With the seven Seraphim assembled, along with twenty-seven third generation Pacifista, Mary Geoise had become virtually impregnable.
That was not even taking into account Admiral Borsalino and the other Admirals, with Fleet Admiral Lloyd personally overseeing everything.
Since Joy Boy intended to wage a final decisive battle, Lloyd was more than willing to meet him head on.
Once this war ended, no force in the world would remain capable of threatening the World Government's rule.
Before Joy Boy made his appearance, however, a Den Den Mushi on Lloyd's desk suddenly began to ring.
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Shanks' voice.
"Big Brother, can the Navy still get in touch with Mihawk?"
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
Not long ago, he had ordered the Navy to contact every member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and instruct them to remain stationed beneath the Red Line.
According to the reports, everyone had been successfully contacted except Dracule Mihawk.
Lloyd had assumed Mihawk was simply wandering the seas alone on his small boat once again, so he had not paid much attention to it.
Holding the Den Den Mushi, Lloyd asked,
"You still can't reach him? What's that guy doing?"
"I don't know. He contacted me not long ago, but something felt wrong. He kept talking about freedom, over and over again. He even tried convincing me to fight for freedom with him. From the way he spoke, it sounded like he intends to rebel against the World Government."
"Freedom..."
Lloyd's eyes narrowed.
"If that's the case, then Dracule Mihawk has most likely encountered Joy Boy."
"Joy Boy? Big Brother, are you talking about Luffy?"
Lloyd let out a faint laugh.
"There's no longer any Luffy in this world. What remains is only Joy Boy."
"What? What happened?"
"You don't need to concern yourself with that."
Lloyd's tone remained steady.
"Focus on your own mission. By the time you succeed, Joy Boy will most likely have disappeared from this world."
"Big Brother, I can help first..."
"No."
Lloyd interrupted him immediately.
"I'll say it one more time. Focus on your assignment. There are no more obstacles standing in your way. If you still fail, I'll personally knock you unconscious and drag you back."
Silence answered him.
The call ended shortly afterward.
Setting the Den Den Mushi aside, Lloyd leaned back against the sofa and spoke quietly.
"The World's Strongest Swordsman... how disappointing."
If Dracule Mihawk had merely fallen under Joy Boy's influence through some unknown ability, Lloyd might still consider sparing him.
But if Mihawk had willingly chosen Joy Boy's side, then the man known as the World's Strongest Swordsman would have to disappear along with him.
At that moment, Monet approached carrying a tray of freshly brewed tea.
She carefully arranged the tea set on the table before gracefully taking a seat beside Lloyd.
"Young Master, Shirahoshi hasn't been in good spirits lately."
Lloyd lifted his teacup and took a slow sip.
"What happened?"
"Yesterday, Sugar and Carrot went to spend time with her. When they returned, they said they found Shirahoshi crying alone in her room. No matter how much they asked, she wouldn't tell them why."
Lloyd considered it for a moment.
"Could she be reaching adolescence?"
Monet gently shook her head.
"I'm not sure."
Lloyd placed the teacup back onto the table.
"I'll go see her."
"It's been quite some time since our last meeting."
Monet immediately stood.
"I'll prepare your clothes, Young Master."
Lloyd smiled faintly and glanced down at the loose black robe he was already wearing.
"There's no need."
"I'm not attending any official business."
After straightening the front of his robe, Lloyd left his chambers alone.
Passing through a beautifully maintained garden, he eventually arrived before Shirahoshi's residence, a magnificent ivory white tower.
The tower had been specially constructed after Shirahoshi arrived at Mary Geoise.
Its size far surpassed the Hard Shell Tower where she had once lived on Fish-Man Island to protect herself from Vander Decken IX.
Behind the tower, an enormous pool had also been built specifically for Shirahoshi to swim and play in.
As Lloyd approached the entrance, several maids immediately bowed respectfully.
Every one of them possessed elegant features and fair complexions.
Although they appeared to be ordinary women in their thirties, they were actually mermaids.
Once mermaids reached the age of thirty, their tails could separate into legs, allowing them to walk on land. Unless they entered the water, there was virtually no way to distinguish them from ordinary humans.
Lloyd acknowledged them with a nod before signaling one of the maids to open the tower doors.
The entrance had been designed according to Shirahoshi's future size, making it absolutely enormous.
Ordinarily, even several people would struggle to move such massive doors.
Fortunately, Dr. Vegapunk had designed an automated opening system.
A control button beside the entrance allowed anyone of normal height to activate the mechanism, causing the gigantic doors to slowly swing open.
Inside, the tower was equally spacious.
When Lloyd entered, he saw Shirahoshi curled up atop an enormous fluffy pink blanket.
She stared blankly at a large photograph held gently in her hands.
It was a portrait of her mother, Otohime.
Seeing the picture, Lloyd immediately understood why Shirahoshi had been feeling so down.
She missed her mother.
Walking to the edge of her enormous tail, Lloyd jumped lightly into the air before landing steadily upon Shirahoshi's soft chest.
The sudden movement startled her.
She gasped softly, and the photograph slipped from her fingers.
Lloyd casually raised one hand.
Dark gravitational force spread outward, pulling the falling photograph back into the air where it floated gently before Shirahoshi.
Blinking her large aquamarine eyes, Shirahoshi lowered her gaze toward Lloyd, who was now sitting cross-legged before her.
"Saint Lloyd... when did you get here?"
Lloyd smiled.
"Just now."
He looked at the photograph before asking,
"Shirahoshi, are you missing your mother?"
She pursed her lips before quietly nodding.
"Mother hasn't visited me in a long time..."
Lloyd had never forbidden Otohime from seeing her daughter.
On the contrary, he had personally granted Otohime permission to enter Mary Geoise whenever necessary.
However, Fish-Man Island had recently been occupied with numerous political matters.
Combined with the current military lockdown surrounding the Red Line, Otohime simply had not found an opportunity to travel to Mary Geoise.
As she spoke, Shirahoshi's tears began falling once more.
Each enormous teardrop was large enough to knock an ordinary person unconscious if it landed directly on them.
Watching her cry, Lloyd sighed quietly.
He spread his black wings and gently flew upward until he reached her face.
Extending one hand, he softly stroked Shirahoshi's forehead.
"Stop crying."
"I'll send someone to bring Otohime here."
"You'll be able to see her very soon."
Shirahoshi immediately stopped crying.
Her eyes widened with joy as she looked at Lloyd.
"Really, Saint Lloyd!?"
Her excited voice echoed throughout the tower.
Lloyd frowned slightly and rubbed his forehead.
"Idiot."
"Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Realizing she had shouted far too loudly, Shirahoshi immediately lowered her head.
She knew Lloyd disliked excessive noise.
"I'm sorry, Saint Lloyd."
"Please don't be angry..."
Lloyd waved the matter aside.
"As long as you stop crying, that's enough."
He paused briefly before continuing,
"Oh, and later, come down with me for a while."
===
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