"Ow!"
Dalmatian snapped back to reality, his lip singed by his cigar. Remembering what Luoyu had just said, he panicked.
"Admiral Luoyu, you were joking just now, right? You're not seriously planning to kill the Five Elders?"
As a veteran Vice Admiral who had served alongside Sengoku and Garp, he had heard plenty of rumors about the Five Elders.
From Sengoku and Garp themselves, he'd learned that the Elders weren't just political figureheads. Their strength was said to be unfathomable.
Without overwhelming power to command respect, the seas would've long since descended into chaos. The World Government would've collapsed.
Dalmatian once drunkenly asked Sengoku and Garp how the Five Elders compared to them in strength.
Even Garp—who always bragged about punching Celestial Dragons—fell silent.
If even Garp wouldn't boast under the influence, that alone spoke volumes about how terrifying the Five Elders truly were.
And now Luoyu, who had only just picked up swordsmanship, was casually talking about cutting them down?
You don't become a Five Elders-slayer in a day.
Facing Luoyu's calm demeanor, Dalmatian couldn't stay composed.
"Vice Admiral Dalmatian, was that a joke—or do you really think the Five Elders would dare touch me?" Luoyu chuckled, taking a swig of liquor.
"Anyway, let's get back to business."
Dalmatian froze, unable to answer. Grateful for the change of subject, he forced a bitter smile.
"As you know, Admiral Luoyu, Marine HQ's finances are… tight. You've refused public fundraising rewards, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku can't cover your bounty alone."
"Rescuing the Riku royal family does qualify for compensation, but even if it's approved, it'll take time to process…"
"Then let Sengoku keep a tab," Luoyu said flatly, gazing out at the now-calm sea.
Dalmatian's cheek twitched.
He was all too familiar with Luoyu's "pay-up" style.
Just imagining Sengoku going door-to-door, red-faced and begging for funds, made him sigh.
The Buddha of the Navy had one true nemesis: the Money Leech.
And who knew how long it would take to pay off this debt?
"He's asking how much we're worth?" Viola muttered bitterly.
She had stepped forward earlier, thinking she had a better chance than Rebecca.
But compared to someone like Luoyu, her confidence was laughable.
Still, hearing him mention "put it on Sengoku's tab," they knew one thing:
They were going to live.
"Admiral Luoyu! How dare you kill a top officer of the Donquixote Family!"
Charlotte Snack finally snapped out of his shock, his face dark with rage.
Everyone's nerves tensed.
Given that Luoyu had just slain Diamante—who had a 99 million bounty—in a single stroke, this challenge stunned many.
Was Snack trying to get himself killed?
"Lord Snack, we—" one pirate began, unable to hold back.
"Silence!" Snack snarled, gripping his massive sword. "Don't forget who backs us. With Mama and Kaido allied, we're unstoppable. This is our 500-nautical-mile forbidden zone."
"The Navy barged in and killed our people. If anyone should be afraid, it's Marine HQ."
The pirates suddenly understood.
Now they saw why Snack was so bold.
And his reasoning gave them confidence.
After all, as Snack said—
The Four Emperors Alliance was at its peak.
If war broke out, even Marine HQ would suffer.
Why else had the Navy remained silent for days?
"Admiral Luoyu, he's one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders—Charlotte Snack, the Minister of Frying. Bounty: 600 million berries!" Dalmatian's face turned grim. He hadn't expected to run into a Sweet Commander here of all places.
"A 600 million bounty?" Luoyu took a sip of liquor. "By the way, do you know what Doffy's dog said before he died?"
"What?" Snack blinked, caught off guard.
He hadn't expected that.
But thinking of the current strength of the Big Mom Pirates, he sneered:
"Admiral Luoyu, are you scared now? Let me remind you—Diamante was trying to say we're part of the Four Emperors Alliance. If you dare act, aren't you afraid of triggering all-out war?"
The pirates burst into laughter.
To them, this was their trump card.
But before they could finish laughing—
Luoyu's next words left them stunned.