The massive deck fell into dead silence.
Doflamingo's expression stiffened.
He had thought his current sorry state was already the lowest point for a Warlord of the Sea.
He hadn't expected that there was still further to fall.
A man who had schemed and clawed his way into the ranks of the Seven Warlords…
…was now being carried into Marineford, bound hand and foot like a prisoner.
Was this really a formal appointment—or a public arrest?
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, even Doflamingo wouldn't have believed it.
But what truly shocked him wasn't just the bound Blackbeard—
—it was the appearance of Drought Jack, one of the Calamities he had just boasted could crush the new Admiral.
Jack was still unconscious, his body covered in scars.
Only now did Doflamingo understand why Luo Yu had mistaken him for Kaido earlier.
He knew full well: if word got out that Drought Jack had been captured by the new Admiral…
…then with Kaido's temperament, a war with Marine HQ would be inevitable.
And when that happened, the entire sea would be shaken to its core.
Looking at the sorry states of Blackbeard and Jack, Doflamingo smirked.
"Kid, do you even realize the mess you've made?"
"You dared to capture one of Kaido's top men. That's practically begging him to declare war on Marine HQ."
"If you'd just tossed him overboard, there might've been room to maneuver. But now? You've thoroughly pissed Kaido off."
"If he declares war—and another Warlord defects—what do you think will happen to your precious Marine HQ?"
Tsuru's expression darkened.
"Doflamingo, are you threatening Marine HQ?"
"Heh… Vice Admiral Tsuru, this isn't a threat. It's a possibility," Doflamingo said with a sly grin.
"I'm just trying to teach your new Admiral a lesson—who he can and can't afford to offend. Otherwise, things might spiral out of control."
"So, Admiral Luo Yu… what will you do?"
"What will I do?" Luo Yu took a sip of his cheap liquor and glanced toward the approaching figures.
"Obviously, I'll ask how much a Warlord is worth in bounty… then go round them all up."
"You're a king, right? That makes it easier—I won't have to search all over for you."
Everyone froze.
Doflamingo's grin faltered.
Staring at Luo Yu's calm expression, everyone's heads began to ache.
Was it that they couldn't keep up with his logic—or was Luo Yu's brain just wired differently?
Most people would be trying to smooth things over.
But Luo Yu? He was already planning to take down the rest of the Warlords.
Was he that obsessed with money?
Then again, looking at the trussed-up Blackbeard and Jack, clearly prepped for bounty collection…
They had no doubt this Admiral would actually do it.
"Doflamingo! You dare cause trouble at Marine HQ?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku arrived with a group of high-ranking officers.
He'd already guessed what was going on when he saw Jack tied up like a dumpling.
But seeing Blackbeard in the same state made his cheek twitch.
Another newly appointed Warlord, carried into HQ like a sack of potatoes.
If this got out…
He seriously worried whether anyone would even apply to be a Warlord again.
Still, what was done was done. Sengoku could only grit his teeth and say:
"I already explained Pica's situation over the Den Den Mushi."
"If you have a problem, take it up with the Five Elders. Marine HQ doesn't have time to entertain you."
"Of course, if you insist on staying… I can have Luo Yu see you out."
"You want me to escort him?" Luo Yu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Sure, but that'll cost extra. He's worth at least ten million, right?"
Ten million?
Doflamingo's face twitched. Veins bulged on his forehead.
Among the Warlords, he'd always considered himself elite.
His bounty had been in the hundreds of millions.
Now Luo Yu was slapping a ten-million price tag on him?
That was a direct downgrade of his entire status.
Sengoku glanced at Doflamingo's barely-contained fury and sighed.
Truly, it takes one scoundrel to handle another.
To make the arrogant Heavenly Yaksha eat humble pie—only someone like Luo Yu could manage that.
"You heard him, Doflamingo. I don't want to spend the money either," Sengoku said flatly.
"Let's pretend that little outburst didn't happen. As a Warlord recognized by the World Government, if you have complaints, take them to the Five Elders."
"But if you insist on making trouble—I'll pay extra to deal with you."
Pay extra to deal with him?
Everyone was stunned.
No one expected the dignified Fleet Admiral to speak in such… transactional terms.
But to Luo Yu, it was music to his ears.
He took another sip and raised his gourd with a grin.
"Paying extra? That's my favorite kind of job. I look forward to working with you again!"
"You—!"
Trebol and the others were fuming.
Doflamingo's face turned ice-cold. He let out a twisted laugh.
"What a fine new Admiral. What a fine Marine HQ. I'll remember everything that happened today."
"But don't celebrate just yet. Who knows what'll happen next? Let's hope you don't regret it."
"We're leaving!"
With that, Doflamingo turned and began his signature strut—swaggering like he didn't recognize anyone.
But after half a step, he seemed to remember…
His coat was in tatters, feathers flying everywhere.
His sunglasses were shattered.
That catwalk-worthy strut suddenly felt… wildly inappropriate.
So, in a rare moment of humility, Doflamingo switched to a normal walk.
But just a few steps later, a voice rang out behind him, making him stumble.
"I always thought he was pigeon-toed. Didn't expect he could walk normally."
Luo Yu's voice came out of nowhere.
Sengoku and the others winced.
Was that really necessary?
Did he have to attack the man's soul too?
Even his walk isn't safe from commentary?