Lloyd looked at Lucia's arm, where blood was still slowly seeping through the bandages, and spoke in a low voice, his tone restrained.
"Does it hurt? Why didn't you let Kuma help you remove the pain?"
Lucia shook her head gently.
"It's fine. This kind of injury will heal after some rest, and… I don't want any man other than Young Master to touch me."
Lloyd frowned slightly.
He raised his hand and lightly flicked Lucia on her smooth forehead.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" he said calmly.
"You're wearing clothes, aren't you? Come with me."
Before Lucia could respond, Lloyd bent down and lifted her into a princess carry.
In a brief distortion of space, the two vanished from where they stood.
At that moment, Kuma had already expelled a pain bubble from his body using his Devil Fruit ability.
Lloyd appeared in front of him instantly, Lucia blushing faintly in his arms.
Lloyd first summoned the dark bible and absorbed the floating pain bubble.
He then set Lucia down gently and looked at Kuma with a faint smile.
"I'll have to trouble you again, Kuma. My cousin is stubborn."
Lucia opened her mouth to protest, but Lloyd silenced her with a single glance.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him.
Kuma stepped forward and lightly pressed his palm against Lucia's back.
A pain bubble was expelled immediately and absorbed once more by the dark bible.
Lucia's tense expression eased noticeably.
Lloyd nodded in satisfaction and turned to Kuma.
"Thank you, Kuma."
Kuma scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Bro, I wanted to do that earlier, but Lucia left too fast…"
Lloyd sighed softly.
"She's foolish sometimes. You, on the other hand, make things easy for me."
Lucia puffed out her cheeks in rare displeasure, showing an unexpectedly cute expression.
Lloyd could not help himself.
He pinched her nose lightly.
"Enough," he said.
"Kuma, your ability doesn't heal injuries. Both of you should get treated properly. Especially you, Lucia. It wouldn't be good for a girl to leave scars."
Kuma and Lucia both nodded obediently.
Once they were surrounded by medical staff, Lloyd activated Kamui again and returned to his seat on the high platform.
Fleet Admiral Kong turned and glanced at him.
Lloyd raised one hand slightly, smiling faintly.
"Apologies, Fleet Admiral Kong. I took care of a small matter."
Kong, who was usually known for his stern demeanor, appeared unusually gentle toward Lloyd.
He nodded.
"It's fine. You handled it well. In the Navy, we rely on one another."
Lloyd returned the smile politely.
He scanned the platform and did not see Zephyr.
Turning to Kizaru and Sakazuki, he asked where their teacher had gone.
Kizaru spread his hands.
"No idea. The old man left while you went down just now."
Sakazuki also shook his head.
He had not noticed Zephyr either.
At that moment, Kong stood up and walked to the front of the platform.
He spoke into the Den Den Mushi, his voice echoing across the venue.
"The performance of both students just now was outstanding.
I have decided to promote Bartholomew Kuma to Rear Admiral, and Lucia to Commodore."
With that announcement, both Kuma and Lucia were promoted by one rank.
Considering their previous positions, such an advancement was already extraordinary.
None of the officers present objected.
Based on what they had shown, the reward was entirely justified.
The cadets below erupted into enthusiastic applause.
Strangely enough, the two people involved remained calm and composed.
Neither of them seemed particularly moved by the promotion.
Kong paused briefly, then continued.
"Next, I will announce the content of the afternoon examination.
Lloyd, Sakazuki, and Borsalino will face a single opponent."
He turned slightly, his voice growing heavier.
"That opponent will be Admiral Zephyr."
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire venue exploded into noise.
Even Lloyd's expression shifted slightly.
He had expected Vice Admirals at most.
He did not expect Marine Headquarters to place such importance on them that an Admiral would be assigned directly.
Although the difference between Vice Admiral and Admiral was only one rank, the gap in strength was worlds apart.
Aside from special exceptions like Garp, all Vice Admirals combined would struggle to defeat a single Admiral.
To the outside world, an Admiral was the symbol of the Navy's absolute military power.
Kizaru's face immediately fell.
"Why is it the old man?" he complained.
"Why not Vice Admiral Garp or Admiral Sengoku?"
Sakazuki said nothing.
He adjusted the white Marine cap on his head, his eyes burning with battle intent.
Below the platform, the reporters had already gone mad.
Camera Den Den Mushi flashed nonstop as they aimed at Lloyd and the other two.
A graduation exam personally overseen by an Admiral was sensational news.
The cadets watching grew even more excited.
Aokiji clenched his fists.
"This is amazing. I finally get to see Senior Lloyd fight seriously!"
Aramaki crossed his arms and snorted.
"Hmph. I just hope Sakazuki and Borsalino don't drag Senior Lloyd down."
Dragon lowered his head and remained silent.
His thoughts unreadable.
Jessica, however, spoke anxiously to Ginny.
"What are those officers thinking? An Admiral is that strong.
What if Lloyd gets hurt?"
Ginny smiled calmly and patted Jessica's shoulder like an older sister.
"Relax. It's only an Admiral.
Lloyd is the strongest."
As the afternoon approached, the examination grounds became completely packed.
Even Marine Headquarters soldiers who were off duty rushed over, eager to witness an Admiral in combat.
To ordinary soldiers, Admirals were invincible legends.
Despite serving at headquarters, very few had ever seen one fight with their own eyes.
Whenever an Admiral entered battle, the enemy was never simple.
If someone with powerful Conqueror's Haki appeared, ordinary soldiers would collapse instantly, and the unlucky ones might even die from the shockwaves alone.
Cannon fodder, no matter the world, always met a cruel fate.
Lloyd, Kizaru, and Sakazuki stood on the field, waiting.
After a short while, Zephyr finally appeared, wearing a Marine cloak.
Cheers erupted immediately.
Even though he had been semi-retired in recent years, his prestige within the Navy remained overwhelming.
Zephyr walked to the opposite side and dramatically shrugged off his cloak.
The gesture was undeniably imposing.
Lloyd watched quietly and could not help feeling a trace of regret.
He thought he should have worn his own cloak today.
Kizaru pouted.
"The old man sure knows how to show off…"
Only Sakazuki ignored it completely.
He was already warming up.
Zephyr looked at the three before him and smiled faintly.
"Today," he said, "let me, as your teacher, test the results of your training over the past three years."