Lloyd hung up the call before the King could respond, then turned to Spandine with a polite but unreadable expression.
Spandine smiled with forced eagerness. "Saint Lloyd, do you think what I said was inappropriate?"
Lloyd nodded faintly, expression cool. "You put it well, Spandine. You've done well on this journey."
At that, Spandine's face warmed with excitement and a hint of disbelief. He hadn't expected genuine praise from someone like Lloyd. Strange as it was, those few words meant more to him than any promotion ever had. He had bowed to Celestial Dragons before, but never with this much… earnest admiration.
If only Lloyd knew how deeply obsessed Spandine was with winning his approval.
Seeing Spandine fall silent, Lloyd waved a hand. "You can go. I'll give you the reward you deserve once we return."
Spandine stood sharply and blurted out, "Saint Lloyd…"
"Hm?"
"Uh, Black Dragon Admiral! This is what a subordinate should do!"
He said it with such force that he nearly bolted from the room before gently closing the door behind him. If Lloyd told him to leave, he would never hesitate.
Once Spandine had gone, Ginny, who had been sitting nearby, practically collapsed into Lloyd's arms. "Lloyd, I like you so much!" she murmured, voice muffled.
Lucia, sitting on the other side, stayed silent, simply holding one of Lloyd's hands.
Lloyd eased both girls closer with a neutral calm. Ginny didn't seem to mind.
"Don't overthink it," Lloyd said. "I just don't want a bunch of idiots to ruin this world."
Ginny nestled against him and whispered, "Lloyd, you said a gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions."
Lloyd looked slightly amused. He pinched her nose gently. "It's rare you remember what I say."
"Hehe," she replied proudly. "I keep everything you say in my heart!"
Even Lucia couldn't help smiling, though a touch of guilt flickered across her face — likely from secretly eating earlier.
It was already night. Lucia looked up at Lloyd's profile, her cheeks tinged pink as she bit her lip slightly and shifted closer. Ginny noticed and asked curiously, "Lucia, are you feeling unwell?"
Lucia's face heated further. "No, I'm fine. I just felt a little… itchy earlier…"
"Oh! Right. It's bath time. Lucia, let's bathe together! I can help you scrub your back!"
"Huh?" Lucia froze for a moment before Ginny gently dragged her away.
Once both girls had left, Lloyd returned to his room and lay down fully clothed. Dragon's strange behavior earlier had given him a sense of foreboding. He wasn't planning on sleeping tonight. Lack of rest hardly bothered him anymore.
Ever since Lloyd had gained the Vampire Fruit, his hearing had far surpassed that of a normal human. Even the slightest rustle of wind through trees could not escape his awareness.
Midnight came, and a faint whisper of wind reached his ears.
Lloyd's lips curved in a slight smile. He slid out of the room, his figure dissolving into the darkness itself.
This wasn't simply using the night as cover. The true power of the Vampire Fruit allowed him to become truly invisible in darkness — his presence, his aura, everything obscured — a capability almost akin to a complete stealth ability.
In the World Government treasure vault — where tribute from across the globe was stored — a wisp of wind slipped through a crack in the door and materialized into Dragon.
The guards at the entrance lay unconscious, felled without a sound. Dragon surveyed the massive pile of rare treasures before him, his eyes cold with hatred.
"All this is blood money," he muttered. "And I won't let it fill the coffers of this rotting World Government."
Dragon had made his decision days ago. He would not simply leave the Marines by the book — he would seize the Government's treasure and defect outright.
He had plans. Grand ones. A new organization, amassed strength, and finally, the overthrow of the World Government — rotten to its core in his eyes.
And for that he needed funds. The tribute, stolen from countless nations and people, was ample capital. In his mind, reclaiming it was justified.
A flush of excitement spread over him. A new life was beginning.
Dragon lifted a swirling orb of wind in his hand and sent treasure levitating before him. Condensing the wind element on his palm, he sliced through the vault door with effortless precision, severing it like soft cloth.
Before the door hit the floor, he caught it gently, careful not to make a sound.
Once the treasure was outside, transported in manageable batches using his wind orb, Dragon let out a breath and transformed into wind once more, slipping out into the night.
Outside, the darkness was thick. Dragon gazed toward Garp's quarters and thought quietly, I'm sorry, Father. I couldn't remain in the Marines as you wished. The Justice you believed in decayed along with the World Government.
His resolve hardened. He began to elementalize again, ready to disappear into the sky.
Suddenly, a voice — playful and familiar — echoed out of the darkness.
"Monkey D. Dragon, where are you going?"
Dragon froze. Only the top of his head remained solid as the rest of his form shimmered with wind. His eyes widened in shock as Lloyd materialized from the shadows.
When did he get here? Why couldn't I sense him at all?
Dragon prided himself on his Observation Haki, which had only been strengthened by the Wind‑Wind Fruit. He could detect the smallest fluctuation in air — yet Lloyd had arrived without warning.
Lloyd glanced at the unconscious guards by the vault door, then at the floating treasure surrounding Dragon. His eyes narrowed.
"It seems we have a thief in our Marines."
____
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