Lloyd and Pedro's expressions shifted at the same moment. Lloyd's face hardened as he spoke in a low, measured tone,
"Carrot, your misunderstanding of me runs far too deep."
Pedro immediately followed with a sharp reprimand,
"Go back. What do you children understand? Wanda, pull her away."
This time, however, Wanda did not obey. She frowned, her voice steady as she replied,
"Captain Pedro, I believe Carrot is right. You should compose yourself first."
Pedro froze, clearly taken aback by her response.
Sensing the hesitation, Lloyd stepped closer to Pedro and spoke quietly, his voice carrying a subtle, manipulative weight,
"Follow your heart, Pedro. Are you truly prepared to spend your entire life here, consumed by hatred?"
Those words struck deeply.
The conflict in Pedro's eyes vanished, replaced by firm resolve. In one swift motion, he drew the sword from his back and raised his voice,
"For Master Cat Viper, for freedom, and for the sake of this world, what does death matter? I have made my decision. I will follow Lloyd out to sea. White Whale Forest Guardians, step forward."
As soon as he finished speaking, several burly and fierce Mink warriors stepped out from the crowd. They were the core members of the White Whale Forest Guardians, Pedro's most loyal subordinates.
Even so, Lloyd remained unsatisfied.
In his view, the Mink Tribe possessed immense combat potential. Even those less inclined toward battle could become formidable warriors under the full moon. Their latent power was not something he intended to leave untapped.
His objective was not merely Pedro's faction, but the entire Mink Tribe.
This was only the first step.
What came next was the true objective.
Before proceeding, however, there was an obstacle that needed to be dealt with, Carrot.
Previously, Lloyd had ignored her remarks. Now, her interference threatened his plans. That could not be tolerated.
His gaze sharpened as it fell upon her.
Carrot frowned, clearly about to speak again.
"See, this is exactly what I…"
She never finished her sentence.
Lloyd's eyes suddenly widened, a faint crimson and black glint flashing within them. In an instant, a precisely controlled surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted, directed solely at Carrot.
The force struck her without warning.
Wanda, standing closest, noticed nothing unusual beyond the sudden change. Carrot's eyes lost focus, and her body went limp as she collapsed into Wanda's arms.
Wanda's expression changed immediately. Holding her tightly, she shook her in panic.
"Carrot? Carrot, what's wrong with you?"
Lloyd withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to its usual aloof indifference.
Pedro, standing beside him, grew serious. Though he had not directly felt the Conqueror's Haki, Lloyd's actions made the truth clear.
"That was… Conqueror's Haki, wasn't it?" Pedro asked in a low voice.
Lloyd gave a slight nod.
"Correct. She is too young, her will still unstable. It is better that she rests for a while."
Pedro accepted the explanation without further concern. His thoughts had already shifted back to Lloyd's ambitions.
"Not only does he possess Conqueror's Haki, but he can wield it with such precision," Pedro muttered in admiration. "As expected of someone who has escaped the grasp of the Celestial Dragons multiple times."
Lloyd's expression stiffened slightly.
To him, that was hardly praise. Escaping repeatedly implied being forced into retreat again and again, something he found unacceptable.
Yet to the world, surviving encounters with the Celestial Dragons was a feat worthy of reverence. Most would consider it a lifelong achievement.
If anything, such a record could earn him a title, though one he would never accept.
His gaze darkened as he spoke,
"That will not happen again. Next time, they will be the ones fleeing."
Pedro placed a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, his tone earnest.
"I understand your resolve. But defeating the Celestial Dragons requires patience. With your strength at such a young age, I believe you will eventually have that chance."
Lloyd's expression grew colder.
"Not eventually. It is inevitable. And I have already told you, I am not young. If anything, I am over eight hundred years old."
Pedro hesitated, clearly uncertain. Until now, he had assumed Lloyd was exaggerating.
Lloyd repeated firmly,
"I am not joking. I have lived for more than eight hundred years. My partner can confirm it."
Before Pedro could respond, Sicilian stepped forward, unable to remain silent.
"This partner you speak of… could it be Zou?"
A faint smile curved at Lloyd's lips. Sicilian had finally spoken the question everyone was thinking.
Instead of answering, Lloyd stepped forward. He lowered himself into a half crouch, placing one hand against the ground as he slowly closed his eyes.
The unusual posture left the surrounding Mink Tribe confused.
This was precisely the reaction he intended.
With his eyes shut, Lloyd spoke, his voice steady and commanding,
"Zou, tell those who have lived upon your back for generations whether I, Lloyd, am your partner."
A moment later, the response came.
Within Lloyd's mind, a deep and ancient voice echoed,
"Yes. Without question. We are eternal partners."
However, only Lloyd, who possessed the Voice of All Things, could understand those words.
To the Mink Tribe, what followed was a thunderous elephant's trumpet that shook the heavens, accompanied by a sudden downpour.
Water cascaded from above as Zou sprayed it across the land. To the Mink Tribe, this was known as the Rain of Grace.
Zou was more than a being to them. It was their foundation, their symbol, their living faith.
Though they could not comprehend its words, they could feel its emotions.
Joy.
Recognition.
Acceptance.
Most importantly, Lloyd had communicated with it.
Once could be dismissed as coincidence. Twice could not.
Zou had responded to him, a mere human standing upon its back.
That alone was enough to shatter any doubt.
Awe spread across the faces of the Mink Tribe.
Under their reverent gazes, Lloyd slowly rose to his feet. He observed their reactions, already aware that his calculated move had achieved its intended effect.
With Zou's acknowledgment, the allegiance of the Mink Tribe was no longer uncertain.
Faith had taken root, and that was power beyond force.