Shanks gave a dry chuckle and waved his hand.
From behind the reef, the Red Force raised anchor and surged forward, cutting through the waves.
The sudden movement drew every eye on the battlefield.
And when they saw the pirate flag fluttering in the wind, many pupils shrank in disbelief.
They had thought that with two Yonko already involved, this war had reached its peak.
No one expected a third Yonko to appear—at the very end.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed it.
Now, everyone was desperate to know: why had Red-Haired Shanks arrived at this moment?
All eyes locked onto the Red Force as it approached.
Only a Yonko would dare stride into a battlefield like this.
"Red-Hair! You planning to wade into this mess too?"
Akainu's face darkened as he roared.
Magma surged from his body, scorching the ground beneath his feet.
He raised his hand, clenched his fist, and growled:
"I've been looking for a worthy opponent. If you insist on interfering, you'll do just fine."
The Marines tensed.
One Yonko had already pushed them to the brink.
Now another appeared—it felt like a nightmare.
But for the honor of the Navy, they knew: if Admiral Akainu was ready to fight, they had no choice but to follow.
"Everyone stand down," Sengoku ordered, stepping forward.
"This one isn't someone numbers can overwhelm. All officers below Vice Admiral, fall back. Even Vice Admirals—keep your distance."
A nearby Rear Admiral blinked in confusion.
He could understand pulling back the soldiers.
But even Vice Admirals?
Wasn't that overkill?
"Do as Sengoku says," Tsuru added.
"This man's Haki can crush even Vice Admirals. Throwing bodies at him will only get in the way."
Even Garp nodded silently.
The remaining Marines exchanged glances—then reluctantly withdrew.
"Heh… Admiral Sakazuki, still as bloodthirsty as ever," Shanks said from the prow of his ship.
"But today's star isn't you. I came to speak with Admiral Luo Yu."
"Luo Yu… it's been a while. Last time we met, it was aboard Whitebeard's ship. Who would've thought the world would change so much in just half a year?"
"Your strength has far exceeded my expectations."
"Today's events have shattered the gears of the old era. The new age is finally here."
"But the Navy's already had its moment—Kaido sunk, Whitebeard slain. Two Yonko down."
"Let's end it here. Give me this one favor: let them take Whitebeard's body. As a Yonko, he deserves a dignified death."
With that, Shanks gripped the hilt of Gryphon and slowly drew it.
The cold gleam of the blade added a chilling tension to the air.
Then, word by word, he declared:
"If you refuse… then the Red-Haired Pirates will be your enemy."
The battlefield erupted.
No one—Marine or pirate—had expected this.
Shanks was throwing his entire crew into the fray to demand a single favor.
"You—!"
Akainu was livid.
He was the Navy's top Admiral.
To be ignored like this was a humiliation.
But before he could speak again, Sengoku raised a hand to stop him.
All eyes turned to Luo Yu—who had yet to respond.
As Shanks had said, today belonged to Luo Yu.
He had earned the right to speak.
Luo Yu, unfazed by protocol or politics, had only one thing on his mind.
He took a sip of his earthy liquor and said:
"Old man Sengoku, it's 12:03. That's lunch break. I'm off the clock—I'm not fighting."
"As for the favor… I'll grant it. But not for you."
"Hey, lunatics—still enjoying the show?"
Everyone froze.
Luo Yu's response stunned them.
Even Shanks tightened his grip on Gryphon, disbelief on his face.
This was supposed to be his moment.
He had timed it perfectly.
And yet Luo Yu dismissed him.
The "favor" was for someone else.
Could there really be someone more qualified than Shanks to demand a favor here?
As that thought crossed his mind, he exchanged a glance with Ben Beckman.
A wild idea struck them both.
There were indeed people in this world who outweighed even the Yonko.
If Luo Yu wasn't joking—
Then the identities of those "lunatics" were becoming clear.
Sengoku, Akainu, Marco—everyone was baffled.
But that only made them more eager to know:
Who could possibly outrank Red-Haired Shanks in this moment?
"Heh… Admiral Luo Yu, you still see the big picture better than anyone."
A raspy chuckle echoed from behind the ruined lighthouse.
There stood a silver-haired man in sandals—Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King—beside Whitebeard's body.
At the same time, a long-lost pirate flag unfurled in the wind.
From beneath the sea, a coated ship surfaced, its membrane bursting.
The flag of the Roger Pirates flew once more.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"Sorry, everyone," Rayleigh said.
"But this time, we old bones are here to protect Roger's reckless son."
"We hope you'll grant us this favor."