Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters, Uta excitedly told Lloyd about everything she had seen and experienced during her stay in Marineford while Lloyd quietly listened with a faint smile on his face.
Not long ago, Lloyd personally brought Uta back to Marineford and even approved her request to hold a concert at Marine Headquarters.
Not only did it fulfill one of Uta's small wishes, but it also served as a reward for the countless Marines stationed there. After all, many officers and soldiers were fans of Uta's music.
Following the concert, Lloyd arranged for Ginny to accompany Uta around Marineford for several days.
During that time, Uta's impression of the Navy changed drastically.
Originally, she believed Marine Headquarters would be an extremely rigid and oppressive place, filled with nothing but strict discipline and endless tension.
However, after spending several days there, she realized Marine Headquarters was far more lively than she expected.
There were recreation areas, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and many places where Marines relaxed during their free time.
Ever since Lloyd became Fleet Admiral, the World Government had dramatically increased the Navy's budget. Instead of wasting those funds, Lloyd used most of them to improve the living standards of the Marines and strengthen the infrastructure of Marine Headquarters.
As a result, the current Marineford could almost be considered a complete city on its own.
While wandering around the recreational district, Uta even encountered several famous high-ranking Marines she had previously only seen in newspapers.
Among them was Admiral Akainu himself, the man feared across the seas for his ruthless methods.
After talking for a long time, Uta finally became tired. She casually walked over to Lloyd and sat on the armrest beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then she leaned forward, picked up Lloyd's cup, and drank from it without hesitation.
After taking a sip, she lazily rested her head against Lloyd's shoulder.
"Uncle, you really have no idea how terrifying your reputation is here. The way those Marines talk about you... it's honestly unbelievable."
Lloyd gently rubbed Uta's pink and white hair before replying with a smile,
"You're a world-famous singer yourself. Plenty of people admire you too."
Uta shook her head slowly.
"It's completely different."
As one of the most popular singers in the world, Uta was already accustomed to receiving admiration from countless fans.
But after coming to Marine Headquarters, she finally understood the difference between admiration and absolute reverence.
The Marines did not merely admire Lloyd.
They feared him.
Respected him.
Worshipped him.
Uta had no doubt that many of those soldiers would willingly throw away their lives for Lloyd without hesitation.
Lloyd simply smiled without commenting further.
Just as he was about to speak again, his expression suddenly changed.
The smile on his face disappeared instantly.
Uta immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere around him and subconsciously sat upright.
"Uncle? What's wrong?"
Lloyd raised a hand, signaling for silence.
Then he slowly closed his eyes.
A strange pressure filled the office.
After several seconds, Lloyd reopened his eyes. A cold and meaningful look flashed through them.
He turned his gaze toward the distant horizon outside the window and muttered softly,
"That troublesome brat really can't stay quiet..."
Uta blinked in confusion.
"Who are you talking about?"
Lloyd leaned back in his chair calmly.
"Just an annoying pest."
Meanwhile, in an unknown sea region, a pirate ship carrying the Straw Hat flag sailed steadily across the ocean.
Onboard were the Straw Hat Pirates, along with Lindbergh and his subordinate Gambo.
The Thousand Sunny had already been confiscated by the Navy after the Sabaody Archipelago incident. Following its seizure, the ship was dismantled, and its materials were publicly auctioned off.
As for the vessel they were currently using, it had been provided by the Revolutionary Army.
Meanwhile, Lindbergh and Gambo remained beside Luffy as temporary bodyguards for the so-called "Young Master."
Nami stepped out from the cabin and shouted toward the bow of the ship.
"Luffy! We're almost there!"
Luffy sat at the front of the ship while staring toward an island slowly appearing in the distance.
"Yeah... it's that island."
His voice sounded absent-minded.
"The closer we get, the louder the voice becomes."
Lindbergh stood nearby with a serious expression.
"Luffy, this place isn't far from Marine Headquarters or the Red Line. Are you certain the voice is coming from that island?"
Luffy nodded firmly.
"Yeah. Something there is waiting for me. I have to find it."
Nami walked over and looked at the island ahead.
"That's Egghead Island. It's supposed to be an uninhabited island, so there shouldn't be much danger there."
Luffy did not answer.
He simply stared ahead in silence.
Occasionally, a strange golden glow flickered deep within his pupils.
Because his back was facing everyone, nobody noticed the abnormality.
Roughly two hours later, the ship finally reached the shore.
The moment they docked, Luffy jumped off immediately and rushed toward the island.
"Luffy! Wait for us!"
Nami and the others hurried after him, but Luffy completely ignored their calls and charged straight into the forest without slowing down in the slightest.
In the original timeline, Caesar Clown caused a massive explosion at Punk Hazard, destroying Dr. Vegapunk's primary laboratory and forcing him to relocate his research base to Egghead Island.
However, because of Lloyd's existence, Caesar had become significantly more obedient than he originally was.
He did not dare cause trouble directly under Lloyd's watch.
As a result, the Punk Hazard disaster never occurred, and Dr. Vegapunk never relocated to Egghead Island.
Without Vegapunk's advanced facilities, the island remained covered in untouched wilderness and dense primitive forests.
Luffy moved through the jungle at astonishing speed.
The others struggled desperately just to keep up.
In the end, only Lindbergh's sharp senses allowed them to barely follow Luffy's trail.
After chasing him for quite some time, they finally arrived at a ruined area deep within the forest.
Luffy stood silently in the center of the ruins.
Nami bent over while gasping heavily for air.
"Luffy! Why are you running around like a maniac?! At least wait for us!"
But Luffy did not respond.
He stood completely motionless.
Nami became annoyed and clenched her fists as she marched toward him, clearly intending to punch him.
However, before she reached him, Luffy suddenly moved.
He stepped backward while his right arm rapidly expanded into Gear Third.
His gigantic fist instantly smashed into the ruins ahead.
Boom!
A massive cloud of dust exploded into the air.
Everyone reflexively shielded their eyes.
When the dust finally settled, all of them froze in shock.
An enormous Iron Giant stood before them.
Its massive body was covered in green moss and signs of extreme age. The lower half of its body remained buried deep underground, making it look as though it had been sleeping there for centuries.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Luffy slowly approached the Iron Giant.
He placed one hand over his chest while pressing the other against the giant's body.
Then, rhythmic drumbeats began echoing from within Luffy's chest.
Doom.
Doom.
Doom.
The strange heartbeat grew louder and louder.
As the sound spread outward, the ground itself started trembling violently.
Nami and the others held their breath nervously while staring at the scene unfolding before them.
A few seconds later, the Iron Giant's eyes suddenly ignited with golden light.
Mechanical sounds echoed throughout the ruins.
Then the enormous giant began to move.
It slowly planted both arms against the earth and forcibly dragged the lower half of its body out from beneath the ground under the horrified gazes of everyone present.
===
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