From Zephyr's explanation, Lloyd quickly understood the situation. A faint trace of amusement surfaced beneath his calm exterior, mixed with mild irritation. Without meaning to, he had drawn Aramaki and Kuzan into the Navy far earlier than history suggested.
Dragon, meanwhile, had been silently observing Lloyd from the start. His gaze never wavered, sharp and inquisitive.
As fellow Logia users, they all knew what Lloyd had accomplished at seventeen. Facing the Whitebeard Pirates and returning with such overwhelming results was not something that could be ignored. Curiosity was inevitable.
Aramaki suddenly strode forward and seized Lloyd's hand with undisguised enthusiasm.
"Senior Lloyd, my name is Aramaki! I've read everything about you. I really admire you! Pirates who dare defy the World Government are nothing but trash. They should all be wiped out!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Akainu's eyes lit up with approval. Dragon, however, frowned slightly. He had never been fond of such extreme views, nor did he hold a positive opinion of the World Government.
That discomfort was one of the main reasons he had resisted Garp's repeated attempts to bring him into the Navy.
Dragon stared at Lloyd, watching closely. He wanted to see how this rising Marine figure, already standing at the center of attention, would respond.
Lloyd smiled faintly, his tone slow and measured.
"Nice to meet you, Aramaki. Welcome to the Navy."
Despite being six years younger, Lloyd's presence carried an undeniable authority. His calm words and composed posture made him feel more like a superior officer than a fellow recruit. The subtle pressure in his demeanor only deepened Dragon's curiosity.
Before Aramaki could continue speaking, Dragon stepped forward.
"Lloyd, it's an honor to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am…"
Lloyd interrupted him smoothly, his expression unchanged.
"Monkey D. Dragon. I know who you are. Vice Admiral Garp has mentioned you before. He was actually planning to return home to see you that day. Unfortunately, he ran into the Whitebeard Pirates instead."
Dragon nodded.
"Yes. I'm sincerely grateful. If it weren't for Admiral Zephyr and your assistance, my father would have been in serious danger."
"That's only natural," Lloyd replied evenly. "We are Marines. Still, Vice Admiral Garp once said you seemed reluctant to join the Navy. May I ask why?"
Every pair of eyes turned toward Dragon. Given Garp's position, most assumed his son would have entered the Navy the moment he came of age. Yet Dragon was already twenty four.
Dragon remained silent for a brief moment. Instead of answering directly, he asked his own question.
"Then may I ask why Lloyd joined the Navy?"
Lloyd narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.
"At first, I joined to obtain strength. Now," he paused briefly, "it's for justice."
He spoke sincerely. Justice, after all, had many interpretations. Lloyd's justice was singular and absolute.
The word itself stirred something in the surrounding Marines. Akainu clenched his fist subconsciously. From the day he enlisted, his own justice had already taken form.
Dragon did not seem satisfied.
"Lloyd values power greatly," he said steadily. "Is your justice built on suppressing everything with absolute force? Your actions toward Pirates suggest execution rather than capture. Forgive my bluntness, but this seems inconsistent with Admiral Zephyr's philosophy."
The words cut sharply through the room.
Zephyr frowned. In his view, justice varied from person to person. As long as a Marine did not stray too far, it was not his place to interfere.
Akainu stepped forward without hesitation. His eyes were cold as magma beneath stone.
"Monkey D. Dragon, Lloyd's justice is flawless. Do you think you have the right to criticize him just because you're Vice Admiral Garp's son? There is no special treatment here. You are a soldier. Lloyd is a Rear Admiral. Didn't Vice Admiral Garp teach you how to address a superior?"
Kizaru said nothing. One hand in his pocket, he adjusted his tinted glasses with the other and stepped forward, aligning himself beside Lloyd and Akainu.
The pressure from the three combined instantly filled the room.
Aramaki swallowed hard and kept silent. Kuzan looked completely lost, unable to understand where Dragon's courage came from.
Dragon, standing at the center of it all, remained composed. His gaze never left Lloyd.
The atmosphere grew heavy, the tension thick enough to suffocate.
Zephyr felt a headache forming. He had assumed Dragon was simply acting out due to his background. Now it looked dangerously close to a confrontation.
"Garp," he cursed inwardly, "where are you? Look at your troublesome son."
Amid it all, Lloyd remained the calmest.
He glanced at Akainu and Kizaru, then let out a short laugh.
"Sakazuki, Borsalino, there's no need to look so fierce. He's only discussing justice with me. Differences in ideology are normal."
Akainu snorted and stepped back, though his gaze never softened. Kizaru followed suit, his tone laced with mockery.
"Oh my, such profound thoughts on justice. Just what you'd expect from Vice Admiral Garp's son."
Dragon's composure cracked slightly.
"Stop bringing up my father. I told you, joining the Navy was my own decision!"
Kizaru casually dug at his ear and retreated beside Akainu, acting as if he heard nothing.
Lloyd's eyes returned to Dragon.
"Then let me ask you something," he said calmly. "Do you believe power is irrelevant, or do you believe Pirates should not be killed?"
Dragon inhaled deeply, steadying himself.
"Power matters," he answered. "But an individual's power is limited. Not all Pirates are irredeemable. Only through tolerance and equality can people unite their strength and achieve true justice."
The reasoning was coherent, even persuasive.
Yet Lloyd chuckled softly.
In another world, perhaps such ideals could exist. But in a world ruled by Devil Fruits, Haki, and monsters who could shatter islands, power was not limited. It was boundless.
If justice had not been realized, it only meant one thing.
There was not enough power.
Lloyd's laughter grated harshly against Dragon's ears.
"Lloyd," Dragon demanded, anger slipping through, "what exactly are you laughing at?"
Lloyd continued until Dragon's expression darkened completely. Then he stopped.
A deep, cold glint passed through his eyes.
"You know nothing about power."
____
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