Lloyd lowered his head in quiet contemplation, weighing the risk of heading to Mary Geoise now.
Logically speaking, as a direct descendant of the Figarland Family and the eldest legitimate son, he should have been able to step into Mary Geoise freely at any time.
But reality was never that simple—not when his father was a beast like Gulando.
Over the years, Gulando had undoubtedly known of his existence, yet the man never made any moves.
Lloyd suspected it was because Uncle Garling had intervened.
As the current head of the Figarland Family, Garling's authority kept Gulando's influence from fully reaching Mary Geoise.
Even so, if Lloyd were to step foot there now, the danger surrounding him would increase drastically.
Gulando's strength alone was something his current self could not yet contend with.
If not for that man, Lloyd wouldn't have come to the Navy to train in the first place—the resources of the Figarland Family surpassed those of the Navy in almost every way.
Annoyance flickered across his face, and a tide of darkness slowly seeped from beneath his feet.
Spandine, who stood in front of him, felt a sudden pressure anchoring his legs.
His body began sinking into the darkness inch by inch.
The gravitational pull was overwhelming.
He couldn't lift his leg, couldn't even breathe smoothly.
Terror struck him, yet he didn't dare raise his voice.
"L-Lloyd sama, mercy…!"
The trembling plea snapped Lloyd out of his thoughts.
The darkness had nearly swallowed Spandine's waist.
With a mere thought, the black mass surged back into his body.
Spandine collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, sweat dripping from his trembling chin.
His mind reeled.
So this… is Lloyd sama's power? Terrifying… too terrifying.
Even as Lloyd reached out and pulled him up, Spandine's face remained pale with lingering fear.
After collecting himself, he asked carefully,
"Lloyd sama… regarding your trip to Mary Geoise…"
"Since Uncle Garling wants to see me, I will go." Lloyd's voice was calm, indifferent.
"You may withdraw. Wait for me at the port tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
Spandine bowed at a ninety-degree angle before slowly stepping back into the shadows.
Once he was gone, Lloyd remained standing in silence.
He lifted his right hand, dark mist curling around his palm.
"What must come will come. I'm not someone he can control so easily anymore."
A swirling vortex of darkness materialized behind him.
His figure distorted and was swallowed entirely by the void.
In the dim corner beside the dormitory building, the vortex reopened, releasing Lloyd back into the world.
He scanned his surroundings, confirming the accuracy of his landing, and nodded.
"Short-distance teleportation is stable. Long-distance should reach this level soon."
---
The next morning, Lloyd informed his close friends that he would be away for a while.
He did not explain where he was going, only that he would return soon.
Ginny insisted on accompanying him to the Navy school gate.
The soldier on duty allowed only Lloyd to pass.
He gave Ginny a small, reassuring smile.
"I'll be gone for at most a week. No need to worry. I'll bring you a gift when I return."
Ginny nodded softly.
"Lloyd… I'll wait for you."
He ruffled her hair through the iron bars before leaping into the air, stepping on Moonwalk as he headed toward the port.
Ginny's gaze followed him until he vanished.
A heavy worry clouded her expression.
When Lloyd had mentioned leaving earlier, she had noticed something strange about Kizaru's expression.
After Lloyd departed, she cornered Kizaru, refusing to let him escape her questioning until he finally admitted,
"I don't know much… but Lloyd was likely summoned by the World Government."
The news froze Ginny in place.
She knew parts of Lloyd's background and understood too well how dangerous such a summons could be.
But knowing danger and facing the World Government were two different things.
She could do nothing but swallow her helplessness.
She wished desperately to follow him, but she knew she was too weak.
She would only hinder him.
So all she could do was pretend she knew nothing—so she wouldn't add to his burdens.
While she stared blankly at the sky, a low voice sounded nearby.
"Ginny nee-san… don't worry. If Dage Lloyd doesn't come back, I'll go to Mary Geoise myself."
Startled, Ginny turned and saw Kuma standing there, his gentle eyes watching her.
"Kuma-chan…?"
"I heard what Borsalino said."
He lifted his hand, staring at the paw pad in his palm.
"This ability was given to me by Dage Lloyd. It's time I put it to use."
---
At the port, Lloyd met Spandine and boarded the World Government's ship bound for the Holy Land.
Marineford wasn't far from Mary Geoise.
Before noon, Lloyd stood on the deck, gazing upon the towering Red Line.
At its highest point stood the destination he was summoned to—the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Spandine approached and bowed deeply.
"Lloyd sama, we have reached the Red Line. Please follow me."
Lloyd nodded.
Spandine called forward several men dressed in suits.
They surrounded Lloyd respectfully as they disembarked and approached a large elevator embedded into the base of the Red Line.
The elevator ascended through clouds until it reached the summit.
Waiting for them was a team of guards clad in golden armor.
The moment the elevator doors opened and they saw Lloyd standing at the center, they dropped to one knee in perfect unison.
"Welcome, Lloyd sama!"
Spandine's jaw nearly hit the floor.
He had visited Mary Geoise several times, but never—not once—had he witnessed a reception like this.
The golden-armored guards radiated power.
Their presence alone dwarfed the men in suits behind him.
Spandine was certain each gold-armored guard could crush his entire squad without effort.
He swallowed hard, overwhelmed.
If not for Lloyd, he would never have seen such a sight in his life.
---
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