Looking at Lloyd's outstretched hand, Tiger hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out and grasping it. His body was weak and unstable, and even with Lloyd's offer, he lacked the strength to pull himself onto the speedboat. A mixture of embarrassment and helplessness crossed Tiger's face.
Lloyd noticed Tiger's struggle, so he applied just a bit more force and effortlessly hauled the over‑five‑meter‑tall Fish‑Man onto the deck.
Startled by Lloyd's overwhelming strength, Tiger sat in the cabin in a daze.
Lloyd stood still for a moment, pinching his chin thoughtfully as he examined the injured, red‑skinned Fish‑Man before him. In his mind he guessed the identity correctly: Fisher Tiger, known among Fish‑Men as the respected soldier and wanderer.
In the original story, Tiger was a slave who endured unspeakable cruelty before escaping. Even now, encountering someone like him bore echoes of the tragic past, where cruel fates could so easily repeat themselves.
Tiger struggled to sit up straight. From his movements it seemed he wanted to bow in gratitude to Lloyd.
Lloyd placed a hand gently on Tiger's shoulder.
You should rest first, he murmured.
Tiger blinked up at him.
Thank you for saving me, he said gratefully, You are my benefactor. My name is Fisher Tiger. Can you tell me yours?
Lloyd replied in his usual calm tone,
I am Lloyd. Tell me what happened. You seem strong, yet you ended up on a slave ship. How did that come about?
Tiger explained the entire incident, becoming visibly angrier as he spoke.
Those humans were truly wicked, he said indignantly.
Lloyd lifted an eyebrow.
So do you think I am a good person? he suddenly asked, eyes flickering with something ambiguous.
Tiger blinked, taken aback.
Of course you are, he said, You saved me!
Lloyd let a thin smirk curl at the corner of his mouth, a faint red gleam flickering in his eyes. A subtle yet terrifying pressure emanated from his presence. Tiger instinctively stepped back, tense under that heavy aura.
Then Lloyd chuckled quietly.
I was only scaring you, he said, so you learn your lesson.
Suddenly the pressure lifted, and Tiger wiped sweat from his brow, heart racing. Even though he had seen powerful humans before, this overwhelming feeling was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
Back when he was on Fish‑Man Island, Tiger once saw a legendary human named Gol D. Roger from a distance. Roger stood beside King Neptune and exuded such immense presence that even from afar Tiger felt overwhelmed by it. Roger was known as a Pirate King, one of the greatest humans on the seas.
Yet now Tiger felt something even more profound from Lloyd — and Lloyd looked far younger than stories ever described Roger to be.
Tiger himself was considered a mighty Fish‑Man warrior. Even powerful fighters like the future Sun Pirates fell short of his level, but in front of Lloyd something about this presence was beyond comparison.
A curiosity he could no longer suppress rose in Tiger's mind.
Brother Lloyd, he asked, Do you know Roger?
At the mention of the name, a momentary flicker passed through Lloyd's eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual impassive expression.
I wouldn't say I know him, he replied simply, I just clashed with him a few days ago.
Tiger, who had been drifting at sea and had not checked any News Birds, was unaware of any major recent battles involving Roger, the Whitebeard Pirates, or the Marines.
But from Lloyd's tone, it was clear that he and Roger had been on opposing sides. And where there were Pirates, the Navy was sure to follow.
So Tiger cautiously asked,
Brother Lloyd, are you part of the Navy?
Lloyd stretched lazily, a sudden wave of drowsiness washing over him.
Mm, he replied simply, rubbing his temples.
Tiger recalled how Jebit reacted in terror before the collision. His fear was so great that he couldn't even finish speaking, only managing to sputter that single word, "Black." In Marine lore, people didn't know many Admirals' real names, only their epithets. One legendary epithet was Black Dragon, a name infamous throughout the seas.
Tiger's thoughts shifted rapidly, and his gaze toward Lloyd became sharper with realization. Could this Lloyd truly be Admiral Black Dragon? A figure known for overwhelming power and status?
But Lloyd no longer cared about Tiger's amazement. He lay back down, retrieved the black‑covered book, and placed it over his face.
I'm a bit sleepy now, he murmured, Stay here for a while.
Before Tiger could react, a flash of flame surged from behind Lloyd's neck and plunged into the engine room.
The speedboat beneath them shot forward like a projectile, propelled with immense force into the open Sea.
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