On the way back, Garling asked,
"Lloyd, how long do you plan to stay in Mary Geoise this time?"
Lloyd considered for a moment before replying, "If Uncle Garling has nothing else to attend to, I might leave tomorrow."
"You brat, planning to leave as soon as you settle your affairs, huh?"
"Uh, Uncle Garling, you won't miss me, will you?"
Clang!
A glint of Garling's sword flashed at his waist. Lloyd, however, showed no fear. He casually put his hands behind his head and turned to Lucia, saying,
"Lucia, you'll come with me then."
Surprise spread across Lucia's face. When she had first heard Lloyd intended to leave, her heart had tightened with unease. Now, relief flooded her, and she breathed out a long sigh.
"As long as Young Master wishes it, I will follow you wherever you go," she said with determination.
Lloyd smiled faintly, ignoring the shadow of disapproval darkening Garling's face, and said,
"Uncle Garling, I'll need you to arrange a credible identity for Lucia within the World Government. I want her to enter the Navy School as well."
Garling could barely contain his irritation and amusement. "Are you planning to train or just have fun at the Navy School? Do you want me to arrange for her to stay in the same dormitory as you?"
"That won't be necessary. I'm not in a single-room dormitory, so it would be inconvenient for her."
Garling let out a low grunt, turning away with an indifferent expression. "I'm not handling this. You figure it out yourself."
"Don't say that, Uncle Garling. Not many within the World Government know me yet. My words aren't as effective as yours."
"Have you forgotten Spandine? I've promoted him to CP9 Commander. From now on, you can simply direct him regarding matters like this."
Lloyd chuckled softly. "I see. But it still needs Uncle Garling's touch. I find him easy to manipulate."
Garin stopped walking and narrowed his eyes at Lloyd. "Don't get cocky too soon. There's no problem with you leaving, but you must properly practice your swordsmanship first. At least look competent before you go, don't just swing Muramasa around blindly."
Lloyd had no objections. Strength and skill were paramount in his mind. Yet, to him, the swordsmanship taught in Pirate world emphasized brute force and speed, not finesse.
By the time they returned to the Family residence, night had fallen. Garling led Lloyd to the dining room to have dinner together.
At the center of the room stood a massive rectangular table, adorned with golden candleholders, radiating opulence.
Garling took the head of the table, flipping through a newspaper prepared by a servant, while Lloyd sat to his left. Lucia went out to instruct the servants to prepare the meal.
Lloyd glanced around the empty dining room and asked,
"Uncle Garling, do you usually eat here alone?"
"Yes. Ever since I became Chief of the Divine Knight Order, Gulando hasn't joined me. He won't appear here."
"Then where is he now? Surely he knows I've returned."
"He spends his days in the science division. Who knows what he's researching now?" Garling sighed. "He's been treading crooked paths for years. I haven't seen him in the training room in all this time."
"Heh. Perhaps he's secretly training, or honing his Devil Fruit powers," Lloyd murmured.
The mention of Gulando darkened the atmosphere. Garling closed the newspaper and regarded Lloyd with a serious gaze.
"Lloyd, do you truly intend to kill him? After all, he is your biological father."
Lloyd's eyes turned jet black. He stared straight at Garling, voice firm, "I don't have a father like him. He never treated me as his son. To him, I was merely a tool to augment his power. In the end, only one of us can survive."
Garin's brow furrowed. "A tool to increase power? Explain."
"You don't know, Uncle Garling. He went to extreme lengths experimenting on me. What do you think he wanted?"
"Isn't it to have you surpass me in order to reclaim the Family headship? He's overthinking. I intended to grant the position to you all along."
Whoosh!
A dark tornado of energy erupted behind Lloyd. He spoke with an expressionless tone,
"You think too simply, Uncle Garling. He's cultivating a perfect body for himself to eventually claim, never relying on me. From the start, he intended to take my life."
"What did you say!?"
Garling sprang up, eyes blazing with rage. He had never known this truth. Had he, he would have confronted Gulando long ago, sparing no mercy.
Lloyd's own heart was calm only on the surface. He suppressed the surging darkness, letting it retract into his body as he continued,
"If I'm correct, what Gulando researches now involves body transference. The Ope-Ope no Mi hasn't appeared yet; he grows impatient."
Garin remained motionless, silent for a long while. He could not doubt Lloyd—there was no reason for deception in such a claim.
Years ago, Garling had been forced to kill his own father, leaving lasting trauma. He had hoped to persuade Lloyd to spare Gulando. But now, the idea was discarded. Gulando's actions were worse than beasts; he did not deserve the title of father.
At this moment, Garling felt only disappointment and fury toward his brother. He longed to punish Gulando himself, yet he would not kill him—the task belonged to Lloyd.
The dining room fell silent, the weight of the conversation pressing on them both, until Lucia's gentle voice broke through.
"Young Master, the meal is ready. Shall I have them serve it now?"
Hearing her, Lloyd finally relaxed. He inhaled deeply, letting a faint smile grace his lips, and said,
"Lucia, have them bring the dishes. Thank you for your trouble."
She trotted over, eyeing Garling's grim expression briefly before draping a pristine white napkin around Lloyd.
"Young Master, it's my duty. Allow me to serve your meal," she said softly, with the utmost care.
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