While Lloyd was battling the Red Count, a dog headed Marine warship had already docked along the island's shoreline.
On the deck, Garp stood with his arms crossed, listening to the constant thunderous detonations erupting from the island's center.
Beside him, Dragon glanced toward another warship anchored nearby and spoke slowly, "Father, that looks like Lloyd's warship."
Garp nodded. "It is. Sengoku already told me he called Lloyd as well. Lloyd was still in Mary Geoise at the time, closer than we were, so he naturally arrived first."
After a brief pause, Garp turned and looked directly into Dragon's eyes, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Dragon, I know you have unresolved history with Lloyd. But right now, you are nothing more than a recruit without rank. When facing him, you will address him as Black Dragon Admiral. Do you understand?"
Dragon's expression stiffened. After a moment, he replied awkwardly, "Understood."
Garp said nothing further. He leapt off the warship and charged straight toward the center of the island.
Dragon transformed into a rushing gust of wind and followed closely behind. Their adjutant, Bogard, led the remaining Marines after them, though their pace was far slower than that of Garp and his son.
When Garp reached the battlefield, he froze.
Aside from the countless Marines unconscious across the ground, Fleet Admiral Kong stood there calmly with his arms crossed, as if he were merely observing a scenic view rather than the aftermath of a catastrophic battle.
Kong noticed Garp and waved casually. "You finally made it, Garp. If you were any later, the battle would already be over."
Garp frowned and was about to speak when a series of violent explosions echoed in the distance. He turned sharply, spotting two blurred figures clashing repeatedly. Each collision blasted massive craters into the ground as red and black Haki lightning tore through the air.
He focused his gaze and finally recognized one of them.
It was Lloyd.
A sudden gust swept past. Dragon solidified beside Garp, immediately feeling the oppressive clash of two terrifying auras, though he could not clearly track the fighters.
"Father," Dragon asked in a low voice, "what's the situation now?"
Garp did not answer. He only muttered, almost to himself, "Looks like we came here for nothing."
Dragon was completely confused. Before he could press further, a crimson figure was hurled from the sky with a deafening crash, slamming violently into the ground.
Dragon snapped his head toward the impact site.
Through the swirling dust, a blood soaked figure staggered upright. Moments later, Lloyd descended slowly from the air, black wings beating calmly behind him.
Lloyd glanced briefly at Garp and Dragon before turning his attention back to the man before him.
Redfield.
Redfield wore a bitter smile. He could feel it clearly, his body had reached its absolute limit. Defeat was unavoidable.
As Lloyd approached step by step, Redfield's legs trembled. After barely stabilizing himself, he spread his arms wide, exposing his chest, and shouted hoarsely, "Come, Black Dragon. Take my life!"
Lloyd stopped.
He tilted his head slightly, his expression indifferent. "Why would I take your life? My mission is to capture you and bring you back."
The battlefield fell silent.
Redfield froze. Kong, Garp, and Dragon were struck dumb.
Within the Navy, Lloyd's reputation was well known. His methods against pirates were ruthless to the extreme. Not a single pirate had ever been captured alive by him.
Those who were brought back usually consisted of nothing more than a severed head.
And now, Lloyd intended to take the Red Count alive.
The three men could not help but wonder if the person standing there was truly Lloyd himself.
Redfield's brows knitted together. "Are you humiliating me?"
Swish.
Lloyd vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Redfield and drove a fist into his abdomen. Redfield violently coughed up blood as his body went limp, collapsing forward with his chin resting against Lloyd's shoulder.
His consciousness rapidly faded.
Lloyd's voice reached his ears, calm and cold. "You did not fight to your satisfaction this time either, did you? Stay in prison for a while. I will come find you again."
Redfield forced out his final strength, his voice trembling. "Wh… why…"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lloyd's lips. "It would be a waste for someone like you to die so easily. Do you not want to see the sea again?"
Redfield's body shuddered once.
Then his vision went completely dark.
The black wings behind Lloyd dissolved into darkness and retracted into his body. He hoisted the unconscious Redfield onto his shoulder and walked toward Kong, who still appeared dazed.
"Fleet Admiral Kong," Lloyd said evenly, "the capture mission is complete. Shall we return?"
Kong snapped out of it. He looked at Redfield with a complex expression before nodding. "We return. You have rendered great service again. I will record it."
Lloyd smiled faintly.
Merit meant little to him now. No amount of achievement would promote him directly to Fleet Admiral.
What he wanted was influence.
And Redfield.
Soon after, Bogard arrived with a group of Marines. Kong immediately ordered them to revive the unconscious soldiers and carry those who could not be awakened back to the warships.
On the way back, Dragon suddenly turned toward Lloyd. "Ji… Black Dragon Admiral, why did you choose not to kill the Red Count? That does not seem like your usual approach."
Redfield had already been transferred to other Marines. Lloyd walked with his hands in his pockets, half a step behind Kong, never once glancing at Dragon.
"Because I wanted to," Lloyd replied flatly.
Dragon choked on his words. His frustration flared, and he was about to argue when Garp smacked the back of his head hard.
Garp grabbed Dragon by the ear. "Brat, ask questions like that when you are capable of exchanging blows with Redfield."
Dragon's face turned green. He clenched his teeth. "I was just curious about the Black Dragon Admiral's sense of justice!"
Lloyd continued walking forward.
Without turning his head, he spoke calmly, his voice carrying an unquestionable certainty.
"I told you three years ago."
"Strength is justice."