Rayleigh stared at Luoyu, eyes fixed and unblinking.
But as time passed, Luoyu simply stood there, quietly sipping his liquor. After a moment, he glanced back and said casually:
"What? You done talking? If that's all, I'm heading out."
"You…" Rayleigh was momentarily speechless. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Just like Shakky predicted. Forget Kaido surviving—if Rocks himself came back, you'd still only care about your nine-to-five and your paycheck."
"Still, I'll say this—Kaido's the kind of man who never lets a grudge go. You crushed the Beasts Pirates, uprooted his base in Wano… he won't let that slide."
"It's only a matter of time before he comes for you. One Emperor, maybe you can handle. But two? Even Roger in his prime would've had to think twice. Sometimes, the only option is to run."
"I know how strong you are. But I worry your confidence might give them an opening."
Rayleigh sighed again, then added:
"And… thank you. For what you did for Oden."
"Kozuki Oden?" Luoyu took another sip of his earthy liquor and replied flatly:
"Just chasing a bounty. Took care of it on the way. No need to thank me—thank Sengoku, that bleeding-heart old man."
"If he ever gets rich and starts paying out bounties on your behalf, I won't hesitate to collect."
"You…" Rayleigh gave a helpless chuckle. Glancing toward the street below, he said:
"Seems like the only way to talk to you without getting emotional is to talk money."
"Someone's coming. I'd better go. If they see me, I might end up on your bounty list."
"One last thing—don't leave Marine HQ unless absolutely necessary. If you get caught in the crosshairs of Big Mom and Kaido, it won't end well."
"Here. My Den Den Mushi. Use it if you need to reach me."
With that, Rayleigh vanished into thin air.
Once his presence had faded, Luoyu glanced at the Den Den Mushi, then casually pocketed it.
Just then, Ain came rushing up to the rooftop. Seeing Luoyu still there, she let out a breath of relief and said urgently:
"Admiral Luoyu, emergency orders. Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants you in the war room immediately."
"Emergency?"
Luoyu raised an eyebrow. So Marine HQ's intel network was working well.
Or had the Four Emperors' alliance already gone public?
If so, he was genuinely curious—what kind of bounty would they offer for him now?
What kind of plan were they cooking up?
Meanwhile, in the Marine Headquarters war room…
Everyone had gathered once more.
After the earlier chaos, the Fleet Admiral's seat—once Sengoku's alone—was now split between Akainu and Aokiji, each occupying one chair.
According to the Five Elders' decree:
Unless Akainu and Aokiji could prove themselves capable of commanding universal respect, they would serve as Acting Co-Fleet Admirals, jointly managing Marine affairs.
Sengoku, as the former Fleet Admiral, would remain as an advisor—governing from behind the curtain.
Akainu, of course, was furious. He was already searching for a way to overturn the decision.
But before he could propose a duel to settle it, an urgent intelligence report interrupted everything.
Now, the room felt awkward—two acting Fleet Admirals side by side.
But most eyes were fixed on Vice Admiral Tsuru, faces tense with anticipation.
And in the corner, Saint Warcury still lingered, watching like a hawk.
His presence weighed heavily on everyone.
Sengoku's face was grim. He knew exactly why Warcury had proposed the dual leadership: to divide the Navy and weaken its power.
If not for the sudden intel, Warcury's plan might have succeeded.
But now, Sengoku had no time to dwell on it.
He turned to Tsuru.
"Tsuru, what you said earlier—was it true? Has the intel been confirmed?"
Everyone's nerves were on edge.
Even with Akainu and Aokiji now acting as Fleet Admirals, no one cared about titles in this moment.
Tsuru glanced at the two men, then pulled out a fresh report and placed it on the table.
"Sengoku, I've triple-checked the intel. It came directly from Totto Land, Big Mom's territory—specifically, Whole Cake Island."
"Three days ago, Admiral Luoyu defeated Kaido at Impel Down. But he didn't die. He's now been spotted in Totto Land."
"There were rumors in the past—Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were old acquaintances who swore never to meet again, vowing to fight to the death."
"But with the Beasts Pirates crushed and their Wano base destroyed, Kaido has apparently swallowed his pride and sought her out."
"I don't know why Kaido, of all people, didn't come straight to Marineford for revenge. Instead, he's lowered himself to ask for help."
"But according to our intel, Kaido and Big Mom have reached an alliance."
"The Beasts Pirates may be broken, but Kaido is still a Yonko. And now, with Big Mom at his side…"
"From this moment on, Totto Land is a no-go zone for the Navy."
"Any incursion will be met with overwhelming retaliation."
Tsuru's voice grew heavier.
"This Four Emperors alliance is as dangerous as the Rocks Pirates once were."
"If conflict breaks out, we must ask ourselves—can we withstand the wrath of two Emperors?"
"But if we let them grow unchecked, with their ambition…"
"They won't just reclaim Kaido's lost territory. They'll take what's left of Whitebeard's domain—and even the buffer zones we carved out for ourselves."
"Don't forget—Kaido is a madman who never forgets a grudge."