Thirty million lying on the ground?
Twenty million being underestimated?
Caesar was stunned.
Staring at the figures appearing on the deck, he couldn't help but slap himself across the face.
This warship… was crawling with monsters!
"Captain, how are these people on a Marine ship? Don't tell me that so-called 'special combatant recruitment'—the one everyone mocked—is actually real?"
Shachi, standing behind Trafalgar Law, asked in disbelief.
They couldn't identify the two towering giants.
But just from their size and the overwhelming aura they exuded, it was clear—they weren't ordinary.
Most of the people on that ship were unfamiliar.
But anyone standing alongside Fujitora and Gild Tesoro, and being called a "special combatant," couldn't possibly be a nobody.
"The Golden Emperor Tesoro, Fujitora—hailed by the Fleet Admiral as Admiral-level special combatants—and three unknowns… if this lineup gets out, it'll shake the world."
Law muttered gravely.
"If the rumors are true, and the new Admiral really gathers eight or nine of these special combatants… it'll be a nightmare for the Yonko."
"We surrender. I'm Trafalgar D. Water Law, captain of the Heart Pirates, wielder of the legendary Ope Ope no Mi. I should be worth at least ten million Berries. Just… please spare my crew."
Ten million?
Caesar blinked.
After recognizing Fujitora and Tesoro, he had already given up on claiming the thirty-million prize.
He didn't dare compare himself to those two and call himself worth twenty million.
He was about to settle for ten million.
But Law beat him to it—and went even lower.
The Ope Ope no Mi, worth five billion Berries… and he offered himself for ten million?
Was Law trying to undercut him on purpose?
Thoughts swirled in Caesar's head.
He clenched his teeth and blurted:
"I—I'm worth five million! At least five! Count me in!"
Meanwhile, in the Highest Temple of Pangaea Castle, Mary Geoise—
The Five Elders' faces were dark with fury.
The Den Den Mushi in Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's hand was crushed to pieces.
They hadn't expected a mere Marine Admiral to act so brazenly in front of them.
"That insolent brat! He really doesn't fear us?"
"Even if Sengoku himself showed up, I'd go down there and teach him a lesson!"
Nusjuro roared, his rage shattering the remains of the Den Den Mushi into dust.
He grabbed his katana and stormed toward the exit.
"Enough, Nusjuro. Return."
"Don't forget what Lord Imu said. Without his command, we go nowhere."
Saint Topman Warcury, the bald elder with a birthmark and the most composed of the five, spoke coldly.
"That brat is arrogant, yes. But we didn't expect Doflamingo to fall into his hands."
"We underestimated him. He's had time to grow."
"Now that Doflamingo's been humiliated, he'll hate that brat to the bone."
"If we play this right, we might be able to use him to eliminate the Admiral."
"Have we identified the so-called 'special combatants' yet?"
"Can't we infiltrate his ship?"
Saint Marcus Mars, the elder with the large beard and aristocratic bearing, shook his head.
"No way. That brat never uses regular Marines."
"Aside from a few junior officers, the rest are Smoker's men—troublemakers, misfits. Too unpredictable to infiltrate."
"And with his hair-trigger temper, no one can get close enough to observe or board."
"We haven't identified a single special combatant."
"Not even one?"
Warcury's face turned cold.
Nusjuro snorted.
"Special combatants? What a joke."
"Even Sengoku was rejected by those two. Why would they agree to follow that brat?"
"Don't forget—one of them is still in our custody."
"He was furious about the Admiral attacking a Celestial Dragon."
"That's why he refused the Navy's invitation."
"Maybe… we can let him teach the Admiral a lesson."
The other Elders' expressions shifted.
If anyone else had suggested this, they might have objected.
But this man was a known Celestial Dragon loyalist.
Sengoku had even claimed his strength rivaled that of an Admiral.
If anyone could do it—it was him.
All eyes turned to Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, the youngest-looking Elder with a childlike face and a cruel streak.
He frowned, then finally nodded.
"Fine. But make it look natural. Don't let Marine HQ catch on."
"And don't kill him. Just injure him—remind him there's always someone stronger."
"Heh. Ju Peter, you're still too soft."
"A wounded Admiral, forced to face the Yonko? That's worse than death."
"And with all the enemies he's made… he'll suffer plenty."
Nusjuro sneered.
"And where the hell is that idiot Spandam?"
"If he doesn't get this done, he's finished."
Five days later—
Dozens of nautical miles from the Sabaody Archipelago, a Marine warship floated silently.
At the bow stood none other than Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
For him to leave Marineford at such a critical time—when war with two Yonko loomed—was almost unheard of.
Beside him stood Vice Admiral Tsuru and Vice Admiral Garp.
Unlike the others, Garp looked completely relaxed.
He picked his nose and said:
"Sengoku, don't stress. That brat's my protégé. He's reliable."
"You told him to recruit someone—he'll bring them back."
"Hmph. I know how he 'recruits.'"
"But that brat said my grandson was in his custody. What nonsense!"
"I don't have a grandson. And if I did—I'd be his grandson!"