Lloyd gently lifted Dr. Olvia, guiding her gaze toward the calm sea. The chaos of Sleepy Ancient Town was now history; from this moment on, it existed only in cold records.
Stretching lazily, Lloyd said, "Alright, Dr. Olvia, your companions await you in Alabasta. I'll escort you back."
Dr. Olvia nodded silently, her thoughts still caught between awe and disbelief.
---
Upon returning to Alabasta, a throng awaited at the port: not only her companions but a considerable number of Alabastan citizens. At the forefront stood a group of officials, led by the middle-aged King of Alabasta, Nefertari D. King Cobra.
Of course, they had not come to welcome Dr. Olvia herself; her influence was insufficient. Only an Admiral could command such a reception.
As the warship approached the dock, King Cobra's face tensed. He knew little about the newly promoted Admiral Lloyd and hesitated, wary of inadvertently offending him. Any wise monarch understood the significance of an Admiral — in Blue Star terms, he was a human nuclear weapon.
The ship docked. Between two lines of Marine Headquarters soldiers, Lloyd strode forward, hands in his pockets, with Dr. Olvia and Lucia following closely behind.
King Cobra advanced, accompanied by his ministers, and offered a formal welcome. Lloyd smiled politely, exchanging a few words with the king before gesturing toward Dr. Olvia.
"Your Majesty," Lloyd said, "Dr. Olvia is a friend and has assisted me in an important mission over the past few days. I hope Alabasta can provide her with proper care during her stay."
King Cobra bowed respectfully. "Admiral Black Dragon, rest assured. We have always held the scholars of Ohara in high regard and will ensure she suffers no grievances here."
Dr. Olvia murmured her thanks softly. Lloyd did not accompany them further, instead preparing to return directly to Marine Headquarters. Before leaving, he patted her shoulder, leaned close, and whispered, "It was a pleasure working with you. I hope our next meeting is just as… engaging."
Dr. Olvia's body trembled ever so slightly. "I hope so," she replied quietly.
Lloyd smiled faintly, turning to board the ship. His Navy cloak brushed against her face, a subtle reminder of the overwhelming presence she had grown accustomed to. Surrounded by Marine Headquarters soldiers, he sailed away, leaving a trail of awe in his wake.
Watching him disappear on the horizon, one of Dr. Olvia's companions asked, incredulous, "Admiral Black Dragon… he's really remarkable. What do you think, Dr. Olvia?"
She forced a soft smile. "Yes… I've relied on his protection these past two days."
---
On the voyage back, Lloyd reclined leisurely on a deck chair, hands behind his head, while Lucia rested against him. The soldiers on deck avoided glancing in their direction, fearful of the Admiral's aura.
Suddenly, a lookout rushed down from the mast. Saluting sharply, he reported, "Sir, Admiral Black Dragon! A suspicious vessel detected ahead!"
Lloyd opened his eyes, lifting Lucia slightly. "Pirates?"
"Unlikely," the sailor replied. "No flags, but the passengers are behaving strangely. One scantily clad woman is whipping another person!"
Lloyd's ears twitched, his enhanced senses filtering through the chaos. Several sounds caught his attention, sharp and distinct:
"Queen! Queen! Queen!"
"Oh, to enjoy the Queen's whipping… this fellow is fortunate!"
"Please! I was wrong! I won't defy you again!"
"Hmph… Now you understand? This is only the beginning. You're not ready to join us yet!"
"No! I won't! Please, let me go!"
Cracks of leather echoed.
Lloyd frowned. One of the voices sounded strangely familiar. He looked down at Lucia and instructed, "Investigate that ship."
Lucia nodded, spreading her wings to soar above. From the air, she quickly spotted the ship: pink hull, black sails emblazoned with a large pink heart — impossible to miss.
She descended, landing lightly on the ship's mast. The deck below was chaotic; no one initially noticed her.
Looking closer, Lucia's brows furrowed. The passengers were heavily made-up, extravagant in appearance. Except for the woman wielding the whip and the one with a yellow-and-white split hairstyle, few were attractive. On the ground, a man tied up writhed in pain, begging relentlessly.
Lucia leaped gracefully to confront the whip-wielder. The woman, clad in a tight leather bodysuit with a voluminous purple afro, froze.
"Navy? Wait… you're Lucia!" she exclaimed.
Lucia nodded coldly. Her name and face had appeared in newspapers, so recognition was natural. The woman, now excited, reached forward, seemingly to hug her.
Bang!
Lucia struck the woman squarely in the abdomen. Eyes wide, she collapsed to her knees, clutching her stomach.
Lucia's gaze swept the woman's purple afro. "I don't like being touched."
The split-haired woman scowled, crossing her arms. The arms transformed into sharp scissors, poised to strike. Lucia's hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
Suddenly, the afro-woman raised her head, shouting, "Stop! Inazuma, she's not an enemy!"
The scissors returned to normal. The afro-woman stood, wincing from the blow but managing a wry smile.
"Impressive punch. As expected of someone who serves Lloyd," she admitted.
Lucia froze for a moment, surprised at the name. "Lloyd?" she asked cautiously.
---