Just as Olvia felt tears welling up, Lloyd placed a hand on her shoulder. A flash of red light danced and vanished, and Olvia instantly returned to her original form.
She realized immediately that this must be the power of the Vampire Fruit. Looking at Lloyd, his wicked smile sending a chill down her spine, she could no longer contain her fury.
"Black Dragon Admiral! Is it fun to scare me like that?" she shouted.
Lloyd spread his hands casually and replied, "Didn't you say I was about to die? I just wanted to prove that I'm fine."
Olvia froze in place. She circled him, examining his body with a mix of awe and disbelief, muttering to herself, "Incredible… is it really false that one can only eat one Devil Fruit?"
She propped her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "Maybe… maybe a person can eat two Devil Fruits. Perhaps the one who did so before was in a special situation?"
With her usual academic rigor, Olvia logically argued toward a ridiculous conclusion, analyzing every possibility.
Lloyd deactivated his power, extended a finger, and tapped her lightly on the head. "Stop thinking nonsense. I'll tell you this: it wasn't that the person before was in a special situation. It's that the person in a special situation is me. Don't invent theories that could harm others."
Olvia's curiosity flared again. "Then… can you at least tell me why you can eat two Devil Fruits?"
Lloyd chuckled darkly. "No."
Olvia blinked, speechless, then turned her head and fell silent.
He reached out and patted her shoulder. Olvia instinctively flinched, still traumatized by the power of the Vampire Fruit, remembering the moment it had aged her decades in an instant.
Lloyd spread his hands in mock exasperation. "Fine, explaining this is troublesome. Perhaps one day I will. You have helped me, and that is worth acknowledging. Is there anything you desire? A wish I could grant?"
Olvia's mind raced. Of course she wanted the poneglyph, but could she really ask him?
Lloyd, as if reading her thoughts, smiled faintly. "Aren't you very interested in history? Perhaps… the poneglyph?"
Her pupils constricted. She clenched her fists and released them, drawing a deep breath before meeting his gaze. "You already knew, as I expected."
Lloyd's smile was enigmatic. "I know far more than you can imagine, Olvia. Do you think I would capture you and hand you over to the World Government right now?"
Olvia paused, then replied calmly, "You could, but you won't."
"Is that so? And why not?"
"By your style, you would act immediately if you wanted to. Now that you possess the Vampire Fruit, had you wished to capture me, it would have already happened."
Lloyd crossed his arms, a half-smile on his face. "Then if I let you go, will you continue your… work?"
Olvia didn't hesitate. "Yes. People have the right to know the truth."
Lloyd scoffed lightly. "Truth, right? Do the weak even deserve to reach or speak of such things? For the weak, the only outcome of obtaining it is death."
A palpable, lethal aura radiated from him. Olvia gritted her teeth, trembling despite herself.
Seeing her falter, Lloyd withdrew the killing intent, his voice softening. "And yet, is the truth really that important? Most people in this world just want a peaceful, stable life."
Olvia's expression grew complicated. She said nothing, standing frozen.
Lloyd shrugged and broke the silence. "Do as you will. Before the World Government learns of your actions, I can pretend I know nothing."
Olvia whispered softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Remember, if you have a wish, tell me, and I will grant it if I can."
She stared at him blankly, preparing to speak, when Lloyd's ears twitched, and his expression softened. He waved his hand. "Time to go. Lucia is probably nagging me already."
Olvia blinked in confusion. Even if he wanted to change the subject, his shift was abrupt.
Lucia was still on the warship, far away. Even with a megaphone, her voice couldn't possibly reach here. Yet before Olvia could complain, Lloyd's arm was around her waist. In an instant, they vanished, leaving only a dense, swirling mass of blood energy behind.
During the blink of movement, Lloyd felt his body become incredibly light, his speed soaring. Olvia, as always, perceived nothing of the acceleration. After a moment, they were back on the warship deck.
Lloyd silently stepped behind Lucia, who stared blankly over the railing. He leaned close and murmured, "Lucia, I'm back."
Lucia spun around, her face brightening with surprise. "Brother, I was just saying…"
"You were saying? About Young Master obtaining the Devil Fruit, why hasn't he returned yet?"
"Eh? Brother, were you… standing behind me all this time?"
Lloyd smiled quietly. Olvia, walking alongside, gaped. She turned to Lucia. "Rear Admiral Lucia, did you really say that just now?"
Lucia's expression snapped into her usual calm indifference. "Yes."
"Word for word?"
"Mm."
Olvia swallowed hard. Only then did she understand: Lloyd hadn't just changed the subject earlier — he had genuinely heard everything.
Such precise hearing could only be explained by Observation Haki. A normal human could never attain this level of auditory perception.
One detail, however, had escaped her attention: the Vampire Fruit is technically a Bat Fruit, not a Human-Human Fruit.