In the year 1517 of the Sea Calendar, Sengoku officially took the position of Fleet Admiral, although only as a temporary appointment.
The first action Sengoku took after assuming the position was to submit a request to the World Government to transfer Garp back to Marine Headquarters.
In his report, Sengoku stated that Garp had spent years maintaining order in the deepest level of Impel Down, the infamous Infinite Hell. According to the prison wardens, many of the prisoners who had once been extremely violent were now significantly more restrained.
Sengoku also emphasized another point.
The situation across the seas was growing more unstable with each passing year. Leaving a fighter of Garp's caliber confined to Impel Down was simply too wasteful.
Anyone who read Sengoku's request could easily see how deeply he valued Garp. The first major action he took as Fleet Admiral was done purely to bring his old comrade back.
The World Government found it difficult to reject Sengoku's first request after his appointment. Combined with the reasonable arguments he had presented, they eventually agreed.
However, their approval did not come freely.
Before granting the transfer, the World Government assigned Sengoku a task.
He was ordered to begin establishing the Shichibukai system.
With Sengoku's intelligence, he immediately understood what kind of responsibility this truly was. The Shichibukai system required the Navy to recognize powerful pirates and allow them to operate under government protection.
It was clearly a dirty job.
Once this system began operating, countless people across the seas would direct their hatred toward the one responsible for creating it.
But Sengoku had already made up his mind.
For the sake of bringing Garp back, he clenched his teeth and accepted the order.
Not long after, Garp was officially transferred back to Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku wasted no time restoring him to his original position. He even wanted to take advantage of the moment and push Garp further by recommending him for promotion to Admiral.
In the past, Garp had always refused the rank of Admiral.
Surprisingly, this time he did not oppose Sengoku's proposal.
However, the outcome embarrassed Sengoku greatly.
The World Government rejected the request without hesitation.
Saint Saturn personally contacted Sengoku and delivered a single warning.
"Do not push your luck."
After that call, Sengoku never mentioned the matter again.
As for Garp himself, those who saw him after his return quickly noticed how much he had changed.
He looked older than before.
Part of the reason was that Lloyd had once extracted part of Garp's lifespan. However, the greater change came from within.
The carefree Marine hero who once laughed loudly at everything seemed to have disappeared.
Now he was simply Vice Admiral Garp.
No special titles, no heroic image hanging over his head.
If someone insisted on describing him, he was nothing more than an old Marine soldier.
Seeing Garp in this state made Sengoku feel deeply uncomfortable. Unfortunately, as Fleet Admiral, he no longer had the time to worry about his friend's mental state.
The Shichibukai system alone demanded constant attention.
On top of that, the growing power of the Four Emperors created endless problems.
Fortunately, Tsuru remained by Sengoku's side to assist him. Their leadership philosophies both focused heavily on stability.
Through a series of cautious decisions and careful policies, the chaotic situation across the seas slowly stabilized, at least on the surface.
However, this stability came with a price.
The territories controlled by the Four Emperors continued to expand.
Their influence across the seas grew larger with every passing year.
...
Year 1520 of the Sea Calendar.
Mary Geoise, territory of the Figarland Family.
Lucia lay quietly beside Lloyd's bed.
Her gaze rested on the large rhombus shaped blood crystal that now completely enveloped Lloyd's body. His figure could only be faintly seen through the red surface.
Lucia spoke softly, her voice filled with quiet exhaustion.
"Young Master, Aramaki's promotion to Admiral was rejected by Saint Warcury again today. I really do not know how long he will remain only a candidate Admiral."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Young Master, do you remember Vergo, the one you mentioned years ago? He serves under Donquixote Doflamingo. Recently he was accepted as one of the Shichibukai."
Lucia sighed lightly.
"Sengoku must have been desperate to fill the positions. He did not even investigate properly before allowing Vergo to become a Shichibukai."
While Lucia spoke, Sugar was quietly cleaning the room nearby.
When she heard this, she could not help speaking.
"Lucia-sama, you already told Young Master Lloyd about this before."
Monet, who was standing beside her, immediately raised her hand and lightly knocked Sugar on the head.
"Do not talk so much."
"Ugh..."
Sugar quickly lowered her head.
"Lucia-sama, I am sorry..."
Lucia turned her head slightly and looked at the two girls. After a moment, she sighed softly.
"It is fine. I only thought the Young Master might be interested in hearing these things again."
After living together for so many years, Lucia had gradually developed feelings for Sugar and the others. Compared to how she treated outsiders, her attitude toward them was much gentler.
In the room, two other women were also present.
Hancock and Robin stood quietly behind Lucia, watching her and Lloyd without speaking.
Over the years, Lucia spent nearly all her time in Lloyd's room. Aside from a short period each day devoted to training, she remained by his side constantly, speaking to him as if he could hear every word.
Fourteen years earlier, Lloyd had spoken his last words.
Wait for me.
Since that day, he had not spoken again.
Everyone in the room had witnessed Lucia's devotion during those long years.
A strand of white hair now appeared within her dark hair.
Her beautiful but cold face carried a constant trace of exhaustion that never seemed to disappear.
Yet whenever she looked at Lloyd, a soft and gentle smile would appear on her lips.
Lucia slowly raised her hand and gently touched the smooth surface of the blood crystal surrounding him.
"Young Master, recently a pirate named Monkey D. Luffy has been causing more and more trouble."
"He defeated Gekko Moriah, one of the Shichibukai."
"In just this year alone, two Shichibukai have already been defeated by him. This is practically the same as slapping the World Government in the face."
Inside the blood crystal, Lloyd's finger moved slightly.
The movement was so faint that even Lucia, who sat closest to him, did not notice.
At that moment, Lucia was staring absentmindedly at the crystal surface. It reflected her face like a mirror.
She suddenly noticed a faint line at the corner of her eye.
Lucia slowly raised her hand and touched her cheek.
Her voice became quieter.
"Young Master... is Lucia getting old?"
"That must look very ugly, right?"
Hancock immediately spoke from behind her.
"Lucia-sama, you are not old at all. In my opinion, you are the most beautiful person here."
Lucia gave a faint, self mocking smile.
Her gaze returned to Lloyd.
"Young Master, when you finally wake up, will I already be an old woman with white hair?"
"Will you still recognize me?"
Her eyes slowly became moist. She raised her hand and wiped them gently.
At that moment, a sharp sound suddenly echoed through the room.
Crack.
Lucia froze.
Everyone in the room turned toward the blood crystal at the same time.
A thin crack had appeared across its surface.
The moment Lucia saw it, she completely lost control.
She threw herself onto the crystal and cried out loudly.
"Young Master!"
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The cracks spread rapidly like a spider web across the entire surface of the blood crystal.
Within seconds, the entire crystal was covered in fractures.
Then it shattered with a loud explosion.
Fragments of red crystal scattered across the room.
Lloyd suddenly opened his eyes.
Two dazzling golden rays burst out from his gaze. When the light finally faded, his eyes could be seen clearly.
They shone with a brilliant golden color.
Lloyd slowly sat up from the bed.
A remaining shard of blood crystal clung to his face. He calmly raised his hand and removed it.
His golden eyes lowered slightly.
Lucia was still lying across his lower abdomen, completely frozen in shock.
Lloyd looked down at her.
His voice was quiet, calm, and almost indifferent.
"Lucia."
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