"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, let us meet in the conference room later. There is something I need to discuss."
After ending the call, Lloyd placed the Den Den Mushi aside and stepped out of his office. He paused briefly at the doorway, glancing back once before continuing forward. Akainu and the others followed closely behind him as they headed toward the conference room.
By the time Lloyd arrived, the room was already prepared. He took his seat calmly. Not long after, Sengoku entered, accompanied by Tsuru and several high ranking officers.
Lloyd stood up to greet him. Seeing this, Akainu and the others also rose to their feet.
A complicated expression flickered across Sengoku's face. He gave a slight nod before walking silently to the head seat and sitting down under everyone's watchful gaze.
Once Tsuru and the others were seated, Lloyd spoke in a composed tone.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, some time ago, Sakazuki and I led a mission at sea. I did not inform you beforehand, so I offer my apologies."
Sengoku was briefly taken aback, then replied slowly, "Do not let it happen again. Now tell me, what kind of mission required seven Admirals to act together?"
A faint smile appeared on Lloyd's face. "In hindsight, it was an excessive use of force. We merely eliminated the Beasts Pirates."
Silence filled the room for a brief moment before shock erupted.
"Nani!?"
Sengoku quickly regained his composure, though his eyes remained sharp.
"Lloyd, the one known as the world's strongest creature, Kaido, is he also..."
Lloyd did not answer directly. Instead, he turned his head slightly.
"Lucia, has that Master Sergeant Koby arrived yet?"
Lucia immediately stood. "I will bring him in at once."
"No need," Lloyd said, reaching out and lightly holding her wrist. "I can already sense him. He is outside."
Garp suddenly stood up, his expression tense.
"Lloyd, Koby is a good kid. If he offended you in any way, I will apologize on his behalf."
Lloyd raised a finger slightly, his tone calm. "Relax, Vice Admiral Garp. His mistake was minor. I have already overlooked it. I only require a small favor from him."
He then turned toward the guard stationed at the door.
"Bring Master Sergeant Koby inside."
The guard, at least a Lieutenant Commander personally selected by Sengoku, immediately carried out the order.
Moments later, Koby entered under the watchful eyes of the Navy's highest authorities. On his back, he carried a massive ice block containing Kaido's severed head. His face was pale, and his steps were unsteady.
Although Koby's physical strength had greatly improved through training at Marineford, carrying the head itself was not difficult. It was the overwhelming pressure and fear that made him appear strained.
The high ranking officers present all recognized Kaido instantly. Their expressions stiffened as shock spread through the room.
Sengoku stared at the frozen head for a long time before finally regaining his voice.
Lloyd spoke again, as if discussing something trivial.
"As for Wano Country, previously under Kaido's control, I have handed it over to Doflamingo. Moving forward, I intend to deploy additional Marine forces there. Governing that place will not be simple."
Sengoku locked eyes with Lloyd. "Is Doflamingo working under you?"
Lloyd gave no direct answer, only a faint, unreadable smile.
Sengoku took a slow breath. "Then Rosinante..."
"He is fine," Lloyd replied calmly. "What kind of brother would harm his own younger sibling?"
Sengoku's gaze sharpened. "Do you even understand Doflamingo's identity? He is..."
"I am aware," Lloyd interrupted. "The Donquixote family of Mary Geoise, a pure Celestial Dragon bloodline."
Many of the officers present were unaware of this information. However, after everything they had already heard, this revelation barely added to their shock.
Lloyd slowly stood up.
"To be precise, his surname will soon change."
"Nani? What do you mean?"
"Figarland."
Sengoku's composure finally cracked. "Figarland? How do you know that name?"
The other officers looked at one another in confusion. The name clearly held weight, but its significance was unknown to most of them.
Lloyd did not answer immediately. Instead, he took out a document and placed it on the table.
"You will understand after reading this."
He pushed it toward Sengoku.
Even before opening it, Sengoku seemed to sense what it contained. His hand trembled slightly as he picked it up.
At the top of the document were several prominent words.
Marshal Appointment
Title, Celestial Dragon
Sengoku's expression turned rigid. A title instead of a codename, combined with those words, made the implication unmistakable.
He slowly looked up at Lloyd.
"Should I address you as... Saint Fingarland Lloyd?"
The room fell into stunned silence.
Apart from Akainu and a few others who were already aware, everyone else was completely frozen by the revelation.
Crack.
Garp crushed the teacup in his hand. His mind drifted back to a man he had encountered at God Valley decades ago.
A swordsman who had scarred Whitebeard deeply, a man who shattered his understanding of Celestial Dragons.
"Impossible... Are you related to that Saint Garling..."
Lloyd tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips.
"Saint Garling is my uncle."
Before Garp could respond, Sengoku suddenly raised his voice.
"Why would someone like you join the Marines? What is your purpose?"
Lloyd answered without hesitation.
"To become the Fleet Admiral."
Sengoku slammed his hand on the table. "Do not joke with me. With your status, that position means nothing. If you wanted it, you could have taken it long ago."
The questions hung heavily in the air, shared by everyone present.
Under Sengoku's gaze, Lloyd calmly moved and sat down in the head seat.
He looked around at the assembled officers.
"Sengoku, if I obtained the position so easily, what meaning would that title hold?"
As his words fell, Lloyd raised his hand. The massive ice block behind Koby suddenly lifted into the air and flew toward him, stopping precisely against his palm.
With a slight motion of his fingers, the ice shattered instantly.
Kaido's severed head dropped out and landed heavily.
Gasps echoed through the room. The control required for such precision was astonishing.
Lloyd casually tossed the head forward. It rolled across the table and came to a stop at the center, its face turned upward.
"This," Lloyd said calmly, "is what qualifies as a true Fleet Admiral appointment."
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