The vast strategy hall fell into utter silence.
Everyone's expressions were stiff with disbelief. If not for the solemn setting, they might've slapped themselves just to check if they were dreaming.
"You… you want to cash in the Pacifistas?"
Mahā trembled with rage, staring at Luo Yu's calm face, and finally roared:
"Fine! What a bold new admiral. I'll enjoy watching how long your arrogance lasts."
"In three days, when the war begins, I hope you won't end up like a stray dog—just another joke on the Grand Line!"
With that, Mahā stormed out without another word.
He clearly had no intention of staying any longer.
After being repeatedly blindsided by Luo Yu's unorthodox behavior, he knew that if he lingered, he might just die of frustration.
As the doors slammed shut behind him, the suffocating silence in the room finally broke.
Sengoku, seated at the head of the table, couldn't hold back. He forced a stiff smile and asked:
"Luo Yu, you were just trying to provoke Mahā, right? That thing about selling the Pacifistas was a joke, wasn't it?"
"The Pacifistas developed by the Science Division were recently tested at Sabaody Archipelago. They're nightmares even for Supernovas who slipped past you. Each one is as strong as a pirate with a bounty over 100 million."
"Fifty Pacifistas might not win the war, but they'd certainly ease the pressure on the second front."
The other officers nodded in agreement.
In peacetime, money might be valuable.
But in war, every ounce of combat power was priceless.
Feeling the weight of their hopeful gazes, Luo Yu took a sip of his earthy liquor and said calmly:
"Sorry, old man Sengoku. I never planned to use the Pacifistas. If I can't sell them, just leave them here at HQ."
"As for the second battlefield at Impel Down—leave it to me."
"You're refusing the Pacifistas?" Sengoku blinked, then suddenly panicked.
"Wait—are you saying you don't want the Pacifistas or any reinforcements from HQ? You're going to defend the second front alone? Luo Yu, are you insane?"
"This is no time for jokes!"
Even Garp was shaken.
And seeing the eager smiles on the faces of Doll and the others who would be sailing with him only deepened the mystery.
What exactly was Luo Yu hiding up his sleeve?
"Relax, old man Sengoku," Luo Yu said with a lazy grin.
"I joke about a lot of things—but never about my bonus."
"But before the war starts, let's settle some old and new accounts. I hope you've saved some of your pension for me."
He casually tossed a file to Sengoku.
Sengoku caught it, suddenly recalling something about "special forces." He quickly opened the file—and froze.
Inside was a blank sheet of paper.
Except for one line, written in bold:
"Bounty: 250,000,000 Berries."
Nothing else.
The bizarre sight left everyone speechless.
Even those who had tried to sneak a peek were stunned.
Tsuru, who had been silent until now, suddenly snapped to attention.
"Luo Yu… are you saying you've brought back a special force worth 250 million berries?"
"You mean this force alone can hold Impel Down against the Beasts Pirates? What exactly did you bring back?"
Everyone was shaken.
This defied all logic.
If they didn't know Luo Yu's eccentric ways, they'd think he was just bluffing.
But more than anything, they were desperate to know what he had brought back that gave him the confidence to face Kaido alone.
Before Luo Yu could answer, Sengoku closed the file and said solemnly:
"Enough. I don't care what you're planning or what you brought back."
"But if you hadn't asked for a reward, I wouldn't have believed you. The fact that you're demanding 250 million—I believe you now."
"Still, you know we've declared war on two Emperors. Our funds are drained. The World Government has said we won't get more until after the war."
"Right now, I've got 150 million left. If you want it, take it."
He pulled a black-gold card from his coat and tossed it over.
Clearly, he'd been prepared for this.
But Sengoku had still underestimated Luo Yu.
"Only 150 million?" Luo Yu caught the card, took a sip of liquor, and shrugged.
"Fine. Better than nothing. You can owe me the rest."
"But don't forget—we've settled the old debt. Now it's time for the new one."
"I'll send you a Kaido Price Sheet later. Different outcomes, different prices. Don't try to stiff me."
Kaido Price Sheet?
What the hell was that?
Everyone was stunned again.
Even Sengoku's face twitched.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Luo Yu had already turned and left, waving the black-gold card over his shoulder.
Leaving Sengoku and the others staring at each other in disbelief.
Half a day later, after a grueling ten-hour meeting, the Marine officers finally emerged from the war room.
The decision to open a second battlefield swept across the seas like a hurricane.
Whether it was the Seven Warlords or the Four Emperors, every major force received the shocking news almost immediately.
The idea of a second front was hard to believe.
Aboard the massive Moby Dick in the New World, all of Whitebeard's division commanders and captains had gathered.
The news had shaken them to the core.
Diamond Jozu was the first to lose his composure:
"Pops, has Sengoku lost his mind? He's opening two battlefronts at once—and putting a rookie admiral in charge?"
"According to intel from Marine HQ, this new admiral even refused reinforcements. He's just taking his own officers and heading to Impel Down."
"If that's not suicide, what is?"
In their eyes, concentrating all forces at Marineford was the only logical move—turning it into an impenetrable fortress.
But if the Beasts Pirates joined the fray…
The entire situation would become far more unpredictable.