"You arrogant fool! I don't believe you'd actually do it!"
Sheep's Head's face was ashen. With a furious roar, his already tensed muscles exploded with power. Like a panther, he spun around and bolted.
In a single stride, he was already over ten meters away.
But just as he took his second or third step, an unexpected figure appeared in his path.
Luoyu.
Sheep's Head froze.
In the next instant, dazzling golden light burst from Luoyu's body.
A towering, three-to-five-meter-tall Thousand-Armed Kannon shimmered into existence.
A massive hand blade came crashing down.
Sheep's Head's face twisted in horror.
He finally realized—this new Admiral hadn't even truly fought yet.
Was he really so weak that he didn't even qualify to make Luoyu go all out?
"Full-body Armament Haki!" Sheep's Head screamed, covering himself in jet-black armor.
And yet, he was sent flying once again.
BOOM!
A pirate ship docked nearby was obliterated as his body smashed through it, leaving a massive crater in its hull.
Coughing blood, Sheep's Head was once again embedded in the wreckage.
Everyone watching understood one thing:
The title of Yonko meant nothing in front of this new Admiral.
But even more than that, they were dying to know—was Luoyu serious about what he'd said earlier?
"Is this your Den Den Mushi for contacting the Beasts Pirates? Great—saves me the trouble of searching you."
Luoyu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled warmly as he spotted the Den Den Mushi lying in the rubble.
He strolled over and casually picked it up.
Everyone's nerves tensed.
Was he really about to call a Yonko… over a ten-million-Berry bonus?
Meanwhile, on Onigashima in Wano Country—
Three massive figures stood together.
As the top three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, their gathering could only mean something big was happening.
"Kaido's not back yet? We can't keep stalling on this Whitebeard–Red-Haired situation. If they really form an alliance, we'll be the first ones they come after," Queen said, puffing on a cigar.
He completely ignored Jack, as usual.
Though Jack had plenty of screen time as the "Ship-Sinker," in Queen and King's eyes, he was still the junior—meant to listen, not speak.
"Kaido said he'd be back half a day ago. He should be arriving any moment," King replied calmly.
Then he looked up.
"He's here."
Queen and Jack turned to follow his gaze.
A massive shadow plummeted from the sky like a meteor.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently as the impact thundered across the island.
A storm of dust and wind blasted outward.
The pirates stationed nearby, though experienced, were still blown off their feet.
As the dust settled, a towering figure emerged from the crater, face dark and brooding.
"King, you dragged me back in such a hurry—what's going on?"
"You know I was in the middle of trying to kill myself. I haven't felt the thrill of death in ages. It's the only way I can break through to the next level!"
"If you don't have a damn good reason, don't blame me for swinging my kanabo."
His booming voice echoed across the ruins.
Pirates nearby froze in terror.
No one wanted to be the next victim of Kaido's infamous "Thunder Bagua Baseball."
"Boss Kaido, there are two things," King began, calm and composed as always.
"Two?" Kaido took a swig from his gourd and frowned.
"Why so many? What happened that even you three can't handle? I was sure this suicide attempt would finally work."
"Hurry up—I've got places to be."
Unfazed, King pulled out a newspaper and slapped it on the table.
"First, a new Admiral has appeared in Marine Headquarters. Calls himself 'Glutton Luoyu.' Rumor has it he's obsessed with clocking in and out on time."
"He earned his title after defeating Admiral Akainu in a challenge. The world's calling him the 'Stand-and-Kill Admiral.'"
"The Navy has broken its long-standing Three Admiral system. I thought it might affect us, so I brought it to your attention."
"Fourth Admiral? Some weirdo?" Kaido raised an eyebrow and snatched the paper.
After glancing at the front-page photo, he scoffed.
"Hmph. Just a brat who hasn't even grown his first whisker. What's there to worry about?"
"If he ever met me, he'd piss himself before I even raised a hand."
"This kind of thing isn't worth my time. What's the second issue?"
He flung the paper aside.
As one of the Four Emperors, Kaido didn't even take the existing Admirals seriously—let alone a newcomer.
"Heh, King, Boss Kaido's right," Queen said, fiddling with his mechanical arm and puffing his cigar. He snatched a Den Den Mushi from Jack's hand.
"I'll handle the second one."
"Boss, there's been word that Red-Haired and Whitebeard are meeting. We've got a rough idea of their location."
"But to explain it properly, let's let one of Jack's men report in. Just press this Den Den Mushi."
As he spoke, Queen casually activated the device.
Kaido and King turned their attention to it.
But the moment their eyes landed on the Den Den Mushi, a voice rang out from the other end—completely catching them off guard.
"Hey hey, is this Kaido? So, what'll it be—your man, or your money…?"