Early the next morning, Lloyd arrived at Saint Garling's bedchamber for breakfast.
Saint Garling wore the same style of bathrobe as Lloyd, forming a stark contrast with the neatly dressed young man.
Seeing Lloyd, Garling smiled warmly. "You're here. I'll have the servants bring breakfast right up."
Lloyd blinked, slightly unsettled by Garling's unusually gentle demeanor.
A servant approached and pulled out a chair. After Garling sat, he looked up at Lloyd, still standing, and asked in mild confusion, "Lloyd, why are you just standing there? Sit down, it's time to eat."
Lloyd tilted his head. "Uh, Uncle Garling, you're acting… strange today."
Hearing this, Garling's expression stiffened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Sit down and eat, now."
"Alright."
Once seated, a line of servants filed in, placing exquisite dishes on the table one by one. The sheer scale and refinement of the breakfast would be unimaginable to ordinary people. After finishing, the servants bowed low and retreated silently, only turning once they reached the doorway.
Gold-plated chopsticks had been set in front of Lloyd. The Figarland Family servants knew their Young Master preferred them over knives and forks.
Lloyd picked up a delicate dessert with his chopsticks and tasted it. "Hmm, it's not sweet…"
Garling's eyebrows shot up. "Not sweet? I'll have someone drag the chef out and deal with him later!"
Lloyd froze. On Earth, calling a dessert "not sweet" was high praise. Quickly, he waved his hand. "No, no, that's perfect—the sweetness is just right. I like it very much."
"Oh, as long as you like it. Take the chef with you when you return and have him prepare this every day."
"No need, Uncle Garling. I still prefer what Jessica makes."
Garling said nothing further. He rested his chin on his hand, quietly watching Lloyd.
Under that intense gaze, Lloyd felt awkward and put down his chopsticks. "Uncle Garling, why are you just watching me instead of eating?"
A gentle smile curved Garling's lips, unusual and almost unrecognizable. "I just feel it's a blessing to have a nephew like you still around."
Lloyd froze, unsure how to respond. The uncle and nephew stared at each other, a momentary silence filling the room. Finally, Garling lightly coughed and shifted the subject. "Right, you still haven't told me about Saint Cassius, our ancestor. Is he truly still within the Demon Blade Muramasa?"
Lloyd answered honestly, "He isn't anymore, but it was indeed the ancestor who saved me. That was the last trace of his will. I told Saint Warcury about it yesterday—just enough to scare him into respecting our Family."
Garling exhaled softly. "So that's how it was."
Lloyd then recounted everything that had occurred in the dark space the previous day. Garling's face reflected disbelief. "The ancestor meant the Dark-Dark Fruit's power isn't complete?"
Lloyd nodded gravely. "Yes. But he was only speculating. Everything will only be certain once I fully absorb the source power of the Blood-Blood Fruit."
Rolling up his sleeve, Lloyd revealed his crimson right arm, the veins pulsating with latent power.
The conversation continued until the den den mushi in Lloyd's hand rang. He picked it up and answered. Dr. Vegapunk's voice came through.
"Saint Lloyd , do you have time to come over? Stussy should be waking up."
"Hmm? Alright, I'll be there shortly."
Lloyd hung up, briefly explained to Garling, and then used Kamui to instantly travel to Dr. Vegapunk's laboratory.
Inside, Lloyd located Vegapunk easily with his keen hearing. Vegapunk's expression was like he had seen a ghost. Lloyd cut straight to the point.
"Take me to Stussy. By the way, why aren't Borsalino and Kuma here?"
Vegapunk hesitated but suppressed his curiosity. "They aren't always around. When things are quiet, Borsalino takes Kuma wandering. I don't know where they are now."
"Do they know about Stussy?"
"Very few do. Besides high-ranking World Government officials, only Caesar and I are aware."
"Good. Let's go."
In a flash, Lloyd transported Vegapunk to the laboratory where Stussy rested. Gently setting him down, Lloyd approached the glass container.
Stussy's face looked healthier than before; her long eyelashes quivered as if she might awaken at any moment.
Vegapunk leaned close to Lloyd, swaying slightly. "Saint Lloyd , her consciousness is gradually recovering. She'll wake on her own soon."
Lloyd nodded calmly. "Let her. She's slept long enough."
Vegapunk manipulated the console. The solution draining from the container, the mechanical hood descended over Stussy's head, and weak arcs of electricity pulsed along it, causing her body to tremble.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A green light glowed on the hood. The glass cover lowered, and Stussy finally emerged.
Her sky-blue eyes opened, still dazed from slumber. She instinctively raised her arms to protect herself.
Vegapunk called her name, but her gaze quickly shifted to Lloyd. Upon seeing him, her eyes brightened.
Taking a few tentative steps barefoot, Stussy moved toward Lloyd, unsteady as if learning to walk for the first time. Slipping from the residual solution on the floor, she fell into Lloyd's arms.
He caught her smoothly. Stussy lifted her head from his chest, her first words barely above a whisper:
"Master…"
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