burst into laughter.
To them, that was real leverage.
But before their laughs could grow loud…
Luo Yu's next words left them speechless.