Yasopp glared at Lloyd, his face twisted with fury.
"Haki can't even hurt him, just like the rumors said! How is this possible!?"
Lloyd's pupils shifted slightly as he looked down at him, lifting a single hand with calm precision.
Beckman and the others stiffened, their weapons immediately raised and aimed at Lloyd. Only Shanks remained unarmed, his expression tense.
"Wait—" he shouted, but before he could finish, Lloyd had already opened his palm, releasing his Universal Pull.
Yasopp was yanked through the air at terrifying speed, finally halted by Lloyd's grip on his shoulder.
He struggled violently, trying to raise his gun, but Lloyd's grip tightened. A sharp scream echoed as Yasopp's shoulder blade was crushed, sending his gun clattering to the deck.
"Yasopp!"
Beckman and the others froze in shock, ready to intervene, but Shanks held up a hand to stop them.
Shanks ignored the confused stares around him, his gaze fixed on Lloyd. "Yasopp has been punished enough. Can you spare his life? I don't want to fight you."
Beckman's brows furrowed deeply. He understood Shanks' concern for Yasopp, but the last words puzzled him. Did Shanks not want to fight Lloyd? The man rarely showed hesitation, and the Red Hair Pirates had seen Shanks ruthlessly defeat countless foes over the years.
Lloyd's head tilted slightly, studying Shanks from above. Yasopp gritted his teeth through the agony, his voice strained.
"You killed Usopp… I will—"
Lloyd didn't even glance at him. With a subtle motion, he twisted his hand, dislocating Yasopp's jaw. Only broken, hoarse sounds escaped his mouth.
Shanks exhaled sharply, relieved. By all rights, Lloyd could have ended Yasopp entirely, yet he had shown restraint.
Lloyd's voice cut through the tension.
"Shanks, did you forget something just now?"
Shanks blinked, taken aback. "What did I forget?"
"For example… 'Give me some face'?"
Shanks frowned. "If I said that… would you actually give me that face?"
"Why don't you try?"
Shanks composed himself and cautiously asked, "Then… give me some face. Can you spare Yasopp's life?"
Lloyd shook his head.
"No."
Shanks froze. Beckman and the others erupted in outrage.
"Damn it! How dare you insult our Captain!"
Shanks merely sighed. "Why? Are you just playing with me?"
A strange tension hung in the air. Beckman and the others felt a sense of grievance in Shanks' words, an emotion they had never associated with him. Yet they reminded themselves it was impossible—Shanks' Haoshoku Haki was more than enough to overwhelm most emotions.
Lloyd chuckled lightly. "Of course not. I'm merely dissatisfied with your attitude just now. How about you call me Brother?"
"What?!"
Before Shanks could respond, Beckman lost control. His pistol rose, aimed directly at Lloyd.
"Don't go too far!"
"Beckman, don't move!" Shanks said sharply. He pressed down on the gun in Beckman's hand, then took a deep breath and looked up at Lloyd.
"Brother… can you give me some face?"
"Mm."
The moment the word left Lloyd's lips, Yasopp's body convulsed with a series of sharp cracks. His eyes widened before he fainted, collapsing like a broken rag. Shanks reacted instantly, catching him and checking for a pulse. Relief flooded him when he realized Yasopp was still alive. He handed him over to Beckman with a heavy sigh.
Lloyd descended from above, landing smoothly in front of Shanks and the others. Every step he took radiated danger, prompting Beckman and the crew to activate their Armament Haki, weapons trained on him.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire Red Hair crew, Lloyd approached Shanks, placing a hand on his shoulder. Shanks trembled slightly, yet offered no resistance.
Lloyd leaned close, whispering, "After all these years, you've become an Emperor, and you still don't understand anything?"
The Red Hair Pirates glanced at Shanks, noting the unusual tension. Lloyd's presence and Shanks' strange reaction confirmed that something extraordinary existed between the two.
Shanks lowered his head, voice low and uncertain. "Am I… surnamed Figarland?"
Lloyd nodded lightly.
Shanks' eyes glazed over for a moment, disbelief and shock evident. "This… this is a huge joke…"
Beckman and the others stared in horror. Lloyd's full name, Figarland Lloyd, had been public knowledge. Now Shanks revealed he also bore the Figarland name. Could it be that the Pirate Emperor himself was a Celestial Dragon, a member of the same family as Lloyd?
Replaying the earlier exchange in his mind—Lloyd demanding to be called Brother—everything fell into place.
Shanks looked at Lloyd, eyes full of disbelief. "So you really are my Brother?"
Lloyd's lips curved into a faint smile. "To be precise, you're my cousin."
The crew froze as if struck by lightning. Even Beckman, the tactical mind of the group, felt his thoughts falter.
The Fleet Admiral and the Pirate Emperor—both Celestial Dragons from Mary Geoise. It was unthinkable.
Shanks' gaze bore into Lloyd's. "Then why did you join the Navy?"
"Call me Brother."
"…Brother, why did you become a Navy? Has the Family fallen?"
Lloyd's eyes were cold and distant. "Yes, it has declined. Otherwise, you and I would not have ended up in a ghost place like God Valley all those years ago."
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