Lucia froze for a moment before realizing who Lloyd meant. Her grip tightened around his hand, her voice firm and resolute.
"Young Master, his identity may stop you from acting directly, but I can act in your place. When the time comes, I will kill him for you."
Lloyd shook his head. Wisps of black mist rose faintly from his body as he answered, his tone cold and distant.
"The moment he experimented on me, he ceased being my father. His death belongs to me alone."
Lucia fell silent. No more was said as they walked deeper into the Figarland Family's massive residence. Calling it a "home" was an understatement. Its size dwarfed the palaces of kings outside the Holy Land.
Following Lucia's lead, Lloyd made his way toward the innermost chamber, where the Head of the Figarland Family resided.
Standing before the bedchamber entrance was a middle-aged man with a crescent-shaped connection of hair and beard. His presence alone commanded obedience. His sharp features resembled Lloyd's, like a hardened, older version of him.
This man was born a ruler. He was the current Head of the Figarland Family, Saint Garling Figarland.
The instant Lloyd stepped into his territory, Garling's eyes narrowed. A crushing aura burst from him. The Golden Armored Guards behind Lloyd collapsed to their knees. Even Lucia, stronger than most, trembled in pain.
Only Lloyd remained standing, though sweat gathered on his forehead. His expression stayed calm, but the strain was unmistakable.
Garling descended the steps slowly, each footstep pressing heavier upon the air.
"Lloyd, is this all you can withstand? Is this the result of your Navy Headquarters training? And you claim you'll seek revenge yourself?"
Lloyd stiffened. Garling had heard him from deep inside the residence? If he didn't have memories from another world, he might have thought Garling possessed a Devil Fruit similar to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit with a mind-reading ability.
But Observation Haki differed among individuals. Some could glimpse the future, some heard the voices of all things, and some could perceive distant murmurs.
Garling's mastery was monstrous. His Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki were both terrifying.
As Garling approached, the pressure increased. Lucia's legs trembled violently. She gritted her teeth, trying to endure.
"Young Master…" she whispered desperately.
A line of crimson trickled from her lips. Seeing this, Lloyd's gaze hardened. He wrapped an arm around Lucia, pulling her into his embrace as inky tendrils of darkness appeared behind him and lashed toward Garling.
Garling didn't even break stride. He let out a cold snort, and his aura spiked. The wave of Conqueror's Haki shattered the dark tendrils effortlessly.
The blast slammed into Lloyd like a hammer. With Lucia in his arms, he bent forward, nearly falling to his knees.
Garling towered over him. "Is this your limit?"
Lloyd's eyes darkened completely. He could have slipped into Kamui to avoid the impact entirely, but doing so now would make a mockery of his vow for revenge.
Despite the crushing force, he refused to kneel.
A faint note of approval flickered in Garling's eyes. He had not seen Lloyd since God Valley. This was a test, not a punishment.
His Conqueror's Haki was not mere intimidation. It caused physical damage. Among the world's strongest, Garling's mastery of Haoshoku Haki was legendary, perhaps even surpassing the later Red-Haired Shanks.
For Lloyd to withstand him at sixteen proved he carried the soul of a king.
As Lloyd reached the brink of collapse, Garling prepared to withdraw his aura.
Suddenly, Lloyd muttered through clenched teeth:
"How could it… end like this?"
Something deep inside him snapped.
A pitch-black surge of energy burst from his core, crackling with streaks of dark lightning.
Buzz…
Lucia's body suddenly felt light. Her blurred vision cleared as she realized she and Lloyd were enveloped inside a black semicircular shield.
She stared wide-eyed at him, her voice trembling.
"Young Master… you awakened Conqueror Haki!?"
Lloyd straightened his body, meeting Garling's startled gaze with an aloof, steady expression.
"Uncle Garling, is this your welcome gift for your nephew?"
Garling composed himself, withdrawing his Haki completely.
"Not bad. This is the talent worthy of the Figarland legacy. Welcome home… Saint Lloyd Figarland."
Lloyd was about to respond when Lucia suddenly let out a soft gasp in his arms. Startled, he looked down at her.
"What's wrong, Lucia? Are you injured?"
Her cheeks were flushed, her voice shy and breathless.
"I'm fine… it's just that the Young Master is holding me a bit too tightly, and it's hard to breathe…"
"Hm?"
Only then did Lloyd realize his arm was wrapped firmly around her chest, pressing her tightly against him.
Feeling the softness beneath his arm, he coughed lightly, intending to let go.
But Lucia quickly grasped his sleeve, lowering her head.
"Please wait… My body is weak right now. May I lean on you a little longer?"
Lloyd accepted her request without hesitation. He slid his hand to her waist and allowed her to rest fully against him.
"In that case, you'll enter with me like this."
"Huh? No— I can move on my own—"
"Silence. You are mine. You do not get to refuse."
The words hit Lucia harder than Conqueror's Haki. Her legs gave out completely, and she melted against him.
Garling watched the scene without expression. Only after Lucia settled obediently against Lloyd's shoulder did he speak.
"Come. I have something for you. Consider it my homecoming gift to my nephew."
---